- Homecare service
Be Caring Sheffield
Assessment report published 22 July 2025
Contents
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
People were safe. People’s care records provided information for staff to know how to care for people safely. People knew who to talk to if something went wrong.
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.
Learning culture
People knew who to raise concerns with and where this process had been followed people were satisfied with the outcome.
Leaders and staff were committed to a culture of learning and continuous improvement. Accident and incidents were analysed and lessons learned recorded and shared to develop best practice and promote safety.
An initial risk assessment was completed which included an assessment of the internal and external environment.
Safe systems, pathways and transitions
People were (mostly) involved in their assessment before beginning their care with Be Caring Sheffield. People had a copy of their care plan in their home.
The provider had introduced a review of all new people to the service, this ensured their needs had been accurately identified and were being met.
The provider met regularly with professional partners to review concerns, identify what was going well and opportunities for improvement.
The provider implemented a detailed assessment procedure to ensure people's risks were known.
Safeguarding
Not everyone was involved in the review of their care or had contact with the office. People did not have a rota and did not know which staff to expect in their home to support them. Not everyone accessed their care records via the app, one person told us they did not use the internet, another person’s family accessed the app.
Staff received training and ongoing support to be able to recognise and report signs of abuse. Where concerns were logged by staff these were followed up and and recorded as per the provider policy.
The provider implemented systems and processes to ensure people were protected from abuse.
Involving people to manage risks
The support a person required to maintain a safe home environment was included in each person's care plan. Care staff implemented systems to record and report any issues identified by people or themselves.
The provider implemented systems to involve people to identify and manage areas of risk in their lives. Staff received training and support to meet people's individual needs.
The provider implemented person centred risk assessments to involve people as fully as possible in identifying their care needs.
Safe environments
People were involved in the provider assessment of their home environment.
The support a person required to maintain a safe home environment was included in each person's care plan. Care staff implemented systems to record and report any issues identified by people or themselves.
An initial risk assessment was completed by the provider which included an assessment of the internal and external environment.
Safe and effective staffing
Most people thought staff had received appropriate training to be able to help keep people safe. Some people told us calls were not always at the time agreed. Not everyone had raised these concerns with the provider to be addressed.
Staff were supported by the provider systems and processes to feel confident and competent in their roles. Potential personal development opportunities were identified with individual staff.
The provider implemented robust recruitment and staff development procedures to develop a stable and competent workforce.
Infection prevention and control
People were safe, no concerns were raised in relation to effective infection prevention and control practices.
Individual care records prompted staff to follow best practice and good hygiene procedures to reduce the risk of contamination. Staff spot checks by leaders recorded staff demonstrating correct hand hygiene practices.
The provider implemented systems to ensure staff followed best infection prevention and control practice guidance.
Medicines optimisation
People who we spoke with managed their own medicines.
Where required, medicine administration records identified time critical medicines to ensure these were administered within the tolerance window. Themes of potential unsafe medicine management in services were identified by the provider and acted on by supporting and training staff to improve.
The provider implemented systems to promote safe medicine management, including daily compliance checks, spot checks and audits. A monthly quality review was carried out in Be Caring services where issues were identified and then shared with staff.