CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Whitelow House Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff with an appropriate mix of skills, safe recruitment checks and good infection control. Medicines were managed through an electronic checking system, and risks, accidents and incidents were monitored.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff received a range of training and regular supervision. People's health, nutrition and hydration needs were assessed, and staff made timely referrals to other health and care services.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as caring and respectful. Staff involved people in decisions and protected their privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans recorded people's preferences and were reviewed. The home provided activities, considered communication needs and documented end-of-life wishes.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found strong leadership, good communication and regular audits. Managers used feedback, incident reviews and audits to make improvements.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with strong leadership.
This was an unannounced inspection on 23 October and 5 November 2019. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and managers. They checked the building, care records, staffing, recruitment, training and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable training and timely contact with health professionals.
People were treated with dignity and involved in decisions about their care. Inspectors also found personalised care planning, activities, attention to communication needs and good systems for learning and improvement.
The overall Good rating means the inspection found the home meeting the required standards, with people's needs being met through well-organised care. The previous rating was also Good, published on 17 May 2017.
Staffing and safety
Inspectors found enough staff and a suitable mix of skills to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks were also completed before staff started.
“The registered manager had a good staff skill mix on each shift to meet people's needs.” from the report
Medicines management
Nurses used an electronic system that required checks to be completed and allowed managers to audit medicines and stock.
“Nurses used a robust electronic system to check people's medicines and ensure they received them safely.” from the report
Dignity and choice
People were involved in decisions about their care. Staff respected privacy, dignity and independence.
“Staff interacted with people in ways that respected their dignity and independence.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records included people's preferences and were reviewed. The home also provided activities and tools to help people communicate their needs.
“Records included people's preferences in relation to all aspects of their care to assist staff to act in their best interests.” from the report
Leadership and improvement
Managers used audits, staff feedback and incident reviews to monitor care and make changes where needed.
“The management team undertook regular audits to assess people's welfare and safety.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you apply the electronic medicines checks to my relative's medicines, including any recent changes from a GP or other professional?
- 02How will you make sure there are enough staff with the right skills for my relative's needs on each shift?
- 03How will you record and review my relative's care preferences, including their communication needs and end-of-life wishes?
- 04What activities and support would be available to help my relative maintain their interests and wellbeing?
- 05How can I raise a concern or complaint, and what response times should I expect?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection that looked at the premises and care and assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 November 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.
What inspectors found, May 2017
Whitelow House Nursing and Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with activities and language needing attention.
This was an unannounced inspection on 03 April 2017. Inspectors reviewed records, medicines, staff files, the building and quality checks. They spoke with people, relatives, staff, the manager and a visiting health professional. They also observed care because many people had advanced dementia or complex needs.
The home was clean and maintained safely. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable medicines systems and staff who understood people's risks and care needs. People were supported with food, drinks and healthcare, and care plans were updated when needs changed.
Inspectors saw kind and respectful care. People and relatives said staff were caring, approachable and responsive. They found good management systems and feedback arrangements. They also noted that the activities timetable did not match what was delivered, and that some staff language did not always promote dignity.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found suitable staffing levels and an organised allocation system. Medicines were stored and administered safely, with correct records for the medicines checked.
“There were enough staff available to meet people's needs, wants and wishes safely.” from the report
Kind, unhurried care
Staff were observed speaking respectfully, listening to people and supporting them at their own pace. Relatives also described the care as kind and caring.
“Our observations showed people were treated with kindness and compassion in their day-to-day care.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's preferences, life histories and individual ways of being supported. Staff could explain how to respond to people's changing needs and distress.
“Care plans were personalised and focused on people's support needs.” from the report
Food and healthcare support
People's weights and nutrition were monitored, including prescribed fortified drinks. Records showed that healthcare needs were followed up and health professionals were contacted when needed.
“This showed the provider had a system that protected people against the risk of dehydration and malnutrition.” from the report
Visible management
The manager was present and staff and relatives said the management team was approachable. Regular audits, meetings and feedback were used to oversee the home.
“The management team had oversight of and acted to maintain the quality of the service provided.” from the report
Activities timetable
needs fixingThe activities displayed on the notice board did not reflect what was actually delivered. Staff said activities were under review and new activities were being considered.
“The activities displayed on the notice board were not what was delivered.” from the report
Language and dignity
needs fixingInspectors heard some terms that did not promote people's personal dignity, especially when referring to personal care. The manager said paperwork would be changed and the issue discussed with staff.
“During our inspection visit, we heard staff use language that did not always promote peoples personal dignity.” from the report
Training gaps for new staff
needs fixingThe manager said some new staff still had training gaps. The required training had been identified, organised and booked.
“The registered manager told us there were gaps in some people's training as they were new starters.” from the report
- 01What activities are now offered, and how do you make sure the timetable matches what actually happens?
- 02What changes have been made to staff language and paperwork to promote people's dignity?
- 03Have all training gaps for new staff now been completed, and how is competence checked?
- 04How will you record and respond to changes in my relative's health, nutrition or care needs?
- 05Who will be my relative's named nurse or keyworker, and how will they keep me informed?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 May 2017 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 Whitelow House Nursing Home
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- November 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 January 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.