Elite Careplus 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 72 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Systems were in place to support people and staff to report safety concerns and incidents. Records showed the provider investigated concerns and incidents and took action, where required, to make improvements. However, the provider could not effectively demonstrate that learning was being used to identify and embed good practice.

The registered manager told us information recorded on the provider’s systems was analysed to identify how people could be protected from further risk. They told us a report of this analysis would be produced. However, they were unable to provide a recent report at the time of our assessment, despite safety concerns and incidents having been reported during the previous 6 months. This meant we could not assess whether learning from these concerns and incidents was being effectively used to reduce risk and embed good practice at the service.

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

The provider obtained information from people and others involved in their care to identify their care and support needs and risks to their safety and wellbeing. This information was used to develop individualised care and risk management plans, which were available to staff, to ensure people received the care and support they required, as soon as they started using the service.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff understood their responsibility to support people to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect.

People told us they were confident that staff would support them to live safely. A relative said, “Safeguarding is a top priority.”

Staff had received training to safeguard people from abuse. A staff member told us, “I make sure people are protected from abuse and neglect by following safeguarding policies and procedures. I stay alert to signs of abuse, neglect or changes in a person’s behaviour, report concerns immediately to my manager and record everything accurately. I also respect people’s dignity, privacy and rights, and make sure concerns are taken seriously and acted on promptly.”

The provider worked with the relevant agencies when concerns about people were raised. At the time of our assessment, we were aware of a recent safeguarding concern involving people using the service. The registered manager told us they were responding proactively to requests for further information from the investigating local authority. Records showed that outcomes and findings from previous investigations were used to make necessary improvements, where practicably possible.

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 feedback indicated staff understood the risks to people’s safety and how these should be managed. A relative told us, “They only peg feed [family member] certain foods with low risk of choking.”

Staff were provided with information and guidance about risks to people’s safety and how these should be managed to keep people safe from injury or harm. A staff member told us, “I use their care plans, risk assessments and other relevant information to understand their individual needs and risks. I read and follow the guidance provided and report any changes in a person’s condition, circumstances or risks. This helps me provide care safely and in a person-centred way.”

The provider reviewed people’s risk assessments and management plans and updated these to reflect changes in people’s needs.

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

The provider assessed risks in people’s living environments and put measures in place to reduce these and keep people safe. Staff carried out checks of people’s living environments to identify health and safety concerns. Issues identified through these checks were reported to the housing provider for action.

At the time of this assessment, we were aware of a concern about safety risks in one person’s living environment. The registered manager told us this had been raised with local authority partners and that they had requested additional support to address the concern but had not yet received a response. In the meantime, alternative arrangements were in place to ensure the person continued to receive support with their personal care needs.

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.

Prior to this assessment, we had been made aware of concerns raised by local authority partners about the provider’s arrangements for staffing levels, recruitment and training.

People told us staffing arrangements at the service had improved. A relative told us, “We did have staff problems, but it’s been sorted now…I’m very happy with the continuity of staff after a big sort out…They are fantastic now.”

We reviewed staffing records and found the provider was undertaking the necessary checks on staff applying to work at the service to ensure they were suitable to support people.

We also found staff undertook relevant training to help them meet people’s range of needs. Staff were supported to learn and improve in their roles through supervision and reviews of their work performance. A staff member told us, “Yes I do get training and supervision meetings regularly. Training is provided to help staff maintain the knowledge and skills required for their role. I am also supported through supervision and opportunities to discuss work, responsibilities and any concerns.”

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 had received training and support to help reduce the risk of infection in people’s living environments. They had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimise these risks. A relative told us, “The carers have very clean standards of hygiene at all times…the PPE they regularly change after each duty.”

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

Staff had received training and support to manage and administer medicines. People consistently received their prescribed medicines, as confirmed by our checks of medicines records. People’s records contained information for staff on how to administer prescribed medicines in line with their individual needs. This included the level of support required, any special requirements, preferred drinks for taking medicines and preferred positioning.