Office 510 Kingsfield Close, NN5 7QS

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 questiongood. At thisassessmentthe rating hasremainedgood.

Good:This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 69 (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. Staff told us that any concerns they raised were listened to and acknowledged. They told us the management team worked with them to resolve the issues raised. They told us they have opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills.The Registered Manager told usabout lessons learnt following people being discharged from hospital without moving and handling plansand steps they had taken to ensure this situation did not reoccur.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establishand 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.On admission to the service, the management team worked with hospital staff to ensure they had all the information on people’s needs that they required.The management team worked closely with Social Workers from the Local Authority to reassess people’s needs at the end of their reablement period and to ensure a smooth transfer to long-term providers.

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.Staff hadreceived Safeguarding training, and they knew how to support people. They understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Actand howthis related to the care and support they provided. People told us they felt safe. The Registered Manager told us “[safeguarding] starts with the recruitment process. If we recruit the right candidates, that is key. Then [there is] the induction and training to ensure staff are awareand in touch with the signs ofabuse.”At the time of the assessment there had not been any safeguarding concerns,but the staff and management were aware of the process to follow in the event of a concern and staff felt comfortable raising any issues.

The provider did not always work well with people to understand and manage risks.Whilst some risks had been assessed, such as those relating to the use of equipment for transfers, not all risks had been fully assessed. For example, one person using the service had mobility difficulties, but a falls risk assessment had not been completed. Risk assessments were written using only information provided by the hospital prior to discharge and gathered during the pre-admission assessment. People were not involved indecisions around managing the risks posed to them. People’s home environments had not been risk assessed to ensure the safety of staff and people receiving care. The impact on people was minimal as staff understood how to support them and keep them safe. One staff member said, “I keep people safe by following care plans and risk assessments, maintaining a safe environment, recognising and reporting hazards or concerns, and adhering to safeguarding and health and safety policies.”

The provider did not always detect and control potential risks in the care environment. They did not always make sure facilities, and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Risk assessments of people’s environment were not completed. The Registered Manager told us, “[we] tell carers to be mindful and do simple observations [of the environment to ensure safety].”They told us how equipment needed for people’s care was safely maintained and staff told us,“Equipment is maintainedt hrough regular checks, servicing and cleaning according to the organisation’s policies. Faulty or damaged equipment is reported immediately and repaired or replaced to ensure safety.”

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 had been recruited safely. We saw evidence of references being received and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks having been made prior to staff working with people. Staff had received training to undertake their roles, and this was refreshed regularly to ensure knowledge and skills were up to date. We saw evidence that team meetings and supervision were taking place, and these forums were used to identify learning needs and share good practice. People told us they had regular staff and “they’re all lovely”.

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 training in Infection Prevention and Control and Hand Hygiene. People told us staff “wash their hands and wear aprons and gloves.”

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. People receiving support from the service managed their own medicines. The Registered Manager told us that the service had experience of managing medicines from when the service was focused on providing care in a Supported Living environment.The clinical lead at the service had a nursing background and had a focus on medicines when carrying out pre-admission assessments. The Registered Manager told us about the need to have protocols in place when people took “as required” medicines. Staff had received training in the management and administration of medicines.