51a Westmead is a residential care home in Castleford. The home provides accommodation and personal care for people with learning disabilities, specialising in caring for those who display behaviours that challenge. The building is separated into seven distinct flats, one for each of the people who uses the service. At the time of inspection, the home was fully occupied.

People’s experience of using this service:

• The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways. Each person had their own individual flat including living space and kitchen which had been adapted to their individual needs and preferences. There was a strong focus on promoting choice, control and independence. People’s support focused on taking positive risks to ensure they had as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become independent.

• People received good care and support which met their individual needs. One health professional said, “I have found the Bridge to be one of the most effective and supportive environments I have ever worked in.”

• People, relatives and health professionals praised the home and the way in which care was provided.

• People were supported in a safe environment. Risks to people’s health and safety were assessed and mitigated. The service learnt lessons and improved the safety of the service following incidents.

• Restrictive interventions were only used as a last resort and in people’s best interests and there was a strong focus on reducing these interventions over time.

• There were enough staff deployed to ensure people received their required care and support. Staff were kind and caring and treated people well. Staff knew people well and had developed good, caring relationships with them.

• Staff had received bespoke training to enable them to care for the individuals living within the home.

• People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

• The service was well managed. The management team were well respected and had good oversight of the service. They were looking to continuously improve and develop the service.

Rating at last inspection:

This was the first inspection of the service since it registered in April 2018.

Why we inspected:

Whilst a routine inspection was planned, the inspection was brought forward due to a notification received from the provider where a person had the potential to suffer harm. This inspection examined those risks.