Freedom Home Care 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. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 69 (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 but records relating to accidents and incidents needed to be improved to make sure they accurately reflected the incident. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

There were appropriate incident recording policies and procedures in place. Staff recorded accidents and incidents but needed to ensure that records were accurate and documented if staff were present at the time of incidents. For example, staff had recorded a person had been found on the floor, but it was unclear if they were in the person’s property at the time. In another record staff had ticked to indicate a poor moving and handling technique had been used, but the record said the person had been found on the floor by their spouse. Although incident forms were reviewed by the registered manager, this had not been identified as an issue.

The lessons learned section of the accident/incident report was completed even when staff had not been in attendance at the time of the incident. For example, when a person had tripped when staff were not present, a note had been made to remind staff to make sure the floor was free of clutter.

Detailed assessments were completed before commencement of care packages to make sure important information about people’s needs was collected.

Managers worked closely with health and social care professionals to make sure safe systems of care were maintained. For example, they attended multi-disciplinary meetings for 2 of the people they supported to make sure information about the person was shared with health and social care professionals. A health care professional told us, “Freedom Homecare provides clear and efficient information during follow-ups and reviews, which supports the delivery of safe and effective care. They have always demonstrated a strong commitment to working collaboratively to find the best solutions for both clients and carers, ensuring that care is delivered safely and in line with best practice. Their approach reflects a genuine dedication to person-centred care and professional partnership.”

Staff told us they would help people prepare for planned hospital stays and would share relevant information to make sure people continued to have their needs met.

We saw an example of the service supporting a family to deal with their relative’s unsafe discharge from hospital.

There was a safeguarding policy in place and this was being followed. The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities and safeguarding referrals had been made appropriately.

The employee handbook included the safeguarding policy along with detailed information about different forms of abuse and the action staff need to take if they suspected someone was at risk. The nominated individual had the lead role in safeguarding for the service.

Staff were very clear in their understanding of safeguarding and what they needed to do if they thought someone was at risk.

Whistleblowing procedures were clearly explained in the employee handbook.

Everyone we spoke with felt they, or their relative received safe care. One person told us, “Of course I’m safe, these carers are smashing.”

Risks to care were well assessed and planned for. For example, risks linked to safe moving and handling and skin integrity were identified, and action plans put in place which were detailed, and included how people liked to be supported.

Staff told us they read risk assessments and understood the risks to people’s health and how to mitigate them.

The registered manager conducted environmental risk assessments and made sure staff knew how to use equipment safely. Risk assessments were also completed to ensure the safety of staff when working on their own.

Staff were given full information about safety when working alone in the employee handbook.

Staff were recruited safely although the provider needed to make sure 2 appropriate references were in place for each staff member.

Staff received an induction and shadowed more experienced staff until they felt confident to work alone. Some induction and probationary period records needed updating.

The employee handbook covered all areas of induction and information about the role.

Staff received appropriate on-line and face to face practical training. Competencies were checked through supervision, and spot checks were conducted whilst delivering care. Staff spoke very positively about their inductions and training and a person who used the service told us, “Staff must be well trained as they know all the answers to my questions,” whilst another described them as “Very competent.”

Staff said there were enough of them to meet the needs of people using the service. One said, “There are always enough staff unless there is sickness, and then office staff will cover.”

There were appropriate policies and procedures to minimise the risk of infection, and these were included in the employee handbook.

Care plans and care notes reflected how infection control was managed.

Staff said there were plentiful supplies of gloves and aprons and people told us staff used these when delivering care and disposed of them appropriately. They said staff respected their homes and always left them clean and tidy.

Medicines were managed safely. Care plans for people’s medicines were in place even when staff did not give support in this area. The care plans detailed who supported the person with their medicines, who was responsible for ordering them, how they were disposed of and the issuing pharmacy.

Where topical medicines such as creams were used, a body map was in place to show where the cream should be applied.

Staff received training in managing medicines and their competency in this area was checked regularly. Staff understood the importance of medicines being given at the times they were prescribed.