Elizabeth 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

People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse. The provider's safeguarding policy and processes were being improved to ensure safeguards were made to the local authority in a timely way. All staff had completed safeguarding training. This promoted people being safeguarded from the risk of abuse and having their rights upheld.

This service scored 50 (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 told us they felt safe. Comments included: “I’m happy and I feel safe. Staff help wash me. They do it gently” and, “I’ve been here quite a while. I’m happy and I feel safe because there are plenty of staff and they can help me” and, “There’s enough staff. They listen if there are any problems, and you can talk to them.”

People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse. The provider's safeguarding policy and processes were being improved to ensure safeguards were made to the local authority in a timely way. All staff had completed safeguarding training. This promoted people being safeguarded from the risk of abuse and having their rights upheld.

Staff had a good understanding of how to protect people and would not hesitate to raise a safeguarding alert if they suspected abuse. A staff member told us, “I know people enough to know if something wasn’t right and report it straight away. I know they [management] would listen to me.”

At the last inspection in February 2023, a recommendation was made to improve how people’s risks were assessed. At this inspection improvements had been made. Staff knew the risks to people and how to access their risks assessments. People were involved in discussing risks to their health and wellbeing and given choice. Discussions with people and actions agreed were not always recorded to show clear participation and collaboration and actions to take together. Risks to people's safety and wellbeing had been assessed and risk assessments had been put in place to help mitigate risks as far as possible. These included risks relating to people's mobility, falls, skin care, choking and eating and drinking. Care plans provided sufficient guidance to staff to keep people safe. There were systems in place for staff to report concerns, incidents, and accidents. Lessons learnt were cascaded to staff for learning and action. The provider had oversight of managing risk. The management team completed regular audits and action plans were put in place if any risks were identified. People who were able to express their needs, emotions or distress were supported by staff to manage risks in a positive way that protected their rights and dignity.

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

At the last inspection in February 2023, people told us there were not enough staff to care for them. Improvements had been made and staffing levels were now satisfactory. Staff schedules and rotas showed there were appropriate staffing levels in place to meet people's needs. These were monitored to ensure staff sickness and annual leave was covered. Agency staff were used to provide additional support where required. Staff were deployed around the service effectively on each unit. Staff had completed training relevant to their roles and there were systems in place for the provider to identify and monitor staff training requirements. Staff told us about the training they had as part of their job roles and were knowledgeable about the topics they were trained in. The provider recruited new staff in line with legislation to help ensure they were suitable for their job roles.

People and relatives told us there was enough staff on duty. Staff responded to their call bells and were available to support them. Comments included, “There’s enough staff to look after me” and, “There’s enough staff most of the time to help you” and, “They come when I call. They’re pretty good” and, “The staff pop in to see me if I’m not in the lounge.”

Staff said there was enough staff to support people and they were a consistent team. Staff felt well supported by the management team and were able to discuss their job roles in supervisions and meetings. Staff were supported with their professional development with supervision and support.

We observed enough staff supporting people around the service. Staff used equipment such as hoists and wheelchairs safely. Staff engaged and communicated well with people providing guidance, support, and encouragement.

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.

People told us they were happy with how staff supported them with their medicine. We observed staff being able to promptly answer people’s questions about their medicine. People’s preferences for how their medicines should be given was recorded in their care plan; for example, if they preferred their medicine from a medicine pot or given to them via a spoon.

People received their medicines from staff who had received the appropriate training. Staff member’s ability to administer medicines was checked to ensure they were competent. People were appropriately involved in decisions about their medicines. We observed people being offered medicines before staff dispensed them.

The procedure and guidance for giving people their medicines ‘as and when required’ was being improved as there was not always enough detail to indicate when they should be given. There were appropriate arrangements for the safe management, use and oversight of controlled drugs.