Hedgerow Homecare

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.

There was a learning culture at the service. Staff reported and recorded accidents, incidents and adverse events. Managers investigated these and made improvements to the service when needed. For example, improving guidance or training, reviewing care plans and liaising with people and their representatives.

People told us the agency apologised when things went wrong and consulted with them.

Managers analysed any themes or common events. They used learning from these to help develop plans to improve the service.

There were safe systems to support pathways and transitions between services. Managers worked closely with external professionals to assess people’s needs before they started using the service. They reviewed care plans to ensure these were suitable. The registered manager told us they did not accept referrals for a person if they did not have the staff resources or skills to meet their needs.

Managers made timely referrals to others when they identified people needed additional support. They supported people when they were discharged or admitted to hospital to make sure others involved in their care understood their needs.

People and their relatives confirmed they were well supported with transitions between different services and that the agency helped communicate their needs with others.

There were systems to help safeguard people from the risk of abuse. The staff undertook training to understand how to recognise and report abuse. They were able to explain this to us. People and their relatives felt care was safe and that concerns would be investigated and acted on.

The provider worked with external agencies to investigate safeguarding concerns and to help reduce the risks of avoidable harm.

Risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were assessed and planned for. Managers discussed these with people using the service and their relatives. They supported people to make choices and take risks when they were able to, and this was their choice. They helped people think about ways to mitigate risks. Risk assessments and plans were regularly reviewed and updated. Staff undertook training to understand about safe care. For example, how to support people to move and how to use the equipment people needed. Managers assessed staff’s skills and competencies to make sure they were providing safe care.

People and their relatives explained risks were well managed. A relative commented, “[Person] has complex needs and the agency understand these. The care workers are excellent. There is never a problem.”

The provider helped to ensure people were cared for in safe environments. Managers assessed people’s home environments. When they identified risk, they liaised with the person, their relatives and others to make sure these could be mitigated.

There were enough suitable staff employed to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People were cared for by the same regular staff. They told us staff arrived on time. They were not rushed. People felt staff had good skills and cared for them well. Comments from people included, “Carers are well trained and proactive. There are no rushed calls”, “They turn up on time and stay the correct length of time” and “All the care worker are good. It is exceptional continuity of care.”

There were systems to ensure staff were safely recruited. These included checks on their identity, experience, knowledge and attitude. New staff completed inductions which included training and further opportunities for managers to assess their competencies. Staff had regular training updates and supervision meetings with managers.

There were systems to help prevent and control infection. Staff undertook training to understand about good infection control. They told us they had ample supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). Managers carried out spot checks to observe staff. As part of these checks, they assessed staff compliance with infection prevention and control procedures. People told us staff followed good hygiene practices and always washed their hands. Comments from people included, “They keep very clean, use gloves and wash their hands” and “They are clean and wear gloves.”

People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. Staff completed training to understand about safe medicines management. Managers assessed their skills and competencies. Staff completed records to show when medicines had been administered. The provider checked these.

People using the service and their relatives told us they were happy with medicines support. The provider assessed people’s needs and risks associated with medicines. They liaised with doctors and other healthcare professionals to discuss people’s medicines. Managers investigated medicines incidents and made changes when improvements were needed.