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Tanglewood Mews

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Wylam Road, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 0EJ (01207) 201078

Provided and run by:
Autism Care UK (4) Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

Report from 10 April 2024 assessment

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Safe

Requires improvement

Updated 8 November 2024

The service was not always safe and has moved to requires improvement in this key question. We identified 2 breaches of regulation. Medicines records were not always completed effectively. Systems were not effective in ensuring staff were recruited safely. There were shortfalls and issues with each of the 2 recruitment files reviewed. The service didn't always record incidents in a robust way and lessons were not always learnt. People were protected from abuse, staff knew how to look out for signs of abuse and raise any concerns. Risk assessments were in place and regularly reviewed. Staffing was provided at safe levels.

This service scored 56 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Learning culture

Score: 3

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

Safe systems, pathways and transitions

Score: 3

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.

Safeguarding

Score: 3

People and their relatives told us they were safe. One person told us, “I am safe here, I really like it" and "I like to help with the fire checks."

Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff were able to raise concerns and knew how to spot signs of abuse. One staff member told us,"Report abuse straightaway to the manager or on-call manager if weekend. Confident that managers will take the appropriate action. If they didn’t would go higher to ensure appropriate action is carried out."

People were not observed to be involved in decision making around risk management.

Involving people to manage risks

Score: 1

Feedback from people was positive and people were included in decision making and supported to take risks in everyday life through supportive communication plans.

Staff told us they knew how to support people - however communication plans were not always followed.

People were not observed to be involved in decision making around risk management.

The service had risk assessments in place for people but didn't have robust systems in place to give the registered manager an oversight of risk in the service.Systems were not always in place to identify lessons learnt and take appropriate action following accidents and incidents. Improvements were needed to record better information and for the registered manager to have oversight. We observed staff supporting people to receive their care in a safe way. However, people were not always supported by personalised risk assessments to take risks in safe ways as part of every day life.

Safe environments

Score: 3

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

Safe and effective staffing

Score: 1

People had enough staff to keep them safe, people told us they would like to go out more and relatives shared similar feedback. Following our inspection the provider shared evidence that this has improved.

Some staff told us that there was a high staff turnover. Some days were difficult to cover due to staff absence e.g weekends resulting in use of agency staff. Not all staff received supervision or appraisal at regular intervals.

Staffing levels were observed as being enough to meet peoples care needs safely.

Staff recruitment was not always carried out with the correct robust checks. Induction for new staff was not always completed in a timely manner. Supervisions and appraisals for staff were also not always completed and not all staff were not all up to date with their training to meet peoples needs.

Infection prevention and control

Score: 3

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.

Medicines optimisation

Score: 1

People were supported to take their medicines safely however, when people went out for the day this wasn't always managed according to the policy that was in place. One person told us. "The staff look after it all for me, keep it safe."

Staff were trained to administer medicines safely one staff member told us, "We have On line training and in person. We have a supervision on medication before you can be authorised to administer them."

Medicines were administered safely; however, improvements were needed in the record keeping and guidance for staff. Improvements were needed in the records of how people took their medicines, in the guidance and records for creams and when required medicines with a variable dose, and the records kept of medicines when people were out of the service.