Thomas Owen 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 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. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. The registered manager maintained good oversight of accidents, incidents and complaints. They shared lessons learnt with staff to inform continued learning and service improvement.

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.

Systems and processes were in place to ensure people were safely admitted to the service. Pre-admission assessments were completed prior to a person moving in to ensure their needs could be met. This process included meeting with the person face to face and the person visiting the service before any transition took place. People were supported to access healthcare outside of the service, without delay, when needed.

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.

Systems and processes were in place to ensure people were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. Staff received safeguarding training. Safeguarding incidents were logged and appropriately reported to partner agencies, for example, the Local Authority and CQC. People, relatives and staff told us it was safe at the service. One staff member told us, “This is a safe place for everyone.”

Where people had Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs) in place, these were managed appropriately.

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 records were accurate, up to date, and reflective of people’s current needs and risks. This enabled staff to support people safely. One relative told us, “[Name] is one hundred percent safe.” Relatives told us they were involved in people’s care when needed. One relative told us, “I’m involved in care reviews. We sit down and discuss everything. They involve me in everything I need.” The provider was taking action to improve people’s engagement in their care reviews.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Systems and processes were operated effectively to maintain a safe environment for people to live in. The environment was in a good state of repair. Appropriate checks were conducted to ensure equipment was safe to use.

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 worked effectively together to meet people’s needs, without delay. They were knowledgeable and skilled. One relative told us, “The staff have a good level of experience.” In addition, 1 professional told us, “Staff have a good level of knowledge about the people they are looking after.” Staff participated in training, supervision and appraisals to support them in their role. The provider supported the professional development of staff. Safe recruitment processes were in place.

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.

The service was clean, tidy and odour free. We observed domestic staff cleaning throughout the day. One relative told us, “The cleaning staff are absolutely amazing.”In addition, 1 domestic staff member told us, “I have plenty of equipment and resources to do the job. If I ask for anything I get it.”

Medicines were managed safely.

Systems were in place to make sure people received their medicines as prescribed, in line with their personal preferences. Protocols for ‘as required’ medicines were individualised and detailed. Quality checks were in place to support safe medicines management.