CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Whitegates
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and discrimination, staffing levels were suitable, risks were assessed, and medicines were given safely. The home was clean and staff used infection-control equipment.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- The home used an early warning system and worked with health professionals to identify changes in people's health and help avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. Inspectors also found strong support with nutrition, hydration, training and complex health needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind, compassionate and respectful. People were encouraged to express their views and take part in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care and activities were based on people's histories, interests, preferences and aspirations. The home supported community links and considered communication, cultural, religious and equality needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open and inclusive culture, approachable management and effective quality checks. People, relatives and staff were invited to give feedback, and the provider acted on issues raised.
What inspectors found, July 2018
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptional personalised care and health support, with Safe, Caring and Well-led rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 25 and 29 June 2018. The first visit was unannounced. They spoke with people, relatives, staff, managers and health professionals. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, training, complaints, incidents and quality checks.
The home supported 35 people and had space for up to 37. Inspectors found a strong focus on people's individual histories, interests, health needs and goals. Staff supported people to stay well, eat and drink safely, maintain relationships and take part in activities that mattered to them.
The overall rating improved from Good in September 2015 to Outstanding. Effective care and Responsive care were rated Outstanding. Safe, Caring and Well-led were rated Good. The report says people felt safe, respected and listened to, and that the management team used checks and feedback to improve the service.
Personalised support
The home took time to understand people's past lives, relationships and ambitions. It then created opportunities linked to what mattered to each person.
“The provider took a genuine interest in people's personal history, skills, interests and aspirations.” from the report
Health support
Staff were trained to notice changes in health and worked with local health services. Inspectors found that this helped improve health outcomes and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
“People experienced enhanced health outcomes, and avoided unnecessary hospitalisation, due to the provider's proactive approach to meeting their health needs” from the report
Activities and community links
Activities reflected people's interests and goals. The home also brought in schools, groups and other community organisations to create new experiences and relationships.
“People benefited from a rich programme of recreational activities which reflected their preferences and aspirations.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff got to know people well, listened to them and supported their dignity, privacy and independence.
“Staff adopted a kind, compassionate approach to their work, and took the time to get to know people well as individuals.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How is the early warning sign system used now, and how do you respond if my relative's health changes?
- 02How will you find out about my relative's history, interests and goals, and turn these into activities or opportunities?
- 03How do you assess and manage eating, drinking and weight-loss risks, including when specialist advice is needed?
- 04How will you support my relative's communication, cultural, religious or equality needs?
- 05How are people's end-of-life wishes recorded, reviewed and shared with the staff team and family?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions; ratings for all five areas were given and the report compares them with the previous inspection in September 2015. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 July 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 Whitegates
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- July 2018Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 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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11 live-in carers within about an hour of Herefordshire, County of
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 £960 to £1,410 a week. 10 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.