The White House

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.

The registered manager reviewed instances where events had not gone to plan. These included accidents, incidents and near misses. They shared learning from these reviews with the staff team to improve people’s safety and to prevent reoccurrence.

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 were supported to transition safely into the service. The admission process started with the provider’s receipt of referrals. The registered manager reviewed these and visited people to carry out an initial assessment. This was to make sure the provider could meet people’s needs and preferences. The transition period included people visiting the service and experiencing overnight stays. This enabled people to make an informed decision about whether they wanted to move into the service. Once people moved into the service their needs were reassessed to ensure any changing needs were identified.

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.

People were protected from the risk of abuse and neglect. Staff understood their role in recognising and reporting any concerns they may have about people’s safety and wellbeing. The provider had safeguarding policies and procedures in place and staff received safeguarding training.

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.

The provider assessed and reduced people’s risk of experiencing avoidable harm. Staff worked with people to assess a range of risks. These included the risk of falling, developing pressure sores and health-associated risks. Where risks were identified, referrals were made to healthcare professionals for specialist assessments. For example, where people were identified to be at risk of choking, referrals were made to speech and language therapists who assessed the safety of people’s swallowing and prescribed the consistency of food and drink, they should consume.

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

The registered manager and staff ensured that the care home environment was safe for people. For example, all windows throughout the service had restrictors in place which limited the degree to which they could be opened. This meant people were protected against falls from height.

People were protected by the preparedness of staff to respond effectively in an emergency. Each person had a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) which detailed the support they required to safely leave the building in an emergency. In addition, staff received fire safety training, tested the services’ fire safety systems regularly and carried out evacuation drills.

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 their care and support from safe and suitable staff. The provider followed robust recruitment processes. This included reviewing applications, interviewing candidates and confirming the identities and employment histories of prospective staff. The provider ensured that all staff had Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks before providing care and support. DBS provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

New staff completed an induction programme which included training in key areas and shadowing colleagues. Staff received on-going supervision and appraisal from the registered manager to promote safe and effective practice. The provider ensured there were enough staff available to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.

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 an enhanced cleaning programme which included regularly cleaning frequently touched locations throughout the service such as doors and handles. This reduced the risk of any infections spreading.

The care home was clean with no unpleasant odours and hand sanitizing dispensers were located around the service for people, staff and visitors to use. Staff were trained in food safety, and food preparation was undertaken hygienically. For example, a system of colour coded chopping boards was used for the preparation of different food types such as red meat, fish and fruit. This practice was used to minimise the risk of harmful bacteria being transferred whilst making meals for people.

The registered manager carried out regular infection prevention and control audits at the service. These hygiene quality checks included the physical environment of the care home and ensuring that staff followed their training.

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.

Staff managed people’s medicines safely. People consented to their medicines being administered and received them in line with the prescriber’s instructions. Medicines administration records were signed appropriately and audited regularly. People’s medicines were stored securely to prevent the risk of them being accessed accidently. People’s medicines were reviewed by GPs to ensure they remained effective and necessary.