Platters Farm 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. 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 service carried out an audit of any complaints, this included action plans, time frames of when feedback was provided and then recorded the resolution. We discussed with the manager any recent incidents and what action was taken following these. The manager told us how refresher training took place, how they notified the next of kin and notified the local authority in line with the services policies and procedures. One person told us, "They have been excellent here if something is wrong, they put it right. Everything is explained in a nice way." Community health care professionals told us, "The rehabilitation philosophy is to promote and encourage patient independence and a safe discharge home as efficiently as possible. Supporting care staff to understand and promote the value of reablement in conjunction with therapy aims and objectives can sometime be challenging for both parties. However, there is always an opportunity for the sharing of knowledge and skills within this supportive environment."

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 had hospital passports in place to ensure when they needed to attend appointments they went smoothly. There were weekly rounds from the local GP surgery to ensure people had medical support when they needed it. One person told us, "My surgery had changed my meds without consulting me. So, I told staff, and they arranged for the local GP to see me, and they got it sorted for me."

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 service acted appropriately in the event a safeguarding occurred and followed their policies and procedures and notified the relevant parties. Staff were confident with the training they had received and were knowledgeable of how to protect people and keep them safe.

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. Care plans contained detailed risk assessments for people, which informed staff of what people could and could not do safely, as well as their health and care needs. We saw people mobilising around the home independently and joining in with activities throughout the day. Staff told us, “We read the care plans, they have risk assessments in there, we encourage people to be independent and do things for themselves.”

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 service was well maintained. The maintenance team told us, “We have a scheme of routine maintenance, I can fix most things, but for any specialist work, we get outside contractors. Staff complete the maintenance book, and we record when things are fixed. We do regular walk rounds to check on health and safety.” There was dementia friendly signage around the service. One person told us, "Very clean. Someone comes and tidies up, sweeps and cleans each day."

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. Safe recruitment procedures were in place. We looked at induction folders and training matrix, and staff were confident with the level of training they had received. We observed sufficient staffing numbers, staff were observed in communal areas, supporting people in a timely manner and attending to people who were in their rooms. We received mixed feedback from people about staffing levels. One staff member told us, “I think we are too busy. Sometimes there is only one meds trained person working.” Another staff member told us, “It’s hard work, but I think on the whole we have enough staff.” One person told us, "They are brilliant here but very busy all the time." Another person told us, "If I ring, they may say that they are with someone, but they always come back. I don't wait too long. I sleep all night so don't disturb them at night. There always seems to be enough staff but I suppose all Care homes could do with more staff." The management team had recently reviewed staff rotas and deployment of staff to ensure there were enough staff in the different units to meet people’s needs.

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 were seen to be using personal protective equipment (PPE). Regular cleaning was taking place. Signage showed when a room had been deep cleaned. The service was clean and well maintained. Staff told us, “We have a cleaning schedule to follow daily and then regular checks, like mattresses. We do a deep clean every week of rooms. We have all the equipment we need and cleaning products.” One person told us, "They come and clean every day." Another person told us, "Very clean. Cleaners come in every day and clean every little surface. The housekeeping staff are very nice and will have a chat too."

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. We observed a medication round and staff were knowledgeable about the medication they were administering, asked people for consent and explained to each person what their medication was for. Staff told us, “We had the new (electronic) system, and the pharmacy came in to train us, and we shadowed the deputy manager with medicine rounds and co-signing for controlled drugs.” One person told us, "There is a cupboard in my room, and they come in each morning and give them to me. They are always on time. If I need changes, I just mention it, and they alter it." Another person told us, "They will get one right away if I need one. They ask me how I am, give me tablets and will get someone to see me if I need anything."