Care South Home Care Services Dorset

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 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.

People told us staff worked to keep them safe, and relatives confirmed this.

Staff confirmed they felt they could raise concerns with the registered manager and felt actions would be taken if required. One staff member said, “I would speak to the person on call, but if I was still worried, I would go to the local authority and CQC.” Another staff member told us, “I’ve never had to report anything, but I know the registered manager would deal with it properly.”

The service had a robust system in place to ensure learning from incidents, accidents and complaints was shared with all staff. This was done to prevent recurrence and with a view to driving improvement in the service.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed and monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

Records confirmed people were supported with referrals to healthcare professionals when required.

Staff and the registered manager told us they had effective, working relationships with external professionals to ensure people’s needs were met.

The service used an electronic care planning system. This meant when people’s

information was updated; this was instant and available to all staff. The service ensured paper-based records were available in people’s homes in case of an emergency hospital admission.

Health and social care professionals were complimentary about the service. A professional said, “The service is clear on its responsibilities in relations to delivering a quality service for people and their families/ carers.The service communicates effectively and responds to requests for escalation and is responsive.”

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

People and their relatives told us they knew how to raise any issues and were confident they would be listened to.

Staff told us they thought people were safe receiving care from the service. Comments included, “I believe people are safe because as the carers we assess the situation, follow protocols and communicate effectively.” Another staff member told us, “People are safe, they are treated with dignity and respect in their own homes each time I visit them. There are established lines of communication between people and the service.”

Records confirmed staff received training in safeguarding and the provider had an up-to-date safeguarding policy in place.

The service had clear procedures in place to ensure safeguarding concerns were reported to the local authority quickly and in line with local and national policies. This meant people were kept safe by trained staff who knew how to report concerns, follow clear procedures, and act quickly to protect individuals from harm.

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 confirmed they were involved in planning and organising their care.

Staff understood and were knowledgeable about people’s health conditions and the risks around their safety and wellbeing. Risk assessments were completed to identify risks associated with care provision such as medicine management and manual handling.

Risk assessments and care plans were regularly reviewed and updated using the providers electronic system. This meant any changes were immediately accessible to staff.

The service was fully aware of all potential risks in the care environment and controlled them well.

Risks associated with a person’s home environment were assessed before staff started supporting people in their homes. This included areas such as trip hazards, poor external lighting, and household pets. Records showed control measures were considered and documented for staff’s awareness.

Staff confirmed they could contact the office regarding any environmental changes in people’s homes. A staff member told us they had noticed that a person was struggling with their equipment which was no longer suitable for them. The staff member contacted the office, and new equipment was ordered and delivered to the person’s home within a couple of days.

Records confirmed the service worked closely with external professionals to ensure people had access to the right equipment. This had a positive impact on people’s quality of life.

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.

Staff training was in place to ensure staff had the necessary skills to do their job. Records showed staff received ongoing supervision in their role and their performance was regularly checked.

Staff told us they liked their jobs and felt supported by the management. One staff member said, “Every year we do all the training, which is thorough, and even though a lot of it is just repeating, I still manage to always learn something new or a different way of doing it.” Another staff member told us, “We get regular breaks. All the visits are planned, and we are given enough time to travel without any pressure. I feel valued and respected. The team and management team are always supportive and willing to give me advice if there is something l need.”

Staff were recruited safely, and recruitment records reflected this. Procedures were in place to ensure the required checks were carried out on staff before they commenced their employment. This included enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for adults. DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the police national computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading.

People and their relatives told us staff worked in a safe and hygienic way.

Infection prevention and control procedures were in place, in line with the providers policy. This was checked during competency assessments.

Staff confirmed they had access to Personal Protective Equipment. Records showed staff completed their infection prevention and control training.

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.

People told us they received support with their medicines as requested and this was discussed with them prior to commencing their care.

Records showed staff had completed medicines related training and had regular competency assessments to support safe management and administration of medicines.

Medicines were recorded on an electronic system which provided a live record of administration. This meant changes to people’s medicines were implemented immediately and visible to all relevant staff.

Information on people’s medicine allergies was clearly documented to ensure staff awareness. The provider had effective medicine management systems in place and audited medicine administration charts.This supported safe delivery of care.