CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Western House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable staffing and recruitment, safe medicines support, clean premises and effective infection control.
- Effective?
- Good
- This report does not give a rating or detailed findings for Effective.
- Caring?
- Good
- This report does not give a rating or detailed findings for Caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This report does not give a rating or detailed findings for Responsive.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear management arrangements, regular audits and an open culture. People and staff were involved in the service, and managers worked with outside professionals.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Western House is rated Good; inspectors found safe care and strong management.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 27 November 2023. One inspector met everyone using the home, spoke with three people and three staff, and checked care records, risk assessments, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People were supported to take reasonable risks, manage their medicines safely and take part in the local community. Staff checks, staffing levels, infection control and incident reviews were also found to be suitable.
The home had an open culture. People and staff were involved in how it was run, and managers worked with health and social care professionals. The overall rating was unchanged from the previous Good rating, published in January 2018.
Support with choice and risk
People were supported to make choices, take reasonable risks and be part of the local community.
“People were supported to take reasonable risks, so that they could do things they enjoyed and be part of the local community.” from the report
Safe medicines support
People could develop their independence with medicines, moving from staff administration to prompts and then self-medication where appropriate.
“People were supported to manage their own medicines independently.” from the report
Clean and safe environment
Inspectors found the home clean and staff followed infection prevention and control procedures.
“The service was kept clean, and people were protected from the risk of an acquired health infection.” from the report
Positive culture
People and staff spoke positively about the culture, and managers supported person-centred recovery plans.
“There was a positive and open culture at the service.” from the report
Learning from incidents
Managers reviewed incidents for patterns and possible actions to reduce the chance of them happening again.
“Incidents were reviewed by the registered manager and deputy, to look for any themes and trends and identify any actions that could be taken to minimise reoccurrence.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and review my relative's individual risks before admission?
- 02How would you support my relative to manage their medicines safely and build independence if appropriate?
- 03How do you involve people in their recovery plans and regular reviews?
- 04How do you review incidents and make sure lessons are acted on?
- 05How would you support my relative during an infection outbreak?
This was an unannounced inspection focused on Safe and Well-led; the other three key questions were not rated in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 December 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, January 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with the home still rated Good in every area.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 30 November 2017. One inspector spoke with three people, staff and the managers. They reviewed care, staffing and quality records, including three people's care records.
The home provides accommodation and personal care for five people with mental health needs. People told inspectors they felt safe, respected and supported. Staff helped people build independence, take part in work and leisure activities, and access health services.
Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, personalised care plans and good links with health and social care professionals. The home was clean and well maintained. All five areas were rated Good, and the overall rating remained Good from the previous inspection in October 2015.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to support people at home and in the community. Staffing could be increased when people's needs required it.
“Records showed there were enough staff employed to support people at the service and to accompany them when they went out if this was required.” from the report
Building independence
The home supported people to develop daily living skills, find work or volunteering opportunities and move towards living more independently.
“The service focused on empowering people and supporting them to move towards independent living.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People said staff were caring and kind. Staff respected personal space, privacy and dignity, including by allowing people to have their own bedrooms and keys.
“People told us staff at the service were caring and kind and the service had a family atmosphere.” from the report
People's views used
The home collected views through conversations, surveys and residents' meetings. Inspectors found that feedback led to changes to the service.
“The results of the Autumn 2017 survey showed that management and staff had made changes to the service as a result of people's comments and feedback.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative to manage their medicines, and what would the steps towards self-medicating be?
- 02What activities, work, education or volunteering opportunities could you offer my relative?
- 03How would you assess and review risks if my relative wanted to go out alone or open their bedroom window?
- 04How would my relative's mental health care be coordinated with their GP, community psychiatric nurse and other professionals?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in reviewing their care plan?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions and reviewing care, staffing and quality records. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 January 2018 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Western House
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 September 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
78 live-in carers within about an hour of Derby
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
“Rachel is a quietly spoken, extremely caring person and looked after Val very well.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.