Whitehaven Residential Home

Updated 25 February 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 3 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 25 February 2021

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this home on 10 August 2017. The home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 15 older people, some of whom live with dementia. Accommodation is arranged over two floors with stair lift access to all areas. At the time of our inspection 15 people lived at the home.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. 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.

Risk assessments were in place which informed plans of care for people to ensure their safety and welfare, and staff had a good awareness of these. Incidents and accidents were clearly documented and investigated. Actions and learning were identified from these and shared with all staff.

People were supported by staff who had a good understanding of how to keep them safe, identify signs of abuse and report these appropriately.

Robust processes to check the suitability of staff to work with people were in place. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet the needs of people and they received appropriate training and support to ensure people were cared for in line with their needs and preferences.

Medicines were administered, stored and ordered in a safe and effective way.

People were encouraged and supported to make decisions about their care and welfare. Where people could not consent to their care, staff sought appropriate guidance and followed legislation designed to protect people’s rights and freedom.

People received meals which were well presented and in line with their needs, preferences, likes and dislikes. Staff dined with people and supported them if needed in a calm and supportive way.

Staff were calm, kind and gentle in their interactions with people and people responded well to the support offered to them. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained and staff were caring and considerate as they supported people. Staff involved people and their relatives in the planning of their care.

External health and social care professionals were involved in the care of people and care plans reflected this.

The registered manager promoted an open and honest culture for working which was fair and supportive to all staff. Staff felt supported in their roles and people and their relatives spoke highly of all staff.

Effective systems were in place to monitor and evaluate any concerns or complaints received and to ensure learning outcomes or improvements were identified from these. Staff encouraged people and their relatives to share their concerns and experiences with them.

At our last inspection of Whitehaven in December 2014 we found this service to be good. At this inspection the home remained good.