Unicorn Healthcare 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

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question Inadequate. The service was no longer in breach of legal regulation 12 in relation to people’s safe care and treatment, and safe staffing. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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 recorded so the registered manager could review them and take any necessary action. The records included details of referrals and actions taken. The registered manager confirmed these were discussed with staff during supervision, team meetings, or as a one to one. This helped the service identify required improvements and prevent similar events from happening again.

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. The management team worked with health and social care professionals to keep care plans accurate. We found that plans for using equipment to help people move safely did not always give staff enough guidance. The registered manager acted during the assessment to improve these. Staff had supported a person during a discharge from hospital to provide reassurance and familiarity.

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.Whilst staff were trained in safeguarding and knew what to report, the provider’s internal system to manage referrals was not used effectively. The registered manager reviewed their systems following our feedback.

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. Risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were assessed and plans created to manage them. The service kept care records, daily logs, and handovers updated with any changes to risks and needs. Staff said they helped people stay as independent as possible while keeping them safe. Staff received training in health and safety and moving and handling. Managers checked staff skills through spot checks, supervision, and audits. Managers and staff regularly reviewed risk assessments with people and their relatives, who confirmed they were involved.The service had recently supported a person to achieve their personal mobility goals.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Risk assessments and care plans were in place to ensure that care was safe and tailored to people's needs.This included liaising with social workers, district nurses, or police to mitigate specific risks for each person. The service kept details of each client’s equipment, including serial numbers and service due dates. A reminder for the next service date was recorded to ensure this was completed on time. Staff checked equipment before using it to support people. A relative told us " They are good, they know exactly how it works and what to do.”

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. The provider followed its recruitment policy. This ensured staff were safely recruited and had the right skills and experience. A scheduling system was used to plan and monitor care visits. This recorded actual start and finish times to make sure people received care as planned. The system also helped maintain continuity by tracking staff deployment. All staff completed eLearning and face-to-face training to enable them to support people effectively. For example, catheter training. The training matrix showed staff training was up to date. The management team made sure that staff were able to contact them at all times. A person told us they were notified if the carers were running late, saying "They always let me know.”

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. Staff completed infection control training. They said they ordered PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) through an app, and the management team delivered the supplies. One person told us, “They wear masks if they have a sniffle, wear gloves and aprons, and wash their hands between tasks.”

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 service helped people manage their own medicines when it was safe to do so. Staff completed medication training, and the registered manager carried out competency and spot checks with staff. This oversight made sure people received their medication as prescribed. The registered manager checked details with people's doctors to make sure care plans and medicines records were updated with changes. Audits were completed to monitor safety and good practice.