Heathside Retirement 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.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

Staff told us there was an open learning culture. They were encouraged to report any incidents or accidents to senior staff. We reviewed accident and incident records, and they were responded to appropriately.

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.

New referrals were always assessed face to face to ensure the individuals needs could be met. Processes were in place to ensure people received continuity of care, for example, when being transferred to hospital.

A visiting professional told us, ‘[Staff] are very good at ringing when they need to. ‘[Staff] triage and have the experience to do it. They don’t call with unnecessary calls. The information they provide is always appropriate.’

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff 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.

People felt safe. They told us, ‘I feel very safe here, the staff are very helpful and friendly’ and ‘Its lovely here. If I had any concerns, I’d talk to the staff then the manager. I feel very safe, and the staff are very good.’ Staff were supported through their induction and training to understand their safeguarding responsibilities. We discussed safeguarding with 3 staff and checked their learning in practice. They all understood their responsibilities and how they should report concerns. They were confident managers would respond appropriately.

People’s rights were upheld, and staff were trained in both the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Equality Act 2010.

There was a clear understanding of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and clear processes were in place to monitor DoLS applications and people were also supported by independent advocates where required.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

People were involved and in control of their care. They reported a high level of satisfaction with the care provided. They did not report any concerns. Staff told us the care plans were clear and provided guidance on how to manage any risks. Staff told us they had time to read care plans. Staff also had to sign to confirm they had understood any new care plans.

The home had systems in place to check the home environment was safe. This included up to date safety certificates for gas, electric and regular checks of fire safety equipment. However, there were some shortfalls identified. These were responded to and resolved quickly during the inspection. One window restrictor in a bedroom on the top floor was faulty. The room was not occupied, and it was replaced immediately. The registered manager put new processes in place to ensure risk assessments were in place, to manage the risk to people of hot surfaces, including radiators. A trip hazard between a lounge area and a conservatory was removed.

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.

People were very positive about the support they received from staff. They told us, ‘The staff are brilliant. Nothing is too much trouble for any of them. You can ask them anything, day or night and they will assist you.’ Staff were very positive about the support and supervision they received. Staff were recruited safely and had the appropriate pre-employment checks in place before employment commenced. There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs.

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.

The councils Infection Prevention Control team completed a full audit in September 2024 and the home scored 97%. We received positive feedback from people and their relatives about infection, prevention and control. Staff received training in infection, prevention and control and regular monthly audits were in place to maintain standards. We observed a clean environment, and staff were very positive about the cleanliness of the environment when asked for feedback.

Medicines were managed safely. People were supported by staff who followed systems and processes to prescribe, administer, record and store medicines safely. Staff who administered medicines had been trained to do so and the registered manager completed regular competency checks to ensure procedures were followed. Trafford’s Medicines Optimisation team carried out a medication audit in November 2024. The outcome was excellent, with no actions to complete.