Archived: Northbrook

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

Staff listened to concerns from both people and colleagues, and any incidents or near misses were reported and investigated. Learning from these events was used to improve care and promote good practice such as when a person needed guidance on managing their finances, staff provided tailored support and shared lessons with the team to reduce risks for others.

The registered manager told us they received safety alerts from the government, local authority and CQC which informed them of upcoming risks along with themes and trends to ensure the provider could take appropriate action to mitigate these risks.

The provider worked closely with people, their families, and healthcare partners to maintain safe, coordinated care.

Staff collaborated with external professionals, including social workers and nurses, to ensure continuity and consistent safety, particularly during transitions between services.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

The provider worked closely with people to understand their individual perspectives on safety, ensuring risk assessments and care plans reflected their choices and preferences. Accidents and incidents were promptly reported with suitable measures taken to mitigate risk in the future.

Staff were well-trained in safeguarding, knew how to identify and report concerns, and acted promptly when issues arose. Comprehensive policies, regular training, and up-to-date guidance supported a strong culture of safety, accountability, and protection throughout the service.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Staff supported people safely while encouraging independence and choice, ensuring that care met individual needs and aspirations. When a person wanted to learn to cook independently, staff assessed potential risks in the kitchen, put safety measures in place, and provided guidance, allowing the person to gain new skills safely. Similarly, when someone wished to use public transport to attend social activities, staff supported them to plan routes, understand safety procedures, and gradually build confidence, balancing safety with personal freedom.

This approach enabled people to engage in meaningful activities, pursue goals, and maintain a good quality of life while managing potential risks effectively.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Staff supported people to live safely and independently within their own homes. Although each person held their own tenancy agreement and had a separate landlord, staff work closely with them to manage risks and maintain a safe environment. They supported people to escalate concerns to their landlord.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

Staff worked collaboratively to provide safe, responsive care that meets people’s individual needs. The staff team was stable, with minimal reliance on agency staff, which helped build consistent, trusting relationships with the people they supported.

Shifts and rotas were well planned, and staff were flexible when required to respond to changing needs, supporting each other, the leadership team, and the people using the service.

Robust staff recruitment processes were in place, including comprehensive pre-employment checks.

Competency checks and reflective practice were used to monitor staff practice, reinforce best practice, and adapt care strategies as needed. Staff received effective induction, appropriate supervision, and ongoing training to support people with learning disabilities or mental health needs.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

The provider demonstrated compliance with Infection Prevention Control (IPC) requirements. Staff practices were safe and consistent and they had easy access to required personal protective equipment to reduce the spread of infection. Individuals were well supported to manage infection risks within their own flats.
 

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

The provider had collaborated effectively with external clinicians to ensure people’s medicines were reviewed regularly and continued to meet their individual needs. Protocols were established for people prescribed ‘as required’ medicines, with clear instructions for staff. The provider acted in accordance with STOMP (Stopping the Over-Medication of People with Learning Disabilities, Autism, or Both), a national NHS initiative aimed at reducing inappropriate use of medicines.

We were satisfied people received their medicine safely. Medicines and treatments were managed safely and tailored to meet people’s needs. People were involved in planning and administration when they preferred and were able to do so. Staff demonstrated a thorough understanding of each person’s medicines requirements.

Staff had received medicine training and regular competency checks were conducted to ensure staff were confident and safe in their medicines practice. Medicine records were audited routinely, and any discrepancies were addressed promptly.