Northbrooke House

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. Actions were taken following accidents and incidents with consideration as to why these may have occurred and what may be done to reduce repeat events. For example, a person had moved to an alternative bedroom located closer to communal areas where staff would be better able to monitor them to help reduce their falls risk. Family members and staff confirmed they were updated following accidents and incidents.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. The manager undertook a preadmission assessment to confirm Northbrooke House was able to meet the person’s needs prior to agreeing the admission and to ensure care plans and any required equipment was in place. If a person needed to be admitted to hospital or transferred to another service relevant information about their medicines, health and care needs were provided.

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. All staff understood their safeguarding and consent responsibilities and the management team had taken appropriate action where necessary in response to safeguarding concerns. People and family members confirmed they felt safe. A person told us, “It’s quite nice, clean and there’s several places for me to sit. I feel safe here, wherever I sit.”

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. Care files contained risk assessments relevant for the person. The recording procedures for people’s daily fluid intake did not provide running or daily totals unless staff manually added these up. The manager told us they had recently found out how the electronic system would produce a daily intake amount and said they were planning to initiate use of this system. Equipment to help manage identified risks such as movement alert equipment and pressure reliving equipment was seen in use where required. Staff and training records confirmed staff had received training to use equipment safely.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. The home was spacious, well decorated had points of interests on the walls including interest/activity boards which were suitable for people with dementia. People had access to a range of communal areas and an enclosed garden. Bedrooms were individualised to people’s tastes and contained people’s personal belongings. Where equipment was required such as for moving and skin integrity we saw this used correctly. Records showed equipment was regularly serviced and care staff told us they had access to all equipment they required. Risks relating to the environment had been assessed and action taken where needed to manage risks such as the restriction of access to stairs. Care staff understood the actions they should take if the fire alarms sounded.

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. There were appropriate pre-employment procedures in place with all required checks being completed prior to new staff commencing work at Northbrooke House. People, family members and external professionals felt there were usually sufficient staff. An external health professional told us, “There always seem to be plenty of staff on the floor when I visit.” Staff identified that they were often very busy especially in the morning. The manager told us this had been identified and an additional staff member would be working from 7-11 am and again in the evening from 5 -10pm. Training was up to date and covered topics relevant to the service. A formal process was in place to support staff with regular staff meetings, supervision and appraisals.

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. Staff had received food hygiene and infection control training. The home had been awarded 5 stars (the maximum) for food hygiene. Staff confirmed the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and we saw them using this appropriately. The home appeared clean throughout. Housekeeping and laundry staff told us about routines to ensure all areas were regularly cleaned. A person told us, “I see them cleaning every day, it’s very good here.” The management team understood the actions they should take if there was an infectious disease outbreak at the home.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Safe systems were in place to ensure the safe receipt, storage, administration, recording and disposal of medicines. Staff responsible for the administration of medicines or topical creams had received appropriate training and their competency had been assessed. People and their family members did not raise any concerns about medicines administration.