HTR Care and 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 was 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 69 (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 systems to help staff learn when things went wrong. Staff knew how to report and record accidents, incidents and complaints. These were investigated by the management team. Staff told us they discussed learning in meetings with the registered manager. A relative explained that improvements were made when they raised a concern. They said, “The manager did not ignore me. They provided training for staff and the situation improved.”

The provider had systems for safe pathways and transitions. The registered manager met with people to carry out assessments. They discussed their needs with them, relatives and other professionals to make sure they could provide safe care. Staff liaised with other healthcare professionals to discuss people’s needs.

The provider had policies and procedures for safeguarding people from abuse. Staff undertook training about these. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. Information about safeguarding was shared with staff, people who used the service and relatives. There had not been any safeguarding concerns. However, the registered manager and other staff explained they had dealt with these when working for other care providers in the past. They told us they had worked with the local authority and helped to protect people from further harm.

The provider carried out risk assessments, but these were not always detailed. The written plans to manage risk were basic. Staff working with people knew them well and worked alongside family members. Relatives confirmed risks were well managed and mitigated. However, failure to record personalised risk management plans could increase the risk of people receiving unsafe care. We discussed this with the management team. They showed us a template for risk assessments which they explained they would use going forward. This provided a better structure for recording details about the risks and how these would be managed.

Staff undertook training so they understood how to provide safe care.

The provider carried out checks on the safety of people’s home environment. However, they had not always recorded these. We discussed this with the management team, and they agreed that they would make sure these were fully recorded in the future. The registered manager told us they discussed any environmental risks with people’s relatives. Staff undertook training to understand about the equipment people used.

There were enough staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. As well as the registered homecare service, the agency was also a recruitment service supplying care workers to care homes. This meant they had a large pool of staff who could support people when needed. Relatives confirmed people were supported by a small group of familiar staff who regularly worked with them. Staff arrived on time. Comments from relatives included, “[Person] likes the carers. We have the same team who come each day” and “The carers are really good. There are no issues with punctuality.”

The provider had systems to ensure suitable staff were recruited. These included a range of checks and a formal interview. New staff completed training and an induction. Managers assessed their skills and competencies. Staff had regular training updates, meetings with their manager and appraisals of their work.

The provider had procedures for preventing and controlling infections. Staff undertook training to understand about these. Staff were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE). Relatives told us staff washed their hands, used PPE and followed good hygiene practices.

At the time of our assessment, the agency was not supporting anyone with their medicines. There were procedures to ensure these would be managed safely. Staff undertook training about safe medicines management.