Whittingham House

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way which was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. Risks were assessed and people were supported to make choices that balanced risks of harm with positive choices about their lives. Staff had been supported to complete training and develop the skills they needed to support people safely. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were employed following the appropriate recruitment checks being completed. There were systems in place to maintain the environment and equipment at the service. Staff received training in infection prevention and control and followed guidance.

This service scored 50 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

People were protected from the risk of abuse and said they felt safe living at the service. One person said, “I feel safe living here I have company.” Another person said, “I love being here, the staff are kind and caring to me.”

Staff had received training in how to safeguard people and knew how to raise any concerns with management or external agencies. One member of staff said, “If I noticed any abuse or harm I would report to manager and send alert to local safeguarding team.” The registered manager had raised safeguarding concerns appropriately and had worked with the local authority to investigate these to ensure people were being safeguarded.

We observed staff supporting people safely.

The registered manager told us they had safeguarding policies and procedures in place and had a procedure for ‘whistle blowing’. Staff received information on safeguarding during meetings and had the ‘whistle blowing’ procedure displayed in their staff room along with information on lessons learned.

People were involved in planning their care and managing risks. Care plan and risk assessments were person centred and aim to provide positive outcomes for people whilst maintaining their choice and independence. One person said, “I have my own key to my room so I can keep it locked if I wish, as some people may wander in.” Another person said, “I prefer to be supported by female carers when I have personal care and this always happens.”

Staff had received the appropriate training to support people safely. Staff we spoke with knew people well and how they wished to be supported whilst promoting their independence. One member of staff said, “We have all received training and been better educated since the last inspection.”

We observed staff supporting people safely.

Risk assessments and care plans helped to mitigate the risks to people by providing guidance to staff on how to support people safely. We found staff had not always updated fluid records accurately, however we were assured this was a recording issue for the registered manager to address. The service had adequate supplies of individual equipment needed to support people’s care needs such as hoists or specialist beds. There were detailed personal evacuation plans to safely evacuate the building in an emergency.

The provider employed maintenance staff to keep the environment well maintained and safe for people to live in. The registered manage told us there were regular health and safety checks completed on the environment and action taken where needed. Since the last inspection they had put key locks onto the sluice and storage cupboards to ensure cleaning materials were stored safely. In addition, the provider had added a shower room to the top floor as this had been identified as a need for people on that floor.

We observed staff supporting people safely.

People and relatives were very complimentary of the staff and the support they received. One person said, “The staff here are excellent.” Another person said, “I would give the staff 10 out of 10. They are reliable, helpful and do everything they can for us.”

Staff told us they liked working at the service and felt they had a good team. Staff told us they felt supported by the management team at the service to be able to do their job effectively. One member of staff said, “I 100% get enough support, we have good communication and all work as one team, the staff are always happy.”

We observed staff supporting people safely.

The registered manager told us they did not use agency staff and had recruited enough staff to cover care needs. To help guide the level of staff required to provide care the registered manager used a dependency tool to assess people’s needs. Appropriate checks were in place before staff started work including providing full work histories, references and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. DBS provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. Staff had received training to enable them to have the skills and knowledge they needed to support people. The provider had training staff to support with face to learning for staff and staff confirmed they had undergone various training since the last inspection. Senior staff held regular meetings and discussions with staff to improve learning and understanding of different aspects of care.

There was an infection prevention and control (IPC) champion at the service who supported staff to maintain safe and hygienic care for people. The champion completed regular checks to ensure IPC was being implemented. Staff had received training in IPC and when there was an infection outbreak, managed this appropriately. The registered manager told us following an infection outbreak last year they had notified public health and followed all available guidance to minimise the spread of infection.

We observed safe infection control practices.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.