Amber Lodge Nursing Home

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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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.

People and relatives felt staff provided people with safe care. One person told us, “I’ve no worries at all.” While a relative told us they visited regularly and were happy with the care provided to their family member. They said they had, “Peace of mind when I’m not here.”

Staff understood their role to report any accidents and incidents and were guided by clear policies and procedures. They told us there was a positive culture around safety where any incidents would be reviewed to see how improvements could be made. Leaders met with staff and had reiterated open and transparent ways of working to help embed a learning culture. This had contributed to staff development and knowledge. Reviews of incidents looked for any trends and themes and what could be done differently to reduce risks. For examples, falls were analysed by their location and time of day, and checks were made to ensure any appropriate referrals had been made and staffing levels were appropriate. This helped to embed good practice.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safeguarding during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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.

People told us staff involved them in their care. One person told us, “Staff talk to me and ask me what I want.” We observed staff were attentive to people and checked on their well-being throughout the day, supporting them to partake in social or everyday activities. Staff were knowledgeable of people’s care needs and what actions they were to take to help reduce any known risks. For example, staff understood what actions to take should a person show any changes in their health. This helped people to receive safe care.

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

Risks in the home environment had been identified and actions taken to reduce any known risks. For example, heavy items of furniture were secured to walls to reduce the risks of these toppling over. Areas of the home that presented risks to people, such as the kitchen and where building work was in progress, were kept locked. Staff were informed of fire safety procedures and had completed fire safety training.

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.

When people used equipment such as a hoist to help them transfer positions, this was done safely. One person told us, “I am hoisted, and the staff try to be gentle.” A relative told us, “I’m very happy with the hoisting, the staff are very caring.”

We observed staff were confident and competent in assisting people to transfer using equipment such as a hoist and when people needed assistance with their meals and this was provided at their own pace. Senior staff told us their moving and handling training had enabled them to pass on their skills and to evaluate staff practice to ensure it continued to meet good practice standards. Leaders supported staff to develop their confidence and competence in their work and used reflection and discussion to create a shared understanding of good practice.

We observed care staff were able to respond to people’s needs in a timely manner during our inspection. Staffing rotas were planned and the number of staff required to meet people’s needs was kept under review to ensure changes in people’s needs could be met.

Staff recruitment practices ensured the required pre-employment checks were completed and new staff completed an induction programme to help ensure they had the necessary skills for their job role.

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.

People were happy that their home environment was kept clean. One person told us, “Staff keep everything clean enough and change my sheets quite often.” A relative said, “The laundry staff are great, and if I bring any new clothing in, they do all the labelling.”

Furniture was in good condition and leaders proactively identified when replacements were required. This helped to ensure items of furniture people used remained able to be cleaned effectively. Other adaptations had been made to ensure cleaning was effective, for example pull cords in bathrooms that were able to be wiped clean. People who required a hoist to help them transfer, had their own individualised slings. This helped to reduce the chances of cross contamination.

We observed the environment was cleaned throughout the day of our assessment, including people’s bedrooms and communal areas. We observed staff used and had access to supplies of personal protective equipment such as facemasks, gloves and aprons to help prevent and control the spread of infection. We observed staff practised good hand hygiene principles and hand hygiene was prompted for people at mealtimes.

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.

People were supported safely if they needed to take any medicines. One person told us, “Staff give me a painkiller if I ask and they will check that I have taken them okay.” We observed medicines were administered and stored in line with good practice principles. When medicines were needed ‘as and when required’ as part of people’s positive behaviour support strategies, guidelines were in place and included what actions staff should take before administering medicines. This helped to ensure people’s medicines were administered in line with the least restrictive principles. Staff told us how people’s medicines were kept under regular review with either the community matron or as part of a local project with the Community Mental Health Team. This helped to ensure people’s medicines continued to meet people’s needs.