CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Whittle Hall House Care Residence
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control and visiting arrangements, but this visit did not assess wider care.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 4 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
The home had updated infection control policies, regular testing, enhanced cleaning and enough personal protective equipment. Inspectors were assured that the home was using these measures safely and effectively.
People were supported to keep in touch with relatives. There was an outdoor visiting area and indoor visits were also supported. The home met the requirement about COVID-19 vaccination for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or assess the other areas of care.
Updated infection control
The home had policies and procedures for managing COVID-19 risks and updated them when national guidance changed.
“The policies and procedures were updated regularly following any changes in national guidance.” from the report
Testing and protective equipment
There was regular testing for people living in the home, staff, essential carers and visitors. Inspectors also found that PPE was available and used appropriately.
“There was a robust programme of regular COVID-19 testing for both people living in the home, staff, essential carers and visitors to the home.” from the report
Contact with relatives
The home supported people to keep in touch with relatives through an outdoor visiting area and indoor visits.
“People living in the home and their relatives were supported to maintain contact.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What arrangements are currently in place for COVID-19 testing, PPE and infection control?
- 02How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 03How can relatives visit now, and have the indoor and outdoor visiting arrangements changed?
- 04How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements?
- 05When was the home's infection prevention and control policy last reviewed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the wider areas of care were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 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, February 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and well-managed care, with some issues in recording thickener powder dealt with during the inspection.
This was an announced focused inspection on 11 January 2021. Inspectors checked staffing, medicines, infection control, safety systems and how the home was managed. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and reviewed records and monitoring information.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and well-led were both rated Good, the same as at the previous inspection. People told inspectors they felt safe, staff answered call bells promptly and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.
Inspectors found caring and attentive staff, good communication with relatives and suitable infection control arrangements. They found some problems with the management and recording of thickener powder for people with swallowing difficulties, but staff took action during the inspection to reduce the risks.
Staffing and call bells
People said staff came quickly when they needed help. Inspectors saw staff available throughout the visit, including for people who needed one-to-one support.
“Call bells were answered promptly and people who were in communal areas were quickly assisted by staff when they needed help.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines records had no gaps, and audits were used to identify and address problems. Staff administering medicines were described as competent and knew the people they supported.
“There were no gaps in administration records which demonstrated people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Communication with relatives
Relatives said staff kept them informed during COVID-19 visiting restrictions and helped them stay in contact through calls, video calls and arranged visits.
“Relatives told us they had good communication with staff about their loved ones whilst COVID-19 visiting restrictions had been in place.” from the report
Management and oversight
Inspectors found the manager had good oversight of care quality and safety. Records were clear and well organised, and the provider had systems to monitor and improve the service.
“The provider had robust systems in place to monitor, assess and improve the quality and safety of service being provided.” from the report
Thickener powder records
needs fixingInspectors found some problems with managing and recording thickener powder for people with swallowing difficulties. Staff and managers acted during the inspection to reduce the risks, but families should ask how this is now checked.
“We found some issues with the management and recording of thickener powder for people with swallowing difficulties” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to the management and recording of thickener powder since the inspection?
- 02How do you check that people with swallowing difficulties receive the correct thickener safely?
- 03How are staffing levels monitored and changed when people's needs increase?
- 04How will you keep relatives informed about their family member's care and wellbeing?
- 05How are accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns reviewed to prevent them happening again?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and well-led only, prompted partly by concerns about staffing and medicines; the previous overall rating was Good and the other areas were not newly rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 February 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 Whittle Hall House Care Residence
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Whittle Hall House Care Residence →
- February 2021Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Whittle Hall House Care Residence →
- June 2018GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 August 2017.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Warrington
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 90 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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