GO Care Ltd

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 provider’s processes were thorough, up to date and enabled learning from incidents where people may have been put at risk. This promoted people’s safety as a priority whilst not limiting their choices and empowered them to take acceptable risks. A staff member told us, “We meet regularly to discuss complaints and concerns and look into improving the support we provide to service users.”

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.

A person told us the service involved them and other health care professionals when they started to receive care and support. As a result, the transition went smoothly because they got to know them so things would be familiar to them. Staff and leaders demonstrated good knowledge of referring to external professionals when needed. There was an up-to-date policy regarding referral, assessment, and commencement of service.

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. Care staff received training and guidance around referring any concerns to the appropriate authorities. A care staff said, “If there was anything of concern, I would document it and tell my manager. If it is serious I would call the police and the CQC.” People who used the service told us that they were safe with staff and the organisation. A person said, “I am extremely safe with the carers and the leadership.”

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.

People who used the service had clear, detailed and specific risk assessments and risk management plans. These had been developed with people, their relatives external professionals which ensured that they were person specific. Risk assessments were reviewed annually or as and when there were changes to people’s needs. People said they were fully involved in this process. A person said, “We talk about risk when the manager visits and I can also discuss this with my regular carer.”

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

Environmental risk assessments were carried out as part of the initial assessment of care. These also included assessments and checks of equipment, so it was safe to use with people who used the service.

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 service had enough staff, to support people’s needs. The registered manager said, “We regularly review if people’s needs changed and would use additional staff if needed.” Staff were capable and professional and adapted their approach to individual people’s needs. Systems were in place to ensure there were suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. The provider followed safer recruitment practices and ensured all prospective staff were employed based on their competencies and thorough recruitment checks people were protected from unsuitable staff. There was an induction programme for new staff including face to face training, shadowing more experienced staff and competency checks.

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 were aware of their responsibilities to detect and control the risk of infection. They were knowledgeable about infection control procedures and had received training in how to manage cleanliness and report any issues of concern. There was a supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the service for staff to use. A person said, “Staff take hygiene seriously, they always wear gloves and wash their hands in between tasks.”

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. People were supported to receive their medicines safely. Staff received medicines training, and their competency was checked regularly to ensure good practice was followed. Regular checks were completed of the medicine's records. We reviewed these records, and found people had their medicines administered safely and in line with the prescribing instructions. The staff we spoke with reported they felt well supported by the provider’s policy and training. They were confident to administer people’s medicines.

Processes and policies ensured medicines were given in line with best practice guidance and appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe management, use and oversight of medicines.