The Highlands

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 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.

Quality assurance checks were completed regularly by the management team, where they reviewed potential trends and themes. This helped identify any learning across the service and supported ongoing improvement.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. This included when people moved between different services, ensuring risks, needs and support plans were clearly communicated to avoid gaps in support.

The provider carried out a pre-admission assessment to ensure they could meet people's needs safely and effectively. The information obtained was used to develop individualised care plans.

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 had systems in place to identify and investigate safeguarding concerns. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities for recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns to management and the appropriate authorities.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations were in place for all relevant people, and any conditions were added to people’s individual care plans.
 

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 understood each person's strengths, aspirations and vulnerabilities, and adapted support to meet their individual needs. People were supported to understand and manage risks in their lives while promoting their independence and choice.

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 completed health and safety checks consistently and environmental risks were managed appropriately. Safety checks and servicing had been completed at regular intervals.

People's bedrooms were well decorated and personalised. The décor throughout the home was clean, fresh, and well maintained.
 

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.

Effective recruitment processes supported the safe appointment of staff. Staff were provided with comprehensive training across a broad range of topics, including training specific to people with learning disabilities and autism, to enable them to perform their roles effectively.
 

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.

The home was clean throughout, and domestic staff were visible around the home, performing their duties.

Staff had completed Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) training and had the equipment needed to carry out their role. Regular audits were completed to ensure good IPC standards were maintained.
 

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.

People's medicines were managed safely by trained and competent staff. Robust systems were in place to ensure medicines were stored, administered and accounted for appropriately, and records confirmed people received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff completed regular medicine reviews and carried out medication audits to identify any concerns and areas for improvement.