Flexible Support Options Ltd, Shiremoor Farm 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 inspection we rated this key question good. At this inspection 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. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. The accident and incident policy was featured in the regular newsletter to remind staff of their responsibility to report any incidents to help enable a safer environment. A relative commented, “Staff are very quick to inform me if there has been an incident or if [Name] is poorly.” The management team held regular team meetings and handovers where staff could share safety concerns.

Staff at the service 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.Detailed information was collected before a person started to use the service and a passport of information was prepared to ensure their needs could be met, if they moved elsewhere. A relative commented, “The transition was very good, [Name] went for tea for 9 weeks and got to know the staff.”

Staff 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.A staff member told us, “I would report any concerns to management, they are very responsive.”

Staff 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. Risks were assessed and any identified risk was transferred to care plans. Care plans contained guidance for staff to follow to keep people safe, including how to respond when people became distressed. A relative commented, “Staff know [Name] very well and understand their triggers, when they are getting upset.” People were supported to take positive risks to aid their independence. A relative told us, “I do think [Name] is safe, staff have a consistent approach and really understand [Name]’s needs. There have never been any times when they were unsafe.”

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. The accident and incident policy was featured in the regular newsletter to remind staff of their responsibility to report any incidents to help enable a safer environment. A relative commented, “Staff are very quick to inform me if there has been an incident or if [Name] is poorly.” The management team held regular team meetings and handovers where staff could share safety concerns.

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.There were sufficient staff to support people safely. Some relatives commented there had been improvements, so people received consistent staffing, which enabled staff and people to get to know each other. Relatives’ comments included, “It is always regular staff, the same bunch”, “[Name] has a good relationship with certain staff they see more regularly” and “[Name] now has a consistent team around them.” Staff received a range of training, to give some insight into people's needs, this included training on learning disability and autism. A relative commented, “I think staff are better trained now in autism and other issues.” Staff members’ comments included, “There are lots of opportunities for training and progression, if you want to”, “My training is all up to date” and “We do e-learning and face-to-face training.”

Staff at the service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.A person told us, “I help clean my own flat.” A relative commented, “[Name]’s home is beautiful and clean”

Staff made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened.There was information available on how people took their medicines. A relative commented, “[Name] has medicine, that is dispensed safely and everything is recorded.” 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).’ Some people were prescribed medicines to be taken on a ‘when required’ basis or with a variable dose. Guidance for how these medicines should be administered was person-centred.