Nursing Homes in Whitstable

Whitstable has 4 CQC registered nursing homes. 2 are rated Good, 2 Requires improvement. 2 of the 4 were last inspected more than three years ago.

Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.

What separates one Whitstable nursing home from another

Start with the clinical need, not the brochure

Nursing registration is what distinguishes these four providers from residential care, and it is the reason to consider them. Each keeps registered nurses on duty at all hours, so they can manage insulin, pressure care, catheters, oxygen and the sort of condition that can turn in an afternoon. Be specific when you enquire: describe the diagnosis, the medication routine and the help needed at night, then ask the manager to say plainly whether the home has the skills and the staffing to meet it. A home that hesitates is giving you useful information.

Treat the rating as a starting point

Harrier Lodge and Whitstable House both hold a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission. Whitstable Nursing Home and Chestfield House are at Requires Improvement, which does not mean care is unsafe, only that inspectors found shortfalls against one or more of the key questions they assess. Open the report and look for what was criticised, when the visit took place and what the provider committed to change. A home improving after a critical inspection can be a better bet than one coasting on an older judgement.

Use the visit properly

Call in unannounced if you can, and stay long enough to see a mealtime. Note whether residents are dressed and occupied or parked in front of a television, whether call bells are answered promptly, and how staff address people who cannot easily answer back. Ask about turnover among the nursing team, since continuity does more for quality of life than any refurbishment.

Getting care arranged and working out who pays

The care needs assessment comes first

Every adult who appears to need support can ask for a needs assessment, and it is worth having even for families who expect to fund the placement themselves, because homes will want a clear record of need before they offer a room. Ask Kent County Council adult social care to arrange one, or let the hospital discharge team refer if your relative is already on a ward. A financial assessment follows separately and looks at capital, property and income.

Fees and what sits behind them

Weekly fees for nursing care in Whitstable vary between these homes according to room size, facilities and how much clinical input is required. Where a resident needs care from a registered nurse, NHS funded nursing care can meet part of the weekly charge and is paid straight to the provider. Always ask for a written fee schedule, check what falls outside it such as chiropody or escorted appointments, and find out when fees are reviewed and by how much they rose last year.

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