B & S Healthcare Limited

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.

The registered manager told us there had not been any significant accidents or incidents, safeguarding allegations or complaints received. People, their relatives and staff we spoke with also confirmed this.

The registered manager had systems in place to capture any incidents, accidents and safeguarding allegations. This included looking at any themes and learning. Learning was shared with staff through regular communication, handovers and during individual supervision sessions.

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.

The registered manager completed assessments to ensure B and S Healthcare Limited were able to meet people’s needs before they were accepted by the service. The person, their representatives and health and social care professionals were involved. Care plans were created to provide staff with clear guidance about people’s care and support needs.

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.

There were clear policies and procedures to guide staff on their roles and responsibilities to keep people safe and report where they had concerns in respect of allegations of abuse.

There had been no safeguarding concerns involving people that were receiving personal care. The registered manager gave an example where they had raised concerns with the local authority for a person that was not receiving a regulated activity. It was evident they were passionate about people receiving care that was free from discrimination, bully and harassment and keeping people safe. Systems were in place to record, investigate and capture any learning and actions taken to minimise further risk to the person.

Staff confirmed they knew what to do in the event of an allegation of abuse being made. All staff completed safeguarding training, which was refreshed annually. Staff were aware of the reporting process for allegations of abuse and were confident that the registered manager would deal with any concerns promptly.

People using the service and their relatives received a service user guide when they first started using the service this included the contact details for the local authority safeguard team. This enabled them to raise concerns directly with the local authority safeguard team.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA). When people receive care and treatment in their own homes an application must be made to the Court of Protection for them to authorise people to be deprived of their liberty where they lack mental capacity. At the time of the assessment there was no one subject to a Court of Protection.

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.

The registered manager assessed and identified risks to people’s safety. This involved the person and their representative. People’s care plans clearly described any risks whether that was with their mobility, health care needs or their environment and how they were to be supported to manage those risks. Staff described how they enabled the person to undertake tasks for themselves whilst remaining safe. Risk assessments and management plans were reviewed at regular intervals and updated according to reflect any changes in people’s needs. Staff felt confident to raise any concerns and changes to people’s care needs.

The registered manager provided training for staff to understand their role in keeping people safe such as moving and handling, first aid, falls awareness, food hygiene and health and safety training.

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 risk assessments were completed to ensure people were able to live safely and receive care in their own home. As a result, risks within the home were identified early and appropriate actions were taken to reduce the likelihood of harm. The registered manager told us they were working with people and staff to gather information on how staff could turn off the water, gas and electricity supply within people’s homes in the event of an emergency. This was because this was missing in people’s environmental risk assessment.

Managers worked in partnership with people, their relatives and, where necessary, other professionals to ensure the right equipment and adaptations were in place. This enabled people to be supported safely, maintain their independence, and experience improved comfort and wellbeing. A person told us, “100% safe in their care.”

The senior management team completed spot checks which provided them oversight of people’s living environments. This approach meant that emerging health and safety risks were promptly identified and addressed, contributing to safer care delivery and positive outcomes for people. Staff felt confident to raise any concerns about the care and support and said these would be addressed straight away.

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.

People received care and support from consistent staff. A person told us, “They have never missed a call. The carer is a regular one and when she is not available another one comes who is also a regular replacement. This provides good continuity.”

The registered manager told us there had been no missed visits. The registered manager and the office staff supported people where there was staff absence such as sickness. There was an electronic monitoring system to check staff punctuality and ensured staff stayed for the full amount of time.

The provider safely recruited staff, and relevant checks were carried out before new staff started working at the service. This included criminal record and employment checks to confirm staff were suitable to care for vulnerable people.

People were supported by staff who had an induction that included shadowing more experienced staff, ongoing training and formal competency checks. Staff new to care completed the care certificate as part of their induction. The Care Certificate isa set of 15–16 foundational standards for health and social care workers in England, ensuring they possess the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to provide compassionate, safe care. The senior management team were monitoring ongoing compliance to training and following up with staff to ensure training was completed.

Feedback from people was positive about the staff that supported them. Comments included, “They are well trained and professional; a good team,” and “I am very happy with my carers who arrive on time and stay the full call time. I have 1 carer twice a day, usually a regular one.”

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.

Staff confirmed they had completed infection control training and always had access to supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, aprons and hand gel. Staff collected PPE from the head office. Policies and procedures were in place to guide staff. Spot checks were completed to ensure staff were following the policies and procedures and not putting people at risk.

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 robust medicines policies and procedures aligned with national guidance to support safe practice. People’s care plans clearly detailed the support they required to manage their medicines, and records confirmed medicines were administered safely and in line with their prescriptions. An electronic recording system was used to record medication administration. This would alert the office if medicines were missed enabling them to promptly follow this up with the member of staff and the person.

Staff were trained in safe medicines administration, demonstrated good knowledge and understanding, and were assessed as competent. Systems were in place to ensure medicines training was refreshed and staff competency reassessed as required.