Brinsworth 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 good. At this assessment, the rating has remained good. This meant people continued to be 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.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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 service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They 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 service shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

Managers and staff understood how to safeguard people. They knew how to recognise and report abuse and were able to articulate how they would spot signs if people were at risk of abuse or harm. A member of staff told us, “I would tell the clinical lead nurse or another person in-charge if I saw abuse happen here. I feel comfortable speaking up and the managers and senior staff do listen to us. I have also had safeguarding training.” Another added, “I wouldn’t hesitate to tell the nurses in-charge if I saw anything untoward happening in the home. I know I have a duty of care to report abuse straight away and we have regular safeguarding training updates to remind us of what to do if such an event were to happen.” People told us they felt safe living in the care home. One person said, “I feel quite safe and comfortable living at Brinsworth House.” An external professional added, “I have no concerns over the care and level of safety offered to residents in the care home.”

Managers worked proactively with the relevant external health and social agencies when a concern was raised and took appropriate action to safeguard people from further risk, when this was required.

People were supported to understand the care and support staff provided them. A relative told us, “Everything is done with my [family members] consent.” People’s care plans made it clear what decisions people could make for themselves. Staff understood people’s capacity to make decisions about the care and support they received. Managers and staff confirmed they had received Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) training. The service was clearly working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Staff ensured potential risks people might face were mitigated, so that people remained safe when taking part in activities and events of their choice. People told us the staff knew how to keep them safe. A relative remarked, “I am a regular visitor to the care home and can see my [family member] is well-looked after here. Staff always follow their constantly evolving care plan which tells them exactly how to look after my [family member]. All the staff are very well briefed on my [family members] needs and know how to keep her safe.” An external care professional added, “Staff receive regular online and in-person training which helps them identify the potential risks to the people and how to safely manage them.Most importantly,staffare well-trained in managing such incidents, should they occur.” Throughout our inspection we saw staff responded quickly to people’s requests for assistance and to meet their needs. We observed staff supporting people in wheelchairs safely.

Staff were aware of the potential risks people might face and the steps they needed to take to prevent or safely manage them. For example, staff closely monitored people who were at risk of falling, so they would be immediately available if their assistance were required. A member of staff told us, “Everyone who lives here has their own care and risk management plan which staff can all access electronically. Some people are at higher risk of falling than others, so we keep a close eye on the home environment and people’s bedrooms to make sure there isn’t anything that might cause people to trip.”

People’s care records contained up to date, sufficiently detailed and accurate risk assessments and management plans. Staff told us they always followed people’s assessments and plans to enable people to take reasonable risks. Systems were in place to ensure risks to people were continually assessed, monitored and reviewed.

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

The premises were kept free of obstacles and hazards which enabled people to move safely around the care home.

There were effective arrangements to monitor the safety and upkeep of the premises. Since our last inspection, the care homes environment has been significantly improved. This included en-suite and/or wet rooms being added to most bedrooms and the care homes interior refurbished to a high standard. One person told us, “I love the way the care home has been decorated with all the red carpet and velvet everywhere which gives the place the look and feel of an old theatre. I particularly like the bar area which looks amazing and is a wonderful place to have a drink before you eat or watch one of the many shows they put on here.”

Staff told us they had clear guidelines available to help them deal with emergencies. In relation to fire safety, we saw personalised plans were in place to help staff evacuate people in an emergency. Regular checks were completed to help ensure the safety of the home’s physical environment and fire safety equipment. General risk assessments were regularly reviewed and updated including reference to equipment used to support people. This equipment was regularly serviced and maintained. For example, visual checks were regularly completed on bed rails, window restrictors and other equipment. A relative told us, “The care home is very safe, and maintenance seems to be carried out quickly, as and when required.”

The service 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.

The provider operated safe recruitment practices and only fit and suitable staff were employed to work at the care home.

Staffing levels matched the staff duty rota on the day of our site visit. Staff were visibly present throughout the care home and were quick to respond to people’s questions and requests for support. For example, we saw several instances of staff responding promptly to people who had activated their call bell alarm. People told us the care home was adequately staffed. One person said, “There’s always more than enough staff working in the home. They [staff] are always there when you really need them.” An external care professional added, “Brinsworth House always has higher than normal client to staff ratios compared to other care homes I am familiar with.There are always staff around and they answer the call bell system promptly.”

Staff were well-trained to meet people’s individual needs, in line with their choices and preferences and encouraged to continually improve in their role. An external care professional told us, “Brinsworth House invests in specific training based on the needs of the people living there.If a new service user is moving in with a condition staff are less familiar with then in my experience, they will source the specialist training they need.” Another added, “In my opinion they [staff] have expertise and competence in providing holistic care tailored to meet the residents’ needs.”

Staff received a mixture of e-learning and in-person practical and theoretical training. A member of staff said, “We have regular in-house training, and we do our mandatory training online. We get reminded when are training needs updating. The training is always useful as all of us can improve are practice.” Another added, “The training we receive here is always relevant and constantly being refreshed, so we know exactly how to care for people living in the care home.” Training was routinely refreshed as frequently as staff required it including, competency-based assessments. The training of new staff included a comprehensive induction programme.

Staff had ongoing opportunities to reflect on their working practices and to identify any further training, learning or support they might need. Staff had regular individual and group meetings with their fellow peers and line managers. A member of staff told us, “We have regular supervision meetings and lots of opportunities to give feedback to our line managers.” Another added, “The managers are very supportive and approachable, and their office door is always open.”

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.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.