Mappleton

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. 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.

Staff were encouraged to raise concerns and were confident that leaders would act swiftly. Incident forms were routinely completed and reviewed as part of monthly audits, with actions and outcomes clearly documented. Lessons were learnt from incidents, such as missed medications, with actions including retraining and communication with people, relatives and professionals.

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.

The service worked closely with social workers and health professionals to support people through changes, including when people had to go into hospital or were discharged. The service ensured all relevant partners were kept updated to ensure appropriate care and support was in place before the person moved or care was commenced. One person’s care rota was regularly adjusted to accommodate nursing visits.

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.

Safeguarding processes were robust and well-embedded. Records about safeguarding were maintained, and concerns were acted upon promptly. One person told us, “I feel very safe. They (staff) are very good and very professional. I feel I can speak to the staff if I wasn’t happy about anything.” Staff felt confident in raising issues. One staff member said, “We can raise concerns and the managers will be straight on it.” The service had a designated safeguarding officer and clear procedures in place.

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.

All aspects of people’s care and support was fully considered and discussed with people and their relatives, when appropriate. The provider actively sought views and suggestions from those who knew people best, including the person themselves, their relatives and professionals. People were actively involved in managing their own risks. Care plans detailed individual preferences around risks and were reviewed regularly.

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

Each person’s environment was assessed for safety, with detailed assessments covering hazards such as fire risks, equipment, and pathways. Staff were vigilant about environmental risks. Smoke alarms and utility shut-offs were documented, and recommendations about safety within the home were made where needed.

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.

Appropriate recruitment checks were in place to ensure people were supported by staff who were safe to work with vulnerable people. Supervisions occurred regularly, and staff could choose who conducted them, as the registered manager had started to delegate some supervisions to senior staff. One staff member told us, “We all have great support.” Spot checks were used to monitor practice and ensure quality care.

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.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were consistently applied. Staff followed appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols and managers undertook checks to ensure these were adhered to. One staff member noted, “We always wear PPE and follow IPC guidance.”

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.

Medicines were managed safely, with appropriate protocols in place. These were used to track ordering, administration, refusals and changes to medicines. Staff received thorough training and competency checks. Staff were aware of medication risks and followed procedures to ensure safe practice. Body maps were appropriately utilised to ensure transdermal patches and topical creams were applied safely. Where people chose to self-medicated appropriate documentation was in place.