Whitegates Care Centre Limited

Updated 2 February 2024

Whitegates Care Centre is a nursing home providing care to older people with physical and health related support needs, some of whom also live with dementia. The assessment was completed between 13 February and 15 March 2024. An unannounced site visit to the home was carried out on 13 February 2024. The rating at our last inspection (published 4 May 2023) was requires improvement and the provider was in breach of regulations around providing safe care and medicines management, and good governance. At this assessment we reviewed only 4 quality statements in Safe and Well-Led. The provider made some improvements around governance and risk management since the last inspection. However, not enough improvement was made, and the provider was still in breach of regulation in good governance. We did not review medicines management as part of the breach of regulation in safe care and treatment during this assessment. Following this assessment, the rating has not changed and remains requires improvement.

Updated 2 February 2024

People felt safe in the home and with staff. One person said, “I have never worried about anything. I feel safe. I would speak with the manager if I was not. I wouldn’t put up with it.” A relative commented, “I believe [person] is safe because they seem quite content and never say they have been hurt or anything like that, so I am sure they’re safe.” People and their relatives told us staff knew people’s individual risks and needs and were competent to support them safely. Relatives said, “[Staff] understand [person’s] needs. I have said a few things when [person] seems a bit strange and [staff] said they have already asked for a GP to come” and “[Staff] are pretty good at keeping an eye on [person] and monitor them closely.” However, some relatives told us in their opinion, staff initially did not fully understand people’s needs when they moved in, but this had improved since. People and their relatives told us overall there were enough staff on duty to support people. Relatives said, “Yes, I think there are enough staff, and I don’t have a concern that there aren’t enough staff to look after [the person].” and, “There are agency staff at the weekends, but they are regular agency staff and are pretty good.” Although people’s direct safety was not impacted, some relatives thought staff deployment was not always effective to provide people with timely care. Relatives’ comments included, “Sometimes (there is enough staff), sometimes not quite so, sometimes [people] need more and the ones who don’t make a fuss get left too long.” and “I always think they could do with a couple more members of staff. I know they have carers in the lounge but for the people who stay in their rooms I do feel perhaps having another staff member would be better. Having said that, the staff they do have are brilliant and pop in to see [person] because they are bed bound.”