Wellwick House

Updated 30 July 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Wellwick House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced and included an 'out of hours' visit to the service.

What we did before inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who use the service about their experience of the care provided. Most people who used the service were unable to talk with us and used different ways of communicating including using Makaton, objects of reference and their body language. We spoke with the registered manager, former deputy manager and six members of staff. We also spoke with the area manager for Wellwick House. We reviewed four people’s care files and three staff personnel files. We looked at the provider’s arrangements for managing risk and medicines management, staff training and supervision data, complaint and compliment records. We also looked at the service’s quality assurance arrangements.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. Additional information relating to the service’s quality assurance arrangements was sought. We spoke with one person’s relative and received responses to our questions via email from two relatives.

Updated 30 July 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Wellwick House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care. The service was supporting six people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to six people who have a learning disability and who may be living with autism.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Right Support

• People were supported by staff to pursue their interests and to take part in activities within the local community. However, there were occasions where there were not always enough staff to ensure people could get out as planned and agreed.

• People did not receive their medicines as they should.

• The service is a large house which enables people living there to access the local community and its amenities. The premises did not feel unfriendly, intimidating or institutionalised.

• People were able to use communal areas as they wished and to have privacy for themselves if they chose to be alone.

• People had a choice about their living environment and were able to personalise their bedrooms.

• Staff enabled people to access healthcare provision and services as needed.

• Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs despite not having received formal training in specific communication language programmes such as Makaton or Picture Exchange Communication System [PECS].

Right Care

• Risks to people’s safety were not always mitigated to ensure people were kept safe. Not all staff used Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] effectively, although this improved on the second day of inspection.

There was a risk people may not always receive good quality care and support as staff had not received specialist training relating to the needs of the people they supported or formal supervision.

• People received care and support that was kind and caring. Staff protected people’s right to privacy.

• Staff understood how to protect people from harm and abuse. However, where internal investigations were completed, improvements were required to ensure these were robust.

• People’s care plans reflected their needs and the level of support to be required by staff. Relatives confirmed they had been involved with their family member’s care plan and were aware of the information recorded. Improvements were required to ensure people's end of life care plans were more robust.

Right culture

• The service’s quality assurance, monitoring and oversight arrangements were not robust and required improvement.

• Not all staff felt valued and supported.

• Staff were not aware of the ethos and values of the provider or the principles of 'Right support, Right Care and Right Culture'.

• Staff were responsive to people’s needs.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating

This service was newly registered with us in July 2020 and this is the service’s first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to risk and medicines management, staff training, supervision and the provider's governance arrangements at this inspection. We have made a recommendation about recruitment practices.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.