Thames Homecare- Barnet

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 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 promoted a positive learning culture where safety was prioritised. Staff felt confident to raise concerns and understood their responsibility to report safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

Staff told us they felt confident to raise any issues or concerns to leaders and they knew they would be listened to. Records showed accidents and incidents were reported promptly, records included details of referrals and actions taken and there was manager and provider oversight of these. The manager analysed incident information to identify patterns and trends and used this learning to make improvements. Lessons learned were shared with staff at team meetings. This supported continuous improvement and safer outcomes for people.

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.

Staff and leaders had a good working relationship with partner organisations such as local authorities. The registered manager organised care and support with people, together with staff, relatives and partners in ways that ensured continuity. Staff knew people well and were able to share information about them with confidence. One person told us, “I was involved in my assessment, and they [the provider] asked me at the time what I wanted,” and a relative said, “I was involved all the way through [relatives’] referral process right from the start.”

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.

Records showed safeguarding concerns and other safety issues were reported in a timely manner. People told us they felt safe with the staff supporting them and said they knew how to raise concerns about their safety. A person said, “Yes, I do feel safe. I have a regular, reliable carer and have not had to ever raise any concerns.” Staff received regular safeguarding training and were knowledgeable about how to recognise and report abuse. A staff member told us, “I have been on this training, [abuse] could be neglect of someone’s care by a staff member, or financial abuse by a family member, friend or even emotional abuse, ” another said, “Always provide an environment of trust and openness with the person, so that they would let you know if anything is not right.”

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.

The service kept care records and updated them with any changes to risks and needs. This included risks to people's individual safety, well-being and environmental risks. These assessments generated plans that guided staff on how to support people against ongoing risks. Some people required staff to use equipment to move them safely. The provider had a system in place to ensure the equipment had all relevant checks and was safe to use. Staff said they helped people stay as independent as possible while keeping them safe. Staff were aware of people’s risk assessments and felt they could confidently support people safely.

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

People were cared for in their own homes. The provider had environmental safety assessments in place to identify any potential risks in the person’s own home which may have a potential impact on the person or their care staff. Any potential environmental concerns were discussed with the person receiving care, as the provider was mindful it was the person’s own home.

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.

The registered manager had an effective programme of appropriate staff training in place, and staff told us they received the training they needed to support people safely. Staff were provided with additional information via staff meetings and supervision. Staff told us they felt supported by the management team and had regular spot checks and supervisions. One person told us, “They [staff] are well trained and I think they would know what to do if I did fall during their visits.” Recruitment procedures were in place, so people were cared for by suitably qualified staff who had been assessed as safe to work with people.

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.

There were policies and procedures in place which guided staff on the actions required to prevent the spread of infection. Staff received training in infection prevention and control and told us personal protective equipment (PPE) was readily available to them. A person told us, “They [staff] wash hands first before any meal prep and wear the appropriate PPE. I am very happy with my carers,” another said, “Staff wear gloves when needed and change them regularly depending on what they are doing for me.”

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.

Staff were trained to administer medicines. Staff had to undertake training before they could administer medicines and received competency checks to ensure they administered medicines safely. The provider had systems in place to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed and any concerns with medicines were flagged on their electronic systems. People told us, “They [staff] give me my meds and that is recorded in my file,” and “Staff prompt me to take my meds and write it up in a log.”