White Cliffs Lodge

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 5 June 2025. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

Date of assessment: 19 to 28 May 2025. White Cliffs Lodge is a residential care service providing accommodation and personal care support to people living with a learning disability, physical and mental health support needs. At the time of this assessment there were 13 people receiving care and support in the service. The service offers shared accommodation for people in White Cliffs Lodge and 6 self-contained flats in White Cliffs Court.

The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, safeguarding people from improper treatment and abuse, staffing, treating people with dignity and respect, person-centred care and governance. Improvements were found at this assessment and the provider was no longer in breach of these regulations.

We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

People received safe support and care from a consistent staff team. Staff knew them well, were well-trained, supported by the managers and recruited safely. There were sufficient staff allocated to support people to keep well and to do what they liked, such as to go out or to enjoy other activities within their home. People were supported to take positive risks and to build their independence and skills. People’s support plans were reviewed and improved with their input. People were involved in redecoration and design of their home environment. Staff treated people with kindness and dignity, supported them to make their own choices and respected them. The management team ensured necessary restrictions on people’s liberties which were required to provide safe care and support were in place. Deprivation of liberty safeguard applications were raised with local authority as required. Any safeguarding concerns were treated seriously by staff, appropriately reported and addressed to protect people. People and their relatives felt listened to and involved. There was a positive culture and good communication in the service and within the staff team. The governance systems had been reviewed and improved. The managers carried out regular checks of quality and safety of the service and improvements were identified and completed as per the action plans in place. Where we raised with the provider any further improvements in relation to record keeping, these were immediately actioned and implemented. The provider worked well with other healthcare and social care professionals.

This service has been in Special Measures since 21 July 2023. The provider demonstrated improvements that have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.