Skelton Court

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 newly registered service. This key question has been rated 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 had systems in place to review and investigate accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns. The registered manager explained that reflective practice would be discussed with staff to ensure lessons were learned and where necessary, changes to care were implemented.

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.

People’s needs were assessed prior to them commencing with the service. This ensured the staff were able to provide continuity of safe care and support to people. An emergency health care plan was available should people be admitted to hospital. This would be shared with hospital staff to ensure they understood what care and support people required.

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 registered manager and staff shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

People were protected against the risk of potential harm or abuse. Staff had the knowledge and confidence to identify safeguarding concerns and said they would act on them to keep people safe. One staff member said, “I have no concerns with care given here in the home. I would go straight to management if I had any concerns. I would go higher if needed. I am confident management would take any action needed. They take things seriously.” Staff received training in the safeguarding of adults and training records confirmed this. A family member said, “The staff are very nice. The whole reason for moving Mum here was to be safe. The staff are quite good with Mum as she can be very difficult. There’s always staff around when you want them. They are very dedicated to their job.”

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.

Risks to people’s safety had been assessed and plans were in place to minimise these risks. Risk assessments were person centred and regularly reviewed. People were supported to do the things that were important to them and manage any associated risks. A staff member said, “We do encourage people to do what they can for themselves.” They gave an example of a mug one person used which supported them to drink independently.

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

Environmental risk assessments were in place to ensure staff were safe whilst supporting people. Where people required the use of aids for safe moving and handling, risk assessments were in place to support staff to be able to use this equipment safety. Health and safety checks on the service had been undertaken to ensure the environment and equipment supported the safe provision of care.

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 appropriate staffing levels and skill mix to make sure people received consistently safe, good quality care that met their needs. On the first day of inspection, we did observe one floor to be short of staff which resulted in them being rushed. The registered manager said staffing levels would be reviewed. Comments from people included, “The carers are very good and the cooks and cleaners, there’s just not enough carers up here” and “Living here is very good, I feel looked after and safe. There is always enough staff.” On the second and third day additional staff were present on this floor.

Staff received training appropriate and relevant to their role. Staff received an induction when they started working for the service and additional core training. Staff’s training was recorded and monitored to ensure they remained up to date with their knowledge and skills. Staff received the support they needed to deliver safe care. This included supervision, appraisal and support to develop and improve services. The service had initiatives in place to support staff’s wellbeing which included access to occupational health and counselling services.

There were robust and safe recruitment practices to make sure that all staff were suitably experienced, competent and able to carry out their role. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks were carried out. These provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

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.

There were clear roles and responsibilities around infection prevention and control. Regular audits were undertaken and actions taken to address any areas identified for improvement. The home was noted as being clean throughout and odour free. Housekeeping staff were visible. Cleaning records reviewed had gaps in the recording of when cleaning had been completed. We discussed these gaps in recording and the impact of the loss of one of the housekeeping staff with the registered manager who advised they would address this.

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.

There were clear roles and responsibilities around infection prevention and control. Regular audits were undertaken and actions taken to address any areas identified for improvement. The home was noted as being clean throughout and odour free. Housekeeping staff were visible. Cleaning records reviewed had gaps in the recording of when cleaning had been completed. We discussed these gaps in recording and the impact of the loss of one of the housekeeping staff with the registered manager who advised they would address this.