3 December 2018
During a routine inspection
White Gates is a nursing home that is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 51 people. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people living at the service, a number of whom were living with dementia.
At our last inspection we rated the service as good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and we did not identify, from our visit or ongoing monitoring, any serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
People and their relatives told us they thought the service was safe. People’s risks were identified and staff acted to address any known risks. People’s medicines were stored and administered safely and infection control practices were followed. Staff understood how to protect people from harm and knew when to report any abuse.
Staffing levels were seen to be safe on the day, however we received feedback about people having to wait for care on some occasions. We have made a recommendation.
Appropriate recruitment checks were carried out to ensure staff were suitable to support people in the home. Staff received a comprehensive induction and ongoing training so that they could meet the needs of people who lived at the home.
People were supported to maintain good health and they had access to relevant healthcare professionals when they needed them. People benefitted from the way the staff worked with other services to ensure effective care and support. People had a varied and balanced diet to support their nutrition and health.
People’s consent was sought in line with the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act. Where people's liberty was restricted to keep them safe, the provider had followed the requirements of the Act, and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), to ensure the person's rights were protected.
People were looked after by kind and caring staff who knew them well. People’s privacy and independence was promoted. Contact with families and friends was encouraged. We received positive feedback from people and their families about the service provided.
People were supported to make decisions about their day to day care, including taking part in any activities and with their meals. People were given opportunities to go on occasional outings.
Care for people at the end of their life was proactive and responsive. The service followed nationally recognised standards for end of life care.
Complaints were responded to in a timely way and outcomes agreed.
The provider showed a commitment to reviewing and maintaining a quality service. There were systems in place to monitor people’s care and evidence of improvements being made. Incidents were tracked and learning outcomes were identified. The manager ensured statutory notifications were sent as required. People living at the home also benefitted from the relationships the service had formed with local organisations.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.