Jason Hylton 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.

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 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.

People using the service and their relatives knew how to raise concerns or make a complaint and confirmed they were aware of the complaint’s procedure. Staff supported people to understand how to raise concerns, using communication aids and visual prompts when needed.

The provider had effective systems in place to manage complaints and safety concerns. The registered manager had oversight of any safety incidents to help identify any trends or other actions that would help reduce risks.

Staff were supported to report and record incidents through clear processes. The registered manager promoted a culture of openness through an ‘open-door’ policy and regular team meetings, where accidents and incidents, and opportunities for improvement were discussed.

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.

Staff followed procedures to ensure the support people required was effectively transitioned should they be admitted to hospital. Important information regarding the person’s needs was provided to paramedics and other hospital staff to ensure the continuity of people’s care.

Staff worked with healthcare professionals to ensure people remained safe. This included GP's and specialist practitioners to monitor people’s health conditions and respond to any changes in people’s support needs.

Where people had a diagnosis of a specific health condition, there were clear risk assessments in place to enable staff to support them safely. The provider was responsive to people’s changing needs and made referrals appropriately to health care professionals when needed.

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 with the necessary professionals.

Staff had been trained in safeguarding and understood how to help monitor people’s safety and people felt they received safe care. Staff had access to local safeguarding procedures. They were confident in recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns appropriately. Staff protected people’s rights and prioritised their safety whilst working to enhance their quality of life.

Any potential safeguarding incidents were investigated thoroughly and reported appropriately to the local authority and the Care Quality Commission. These actions helped to ensure people’s safety and well-being.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were used to ensure people’s safety and decisions were taken in their best interests. People did not experience unnecessary restrictions living at Jason Hylton Court.

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.

We observed staff working safely and helping people with any equipment they used in a safe manner. One person told us, “They [the staff] are always very careful with me. They know what they are doing.”

Staff were kept informed about any risks and changes through regular handovers and updated care plans. Risks associated with people’s health care conditions were discussed with them. Where people chose not to follow the advice of health care professionals, their decision making was recorded and respected.

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

Relatives told us they had no concerns about the environment. Staff confirmed the provider had effective systems in place to manage risks and promote a culture of safety. The environment was tidy and free from unnecessary trip and slip hazards. Health and safety audits were in place and regularly carried out to ensure potential environmental risks to people were monitored and managed.

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.

Staffing levels were planned to help meet people’s needs. People told us there was enough staff who attended to them as quickly as possible. One person said, “The staff are very good, they will answer my call bell pretty quickly, they don’t keep me waiting.” We saw staff checked on people and responded when people needed any assistance.

People and their relatives confirmed there were enough staff on duty to support them as needed. Staff felt confident and understood their roles and responsibilities. Staff confirmed they received ongoing training and regular supervision, which they found supportive and beneficial.

Staff were recruited safely. Recruitment records showed that all required pre-employment checks had been completed to ensure only suitable individuals were employed to work with people using the service.

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 followed infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures in line with current guidance. During our visit, we observed staff carrying out cleaning tasks as needed, which helped maintain a clean and hygienic environment.

Staff had access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and demonstrated understanding of its correct use. Feedback from staff, people using the service and their relatives confirmed there were no concerns about infection control practices.

Good food hygiene practices were observed, and staff had completed training in both infection prevention and control and food safety.

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.

People were supported to receive their medicines as prescribed, including pain relief, which was offered in line with guidance from healthcare professionals. Staff understood how to administer medicines safely and had completed medicines training and competency assessments. Staff were aware of protocols for reporting and managing medication errors. We observed staff administer people’s medicines to them calmly and in a person-centred way, ensuring they took their medicine in their preferred way and at their own pace.

Medicines were stored securely and checks made to ensure storage temperatures did not adversely affect the medicines. Medicines subject to additional controls were stored and administered in line with relevant guidance. Records of medicines left in stock were accurate based on a sample of checks we completed on the inspection. Medication Administration Records (MAR) were completed accurately and showed people received their medicines at the right times. Appropriate audits were undertaken to ensure the management of medicines was continuously monitored.