Archived: Whitegates

Updated 5 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 16 January 2019 and was unannounced.

Before the inspection, we reviewed information we held about the service, which included notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to send us by law. We also contacted other professionals who work with the service and asked them for their views. We used this information to help us to plan the inspection.

We reviewed information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector. During the inspection, we spoke with two people who used the service, three relatives, five residential support workers, a quality assurance manager and the acting manager.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We looked at the records for three people who used the service and other information related to the running of and measuring the quality of the service. This included quality assurance audits, training information for staff, staff rota, meeting minutes and arrangements for managing complaints.

Updated 5 February 2019

We conducted an announced inspection at Whitegates on 16 January 2019. Whitegates provides accommodation and support, without nursing, to a maximum of 18 people with a learning disability and/or autism. On the day of our inspection nine people were using the service. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service did not have a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. There was an acting manager in place who had applied to become the new registered manager. 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.

At our last inspection on 25 November 2015 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.

People were supported by staff who planned to reduce the risks people could face whilst encouraging their enjoyment and independence. Staff knew how to respond when people were at risk of any harm to ensure their safety.

People received their care and support when this was needed because there were enough staff on duty to provide this. People were supported to take their medicines at the time they needed these, although some improvements were needed to the records that were used for this. People were being protected from infection because safe practices were being followed.

People were supported to have the control they were able to of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and staff practices in the service supported this practice.

People were supported to have a healthy and nutritious diet. Staff understood people’s healthcare needs and provided support to people in maintaining people’s health.

People were cared for and supported by staff who respected them and maintained their privacy and dignity. People were involved in planning their own care as much as possible.

People’s physical and social needs were recognised and support plans were prepared and followed in order to meet these. People who used the service or others acting on their behalf were able to raise any complaints or concerns.

People used a service that was responsive to their needs and views. Recent changes in management had been carefully planned to ensure the stability of the service people received. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and make improvements when needed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.