Creative Support – Brent Services

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

Rating: Good

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.

Staff told us they felt confident to raise any issues or concerns to leaders and they knew they would be listened to. The registered manager created a positive culture of openness and transparency. Incidents were investigated and learned from, to minimise the risk of it happening again. The provider had an accident and incidents log in place to continually identify and embed good practice. Staff told us team meetings were completed and any lessons learnt were discussed to improve practice.

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.

Staff and leaders had a good working relationship with partner organisations such as local authorities. The registered manager organised care and support with people, together with staff, relatives and partners in ways that ensured continuity. Staff knew people well and were able to share information about them with confidence. One relative told us, “Transition was carried out by social care, it was quite quick really all done within a month. We all went to visit this place [relative] included, and we had meetings with the manager and staff.”

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 were protected from the risk of abuse or neglect. Staff were trained in safeguarding adults and children, and they had a good understanding of how to escalate concerns. Leaders worked closely with the local authority and CQC in sharing safeguarding concerns. One relative told us, “There are enough staff to look after [relative] safely.” People told us they felt they could speak to staff if they had any concerns and felt safe in their flats.

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 completed relevant risk assessments in relation to people’s care. This included risks to people's individual safety, well-being and environmental risks. These assessments generated plans that guided staff on how to support people against ongoing risks. Some people required staff to use equipment to move them safely. The provider had a system in place to ensure the equipment had all relevant checks and was safe to use. Staff were aware of people’s risk assessments and felt they could confidently support people safely.

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

An assessment of people’s home environment was always completed before they moved in and received care, so any identified risks such as needed repairs were known and mitigated. Processes were in place to monitor the environment, and any equipment used to support people.

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.

Recruitment procedures were in place, so people were cared for by suitably qualified staff who had been assessed as safe to work with people. Staff received regular training in line with their job role, and they were provided with additional information via staff meetings and supervision. Staff told us they felt supported by the management team and had regular spot checks and supervisions. We reviewed staff training which showed staff had the skills and knowledge in place to support people. One relative told us, " Staff are hoist trained, and I have no reason to think that the staff are not trained to look after 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.

The provider had a policy in relation to infection control and staff told us they had adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) in place. A relative told us, " [Relative’s]home is always clean and smells nice. Staff wear PPE, gloves and aprons when doing personal care.” Staff had training in food safety and infection control.

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.

The provider had procedures in place to support people with their medicines. Staff completed training and had their competency checked to ensure they understood the requirements for the safe administration of medicines. People’s medicines administration records were accurately completed. One staff member told us, “When supporting with medication, I tell the person what I am about to do and check the medicine administration record carefully so that I am giving the right medication to the right person, and record accurately.”