This inspection took place on 21 March 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection continued on 22 March 2018 and was announced.

Whitecliffe House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The care home accommodates up to 31 people across three floors. The service is located in Blandford and is a large purpose built building with rooms arranged over three floors and a central ground floor lounge and dining area. There is both lift and stairlift access to the first and second floors. Bedrooms had toilet and basin facilities and there were both accessible showers and baths on each floor. People are able to access an outside courtyard space at the home. There were 21 people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were protected from the risk of harm by staff who understood the possible signs of abuse and how to recognise these and report any concerns. Staff were also aware of the risks that people faced and understood their role in managing these to ensure people received safe care.

People were supported by enough staff to provide effective, person centred support. Staff were recruited safely with appropriate pre-employment checks and received training and support to ensure that they had the necessary skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs.

People received their medicines as prescribed and staff worked with healthcare professionals to ensure that people received joined up, consistent care. Medicines were stored securely and recorded accurately.

People were supported from the spread of infection by staff who understood their role in infection control and used appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

People were supported to make choices about all areas of their support and staff understood the principles of mental capacity. Where decisions were needed in people’s best interests, these were in place. Where people required application to be made to the local authority for DoLS, these had been completed.

People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and there were systems in place to ensure that any concerns around weight loss were monitored. People’s preferences for meals were well known and choices were offered if people did not want the meal provided. Feedback about the quality of food was positive.

People were supported to receive personalised, compassionate end of life care and their wishes and preferences were recorded.

People and those important to them were involved in planning the support they would receive and also regularly asked for their views about the support and any changes to people’s needs. Reviews identified where people’s needs had changed and reflected changes to the support provided in response to this.

People were supported by staff who respected their individuality and protected their privacy. Staff told us that they would ensure that people’s religious or other beliefs were supported and protected. Staff had undertaken training in equality and diversity and understood how to use this learning in practice.

Interactions with people were kind and caring and relatives told us that their loved ones received safe, compassionate care.

People were supported to access healthcare professionals when required and the service worked with a number of external agencies to ensure that people received joined up, consistent care.

People were supported to have one to one time with staff in social a