The Lindsay

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 inspection we rated this key question good. At this inspection the rating has remained good. The service had ensured safe staffing levels and risk assessments relating to general health were robust. 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 service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

People were supported by a service which continually sought to learn from accidents, incidents and events. This had been within the service itself and across the providers locations. Staff told us they were included and felt listened to. Daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly meetings ensured all staff were aware of events and any concerns. We received positive feedback from health and social care professionals regarding the service. Records showed accidents, incidents and events were recorded in accordance with the providers policy and analysis was carried out and this was shared.
 

The service 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 and their relatives told us staff communicated as necessary with external health and social care professionals. Relationships between the service and external professionals were positive. A health and social care professional said, “There is a clear communication between all of us.” There were safe systems in place to ensure information was shared as necessary. The service had a summary of people’s needs and requirements from the providers electronic care planning system. This meant a safe transition between services, such as, for admission to hospital or other care services.
 

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They 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 service shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

People told us they felt safe living at The Lindsay. A person told us, “I am safe, this is because people know me.” Staff knew how to ensure people were protected from harm and abuse. Staff told us how they would raise safeguarding concerns both within the service and externally. A member of staff said, “We have many ways, this includes whistleblowing.” Staff were confident the manager and management team would follow up any concerns and make referrals to the local authority. A staff member said, “I would speak to the manager, and I am 100% confident they would deal with any issues.” In addition, staff gave us examples of where issues had been acted upon by the manager and this had given them additional confidence in the process. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults, and this had been a topic of discussion at daily meetings within the service. Records showed safeguarding concerns had been reported and had the oversight of the manager and provider. The service continually worked to be open, honest and transparent.
 

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

People told us they felt their risks were managed well and relatives had peace of mind their loved one was as safe as could be. The management of risks to people’s wellbeing and safety had been improved, so they were now identified, assessed and safe ways of working ensured staff had the necessary information to keep people safe. Records showed risk assessments were up to date and the providers electronic care planning system meant they could be updated immediately as things changed. This meant staff were working with the most recent information about people. We observed staff working in safe ways where people required support to move within the service.
 

The service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

People were supported by a service which continually sought to learn from accidents, incidents and events. This had been within the service itself and across the providers locations. Staff told us they were included and felt listened to. Daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly meetings ensured all staff were aware of events and any concerns. We received positive feedback from health and social care professionals regarding the service. Records showed accidents, incidents and events were recorded in accordance with the providers policy and analysis was carried out and this was shared.
 

The service 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 and their relatives told us staff were there when they needed them. Improvements had been made, and staff were calculated to the dependency of people. This process was reviewed regularly. The service had a thorough induction, shadowing, competency checks and ongoing support process in place. Training was in accordance with good practice guidelines for staff who worked with people who required care and support. A member of staff said, “There is enough training, my training is up to date. The manager makes sure we do training; they have encouraged me to grow and use my previous skills and knowledge.” Registered nurses were supported with their professional development and re-validation. Recruitment processes were in place; staff were recruited safely. Procedures were in place to ensure the required checks were completed prior to staff commencing their employment. This included enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for adults. DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the police national computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. Support was ongoing and there was a schedule of supervisions, appraisals and career development, records showed the conversations were two-way and detailed. The provider had various staff incentive and appreciation schemes in place which had included, free counselling and wellbeing support, career development pathways and away days.
 

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

People and their relatives told us the home was clean and tidy. Staff received training in infection prevention and control. Dedicated staff were employed and ensured the service was clean. We observed the service to be clean and hygienic. People were supported to maintain their own environment, and this included their bedrooms. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn by staff. Safe infection prevention and control procedures were in place and were supported by the providers policy. Infection control procedures and audits were in line with good practice guidance. The service was working towards an initiative to reduce the overuse of disposable gloves and focus on effective hand washing. Staff had plentiful supplies of cleaning materials, products, and PPE.
 

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

People received their medicines safely in the way prescribed for them. If medicines were prescribed to be taken ‘when required’ there was personalised information in place to guide staff when these might be needed. When medicines patches were applied to the skin, then these were recorded and the site rotated to ensure people’s safety. During our visit staff told us they would implement a system to make sure patches were checked regularly to make sure ensure they were still in place. Records were in place to show that risks had been considered for medicines such as anticoagulants, and flammable topical preparations. There were suitable arrangements for ordering, storage and disposal, including for medicines needing cold storage and those requiring extra security. Suitable temperature monitoring was carried out to make sure medicines were stored in line with directions. Staff had training and competency checks to support them with the safe administration of medicines. Any errors or incidents were investigated and reported, so that systems could be put in place to prevent a recurrence. Regular medicines audits took place which identified areas and actions for improvement.