Whetstone Grange

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We found that the service could not sufficiently demonstrate processes and procedures to ensure the safe and effective deployment of staff. During our assessment of this key question, we found concerns around staff training, supervision and competency assessments. This resulted in a breach of Regulation 18 Staffing (1) (2) (a) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can find more details of our concerns in the evidence category findings below. Evidence reviewed showed that people were safe and protected from avoidable harm. Risks to people were considered and assessments were updated if there had been a change in their needs. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities in protecting people from abuse and the risk of avoidable harm.

This service scored 72 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

People felt safe with the ability and competence of the staff within the service.

Policies and procedures in place to ensure people were protected from abuse did not always provide detailed information to support staff in following procedures. The registered manager informed the team that all policies were currently under review and transitioning to an electronic format. Mental capacity assessments were completed when required and if a person was deprived of their liberty we saw that safeguards had been applied for.

Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities to protect people from abuse and the risk of harm. They knew how to escalate concerns if needed. Leaders acknowledged where improvements were required, such as updating care plans, and provided assurances this would be completed during the assessment process.

We observed people were free from restrictions. They were supported appropriately with care and support provided in a timely manner.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe environments during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

Records indicated staff did not receive regular and relevant training to support them in their roles. The Registered manager said they were aware of this and had reminded staff but no further actions had been taken. There were no records, processes or procedures to demonstrate the service was ensuring the required number of staff were present to meet the needs of the people using the service.

Although staff were kind and caring with people we noted most of their interaction was task focused and there was little opportunity for social and wellbeing support. Staff response times to bedroom call bells were met in a timely manner.

Staff were satisfied with the training opportunities provided by the service, but did acknowledge refresher training courses were overdue for completion. Staff were unclear about the frequency they received supervision checks but did note they received a yearly appraisal. There were no concerns raised by staff about the service having enough staff to ensure all care and support was safely provided.

Some people told us there wasn't enough staff to support everyone using the service. One person said "They always need more [staff], no one sits with us or checks the lounge and staff are usually around the dining room so we have to go and get help". Another person added, "[Staff] leave those of us who can talk to just cope by ourselves". One relative we spoke to raised concerns about their family member often being left alone.

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.