Westleigh House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and we looked at both during this inspection. 10 people with learning and physical disability were receiving residential care at Westleigh House. One was in hospital at the time of the inspection. People using the service were over 64 years of age. Westleigh House has been adapted to provide accommodation over two floors, with a vertical lift between floors.

The care service is aware of the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. There were currently no plans to reduce the size of the service or amend the current registration at Westleigh House but people using the service were living as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection, we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

Safety arrangements protected people. This included recruitment, staffing, preventing infection, medicine management, and maintaining the premises. Staff knew how to recognise and protect people from abuse and discrimination.

Systems for risk management were not fully robust. Although risk from pressure damage was mitigated, this risk was not formally assessed and staff said they had not received training in pressure sore prevention in recent years. We recommend the provider to review the arrangements for protecting vulnerable people from pressure damage.

People received a caring service, which recognised their need for privacy and respect. All engagements between staff and people using the service were friendly, relaxed, gave people value and showed they were cared for. People’s family members said, “I’ve always felt it was a very family atmosphere.”

People lived full lives according to their preference and ability. The premises were adapted so that people had equal access to shared areas, and their private rooms were personalised.

Staff skill, competence, and effectiveness helped them provide the care and support people needed. Staff described their training as “High Standard”. People’s family members said there was a consistent team of staff, who knew people very well.

Staff upheld people’s legal rights. This included gaining their consent to care and treatment and upholding the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People received a nutritious, varied diet, meeting their individual health care needs. Attention was given to health monitoring, particularly as people’s needs changed with age. This included appropriate requests for advice and treatment from external health care professionals.

Detailed, well organised, care and support plans provided staff with the information they needed to provide person centred care. An understanding by staff of people’s communication helped them provide that care because they knew what people wanted.

Staff felt well supported and praised the approach of the registered manager. Audits, and monitoring, carried out in-house and through the provider, ensured any problem could be identified and rectified. People, their families and others were encouraged to offer their thoughts and ideas.

The registered manager understood and met their legal responsibilities.

This inspection took place on 10 December 2015 and was an unannounced inspection.

Westleigh House specialises in providing care and support to adults who have a learning disability, autism and/or a physical disability. Accommodation is arranged over two levels with stairs providing access to the first floor. The home can accommodate up to 12 people. All bedrooms are for single occupancy and the home is staffed 24 hours a day.

At the time of our inspection there were 11 people living at the home. The people we met with had complex physical and learning disabilities and not all were able to tell us about their experiences of life at the home. We therefore used our observations of care and our discussions with staff to help form our judgements.

The manager had submitted an application to be registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People appeared happy and content with the staff who supported them. Staff interacted with people in a kind and caring manner. Routines in the home were flexible and were based on the preferences and needs of the people who lived there.

Staffing levels were good. There were enough staff to meet people’s physical, emotional and social needs. People were supported by a staff team who knew them well. Staff received the support and training they needed to carry out their role. There were systems in place to make sure staff’s skills and knowledge remained up to date.

People received their medicines when they needed them. Medicines were stored securely and were only administered by staff who had been trained and deemed competent to carry out the task.

People’s health care needs were monitored and met by staff. People saw their GP and other specialist health and social care professionals when they needed to. People’s nutritional needs were assessed to make sure they received a diet in line with their needs and wishes.

People were supported to maintain relationships with the people who were important to them, such as friends and relatives.

Staff knew how to recognise and report any signs of abuse. They told us they would not hesitate in reporting concerns and were confident action would be taken to ensure people were safe.

Staff received the training they needed which enabled them to support the people who lived at the home.

People were always asked for their consent before staff assisted them with any tasks and staff knew the procedures to follow to make sure people’s legal and human rights were protected.