Whitecliffe House

Whitecliffe House is registered to accommodate up to 31 people. At the time of our inspection there were 23 older people living there.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The home had a clear visiting protocol for people, staff, professionals and essential contractors. Information about this was prominently displayed at the entrance and around the home. Relatives had received a letter informing them of the process. Visits were by appointment only and were carefully managed to ensure they met the latest best practice guidance. Visit times were structured to not conflict with shift start and end times. All visitors were required to complete a health questionnaire and have their temperature checked. When this was completed satisfactorily, they were supplied with the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Where people were anxious about PPE the home had participated in video calls with them and their families to talk them through the reasons why it was needed and provided reassurance.

The home was clean and uncluttered. The cleaning schedule included general cleaning and advanced cleaning for high touch point areas such as light switches, handrails and door handles. Specialist cleaning products were used to minimise the risk of infection. Management spot checks were conducted to ensure infection prevention and control compliance.

The Registered Manager and Quality Manager had worked together, and consulted with people, relatives and staff, to identify an area of the home that could be used to safely isolate people if they had an outbreak.

The home had a robust admissions policy. The pre-admission assessment included a thorough needs assessment, recent test status and any risks linked to where people were being admitted from, for example, a hospital ward. On admission people were supported with a welcome pack which included magazines, newspapers and a device to access entertainment.

People were actively encouraged to use the outdoor space and join in with activities. In addition, the home had purchased tablet computers and mobile phones to facilitate contact between people and their family and friends. These initiatives were helping people to maintain their mental and physical wellbeing.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found