Northern Counties Eventide Home Limited

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 inspection we rated this key question good. At this inspection the rating has remained 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.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. For example, we saw the fire risk assessment had been completed and had identified the need for weekly checks on emergency lighting. This had been completed.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. Most people chose to remain in Northan Counties Eventide Limited, after their period of respite. There was information in place about people while they were at the service, and provisions were put in place for them when they could safely return home.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

The provider worked well with people to understand and manage risks. Care provided was safe, however, some records did not reflect concerns had always been acted upon. For example, the incident and accident log was sometimes lacking in detail. We saw a missed opportunity to investigate an unexplained bruise on a person. We raised this at the time with the care manager who has escalated this appropriately. We have since been updated and assured that all incident and accidents were being thoroughly looked into.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. For example, maintenance records and health and safety audits were completed routinely. Staff used a communication log sheet to record any issues with the environment. This was actioned by the maintenance person.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. Everyone we spoke with told us there was enough staff. One staff member said “There are enough of us, yes. We work very well as a team.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. People told us the home was clean. Comments included “The place is spotless.” Also “It never smells in here.” There was enough personal protective equipment observed using this correctly.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. For example, we saw when a medicine had been discontinued, this was clearly recorded on the person’s Medication Administration chart. We also saw 1 person was prescribed medicines for use as and when required, often referred to as PRN, and staff were correctly recording reasons for this being administered.