Whitwood Grange

Updated 15 May 2021

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.

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

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Whitwood Grange is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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 who was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager 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.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We also sought feedback from the local authority. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff on site This included the manager, two deputy managers a team leader and two support workers.

We reviewed a range of records including medication records, staff files in relation to recruitment, induction and staff supervision, two people's care records. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies, procedures, training data and quality assurance records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found such as, updated statement of purpose and medication audits.

Updated 15 May 2021

About the service

Whitwood Grange is a residential care home providing personal to people with learning disabilities. It accommodates up to 17 people in three separate areas; there are two six bedded houses and five self-contained flats. There were eight people using the service at the time of our inspection.

Services for people with learning disabilities and or autism are supported

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.

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

People felt safe. Systems were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. People received their medication as prescribed by staff who had been appropriately trained.

Risks to people were effectively managed. Staff knew people well and were knowledgeable about individual risk management issues. Safe infection prevention and control (IPC) practices were in place to minimise the risk of spread of infection.

Systems in place to monitor the service had improved and were more effective in identifying and addressing areas that required improvement. This improvement needs to continue and become embedded into practice. There was a positive culture at the service.

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 Inadequate (published 18 January 2021).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted through our intelligence monitoring system. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service is requires improvement.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Whitwood Grange on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.