Darley Hall 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 as good. At this assessment, the rating has remained as good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 72 (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.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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.

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.

The provider did not always detect and control potential risks in the care environment. They did not always make sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

We identified environmental risks that had not been recognised prior to our visit or appropriately addressed. For example, some tall furniture, including wardrobes, was not secured to the wall and had not been risk assessed for this, resulting in a risk of tipping. A hot water outlet recorded on the home’s audit as exceeding safe temperatures remained too hot, with no action taken to reduce the risk of scalding. We also found coded doors with access codes displayed above them, including a cluttered cupboard storing equipment, which could pose a risk if accessed by people living at the home. The provider took immediate action to address these concerns when we raised them, reducing the risks to people.

A set of three ramps on the top floor, used to support wheelchair access to two bedrooms, had been custom made by the home. These had been risk assessed internally, with control measures in place. However, they had not been independently assessed to ensure they met appropriate safety standards, meaning their safety could not be fully assured. The provider responded promptly to this feedback and took action to address the concerns, reducing any potential risk to people using the equipment.

Aside from these issues, the environment was generally well maintained, and systems were in place to identify and manage risks to help keep people safe.

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.

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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.