Standard Care Limited

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 Requires improvement. 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. The provider had thorough, up to date processes that enabled learning from incidents where people may have been put at risk. This promoted people’s safety as a priority, whilst not limiting their choices and empowered them to take acceptable risks. A staff member told us, “We discuss, and learn from when things don’t go completely to plan.”

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. Up to date processes, and systems were followed, enabling continuity of safe care, and joined up working. Relationships with healthcare professionals were established to promote and maintain people’s safety. The provider's policies, procedures, and processes were in line with current, relevant legislation.

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. The provider had efficient safeguarding policies, procedures and processes that followed current, relevant legislation. The systems demonstrated safety concerns were reported to the registered manager, recorded, monitored frequently, and raised with appropriate bodies in a timely way. Where appropriate, people and those important to them were involved in this process and informed about what action would be taken to keep people safe. One person told us, “They asked me what made me feel safe.”

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 were assessed, and there were up to date care plans in place to help staff prevent or minimise identified risks. This meant staff had up to date information about the action they should take to manage these risks and keep people safe. The systems also enabled, and supported staff to report concerns, incidents, and accidents in a timely way, minimise risks, and avoid them being repeated. The management team completed regular audits and care plans were updated if new risks were identified. A relative said, “[Person using the service] has a routine, and staff enable them to follow it safely.”

The provider detected and assessed potential risks in people’s homes. These included equipment, facilities and technology that supported safe care delivery. Staff followed appropriate processes, which meant identified risks, and hazards were controlled and people using the service, and staff were kept safe.

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 staff recruitment process was thorough, and records demonstrated it was followed, and regularly reviewed. Staff received comprehensive training that was based on the Skills for Care 'Common Induction Standards’. They form part of the Care Certificate which is an agreed set of standards that define the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social sectors. Disciplinary and capability processes were fair and regularly reviewed to ensure there was no disadvantage based on any specific protected equality characteristics. A relative told us, “[Person using the service] has built up a good rapport with [Staff member] and they do what is needed, in a kind, friendly way.”

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’s systems

were efficient, and staff followed appropriate infection control procedures, which helped keep everybody safe.

The provider ensured that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities, and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Processes were followed, recorded and audited. Medicines Administration Records (MARs) were checked to make sure they were completed properly and field co-ordinators carried out spot checks, phone calls to people using the service, and welfare monitoring visits.