Right at Home South Trafford

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 78 (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 demonstrated a strong learning culture through robust systems for recording, analysing, and learning from incidents. Incidents were reviewed in depth, with contributing factors such as environmental hazards, changes in people’s health or mobility, and cognitive needs considered to ensure a holistic approach to preventing recurrence.

Staff understood how to report incidents and described an open, honest environment where they felt confident raising concerns with leaders. Relatives confirmed they were informed promptly about any incidents and the strategies put in place to reduce future risks, reflecting a transparent and improvement‑focused culture. A staff member told us, “If an incident or accident was to occur, I would report to the office straight away. I would document the incident or accident on an incident form and in the client’s daily records.”

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.

The provider had effective systems in place to ensure people experienced safe and well‑coordinated care across their care journeys. Staff worked collaboratively with a range of health and social care professionals, and people who had multiple partners involved in their care told us this worked very well. Safety was prioritised, with a strong awareness of risks at each stage of people’s pathways, including referrals, admissions, discharge and transitions between services.

Risks were identified and managed proactively, and the effectiveness of these processes was monitored to maintain people’s safety. Care and support were planned with people and their representatives, alongside external partners and community services, to promote continuity and ensure that any transitions were well‑organised.

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.

Safeguarding was central to the way the provider delivered care and support. Staff explained, there were clear communication channels and well‑established processes for escalating any concerns promptly. There had been no safeguarding concerns raised in the 12 months prior to the inspection. A staff member told us, “My job is to ensure the safety and well-being of our clients. I have a duty to report abuse.”

People and their relatives told us they understood how to report safeguarding issues, and staff were confident in the referral procedures and in sharing concerns with leaders or external agencies. An on‑call system operated 24 hours a day to ensure urgent safeguarding or safety concerns could be addressed without delay. The provider also prioritised the safety of staff and promoted a zero‑tolerance approach to abuse towards anyone receiving care or working for Right at Home South Trafford. A relative told us, “[Name] would be able to say if they wasn’t happy with the carers and none of that has happened, so we are confident they feel safe with them.”

People were supported in ways that upheld their rights, and they demonstrated an understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. Staff told us, if they noted any changes to a person’s capacity, they would report it to a leader.

The provider always worked well with people to fully understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care that fully met people’s needs and was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

The provider involved people actively in managing risks and took a proactive approach to identifying, assessing and reducing potential harm. A comprehensive falls‑prevention programme had been introduced in response to an increase in falls, which included enhanced carer training in safe mobility, transfers and recognising early signs of deterioration. People and their relatives were given a falls‑prevention factsheet covering safe footwear, appropriate use of mobility aids and home safety measures. These actions contributed to a reduction in avoidable falls and helped prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. One person told us, “I wear a pendent (a safety device worn to detect falls) and I actually feel very secure when they (staff) are here because of their eyes and ears.” Another person described they have limited mobility and staff were supportive in ensuring they felt safe while being supported. They told us, “I learned not to take risks. A combination of not taking risk, losing confidence and getting on to a stairlift I am very nervous, and [staff] is very aware of this and gave me suitable equipment to get on to the stairlift.”

Risks to people’s skin integrity were closely monitored, with daily skin checks and clearly documented pressure‑relieving measures shared with care staff. Any early signs of skin deterioration were escalated promptly to local health partners.

Detailed mobility assessments were in place, capturing every aspect of the moving and handling process, including environmental checks, correct equipment positioning and people’s personal preferences, such as explaining each step and ensuring comfort. A staff member told us, “The care plans and risk assessments give instructions about client’s needs, any possible risks and the steps I should take to reduce the risks.”

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’s homes were assessed to ensure they were safe for both individuals and staff, with consideration given to fire safety, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and specific risks such as the use of paraffin‑based emollients, which were supported by detailed risk assessments

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 were recruited safely, with all appropriate pre‑employment checks completed before they began working for the organisation. New staff received a structured induction and ongoing training to ensure they had the skills and confidence to carry out their roles effectively. A staff member told us, “The training courses I have completed is very important because it has given me the knowledge and skills, I need to support people safely in their own homes.”

Supervisions and competency checks supported continuous development and maintained safe practice. Staff were also encouraged to progress their knowledge through formal qualifications such as Health and Social Care diplomas. A staff member told us, “I feel I am supported in my training and do get asked regularly if I want to learn anything new. Supervisions are great for if I need advice or more training.” A person supported by the provider told us, “Certainly. They know what they are doing. I used to work for Social Services and had care staff under my direction so know what to look for. I would get straight on to the office. No, I have not needed to do that.”

The provider had established links with a local hospital, enabling staff to access additional training and support in delivering more complex clinical care.

People received support from a regular and consistent staff team. People and relatives confirmed the staff arrived at the agreed times and they were able to access the portal to check timing. Any delays in visits had been communicated. People told us, “They have the portal and you can see what time they are coming. When the carer was a few minutes late, she stayed a few minutes later.” and “I have never been let down once. They phone if they are going to be late or delayed. If it’s longer, they send me an email. Communication is okay. They do stay agreed time. They will do other things as well. They do whatever I ask.”

People support and staff confirmed they were provided with introductions to each other. A staff member told us, “When I started, I had a new client who had dementia, my manager met me at the visit, introduced me and shadowed me, guiding me and offering me hints and tips, I was nervous, but she made me feel comfortable.”

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

People told us staff supported them in ways that promoted good infection prevention and control, helping them feel safe in their own homes. Staff were familiar with the provider’s infection control policies and understood how to respond to common infection risks such as coughs, colds, diarrhoea and vomiting. They had access to appropriate personal protective equipment and used it correctly to reduce the spread of infection. Staff described clear processes for escalating concerns about infection promptly, ensuring people received timely advice or medical support when needed.

People reported staff always carry personal protective equipment with them. One person said, “They bring their own and I have seen aprons and gloves.”

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.

An assessment was completed to understand the support people required to manage their medicines safely. Any medicines support was recorded in care plans and staff were provided with training and competency checks of their ability to administer medicines safely. A staff member told us, “My competence was last checked during a care call. This involved being observed while I administered the medication to ensure I was following the correct procedures.”

Where people wished to maintain their own independence in the management of medicines, staff had set reminders for people to take their medication using an Amazon Alexa or an iPad. One person told us, staff do check they had taken their medicines.