Kennores Healthcare Recruitment 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.

Incidents and accidents were consistently monitored and audited, with clear and appropriate actions taken in response. All staff attended accident and incident training, which also covered safeguarding and CQC notification processes.

The provider communicated effectively with staff, ensuring information was shared clearly, promptly, and in a manner that supported consistent understanding across the team. Staff were also supported through ongoing development opportunities.

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.

People’s needs were assessed. Before admission, support plans provided by the social worker were obtained and used to create an initial basic care plan. The registered manager then undertook an early visit to develop a comprehensive ,person centred care plan in collaboration with the person. Staff were introduced to the person to support a smooth and safe transition into the service. Family members were involved where appropriate to support continuity and ensure care reflected the person’s needs and preferences. One family member said, “It was a really good transition, we were really impressed. We met with the team for a few days prior to handover, it was a really good handover.”

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 worked with people and external partners to ensure they understood what being safe meant and how best to achieve this. Staff were able to describe examples of safeguarding concerns being appropriately raised, including liaising with external professionals and ensuring clear communication with the staff team.

A safeguarding log was maintained on the provider’s live system, and all entries were reviewed and monitored. All staff had completed safeguarding training and had read and understood the safeguarding policy. People told us they felt safe, with one person saying, “I do feel safe.”

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.

The provider ensured that risk assessments were up to date, person centred and developed in partnership with people and, where appropriate, their relatives. These assessments clearly reflected people’s’ needs, preferences and identified risks, alongside the measures in place to support safety and independence.

Family involvement was encouraged. One relative told us, “I get an update daily on their visit; if they have any concerns about health or if they’re unwell, they will let me know.”

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 completed internal environment risk assessments that were person centred and reflected people’s specific needs and circumstances.

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.

Staff received regular supervision, and appropriate recruitment checks were in place to ensure staff were safe and suitable to work with vulnerable people. Visits were delivered as scheduled, and staff told us they had enough time to meet people’s needs. One staff member said, “We have enough time; we have a companion visit for our customers. If you have to spend extra time we write this down, and we spend it if we can and cover what we need to cover.”

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.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection and ensured appropriate measures were in place to reduce the likelihood of transmission. Personal protective equipment was available both in the office and within people’s homes, and staff monitored stock levels and informed the registered manager when replenishment was required.

All staff had completed infection prevention and control training and demonstrated an understanding of safe infection control practices.

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 received their medicines as prescribed. Medication Administration Records were completed correctly, and person centred medication care plans were in place. Medicines risk assessments were completed and reflected people’s’ needs. Clear information and protocols were available and followed for as and when required medicines.

Staff received medication competency assessments, and where concerns were identified, the provider responded promptly and appropriately. For example, where concerns were identified regarding staff management of medicines, the provider ensured that staff received appropriate training and competency checks to confirm they had the necessary skills and knowledge. This demonstrated a proactive and safe approach to ensuring staff remained competent and that people were protected from avoidable harm.