Archived: The Whinnies

Updated 8 February 2022

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 21 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service three hours notice of the inspection.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

Updated 8 February 2022

About the service

The Whinnies is a residential care home which provides accommodation and personal care for up to three people with learning and physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection three people were using the service.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received a good service from staff who understood their needs and were committed to promoting their well-being.

There were systems in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Staff underwent pre-employment checks to assess their suitability for their role. There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. People were comfortable in the presence of staff.

Staff were supported with supervision and training in a variety of subjects. The training included administering people’s medicines. Medicines management in the home was safe.

Staff worked well with other professionals to maintain people’s health. Professionals involved in people’s care reported staff listened to and followed their advice.

People’s care plans were person-centred and contained useful information to support staff to communicate with people. Staff understood people’s dietary requirements.

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.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

The provider had effective audits in place to monitor the quality of the service. Since our last inspection improvements had been made to fire safety.

Plans were in place to change this service from a care home to a supported living service. In a supported living service people are encouraged to be more independent and people’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The registered manager had involved staff in thinking how this change would work. Staff had confidence in the registered manager.

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 this service was good (published 13 July 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.