Archived: Whiteoak

Updated 3 October 2019

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 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Whiteoak is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

We visited the home on 22 and 29 August 2019. The second day was announced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with three people who were staying at the home. We spoke with ten staff including the operations manager, registered manager, a deputy manager, three senior care worker, three support workers and a member of the housekeeping team. We reviewed a range of records. This included five peoples care records and a random selection of medicine records. We looked at four staff recruitment and supervision records and a range of records relating to the management of the home.

After the inspection

Following the inspection, we spoke on the telephone with six relatives of people who used the service. We also requested further information from the registered manager to validate the evidence found. This was received, and the information was used as part of our inspection.

Updated 3 October 2019

About the service

Whiteoak provides a respite service for people with learning disabilities. It can accommodate up to 21 people at any one time. Accommodation consists of a predominantly single storey building, split into three separate suites. One of the suites is over two floors. There is also a self-contained bungalow. At the time of the inspection, approximately 144 people were regularly using the respite service. On the days of the inspection 17 people were staying at the service.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 21 people. However. the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building being separated into individual suites. Staff were discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities in keeping peoples safe from the risk of harm. However, we found regular checks on the premises and equipment had not always been completed and not all staff had attended a recent fire drill. Where an incident had occurred, people’s risk assessments had not been updated. The recruitment of staff and the management of people’s medicines was safe. Although the home was clean, not all staff followed good practice guidance regarding the infection prevention and control.

There was a programme of induction in place to support new staff. Staff told us they felt supported however, at the time of the inspection not all staff had received supervision in line with the registered providers policy. Staff received training but not all refresher training was up to date. People were supported with eating and drinking. People were enabled to access other health care professionals as required.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of 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. We have made a recommendation about meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

Staff were caring and kind. People were supported to make choices and to retain their independence. People were treated with dignity and respect. People’s right to privacy was respected. Peoples care records were person centred and detailed. Although they had not all been reviewed recently we were assured people were still receiving appropriate care and support. People attended activities and day services during their stay at Whiteoak. None of the relatives we spoke with raised any concerns regarding the care and support their family member received during their stay at the home.

The registered manager had only been in post since February 2019. Both the registered manager and staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Although the registered manager had not always sent notifications to CQC in line with their regulatory requirements. The registered manager had held a guest’s forum and a relatives meeting since they had begun to work at the service. Audits were completed but they had failed to identify the issues we have highlighted regarding risks to people’s safety.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 7 March 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

We have identified a breach in relation to safe care and treatment at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.