The White 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

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.

We did not assess all the quality statements within this key question. We did not identify concerns relating to these areas which we judged as being met at our last inspection.

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 registered manager told us "Following any incidents or accidents, we identify lessons learned, review for patterns and trends, and share findings with the team during our meetings, ‘safety huddles’, and weekly briefings." Staff told us they understood how to record incidents or accidents, and how to report safety concerns.

We saw that incidents and accidents were recorded. Lessons learnt reports included recommended actions to prevent re-occurrence and keep people safe. For example, when a service user had a fall, the registered manager took appropriate action and made a referral to the relevant healthcare professional including completing a risk assessment.

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 felt safe with staff. A person using the service told us, “I feel safe here. There are enough people to look after us.’’ Staff had undertaken safeguarding training to recognise signs of abuse and keep people safe. A staff member commented, ‘’Yes, I received training on safeguarding to protect our service users.’’ Staff told us that safeguarding concerns were shared the staff meeting. The provider had a safeguarding policy and procedure to keep people safe. The registered manager told us they had made referrals when necessary and worked with the Local Authority to investigate safeguarding concerns.

Risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were assessed to ensure their safety. This meant that assessments considered risks related to individuals' health, mobility and activities. These included risks relating to skin breakdown, allergies and medicines.

Risk levels were assessed based on likelihood and potential consequences, categorising them as low, medium, or high. Control measures and action plans were recorded to reduce each risk.

The provider delivered training for staff on clinical risk assessments. Staff told us they had regularly reviewed care plans and risk assessments for the people they support. One staff member commented, “I regularly read care plans and risk assessments to ensure I am up to date on the individual's needs, preferences, and any potential risks.’’

When individuals required support from staff for activities like going out or shopping, risk assessments provided guidance to ensure these tasks were carried out safely.

Additionally, after a fall, the registered manager had carried out a falls assessment and made a referral for the person to the appropriate healthcare professionals to ensure their safety. An external professional confirmed that staff followed their guidance and shared information appropriately to keep people safe. The registered manager said that restraint was not used within the service. Staff confirmed this, explaining, "We do not restrain our service users. Instead, we communicate calmly, and most of the time, they settle down."

People had clear and detailed personal emergency evacuation plans. This is a safety plan for individuals who may need assistance during an emergency evacuation, such as people with disabilities or mobility issues. There were effective arrangements to monitor the safety and upkeep of the premises. The provider carried out regular checks of electrical appliances and equipment to ensure they were safe to use. Staff told us there was a weekly test of fire alarms to ensure the system was working properly and could alert people in case of a fire. Staff had undertaken training on fire safety to ensure they understood how to respond in an emergency. A staff member told us, ‘’We had fire training; fire drills are always done on Monday. We check the alarms and fire door if they are closing well, and we check the fire point.’’

Staff felt supported in their roles. They told us they had completed an induction and shadowed experienced staff before they were able to work independently. Staff received the support they needed to deliver safe care. This included training, supervisions, annual appraisals and spot checks to assess their knowledge and skills. Staff told us, “The supervision sessions and appraisals are beneficial as they provide an opportunity to reflect on my work, receive feedback, and discuss any challenges.’’ There were safe recruitment practices to make sure that all staff were suitably experienced, competent and able to carry out their role. The provider had carried out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. A DBS check is a record of a person’s criminal convictions and cautions. The check helps employers make safe recruitment decisions.

There were enough suitable staff employed to meet people’s needs. Staff received training appropriate and relevant to their roles. This included training to support the needs of individuals with autism and dysphagia. Relatives confirmed that staff had the appropriate training and skills to provide care for their loved ones. A person using the service told us, “They are working hard, and they know what they are doing. It is the same people all the time.’’

Staff had received training on Infection prevention and control (IPC). Staff told us they understood IPC and wore personal protective equipment, such as disposable gloves and aprons, to help prevent and control the spread of infection to people. Food preparation and storage areas were clean, and the fridge and freezer temperatures were recorded daily. These were within a safe range. Staff had completed food hygiene training to ensure that they understood how to handle, prepare, and store food properly to prevent illnesses. The service had achieved the highest food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency.

People received their medicines safely. A person using the service told us, “They give me the right medicine.’’ Staff had undertaken training on medicines administration to ensure they understood and followed the correct medicines procedures. The provider had a good oversight of people’s medicines. The registered manager told us, “We carry out spot-checks, medicines audits, competency checks and ensure that training is up to date.’’ People received 'when required' (PRN) medicines when needed and the provider had PRN protocols in place. These helped to guide staff on when to administer these medicines and how to properly record their administration. Medicines cabinets were secured, and staff kept a record of the room temperature to keep medicines effective and prevent damage from heat or cold. Staff had accurately completed people’s medicines administration records, which confirmed that people using the service had received the correct doses of medicines at the right times.