Ewart 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. The rating has improved from requires improvement to good during this assessment. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to safe care and treatment. Improvements were found at this assessment and the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation. The provider had taken action to ensure appropriate risk assessments were in place to help keep people safe.

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 service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. A system was in place to report, record and monitor incidents and accidents to help support people safely. Lessons were learnt to prevent reoccurrence and help drive improvements and embed good practice.

Incidents and accidents were monitored and reviewed by management to help ensure they had oversight and actions were implemented. Learning from incidents was shared with staff regularly to help ensure staff were kept up to date with changes in people’s needs.

People and staff were able to raise concerns outside of the management team to help prevent the development of a closed culture.

People and their relatives where appropriate were involved in their care and support planning.

Staff spoke confidently about the processes to report concerns and raise issues about people’s safety. They were also confident, their concerns would be listened to and acted upon by management. A member of staff told us, “I wouldn’t hesitate to speak to [the registered manager]. I know if I needed to raise anything, [they] would listen and take action.”

Relatives told us they were confident people were supported safely. A relative said, “I think they are very good at that, and very caring. 100%. They have a new head of care [manager] there who is very on the ball and I am impressed in her.”

Safeguarding procedures were in place to help protect people. The provider focused on improving people’s lives whilst protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect.

Staff received training and demonstrated a good understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. People were supported to develop skills to stay safe in the community.

The service 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.

Our previous inspection found a breach of regulation in relation to risk assessments. Potential risks to people’s safety was not always assessed appropriately and risk assessments did not always detail measures in place to help reduce risks.

During this assessment, we found the provider had made significant improvement to risk management. They had reviewed people’s risk assessments and ensured that these included details of relevant risks, triggers and control measures to help protect people. Risk assessments were comprehensive, and person centred.

Housing services carried out a fire alarm/emergency checks and monitored the premises to help ensure it was safe.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS) were in place for each person. These provided details about people's mobility and medical conditions that could impact on their ability to leave the premises in the event of an emergency and guidance on how staff should support them.

Staff undertook a range of training to understand how to care for people safely.

The service identified and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They helped to ensure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. The provider assessed people’s homes for risks and took action to ensure people, staff and visitors remained safe.

The service worked closely with the housing association to help ensure the premises was maintained appropriately. Where actions were required, they engaged with the housing association to help make sure these were completed in a timely way.

Policies and procedures were in place to help recruit staff safely. Checks on the suitability of potential staff were completed. This included obtaining references and checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The DBS helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and help prevent unsuitable people from working in care services.

Records showed that staff had received training in areas relevant to their roles. Staff received supervision sessions which provided an opportunity for them to discuss their performance and professional development.

People and relatives told us care staff followed infection control processes, including washing their hands, keeping people’s home’s clean and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Staff had completed training about infection prevention and control. Staff said they had enough PPE.

Infection prevention and control policies were in place. Staff were given the information and guidance they needed.

Effective medicines management systems were in place. People's medicine support needs were documented in their care plans. Since the previous inspection, the service had implemented new format Medicine Administration Records (MARs). We looked at a sample of these and found these were completed fully indicating medicines were administered as prescribed.

Staff received training to administer medicines to help ensure they had the appropriate knowledge and skills.

Medicines in extra care settings should be stored in people's own flats in accordance with guidance. Medicines were stored in this way and people had a lockable cabinet in their flat where they stored their medicines.

Where people were prescribed medicines on a when required basis (PRN), there were appropriate protocols in place to advise staff on what circumstances and how to give these medicines.