CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Whiteheather
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, including one-to-one support. Infection control, safeguarding, risk management and medicines were generally handled safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous comprehensive inspection rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous comprehensive inspection rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- People received personalised support and had choices about routines, food and activities. Inspectors found that support to build independence and take part in activities was not always consistent.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers were visible, open about problems and used checks and feedback to improve the service. There were effective arrangements to manage the home when senior staff were absent.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring support, but staff skills for independence and activities needed further development.
Inspectors visited on four dates in February and March 2022. They met all five people living at the home, spoke with staff, families and professionals, and checked care, medicine, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Responsive and Well-led were rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine practices, good infection control and personalised support. The home had improved from Requires Improvement for Safe at the previous inspection.
This was a focused inspection because concerns had been raised about staffing and COVID-19 infection control. Effective and Caring were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were used in the overall rating.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, including one-to-one support. Staff were described as skilled and familiar with the people they supported.
“At this inspection, we found there were enough staff to meet people's needs, including for one-to-one support for people.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff used medicines safely and tried other ways to support people who became distressed before using prescribed medicines. The home also reviewed medicine use.
“The service ensured people were not controlled or restricted by excessive and inappropriate use of medicines.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and communication styles. Inspectors saw staff supporting flexible routines and helping people make choices.
“Staff provided people with personalised and co-ordinated support in line with individual needs.” from the report
Open management
Managers accepted challenge, worked with staff and were honest with families when problems occurred. The home worked with families, advocates and outside professionals.
“We found the registered manager was open about mistakes which had happened, in particular the dip in quality due to staffing pressures.” from the report
Independence was not always supported consistently
needs fixingA care plan said a person could make a cup of tea with support, but inspectors did not see this happening consistently. The manager was asked to develop staff skills in this area.
“We recommend the registered manager develop staff skills to ensure people are consistently supported to maximise their independence.” from the report
Activities needed more specialist support
needs fixingNot all staff had the specialist skills needed to support people with activities, including people with sensory needs or limited mobility. The manager was already working to improve staff skills.
“We recommend the registered manager seek specialist resources to develop staff skills so they can engage people in high-quality, personalised activities and interests, in line with best practice.” from the report
Some decision records were incomplete
minorInspectors found good decision-making practice, but the records did not always fully explain how decisions had been made. The manager said records would be reviewed.
“They had not always recorded fully this decision making.” from the report
Limited shared space
needs fixingThere was one large shared living and dining area. Some people stayed in their rooms because of noise, and the provider was reviewing options for an additional calmer area.
“Some people stayed in their rooms due to the level of noise in the shared living area.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure every person is consistently supported to develop independence, including everyday tasks such as making a drink?
- 02What specialist training or resources have staff received to support people with sensory needs or limited mobility in activities?
- 03What quieter shared space is now available for people who find the main living area noisy?
- 04How are decisions about people's capacity and best interests recorded and checked?
- 05How do you make sure there is always enough suitably trained staff to give medicines safely?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Responsive and Well-led only; Effective and Caring were not inspected and previous comprehensive inspection ratings were used in calculating the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 April 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 2021
Whiteheather was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control, although social distancing was difficult because of the small layout.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 8 April 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than giving a full quality rating.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, admissions, testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning and infection outbreaks. Staff had pandemic training and there was a good supply of protective equipment and hand sanitiser.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report gives a picture of infection control at that visit, but it does not provide an overall rating or ratings for most of the five inspection questions.
Testing arrangements
The manager was following whole-home testing guidance, including rapid testing, weekly staff testing and monthly testing for people living there.
“The manager was following the government's guidance on whole home testing for people and staff.” from the report
Staff training and equipment
Staff had training on working during the pandemic and using personal protective equipment correctly. Inspectors also found a good supply of protective equipment and hand sanitiser.
“Staff had received training on working during the pandemic in relation to COVID 19 and had received training in the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE).” from the report
Support for wellbeing
Staff knew the people living at the home well and continued to provide activities based on their individual choices.
“People's well-being was looked after by staff who knew them well.” from the report
Cleaning checks
Cleaning audits were described as comprehensive and were overseen by the manager.
“Comprehensive audits of cleaning were completed by staff and overseen by the manager.” from the report
Limited space for distancing
minorThe home had changed some communal areas to support social distancing, but inspectors said this was difficult because the home was small and its layout made it harder.
“Some communal areas in the service had been changed to encourage people to socially distance but this was difficult due to the layout and the service being small.” from the report
- 01How do you manage social distancing now, given the home's small size and layout?
- 02What changes did you make after CQC signposted you to resources to develop your approach?
- 03How often are staff and residents tested now?
- 04How do you check that cleaning audits are completed and acted on?
- 05How do staff continue individual activities for each person's chosen interests?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 April 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.
Every inspection of Whiteheather
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 July 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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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
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Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
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