Westwinds 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 both were looked at during this inspection. Westwinds accommodates 14 people, some of whom may be living with varying degrees of dementia, in one adapted building.

At the last inspection the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who knew them well and were focussed on promoting their independence and happiness. Staff received on-going training, supervision and support to develop the skills and expertise required to undertake their roles.

A wide range of interesting and meaningful activities were available to people and relationships with the local community were well established. These measures all promoted people's social interactions, well-being and self-esteem.

Staff were caring and treated people with dignity and respect and ensured people's privacy was maintained, particularly when being supported with their personal care needs.

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 support this practice. Promoting and maintaining people's independence was a key feature of the home.

Staff worked closely with external professionals to promote people's physical and mental well-being. People's medicines were managed safely and in the way they preferred. People were supported to have a balanced diet that met their cultural and health needs.

Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff had received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults. Staff knew how to recognise abuse and told us they would report any concerns.

The registered manager provided good leadership. Staff told us they felt they were listened to and valued by the registered manager and provider.

There was a complaints policy which was available in an easy read format and complaints had been responded to and resolved appropriately.

Regular checks and reviews of the service, including the environment, continued to be made to ensure people experienced good quality, safe care and support.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

People who lived in the home were keen to engage with us and they spoke at length about their lives in the home. They told us that the care was "excellent", "very good" and "couldn't be better".

They told us that they received good levels of care and support and that they were very happy with all of the staff team. They also said that they enjoyed the activities, outings and parties in the home. One person said:

"We have a lot of fun here..."

Other people said:

"We all get on well here and we had a lovely garden party in the summer and now we are planning our Halloween party."

We spoke to a visiting health professional who rated the home as "excellent."

People told us they liked the food and were given as much choice as possible. We were told by the people we spoke to:

"The food is excellent...plenty of choice and good home cooking, nice home made soup and home baking."

"The food is marvellous and I eat very well...".

The home was adapted and extended from two houses and all areas were clean, orderly and homely. We asked the provider to look into updating the arrangements around fire safety and we also asked Cumbria Fire and Rescue to assist them with these matters.

The home had suitable equipment to help people who might have difficulties with moving around.

New staff were recruited to ensure that they were suitable to care for vulnerable older people.

The service kept good records that allowed the service to run smoothly.

We learned from people who lived in the home that they were always asked for their consent and that any plan of care was drawn up with their agreement.

"I am never forced to do anything...I might be persuaded but the staff do things the way I want."

People in the home received personal and health care that met their needs. They had activities and outings and people were happy with the environment, the food they received and the way the staff treated them.

"I am so glad I came here...I lived somewhere else and what a difference. The manager and staff here have time for us all. They give us the care and attention we all need."

Medicines were managed carefully in this home with secure storage, good records and regular reviews of people's need for medication.

The home was appropriately staffed for the needs of the people living in the home. The staff team were experienced and well trained.

People in the home were able to voice any concerns and knew how to make a formal complaint. One person said:

"There is no need really as there is nothing to complain about and the manager can often guess if I am not happy and will ask me. So any small things are sorted out before they become complaints. I don't have any thing that worries me here."

We enjoyed conversing with people in the home and they were keen to talk to us about their experiences.

"It was the best decision I have made for a long time. I am very settled and content".

"I have only been in for a few weeks and hope I can stay as I feel like I have always been here".

"The staff are so good...nothing is too much trouble for them. They are there when I need them".

"I like living here...I have everything I need and everyone is friendly and kind".

And we also spoke to visitors who could speak on behalf of people.

"We are so pleased with the care...we can stop worrying...she is getting the best of everything".

"I visit a lot and I think she is well cared for and very calm in here. I have no concerns".

This was an unannounced inspection with two visits to the service on 20th and 28th of November 2014 .

Westwinds is a fourteen place home for older adults, some of whom may be living with varying degrees of dementia.

Westwinds is situated in a residential area of Harrington and is near to the harbour and the railways station. It is near to all the local amenities of the village. The building is two houses that have been converted and adapted to provide single accommodation. Four bedrooms have ensuite facilities. There are four areas used for sitting and dining. Outside there is a small garden to the rear of the property. Parking is on the street.

The home has a registered manager who has been in post for a number of years. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We looked at arrangments in place for preventing and managing any potential harm or abuse to people who lived in the service. We saw that people in the home were carefully monitored but given the opportunities to stay as independednt as possible. The staff were appropriately trained in matters of safeguarding.

New staff had no contact with people in the service until all background checks were completed. Once in post staff were suitably trained and developed. The company had appropriate policies and procedures in place to manage performance in the staff team. We judged that there were enough suitably trained staff on duty at all times to ensure people were kept safe and well.

Medicines were managed correctly and staff given suitable training.

We checked on the food provided and we saw that people were given a choice of the meals, snacks and drinks they preferred and which would keep them as well as possible.

Staff in the home understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983. No one in the home was being deprived of their liberty. We saw from observation, talking with people and reading notes that people were asked for their consent in all aspects of their lives.

The people who lived in the home and their visitors were very positive about how caring the staff team were. Several people said that the manager was a very caring person who involved the family in the life of the home. People told us that the staff understood all their preferences and needs. People’s values and beliefs were part of their care plan. We saw that staff understood preferences and made sure that people got all their needs met as well as possible.

We saw that staff were skilled in providing good end of life care with the support of the GP and the community nurses.

Each person had an individualised care plan that included all aspects of their lives. These were based on detailed assessments and detailed life stories.

People told us about the activities, entertainments and outings available. We learned that there were a wide range of varied and interesting activities on offer. The home had extensive networks with the local community.

No one had any complaints on the day but the service had suitable procedures in place to manage complaints.

We had evidence to show that the owners and the registered manager had a philosophy of care that put the individual at the centre of the service. People we spoke to were happy with the leadership and told us that the management were open and responsive.

We saw evidence of a detailed quality monitoring system that fed into planning for the future of the home. People in the home, their visitors and the staff told us they felt their opinions were valued and changes made appropriately. People in the home were involved in recruitment and selection of new staff and could influence the way the home was managed.