The Whitecroft

Updated 8 June 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 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was conducted by 3 inspectors.

Service and service type

The Whitecroft is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Whitecroft 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

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. 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, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since our last inspection. We sought feedback from health and social care professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 9 people who used the service and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, regional manager, chef, well-being lead and care workers. We spoke with 2 external healthcare professionals who frequently visit the service for their feedback.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 8 people’s care records and multiple medicine records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 8 June 2023

About the service

The Whitecroft is a residential care home providing personal care. The service can support up to 56 people at the time of inspection 48 people were being supported.

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

People and their relatives gave us positive feedback on their experience of using the service. One person said, “Staff are very pleasant and cheerful, they give me choices. I go out whenever I want as long as I let them know.” A relative said, “I feel really happy and content when I go to bed knowing my dad is safe and happy here.”

We made one recommendation on audits for the registered manager to consider.

Care and treatment were planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. Staff had received appropriate training. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection and to learn lessons from accidents and incidents. Medicines were dispensed by staff who had received training to do so.

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.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to other health professionals were made when required. The environment was well maintained and suitable for people.

People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. Complaints were responded to in a timely manner. People were supported to make plans for the end of their life.

The registered manager had been successful in driving improvements at the service. Systems had been put in place to monitor the service and improve outcomes for people.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 9 April 2019). The registered manager 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 regulation.

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

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.