Sheringham 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 the same. 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.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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.

A safeguarding policy was in place that detailed the types of abuse and how to escalate concerns if staff suspected or saw abuse to ensure people were protected.

Observation showed that people felt safe with staff and enjoyed living at the home.

People and their relative’s told us people were safe living at the home. A person told us, “I like living here, the staff help me to keep safe and teach me new skills.” A relative told us, “I feel my [person] is looked after well and is kept safe from avoidable harm.” Another relative told us, “100% feel that my [person] is safe at the home. The staff know them well and how to support them in the right way.”

The home manager told us about the systems to help ensure that staff understood the organisations safeguarding procedure. The home manager said, “We discuss safeguarding and policy in staff meeting and supervisions. I ask key questions, which evaluates staffs’ knowledge and their understanding from the training that they have completed and what actions they would take if they identified a safeguarding concern.”

Staff knew about safeguarding processes and had received training in this area. Staff were able to tell us the importance of reporting any concerns to the management team. Staff also felt they could be open to the management team if they had any concerns. A staff member told us, “Abuse is any harm, could be financial abuse, social abuse, physical abuse. You can report abuse to management and to your team lead.”

People had detailed risk assessments describing the support they needed to keep safe. There were risk assessments to ensure people were safe when being supported such as on nutrition, continence and anxiety.

Staff understood the importance of having an up-to-date risk assessment, to help minimise risk for people.

We also saw staff received appropriate risk management training, which helped staff develop their knowledge and skills. Staff were able to tell us how they supported people with their day-to-day risks. A staff member said, “We have supported a person to access the community by themselves. This was done by the manager carrying out an assessment of the [person] using the community and as a team we looked at each risk with the [person] and agreed what actions were needed to help manage the risk.”

Staff supported people with positive risks, records showed a person was supported to go out in the community independently. However, records were not kept of the assessments undertaken to ensure they were safe to attend the community independently. The home manager informed this will be recorded in the future.

The home manager told us how they reviewed and managed risks to people and staff, “I review risk assessment monthly; we use a system that also flag up when they are due to be reviewed. Also risk assessments are reviewed after any incident or concerns that have been identified.”

People and relatives told us that staff looked after people well, which included minimising risks to ensure people were safe. A person told us, “Staff help me learn new things so I can be more independent.” A relative told us, “I feel my [person] likes the staff and living at the home, they are happy.”

We observed a person was being supported in the kitchen to make their lunch. Another person was going out in the community by themselves, which the staff was talking over the task with them and reminding them on how to keep safe.

The premises and environment were adapted to meet people’s individual needs. We saw staff and management conducted fire safety audit and checks to ensure the premises was safe to live in.

The home manager told us about the systems to check the environment was safe for everyone who used the service. This included daily, weekly and monthly audits. Checks were also carried out by all staff and the home manager at the home. When repairs were identified, they were reported to the maintenance team. However, evidence showed that the maintenance team completed not all repairs immediately. For example, the downstairs void room had repairs that were required, which had been on the action plan for a period of time. The home manager told us this was being addressed.

The home was clean and tidy, which ensured people were able to move around the home safely. People had their own toilet area. We discussed with the home manager our concern that the pipes connected to the boiler in the downstairs staff toilet area was exposed, which meant there was a potential risk of burn due to hot pipes. This was made safe after our feedback.

There was enough staff to support people safely. People and relatives were positive about the staff team and the home manager. They told us that they had no concerns about staff that supported people and the staffing levels at the home. A relative told us, “There is always enough staff on duty. Staff are very clear of their roles and responsibilities, and they know my [person] very well and how they like to be supported.”

We saw staff were available when people wanted them. Staff rotas confirmed there were enough staff to support people safely. Staff were recruited safely. Records showed relevant pre-employment checks, such as criminal record checks, right to work in the UK, references and proof of the person’s identity had been carried out.

Staff had completed key training such as on learning disabilities and first aid to perform their roles effectively. Regular supervisions and appraisals had been carried out to ensure staff were supported. The home manager told us that staff were supported through training, supervisions and regular contact.

Staff told us that they received regular supervisions and support from the home manager. A staff member told us, “[Home manager] is very approachable and supportive. Can call him for anything.

We observed that the home manager and staff had positive relationship and staff knew people well.

An infection control policy was in place and staff had been trained on infection control. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was readily available at the home. Staff confirmed they had access to PPE when needed.

There were handwashing facilities available to all using the service.

Systems were in place to prevent and minimise the spread of infection to ensure people experience was safe.

The home manager and staff told us the home was always clean and tidy, and they had access to infection control products such as handwash to ensure risk of infection was minimised.

Staff told us, “We work as a team to ensure that the home is clean and tidy. We also have access to infection control equipment, like handwash, aprons and gloves.”

Medicine Administration Records (MARs) showed that medicines had been administered as prescribed. Medicine audits were carried out to ensure people received their medicines safely. Staff had also been trained in medicines management and had competency assessments to ensure they were competent to manage medicines. We observed medicines were administered safely.

Staff told us they felt confident of managing people’s medicines and that the training they received met their development needs and helped give a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities regarding administering people’s medicines safely.