Millmoor Cottage

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. This is the first assessment for this service registered since August 2022. This key question has been rated good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 78 (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. For example, the provider took steps to address issues that had arisen following a new person moving to the service. The provider told us additional work around transitions was completed before final decisions about a move were made.

The provider 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. They made sure there was always continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

The provider had an effective system to ensure people moving between services had the right level of information and support. For example, the provider worked with the local authority to enable a person to move to a more independent setting. This was done carefully and with full attention to the person’s care needs. After the move the provider offered their expertise and advice to ensure the move was a success. Feedback from the person and local authority was overwhelmingly positive about how the transition was managed. This demonstrated a truly person-centred approach was the key to the success of the transition.

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. At the time of our assessment there were no safeguarding concerns. The provider had a clear process for staff to report any forms of abuse. Staff had a good understanding of indicators of abuse and how to report it.

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. Care and risk plans contained enough detail for staff to follow and keep people safe and free from harm. Risk management plans outlined all risks which may affect a person’s health and well-being.

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 provider completed health and safety checks and assessments. For example, the provider completed fire checks regularly. This meant people could be assured their health and well-being was a priority. During our visit the home was visibly clean and well maintained.

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 provider followed safe recruitment practices and carried out background checks such as checking previous employment and criminal records when recruiting staff. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff told us they were very well supported and had regular meetings with the management team. Staff completed training in a range of subjects to enable them to do their role effectively.

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. Effective systems ensured people were protected from the risks associated with infections. For example, staff were provided with personal protective equipment. Staff received training in how to manage and control the spread of infections.

The provider made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Medicines were managed safely. All documentation for recording medicines was clear and accurate. Detailed guidance was provided to support staff to administer as and when required medicines. The provider had effective auditing systems to ensure concerns or errors were identified and addressed in a timely manner. At the time of the assessment there were no medicine errors. People could be confident their medicines were administered by staff who were competent.