Olive Tree Domiciliary 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 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.

Staff completed accident and incident forms when required and used email to inform the registered manager. Incidents were reviewed and monitored to capture themes and trends. An example included noting the times when 1 person was most likely to experience a seizure, and this meant staff knew to avoid certain activities at these times.

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.

Following referrals from the local authority, the registered manager commenced a thorough pre-admission assessment to build up knowledge and understanding about people’s needs and preferences. People’s goals and aspirations were considered, and matching of staff to make sure staff with complementary skills and interests supported people. The service linked in with partners such as special educational needs teams to gain important information about people’s routines, and situations that may cause people to experience anxiety or distress.

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.

Staff completed safeguarding training and knew how to report concerns. The registered manager worked with the local authority effectively and raised safeguarding referrals when required. Safeguarding referrals and outcomes were collated in a folder in the office and monitored to ensure recommendations from investigations were implemented.

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.

Risk assessments were completed and reviewed regularly. Staff had good knowledge about people’s risks, and what may trigger someone to experience anxiety or distress. Staff documented when these situations occurred to inform reviews about people’s care, health and wellbeing.

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 registered manager conducted environmental risk assessments considering issues such as lone working, pets and outside lighting. People had personalised plans about what support they would need in the event of a fire. Where people used wheelchairs, staff undertook daily visual checks to make sure equipment was safe and in good working order.

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.

Staff were recruited using safe processes, with checks made for example references and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Staff completed thorough inductions and were observed undertaking different tasks before being signed off as safe to work independently. Compliance rates for relevant training was high, and people commented they thought staff seemed well trained.

Some people told us there were recent staffing difficulties, 1 relative said, “It is stressful when there are staff shortages and I don’t get told what is happening.” However the registered manager informed people when there were any changes which people appreciated.

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 understood principles about minimising the risk of the spread of infection. They undertook training in kitchen hygiene, and the registered manager conducted hand hygiene audits. Staff had access to protective clothing such as aprons and gloves, and hand gels.

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 was guidance for staff about how to support people with their medicines, including when people had medicines ‘as and when required’. For example, for 1 person that was prescribed a medicine to treat anxiety, guidance informed staff about the right time and circumstances to administer. Staff signed to say they administered medicines according to people’s prescriptions. Staff recorded the dates they opened medicines such as topical cream and recorded when they should be discarded. Regular medicine audits were conducted to make sure any gaps in practice were identified and addressed.