Aspire Care Services - East London

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 as 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.

Records showed incidents were investigated promptly, with learning identified and shared through supervision and team meetings. Actions included refresher training, increased monitoring and updates to care documentation.

Staff understood how to report incidents, accidents and concerns and were confident these would be reviewed and acted upon.

The service had a policy for staff to follow when things go wrong, and we saw there was an incident form template to use should staff need to report accidents and incidents. The registered manager demonstrated a good understanding of how to respond to any such incidents.

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.

Systems were in place to capture information as part of the pre-assessment process to determine if the service could support people safely. This included speaking with the referring agency, the person and their relatives where possible.

We saw that pre-assessment had been completed and used to record key information about people’s support and care needs to determine the support required. This information was then used to create care plans based on people’s preferences and choices on the support they required. The registered manager told us, where possible, people had the same care workers to ensure relationships were built so people received continuity of care.

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.

People, and their relatives, told us they felt safe. A relative said, “Yes, [person] is safe.”

A safeguarding policy was in place that detailed the types of abuse and how to escalate concerns if staff suspected or saw abuse to ensure people were protected. A safeguarding care plan was in place with risk assessments that detailed people’s background and on how to keep people safe.

People told us that they felt safe when supported by staff. A person told us, “I am very happy with the carers. I can’t fault them; I feel very safe in their care. I have no concerns with the care I receive now.” A staff member commented, “Yes, people are happy here and well cared for.”

Staff knew about safeguarding processes and had received training in this area. Staff told us that they received safeguarding training. A staff member told us, “I have been trained on safeguarding. Safeguarding means protecting people to ensure their safety, free from abuse and neglect. Protect them from harm. If I see this, first thing I will do is call the office, my superiors and make sure people are safe. It is my duty to make sure people are safe.”

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.

Risks associated with people had been identified and guidance was in place for staff to ensure they responded appropriately. This included where people required equipment to maintain their safety, for example, a shower stool or mobility aid.People typically had falls risk assessments and skin integrity risk assessments in place. A person told us, “My carers are brilliant. In fact, they are the best people and are helping me get better. I have 2 regular carers who are nice people who will do anything I want them to.”

Staff were aware of what was needed to maintain people’s safety. A staff member said, “(Person) will use their frame during personal care and will sit on a perching stool during personal care and shower.”

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 risk assessments in relation to the person’s home environment to indicate if there were any possible risks and how to reduce them. Environmental risk assessments included checks on any equipment used, cleaning products used and other possible risks.

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 completed the Care Certificate training. The Care Certificate is a set of 16 mandatory standards for healthcare and social care support workers in the UK, developed by Skills for Care, Skills for Health, and NHS England. Systems were in place that showed the training staff had completed and the dates the training were completed to ensure management oversight. A staff member told us, “I have been trained in my role to do my job. It is helpful.”

Staff also received spot checks to check if they were competent in their roles. Welfare checks were carried out on people to get feedback on people’s views on staff approach and delivery of care, which formed part of staff supervisions. A staff member told us, “I get regular supervision, spot checks and observations to make sure I am doing well in my role. Company keeps everything up to date.”

People told us staff arrived on time and stayed the full time they expected, only leaving slightly earlier if there was nothing more they needed. People said they had not experienced missed calls. Comments included, “[Person] and I are so happy with the carers. They are fantastic, wonderful. [Person] has one carer four times a day. They arrive on time and stay the full duration. [Person] feels very safe with them” and “I have a lovely lady who comes in twice a week, Tuesday and Friday. She is a regular carer.” People we spoke with confirmed staff had time to chat and socialise with them.

There were robust and safe recruitment practices to make sure that all staff were suitably experienced, competent and able to carry out their role. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks were carried out. These provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

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 confirmed they had completed training in infection prevention and control and demonstrated a good understanding of the measures to manage and prevent the spread of infection.The provider had a policy on infection prevention and control to provide guidance to staff in this area. Staff were provided with personal protective equipment [PPE].

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.

Medicines were recorded using an electronic medication administration record (EMAR) system, which enabled medication records to be integrated into each person's daily log on the digital care planning system.

The service had contingency arrangements in place in the event of a technology failure. This was evidenced by printed copies of medication records that were stored both in people's homes and at the office.

Staff told us they had received the appropriate training and were confident in administering medicines to people, when required. The provider had effective medicine management systems. For example, staff had received training in medicines administration and there were relevant up to date policies in place.