Bridgeway Care Home

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 was open and transparent when incidents had occurred. Safety incidents were appropriately investigated and reported, and outcomes shared with the team and when appropriate with relatives. Staff had good knowledge about how to identify and escalate concerns and report these appropriately. They told us incidents were discussed in handover meetings as opportunities for learning.

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.

Families praised the support people received to move into the home and when they required hospital admission. The registered manager ensured people and their relatives were involved in initial care planning, and consideration was given to the needs of the person throughout the transition. One relative said, “The planning that was put in place before my [family member] came to the home was fantastic. Even when we were moving him up to the home on a long trip, the home stayed in contact with us throughout the trip. When we arrived, and it was late, the manager had stayed behind, and we were welcomed with food and drinks.”

When people needed to go to hospital, to keep them safe, the registered manager ensured they were accompanied by a staff member until they were admitted onto a ward. They also took relevant information that provided doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff with vital details about the person's medical history, communication methods, and personal preferences to ensure they receive safe, appropriate, and dignified care.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that.

Observations showed that people felt safe, secure, and well supported by staff. One person said, “This is the best place to be safe and secure. I have no worries.” A second person commented, “I feel very safe here, couldn't be better. The staff are so supportive, when I am in my bed, I am safe and sound. If I need help, I get it.” A relative commented, “Because the staff are so well trained and know their jobs, my [family member] is very safe. They use the equipment necessary, with skill.”

Staff showed a strong commitment to enhancing people’s quality of life while ensuring their safety, dignity, and wellbeing. They worked to protect people from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm, and neglect, while promoting their right to live as independently as possible. Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, with one staff member explaining, “We've had training on how to keep people safe, safe food, safe drinks, safe environment.”

These comments and observations reflected a positive culture where safety was prioritised, and people and their relatives had confidence in the knowledge, skills, and support provided by staff.

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.

Risk assessment tools were used effectively to identify and manage potential risks, with clear evidence of regular monthly reviews covering areas such as skin integrity, choking risks, and weight monitoring. Assessments were reviewed promptly when circumstances changed, and risk management strategies were updated to ensure people continued to receive safe and appropriate support. One social care professional told us by email, ‘Their approach to managing risk feels balanced and considered, and staff come across as calm and consistent in how they respond. They appear confident in recognising early signs of change and take appropriate action, which helps to keep the individual safe.’

Records showed that staff responded proactively and positively to changing needs and individual preferences. For example, when 1 person expressed a wish to shop independently, positive risk-taking strategies were put in place to enable them to do so safely. Care records were updated to reflect the risk management measures. This demonstrated a person-centred approach to risk management, promoting independence and choice while ensuring appropriate safeguards were in place to support the person's wellbeing and safety.

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 a fire risk assessment, and regular fire drills to help manage the risks around fire, ensuring staff had good knowledge of fire safety procedures. Every person had a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP). The purpose of a PEEP is to ensure staff (and other emergency responders) knew the support people needed to evacuate the building safely and promptly in the event of an emergency, regardless of their level of mobility or other health conditions.

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 recruitment procedures to ensure all required checks were completed before staff started work at the service. Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks were carried out. DBS checks provide information about convictions and cautions held on the police national computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

The provider had their own training team to ensure staff had the right competencies, knowledge and skills to carry out their roles effectively. Management and staff had received mandatory training to ensure they were equipped with the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate, and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability. We spoke with the lead trainer who told us, “Staff receive a 4-day induction, more if they require it. I’m about delivering quality not about just getting people out working.” One staff member told us, “The training is good, [lead trainer] is very good.”

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.

People were supported in an environment that was clean and hygienic. The housekeeping team worked to maintain cleanliness in all areas of the service. Personal protective equipment was available throughout the home, and staff used this appropriately.

One relative told us, “The place is always fresh and clean. The cleaners work really hard.” Bridgeway Care Home had a food hygiene rating of 5 (out of 5). This meant hygiene standards were very good.

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. One person told us, “All my medication is looked after by the staff. I know what I take and when. My tablets are always here for me.”

The provider had robust systems in place for the safe storage, administration, and monitoring of medicines, thickeners, and topical creams. Since our last inspection, the service had introduced an Electronic Medication Administration Record (Emar) system, strengthening the administration, recording, auditing, and oversight of medicines.

People received regular medication reviews to ensure their medicines remained appropriate and effective.

Management and staff demonstrated a strong commitment to following the principles of STOMP (Stopping Over-Medication of People with a Learning Disability, Autism or Both). The Clinical Manager promoted the use of proactive de-escalation strategies to support people experiencing distress, with the aim of reducing reliance on additional 'when required' medicines wherever possible. This person-centred approach helped to ensure people received the least restrictive support while maintaining their wellbeing and quality of life.