Coghlan 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 for this service. This key question has been rated as 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 people or their relatives had about their safety and knew how to report any safety events to the registered manager. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

Processes were in place to monitor incidents, accidents, and complaints effectively. The registered manager demonstrated an openness to learn lessons when things had gone wrong and shared learning with staff. Staff reported feeling confident to raise concerns and trusted the registered manager would take appropriate action when needed.

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 during a pre-assessment meeting to ensure the provider could meet them effectively. People and their families were involved. Communication was effective when people started using the service as staff had access to clear information about their needs, wants and wishes. The registered manager had systems in place to seek advice from health and social care professionals if and when people needed it. A family member told us, “The registered manager liaised with professionals such as the discharge team when [relative] was coming out of hospital. They made sure all was set up, including change to medicines, informed us and all was put in place.”

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.

Staff were up to date with safeguarding training and demonstrated a clear understanding of forms of abuse and how to raise concerns. A staff member said, “I know the red flags to look out for such as unexplained bruising when I am caring for people, I am regular so I will know by the way they are if something is not right.” The provider reviewed and updated their safeguarding policy and procedure in line with current requirements. Family members told us they felt their relatives were safe. A family member said, “The staff advise me if they consider anything is unsafe and will keep me informed.”

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 registered manager had established effective systems to ensure risk assessments were completed, regularly reviewed and updated, with active involvement from people and their family members. Risk assessments and care plans were person-centred and tailored to individuals’ needs. Staff understood the risks to people’s safety and wellbeing. A family member said, “[Registered manager] listened patiently whilst I explained the problems we were facing and offered lots of ways to deal with them, not just by the care offered, but also by suggesting things I could put in place myself to keep my [relative] safe.” Another family member said, “Both my [relative] and I were involved in the assessment process; we consented to it.”

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 risks were clearly documented within people’s care plans. A lone working policy was in place to ensure staff could safely access people’s homes. Staff had received health and safety and fire training and told us they would always be able to contact the registered manager if they had any environmental concerns.

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.

Staffing was safe and effective. Staff received regular supervision and spot checks to assess their knowledge. Training was provided, and we spoke with the registered manager about upskilling staff in the practical way of moving and handling people. They responded immediately by booking staff on a suitable course. Staff felt supported and valued. Staff members completed an induction when they joined the service to equip them for their role.

A system was in place for cover during times of sickness and absence. A staff member told us, “I think we have enough staff. [Registered manager] is hands on and sees people too, so they get to know people as we do.”

Feedback from family members confirmed staff arrived on time and stayed for the duration of the call unless otherwise directed by them. People mostly had the same staff and staff confirmed that they visited the same people and got to know them. A family member told us, “Punctuality always - not once has there been a missed or late call, always turn up on time. It’s great not having to chase people.”

Recruitment records showed staff were recruited safely. However, we noted some gaps in staff members’ employment history. This was rectified immediately by the registered manager who gathered up to date information from the staff members concerned.

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.

Infection prevention and control measures were in place. Staff received training on how to manage infection risks and had enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for their use. Any issues identified were picked up through spot checks and talking to people and their family members and resolved quickly. A staff member said, “All PPE is okay and I have plenty.”

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 and family members were involved in decisions and reviews about their medicines and the level of support needed to manage their medicines safely. The care plans identified if people administered their own medicines with or without support and described the support required from staff to enable them to remain independent with this task.

Medicines policies, procedures and systems followed current legislation, professional guidance and relevant best practice. Staff had received training in administering medicines. Audits were completed to check that medicine management guidelines were being followed safely.