West View

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

The leadership team completed assessments to ensure the staff could meet the care needs of people planning to move to the home. Knowledgeable staff demonstrated a good awareness of people’s individual care and support needs, including people’s preferences and routines.

This service scored 71 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People felt their care needs had been assessed as staff knew how to support them. A relative was positive about the assessment process as it ensured their relative’s care needs could be met at the service.

The leadership team talked us through the assessments process that was in place for people. They recognised the importance of completing a thorough assessment to ensure they could meet the needs of people moving to the home.

The leadership team completed assessments when people moved into the home and clinical tools were used to identify individual risks to people. People’s health and social needs had been considered in the assessment and care planning process.

People confirmed their care and support was delivered in the way they wanted by knowledgeable staff. For example, staff understood people’s specific nutrition and hydration needs so meals and drinks were prepared in a safe manner. We saw people being supported safely with their meals and drinks.

Staff demonstrated a good awareness of people’s individual care and support needs, including people’s preferences and routines. For example, they could tell us about people’s personal preferences which reflected the choices of people we met.

The leadership team explained care plans were work in progress following a change of electronic care systems. At the time of the inspection, care plans were being reviewed with additional information added to enhance staff knowledge. They were based on best practice guidance and clinical tools were used to ensure people’s needs were met and identified.

The management team and staff worked well across teams and services to support people. Staff were provided with clear, accurate and reflective information and guidance by management on how people wanted to be supported and how to manage any known risks.

The management team provided staff with information and guidance on how people wanted to be supported and how to manage any known risks. Staff told us they knew the needs of people well, although some had identified they needed to attend further training related to caring for people living with dementia.

As part of this assessment, we asked for feedback from the local authority and the integrated care board. No concerns were identified linked to people’s safety.

Care plans were being reviewed with additional information added to enhance staff knowledge.

People’s health needs were identified, assessed and reviewed. Care records showed when people needed support from health professionals referrals were made appropriately and in a timely manner. People told us, “They would also notice if I was unwell. There is never a problem getting access to medical care if I need it.”

Discussion with the management team and staff showed how they had worked with individuals, their families and other health professionals to improve outcomes for people. For example, supporting a person with a deteriorating condition and their partner by accessing specialist teams and instigating guidance for staff and behavioural records.

Records completed by the leadership team and staff were up to date and showed good practice.

People were valued by staff who showed a genuine interest in their well-being and quality of life. We saw staff sitting and chatting with people and encouraging people to make connections with other people living at West View.

Staff told us they had access to care records which helped them deliver effective care. For example, one said, “Any changes with people are on the app and the care plans have been informative and easy to access.” Staff confirmed care plans and risk assessments were kept up to date and reflected people’s current needs. Staff told us changes to people’s health and well-being were quickly responded to and addressed with the help of external health professionals.

The leadership team ensured there were effective systems to monitor people’s care and treatment. Records showed staff worked alongside health and social care professionals. Records showed staff monitored risks to people’s health and wellbeing, and what intervention had taken place to reduce further deterioration.

People told us they were not routinely asked about the gender of staff to assist them with personal care. For example, “They help me with personal care. I wasn’t asked if I wanted a male or female. I wouldn't want a male, so far, I’ve been lucky and had females.” However, during the inspection we saw staff gaining consent from people before they assisted them with day to day tasks, such as supporting with everyday tasks.

Improvements were needed to demonstrate best practice around assessing mental capacity, supporting decision-making and best interest decision-making. During the inspection, discussion with the leadership team identified the processes to complete deprivation of liberties applications needed to be improved. The provider confirmed these improvements would be implemented.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. The MCA requires that, as far as possible, people make their own decisions and are helped to do so when needed. When they lack mental capacity to take particular decisions, any made on their behalf must be in their best interests and as least restrictive as possible. People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the MCA. In care homes, and some hospitals, this is usually through MCA application procedures called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA, whether appropriate legal authorisations were in place when needed to deprive a person of their liberty, and whether any conditions relating to those authorisations were being met.

On this inspection, we saw applications had increased to work within the principles of the MCA. During the inspection, we contacted the local authority’s deprivation of liberties team to clarify what measures were in place to protect people’s safety. Staff had submitted referrals appropriately. However, this was not the case for one person who, according to staff, had complex needs due to the impact of dementia on their mental capacity to make particular decisions. Staff said this would be addressed.

We saw people’s preference regarding the gender of staff assisting with personal care was not routinely recorded in their care plans. Staff said this would be addressed.