Background to this inspection
Updated
28 August 2020
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.
This inspection took place on 5 August 2020 and was announced. The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.
Updated
28 August 2020
About the service
Whetstone Hey is a residential care home providing personal care to 39 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 42 people. The care home accommodates people in one adapted building.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their families were consistently positive about the care they received. People told us that they felt safe living there and received all the care they needed. They told us that they felt cared for by the staff team and that there were a range of activities in place which took their previous interests into account. People were happy with the meals provided and considered the building to be clean, well decorated and welcoming.
Our last visit identified shortcomings although these did not result in breaches of our regulations. These included no evidence to confirm that legionella checks had been undertaken, capacity of people had not always been assessed and there was no programme of activities. These had now all been addressed.
People received care in a safe environment with appropriate equipment. Risks associated with their care was fully taken into account. People received medication safely and, in a person-centred manner. There were sufficient staff available to meet people’s needs and attend to them. New staff were recruited robustly. Systems protected people from abuse. The building was clean and hygienic with staff having access to suitable equipment to limit the spread of infection.
People were now 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. Staff received training and supervision in order for them to perform their role. The environment was tailored to take people’s needs into account. People’s nutrition and health were supported and promoted.
People were supported in a dignified and caring manner, enabling them to have their privacy respected. People were enabled to communicate in their preferred manner and were given time to express themselves. Care plans were person-centred and included the needs of people in all aspects of their daily lives. Activities were now in place and sought to reduce the risk of social isolation.
The service had responded improvements needed at the last inspection. Audits supplemented the drive for improvements. People and their families were invited to comment on the quality of care provided. Links with the local community were established.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 12 June 2018).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Whetstone Hey on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.