Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Westmorland Court Nursing Home High Knott Road Arnside Cumbria LA5 0AW The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full assessment of the service. We call this a ‘key’ inspection. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed inspection. Details of how to get other inspection reports for this care home, including the last key inspection report, can be found on the last page of this report. Lead inspector: Jenny Donnelly Date: 0 7 1 1 2 0 0 8 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Westmorland Court Nursing Home High Knott Road Arnside Cumbria LA5 0AW 01524761291 01524762640 westmorland1@btconnect.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Westmorland Healthcare Limited care home 34 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 dementia old age, not falling within any other category 34 0 Over 65 0 34 Conditions of registration: The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care home with nursing - Code N to service users of the following gender: Either whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Old age, not falling within any other category - Code OP Dementia - Code DE The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 34 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Westmorland Healthcare Ltd operates Westmorland Court Nursing Home. The registered manager is Mrs Jane Weatherill. The home is in a quiet setting in Arnside, about half a mile uphill from the village centre. There are mature gardens and ramped access for wheelchairs. There is a dining area, a large lounge, a conservatory and a smaller lounge. Bedrooms vary from 10 to 17 square metres. There are 28 single and 4 twin bedrooms. The upper floors have views over the Arnside estuary to the Care Homes for Older People
Page 2 of 8 Lakeland fells. The property is a large detached, three-storey Victorian house, which has been extended and adapted for its current use. The top floor is used for staff accommodation. There is a passenger lift, handrails and spacious assisted bathrooms. The fees charged by the home range from £500.00 to £540.00 per week as at the date of the inspection. Additional charges are made for personal toiletries, newspapers, magazines, hairdressing, chiropody and beauty therapy. Written information about the service and copies of inspection reports are on display in the care home. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found:
This random inspection was undertaken by Jenny Donnelly on 7th November 2008 between the hours of 10.30 am and 12.30 pm. The purpose of this inspection was to check that the service was continuing to operate to the high standards we found at the last key inspection in April 2007, and to satisfy ourselves that another key inspection was not needed sooner than planned. During this inspection we (the commission) toured the building, spoke with people living in the care home and with staff, and looked at care, medication, staff and maintenance records. We observed lunch being served. The registered manager was not available on the day of this inspection. What the care home does well:
Westmorland Court continues to provide good information for people. There were copies of the homes statement of purpose, service user guide and previous inspection reports on display in the entrance hall. This enables people to have good information when making a choice about moving into a care home. We looked at the admission details and care plan of a person living in the home and found these were fully complete. Pre-admission assessments had been completed by the manager and there was relevant information on file from the persons social worker along with an assessment of their nursing needs funding. The care plan was well laid out, and had been regularly updated to guide staff in how to support the person. There was evidence of good health care input from the persons doctor, chiropodist, dietitian and physiotherapist. Risk assessments for moving and handling needs and skin integrity had been updated monthly. Peoples individual personal and health care needs were being met. People told us they felt well looked after and said the staff were kind and caring and look after us well. The management of medicines was safe, with records and medicines stock being well organised. There were policies and procedures available to guide the staff and the random checks we did showed stock balances were accurate. We found that staff were knowledgeable about peoples medication and were pro-active in noticing and acting on any changes in peoples health. The days menu was advertised in the dining room, and people told us they enjoyed their meals. The cook was aware of any special dietary needs and preferences, and catered accordingly. People confirmed that the advertised activities did take place, and told us about the recent Halloween evening, firework display and musical entertainments. One staff member had recently attended a two day training on activities, and hoped to implement some new ideas into the programme for next year. People told us they knew how to make a complaint about the service if necessary, saying they would speak with the manager or one of the nurses. The staff on duty were not aware of any complaints having been made and none had been to the commission recently. The home was warm, clean, tidy and fresh smelling throughout. People told us the place is always very clean and tidy. The standard of decor and furnishings was very Care Homes for Older People
Page 4 of 8 good, and the home was well supplied with specialist equipment. There was building work in progress at the rear of the home to provide an additional 14 bedrooms. The work areas were safely partitioned off from the main building, to protect people. There were sufficient nursing, care and ancillary staff on duty to meet peoples needs, and to maintain the smooth running of the home. We heard from staff that they received plenty of training and saw from the training plan there were annual updates in many subjects. Staff also confirmed they received supervision and appraisals from the manager, and that regular staff meetings took place. This helps ensure good communication between the staff team. We looked at the file of a fairly new staff member and found that all the necessary pre-employment checks had been carried out prior to the person starting work. This ensures only suitable people are employed to work in the care home with vulnerable adults. The service was being well managed. The owner visited every two weeks and there were suitable arrangements in place to cover the managers temporary absence. The manager does periodic quality surveys and we saw the results of the last survey which were very positive. The manager uses this information to inform her future plans for the service. The service holds some money for safekeeping for a number of people. We looked at the system for this and found it in order with clear records for each transaction. The fire log was up to date, and a new fire alarm system had been installed, which would be compatible with the new extension once completed. The kitchen had received 5 stars (excellent), from the environmental health officer in June 2008 for food safety. The health, safety and well being of people living in the home, and the staff, was being promoted and protected. What they could do better: If you want to know what action the person responsible for this care home is taking following this report, you can contact them using the details set out on page 2. Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 8 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R Outstanding statutory requirements These requirements were set at the last inspection. They may not have been looked at during this inspection, as a random inspection is short and focussed. The registered person must take the necessary action to comply with these requirements within the timescales set.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 8 Requirements and recommendations from this inspection
Immediate requirements: These are immediate requirements that were set on the day we visited this care home. The registered person had to meet these within 48 hours.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Statutory requirements These requirements set out what the registered person must do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must do this within the timescales we have set.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Recommendations These recommendations are taken from the best practice described in the National Minimum Standards and the registered person(s) should consider them as a way of improving their service.
No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 8 Reader Information
Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report CSCI General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Copies of the National Minimum Standards –Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or got from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering from the Stationery Office is also available: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop Helpline: Telephone: 0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323 Textphone: 0845 015 2255 or 0191 233 3588 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. If you would like a summary in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. Copyright © (2008) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, free of charge, in any format or medium provided that it is not used for commercial gain. This consent is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and on proviso that it is not used in a derogatory manner or misleading context. The material should be acknowledged as CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 8 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. Re-publishing this information is in breach of the terms of use of that website. Discrete codes and changes have been inserted throughout the textual data shown on the site that will provide incontrovertable proof of copying in the event this information is re-published on other websites. The policy of www.bestcarehome.co.uk is to use all legal avenues to pursue such offenders, including recovery of costs. You have been warned!
