Everycare Hastings

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 good. At this assessment the rating has remained 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 management team encouraged staff to be open and honest and to report any accidents, incidents or concerns that occurred. Systems to record these were in place and staff described how a digital application was now used to record any concern. They also always spoke to a member of the management team. The recording system allowed for documented actions and a review by the managers to ensure appropriate action was taken and followed up with any learning taken on board.

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 were fully assessed before a package of care was agreed and this took account of specific care needs and staffing requirements. The registered manager ensured appropriate arrangements were in place to support safe transitions from hospital. For example, working closely with health professionals who were able to support the provision of extra equipment for safe care at home.

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.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe with the staff attending. “I feel very safe with the staff they are all good people.” Staff had received training on safeguarding and had a good understanding how signs of abuse may present. They raised any concern quickly and the registered manager reported safeguarding issues to the local authority as required. For example, raising concerns around support and care provided by other agencies that were falling short of expected standards.

The registered manager worked with staff and other agencies to protect people and their rights. For example, working as people’s advocate, negotiating with families and the local authority in situations where they may not be heard, this included ensuring people had appropriate care to meet their increasing needs.

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.

People’s risks were assessed with people and their relatives. Although risks were known and mostly recorded along with action to take to reduce these risks, not all risks were translated into the care plans. For example, risks associated with health conditions including Diabetes. This was raised with the registered manager who addressed this shortfall and confirmed care plans would be reviewed to reflect all risks more clearly. Staff attending to people knew them well and responded to presenting risks appropriately. For example, one staff member told, “I know they can fall so I walk with them and support them when we go for a walk.”

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

A full assessment of the home environment was completed before a package of care was agreed. This included an assessment of risks to people and to the staff attending. For example, risks associated with lighting inside and outside of the home was assessed as well as any pets that may be living at the home.

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 and staff confirmed they received regular and comprehensive training to meet the needs of people. Staff completed an induction programme this included some agency staff who were used to cover live in care, this was provided by the registered manager. Agency staff were also to be included in the training programme to ensure they had the same level of knowledge and skills as regular staff provided from the agency.

All staff competencies were assessed through regular observational checks completed by the registered manager and care co-ordinator.Additional specific training was also sourced when required covering specific health needs or equipment use. The registered manager ensured packages of care were only agreed if there were enough staff to provide a safe and quality service.

People and their relatives told us staff were competent and provided a good standard of care and support. One relative told us, “The lead carer regularly rosters herself on duty to check on care standards at his home.” Another told us how new staff were always introduced and worked with the registered manager to ensure they had appropriate knowledge and skills.

Staff told us they were very well supported and had the opportunity to discuss any training needs or development they wanted to undertake. One told us, “I have completed end of life care, and I am doing a NVQ currently with support.” Another told us, “We have regular supervision and have the opportunity to talk about anything we wish.”

Recruitment records were not well organised, and it was unclear if past files contained full documentation to support thorough recruitment process. More recent files were more organised and complete. The registered provider recognised the need for complete records and that best practice was to be followed when recruiting people to ensure their suitability and people’s safety. A full recruitment procedure was available and was now being followed.

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 completed training on infection control and understood the importance of using personal protective equipment (PPE). Staff had a good supply of PPE from the office, and a staff member was collecting some during the assessment site visit.

Care plans recorded infection control procedures and staff observations within people’s homes confirmed they followed good practice guidelines. People told us staff washed their hands and wore PPE when needed.

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.

Any staff supporting people with medicines were trained on their safe handling and administration and had their competency to do this assessed by the registered manager.

Information about medicines people were prescribed was detailed in their care plans. When people were supported with their medicines this was recorded as a task on the digital care plan and available to staff on a telephone application. Staff must complete the actions to confirm the medication was given.

The new digital care plan had a facility to support staff to give ‘as required’ medicines safely and to record where to apply topical creams on a body map. During an assessment visit to the office the registered manager and care co-ordinator was attending training on how to use this system and planned to implement the system in the near future. This would support the safe administration of medicines.

People and relatives told us staff handled medicines safely and records confirmed medicines were given in accordance with any prescription.