Whitelow House Nursing Home

Updated 22 November 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

This inspection was carried out by an inspector, a specialist advisor, with clinical experience of supporting people who live with dementia, and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Whitelow 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 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.

What we did before the inspection

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. 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke about Whitelow with two people, seven relatives, eight staff and two members of the management team. We walked around the building to carry out a visual check. We did this to ensure Whitelow was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live.

We looked at records related to the management of the service. We did this to ensure the provider had oversight of the home, responded to any concerns and led Whitelow in ongoing improvements. We checked care records of three people and looked at staffing levels, recruitment procedures and training provision.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at records related to training and staffing levels.

Updated 22 November 2019

About the service

Whitelow House Nursing Home is a nursing home providing personal care to 28 people aged 65 and over at the time of our inspection. The service can support up to 32 people in one double and 30 single bedrooms. There is passenger lift access to all floors and communal areas for people’s comfort including two lounges. Whitelow House Nursing Home will be referred to as Whitelow within this report.

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

The registered manager had sufficient staff and skill mixes to meet each person’s needs. People were protected from an unsafe environment and told us they were comfortable living at Whitelow. A relative said, “Oh yes definitely they are safe.” Staff demonstrated a good understanding of their responsibility to safeguard people against abuse. Nurses used a robust electronic system to check each person’s medicines and ensure they received them safely.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. A staff member told us, “I always ask people and treat them with respect.”

Staff referred people to other agencies with a timely approach. People and relatives told us they could choose where to eat and enjoyed the food provided. The registered manager provided a range of training to underpin staff skills. A staff member stated, “I have had a lot of training here, it's very good.”

Staff interacted with people in ways that respected their dignity and independence. A relative commented, “There is no invasion of privacy at all.” The registered manager assessed people’s needs to ensure staff supported them with a person-centred approach.

The management team developed good communication systems and an open working culture. Staff, people and visitors said Whitelow had strong leadership. A relative stated, “Absolutely [the registered manager] does a good job. You have to be a special type of person to do this.”

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 17 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

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