Our Care 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.

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 69 (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 did not always ensure there was a proactive and positive learning culture.

There were no records to show how lessons were being learnt. There were very few incidents that had occurred at the service. However, when an incident had occurred there were no records available to show how the provider had responded to drive improvements and to review if any action taken had been effective. The registered manager acknowledged improvements were needed to show this information was documented and shared to ensure effective systems were in place to learn from incidents.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored.

There were processes in place to ensure people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service. Where possible the registered manager told us they would go out and complete face to face assessments with people. The registered manager confirmed they had not commenced any new packages of care since our last inspection. Staff told us they were aware of people’s assessed needs and used this information to ensure they delivered care to people in line with this.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that.

People felt safe being supported by staff. One person told us, “They know what they are doing, I feel safe with them, I don’t think I could trust anyone else, I trust them and they trust me.”

There were systems in place to ensure safeguarding concerns were identified, when needed. Staff told us they had received training in this area and they would take action if they had any concerns. One staff member said, “I have completed the safeguarding training and would report any abuse.”

Risks to people were not always documented fully to ensure they were managed in a safe way.

People had care plans and risk assessments in place which contained basic information about their needs. However, care plans lacked detail about how care should be safely delivered. This information was stored outside of a care plan, on an electronic system that described how specific care tasks should be completed. Staff were able to describe how they provided safe care as they knew people well. This meant there was a risk that temporary or new staff may not have access to all the information required to provide safe care if the electronic system was not available and they had to rely on the care plans.

The registered manager told us reviews of these care plans and electronic records were completed however, there were not always records to show these reviews had taken place.

Despite this, people were happy with how their risks were managed and raised no concerns. One person told us, “I have a hoist and a hospital bed, the carers know how to use the equipment, they are confident and seem well trained”.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in people’s home environments.

People had risk assessments in place that related to their environment. This covered any risks staff may face in people’s homes. Staff confirmed they were aware of any potential risks in people’s homes.

The provider had systems in place to ensure there were enough staff available to support people.

People were happy with their call times; all people we spoke with told us care was delivered at the correct times and staff stayed for the allocated amount of time. Records we viewed confirmed this.

The registered manager monitored the live system to ensure care was delivered when it was allocated.

Staff had received training to ensure they had the relevant knowledge and skills to support people. Staff spoke positively about the training they received.

Staff had received the relevant pre-employment checks before they could start working with people to ensure they were safe to do so.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection.

People told us staff wore Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). One person told us, “They wear uniforms and gloves and aprons”. Staff also confirmed PPE was available, and they had received training in this area. There were processes in place to ensure staff protected people from the risk of cross infection.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences.

People were happy with how they received their medicines. One person said, “I have 18 tablets a day, the carers put them in a beaker for me and make sure I take them.”

People received their medicines as prescribed. Staff administering medicines had received training and their competency was checked by the registered manager when they completed spot checks. This was to ensure they were safe to administer these to people.

The registered manager completed checks on the live electronic system to ensure people had received medicines when needed.