North Chelmsford NHS Healthcare Centre

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

We looked for evidence people were protected from avoidable harm and made sure care was delivered from environments that were clean and well maintained. At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same.

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.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safeguarding during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

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

The service had contracts to ensure the premises were maintained. Staff and leaders completed health and safety risk assessments and carried out audits to ensure risks were identified, managed and mitigated. The service had current fire safety systems and protocols in place, supported by documented evidence of regular testing. The service was situated in a multi-storey building and had a strategic fire and security plan to ensure people could be moved to safety in an emergency. The service had a business continuity plan which was reviewed regularly and outlined how the service should continue to operate in the event of a disruption.

The service 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.

The service employed a range of clinical and non-clinical roles, which included GPs, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and administrative staff. Leaders ensured staff were up-to-date with their training which the service had deemed mandatory and operated within their agreed areas of competence. Staff told us they received regular appraisals and where they identified additional training to support them in their role, leaders supported them to access this. The service followed safe recruitment procedures when employing staff, which was in line with national legislation. This included identity checks, review of qualifications, obtaining of professional references and a criminal records check. Checks of the professional registration status of clinical staff were made during the recruitment process and on an ongoing basis. The service had well-established processes post-recruitment for regular Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and its annual declaration.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

The service had cleaning schedules available, which outlined how staff should clean the building and its equipment. The service demonstrated how these were monitored for completion to maintain oversight of cleaning arrangements. During our onsite visit, the service's premises and a sample of equipment reviewed was noted to be visibly clean. The service’s infection prevention and control lead conducted regular risk assessments and audits to ensure compliance and took action where necessary to mitigate any identified risks. The service also worked with partner agencies and an external auditing company to help ensure oversight and management of risk. Staff had completed relevant training in infection prevention and control. Appropriate arrangements were in place to manage clinical waste.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.