St Matthew Road

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

The provider had processes in place to ensure people were protected from risk of harm and abuse. Staff knew the potential risks to people and how to report concerns. The provider followed recruitment policies and procedures ensuring staff were recruited safely. There were suitable numbers of trained staff to keep people safe.

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 told us they felt safe and protected from harm and abuse. One person told us how staff assisting them in their routines made them feel safe. Another person explained how they held safeguarding meetings at the service, which were inclusive of people and staff.

Staff had received training for safeguarding, and understood what constituted abuse and knew the steps they would take if they suspected abuse. One member of staff told us, “I have no doubts that a safeguarding would be raised if there were issues. I wouldn’t think twice about reporting to whoever. I've never witnessed any discrimination, I've only ever witnessed positive interactions and I believe people are genuinely happy.”

There were systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Information relating to safeguarding and what steps should be followed if anyone witnessed or suspected abuse was displayed around the service. Up to date and accessible policy and procedure documents were available for staff to refer to.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe being supported by staff. One person told us how they are now able to make their own hot drinks and maintain their flat. A relative said, “The staff are very helpful, they help [my relative] to do things for himself. We don't have any problems.”

Staff told us they knew what to do to reduce known risks to people. One member of staff told us, “I feel it is important to try to get people to take safe risks, by breaking down tasks so that little steps can be achieved.”

We observed people taking positive risks, such as one person managing their own medicines. This was in line with their wishes and ensured the person could maintain their independence whilst taking some risks.

Assessments were in place to identify and manage risks to people. Risks had been assessed and included information on the steps they should take to reduce these. For example, one person had a plan to access the service in a specific way, so that staff were aware of when they went out and returned.

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

People told us there were sufficient staff deployed at the service. One person told us how they have one to one staffing and they always know the member of staff who will be supporting them. People told us they felt staff had the training, skills and experience to effectively support them. One person told us how new staff would have a 'taster' day and people would say if they liked them and felt confident with their skills.

Staff told us they felt there were enough of them to offer the appropriate support to people. One member of staff told us, “Staffing is good, there is occasional sickness, but nothing we can’t control. There is a pool of bank staff that can be called upon and that gives consistency.” Staff told us they had a received induction training and further training specific to the needs of the people they support. One member of staff told us, “The managers are very supportive and lovely people. I'm doing medicines training at the moment and had a supervised session earlier today.” Senior staff had undertaken regular supervisions with staff and this was also an opportunity for staff to discuss any training they wished to undertake.

The deployment of staff met people’s needs and kept them safe. People were supported in a timely manner and staff were present in all areas of the service. Some people required one to one care and staff were always available to support this.

People’s needs were reviewed regularly in order to establish if staffing levels were sufficient. The provider followed safe recruitment practices. This included requesting references from previous employers and checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

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.