Woodham Grange

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 inspection 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. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. People received safe care because staff learned from safety alerts and incidents. Any incidents about people's safety were discussed with staff in a timely way, with action taken to mitigate further risks. A staff member told us, “We are encouraged to report, incidents are reviewed and we discuss them.”

Staff at the service always worked with people and healthcare partners to design, establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was always well managed and monitored. Staff made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. People were well-supported by staff, as they transitioned into the service at a pace that suited them. A relative fed back to the provider, “I am delighted at how well [Name] has settled in, and how well they are doing, at what could have been a really difficult time.” Detailed information was collected before people started to use the service, and person-centred ‘passports’ were available with information to take when attending hospital or other health appointments. Passports were also prepared to ensure people’s needs could be met, if they moved elsewhere. These documents contained important information about people’s care and communication needs, including personal details, the type of medicines people were taking, and any pre-existing health conditions.

Staff at 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.Staff received safeguarding training with annual refresher training. A staff member commented, “Any concerns are reported immediately.” Relatives told us they felt people were safe. A relative commented, “I feel reassured that staff are keeping [Name] safe and comfortable.”

Staff always worked well with people to fully understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care that fully met people’s needs and was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.Risks were assessed to ensure people were safe and staff took action to mitigate any identified risks. Care plans contained explanations of the measures staff would follow to keep people safe, including where people may become distressed or anxious. A relative commented, “[Name] gets anxious and agitated sometimes and staff use the “reassurance techniques" to calm them.”

The provider was fully aware of all potential risks in the care environment and controlled them well. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. A relative commented, “Staff are trained to meet [Name]’s safely. There is a hoist over the bath. [Name] has all the equipment they need." The environment was well-maintained. Equipment was regularly serviced to maintain safety.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. A staff member commented, “We do a lot of training, some is face to face and some is online.” Staff worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.There were sufficient staff to support people safely. People were supported on a 1-1 or 2-1 basis and staffing levels could be increased or decreased dependent upon need. A relative commented, “There are always enough staff.”

Staff assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.Staff told us personal protective equipment (PPE) and all cleaning materials needed were available. They confirmed they had received infection control training. There was a good standard of hygiene around the building. A relative commented, “The home is always fresh and clean.”

Staff at the service made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened to people’s medicines. Staff ensured medicines were reviewed if people’s needs changed, and in line with ‘Stopping over medication of people with a learning disability and autistic people (STOMP). Improvements had been made to medicine records and increased weekly audits took place to ensure their accuracy. Records of people’s prescribed medicines were well-maintained and followed national guidance including recording people’s allergies.