Eothen Residential Homes - Whitley Bay

Updated 24 December 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 15 December 2020 and was announced.

Updated 24 December 2020

Eothen Residential Homes Whitley Bay (‘Eothen’) is a care home that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 35 older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 34 people living at the home.

At our last inspection in April 2016 we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The inspection took place on 11 December 2018 and was unannounced. This meant the provider and staff did not know we would be coming.

The service did not have a registered manager in place at the time of inspection but a manager had recently been employed and had applied to be registered with CQC. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People who used the service felt safe. The environment was calm and welcoming with staff ensuring people felt at ease.

All staff knew how best to reduce the risks people faced and had been appropriately trained in safeguarding awareness. Specific risks were assessed with actions documented to ensure these risks were reduced.

The management of medicines was safe, including storage and disposal, administration and ongoing monitoring of staff competence. Staff were appropriately trained and knowledgeable.

There were sufficient staff to ensure people were safely supported. The premises were well maintained and clean throughout. Servicing to emergency equipment, lifting equipment and utilities had happened regularly.

Staff received an induction on joining the service and ongoing face to face training. This training was well monitored and managed. Effective systems were in place to ensure the accurate documentation and update of people’s care needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The premises were well suited to people’s needs, with a range of communal spaces indoors and outdoors.

Meals were planned with people’s likes, dislikes and requirements in mind. Feedback regarding meals was uniformly positive.

People were extremely complimentary about the care they received from staff, as were relatives. Staff knew people extremely well and were able to anticipate their needs. Staff communicated well with people and respected their individuality.

People were encouraged to take part in the planning of their care, as were their relatives. The new manager had begun to make good links with people’s family members.

Activities were meaningful and led by people’s preferences. The activities co-ordinator ensured links with local community groups were strong and people had the opportunity to try new things or maintain existing interests.

Staff morale was high and the team worked well together.

Staff had worked hard to ensure the culture was strongly focussed on people’s emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing and the new manager was keen to maintain this focus.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.