J.C.Michael Groups Ltd Southend

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 is the first assessment for this newly registered 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 had systems in place to follow when raising any accidents or safety concerns. The registered manager fully investigated any concerns raised and shared learning from these with staff to keep people safe. We saw where people needed additional equipment to keep them safe such as bed rails, the registered manager contacted the appropriate services to have assessment completed and equipment supplied.

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. Before the service took on any new care packages, they first completed an assessment to ensure they could meet people’s needs safely. This included receiving information from other health professionals involved in the person’s care and completing and discussing with the person and family members where appropriate how they wished to be supported. In addition, the registered manager checked they had the correct staffing in place and could meet the call time requirements needed. One family member told us, “I was involved in setting up the care plan and it is reviewed every 3 months.”

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. Staff had received training in safeguarding people and ‘whistle blowing’ and felt confident to safeguard people and raise concerns. One member of staff said, “Safeguarding is about protecting vulnerable people from abuse or harm. If I suspected any abuse, I would report this to the office who would raise with social services.”
People told us they felt safe being support by the service. One person said, “I feel I am safe and I have mostly regular care workers.”
The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. The registered manager raised any safeguarding concerns with the local authority and worked with them to investigate these fully to keep people safe. Safeguarding notifications were raised to the CQC appropriately by the provider.
 

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. Staff had the information they needed to support people to manage risks. Care plans and risk assessments were kept up to date and contained information to support staff to mitigate risks to people. For example, risk assessments identified how to support people safely who may be at risk of injury from falling or developing pressure sores.
Physical health risks were identified in care plans with mitigation in place to support people to manage these conditions 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. When people first started using the service an assessment of the environment was completed to help staff support people safely. For example, where staff identified a home did not have a smoke alarm, they approached family to have one fitted. Any equipment being used was identified in care plans with guidance for staff to follow.

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.
People told us they were supported by a regular team of carers, and they were given choice over the gender of carers providing their support. One person said, “I feel safe with my carers, they are well trained. They arrive on time and I have never had a missed call.” A relative said, “They have all lady carers no men and they treat them with respect.”
The registered manager was completing employment checks before staff began working at the service. This including obtaining references, right to work and up to date disclosure and barring checks (DBS). DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer and help employers make safer recruitment decisions.
Staff told us they were given an induction to the service which included working with experienced members of staff to shadow care shifts before they started delivering care. Staff underwent training before they started work and this included yearly refresher training. One member of staff said, “The office lets us know when our training is due.” Staff new to care were supported to complete the care certificate an industry recognised set of standards aimed at equipping staff with the knowledge they need to provide safe care. The provider also supported staff to develop their skills with national recognised qualifications. One member of staff said, “I have just started an NVQ level 3 and I previously completed a mentorship program with the provider.”
All staff were supported with 1:1 supervision at regular intervals and spot checks were completed of their work to ensure they were maintaining standards.
 

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 had received training in IPC and told us they had access to personal protective equipment when they needed it. One person told us, “The staff wear gloves and they wash their hands before making my food.”

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff had systems in place to support people with their medicines this included electronic medication administration records. These records could be monitored by the office and if not completed this would be highlighted to office to follow up with the care workers. Audits were in place to identify and address any issues with medicines. Staff received training in medicine administration and had their competency checked to do so.