CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Whiteacres Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors looked at COVID-19 testing, staff working while positive, protective equipment and infection control. They found appropriate precautions, complete test records and arrangements to reduce infection transmission.
- Effective?
- Requires improvement
- This question was not assessed during the targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during the targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during the targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during the targeted inspection, although inspectors found the managers open and transparent during this visit.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection controls and said the previous Good rating remained unchanged.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 28 January 2021. It looked at a concern about whether staff who had tested positive for COVID-19 were working in the home, and checked infection control arrangements.
Inspectors found that the home took appropriate action when staff tested positive. Testing records were complete. Staff used protective equipment safely, the home was clean, and there were plans to separate staff caring for people who tested positive from those caring for people who did not.
The home was inspected but not rated at this visit. The previous overall rating was Good, published in August 2019, and it remained unchanged because this inspection did not assess all areas.
COVID-19 precautions
The home had infection control procedures, followed government guidance and took action when staff tested positive.
“The inspection assured us the registered manager took all necessary precautions to prevent staff working in the service whilst COVID-19 positive.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff had access to gloves, aprons, masks and hand sanitiser, and inspectors saw them using and disposing of protective equipment safely.
“Staff were observed to be using and disposing of PPE safely.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home visibly clean and tidy, with regular cleaning taking place.
“The service was visibly clean and tidy, and regular cleaning took place throughout the service.” from the report
Outbreak planning
There were plans to use different staff for people who tested positive and negative during an outbreak, reducing the risk of spread.
“These arrangements ensured staff would not support both COVID-19 positive and negative people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you now make sure staff who test positive for COVID-19 do not work in the home?
- 02How are COVID-19 test results recorded and checked?
- 03What arrangements are in place to keep staff caring for COVID-19 positive people separate from other staff during an outbreak?
- 04How often are infection control policies reviewed and updated?
This was a targeted inspection focused on a specific COVID-19 staffing concern and infection prevention and control; the previous ratings were not reassessed and remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 February 2021 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, August 2019
Whiteacres Residential Care Home was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but effectiveness still Requires Improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 05 July 2019. The inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They also reviewed care records, medicines records and management checks.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, kind support, personalised care and approachable management.
Effective was rated Requires Improvement, as some capacity assessments and care plans did not give staff enough clear, individual information about risks and healthcare needs. The home had started making changes, including improving its electronic care planning system. The overall rating remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs safely. Staff had time to spend with people and responded promptly when help was requested.
“There were enough staff to ensure that people's needs were met safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were caring and reassuring. They respected people's privacy, dignity, choices and independence.
“We saw caring interaction between staff and people throughout the inspection.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people well and understood their preferences and support needs. Care plans were personalised and regularly updated.
“People were supported by staff who knew them well and understood their preferences.” from the report
Open management
The manager was approachable and people, relatives and staff had opportunities to give feedback. The home used audits and partnership working to improve care.
“Audits were regularly completed to measure the quality of the care provided and to set actions to improve it.” from the report
Capacity assessments
needs fixingSome records did not clearly show how decisions had been reached for people who lacked capacity. Inspectors recommended that the provider continue reviewing these assessments.
“However, they were not always decision specific or detailed to describe how the judgement was made.” from the report
Individual health guidance
needs fixingCare plans and daily records did not always clearly identify individual risks, such as dehydration, weight loss or repositioning needs. The provider changed the electronic care plan after the inspection to improve the information available to staff.
“Although these care plans contained information to support specific conditions, the individual support required was not always clearly evident.” from the report
Pureed meal presentation
minorOne pureed meal was served as a single puree rather than with each part separate. Inspectors said more attractive presentation could help preserve enjoyment and encourage appetite.
“However, although one person ate this meal and seemed to enjoy it, it was presented in one puree rather than each aspect of the meal being individually done.” from the report
- 01How have you improved capacity assessments so they are specific to each decision and clearly explain how the judgement was reached?
- 02How do current care plans identify individual risks such as dehydration, weight loss and skin damage?
- 03How do you make sure health professionals' instructions, such as repositioning advice, are communicated to every member of staff?
- 04How are pureed meals presented now, and how do you make sure people can enjoy different tastes and textures where appropriate?
- 05What changes have been made to the electronic care planning system since the inspection?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, and the previous Good overall rating from 2017 remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 August 2019 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 Whiteacres Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Whiteacres Residential Care Home →
- August 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Whiteacres Residential Care Home →
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 February 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.
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