Polesworth Group Newborough Close

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 inspection 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.

Systems were in place to record accidents and incidents, and learning was taken from these and where possible, actions were taken to reduce risks of reoccurrence. One staff member told us, “There are hardly any accidents that happen, but when 1 person did have a fall, we made sure all the right actions were taken to make sure it didn’t happen again.”

The provider 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 continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

The registered manager told us about people’s transition into the home from their previous home, also operated by Polesworth Group Homes. The provider had wished to ensure a smooth transition to enable the group of friends to remain together and had recognised that the steps and stairs would present more challenges as people aged. The registered manager had worked with the local authority (LA) and people’s social workers to ensure a smooth transition, which had taken place once the provider had completed adaptations to the bungalow.

People told us they were very settled and proud of their new home and had been supported by staff to move home.

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.

Everyone felt safe living at the home and able to speak with staff about any concerns they had. One person told us, “This is the best home, I love it, the staff look after us. It’s a good place.” Another person told us, “I really do feel safe living in this home, there are only a few others living here and I get on with them all. The home is so different from previous ones I have lived in; this is modern and makes me feel safe.”

Staff had received training on how to protect people from the risks of abuse and understood their role in reporting any concerns they had. One staff member told us, “I would report any concern I had to the manager straight away. I would also challenge anything I thought was poor care.”

The management team met their legal duties in reporting any specific incidents, such as serious injuries, to us and the local authority as required.

Staff told us they had received training in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and MCA assessments had been completed when needed. The management team had an understanding of when a ‘best interests’ decision might be needed around a specific decision. No one living at the home had any restrictions placed upon their liberties.

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.

When we arrived at the home, 1 person was doing their ironing in the kitchen and told us, “I like to get it done before it gets too hot. I like ironing.” This person had been assessed in safely using the iron and understanding the importance of standing the iron upright and switching it off after use.

People were involved in developing their own risk management plans. Three people chose to go for short walks around Newborough Close by themselves when they wished to. In assessing the risk, people had gone out with a staff member and demonstrated their understanding of a safe place to cross the road. This was recorded in people’s plan of care and with positive risk taking, people’s independence was promoted.

Risks of avoidable harm were identified, and staff knew people well and how to protect them. One person required ‘bite size’ pieces of food and a staff member told us, “We make sure their food is cut up for them and always sit next to them at mealtimes. There has never been any choking incident, but we remind them to chew their food and not talk at the same time.”

One staff member told us, “Risk assessments, care plans, and equipment to support safe working are always in place to help reduce risks and ensure everyone is protected.” This meant staff had the information they needed to keep people safe.

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

The provider had purchased the bungalow specifically to meet the needs of the group of 4 people. Prior to them moving in, some adaptations had been made to give a spacious living environment and modern décor.

The provider had installed solid ramps from some bedroom external doors into the garden to ensure smooth access, with no trip hazard, in the event of needing to evacuate the home in an emergency.

Staff and people living at the home understood the fire safety procedures. People told us, in detail, what they would do if the fire and smoke detectors sounded. They told us, “Get out of bed and go into the garden and the staff will help.” And “Leave straight away, it’s important to go outside and the staff will call 999 for us.” Records showed people had been involved in fire-based scenarios to give them the knowledge of actions to take in an emergency. Regular testing of fire safety equipment took place. During our inspection, the registered manager noted fire fighting extinguishers were due a service soon.

During our visit, we observed some combustible items including boxes of paper towels had been stored on top of the tumble dryer. When we pointed this out, the registered manager and staff member immediately said they should not be there and removed them to a safer storage location.

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.

Staff were recruited in a safe way with pre-employment checks being completed before staff commenced working at the home. One staff member told us, “I had never done care work before, so it was new to me, but I love it. I had the training and the team have been supportive.”

Rota planning meant it was usual for there to be a single staff member on shift and people told us this met their needs. This did not restrict people going out, as people were mobile and able to be supported by 1 staff member. However, for planned longer day trips out, the registered manager ensured there were 2 staff to give additional support, and for healthcare appointments which meant 2 staff were needed on shift. On-call support was readily available should the needs of people change during the shift. One staff member told us, “I can phone one of the managers and know they would come over to support if needed.”

Staff feedback reflected they were happy with the mix of online training and face to face training sessions they completed and felt they had the skills needed to do their jobs. Also, that developmental opportunities were offered to further develop skills.

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.

Staff had been trained in infection prevention and control and understood the importance of reducing risks of cross infection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was available for staff to use when needed.

The home was clean and tidy. People enjoyed taking part in cleaning activities and looking after their home.

Risks of airborne infections were reduced by the provider’s installation of a ground source heating and cooling system. The system circulated fresh air, improved ventilation and reduced risks of stale air build-up within the environment.

Since its registration as a care home, Newborough Close had received an environmental health inspection had awarded the provider a ‘five star’ (the highest award) for kitchen food hygiene practices.

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.

Staff had been trained in the safe handling of medicines and their competencies were checked. One staff member told us, “I was only allowed to give people their medicines after I had been assessed.”

People’s Medication Administration Records (MARs) reflected they had been supported to take their medicine as prescribed. Some people had topical preparations such as creams and body maps were in place to guide staff about skin application sites. One person told us, “Staff always help me with my medicines.”

One person’s medicine stock was due to run out soon and during our inspection, staff ensured that a new prescription was made available so new stock could be collected.

Medicines were stored safely and, where needed, disposed of in line with the provider’s policy.