Hazelwood Lodge Limited

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 supported staff to learn from accidents, incidents and concerns. Staff recorded these events, and managers reviewed them to identify any action needed to improve care and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Leaders shared learning through staff discussions, training and across the organisation. Relatives said they were kept informed when things went wrong and were involved in discussions about improvements. A relative commented that following an incident, "I have had meetings where I have raised some concerns and they have been very receptive and made the necessary changes."

The provider worked with staff and partner services to support safe and coordinated transitions. People had hospital passports which included important information about their needs, communication methods and support preferences. These were available to share with healthcare professionals when people needed to access hospital or other services.

When people were admitted to hospital, staff helped to reduce risks associated with the change in environment. They gave hospital staff guidance about people’s individual needs, helped with communication needs and visited regularly.

People were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had safeguarding processes in place and staff understood how to use them. Staff had completed safeguarding training and were able to describe the action they would take if they identified concerns about a person’s safety or wellbeing.

The management team responded to safeguarding concerns by working with the local authority and other relevant agencies. This helped ensure concerns were reviewed, investigated and acted on to reduce the risk of further harm. Relatives were confident people were safe and told us staff communicated openly when incidents or concerns occurred. A relative said, “They have gone above and beyond to ensure my [relative], who has complex needs, is safe and all their needs are met.”

Where people were subject to restrictions and did not have capacity to consent to these, the provider had applied for the appropriate legal authorisations. Records showed decisions were made in people’s best interests and regarding their safety.

People were supported to manage risks in ways that promoted their safety, wellbeing and independence. Staff assessed risks relating to people’s care and recorded guidance in care plans and risk assessments. These were reviewed and updated when people’s needs changed.

Staff involved relatives and other professionals when planning how risks should be managed. Relatives told us staff kept them informed about changes in people’s mobility, health and wellbeing, and discussed measures to reduce risks. Staff had completed training in safe care and risk management.

We observed staff supporting people safely and patiently when using standing aids and walking frames. Relatives told us staff encouraged people to remain mobile while providing appropriate support. A visiting health professional told us, “When I discharge [person] I know they will be in good hands.”

Staff monitored health risks, including signs of infection, and encouraged people to increase fluids when this was needed.

The provider managed the environment in a way that supported people’s safety and wellbeing. Staff completed regular checks of the premises and equipment to make sure these were safe and suitable for use.

People were able to personalise their bedrooms and had unrestricted access around the home, including to a large, well-maintained garden. This supported people to use the environment in a way that reflected their choices and preferences.

Fire safety arrangements were in place. People had personal emergency evacuation plans which guided staff on how to support them safely in the event of an emergency. The provider arranged for suitably qualified professionals to assess fire risks. Staff completed training about safe evacuation and carried out regular checks of fire safety equipment.

The provider made sure there were enough staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Relatives told us staff were available when people needed support and that people did not have to wait for care. They described staff as skilled, kind and familiar with people’s individual needs.

Recruitment systems helped to ensure staff were suitable for their roles. These included checks on staff members’ identity, skills and knowledge. New staff completed an induction, and staff undertook regular training relevant to their responsibilities. Managers assessed staff skills and competencies at regular intervals.

Staff told us training was useful and helped them understand how to provide safe care. They also told us they felt well supported. Staff had regular meetings with managers where they could discuss their work, performance and any support they needed.

The provider had arrangements in place to reduce the risk of infection. Staff understood the procedures they needed to follow and had completed training in infection prevention and control and food safety. The home was clean and well maintained. One relative told us, “The home is very clean and practices good hygiene.”

Staff followed cleaning and laundry schedules. Personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves and aprons, was available for staff to use when required. Relatives told us they were satisfied with the cleanliness of the home.

People were supported to receive their medicines safely and as prescribed. Staff assessed people’s medicines needs and recorded guidance for staff to follow. This included protocols for medicines prescribed to be taken when required, so staff understood when these medicines should be offered and administered.

Staff worked with prescribing doctors to make sure people’s medicines continued to meet their needs. This included supporting people to reduce medicines when appropriate, in line with the principles of Stopping Over medication of People with a learning disability, autism or both

(STOMP,), the national programme to reduce inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Medicines, including controlled drugs, were stored securely and in line with the provider’s medicines policy and relevant guidance. Staff kept clear records showing when medicines were administered, and records relating to controlled drugs were maintained.

Staff completed training in safe medicines management. Managers carried out regular audits to check medicines systems and identify any improvements needed.

Medicines errors were investigated and used to support learning and improvement. The registered manager, who is a qualified doctor, worked alongside staff to review medicines practice and provide guidance. Staff told us this support was useful and helped them improve their understanding of safe medicines management.