Valeries Care Home and Valeries Home Care

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 promoted a positive and open culture of safety, where concerns were encouraged and acted upon. Staff understood their responsibilities to report safety incidents and told us they felt confident doing so.

Incidents and accidents were recorded, investigated and reviewed. The registered manager analysed these to identify trends and areas for improvement. A root cause analysis process was used to understand contributing factors, including environmental issues, staffing, equipment and training needs.

Learning from incidents was shared with staff through handovers and team meetings. This encouraged staff to reflect on practice and helped reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring.

Staff said they felt well guided and had received training to recognise and report incidents. Staff told us communication within the service was effective, and important information was shared promptly.

These systems resulted in risks to people being identified, understood and managed appropriately, and demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

The provider worked with people and healthcare professionals to establish that safe systems of care were in place. There was a coordinated approach to care, and staff worked with external partners to maintain people’s safety and continuity of care. Systems were in place to manage people’s care when moving between services, including hospital admissions and discharges. Staff told us important information was shared with other services to promote safe care. For example, medical information, including allergies and key personal details, was provided when people were admitted to hospital. This ensured people received consistent and appropriate care.

Prior to people moving into the home, assessments were completed to confirm the provider could meet people’s needs. These assessments helped enable safe and well-planned transitions into the home.

The registered manager described how they worked collaboratively with people, their relatives and healthcare professionals to develop care plans before admission. This helped ensure effective arrangements were in place from the outset.

People’s care was coordinated with a range of professionals, including GPs and other healthcare services. This facilitated timely decision-making and maintained continuity of care.

Relatives spoke positively about how transitions into the service were managed. One relative commented, “Everything they could do to make the transition easy they did for us."

The provider worked with people and relevant agencies to ensure people were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people and described how they would recognise and report concerns.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe living at Valerie’s Care Home. One person told us, “I’m safe with staff.”

The provider had systems in place to report and respond to safeguarding concerns. Records confirmed concerns were reported to the local authority safeguarding team appropriately, and investigations were undertaken where required. Notifications were submitted to CQC in line with regulatory requirements.

Staff had access to a safeguarding policy and had received training in safeguarding. They demonstrated an understanding of different types of abuse and were confident to raise concerns. Staff felt supported by the management team to raise issues when needed.

This helped protect people from harm and meant prompt action was taken when concerns were identified.

People were involved in decisions about managing risks to their health, safety and wellbeing. Staff understood people’s individual risks and supported them in a way that balanced safety with people’s independence and choice.

Risk assessments were person-centred and reflected people’s individual needs, including mobility, health conditions and daily routines. These were developed with people and, where appropriate relatives, ensuring risks were managed in line with people’s preferences.

Care plans included clear guidance for staff on how to support people safely and reduce the risk of harm. Staff explained the information available enabled them to deliver safe and effective care

Staff supported people to take positive risks, such as enabling individuals to engage in meaningful activities, including assisting with maintenance tasks, while ensuring risks were managed effectively. Records were up to date and included relevant information about risks to people’s health and wellbeing.

The provider maintained a safe environment for people, with systems in place to identify and manage risks relating to the premises and equipment. Equipment, facilities and the environment enabled the delivery of safe care.

Equipment and appliances were regularly checked and serviced. Records confirmed inspections and maintenance were carried out by qualified professionals.

Fire safety systems were in place and regularly monitored. Fire equipment, including extinguishers, were serviced, and certificates of compliance were available. The service had received a fire safety check from the fire service. Fire drills were completed, and regular testing of the fire alarm system was undertaken. Water safety checks were carried out, and relevant certificates of compliance were maintained.

Cleaning was carried out daily, helping to maintain a clean and hygienic environment for people living at the home. A maintenance person attended the service regularly, and arrangements were in place to address repairs in a timely way.

Systems were in place to monitor the safety and cleanliness of the premises, including food preparation and storage areas. This meant the environment was safe, well maintained and suitable for people using the service.

The provider ensured there were enough suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people’s needs. Staff worked well together to provide safe care and assistance that reflected people’s individual needs.

Staff received regular supervision and guidance to help them perform their roles effectively. Records showed supervisions were carried out consistently, and staff had the opportunity to discuss their performance and development. Documentation was completed and included staff and manager sign-off.

Staff received training relevant to their roles, and their competence was assessed to ensure they were able to support people safely and effectively.

During the inspection, we observed staff responding to people promptly and having time to engage with them in a meaningful way. This enabled people to receive care in a timely and person-centred manner.

Safe recruitment practices were followed. Checks were carried out to help lower the risk inappropriate staff would be employed.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. Systems were in place to prevent and control the spread of infection and concerns were shared with relevant agencies where required.

The home was clean and promoted the delivery of safe care.

Staff reported they had access to sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and confirmed they had received training in infection prevention and control. Staff demonstrated an understanding of infection control practices and how to use PPE correctly. The provider had an up-to-date infection prevention and control policy, which reflected current guidance.

People spoke positively about the cleanliness of the home. One person commented, “It’s always nice and tidy. They come round, moving us out of the way to hoover. Yes, they do wear gloves and aprons.”

These arrangements helped reduce the risk of infection and ensured people were cared for in a clean and safe environment.

The provider ensured medicines were managed safely and in a way that met people’s needs, preferences and capacities. People were involved in decisions about their medicines where appropriate, including when changes were made.

Medicines were administered safely by trained staff who had completed competency assessments. Medicines were stored securely and in line with current guidance.

Medication Administration Records (MAR) were completed accurately, including the recording of refusals. ‘As required’ (PRN) medicines had clear protocols in place to guide staff on when they should be administered.

Systems were in place to audit and monitor medicines management practices. Staff understood how to report and respond to medicines errors, and action was taken to promote safe practice.

Relatives spoke positively about how medicines were managed. One relative told us, “They are very aware and control her tablets. It wasn’t happening at home but now they do it all. The beauty is it’s not a massive place, so they know her well.”

This supported people to receive their medicines safely and as prescribed.