Lomack Healthcare

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• 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

As part of this assessment, we looked at 3 quality statements for the key question of safe. These were ‘safeguarding, involving people to manage risks and safe and effective staffing.’ People were kept safe from avoidable harm because staff completed training about safeguarding and knew how to report abuse. Risks to people's safety were assessed and strategies were put in place to reduce risks to people. Care and risk management plans were in place which included guidance for staff to support people when they became distressed. There were enough staff to support people safely and safe recruitment practices were followed.

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.

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.

People felt safe with the support they received, and we observed people being supported by staff in a sensitive and respectful manner. A relative told us, “I believe my [family members] are very safe and that is because of the stable staff team. It’s important to have consistency.”

Staff had developed positive and trusting relationships with people that helped to keep them safe. Staff told us they were trained in procedures for safeguarding younger adults and we confirmed this by looking at the staff training records. One staff member told us, "The training is very good, and we get regular training about safeguarding people and how to keep them safe from harm. I would go to my manager if I had any concerns.”

People were supported safely by staff. We observed that staff knew people well and had developed strong relationships making them feel safe. People appeared relaxed and at ease in the company of staff. We saw that staff knew people well and were able to anticipate needs effectively because staff understood their individual methods of communicating.

The registered manager was aware of their responsibility to liaise with the local authority if safeguarding concerns were raised and there were systems in place to support this process. Staff had access to safeguarding information and policies which contained contact numbers of who to contact with any safeguarding concerns.

Risks to people had been assessed and their safety monitored. A relative described a conversation with a staff member who was taking their family member out for a meal. They said, “The staff member went to the eatery first to check if it was busy or noisy as they knew these could be triggers for [family member] and to make sure there was no risk of [family member] becoming distressed.”

Staff were able to tell us how they supported people safely and understood people's risks. A staff member told us how they had developed a risk assessment for 1 person in relation to self-harming. They said, “We worked with other professionals and introduced a risk assessment to try and reduce the risk of self harm for 1 person.”

We saw 1 person who was very excited because they were also going out. They had the car keys in their hands and ran out to the car. Staff were very patient and tried to persuade them to go back inside to get a coat, but the person did not want to go back in. The staff were able to recognise the persons body language and knew how to support them and not escalate a situation that might leave the person distressed. The person got inside the car and looked very happy.

There were risk management plans in place to identify all the risks present within a person's life. They were completed in a way that allowed people as much freedom as possible and promoted their independence. Risk assessments were used to promote and protect people’s safety in a positive way.

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

There were sufficient staff to keep people safe and meet their needs and staff had worked at the service for a long time so knew people well. A relative told us, “I know staffing is a problem elsewhere but not with Lomack Health. There is a very stable and dedicated team of staff who have worked there for a very long time. They know [family members] inside out. They are both nonverbal, but the staff recognise body language and particular noises they make to indicate their needs. I cannot praise them enough.”

Rota's showed that each person always had support by enough numbers of regular staff that ensured consistency. The registered manager said this was important to people because it reduced their anxiety. Staff told us they felt staffing numbers were sufficient to meet the needs of people using the service. A staff member said, “Staffing isn’t a problem. There’s always enough staff to support people with their activities. I think we are lucky as we always have the staff we need.” Staff felt well supported and they told us they had the appropriate training and regular supervision to ensure they were working in line with best practice guidance.

We saw sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs including for one-to-one support. There was a regular team of staff who knew them well and responded to their needs swiftly and we observed staff supporting people in line with their needs and preferences.

Safe recruitment practices were followed for staff working with at the service. Staff rotas showed that staffing was consistent, and each person always had the staff support they needed. Staff received training in learning disability and autism, including how to interact properly with people with a learning disability and autistic people. The registered manager informed us that whilst the above training was currently in place, the 'Oliver McGowan mandatory training on Learning Disability and Autism' would be part of future training for staff. Records demonstrated that staff had been provided with induction training and staff received regular supervision.

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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