White Lodge Care Home

This report summarises the findings of a recent inspection at White Lodge Care Home. The inspection focused on key areas to assess the overall quality of care provided, particularly following concerns raised about medicine management, staffing levels, and leadership. The report details specific observations and areas where improvements have been noted or are required to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the service.

Regarding safety, while some essential checks like fire safety were completed, the assessment and management of risks to residents were not always robust. This included instances where residents' specific risks, such as those related to seizures, choking, or skin integrity, were not fully assessed or clearly documented in care plans, leaving staff with insufficient guidance. The report also notes that staffing levels did not always meet the diverse and complex needs of all residents, with potential implications for timely care, and that not all necessary checks were completed for new staff, raising concerns about recruitment. Medication management also presented challenges, with external medicines not always being administered as prescribed and insufficient monitoring for some variable-dose medications.

In terms of how effective the care is, while residents and their relatives generally felt safe and well-cared for, and feedback on medication administration was positive, there were issues with medication oversight. Specifically, the administration of external creams was inconsistently recorded, and the effectiveness of some variable-dose medications was not adequately monitored, leading to potential risks.

When considering the caring aspect, people using the service who could express their views felt safe and well-cared for, and relatives reported regular communication from staff. However, pandemic restrictions on visiting meant that relatives had limited opportunities for in-person contact within the home over the past year.

On the responsiveness of the service, the report highlights that while accident and incident logs were audited, there wasn't always a clear system for learning from these events to prevent recurrence. One notable incident resulting in injury was not reported by staff, indicating a need for clearer communication about reporting responsibilities.

Finally, in terms of how well-led the service is, the report identified that systems for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks were not always effective. Staff feedback on the home's culture was mixed, and formal analysis of staff views had not occurred recently. Although essential checks like fire safety were conducted, there were gaps in ensuring adequate staffing based on resident dependency needs and in the completeness of staff recruitment records, alongside issues with medication management protocols and the learning from incidents.