St Mary's 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 69 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service 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. People received safe care because staff learned from safety alerts and incidents. Any incidents about people's safety were discussed with staff in a timely way, with action taken to mitigate further risks. A staff member told us, “We are encouraged to report and we discuss incidents.”

Staff at the service worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. A health care professional commented, “The staff consistently demonstrate a strong understanding of resident needs and proactively communicate any concerns or seek guidance as needed, referring quickly, and acting upon all advice given.” Staff made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. Information was collected before people started to use the service, and a detailed hospital passport was prepared to ensure their needs could be met, if they moved elsewhere. A relative commented, “Before [Name] moved in, we had discussions.”

The service 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 service shared concerns quickly and appropriately. People and relatives told us they felt safe, they would speak with staff if they were worried, and they always felt listened to. Their comments included, “[Name] is safe, I have no concerns, staff are all friendly, and helpful” and “[Name] is safe and settled. When [Name] is out of the home, they always want to come back.”

Staff at the service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. Staff supported people safely and appropriate equipment was available if people needed assistance. A person told us, “Staff encourage us to walk, there is always someone with us” and “Staff keep an eye on me, they talk to me about risks, I cannot walk far.”

Staff at the service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Equipment was regularly serviced to maintain safety. We observed some safety hazards in some of the first-floor bathrooms and the sluice room. We discussed this with the registered manager and provider and these were immediately addressed.

The service 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. There were sufficient staff to support people safely. There was less use of agency staff since the last inspection and permanent staff had been successfully recruited which meant staff knew people’s needs. A person told us, “Staff are here, they talk to me, they know me, they are very good.” Another person commented, “There are usually enough staff, I have got to know them all.” Staff were appropriately recruited.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. Staff told us personal protective equipment (PPE) and all cleaning materials needed were available. They confirmed they had received infection control training. There was a good standard of hygiene apart from some odours in top floor bathrooms and lavatories, where clinical waste was waiting to be removed. We discussed with the provider the infection prevention control implications with the current arrangements for the disposal of clinical waste. We were told this would be addressed.

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes were needed to people’s medicines. Improvements had been made to medicines records. There was information available on how people took their medicines. A person told us, “I get the tablets on time, great big ones. I know what they are for.” Records of regular medicines were well-maintained and followed national guidance including recording people’s allergies. Staff used an electronic system to record they had administered people’s medicines. A person commented, “I get my medicines on time.”