The Poplars

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 as good. At this assessment the rating has remained as 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.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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.

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 detected, but did not always control, potential risks in the care environment. They did not always make sure facilities supported the delivery of safe care.

Whilst the premises had a homely appearance, there were areas of shabby, worn décor, including some carpets and paintwork. The kitchen worktops were scuffed. The home was clean while we were there and a relative confirmed the cleanliness was good. However, the damaged surfaces would make cleaning difficult and would present a risk if an infection was to occur. The registered manager’s health and safety audits had identified these areas as needing attention, but repairs required the provider to authorise funding.

The provider had undertaken a legionella risk assessment; legionella are bacteria that can colonise water systems and cause serious illness. The risk assessment identified a low risk of legionella bacteria in the water system due to water coming directly from the mains and being heated on demand by a gas boiler, as the cold-water storage facility to provide water in an emergency was not used. There were appropriate control measures in operation to minimise the identified risk of legionella.

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.

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The provider did not always make sure medicines were stored safely. However, they ensured medicines were handled safely and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

Medicines were not stored securely. The medicines storage cabinet was made of a material that could be broken into and the lock on the front could have been levered off. There were no suitable storage facilities for medicines that require additional security, although no such medicines were required at the time of the inspection. We drew this to the attention of the registered manager, who afterwards confirmed the provider had organised for appropriate medicines storage to be installed.

People received their medicines as prescribed, with systems in place to ensure this happened correctly. Staff monitored the effectiveness of medicines for use as required, when they administered these. Prescribers reviewed people's medicines to ensure these were prescribed at effective doses and that people were not overmedicated.