Elite Healthcare Solutions

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 newly registered 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.

Although no incidents had occurred, the provider had a process in place to review and incidents that may occur to identify any trends, patterns and lessons learnt to reduce risks to people. There was an adverse events tracker that would be used to log accidents, incidents and safeguarding and identify any lessons learnt. The provider told us they still looked at ways they could make improvements to the service provided. They said, “[I look at] lessons learned for what I could have done better, if there's anything I could have changed.”

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.

Referrals were carefully assessed to determine whether a person’s needs could be met. The provider met with prospective people in person to ensure they felt comfortable and confident in those providing their care. One person told us, “It wasn’t too difficult at all, it was prompt, it was easy. (Provider) came round and did an assessment and looked at my house and talked through literally every aspect of my life.” The provider told us, “I will do the referral form. I will go out and assess the person first, check their needs, make sure that I can actually meet their needs. I go into a pre-assessment thinking, outside the box and I look at the options, but then I look at the long-term things.”

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 told us they were safe with staff support and trusted staff. A person told us, “I feel safe, she (the provider) is really good with me and respectful of everything really.” The provider worked with a person using the service to understand what being safe meant to them and supported them to raise concerns in ways that felt comfortable and accessible. Safeguarding systems were in place to protect people from abuse, neglect, discrimination and avoidable harm.

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 actively involved people in understanding and managing risks, ensuring care was safe and supportive. Risk assessments were person-centred, regularly reviewed, and considered physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. The provider clearly explained risks to the person using the service and supported them to make informed decisions. People were supported safely and positive risk taking was encouraged to help people become more independent.

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

Risks associated with people’s individual environments were assessed before a package of care was delivered within people’s homes. One person told us, “(The provider) checked around the house to ensure there was no clutter that I might trip over.” Comprehensive environmental assessments were completed as part of initial care planning. The provider told us, "I would look at the environment, where they are now, what support adaptations or amendments would need to be completed or in place to ensure a safe environment now and in the future."

The provider made they were sufficiently qualified, skilled and experienced to provide support to people. People told us the provider understood how to deliver care. One person told us, “I have a nightmare with my aliments and not enough research, (provider) was very understanding. There are notes on my conditions and medications that she has made me more aware of.”

People told us the care call always took place. One said, “It’s (the care visit) not stressed or pressured. She is flexible. I know she will come and is reliable and will let me know if running late. She is flexible if I have got plans.”

Given they (the provider) was the only person currently providing care, the provider told us they had contingency plans in place if they were unable to attend a care visit. They said, “I have got several options, I do have some agencies I have relationships with. So, if I wanted to, I could use the agency staff, but on the bigger scale (when the business grows), there would be bank staff coming on board as well.I am also recruiting full-time and bank staff. The individual’s partner/family member could also step in. There are robust contingency processes in place."

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 service had an infection, prevention, control (IPC) policy in place. The risk management of IPC was reflected in people's care plans. The provider told us, “I have full PPE (Protective, Personal Equipment). I wash my hands before I give medication. I do have stock in my car for, gloves, aprons, things like that for PPE. I follow good practice”.

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.

There were medication and “as and when required” protocols in place that were detailed. Medication audits were undertaken to monitor for any reoccurring themes or concerns. Medication administration records were in place and evidenced people were receiving the correct dosage of medications at the correct time. One person told us, “She (the provider) will always make sure I take my medicines.” The provider told us, “I give medication. I check before I give medication. I do have all medication in a lock box that I use.”