Carerecruit Solutions 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 72 (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.

There were systems and procedures in place to report, record and investigate any incidents.Due to the smaller size of the service,there had not been any incidents up to our inspection.

Staff told us they felt able to raise safety concerns and were aware of how they would escalate any concerns if they needed to.

In the electronic system used by the service there was a section for adding notes about safety incidents.The registered manager told us they would immediately receive a notification if any information was added to that section.

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.

Prior to admission, people’s health and social care needs were assessed to ensure the service could meet their needs safely and effectively. Assessment information informed personalised care plans and risk assessments, providing staff with the guidance required to support people safely. This helped ensure seamless transitions into the service and promoted continuity of care.

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.

The provider had a clear and up-to-date safeguarding policy which provided staff with comprehensive guidance on recognising, preventing and reporting all forms of abuse and neglect.

Staff had completed safeguarding training and demonstrated a good understanding of their responsibilities in protecting people from harm. They were able to describe the actions they would take if they had concerns about a person’s safety. One staff member told us, “Safeguarding is recognising if people are not safe, are being harmed, or could be harmed, and reporting it.”

People and their relatives told us they felt safe receiving support from staff. A relative said, “[Person] is treated well and feels completely safe with their care staff. I trust them 100%.”

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 and their relatives told us they were involved in the planning of their care which involved managing any risks to their safety.

Risks associated with peoples’ care and support had been identified and appropriate guidance was in place to enable staff to respond safely.This guidance included information relating to the use of equipment to support peoples’ independence and safety, such as wheelchairs and walking frames. Risk assessments had been completed in areas such as falls prevention, choking risk and nutrition and hydration.

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

The provider consistently maintained safe environments for people by completing risk assessments of both internal and external areas within their homes. This helped identify and mitigate potential hazards, reducing the risk of trips, slips, and other environmental dangers.

Staff confirmed they had completed fire safety and evacuation training and demonstrated a good understanding of emergency procedures. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans were in place within each person's home, ensuring staff could respond effectively and support people safely in the event of an emergency.

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.

We saw that staff were recruited safely with suitable pre-employment checks carried out including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions which helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

Staffing rotas were in place well in advance, so staff knew exactly when they were working.Feedback from people and their relatives told us there were enough staff and they always turned up on time.

Staff confirmed they received training relevant to their roles,and refresher training was also completed.There was a training matrix in use, however this was not up to date.We discussed this with the registered manager who confirmed that it would be updated.

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 was an up-to-date policy for infection prevention and control, and training was given to staff,which included food hygiene.This was covered in the induction for all staff before they began visits to people’s homes.

Staff told us that personal protective equipment (PPE) was always readily available at their client’s homes and was replenished every month.People and their relatives confirmed appropriate PPE was always used and they observed regular hand washing by carers on arrival, when leaving and in-between tasks.

The provider did not always make sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs,capacities and preferences. Staff did not always involve people in planning.

At the time of this inspection there was only one person receiving support with medication, other clients were supported by their family members.

We found that there was no recording of when and where transdermal pain relief patches were placed or removed, only a signature on the relevant medication administration record (MAR) chart.This was addressed with the registered manager after the inspection and steps were taken to put this recording in place.

There was a medication policy in place, and we saw staff had received all relevant training including controlled drugs.

There were protocols in place for as required medications, and MAR charts were in use.