Inspire Care Agencies Limited

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 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 RM had oversight of accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns. Incidents and accidents were investigated by the RM and any learning taken forward, including meetings with staff on a one-to-one basis or in staff meetings, if appropriate, to ensure all learning was shared to continually improve. The RM had a good overview of any accidents or incidents and used this to identify any trends and themes.
 

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.

Information was updated regularly and shared with other health professionals when appropriate, for example when people were admitted to hospital or received care from other health specialists. The RM told us they had a good relationship with the GP and district nursing team and contacted them directly when they had any concerns.
 

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.
Relatives told us they felt staff kept people safe. One said, “I feel safe with them being at [relatives name]. They are always on time, I know she is in good hands.”

Staff received safeguarding training and were able to tell us what they would do if they had a safeguarding concern. Telling us, “I can report concerns to my manager or the on-call number and also mention this is in my daily notes” and “I always call the manager if I have any concerns.”

The registered manager demonstrated a clear understanding of when to report concerns externally, for example to the local authority safeguarding team and/or CQC. Families told us staff liaised with them and kept them updated of any concerns regarding their loved one’s care.
 

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.

Detailed and concise risk assessments were included in people care records for identified risks. This included skin integrity, falls, self-neglect, social vulnerability, medicines, and other risks associated with a person’s specific mental and physical health needs. Staff told us care plans were very detailed and provided them with all the information they required when visiting people to provide care and support.

Regular reviews of care plans and risk assessments were completed. People were supported to access other health care professionals when required and any changes to people’s needs were updated promptly. For people identified at risk of self-neglect, guidance was in place to inform staff of how to best support them. This included actions to follow, for example one person could regularly decline support, the RM told us how they had worked with staff to help them get to know the person and the most effective way to respond when this occurred.
 

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 had a summary of care needs completed. This included any environmental risks related to people’s homes, for example fire risk, access to the building and use of stairs.

Some people were at risk of self-neglect which could impact negatively on maintaining a safe living environment. The registered manager and staff worked with families and other health agencies to manage this.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked well together, to provide safe care, that met people’s individual needs.

Staff had been safely recruited and received training and regular supervision. Staff told us, “I had a follow up after completing my first six months and also have received regular supervision. During my supervision they ask me questions regarding my work, how I feel, how is my colleagues. They check with me if I need any training as well. I was not very confident with hoisting, and later office arranged a practical training session on moving and handling, first aid for everyone and that was very helpful” and “Our management is providing more opportunities and training for developing our skills. I have regular spot checks from our office.”

Relatives told us staff were well trained and understood people’s needs. Staff had double up calls on the rota for people who required two care staff for safe care and moving. One person told us, “Yesterday three staff came as one is learning so they shadow if they are new.”
 

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.

Staff received infection prevention control training and had access to essential personal protective equipment (PPE). There was a store of PPE in the office which staff could access when needed. Relatives told us they were very happy and felt safe infection prevention practices were being followed.
 

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning their care and how it was provided, including when changes happened and care needed to be reviewed.

Medicines were administered by staff who were appropriately trained. Regular medicines competency checks were completed for staff. Medicines auditing was carried out to identify any issues or errors, if an error occurred, reviews were carried out immediately. People told us they were very happy with the way their medicines were managed, telling us, “Staff put cream on after their bed wash, I am happy with the way it is done, I oversee it and tell them what time and where” and “I am very happy with how medicines are handled.” Staff supported people to ensure they had enough medicines available and that these were stored safely in people’s homes.