CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Whitehaven Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, May 2022
Whitehaven Care Home is rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind and effective care, but ongoing safety and management problems.
This was an unannounced inspection on 25 and 26 April 2022. Inspectors reviewed records and checks, spoke with 13 people, two relatives and six staff, and observed daily care.
Some improvements had been made since the previous inspection in 2019. Care was now rated Good for Effective and Responsive. People’s needs, choices, communication and food and drink support were better recorded and followed.
Safety and management were still rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found hot radiators without risk assessments, worn parts on walking frames, unclean or damaged areas, storage in corridors and gaps in guidance for some medicines. The home had taken immediate action on some issues, but the report says further improvement was needed.
Better care planning
Care plans gave clearer guidance about people’s needs, choices, communication and food and drink support. This was an improvement since the previous inspection.
“At this inspection, enough improvement had been made and this was no longer a breach of regulation.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to do what they could for themselves and to make choices about daily routines, such as when to have breakfast.
“People told us they were supported to be independent and make their own choices.” from the report
Kind end of life care
Staff knew some people’s personal preferences and supported them with kindness and dignity towards the end of life.
“People were supported with kindness and dignity towards the end of their life.” from the report
People felt safe
Everyone spoken to by inspectors said they felt safe. Staff also described how they would report suspected abuse.
“All of the people we spoke with said they felt safe.” from the report
Unmanaged environmental risks
seriousFour communal-area radiators were hot to touch without risk assessments. Some walking frames had worn rubber ferrules, which could affect their grip.
“There were no risk assessments in place, and this meant people were at increased risk of experiencing an avoidable burn.” from the report
Cleanliness and maintenance
needs fixingInspectors saw visibly unclean areas, damaged flooring, staining and residue on bathing equipment. Corridors were also being used for storage, creating trip and infection risks.
“Some areas of the service were visibly unclean and required maintenance.” from the report
Medicine guidance
seriousInstructions for medicines given when needed did not always explain how long to leave between doses. The manager updated the protocols during the inspection.
“Shortfalls we identified in relation to risk management, assessment and monitoring, and protocols for 'as required medicines, were a continued breach of regulation 12” from the report
Checks did not find problems
needs fixingAudits had said radiators were protected, but inspectors found some were not. Checks on walking frames also failed to identify worn parts.
“Audits and checks were not always used effectively and had not always identified shortfalls we found during our inspection.” from the report
Training and supervision
needs fixingSome staff had not completed required training or supervision. The manager had an action plan to improve this.
“The registered manager was aware not all staff had received their required training, and supervision sessions.” from the report
Inconsistent activities
minorActivities were not provided consistently. People were often sitting listening to the radio during the inspection, although trips and entertainers had taken place.
“Activities provision in the service was inconsistent. For example, the service had hired a minibus and supported people to visit a safari park, and external entertainers had visited the service.” from the report
- 01What has been done to cover or make safe the communal radiators, and when was this completed?
- 02How are walking frames now checked, and how quickly are worn ferrules replaced?
- 03How do staff know the correct spacing between doses for medicines given when needed?
- 04Which staff still need training or supervision, and what is the timetable for completing it?
- 05What regular activities are now available, and how is the home checking that they meet each person’s interests?
This was an unannounced inspection prompted by concerns about medicines and staffing, with Safe and other areas examined; any key question not inspected used its previous rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 May 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, April 2019
Rated Requires Improvement for the second time; inspectors found kind care but repeated problems with records, medicines and quality checks.
Inspectors visited without notice on 24 and 30 January 2019. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care records, staff files, medicines records, complaints, accidents and the home's checks on quality and safety.
The home was rated Good for caring. Inspectors saw warm and respectful interactions. People were offered choices, supported to remain independent, and welcomed visitors. Staff knew people well and helped with activities and daily routines.
The other four areas were rated Requires Improvement. Records about medicines, nutrition, risks and people's changing needs were not always complete or accurate. Some windows and wardrobes were unsafe, although these were fixed during the inspection. The home's checks had not found these problems.
The home had been rated Requires Improvement at the previous inspection in January 2018. Inspectors found three breaches of regulations at this inspection and said the Care Quality Commission would monitor improvements.
Kind and respectful care
People described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw staff supporting people warmly and respectfully, including during meals and medicines.
“We observed staff were overall warm, friendly and supportive of people's needs.” from the report
People's choices and independence
People were offered choices about activities, food and daily routines. Staff encouraged people to do what they could for themselves.
“People's independence was promoted.” from the report
Staff training and safe recruitment
Staff had induction and training in areas including safeguarding, fire safety, moving and handling and the Mental Capacity Act. Recruitment checks were completed before staff started work.
“Staff received training and records showed that training for staff was up to date.” from the report
Positive relationships and communication
People, relatives and staff said the manager was approachable. Handover meetings, a message book and regular meetings helped share information.
“People and staff felt the registered manager was accessible and approachable.” from the report
Activities and family contact
The home offered group and individual activities, and visitors were welcomed. People were supported to maintain family relationships and friendships.
“We saw that there were activities such as singers and visits from a scout group, games, bingo and gentle exercise.” from the report
Inaccurate care records
seriousCare plans and risk assessments did not always reflect people's current needs, preferences or health conditions. This could make it harder for staff to provide consistent support.
“Care records lacked consistency which meant that some people's preferences, choices and needs were not fully detailed.” from the report
Medicine recording
seriousMedicine records were not always complete or accurate. Some guidance and records for medicines taken when needed and pain-relief patches were not detailed enough.
“However, the quality of the recording of medicines management were inconsistent.” from the report
Nutrition and hydration monitoring
seriousSome nutrition and fluid records lacked clear targets or current information. Inspectors said this meant shortfalls might not be identified early enough and one person was at risk of dehydration.
“Without this information the person was at the risk of dehydration.” from the report
Environmental safety
seriousSix wardrobes were not secured to walls and three windows did not have restrictors. The provider fixed these during the second inspection day, but the home's checks had not identified the risks.
“People were at risk of falling out of the window or crushed if a wardrobe fell on top of them.” from the report
Quality checks were not effective
seriousAudits had not found repeated problems with records and medicines. Accidents and incidents were not analysed for each person to identify patterns or check whether actions worked.
“The provider had not always ensured that care records were accurate and complete.” from the report
Staff supervision records
needs fixingStaff said they received supervision, but the records did not consistently show that meetings took place or what actions were agreed. Inspectors made a recommendation about improving these records.
“Supervision was not consistently recorded.” from the report
- 01What has changed since the inspection to make sure medicines records are complete and accurate, including records for pain-relief patches and medicines taken when needed?
- 02How do you now keep care plans and risk assessments up to date when a person's health or support needs change?
- 03How do you record and review people's food and fluid targets, particularly where there is a risk of malnutrition or dehydration?
- 04What checks now make sure wardrobes, windows and other environmental risks are identified promptly?
- 05What action has been taken to meet Regulations 9, 12 and 17, and what evidence can you show that these improvements are working?
This was an unannounced inspection of the home as a whole, including accommodation and care, and it reviewed people's experiences, records, medicines, staffing, complaints and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 April 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 Whitehaven Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- May 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2018Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 August 2015.
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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