Savannah Care Limited

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 changed to requires improvement. This meant some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed.

The provider was in breach of legal regulations relating to staffing and fit and proper persons employed.

This service scored 62 (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.

People and staff were supported to raise and report safety concerns when needed. The registered manager investigated these and used the learning from these to help staff improve their working practices and keep people safe.

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.

Before people started using the service, the registered manager gathered information about their care needs and any risks to their safety. They involved people, their families or representatives, and healthcare professionals to get a full picture of people’s needs. The registered manager used this information to develop care and risk management plans, which were shared with staff before they began providing care and support to people.

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 had no concerns about the staff providing their care and support. One person told us, “I look forward to them visiting and supporting me. They know what they are doing. We have the same routine each day and I feel totally safe in their hands. They always turn up and have never let me down.”

Staff knew how to safeguard people from abuse. They understood when and how to raise and report concerns, when needed.

The registered manager worked with the local safeguarding authority when concerns were raised about people. They took action to implement any plans required to safeguard people from risk, when needed.

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. A person said, “I have carers who take me shopping. I can’t go alone as I have learning difficulties and seizures. I have lots of seizures. I don’t know what medication I take. I have to take them. It’s important that I do. The carers stay with me until I have taken them all.” A staff member said, “We know the risks to the people through risk assessments, training and meetings to discuss about clients.”

Staff had access to information about risks to people’s safety and how these should be managed to keep them safe from harm. There were systems in place to assess, monitor and review risks, when required.

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 potential risks in people’s homes and put measures in place to reduce these and keep people safe. A relative told us, “The carers use the key safe to enter the property and they always make sure the door is locked, and the key replaced in the key safe, when they leave.”

The provider could not demonstrate that staff received effective training, supervision, or ongoing support. The registered manager was unable to provide evidence of this during the assessment. This meant there was no assurance staff had the skills, experience and knowledge needed to meet people’s needs, which could place them at serious risk of harm from unsafe or inappropriate care.

Recruitment procedures were not robust. The registered manager could not easily produce evidence of necessary checks made on staff, and records were incomplete or inconsistent. For example, an application form was missing for one staff member which meant the references obtained for them could not be verified. For another staff member, alternative references had been accepted when the original referees could not be contacted, but this was not documented or justified. As a result, the provider could not demonstrate that staff were suitably vetted to work with people.

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 were provided with resources to help them reduce infection risks. They used personal protective equipment (PPE) effectively. A relative told us, “The carers do wear PPE when doing personal care.” People’s living environment was kept clean and hygienic to prevent the spread of infection. A person said, “The staff clean up after themselves and always check if I need anything before they leave.”

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

People consistently received their prescribed medicines. A person told us, “The [staff] assist me with my medication and ensure I take the correct tablets.”

The registered manager carried out regular checks to make sure staff were safe and competent in managing and administering medicines. They said, “I go in and do spot checks and check the records and stock. I go in every month and do the check.”