Long Meadow Care 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. There was a proactive and positive learning culture. Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed to identify lessons that could be learned or improvements that could be made.

People told us that they could discuss any accidents or safety concerns with the managers. They were described as always listening to and responding to issues. A relative said, “I’m really confident about it. They’ve always got time to listen and explain things. I just go to the office.”

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.

Relatives who had experience of their family member moving between services, said liaison with them and other services had been good. They said, “The process was really smooth, they (managers) were really helpful and provided a lot of information. They answered all of my questions.”

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. Staff had received training in safeguarding people from abuse and were aware of their safeguarding responsibilities.

People told us they felt safe living at the home. Relatives said, “I’ve no concerns about any of the staff and how they treat [family member], as they’re all lovely people…I can tip up at any time and I’ve never witnessed anything worrying. If I had any worries, I could talk to the manager, as we get on really well. I know she would definitely deal with anything that came up” and “The staff are absolutely brilliant; it’s a lovely place. [Family member] is 100% safe, in fact more than safe. I’ve never had any concerns at all about how staff are with [family member], or the family. If I had anything to worry me, I’d go and see [registered manager]. She’s just so nice. They aren’t just lovely when anyone comes, they’re like it all the time.”

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.

Risks were well managed, and risk assessments were person centred and reviewed regularly. A new electronic care records system was being introduced to improve the accuracy and accessibility of records. Relatives told us they were confident that risks were managed well and felt actively involved in decisions about how care was delivered.

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

All required health and safety and building maintenance checks were in place. There was a programme of refurbishment and the service had plans to remodel some internal rooms.

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. Recruitment checks were in place prior to staff starting to work at the home. The registered manager had undertaken an audit of personnel files for staff that had started prior to her starting in post, these had found some discrepancies which she had followed up where possible.

There were enough skilled and experienced staff deployed. Staff received effective training, support, supervision and development. A staff member said, “Training is pretty good, if I needed more I would ask, but feel I have everything I need to do my job.”

A relative told us, “There seems to be plenty of staff, they’re visible and you can see they’re helping people and interacting with people. When we’re there, they come in to see how [family member] is and to ask does [person] need anything.”

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 were observed to wear PPE appropriately.

People were very positive about the cleanliness of the home. Relatives said, “It’s super clean, I’ve never seen it otherwise. I’ve seen staff wearing aprons to serve the lunch and when they do personal care, they have gloves and aprons” and “The cleanliness is very good. Every day, they vacuum, empty the bins, clean the en-suite and the bedding is always clean and fresh. It’s beautifully clean everywhere and there haven’t been any outbreaks. I see them paying attention to things like cleaning the door handles. It’s not easy, as it’s an old building.”

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. Safe systems were in place for managing and administering medicines. Staff had received training in medicines management.