Aegys Smart Care

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 requires improvement. At this assessment the provider had made improvements and was no longer in breach of regulation relating to fit and proper persons employed. The rating has changed to 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 an accident and incident policy and procedures in place and staff knew how to report accidents and incidents. Staff completed accidents and incidents records, in which the provider included lessons learned and the action taken to make improvements. The provider carried out regular audits of accidents and incidents.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was monitored and managed. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. The provider had a policy and procedures in place for new packages of care and communication with other agencies to make sure information was properly shared to ensure safe pathways and transitions.

The provider worked with people to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. The provider had a safeguarding policy and procedures in place. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse and the provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

A person’s relative told us, “[Family member] is very safe.”

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks. They carried out risk assessments with people and their care plans included clear instructions for staff about how to manage risks safely. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

The provider risk assessed people’s homes to support the delivery of safe care, this identified hazards and health and safety concerns, including fire safety. This meant staff were aware of the risks and how to manage them.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, and they received effective support, supervision and development. Staff training included ‘The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism’.Staff worked well together to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. The provider monitored the start and end times of people’s care calls by collecting data. The information showed people had received their care and support on time and staff had stayed with them for the full duration of their care call.The provider used safe recruitment procedures, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, when employing new staff. Their recruitment process included improved procedures for obtaining previous employment references and carrying out risk assessments for staff when satisfactory references could not be obtained.A person’s relative said, “They [staff] are trained to the highest standard” and “They know how things are done.” They also told us, “The manager does spot checks, she checks up on her staff, and we speak on the phone.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading. They had an infection prevention and control policy and procedures in place and staff used and disposed of PPE appropriately.

A person’s relative said, “We are always well stocked with PPE, and the office will bring more if we are running out.”

The provider made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. The provider had a medicines administration policy and procedures in place and staff had completed medicines training. People received their medicines as prescribed.

A person’s relative told us, “They give [family member] medication, and if anything changes, they call their office and let them know.”