The White House - PAMMS Assessment Report

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) are utilising the Provider Assessment and Market Management Solutions (PAMMS) in our quality assurance process. PAMMS is an online assessment tool developed in collaboration with Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) East and regional Local Authorities. It is designed to assist us assess the quality of care delivered by providers.

The summary table below detail the PAMMS assessments undertaken for the contracted Older Persons (OP) care home throughout April 2025 to March 2026.

Date of inspection

7 October 2025

Date assessment was published

3 November 2025

Date previous assessment was published

7 August 2024

PAMMS Assessment Summary (Positive Outcomes, Observations and Concerns)

Care plans were seen to be personalised and contained pertinent personal information including any advanced decisions. Mental capacity assessments were in place and decision specific i.e. accommodation, health, medication, finances with Deprivation of Liberty authorisations in place for those residents who required them. Care plans identified residents likes and dislikes, hobbies, activities, social preferences, goals and actions and promoted independence and maintaining of skills. Care plans evidenced residents were supported to access health and social care services when required. Care plans are paper based, the home plans to move to electronic care planning system in the near future.

Relevant risk assessments were in place to ensure the health and wellbeing of residents is maintained such as Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), Waterlow, Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs). Care plan and risk assessments are reviewed at least monthly.

Observations confirmed residents were placed at the centre of their care and were provided information and time to make their own decisions. Staff interactions with residents ensured their promoted dignity and respect, seeking appropriate consent prior to offering care and support, being patient with residents and providing them with information and time to make their own choices and decisions. Residents appeared to have good relationships with the staff team, who knew residents well.

The home has a key worker system in place. The key worker provides a monthly update to a key family member each month for each resident. Family members are also able to provide feedback on the plans.

The home has two activity co-ordinators. The home is ambitious in their activity provision and undertake a range of activities outside of the home in the local community and further afield, including holidays to the Lake District and so on. The manager and deputy are creative in their approach and undertake video risk assessments of places they intend to visit to ensure the activity is accessible. The home is also actively involved in a number of research projects and supports education sessions and placements from a local college.

On the whole medication management including the storing and administration of medication was good though staff competency assessments were found to be annually, however our contract requires they are completed 6 monthly. This was identified as an area requiring improvement and will be followed up in an action plan.

Discussion with staff confirmed they had the required knowledge for the role and had received appropriate induction, training, and support. Staffing levels within the home are good including a range of roles. Staff are visible around the home and call bells are answered promptly.

Safer recruitment practice is followed, references are requested and verbally verified, gaps in employment recorded and explored, Disclosure and Barring checks and Right to Work checks were in place. Staff supervisions were found to take place regularly and were seen to be themed around pertinent topics encountered within the home. All staff had an annual appraisal. At the time of the assessment staffs overall training compliance was 94.8%.

The home was safe and secure to prevent unauthorised access with double entry, key coded doors, visitors are required to sign in and out of the home. The home environment was homely and welcoming. The home was found to be clean, tidy, with furniture and furnishings in a good condition. The home has completed the Dementia Care Home Accreditation. Bathrooms have clear signage, are clean and followed infection control guidelines. Local Authority Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Audit was last completed in July 2024, the audit for 2025 was due to be received this month. The external grounds were also well maintained with a drive to the front of the home and an enclosed garden to the rear which residents were able to access freely.

Access to areas which posed a risk to residents was seen to have appropriate controlled access such as kitchen and laundry rooms. The kitchen area was clean and tidy with suitable equipment in place. The most recent Food Safety Inspection was conducted on 26 February 2025 and the home maintained its rating of 5 out of 5. Laundry room was well organised. Cleaning records and risk assessments were seen to be in place.

Service Certification and Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) testing were seen to be in date, including Gas Safety, Fixed wiring, Portable Appliance Testing (PAT). Appropriate fire safety arrangements are in place including fire risk assessment and monthly checks on extinguishers, emergency lighting, door closers etc and weekly fire alarm checks are conducted and regular fire drills. 

The manager had a range of audits in place such as employment, health and safety, accidents, medication etc and identified actions are transferred onto an action plan which identifies person responsible, a target date, update of actions and sign off.

Plans and Actions to Address Concerns and Improve Quality and Compliance

The Provider will complete an action plan for the one individual question identified as 'Requires Improvement' and the Quality Assurance & Compliance (QuAC) Officer will monitor this progress through contract visits.

Level of Quality Assurance and Contract Compliance Monitoring

Level 1 - No concerns, minor concerns - standard monitoring

Level of Engagement with the Authority

The provider has a positive relationship with the QuAC officer, monthly reporting is received in a timely manner.

Engagement and Support from Transformation Managers

The White House Care Home engage to a very high level with the Transformation Team opportunities and initiatives, including peer networking, Provider Forums, training and development, research projects, Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) research meetings with residents and researchers, and the activity coordinator network.

Current Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assessment - Date of Report Publication and Overall Rating

Date of inspection

17 December 2019

Overall rating

Outstanding