Medsolve (UK) 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.

This is the first inspection of this 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. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. When accidents and incidents occurred, staff took appropriate action. The registered manager had a process in place to review incidents that occurred to identify any trends, patterns and lessons learnt and to share with staff to reduce risks to people. A staff member commented, “A debrief after the incident has happened is a standard procedure.”

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. Systems were in place to ensure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. Detailed information was collected before people started to use the service, and person-centred passports were available with information to take when attending hospital or other health appointments. Passports were also prepared to ensure people’s needs could be met, if they moved elsewhere. These documents contained important information about people’s care and communication needs, including personal details, the type of medicines people were taking, and any pre-existing health conditions. A staff member commented, “Clients have a hospital passport with all relevant information included.”

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They 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 and leaders had received safeguarding adults and safeguarding children training and knew how to raise any concerns. The service shared concerns quickly and appropriately.People and relatives told us they felt safe, they would speak with staff if they were worried, and they felt listened to. A relative commented, “I was burning out before they came to work with [Name], but I get better sleep now.”

Management had completed risk assessments for people and had put measures in place to mitigate those risks. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs which was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. A professional commented, “I work with Medsolve with 1 of my clients. They have worked collaboratively to set up comprehensive daily schedules with a high therapy element and completed the appropriate risk assessments and protocols.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Risks associated with people’s individual environments were assessed before staff started supporting people within their homes. A relative commented, “Staff have had training with the tracked ceiling hoist, and I saw they were fine using it safely with [Name].”

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. A staff member told us, "Supervisions are arranged by my manager or senior staff on a regular basis. We usually have a normal supervision with our manager and then a medical one with the clinical lead nurse."Staff received training and ongoing support from the service to carry out their roles safely. Where people required support for care such as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding (PEG) or tracheostomy care staff had received the training and had been signed off as competent to carry out this support. Staff members’ comments included, “I receive training relevant to the clients I will work with”, “We do online and practical training” and “My training is up to date.” Staff worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. A staff member told us, “There is good team work.” Rosters were managed effectively so people received care when they needed it. People received care from a reliable and consistent team. A relative commented, “[Name] has some of the same staff since they started the care package, which I like very much.” A staff member commented, “Rosters are organised 2-3 weeks in advance, so you can make plans around work.”

Safe recruitment practices were followed to help ensure people were protected from staff unsuitable to work in the care sector.

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 told us they had access to the personal protective equipment (PPE) they required, and people confirmed staff wore this when required. Staff received infection control training and competency checks. A staff member commented, “PPE is always available.”

There were policies and processes in place to ensure people received their medicines safely. Staff received training and competency checks to observe how they managed people’s medicines safely. A staff member commented, “I have done practical and online training about the safe handling of medicine. We are signed off as being competent, by our clinical lead, after 3 assessments and they have witnessed us dispensing medicine.” Staff ensured medicines were reviewed if people’s needs changed, and in line with ‘Stopping over medication of people with a learning disability and autistic people (STOMP).