Fernbrook 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 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. The registered manager had systems in place to investigate accidents, incidents, safeguarding and complaints raised. These were reviewed for any themes and trends, and any learning was shared with staff. Where changes or improvements were needed to keep people, safe these were implemented. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. The registered manager was transparent and understood their role under duty of candour. Where safety incidents had occurred, the registered manager raised these incidents with the appropriate authorities such as the local authority to investigate safeguarding concerns. Lessons learnt were shared during handovers and meetings to continually identify and embed good practice.

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. Before people were admitted to the service the registered manager completed a full assessment of their needs to ensure they could be met by the service and facilitated a safe transition. The assessment identified any on-going health needs and what on-going care people may need. Information from other health professionals such as hospital discharge letters were kept and information shared with GPs to ensure people had access to all the support they needed.

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. We observed staff were kind and caring in their interactions with people. A relative told us, “The staff look after my wife really lovely.” Staff had received training in safeguarding and knew how to protect people from the risk of abuse to keep them safe. Staff were confident they could raise concerns, and these would be taken seriously. The registered manager was proactive in raising safeguarding concerns with the local authority and providing information to them to investigate these promptly to keep people 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. Staff were provided with guidance on how to support people safely. Risks assessments and care plans were person centred and contained all the information staff needed to mitigate risks to people safely. People were involved in planning their care and how risks may affect them. Risk assessments were reviewed regularly and when needed, care plans were updated and changed.

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 provider had identified environmental issues and these were being addressed. There had been on-going issues with a leaking roof which the provider had organised repairs on however, these had reoccurred. The provider was now confident the source of the issue had been identified, and a contract was in place for the repairs to be completed imminently. Internal work was being completed as part of the providers on-going maintenance and refurbishment plan. The registered manager told us the provider was very responsive to any concerns raised about the environment and would address issues when identified. The registered manager completed audits of the environment and addressed issues highlighted.

There was a fire risk assessment in place and the local fire service had conducted a recent inspection to ensure the service was complying with fire regulations.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked well together to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. The provider had robust recruitment practices in place including checking applicants provided a full working history, references and undertook a disclosure and disbarring check (DBS). DBS provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

When staff first started working at the service, they underwent an induction, which included shadowing more experienced staff who could mentor them. Staff completed training both on-line and face to face. Feedback from a visiting NHS professional who delivered training at the service told us that staff were engaging with training and asked appropriate questions.

Nurses at the service were supported to re-validate their registration. This meant they were supported to keep their skills and knowledge up to date and were legally able to continue to hold their nursing qualification.

Staff told us they had regular meetings and supervision and felt supported by the management team. One member of staff said, “We get good team support from the manager and other staff.”

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 training in infection prevention and control (IPC). IPC audits were completed by the registered manager to ensure IPC was being implemented correctly to prevent the risk of the spread of infections. Staff had personal protection equipment (PPE) and used these appropriately. Where appropriate people were supported to keep up to date with vaccination programs from the GP service. This meant people were protected as far as possible from avoidable infections and the risk of outbreaks within the service.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. People were supported to have their medicines by staff who were suitably trained and skilled to administer medicines. There were medicines policies in place to support the safe administration of medicines. Medication records we reviewed were in good order to support the safe administration of medicines.