Falcon Medical Aesthetic Clinic

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

We looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

This is the first inspection for this service since its registration with CQC. This key question has been rated as Good.

This service scored 69 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The provider had processes for staff to report incidents, near misses and safety events. There was a system to record and investigate complaints, and when things went wrong, staff apologised and gave people support. Learning from incidents and complaints resulted in changes that improved care for others.

The service worked with people and referred to national guidelines to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored.

There were systems in place for processing information relating to new patients. The service worked with other providers to share information when this was necessary.

The clinic worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. A safeguarding policy was in place and known to staff.

Staff who acted as chaperones were trained for the role and had received a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check, although (at the time of the inspection) these had not been carried out by the service.

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

Staff understood their responsibilities to manage emergencies and to recognise those in need of urgent medical attention. Emergency equipment was available and maintained, although checks were not always documented. Staff could recognise a deteriorating patient and knew of action to take. Patients were advised on risks related to their condition and actions to take if their condition deteriorated.

Contracts were in place to ensure the premises were maintained. Health and safety risk assessments and audits had been undertaken. Most risks identified had been addressed and the service had an action plan for those that remained. There was a business continuity plan in place which was monitored and reviewed.

The service made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff. We found training was up to date, learning needs and development of staff was managed appropriately, and staff were working within their agreed areas of competence. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

Most safe recruitment practices were followed. The service reviewed DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) checks for all staff. DBS checks are not generally transferable between organisations, and the service had accepted evidence sought by others rather than carry out their own checks. This decision had not been formally risk assessed. We raised this and shortly after the inspection received evidence of DBS checks of an appropriate level carried out by the service.

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

All staff had had relevant training. Cleaning schedules were in place and followed. Risk assessments and audits were completed, and actions taken to mitigate risks.

The clinic used a very small range of medicines, which were appropriate for the treatments provided. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

People knew what to do and who to contact if they experienced any unexpected symptoms. Staff followed protocols to ensure they prescribed all medicines safely, and ensured people received all recommended advice. Medicines were stored securely and at appropriate temperatures. Staff regularly checked the stock levels and expiry dates for all medicines, including emergency medicines. Staff stored medical gases, such as oxygen, safely and completed required safety risk assessments. The service had effective systems to manage and respond to safety alerts and medicine recalls.