- Care home
Westerleigh
Report from 7 January 2025 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 20 January 2025 to 14 February 2025. Westerleigh is a residential home providing care and support to older and younger adults, including people who may live with dementia or other health conditions. The service does not provide nursing care. The service is registered to accommodate 58 people. At the time of the assessment there were 56 people at the home.
At our last assessment we did not identify any specific breaches of regulations. We had some concerns around effective staffing, staff understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), reporting incidents, learning lessons from events, management oversight, and staff morale. Due to these concerns, we rated the service requires improvement in Safe and Well-Led.
At this assessment the provider had made improvements at the service, including meeting the requirements under Duty of Candour. Since the last assessment a range of improvements had been instigated. Where there were issues with care delivery action was taken to improve practice. Risks were effectively considered and mitigated, staffing numbers had improved, and staff morale had risen.
Some issues remained with medicines management and professionals were concerned about the number of medicine errors. Processes were being established to monitor and improve these, including the planned introduction of an electronic medicines management system.
Staff were attentive to people’s needs and had a good understanding of them as individuals. Care plans were adequately completed, although lacked person-centred detail in some areas. This did not affect the delivery of safe care. Staff knew people well as individuals.
Staff knowledge of the MCA and best interests decisions had improved. Management oversight of the home was continuing to improve, and people, staff, and relatives were positive about the registered manager, the impact they were making, and the recovery of the service.
People's experience of this service
We received positive comments about the home and the care provided.
Relatives said the service had improved under the current manager and the overall function of the home was better. One relative said, “[Registered manager] has made big steps and improvements since the home has come under her management.” They said staff were attentive and responsive to people’s needs. Comments included, “Staff are marvellous with them (people), I can’t fault it” and “Staff are attentive, very nice and very polite.”
People and relatives felt there were enough staff, although some did highlight reduced staffing at weekends. Relatives said staff were always busy supporting people. One relative told us, “Because of the scale and size of the building it can be difficult to find staff members at times. Whenever this is the case, it is because the staff are invariably busy with other duties and is never, to my knowledge, because of incompetence or laziness.”
People were safe and well cared for, with staff proactive in addressing health issues. One relative told us, “Staff are very aware of the person. If you ask them something they are able to tell you what’s happening off the top of their heads.”
People and relatives told us they were involved in care and kept informed. One relative stated, “I feel that I am involved – yes. I do get asked – “are there things that could be improved?” I have a good relationship with staff at the home.”
People said they enjoyed the meals. Activities were available to groups, and individuals. One relative told us, “General activities are beyond them now. But the organizer does try to involve them in musical events and will give massages and spend time talking 1 to 1.”
People and families were positive about the registered manager and said any issues raised were addressed. Comments included, “As a manager I have found (them) to be excellent. Extremely efficient and communicative, eagerly offering solutions to potentially problematic situations.”