SureCare Gateshead Also known as Tyne and Wear Care Services Ltd

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 acted on these. There had been no incidents and accidents reported, however the provider had policies and procedures to deal with any future incidents.

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. People’s needs had been assessed prior to receiving care, this enabled the provider to determine whether they could meet people’s needs appropriately.

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. There had been no safeguarding concerns raised, however the provider had the relevant safeguarding policies and procedures. Staff had also completed safeguarding training. Staff confirmed they were confident to raise concerns. People and relatives consistently told us they felt safe with staff. A person said, “I feel very safe, they take great care to prevent accidents.” Staff had been trained on the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), however these did not currently affect people using the service.

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. Care plans and risk assessments were detailed and personalised, including information about people’s preferences. Relatives were involved in planning and regular reviews of support.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Environmental risk assessments and checklists had been completed to identify hazards in people’s homes to help ensure premises remained 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. People told us staff were usually on time and reliable. New staff were recruited safely. Staff received the training and support they needed for their role.

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 completed infection prevention and control training. A staff member said, “I have received training in infection control, including hand hygiene and personal preventative equipment (PPE) use.”

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. People received their medicines appropriately. Staff had completed training and had their competency to administer medication assessed. Staff also carried out medicines audits, which were effective in identifying and addressing issues.