Background to this inspection
Updated
26 February 2022
Background
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 COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 4 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.
Updated
26 February 2022
About the service
Whittle Hall is a ‘care home’. Whittle Hall accommodates 74 people across four separate units, each of which had separate adapted facilities. One of the units specialises in providing care to people living with dementia. The other two units specialise in supporting people with nursing needs and dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 69 people living in the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People said there were enough staff available to help them when needed. Comments included, “The staff come quickly when I need them” and “Staff come quick, press my bell and they are there, always enough staff.” Staff were available to promptly assist people throughout our inspection and staffing levels were regularly monitored, reviewed and amended when needed by the registered manager.
People told us the home was a safe place to live. One person commented, “I feel safe with the staff, I trust them. I know all the staff, it makes me feel safe.” Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their role in recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns.
We observed a helpful, caring and attentive culture amongst staff at the home. Staff were familiar with the people they were supporting and had a good rapport with them.
Relatives said they had good communication with staff at the home and staff helped them to keep in touch with their loved ones whilst COVID-19 visiting restrictions have been in place. One relative commented, “We've developed a positive relationship with the staff. We have regular and honest communication with the staff and trust they'll contact us about [relative] if needed.”
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.
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 27/06/2018).
This focused inspection included the key questions of safe and well-led and was prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing levels at the home and medication procedures. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe section of this full report.
We also 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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.