Together We 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 of 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.

Systems were in place to report accidents and incidents, but there had been no events recorded. People had access to professionals, family and friends outside of the service who they could raise concerns about safety with. Lessons learned were used to drive improvements across the service and routinely shared with staff. For example, because of feedback from an external audit, the provider held a training session with the staff team to share learning and provide clear guidance to staff.

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.

Continuity of care was maintained by ensuring staff had access to clear records. Staff were kept up to date with any changes in people’s needs. People’s needs were assessed before they started using the 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.

There were processes in place to manage safeguarding events. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood how to recognise and report poor care and abuse. Safeguarding was a regular agenda item in staff meetings and supervisions. This ensured staff’ knowledge and understanding was fully embedded. People and relatives told us they felt safe with the staff who supported them.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage most 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.

Risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing were assessed and regularly reviewed. Key risks such as fire, moving and handling and skin integrity were assessed and monitored. Staff told us they were kept up to date about any changes in people’s needs through good communication. People’s independence was routinely promoted, which meant assessments highlighted areas where people chose to take risks and gave staff the information, they required to support them appropriately.

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 in place. They provided detailed information to staff about how to keep themselves safe in people’s own homes.

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.

Safe staffing levels were in place. Safe recruitment practises were followed. This included an application form, written references, proof of identification and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. Staff received induction, training and regular supervision. Staff new to the service had the opportunity to shadow experienced staff as part of their induction. The provider carried out regular spot checks to ensure staff were performing to a good standard. The service had a dedicated training room, which included access to moving and handling equipment to support practical training. People and their relatives’ reported staff were well trained, consistent and punctual.

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.

Processes were in place to ensure people were protected from the risk of infection. Staff received training in infection prevention and control and had access to good levels of personal protective equipment. Staff standards were regularly reviewed through a schedule of spot checks by the management team.

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.

At the time of our assessment the service was not supporting anybody with their medication. However, staff received training and competency led assessments to be able to support people with their medicines should this be required.