Sunnyview 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 assessment we rated this key question inadequate. 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. Improvements had been made since our last inspection where leaders actively involved staff in the investigation and learning of lessons when an incident occurred. Learning from this incident was clearly recorded and shared with the staff team to make sure people were safe in the future. A leader told us, “We have been working hard to bring about change really quickly. We have found things have improved and staff have been on board with this.”

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. Staff had a close and positive working relationship with visiting professionals such as GPs, district nurses and social workers. One visiting professional told us, “We come here most days, and we have no concerns with Sunnyview House. The staff are lovely and know people well.” People had access to the support they needed with a clear handover from staff who knew them well.

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. People were protected from avoidable harm and staff and leaders had a good working relationship with the local authority. Staff had training in safeguarding adults and the staff team understood their role and responsibility to report any concerns. One member of staff told us, “I would tell a manager if I had a concern.”

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. People benefitted from having up to date, person centred and person specific assessments of their risk. This made sure any risks people may experience was managed and monitored to protect them from harm. Where an incident occurred, staff and leaders were proactive in investigating this in an open way to understand what happened. Risk assessments were reviewed following an unexpected event to ensure staff had an up to date understanding about what they needed to do to continue to keep the person safe. One person told us, “I feel quite safe here. I like it.”

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 environment was clean, tidy and free from malodour. The provider had worked hard to identify appropriate storage for essential equipment such as wheelchairs and hoists. This made sure corridors were no longer cluttered or used as a storage space. The provider had been proactive to put contingency plans in place to ensure the environment remained a good standard in the future. There was a maintenance system in place, such as ensuring all bedroom keys work correctly, were incorporated into routine safety checks. One leader told us, “We realised not all of the keys worked when unlocking doors and we needed to call the fire brigade to gain access to some rooms. No one was ever in danger, but we made sure all the locks were changed straight away.”

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. Staff were skilled and knowledgeable in their role and staff worked to continually develop and learn to ensure people received a high-quality experience of care. We received mixed feedback from people and their relatives where some felt there was a high use of agency staff. However, this was not reflected in rosters or feedback from staff. One person told us, “I think they could do with some more staff. Sometimes you have to wait.” However, another person told us, “When I press my buzzer, they come in good time.” The provider planned to do engagement work to alleviate concerns people and their relatives may have. Since our last inspection, the leaders at the service have implemented regular competency checks and observational monitoring of staff to celebrate success and identify learning opportunities. This has been highly successful in a short space of time with the provider finding staff now give consistent high-quality support.

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. Staff consistently followed infection prevention and control practices. We observed staff, without exception, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and following the correct hand sanitising processes. The provider had worked closely with the service to ensure staff felt skilled and confident in what was expected and the appropriate times to wear PPE. One member of staff told us, “I now do checks and observations to make sure staff wear the right PPE.”

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. Rapid improvements had been made at the service following our last inspection. Leaders at the service and the provider had worked hard to ensure all staff are confident and skilled with medication management and administration. All staff were observed following the correct processes and the provider’s policy. Documentation, such as protocols for when people need ‘when required’ medication, were all up to date and were person centred and specific to the person’s medical needs.