Guardian Homecare (Blackpool)

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 as good. At this assessment the rating remains 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.

Guardian Homecare had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. The management team listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported any safety events.

Records showed accidents and incidents were recorded, investigated and regularly reviewed to help identify any themes or trends which could affect people’s on-going health and safety in their home.Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The management team worked with people, social care and healthcare partners to design, establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed and monitored. We received positive feedback from people who received a service from Guardian Home Care.

People told us they received an efficient and timely service from good staff. They felt information was gathered at the beginning of the commencement of service and this helped to provide a better service. One person said, “From the start we have had a very good service. They asked a lot of questions, and it helped give a better knowledge of my issues and what I wanted. They are always on time, couldn’t do without them.”

The management team worked well with people and healthcare partners to fully understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They had a clear focus on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. Records showed the management team kept clear records of any safeguarding issues and where appropriate, reported them to the relevant authorities. Relatives told us their loved ones were safe and cared for. For example, one relative said, “We certainly have peace of mind knowing Guardian are popping in daily they have a great staff team.”

The management team and staff worked well with people and their families to fully understand and manage risks. We found they provided care that met people’s needs and was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. A relative told us, “The staff understand [relative] and provide the care that is effective. They are very competent when using the hoist and it works well, and we feel safe in their hands.” Staff told us they received information in people’s care plans which helped them understand how to help people.A staff member said, “The care plans are really good and always available in people’s houses.” Care plans were in place to manage identified risks and reflected people’s choices and individual needs.

The staff and management team at Guardian Home Care were aware of potential risks when assessing people in their own homes. Records looked at confirmed risk assessments were carried out to identify risks relating to people’s homes and there were management plans in place to minimise the risk. For example, the risk assessments we saw included identification of fire risks, and information for staff on what was in place to reduce the risk such as smoke detectors. Other information included access to the property, equipment in place and domestic hygiene risks.Staff told us they were made aware of risks to people and themselves from people’s homes, including information on when people had pets or equipment in the home.

The management team made sure there were always enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received thorough support, supervision and strong development opportunities. They worked together to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

In general people and relatives told us staff arrived at the required times for the calls. However, on a few occasions this was not always the case. A relative told us, “They nearly always come on time, now and then a bit late, but they are so good, and I couldn’t live without them. “ Another person said, “ Always come on time and I need them a lot, the staff do a wonderful job for me to keep me in my home.” The management team had a check in system for staff to record in on arrival at the calls, which meant they could monitor if staff had not arrived on time to a call and take action to address this. People and their relatives told us staff always stayed for the duration of the calls and often longer if needed at times. The provider had a system in place to monitor the call duration, and we saw staff were often staying longer in calls. Staff received training and this was updated regularly. People and relatives told us they felt staff had the skills to support them. Staff told us they had regular opportunities to get support and supervision. Records showed staff received training, an induction and regular meetings with the management team to discuss their progress and development. The management team had a recruitment policy in place which supported safe recruitment practice, which they followed when recruiting staff. One staff member said, “I had a really good induction, and all my checks were done before I started.”

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for safe.

The management team ensured medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences.

Medicines were managed by staff who had been trained and had their competency assessed. Staff we spoke with confirmed only trained staff managed medicines. Staff also made sure medicines were stored safely within their own homes. In addition, staff helped people with reordering and disposing of used medicines. People were supported to self-administer their own medicines if it was appropriate. The management team had oversight of medicine administration and conducted regular audits to ensure safe practice.