Hambleton 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

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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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.

There was a positive learning culture within the service. Improvements had been made following the previous inspection. One staff member told us, “I think we have all worked towards improvements, [the registered manager and deputy manager] especially have improved the way we do things and acted upon things that have been highlighted at previous inspections, we work towards giving the best care.” The management team listened to any concerns or issues raised by staff, people and relatives, and systems were in place to ensure these were investigated and lessons learnt. Lessons learnt were relayed to staff in regular staff meetings.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to ensure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. One-page profiles and hospital passports containing key information about people’s needs were in place and easily accessible. Staff made referrals to healthcare professionals and maintained relationships with local GPs and Advanced Nurse Practitioners, who visited the service regularly.

Staff understood how to protect people from avoidable harm and neglect. Staff had received training in safeguarding and understood their responsibilities. Staff acted on any potential safeguarding concerns swiftly and appropriately. People told us they felt safe and well supported. People told us, “I am happy here and well looked after. The staff treat me with respect and dignity” and, “I feel safe, there is always somebody around, the staff are good.” One relative told us, “[Person] is safe here with the people looking after her. I have no worries or concerns; I am happy with the care.”

Risks to people were generally assessed and managed appropriately. However, tools used to assess the risk of weight loss and malnutrition were completed incorrectly. We did not find any evidence of impact on people’s safety and care. The registered manager arranged external training in this area following our feedback. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs and how to safely support people in as least restrictive a way as possible. Staff were attentive to people’s needs whilst encouraging independence and respecting people’s choices.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Health, safety and maintenance checks were completed, up to date and monitored. Staff took part in fire drills and evacuation plans had been reviewed and strengthened.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. The staff team worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. Staff were recruited safely with appropriate pre-employment checks in place. People and relatives told us there were enough staff who were competent in their roles. Comments included, “If I needed anyone they would come straight away”, “I feel the staff are well trained and they know what they are doing” and, “The staff are lovely and can’t do enough; there are enough staff.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection in line with national guidance. The service was clean and tidy. There were clear roles and responsibilities around infection control and staff understood these. People, staff and relatives were all content with the cleanliness of the service. Comments included, “It is very clean, and they are very particular” and, “The cleaners do a good job, they are always on the go and it is always clean.”

Medicines were generally managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed. People told us they always received their medicines and records confirmed this. Medicines were stored securely and in line with national guidance. Protocols were in place for the administration of ‘when required’ medicines. However, some protocols required more detail to ensure guidance for staff was clear and consistent. The date of opening for creams and lotions was not always recorded. This meant it was not possible to monitor when these medicines should be disposed of, and this could impact the effectiveness of those medicines. This was an ongoing issue, and the registered manager introduced further measures to ensure records were fully completed and dates recorded following our feedback.