Enerst Care Carlisle

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 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.

The registered manager demonstrated a good understanding of relevant policies and procedures, which were provided for review. Incident and accident logs were reviewed online and contained detailed records, including actions taken following incidents. Monthly manager audits and the service improvement plan were also reviewed and were detailed, with no concerns identified.

The registered manager clearly described processes for supporting carers in the community and explained actions taken following incidents, including speaking with people where appropriate. There was a good understanding of empowering care staff to make decisions within their role.

Awareness of CQC notification requirements was demonstrated although there had been no notifications submitted during the period reviewed.

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.

The registered manager discussed the processes in place for safe systems, pathways and demonstrated a good understanding of reviewing and updating information. There was a clear focus on involving people using the service and their families in care planning and decision-making.

The involvement of other professionals was discussed, and detailed examples were provided of how staff work collaboratively with external agencies to support people effectively.

Assessments were reviewed and the registered manager demonstrated an understanding of the importance of keeping information up to date to ensure care remains safe and responsive to people's needs.

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 registered manager discussed a safeguarding concern that had been raised relating to recurrent falls at home and demonstrated a good understanding of safeguarding processes and responsibilities.

Safeguarding training records confirmed that staff were up to date with both adult and children’s safeguarding training. Enhanced safeguarding training had also been arranged for staff to complete over the coming weeks. Staff demonstrated an understanding of safeguarding procedures and were able to explain how concerns would be reported. One staff member stated, “I know how to raise a safeguarding.”

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 reviewed and demonstrated a person-centred approach to managing risk. The registered manager showed a good understanding of completing risk assessments and how they are used in practice to support safe care.

There was clear evidence of people being involved in discussions about managing their risks throughout their care, ensuring their views and preferences were considered. Risk assessments were detailed and covered a range of areas, including falls, skin integrity, and other individual risks, with appropriate control measures identified.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

An environmental risk assessment was in place and had been completed to help ensure people received care in a safe environment.

The registered manager and staff demonstrated an understanding of environmental risks and the measures in place to manage these. A lone working policy was in place, and training records confirmed that all staff were up to date with lone working training, providing assurance that staff were equipped to work safely within the community.

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.

Training records confirmed that staff training compliance was at 100%, with refresher training planned to ensure knowledge and skills remained up to date.

Task logs were reviewed and were detailed, clearly describing the care provided, including medication administration and observations. The registered manager demonstrated a good understanding of how actual and planned visits were monitored through the electronic system. The system flagged any visits that did not take place at the planned time, enabling timely oversight and follow-up.

Staff supervision and appraisal records were reviewed and confirmed that these were up to date, providing opportunities for support, performance monitoring, and development. People using the service spoke positively about staff and visit reliability. One person told us, “Yes, they arrive on time and are well trained.”

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.

Training records confirmed that all staff were up to date with mandatory training requirements. Staff also received regular spot checks, with a minimum of four completed each year in line with organisational policy. An oversight matrix was used to monitor compliance and ensure required checks were completed.

People using the service provided positive feedback about staff practices. One person told us, “Yes they do, very clean,” when asked about staff hygiene and hand washing.

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.

The registered manager and staff demonstrated a good understanding of medicines management processes. Medication competency checks were completed for staff and signed off by the registered manager to ensure staff were competent to administer medicines safely.

Training records confirmed that all relevant staff were up to date with medicines training. Medication Administration Record audits were completed regularly to monitor compliance and identify any issues requiring follow-up.

There was evidence of family involvement, where appropriate, to support safe medicines management and ensure people's preferences and needs were considered. Systems in place provided assurance that medicines were managed safely and effectively.