Hebburn Manor

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 75 (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 commented, “There is a good culture about reporting any incidents, however minor.”

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. They 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 person told us, “I was rushed into hospital, someone went with me from here, and some written information as well.”

Staff at 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, “I am safe and settled”, “[Name] is safe, I am confident about safeguarding here” and “[Name] is safe, the staff are responsive at every level.”

Staff 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, “They (staff) are aware of the risks, I was having falls quite a spell back, it has passed now.” A relative commented, “[Name] is waiting for a chair. The manager discussed it with me, they said [Name] would fall out of the other one, so they started the ball rolling to get a new one.”

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. A person commented, “The security is fine here. They (staff) advise about safety they make sure the floors are safe; we cannot walk on them until they have dried.” Another person told us, “I am definitely safe, I have bed rails, staff are always in and out checking on me during the night.”

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, “The staff know me, I know the team, they are helpful” and “There is not a lot of change with the staff. They are a consistent team.”

Staff at 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. A person told us, “My room is always clean and tidy” and “Staff wear aprons and gloves when they need to.”

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, “My tablets are regular and on time, I know why I’m taking them. Staff explain things if there’s a change.” Staff were knowledgeable about the medicine needs of people living at the service. A relative commented, Staff know the signs if [Name] is in pain, they get a tablet quickly.” 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.