CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Whitefriars Nursing and Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found safe staffing, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines systems and effective infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. The previous Good rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. The previous Good rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, choices and medical conditions. Staff knew people well, supported activities and responded to complaints and feedback.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was described as well managed and organised. Managers were visible, staff felt supported and regular audits, meetings and feedback systems were in place.
What inspectors found, October 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, but Effective and Caring were not inspected this time.
Inspectors visited the home unannounced on 5 September 2023. They spoke with people living there, relatives, managers and care staff. They reviewed care records, staff files, medicines arrangements and the home's quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Responsive and Well-led were each rated Good. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, had enough staff, received personalised care and benefited from regular management checks.
Effective and Caring were not inspected during this visit. Their previous Good ratings were carried forward to calculate the overall rating. The last inspection also rated the service Good, published on 17 March 2018.
Enough trained staff
Inspectors found enough staff to support people safely. Staff had recruitment checks, induction, training and regular supervision, and the home did not use agency staff.
“The provider had enough staff to care for and support people and did not use agency staff.” from the report
Personalised care
Care was planned around people's individual needs, choices and preferences. Staff could explain people's current needs and knew their likes and dislikes.
“Care was planned around people's individual needs and choices.” from the report
Safe medicines and infection control
Nursing staff were trained to administer medicines, with yearly competency checks and monthly audits. Inspectors were also assured about infection prevention and control.
“Medicines were managed consistently and safely in line with national guidance” from the report
Active management oversight
Managers were visible and listened to people. Regular audits, team meetings and daily staff huddles were used to monitor care and discuss concerns.
“The registered managers had a system of regular scheduled audits in place, which were effective.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently check that care is effective, given that Effective was not inspected during this visit?
- 02How do you make sure staff remain caring and respectful, given that Caring was not inspected during this visit?
- 03Can you show us how my relative's care plan would be reviewed and updated as their needs change?
- 04How are medicines errors identified, recorded and followed up?
- 05What activities and one-to-one support would be available if my relative was supported in their room?
This was a focused inspection that considered Safe, Responsive and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; Effective and Caring were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 October 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, March 2018
Whitefriars Nursing and Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with earlier medicines and risk assessment problems addressed.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 20 and 22 February 2018. Inspectors reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, staff recruitment files, audits, complaints and safety records. They observed care and spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People were described as safe and well supported. Inspectors found that medicines were managed safely, risks were assessed, staffing was sufficient, and staff were trained.
The report says earlier problems with medicines and risk assessments, found in September 2017, had been addressed. Care records were up to date and person-centred. People received kind care, suitable food, healthcare support, activities and support with their cultural, religious and end of life wishes.
Medicines and risk management
The home had corrected the earlier problems with medicines and risk assessments. Inspectors found records complete, medicines safely stored and risks managed through care plans.
“Medicines were being safely managed and risk assessments were in place and being followed to identify and minimise risks to individuals.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and adapted care around their routines and preferences. Inspectors saw staff offering reassurance, explanations and choices.
“Staff provided care in a kind, compassionate and sensitive way.” from the report
Person-centred records
Care plans covered people's health, personal care, communication, nutrition, mobility, interests and end of life care. Inspectors found the records current and detailed.
“Care plans were comprehensive, person centred and reflected each person's care and support needs and how these were to be met.” from the report
Activities and interests
The activities programme considered people's interests and abilities. The activities co-ordinator also spent time with people who preferred to stay in their rooms.
“The provision of social and recreational activities took into account people's interests and abilities and people enjoyed taking part.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home used regular audits, surveys and action plans to monitor care, medicines, records, safety and the premises. Inspectors found issues were identified and addressed.
“Processes were in place for monitoring the service and any issues were identified and addressed.” from the report
Employment history checks
minorTwo staff records had gaps in employment history that had not been explored when they were recruited. The provider addressed this during the inspection and reviewed all employee records.
“We noted gaps in employment records for two staff that had not been explored at the time the staff were recruited.” from the report
- 01How are medicines records and stock checks audited now, and what happens if an error is found?
- 02How often are my relative's risk assessments reviewed when their needs or mobility change?
- 03How will you make sure employment gaps and other recruitment checks are fully recorded for every new staff member?
- 04What activities would be available if my relative preferred to spend time in their room?
- 05How would you record and follow my relative's cultural, religious and end of life wishes?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 March 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 Whitefriars Nursing and Residential Home
5 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Whitefriars Nursing and Residential Home →
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Whitefriars Nursing and Residential Home →
- October 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014Inspected but not rated
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 November 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Ealing
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 £1,300 a week. 77 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“She has an unusual combination of kindness and firmness, is quite unflappable, physically strong, extremely savvy”
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.