Woodham Lodge

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. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The provider had relevant and appropriate processes in place for investigating and assessing accidents incidents and safeguarding concerns. There was evidence of systems in place to review and reflect findings and outcomes. Where necessary changes to care were applied and lessons learned documented and shared with the staff team.

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.

People’s needs were assessed prior to moving to the home to ensure that the service could meet their individual care and support needs in a safe and dignified manner. People had hospital passports in place. Hospital passports are used to share crucial information with other services, such as hospitals, in the event of a person being transferred. One staff member said, “I’ve completed the Oliver McGowan training (which) makes me understand the importance of hospital passports.”

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.

All people living at Woodham Lodge had the correct and valid paperwork in place to protect and support them from the risk of harm. Staff had received appropriate training to confidently support them to identify and report any safeguarding concerns and ensure the people in their care remained safe. One staff member said, “I’d report any concerns to [registered manager] or to an outside agency.”

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.

Person centred risk assessments were in place, tailored to individuals’ personal needs. People were encouraged to participate in tasks and activities which were important to them. An example was one person was encouraged and supported to make their own breakfast and hot drinks when they wanted to do so.

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

There was an appropriate maintenance and servicing schedule for equipment used within the home. There were risk assessments in place for the safe and effective use of any moving and handling equipment, which the staff were appropriately trained to use so they can deliver safe care.

Contrasting visual aids were present on doorways and handrails to support people to mobilise around the home independently.

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.

The staffing within Woodham Lodge was of an appropriate level to meet the support needs safely and consistently.

There was a long-standing staff team and all required recruitment checks were in place. New staff had appropriate experience and training to help make recruitment safer.

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 and odour free. Processes and practices were in place to protect people, staff and visitors from the risk of infection. Cleaning records were completed, with audits conducted by the registered manager. Areas identified for further attention were highlighted and addressed with the provider. The registered manager told us, “The conservatory floor marks can’t be removed so it has been reported to head office and will be replaced.”

The provider made sure that medicines were managed safely and met people’s needs.

Medicines were stored in a locked coded room, with thorough processes in place for medicine management. Daily records were completed and arrangements in place for the safe return and disposal of unused medicines.