Background to this inspection
Updated
4 April 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type
Whitehorse 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. 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
The inspection was unannounced.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed the information we had received about the service since our last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority 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 this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met with all 6 people who used the service. We spoke with 7 relatives and 4 health and social care professionals. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the regional manager, registered manager and care staff. We reviewed a range of records, including 2 people's care records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff support, and a range of records relating to how the service operated and was managed.
Updated
4 April 2023
About the service
Whitehorse is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 8 people. The service provides support to people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Whitehorse is a residential detached bungalow with some adaptions. At the time of our inspection there was 6 people using the service.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider was working within the principles and values of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right Support:
Whitehorse is a small, ordinary home forming part of a local community. The property does not appear to be a care home and mirrors the other properties on the road.
People's needs were assessed, risks were identified, and steps taken to keep them safe. People were safeguarded from abuse and staff were knowledgeable about how to support people safely. People's medicines were safely managed. People's care records had been improved, further improvements were needed so they captured how people were supported to try new things.
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.
Right Care:
People were supported by caring and kind staff. Staff had received appropriate training, knew people well and supported people in line with their preferences. Staff worked in partnership with other agencies to promote people's health and wellbeing.
Right Culture:
Improvements had been made at the service. The registered manager promoted a positive culture and led by example. There was a relaxed, friendly welcoming atmosphere. People were treated with dignity and respect. Improvements had been made to the environment and further work was planned so the environment remained safe for people.
Most relatives told us there had been improvements at the service, and they had confidence in the leadership of 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 the service was inadequate (published August 2022). There were 3 breaches of the regulations in relation to safe care, staffing and good governance, the service was placed in special measures. We imposed positive conditions, and the provider was required to send us a monthly report to show what they would do, and by when, to improve.
At this inspection we found significant improvements had been made and the service is no longer in breach of the regulations. The rating has improved to requires improvement, and the service is no longer in special measures.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to monitor progress on the breaches of regulations.
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.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Whitehorse care Home 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 re-inspection program. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.