Walberton Place Care Home

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 72 (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 provided safe care. There were effectively trained, and regular handovers and staff meetings ensured knowledge and experiences were shared. The service used an electronic system to record care, and this included the recording of incidents and accidents. Frequent analysis of this system by the registered manager ensured ongoing learning. Staff told us, “Debriefs are carried out following significant incidents and the senior on duty ensures the team is supported and any learning is shared.” Care plans showed changes were made to planned care after incidents such as falls.
 

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.
The registered manager explained the service worked with appropriate healthcare professionals to ensure safe and effective care. The electronic care system in place prompted staff to plan and record a full range of potential care needs. The registered manager worked with people, their families and social workers if they needed to move to other accommodation, for example, where a person required nursing care the registered manager had liaised with family and health care professionals to assist in a smooth transition to a new home for the person. Staff had the ability to print or share information from the electronic care system with other health care professionals and services.
 

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 registered manager ensured any concerns were raised with the local authority safeguarding team and the CQC. Staff had been trained in how to keep people safe and told us, “I have received comprehensive safeguarding training and understand how to recognise signs of abuse, respond appropriately, and escalate concerns in line with policy. I feel confident in my responsibility to protect residents.” People at the home said they felt safe with the staff there, “On the whole staff are very friendly and are very caring and well trained.” Relatives we spoke with also told us they thought care at the home was 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.

People at the home were encouraged to remain active and continue to live their lives in the way they chose. The home was kept clutter free so that people could walk the corridors, and a courtyard enabled people to go outside safely. People were able to manage as much of their own care as they wished. A staff member said, “I always involve individuals in decisions as much as possible, offering choices in simple ways and respecting their preferences. I follow care plans and best interest decisions while promoting independence.” And a person told us, “The carers support me in the shower, they support me to do as much as I can on my own.”

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 home was well designed to enable people to move about the home safely. There were numerous communal areas so people could spend time with friends or family, or take part in activities. Maintenance staff ensured equipment was tested, and staff were able to report faulty equipment for repair. Staff were trained in fire safety and were confident in the way to act in the event of a fire. A staff member said, “I have completed Fire Warden training, and I am fully familiar with the fire evacuation process at Walberton Place. In the event of a fire alarm all residents are evacuated calmly and safely to the designated assembly point using the correct evacuation procedures and equipment, including evacuation chairs and evacuation mats where required. Fire exits are clearly marked and accessible at all times. Fire fighting equipment, including extinguishers are located throughout the building and are regularly checked and maintained.”

The provider made sure there were usually 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. However, some staff who had English as a second language could not communicate confidently and effectively.
When speaking to staff, some were not confident in English and found it difficult to tell us details of their roles. Some people felt there should be more staff, particularly at busy times, “I feel that they could use more staff. Sometimes it can take quite a long time for them to come to you, but people might be in more need than me.”
Staff worked well together as a team. A staff member told us,” Generally, there are enough staff to provide safe care, though teamwork is essential during busy periods.” And another said, “During the day, particularly between 8-11 am everyone is usually very busy, so there might be slight delays in answering the call bells, even when we have enough staff on duty. There can also be staffing challenges when staff members are sick. Otherwise everything is generally okay.”
Staff were well trained, and supported people safely. People told us they felt safe when staff were supporting them, and we saw staff assisting people safely.

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.
The home was clean. There were dedicated housekeeping staff who kept the communal areas and people’s rooms clean. Front of house staff ensured dining areas were clean and tidy and food was served safely. A laundry onsite ensured bedding and clothing was clean and fresh. Staff had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) if needed to reduce the risk of the spread of infection and used it appropriately. The registered manager told us she frequently walked around the home to assess standards. The registered manager was extremely organised and kept detailed audit records of cleaning schedules and checks completed.

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.
Medicines were managed safely using a ‘blister pack’ system. Specifically trained senior staff administered and managed medicines and used a paper-based medicines administration record (MAR) system. Staff used colour coding and risk assessments to ensure medicines were administered safely. Medicines rooms and cupboards were locked and organised. Staff checked the storage room and fridge temperatures and knew what to do in the event the temperature was outside of the safe range. Posters and clear notes on white boards reminded staff of time specific medicines for people. There was also guidance for staff on which people required monitoring for weight or nutrition. A person told us, “I get up when I want and the carers manage my medication and always give it to me on time.”