Your Own Home Care

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 good. At this assessment the rating has remained 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 management team demonstrated a positive learning culture, where staff were encouraged to reflect on their practice. The registered manager had systems to identify, review and learn from incidents that happened in the service. We looked at their processes and whilst there had not been any recent incidents there was effective procedures to share learning from incidents and reduce risks to support better outcomes for people in the service.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, the registered manager made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

Staff demonstrated awareness of the importance of coordinated and safe care pathways. Where needed, the registered manager made timely referrals and worked alongside other health care professionals ensuring people’s needs were consistently met. Family members told us they felt assured if people’s need changed the registered manager was very “good at getting health care support”.

Before starting care, staff were introduced to people by a member of the management team. This allowed essential information about the person’s health, care needs and preferences to be shared, and helped ensure staff were a good match for the person.

The registered manager worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Relatives told us they felt their loved one were safe. They had not had to raise any safeguarding concerns. However, staff had received safeguarding training and knew how to report concerns. One staff member told us, “Safeguarding is discussed in team meetings, and we talk to the manager if we have concerns.

There was appropriate risk assessment in place to mitigate the risk of harm. Staff delivered care that was safe, supporting and enabling people to do the things that mattered to them. People and their relatives told us that staff understood their needs and managed risks to their safety. Overwhelmingly relatives told us they felt their loved ones were receiving safe care.

Records showed that risks to people’s safety had been identified and assessed, with appropriate plans in place to minimise these risks.

The registered manager identified and managed possible risks within the care environments. Both internal and external risk assessments were carried out during the initial evaluation of people’s homes to confirm safety for care staff. Staff carried out regular spot checks to ensure the environment remained safe. When staff noticed any hazards or safety concerns, relevant information was provided so they could continue to deliver safe care. For those using specific equipment, staff received detailed instructions to guide their support.

The registered manager made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to safely meet people’s needs. People told us staff were reliable and came on time and stayed the required length of time, family members also said staff were supportive in an emergency.

Staff rostering was well managed to ensure people received their care and support at an agreed time and to provide staff with adequate travel time between visits. The rostering system provided alerts in the event of issues or delays.

Recruitment checks were completed to ensure staff were fit and safe to work before completing a thorough induction, core training and supervised shifts. Staff also had regular meaningful supervision sessions to support them to deliver safe care.

The registered manager assessed and managed the risk of infection.Care plans directed staff to use personal protective equipment (PPE) where appropriate for tasks identified within care plans. Staff confirmed they had completed training and always had access to sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and relatives told us staff always had worn PPE.

The registered manager made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff always involved people in planning, including when changes happened. In most cases medication was in prepared boxes and all information regarding medicines was included in people’s care plans. People who were on time critical medication received their medicine safely. Staff supporting medication had received training and had their competency assessed each year.