Mollie Elise Aesthetics

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

We looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

This is the first inspection for this service since its registration with CQC. This key question has been rated as good.

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 service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. There were systems to learn and make improvements when things went wrong. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The service 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 worked with other providers to deliver shared care and when patients moved between services. For example, general practice referrals for vitamin B12 treatments and referrals to other aesthetic clinics.

The clinic had a system to retain medical records in line with Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidance in the event they were to cease trading.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Safeguarding policies were in place and known to staff, who were appropriately trained in safeguarding procedures. The service had systems to record and share concerns quickly and appropriately. Contact numbers for the safeguarding lead and local authority safeguarding team were easily accessible. All staff at the service had received a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check.

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Although the service did not see acutely unwell patients, staff understood their responsibilities to manage emergencies and to recognise those in need of urgent medical attention. Staff had completed a range of training to manage medical emergencies and had access to emergency equipment. All treatments that were within scope of regulation were low risk and patients received full medical assessments to determine they were of sufficient good health to undertake the treatments. We saw the assessment contained sufficient information to determine treatment was safe, including past medical history, current medicines and allergies. Patients were advised on risks related to their condition and actions to take if their condition deteriorated.

Mollie Elise Aesthetics is located in a modern ground floor commercial building with level access throughout. All areas of the building used by patients had been renovated and refurbished to a high standard. The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Contracts were in place to ensure the premises were maintained. Health and safety risk assessments and audits had been undertaken and risks identified had been addressed. There was a business continuity plan in place which was monitored and reviewed.

The service 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.

We found training was up to date, learning needs and development of staff was managed appropriately, and staff were working within their agreed areas of competence.

All 4 nurses who provided regulated activities were registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and were up to date with revalidation. This meant they met regulatory standards and were subject to revalidation of their registration to ensure the delivery of safe and effective care and treatment to patients.

The clinician who provided regulated activities had additional specialist training relevant to the treatments they provided. They attended conferences, courses and training to keep up to date with innovations and changes within the sector. They also met regularly with a network of local peers to share experience and knowledge.

Safe recruitment practices were followed.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

We found all areas of the clinic, including all treatment rooms and patient areas visibly clean and hygienic.

The service had a designated infection, prevention and control lead and all staff had relevant training. Cleaning schedules were in place and followed. Risk assessments and audits were completed, and actions taken to mitigate risks.

The clinic used a limited range of medicines. Of the medicines used, we saw they met patient’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

There were effective systems to manage and respond to safety alerts and medicine recalls.

Of the 4 nurses, 2 were qualified independent prescribers and able to prescribe for some conditions within their competency, and one of the other nurses was currently completing their independent prescribing qualification.

Staff received regular training, and felt confident managing the storage, administration and recording of medicines. Staff managed prescription stationery appropriately and securely using an online system. Medicines were stored securely and at appropriate temperatures. Staff regularly checked the stock levels and expiry dates for all medicines, including emergency medicines.