Abelands

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 good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.
This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.
 

This service scored 78 (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 management team and staff understood the importance of keeping people safe. Due to the high needs of people at the home, there were times people could put themselves at risk of harm. Staff were trained to keep people safe, and told us they continued to learn and share information in the staff team.
A health care professional told us, “The service demonstrates a culture of shared learning and good communication between professionals. Multi-agency working is effective, and there is openness to discussion, reflection, and collaborative problem-solving.”
 

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 at the home had good continuity of care, staff ensured care plans were kept up to date and people had ‘hospital passports’ to ensure their care continued consistently if they needed to go to hospital.
 

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.
Staff kept people safe and understood how to raise any concerns about safety. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. A health care professional told us, “Safeguarding awareness is good, with timely conversations and appropriate escalation of concerns when required.”
The registered manager gave an example of how a member of staff had raised a concern in the past and they were confident staff would continue to do so in future. There was an easy read complaints policy to ensure people were able to understand what good care should look like and how to complain if they felt unsafe.
 

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.
Some people lacked capacity to understand risk, staff and families collaborated to reduce risk to people with the use of clear risk assessments. Staff knew people well, enabling them to manage risks with minimal restrictions for people. A relative told us, “There are some residents there who can be aggressive, but it is not a bad mix. They go to great pains, they have walkie talkies and keep them apart, if someone has to pass through, they will guard the door until they have got through. They're very aware of that, which makes it very safe.”
 

The provider was fully aware of all potential risks in the care environment and controlled them well. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.
The provider ensured the home was uncluttered and safe.
Televisions and easily breakable items were secured or locked within protective cabinets to ensure people could not damage them or hurt themselves if they became distressed. To avoid an institutional feel, these cabinets were purpose built and resembled standard furniture. Art displayed in the home featured people enjoying activities, some people had art in their rooms that was positioned to make damaging it difficult. People had access to a large garden with appropriate games and activities which they had chosen, for example, a temporary swimming pool. An indoor games room was also available for people. Staff were always on hand to support people to use the equipment. People’s rooms were personalised in safe ways, with easy clean facilities and soft furniture where necessary.
In the event of an emergency the home had Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) in place.
The environment was managed to allow people maximum independence and choice within the home. People were able to move freely in the home, or use their rooms as they wished, minimising any restrictions. Abelands environment was designed with people’s specific needs in mind.
A relative said, “The building itself is lovely, the way that it is set up keeps him safe, he has his own area and they know what is going on around him. It is everything, it is great the way it is set up and the staff are lovely.” Another relative told us, “The home is always clean and tidy, his bedroom is lovely, he has a large bedroom with a double aspect, he has his own shower and toilet.”
 

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.
People at the home had high support needs and the provider ensured there were always more than enough staff to support people safely. Staff told us how happy they were at the home and how the registered manager ensured they were well trained. Staff were knowledgeable about the people they supported and told us how safe they felt because of the strong staff team and good communication, including the use of ‘walkie talkies’. Staff had regular training in managing distressed and agitated behaviours, but because they knew people well and recognised triggers and potential problems early, people rarely became distressed. Everyone we spoke to at the home told us they were happy and trusted the staff. A person said, “I feel happy.” And another person said, “I can talk [to the staff] about anything.” A relative told us, “The staff there are always very polite, I can see they are very kind to [person], they take their time with him.”
 

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 home was clean and tidy. Staff told us they cleaned the home. Audits showed the cleanliness of the home was monitored and staff told us, “Cleaning is allocated on the shift plan. We all muck in together. [Person] helps with his washing. I support him. He is quite happy with that.” Staff had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves. Staff told us how they worked with people to improve their hygiene including introducing routines that people liked to follow.

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.
The medicines at the home were kept safely in locked cabinets in a locked room. The provider used an electronic medicines administration record (EMAR) to ensure effective accurate records of medicines levels and administration. Notice boards were used to good effect to remind staff of important dates, such as medicine expiry dates or pharmacy visits. The provider liaised with a pharmacy for supply, and support with management of medicines. Staff were trained, and were experienced in, the administration of medicines.