Alyson House

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

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way which was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. Staff had been supported to complete training and develop the skills they needed to support people safely. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were employed following the appropriate recruitment checks being completed.

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.

Care plans identified when people may be at risk or vulnerable and what support they needed to keep them safe. People told us they felt safe living at the service. One person said, “The staff make me feel safe.”

Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people and had received training on how to safeguard people. Staff told us if they had any concerns, they would raise these with the manager or the provider and if needed would go outside of the service. A member of staff told us, “We protect people from anything that could harm them and make sure no one would abuse them or take advantage of them.”

We observed people were happy and relaxed in the company of each other and staff.

People were protected from the risk of abuse. The registered manager told us they had safeguarding policies and procedures in place and had a procedure for ‘whistle blowing’. We saw posters clearly displaying details of how to safeguard people.

Care plans and risk assessments were person centred and aimed to provide positive outcomes for people. For example, where people wished to undertake specific activities, they were supported to complete these activities as independently as possible.

Staff knew people well and how they wished to be supported whilst maintaining their independence. Care plans and risk assessment were detailed providing all the information staff needed. One member of staff said, “I enjoy assisting people to do what they want, and support their independence.”

People’s care was individually assessed and supported. We observed people were able to complete activities of their choosing safely with the support of staff.

People were supported to live as independent lives as possible. Risk assessments helped to mitigate the risks to people by providing guidance to staff on how to provide safe support. There were detailed personal evacuation plans for people. Where people required specialist equipment, they were assessed by qualified professionals such as occupational therapists to ensure this was supplied. Staff received training in how to use equipment correctly.

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

We observed staff knew people well and there were enough staff to support people with the activities they choose to do. One person said, “I get along with the staff and go out with my key worker.”

Staff told us they felt supported by the management and were provided with the correct training to give them the skills they needed to work with people. One member of staff said, “I had a 2-week induction and shadowed staff, then I was observed to see if was doing everything right.” Staff told us they felt they had enough staff each shift and maintained their staffing numbers to provide support for people.

We observed there were enough staff present to support people safely with day-to-day activities and social engagements.

The registered manager told us they were fully recruited and had a consistent staff team working at the service with good staff retention. Appropriate checks were in place before staff started work including providing full work histories, references and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. DBS provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. Staff had received training to enable them to have the skills and knowledge they needed to support people. One member of staff said, “I completed training and gained certificates before I worked with people.” Staff had supervision to discuss their training and support needs and regular staff meetings.

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.

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