Agincare UK Dorchester

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.

The provider had promoted ongoing development and a learning culture. This was evidenced by the provider investigating, reviewing and responding to complaints, incidents and accidents.

People and their relatives told us staff made changes when necessary to keep them safe and well.

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.

People’s needs and care requirements were detailed within their care plans and risk assessments. A summary ‘grab sheet’ was available if the person went into hospital or moved to another service. This supported continuity of care for people.A staff member said, “The staff work closely together to ensure consistency and follow the same care plans and risk assessments. We are kept informed about any changes in a person’s needs or well-being”.

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.

Everyone we spoke with told us they, or their loved one was safe.

Staff had received training in safeguarding and were aware of their responsibilities to keep people safe. They said they would report any concerns immediately. A staff member told us, “I’ve completed safeguarding adults training and refresher training and am confident about raising any concerns.”

Management told us they were always open and transparent and promoted this ethos within the staff team.

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 to people were assessed, reviewed and managed well to ensure they remained safe. Care plans were personalised and provided sufficient guidance to staff to keep people safe. A staff member told us, “People who are at risk of falls have a moving and handling assessment done and it is in their care plan.”

Staff told us about daily tasks completed to keep people safe. These included equipment safety checks and reporting any concerns identified so these could be rectified.

The service used an electronic monitoring system, which identified if staff were running late or had not arrived at a person’s property. This minimised the risk of any support being missed and ensured a reliable service.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Records showed risks associated with a person’s environment were assessed during their initial assessment, staff told us, “Risk assessments related to the environmental safety of the person’s home are in place to ensure our safety and wellbeing”. This included adequate lighting, security of the home and any equipment used. Staff told us they completed checks to ensure the environment was safe and reported any concerns they may have. A staff member told us, “I follow the care plan and use the correct equipment to keep both the person and myself safe.”

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.

People described staff as being ‘Kind, caring, professional and smart'. One person told us, "Staff know what they’re doing and are consistent".

The registered manager told us there were sufficient numbers of staff available, that was monitored by an online care planning and staffing system and by feedback from people and staff.

Recruitment procedures were in place to ensure all necessary pre-employment checks were completed before staff began work. This included enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, which provide information about convictions and cautions held on the police national computer to support safer recruitment decisions. New staff completed a comprehensive induction and were introduced to people and worked alongside a senior member of staff. A staff member told us, ‘I had very good training and shadowing. I was introduced to each client, and I had full support from the team leader and manager.’

The electronic system highlighted when staff needed any refresher training. This ensured staff were up to date with their knowledge and skills. Staff told us they received regular training and support that enabled them to meet people’s individual needs. Comments from staff included, “I receive regular refresher training, including specific to people’s needs such as, diabetes awareness, catheter care, and dysphagia, which helps me keep my skills and knowledge up to date.”

Ongoing support for staff included scheduled supervisions and regular spot checks. Records demonstrated these meetings were meaningful, two-way discussions. Staff confirmed they understood their roles and responsibilities and knew how their work contributed to the overall quality of the service.

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.

Infection prevention and control measures included a robust infection prevention and control policy, and staff had a good understanding of this.A member of staff told us, “I had Infection prevention and control (IPC) training and I have enough supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)”.

Spot checks included whether staff were wearing the correct level of PPE for the task undertaken.

People told us staff demonstrated good infection prevention practice. They said staff regularly washed their hands and changed their personal protective clothing when required.

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.

Records showed medicines were given safely and as prescribed. The electronic monitoring system highlighted to management if people had not received their medicines. This enabled action to be taken to minimise the risk of error. A staff member told us they, “Make sure to check right time, right person, right medication, right dose, and senior staff observe me giving medication to the client on a regular basis to check I am doing it correctly.”

People told us they received their medication when they needed it. One person told us, “They [staff] do my meds for me one by one and help me.”

The service maintained effective communication with GPs and pharmacies to ensure people had access to the correct medicines at the right time. A detailed medicines policy and procedure was in place to guide staff.

Staff received regular training and told us they had, “Spot checks every three months.” This is a way of monitoring safe working practice.