Heathland Court 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

People and those important to them were supported to understand safeguarding and how to raise concerns when they did not feel safe. People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff understood their duty to protect people from abuse and knew how and when to report any concerns they had to their line managers and/or senior staff. When concerns had been raised, managers reported these promptly to the relevant external agencies and worked proactively with them, to make sure timely action was taken to safeguard people from further risk. People were supported to understand and manage risk. Managers and staff routinely assessed and reviewed risks people might face. There were enough staff to support people with their care and support needs. Managers reviewed staffing levels regularly to make sure there were enough suitably skilled and experienced staff deployed throughout the care home at all times. There were enough appropriately trained staff in place to support and keep people safe. Staff were supported through regular individual and group meetings and actively encouraged to continuously learn and improve their working practices. Managers ensured through thorough pre-employment recruitment checks were undertaken on all staff to make sure only those that were deemed suitable and fit, would be employed to support people at the service. The provider ensured medicines systems were well-organised, and people received their prescribed medicines safely.

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.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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.

People told us the care home was safe. One person said, "I do feel very safe and content living here.” An external health care professional added, “My client is kept safe at the home by well-trained and compassionate staff.”

Managers supported staff to safeguard people from abuse. Staff understood how to recognise abuse and neglect, protect people from its different forms and to report any concerns to their line managers. The managers understood their legal responsibility to refer safeguarding incidents to all the relevant external agencies without delay, ensure they were fully investigated and to take appropriate action to minimise the risk of similar incidents reoccurring. Partner agencies expressed no concerns about how the service collaborated with them when undertaking enquiries and investigations about safeguarding concerns.

We observed staff supporting people in a way that kept them safe from harm.

The provider's safeguarding policies and processes were in line with relevant legislation. The registered manager worked well with external agencies and acted in a timely way to make sure people were safeguarded and protected from further risk.

People using the service, and their relatives told us they felt safe living at the care home and staff did all they could to keep them as safe as possible. They said there was always enough staff to keep them safe and provide assistance when needed.

Staff that we spoke with were aware of the risks to people they were supporting. For example, they knew which people were at risk of, and needed supported in, falls, of developing pressures sores and in relation to eating and drinking. They told us, risks were assessed and within people's care records and they followed the guidance contained in them to keep people safe from harm.

We observed staff supporting people to remain safe in the home. This included supporting them in relation to their mobility, personal care and eating and drinking.

Risks had been assessed and management plans put in place to help staff prevent or minimise the likelihood of people being harmed. These plans covered every aspect of people’s lives including, mobility and risk of falls, bed rails, skin integrity and nutrition. This meant staff had up to date information about the action they should take to manage these risks and keep people safe. There were systems in place for staff to report concerns, incidents, and accidents. This promoted the provider having oversight and being able to manage risks. The management team completed regular audits and action plans were put in place if any risks were identified. Appropriate checks were completed on equipment such as hoists, mobility aids and mattresses to ensure the safety of people. An external health care professionals told us, “Staff know how to prevent and manage risks my clients might face. Before admission they always ask for risk assessments and do not admit a client before completing their own assessments. Staff follow my clients care plan to deliver the support they require.” Risk to the environment, such as fire safety checks, water temperature checks and other health and safety checks were completed by the provider. This meant people were kept safe.

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

People told us there were enough, well-trained staff to support them. One person who lived at the care home said, “Theres enough staff about to keep us safe. I have faith in all their abilities to care for us.” Another person added, “I think the staff know what they’re doing and they always do their absolute best to look after everyone who stays here.” An external health care professional also said, “From my experience the staff are competent and do a good job.”

Staff received relevant training to support them in their roles. They were well supported by managers to learn and continuously improve their working practices. Staff told us about the training they had as part of their job roles and were knowledgeable about the topics they were trained in, such as supporting older people living with dementia. The registered manager told us they regularly reviewed staffing levels at the service to ensure there were always enough suitably experienced and trained staff on duty to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. The registered manager also confirmed the service currently had its full complement of nursing staff. Staff told us they felt well-supported by the managers and senior staff team and were able to discuss their job roles in their regular supervision, appraisal and team meetings they attended with their line managers.

There were enough suitably skilled and experienced staff to support people. We observed staff were visibly present throughout our site-visit. For example, people did not have to wait long for support from staff when they requested it. Staff were vigilant when people were moving around or undertaking activities and made sure people remained safe. Staff regularly checked in on people who chose to spend time in their rooms or in quieter spaces around the service to make sure people were well and ask if they needed anything.

Staffing levels in the care home matched the days staff duty rota and were suitably deployed and available in sufficient numbers to meet people's needs and keep them safe. Managers used staffing dependency tools to make sure there were always enough staff to meet people’s needs safely. Managers conducted checks on staff that applied to work at the service to make sure they were suitable to support people. This included checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) who provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. Training records showed staff attended relevant courses to support them to meet a range of people’s needs. Training was refreshed at regular intervals so that staff stayed up to date with current practice. Supervision and appraisal records showed staff had regular supervision meetings and an annual appraisal of their overall work performance with their line managers to support them in their role and to identify any further training or learning they might need. There were systems in place for the provider to identify and monitor staff training and supervision requirements and ensure it remained relevant and up to date.

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.

People told us they received their medicines as they were prescribed. One person said, “Staff are very good at making sure I take my medicines on time.”

Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities in relation to the safe management of medicines. Staff received medicines training and their competency to continue managing medicines safely was routinely assessed by their line managers.

Medicines systems were well-organised and staff appropriately maintained medicines records. At our last inspection we recommended the provider follows recognised best medicines practice and conduct daily clinical room temperature checks where peoples prescribed medicines were stored and maintain accurate records of their findings. At this inspection we found the provider had improved their clinical room temperature checking and recording systems. We found no recording errors or omissions on any of the medicines records we looked during this inspection. Medicines were safely stored in lockable cabinets and trolleys. People’s care plans included detailed guidance for staff about their prescribed medicines and how they needed and preferred them to be administered. This included protocols for people prescribed ‘as required’ medicines, which helped guide staff to manage these medicines safely.