CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Whitebirch Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, PPE, testing, admissions, visiting arrangements and the management of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Whitebirch Lodge was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 23 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures were affecting care.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using PPE safely, supporting testing, managing visitors and admissions safely, and keeping its infection control policy up to date. Staff also had measures to reduce the effect of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give a new overall rating or full ratings for all five areas of care.
COVID-19 testing
The provider had arrangements for people and staff to follow government testing guidance.
“The provider ensured all people and staff were following government guidance in relation to Covid-19 testing.” from the report
PPE arrangements
Staff used masks, gloves and aprons in line with government guidance. There were safe places to dispose of used PPE and put on new PPE.
“Staff followed government guidance in relation to wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves and aprons.” from the report
Visits
People received regular visits, with choices about whether to meet in the visiting pod or in their rooms. Visitors followed testing and PPE requirements.
“People received regular visits from their loves ones. People and their relatives chose where they met;” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing any COVID-19-related staffing pressures now, and what effect have they had on care?
- 02What testing and PPE arrangements are currently required for staff and visitors?
- 03How are visits organised now, and can residents choose where they meet their visitors?
- 04How do you prevent and manage infection outbreaks, and when was the infection prevention and control policy last updated?
- 05How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the current COVID-19 vaccination requirements or have an exemption?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 March 2022 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, December 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 14 November 2019. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They also checked care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, personalised care plans, kind support and good links with health professionals.
The previous inspection had rated the home Requires Improvement. Problems then included staff training, staffing calculations, care plan detail, out-of-date policies and management oversight. Inspectors found these areas had improved, and the home was no longer in breach of the regulations.
Enough trained staff
The home had improved its staffing assessment system. Inspectors found staffing levels were consistently above the levels calculated as necessary, and people did not report waiting for help.
“Staffing levels were consistently above those required. Staff responded quickly to people's needs and people told us they did not have to wait.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's needs, preferences and important personal details. Staff used these plans and their knowledge of people to tailor support.
“The plans were thorough and contained specific details about people which helped staff to get to know them.” from the report
Kind and respectful support
People and relatives said staff were kind and caring. Staff respected people's choices, dignity and independence, including when people preferred to spend time in their rooms.
“People and their relatives told us that staff were kind, caring and compassionate.” from the report
Good response to health needs
Staff contacted health professionals when people were unwell and followed advice. The home had also bought equipment so trained staff could provide more information to health professionals.
“They are good here, they always contact us if there are any worries and we know they follow any advice we give them.” from the report
Improvements after the last inspection
Inspectors found that earlier problems with training, management checks, staffing calculations, care plans and policies had been addressed.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you now check that staffing levels continue to match people's needs?
- 02How often are staff training and competency checks reviewed?
- 03How are care plans updated when a person's needs, preferences or health change?
- 04How do you record and review 'as and when' medicines and their effectiveness?
- 05How are people's end of life wishes discussed and kept up to date?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 December 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 Whitebirch Lodge
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 December 2010.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.