Health & Safety


Health and safety: achieving the gold standard


With only four per cent of care homes being rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC, Kirstie Jones, head of client services and environmental health expert at Navitas Safety, shares her thoughts on why these figures are so low, and what care home managers can do to raise and maintain better standards


While achieving a ‘Good’ rating from the CQC is commendable – indicating that a care home is providing safe, effective, and compassionate care – the leap from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ is a significant one. This rating reflects a level of excellence that goes beyond standard expectations, highlighting exemplary provisions that serve as an inspiration to others.


While many care homes are on this path, many others are not. Unfortunately, you do not have to look hard to find news of care homes failing their CQC inspection (or re-inspection), or being placed in special measures.


In July, a West Midlands care home was


branded ‘Inadequate’ by a watchdog after failing to make improvements following a previous inspection. Among the issues were equipment, including hoists which ‘had not been tested to ensure they were in good order and safe to use’.


A month later, a care home in Nottingham placed in special measures after inspectors had to intervene to keep residents safe during their visit. The


provision is now no longer able to admit new residents without the CQC’s permission. Inspectors found an issue relating to ‘poor record keeping by staff at the care home when an incident had occurred’. To add to this, the CQC has recently been in the news for a backlog of inspections, due to current resourcing, and created as a result of the pandemic, which put in-person inspections on hold.


Risking your residents – and your future Individual failings, alongside a backlog of assessments, will do nothing for the public’s trust in care homes.


This has a knock-on effect on the care homes themselves, with the ones receiving the lowest ratings struggling to take on new residents.


The reputational damage that comes with being put into special measures, or rated ‘Inadequate’, is one that some care homes may never recover from, which is why it is important that provisions take immediate and decisive action to address any shortcomings and strive towards


achieving higher standards. Even those care homes that are doing


well should not rest on their laurels. Although inspections are typically every two years, inspections are usually unannounced, and standards can slip very quickly within two years for a number of reasons without structured processes being in place and being maintained.


The complexities of health and safety At the heart of health and safety is the commitment to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of individuals by preventing harm and minimising risks. In a care home setting, this is heightened due to residents being more vulnerable. An accidental fall may leave a young person with a bruise or two, for example, but it can be much more severe for someone who is elderly.


Understandably, it can be challenging for care homes to juggle the various aspects that fall under safety compliance and provide the ‘gold standard’ for everything from food safety to slips, trips, and falls prevention. But this is not a desirable – it is an essential. Here is an overview of each of the core areas and their main concerns, and how you can keep on top of it all.


Food safety Care homes have a responsibility to provide residents with balanced and nutritious meals tailored to any dietary needs. Allergen management is a whole area in itself, with staff required to have sufficient food safety training appropriate for their role and responsibility, such as a Level 2 or Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate. This includes allergen awareness, with advice in organising kitchens to ensure allergen- free dishes can be prepared safely. Having a designated equipment ‘kit’ is best practice


28 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com November 2024


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