Cornerstone Healthcare Services 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 people were protected from abuse and avoidableharm. This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has beenrated 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 provider had systems to investigate and analyse incidents, accidents and complaints. There had not been any incidents or complaints reported to date. However, the provider had systems to log and investigate any should this be needed. Staff told us they could make suggestions and were listened to. A staff member told us, “My manager always gives me feedback every time we have one to one meetings, or when she is doing spot checks.”

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. When people were referred to the service, the provider completed an assessment to identify how people wanted their care providing. This included discussing with people, and relatives, about their specific wishes, preferences and any other healthcare services they received

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 had systems to report and investigate safeguarding concerns. There had not been any concerns reported to date. Staff had completed safeguarding training and were confident they could raise concerns openly, if required. A staff member told us, “Although I haven't had to utilise the whistleblower protocol, I would feel comfortable doing so if I ever needed to because of the training I got and the open atmosphere at the care facility. Service users' safety has always come first, and their concerns are handled seriously.”

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. Care plans included sufficient guidance for staff to follow to help keep the person using the service safe. Where potential risks had been identified, assessments were carried out to help reduce the risk of harm. A staff member told us, “We ensure safety by carrying out risk assessments, having clear care plans, safeguarding measures, supervisions audits and encouraging communication.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. The provider completed an environmental risk assessment to help promote a safe environment for people and staff.

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. The provider ensured new staff were recruited safely. A relative confirmed staff were reliable, consistent and turned up when they were expected. Staff also confirmed staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs. A staff member told us, “There is enough staff to meet people's needs because our seniors always take care of this and the rota is also going well.”

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. The provider had policies and procedures to promote good infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Staff had completed training in IPC. A staff member told us, “I have completed training in infection control that covers essential practices like hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, and how to prevent the spread of infections.”

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. Staff had completed medicines management training and had their competency assessed. The provider regularly checked that people received their medicines correctly. Where issues were identified, management acted to prevent them happening again.