Background to this inspection
Updated
17 January 2023
The inspection
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. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2008.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
Whitworth Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under 1 contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us.
Whitworth Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
The service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. The service had a new manager who was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission. This means the provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave a short notice of this inspection, as we wanted to make sure the people were at home for us to meet them.
What we did before the inspection
Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including statutory notifications received. We used all this information to plan our inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection
We spoke with 3 of the people who used the service about their experiences of the care provided. We spoke with two members of staff, the manager and the team leader. We reviewed a range of records. This included people's care records and needs / risk assessments. We looked at three staff files to check safe recruitment was followed. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, training and quality audits.
We spoke with three relatives and we continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found and reviewed additional management records sent.
Updated
17 January 2023
About the service
Whitworth Lodge is a residential care home providing personal or nursing care to up to six adults. The service provides support to adults living with mild to moderate learning disability needs. At the time of our inspection there were 6 people living at the service.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Right support
People were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were kept safe. Staff knew how to raise safeguarding concerns and how to report them appropriately. Risks to people were identified as part of the assessment and care planning procedure. Risk management strategies were in place to assist staff to manage these risks and to identify triggers for behaviours that display distress, for people they were supporting.
There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people's needs.
We saw that medicines were managed in a safe way.
Right care
Staff received a wide range of training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to support people safely. Staff told us they also received good support in their supervision with the manager.
People's dietary needs were being met, and they had access to healthcare services where needed.
People were supported by staff in a kind and caring way. People were supported and encouraged to maximise their full potential where-ever possible. Staff knew the people well and care records which were well maintained and easy to access, detailed people's preferences, likes and dislikes. People had access to social activities that met their interests and needs.
A complaints procedure was available and displayed to enable people to access it if they or their relatives had a need.
Right culture
People received personalised care and support to meet their needs and wishes.
People using the service, relatives and staff were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the service. Audits took place to ensure the quality of the service was maintained.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at the last inspection and update
The last rating for the service was requires improvement [published September 2022] and there were breaches of regulations. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of right support, right care and right culture.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
The overall rating for this service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.