Myford House Nursing & Residential 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 inspection we rated this key question good. At this inspection the rating has remained 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 service 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 management team investigated incidents, accidents and near miss occurrences to see if anything could be done differently. For example, 1 relative told us about their family member who had fallen. The management team examined the circumstances and provided additional equipment to help minimise the potential for further falls. One person said, “I feel safe living here, I know that staff always try to keep me safe.”

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. When people’s individual needs changed, they were referred onto other healthcare providers without delay. People had care plans based on effective assessments which were individual to them. These were reviewed promptly if changes were noted. In circumstances where a person moved between healthcare provisions, for example to hospital, information was shared promptly. The provider had worked with healthcare partners to develop systems where information could be quickly and accurately passed to ensure the person received the correct level of support and intervention. This ensured the person received continuous care and support.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. When it was necessary the service shared concerns quickly and appropriately. Staff had received training on safeguarding and knew how to raise concerns. Everyone we spoke with stated they knew how to raise a concern if they were worried about anything and were confident, they would be responded to appropriately. Information was displayed for people and visitors explaining how to raise any concerns.

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. People had individual assessments of risks associated with their care and support. These included, but were not limited to, risk of falls, diet and nutrition. Staff were aware of these assessments and knew how to keep people safe. One person told us they were unsure about their health. A staff member immediately responded and supported them as they wished. The staff member later updated their risk assessment and care plan to accurately record the changes and additional support the person needed. Staff were aware of risks associated with people’s needs and responded appropriately and in accordance with the person’s wishes.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, and facilities were maintained for the delivery of safe care. The provider completed regular checks to the fire alarm systems, water systems and the physical environment. When it was required, the provider acted quickly to resolve any issues which could potentially result in avoidable harm to people. For example, when the use of a room was changed to a storage area the provider ensured access was restricted minimising the potential harm from unauthorised access into this area.

The service 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. People told us staff responded quickly when they required support. One person said, “The staff always arrive quickly if I press my call button.” We saw staff were readily available to support people when required and had the opportunity to spend time talking and sitting with people. The provider followed safe recruitment checks to ensure only suitable persons were employed to support people.

People lived in a home which was clean, tidy and where staff observed effective infection prevention and control practices. The service assessed and managed the risk of infection and detected and controlled the risk of it spreading. One relative told us when their family first moved into Myford House Nursing Residential Home their room was redecorated and was always clean and tidy. The provider completed regular checks to ensure effective infection prevention and control practice was maintained.

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. People were involved in decisions regarding their medicines and were included in discussions when changes were needed. People told us they received their medicines as prescribed. One relative told us about their family members medicines. They went on to say the staff managed this well and they had no concerns. Another person told us they received their medicine regularly and didn’t have any issues with how it was managed. People had protocols in place for the safe administration of PRN (as and when needed) medicines including the prescribed dose, time between administrations and maximum dose within a 24-hour period. Staff felt comfortable and empowered to raise any issues regarding medicines in an open and transparent way. Issues were quickly addressed by the management team to ensure people received their medicines safely.