Blandford Lodge

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.

The last rating for this key question was good. At this assessment the rating has remained 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 developed a culture where staff learnt when things went wrong. Staff recorded and reported all incidents, accidents and concerns. Managers investigated these and made changes to the service when needed. They discussed incidents and lessons learnt in team meetings and with individual staff. Staff shared their experiences so they could learn from each other. A staff member told us, “The manager is open when something is wrong. [They] check and tell us what we need to do to improve. If something happens in another care home, [they] tell us about this so we can stop it happening here.” The management team and staff discussed how to prevent and manage falls and best practice to ensure people received the right support to stay safe.

The provider had systems to ensure safe pathways and transitions between services. One person who lived at 1 of the provider’s other services had required hospital treatment. Following this, their needs had changed, and they required higher levels of support. The provider had offered them a place at Blandford Lodge. They had worked with the person and other professionals to assess and plan for their needs. Staff had made referrals for additional equipment, to ensure the environment was suitable and to help the person with changes to their health and wellbeing. Staff had liaised with other professionals to ensure a safe transition for 1 person when they identified they could no longer meet their needs because their mobility had declined.

Staff had developed easy to access profiles outlining people’s health and communication needs. These were used to share information with external professionals to ensure they had a good understanding of people’s needs.

The provider had not always ensured care and support was provided in the least restrictive way. We saw staff escorted 1 person from the kitchen and then locked the door. The staff member told us this was to keep the person safe. The person told us this sometimes happened and this prevented them from making their own drinks. We reviewed the person’s care plan and spoke with the management team about this. The person had the mental capacity to make decisions about accessing the kitchen. There was no agreement to lock the door or prevent this access and this was not part of their risk management plans. The management team agreed to speak with staff to ensure risks were managed appropriately and people were not unlawfully restricted. The managers also agreed to provide updated training for staff about their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2008.

The provider had systems designed to safeguard people from abuse. Staff were aware of these and were able to explain what they would do if they felt someone was being abused. They demonstrated a clear understanding of how to recognise and report this.

Staff had worked with the local safeguarding authority to investigate and respond to allegations of abuse and to help make sure people were protected from harm.

People using the service told us they felt safe.

The provider ensured risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were assessed and planned for. Risk assessments considered people’s individual needs and how these should be met. People living at the service needed support to help with risks associated with their mental health. They were involved in discussions about these and staff worked with them to plan ways to keep safe.

Risk assessments and management plans were regularly reviewed and monitored.

Staff undertook training to understand about how to support people to stay safe.

Not all areas of the building were appropriately decorated and furnished. One person told us they did not feel their room had been personalised and they did not like the way it looked. They explained they needed additional furniture. We discussed this with the management team, and they explained this work was planned but had not yet happened. They agreed to address the person’s concerns.

The environment was safe and generally well maintained. The provider had made improvements to the facilities to reflect people’s changing needs. For example, they had installed an accessible wet-room shower. Two people had personalised their rooms. Staff carried out checks on the environment and equipment to make sure this was safe. Repairs were attended to when needed.

There was an appropriate fire risk assessment in place and procedures to ensure staff and people using the service knew how to evacuate safely.

The provider deployed enough suitable staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People using the service told us staff were available when they needed them. Staff were usually lone workers due to the small size of the service and needs of people who lived there. Staff told us this was enough and there were effective systems for requesting additional staff if needed and support in emergencies. They explained managers were always available and staff from the provider’s other locations were close by. Additional staffing was arranged to support people to take part in activities and attend appointments.

The provider did not use agency staff, and people knew all the staff who worked at the service. The provider ensured that people’s preferences for the gender of their care workers were respected and met. A member of the management team explained there had been improvements with staff retention. They told us they had supported some staff to develop into senior roles, and this had helped with the continuity of care at the service.

There were systems to help ensure staff were suitable. The provider’s recruitment processes included checks on their knowledge, skills, right to work in the United Kingdom and suitability. Staff completed an induction when they started working at the service. They undertook a range of training. Staff had regular supervisions, appraisals and assessments of their competencies to make sure they demonstrated good skills and knowledge.

The provider had systems for preventing and controlling infection. Staff completed regular cleaning of the service and there were schedules for deep cleaning. Staff and managers carried out audits of cleanliness. People using the service were encouraged and supported to be involved in cleaning tasks and managing their own laundry.

Staff completed training about infection prevention and control as well as understanding infectious diseases. The provider ensured staff had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed.

The provider ensured medicines were managed in a safe way. Staff supported people to take their medicines. Staff completed training to understand about this and managers assessed their knowledge and skills regularly. People told us they were happy with the support they received with their medicines. One person commented, “I know about the medicines I am taking and why.’’ We observed staff supporting people to take their medicines. They explained what was happening and followed procedures to do this safely.

Medicines were safely stored. There were records of medicines administration. Managers carried out regular audits and checks of medicines management. They made improvements when things went wrong.

Staff worked with GPs and other healthcare professionals to make sure people’s medicines were reviewed and monitored. Some people were prescribed medicines to be taken ‘as required’ (PRN). There were clear protocols for staff to understand when to administer these and their use was appropriately recorded and monitored.