During an assessment under our new approach
Whiteoak is a respite service providing accommodation and personal care for up to 16 people with learning disabilities and autistic people and those with complex needs. We visited the service on 7 and 8 July 2026. The assessment was carried out because it had not been rated since 2019.
Accommodation is split into three separate suites. The upper floor of one suite was not in use at the time of assessment. On the days of the assessment 8 people were living at the service.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
The service needed to make improvements in how medicines were managed to minimise the risk of potential harm to people. Quality assurance systems were in not effective in supporting improvement. The service presented as a welcoming, accessible and well-maintained home with flexible staffing arrangements and a strong commitment to providing person-centred care. The service worked well with families and partner organisations to ensure people’s needs were understood and they were able to experience a seamless service, for example if attending a day service. This supported good outcomes for people. Independence was encouraged and people were involved with their care throughout their stays, with their preferences checked regularly and changes noted in care and support plans. People’s rooms were spacious, accessible and personalised; suitable for people using mobility aids such as wheelchairs.
People with specific needs due to their disability or health condition were fully supported, with care records updated and good staff communication at handovers.
Risks to people were understood and well managed, adding to people’s positive experiences of care. They were protected from the risks of abuse by a skilled and capable team of staff who worked in-line with the Mental Capacity Act.
We found that the provider was in breach of legal Regulation 12 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to the safe administration of medicines. Related to this there was a breach of Regulation 17(1) and 17(2)(a) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to Governance, management and sustainability.
The provider has given us an action plan to address the regulatory breaches.