244 Wootton Road

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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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.

During our last inspection the service used both paper and digital records to monitor accidents and incidents, since then, an updated digital system had been implemented which clearly records accidents, incidents and actions taken by the service in response.

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. During our last inspection the service had paper-based care plans and records which were not always available within the service. The service now uses a digital care planning system which is accessible to all staff via mobile phone devices.

Staff continued to have a good understanding of people’s care and support needs.

The service had systems in place to support new people moving into the home. This included the service spending time with people in their previous home which they were familiar with.

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.

New monitoring systems had been implemented. These ensured safeguarding concerns were identified and actions were taken to mitigate the risk of similar incidents.

Staff received training around safeguarding.

Relatives told us they felt their family member was safe.

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.

People’s care plans and risk assessments had been reviewed, and where needed, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) plans were in place and provided necessary guidance for staff to follow.

Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and people were encouraged with positive risk taking.

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

Since our last inspection improvements had been made to systems which were in place to review the safety of the environment.

Paperwork in the premises had been reviewed to provide information and clearer guidance which only related to this service.

People had detailed Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) in place.

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 received either 1:1 or 2:1 support and it was found that staffing levels were well planned and maintained. Staff told us that they felt they had enough time to support people. Staff had received appropriate training, which was needed to support people, such as positive behaviour support (PBS). Since our last inspection additional training and competency assessments had been implemented.

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. Systems were in place to monitor Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). The environment was observed to be homely and clean. Staff had received IPC training, food hygiene and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) training. Staff had access to appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

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.

We found that when required medication (PRN) charts and topical application charts for prescribed creams were in place. These provided guidance to staff on when they should be used. Allergies were recorded on the Medicines Administration Records (MAR) chart.