Mace Homecare Service Ltd

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. The rating has improved from requires improvement to good during this assessment. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to safe care and treatment. Improvements were found at this assessment and the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation. The provider had taken action to ensure appropriate risk assessments were in place to help keep people safe.

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.

There was a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff were vigilant about people’s safety and reported concerns appropriately. Lessons were learnt to help identify and embed good practice.

Accidents and incidents were monitored. Trends and patterns were identified to help mitigate future risks.

Staff told us they were confident to raise concerns, and felt the registered manager would take action as required. Feedback was shared with staff to help make improvements.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. Systems were in place to ensure people transitioned to the service safely and all relevant up to date paperwork had been completed. The management team visited people prior to them commencing the service and checked everything was in place to safely begin their support. People told us they were informed and involved in their care and support planning.

Staff felt able to report concerns and raise issues about people’s safety. They were also confident, their concerns would be listened to and acted upon by the registered manager.

The provider focused on supporting people to remain safe. Safeguarding procedures were in place and safeguarding concerns were documented. 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.

Training records showed staff had completed safeguarding training. Staff told us they were able to report concerns to the registered manager and would not hesitate to do so. They were confident the registered manager would take appropriate actions to protect people from harm.

A person we spoke with told us they felt safe in the presence of care staff. A relative told us, “[My family member] is safe with care staff.”

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.

Our previous inspection found a breach of regulation in relation to risk assessments. Potential risks to people’s safety were not always assessed appropriately and risk assessments did not always detail measures in place to help reduce risks.

During this assessment, we found the provider had made significant improvement to risk management. The registered manager told us, “Our top priority is to focus on people’s safety. We have completely overhaled risk assessments and care plans since the last inspection. We review documents to ensure risk is being is picked up and documented.”

Risks associated with people's care and support had been identified and managed to keep people safe. Risk assessments were in place for areas of risk such as the environment, falls and medicines. The level of risk was assessed and kept under review. Care plans were completed giving details of how to manage the risk and controls that were in place to do so.

The provider took proactive steps to detect and control risks in the care environment. An assessment of people’s home environment was carried out to help mitigate risks. Environmental risk assessments were reviewed to assess whether anything had changed.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. Staff received training and support to carry out their role effectively. Staff felt supported and said the registered manager was approachable.

There was a safe recruitment process in place to help ensure suitable staff were employed. Checks on the suitability of potential staff were completed. This included obtaining references and checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The DBS helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and help prevent unsuitable people from working in care services.

Records showed that staff had received training in areas relevant to their roles. Staff received supervision sessions and yearly appraisals. These provided staff with an opportunity to discuss their performance, professional development and ways the registered manager could support them in their role.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. An infection prevention and control (IPC) policy was in place and guided staff in reducing cross infections. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was readily available to staff.

People and relatives told us care staff followed infection control processes, including washing their hands, keeping people’s home’s clean and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Staff had completed training about infection prevention and control.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. Staff received training and support to carry out their role effectively. Staff felt supported and said the registered manager was approachable.

There was a safe recruitment process in place to help ensure suitable staff were employed. Checks on the suitability of potential staff were completed. This included obtaining references and checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The DBS helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and help prevent unsuitable people from working in care services.

Records showed that staff had received training in areas relevant to their roles. Staff received supervision sessions and yearly appraisals. These provided staff with an opportunity to discuss their performance, professional development and ways the registered manager could support them in their role.