Northlands Care Home (Northumberland)

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 Inadequate. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Improvements had been made to the learning culture. The service now had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened and any concerns about safety events were investigated and reported. A staff member commented, “Care is safe. Staff are more aware and are better at reporting any issues or concerns. They also use the body maps appropriately now, for example, if there was unexplained bruising on a person.” There was a more robust analysis of accidents or incidents looking for any themes or trends to reduce their re-occurrence. Lessons learned were effectively cascaded to the staff team to continually identify and embed good practice. A staff member told us, “We discuss any incidents and lessons learned at our daily flash meetings and team meetings.”

The service 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. The majority of people lived at the service on a permanent basis. However, some people stayed there for short term, respite care. Pre-admission assessments helped ensure people’s health and social care needs could be met by staff and that the service was right for the person, as well as the person being right for the service.

Improvements had been made and staff at the service worked with people and 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. Staff had received updated safeguarding training from the local authority. Staff now shared concerns quickly and appropriately. A stakeholder commented, “Staff are very welcoming and willing to engage but this did take some time. The quality manager is very open and honest, and the new manager has continued to submit appropriate referrals to safeguarding.” 

Considerable improvements had been made to ensure risks were better managed to keep people safe. The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Risk was identified and guidance to manage the risk was included in people’s care plans, so staff had the guidance to provide care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. A person told us, “They [staff] are very good with risks, if they feel they need a second carer, they will get one. I was in the bath yesterday I was apprehensive, but I enjoyed the bath.” Risk assessments were regularly reviewed to reflect people's changing needs.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. A person commented, “They [staff] always make sure I’m safe in bed, I have bed rails. Safety is very important, they [maintenance] test the electrical things, I’m very safe.”

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. People were attended to in a timely way and did not have to wait a length of time for assistance.

Staff verified there were sufficient staff on duty to support people. They told us about the training they received as part of their job roles and were knowledgeable about the training they received. Their comments included, “My training is up to date and I can request any additional training”, “We do e learning and some face to training”, and “I receive regular supervision from the management team, although I can also discuss anything with them at any time.”

Staff 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. A person told us, “The place always looks clean, and I have nice clean bedding.”

Staff at 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 happened. A person commented, “I’m involved in the planning, including with the GP.” Another person told us, "My pain relief is on time.” Staff were knowledgeable about the medicine needs of people living at the service. There was information available on how people took their medicines. Records of regular medicines were well-maintained and followed national guidance including recording people’s allergies.