CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Whitgift House
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Whitgift House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection controls.
Inspectors visited the home on 18 January 2022. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also asked about staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks. This included visitor checks, testing, vaccination checks, personal protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing, admissions and outbreak arrangements.
The home had systems to support safe visits and help people keep in touch with family. Staff explained isolation and distancing rules, and people received one-to-one help to reduce social isolation.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall rating or ratings for the other four areas of care.
Visitor safety
The home had checks for visitors, including a negative lateral flow test and proof of vaccination. It also used a booking system, screens and pods to support safer visits.
“Clear and robust procedures were in place for all visitors to the service including healthcare professionals.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and fresh, with regular cleaning and checks during the day. The provider also used audits to monitor standards.
“The service was clean and fresh, regular cleaning and checks were carried out throughout the day” from the report
Support during isolation
Staff explained why people might need to isolate or keep apart from others. They helped people contact family and friends when they felt socially isolated.
“They provided people with one to one support to contact family and friends and help reduce the feelings of social isolation.” from the report
Infection control training
Staff had training about keeping people safe from COVID-19. The home also had a named infection control lead overseeing procedures and guidance.
“All staff had received training to help them keep people safe from the risk of COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 18 January 2022?
- 02How do you manage visits now, including testing, vaccination checks, booking systems and visiting during an outbreak?
- 03How would you support my relative if they needed to isolate or stay socially distanced?
- 04How do staffing pressures affect care at present, and what measures are in place to manage them?
- 05How do staff help residents keep in contact with family and friends if visits are restricted?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 February 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, December 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some concerns about storage, call-bell waits and the choice of meals.
This was a comprehensive inspection on 13 and 14 November 2018. The first day was unannounced. Inspectors spoke with people living there, a relative, staff and managers. They also observed care and checked care records, medicines, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that staff understood safeguarding, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels met people's needs and the home was clean and well maintained.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Care plans were detailed and kept up to date. People were supported with food, drink, healthcare, activities, independence and end of life care.
There were some less positive findings. Equipment was stored in some first-floor bathrooms, the hearing loop was not working during the inspection, some people reported waiting at busy times for call bells, and views about the food were mixed. The overall Good rating had not changed since the previous inspection.
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were securely stored and administered by registered nurses. Inspectors found complete medicine records in the sample checked, and staff recruitment checks had been completed.
“The medicine records we looked at were complete and we did not identify any errors or discrepancies in the samples we saw.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff supported people in a calm and respectful way. They promoted privacy, independence and choice in daily routines and personal care.
“Staff supported people in a way which was kind, caring, and respectful.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans contained detailed information about people's routines, preferences, communication needs and personal products. Staff used handovers to share changes in people's needs.
“People's care records were up to date, reviewed regularly and reflected people's care and support.” from the report
Activities and end of life support
People could join activities across the week and were supported with their spiritual and cultural needs. The home worked with healthcare services to support people's end of life wishes.
“The service was an accredited Gold Standard Framework (GSF) nursing home” from the report
Management and quality checks
People and relatives spoke positively about the management. The home used meetings, audits and other checks to monitor care and look for improvements.
“Checks, reviews and audits continued to be regularly undertaken to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided” from the report
Equipment storage
needs fixingHoists and other mobility equipment were stored in some first-floor bathrooms. Inspectors said moving the equipment into the corridor could block people's movement and create a risk.
“Bathrooms and shower rooms were being used to store the equipment used to mobilise people, including hoists.” from the report
Hearing loop not working
minorThe hearing loop in the main lounge was not working during the inspection. The report does not say when this was fixed.
“The main lounge area had a hearing loop in place to help those hard of hearing although this was not working at the time of our inspection.” from the report
Waiting at busy times
needs fixingOne person said call bells could take longer to answer during peak periods. The home had a system to monitor call-bell response times.
“At peak times if you buzz you have to wait but they will come eventually.” from the report
Mixed views about food
minorPeople said they received enough food and their dietary needs were supported, but some found the meals repetitive or felt there was not much choice.
“The food is just alright…you get enough but there's not much choice” from the report
Reluctance to complain
needs fixingSome people knew who to speak to but were reluctant to complain because they did not want to cause trouble. The manager accepted that more work was needed to help people speak up.
“they were reluctant because they "didn't want to be a bother" and "didn't want to get people into trouble".” from the report
- 01What has been done to provide proper storage for hoists and other mobility equipment on the first floor?
- 02Has the hearing loop in the main lounge been repaired, and how can people who are hard of hearing get support if it is unavailable?
- 03What are the usual call-bell response times at busy periods, and what action is taken if people wait too long?
- 04What changes have been made to the choice and variety of meals since the inspection?
- 05How do you help residents feel safe to raise concerns or make complaints without worrying that staff will get into trouble?
This was a comprehensive inspection of all five key questions, with additional detailed work on oral health care as part of a national review. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 December 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 Whitgift House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 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.
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