Creative Support - Hampton Crescent

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 good. At this assessment the rating has remained 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 provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

Staff understood their responsibility to report concerns, accidents and incidents. Records showed these were documented, reviewed and analysed to identify themes and trends. Managers discussed what had worked well and what could be improved following incidents, and learning was shared with staff through supervision, communication books and team discussions. The registered manager demonstrated responsiveness when issues were identified, taking immediate action and explaining what improvements would be made to reduce the risk of recurrence.

The provider 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.

Staff liaised with healthcare professionals, social workers, housing providers and commissioners to ensure people’s needs were met and reviewed when circumstances changed. Where people experienced changes in health, mobility or risk, care packages were adjusted promptly to maintain safety and promote independence.

Visiting healthcare professionals shared positive feedback about the service’s communication and responsiveness, which supported safe transitions and continuity of care.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff 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 provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

Safeguarding policies and procedures were in place, staff received up‑to‑date training, and they understood how to recognise and report concerns. Safeguarding referrals had been made appropriately, and records showed the provider worked with local authority safeguarding teams and the police when required.

People told us they felt safe using the service, and their relatives agreed. A relative commented, “[Person] is safe and they are good with [person]. “

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Risk assessments reflected people’s individual needs, preferences and choices, including where people chose to live more independently or manage aspects of their own care.

Staff worked with people to review risks regularly, particularly following incidents such as falls or changes in health. People were supported to make informed decisions, and staff respected people’s right to take risks while putting appropriate measures in place to reduce avoidable harm.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Environmental and equipment risk assessments were in place. Records showed regular checks of equipment used to support people, including hoists and mobility aids were completed. The service worked closely with the housing provider to address environmental concerns and ensure repairs and maintenance were managed appropriately. Where risks were identified, managers acted promptly to address them and monitored actions to ensure improvements were effective.

The provider 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.

The provider had systems in place to ensure staffing was safe and supported people’s needs. Recruitment was managed safely.

Staff received mandatory training, role‑specific training and regular supervision. Staff told us they felt well supported by the management team and worked well together. Although some staff and professionals raised concerns about staffing levels at busy times, people continued to receive their care on time, and the registered manager explained to us about the work they were doing with staff to ensure care delivery was effective in line with the service’s commissioned hours.

People and relatives told us staff arrived on time, stayed for the full duration of the care visit and did not miss visits. One relative told us, “They are on time and never miss [a care visit].”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

The provider assessed and managed well the risk of infection. Staff understood infection prevention and control procedures and followed safe practices when supporting people with personal care. The service environment was clean, and there were systems in place to manage laundry and waste safely. Managers monitored infection control practice and responded to issues when identified to reduce the risk of infection spreading.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

There were systems in place for the ordering, storage, administration and recording of medicines. During our site visit, a small number of recording issues were identified. We discussed these with the registered manager who took immediate action by investigating the concerns and providing additional support for staff.

People had individual medicine assessments and support plans. Staff had received training and regular competency checks. Medicines audits were used to monitor practice and drive improvement.