Guardian Homecare (Tatton Gardens)

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 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.

Performance reports were completed, which analysed all areas across the service, including accidents and incidents, medication and medicine administration. An action plan was then created where areas of learning and improvement could be made.

There was a clear culture of learning from events and staff were able to share recent lessons learned. Staff meetings were held where themes of lessons learned were shared and any learning shared across the team. The provider produced information sheets on subjects they had found through analysis staff needed to have an update on. Recently there was a falls update and keeping hydrated in the hot weather. This ensured risks were identified before an incident happened and staff were all equipment with the knowledge; they needed to minimise risks.

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 manager attended monthly joint approval panel meetings. This is a meeting to discuss people that have made an application to Guardian Homecare (Tatton Gardens) and assess their suitability for the extra care facility. People’s needs are assessed and a joint decision is made along with the housing provider.

People said that they experienced a smooth process when moving into the service and families were involved in the care planning where needed. This ensured that people’s needs were captured. To ease the transition process the manager visited people prior to moving. People and families were able to visit prior to moving in to become familiar with the surroundings. Individual needs assessments were provided when people were referred to the service, which helped determine the suitability of the location.

Appropriate and timely referrals were made to other health professionals and services when needed. This ensured that people received the care they needed. Heath passports were in place to share with health care teams when people needed to attend hospital to ensure that important information was shared.

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.

People and their relatives said the service was safe. One person said, “I feel safe here, there is always someone to help.” And a family member said, “It is very comforting to us as a family to have [relative] here and know that [relative] is safe and well cared for.”

Staff had access to policies and procedures, as well as training, helping to guide them in areas such as safeguarding adults, whistleblowing and accident and incident reporting. Any updates to these policies or procedures were accessible to staff on the mobile app. This enabled staff to instantly be aware of any changes.

Staff were able to demonstrate their understanding of safeguarding procedures and action required if they had any concerns. Staff told us they would report any issues to management. One staff member told us, “I am confident they [managers] will act on information. We get feedback, and it is then discussed in team meetings too.”

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.

A review of records showed assessments included areas of potential risk and the use of equipment. People’s care records were personalised and provided information about their needs and wishes.

Staff knew what to do in the event of an emergency. In relation to fire safety, we saw personal emergency evacuation plans were in place to help staff evacuate people in an emergency. People had risk assessments in place that were being regularly reviewed and updated when needed.

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 worked in partnership with the housing provider responsible for the upkeep of the properties. People said staff provided support to keep their homes and equipment safe.

The call system was being fixed as this had been identified as not working. This was maintained by the housing provider; Guardian Homecare (Tatton Gardens) had put safety measures in place to ensure people could contact staff through the phone during the time this system was not working.

People lived in their own apartments and were assessed for equipment when a need had been identified. A person told us they had recently been experiencing falls due to knee pain, and the manager had arranged for them to have an assessment for mobility equipment. They had now been provided with equipment to manage the risk of falls.

The environment was clean and tidy, and the communal areas were accessible to all.

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.

A programme of training and support was in place, which was confirmed by staff. We were told, “The training's been good, and I have the skills I need to care for the people here I have had training in catheter care.”

People had visits timetabled throughout the hours of 8am – 10 pm. There was one member of staff onsite during the night to respond to emergencies. If people were assessed as needed support from two members of staff during the night time hours this would be looked at as part of the persons individual care package.

Staff said they felt supported by each other and management. One staff member said, “I can raise any concerns with the manager and would be supported.” People said staff had the skills to care for them. One relative said, “The staff have the skills needed and provide good care to my relative.”

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.

Systems were in place to promote good hygiene standards. Relevant training and policies and procedures were available to guide staff in areas such as health and safety, food hygiene, and infection control. Staff said they had access to personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and aprons.

The provider made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

Not everyone required support with their prescribed medicines. Some people required prompts to take their medication. The support people required was clearly documented in their care plans. One person said, “I self-medicate. I know what I am doing. They always ask if I have taken them.”

Staff had received training in medicines administration and received regular supervisions. Audits of medicine records were taking place. Medicines were kept in peoples’ apartments in secure locked cupboards when staff were to administer. Care plans clearly documented where medicine was kept and keys for cupboards had to be signed out and in at the main office to ensure no unauthorised access.

Regular medicine reviews were taking place by a medical professional.

The provider had identified improvements were needed in the area of documentation of ‘as required’ medicine. This was not always documented on the medicine administration record, in line with the providers policy. Staff had received extra training to ensure documentation was improved and no gaps in medication administration recording were identified.