SCA Care

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 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 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 demonstrated how they identified, reported and investigated reportable events to promote a culture of continuous learning, which was then embedded into practice. This was confirmed by staff, for example, a member of staff commented, “I have raised complaints in the past and these have been resolved and things changed for the better”.

The service 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 required support from external agencies. The provider had systems in place to ensure continuity of care when accessing support from external agencies, which staff we spoke to confirmed. For example, records detailed a variety of external health and social care professionals had frequently been involved or consulted with during care reviews and health matters which was confirmed by feedback we received. This meant people received joined up care when accessing external agencies.

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. The provider and staff understood their responsibilities to keep people safe and demonstrated the processes in place in the event of a safeguarding concern. For example, a member of staff commented, “My understanding of safeguarding is noticing and acting upon an unsafe situation if it's mentally physically financially or emotionally, how often it happens and helping report to the most appropriate people, with the client as the priority”.

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. People were involved in their care planning and managing any risks. People’s care plans were written in consultation with them and with their consent. The management team recorded and monitored risks through their quality assurance process. People’s risks were reviewed and updated in their care plans and risk assessments as people's needs changed.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Any concerns with equipment were reported to the management team or appropriate person for further action.

The service 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. Recruitment was robust and pre-employment checks were in place prior to an applicant commencing their employment. An induction was completed by all new staff members. Staff received regular training in line with their job role and they were provided with additional information via staff meetings and supervision. Comments from staff included, “Yes, we do have enough staff. We had a few that left recently but the management have recruited more carers” and “We have regular training, mainly online and sometimes face to face. We also have supervisions every 2 months where we get to have our say and I feel listened to”.

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. People and their relatives confirmed staff had access to and used personal protective equipment (PPE) when required. The provider was effective in assessing and managing the risk of infection and followed local and national guidance to ensure people and staff were protected as much as possible. Staff were aware of good hygiene protocols, and we saw examples in care plans of how certain equipment should be cleaned and stored. Staff had received training in food hygiene and infection control.

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Staff told us they felt well trained and confident to support people to receive their medicines safely. Staff received medication training, and their competency was checked to ensure they understood the requirements for the safe administration of medicines. The staff team were proactive at reporting any changes to people’s medicines promptly.