Holderness Home 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 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.

People, relatives and staff felt able to raise concerns, provide feedback and contribute to the development of the service. Systems were in place to review feedback, incidents and safeguarding concerns, with learning used to improve outcomes and help keep people safe.

The Registered Manager described how concerns, safeguarding incidents, complaints, compliments, audits and feedback were reviewed and analysed to identify themes, trends and learning opportunities. Learning was shared with staff through team meetings, supervision and day-to-day communication to support continuous improvement and promote good practice.

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.

The service had systems in place to ensure safe, coordinated and person-centred care. Assessments were completed before care commenced and considered people's health needs, mobility, personal preferences, risks and desired outcomes.

Care plans reviewed demonstrated a detailed understanding of individual support requirements and provided staff with clear guidance regarding how care should be delivered safely and consistently. Plans included information relating to mobility, daily routines, medication support, nutritional needs, personal care requirements and emergency planning arrangements.

The Registered Manager told us, "Care plans are reviewed whenever needs change to ensure staff always have accurate, up-to-date information."

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.

Training records confirmed staff had completed safeguarding training and systems were in place to assess staff knowledge through supervision. Staff were confident of how to raise a safeguarding concern.

People were protected from abuse, neglect and avoidable harm through robust safeguarding systems and effective risk management processes.

People consistently told us they felt safe receiving support from staff. One person said, "I feel really safe when staff help me move around. Another person told us, "No falls at the moment. Staff are very proficient."

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.

The provider involved people and those important to them in decisions about managing identified risks while supporting choice and independence.

Care plans and risk assessments demonstrated a person-centred approach which balanced safety with people's rights to make decisions about their lives. Risk management guidance reflected individual preferences and support needs rather than adopting a restrictive approach.

One person told us, "My views are listened to, and I feel involved in decisions about my care."

A relative said, "We are involved in reviewing care plans and our views are listened to."

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

Care records demonstrated that environmental risks were assessed and reviewed, and guidance was available for staff regarding safe access to properties, mobility equipment and emergency arrangements.

Where specialist equipment was required to support mobility, clear instructions were available within care plans to support safe use.

The service also maintained emergency contact information and documented arrangements to ensure staff could respond appropriately to changing circumstances.

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.

The provider operated safe recruitment processes. Staff files reviewed contained relevant checks. Staffing rotas showed sufficient staff were available to meet people's needs.

People consistently spoke positively about the reliability and consistency of care delivery. One person told us, "The staff seem to be on time most of the time. It is normally the same staff. Sometimes it is different staff, but they are all good." Another person said, "Staff are mostly on time. Occasionally they are delayed, but this is usually due to circumstances beyond their control and is only by a few minutes."

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.

Systems were in place to reduce the risk of infection and promote safe practice. Infection Prevention and Control records were reviewed alongside staff training information. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of hand hygiene, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safe disposal procedures.

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.

People received their medicines as prescribed from trained and competent staff, and oversight arrangements helped ensure medicines were managed safely and in line with recognised guidance.

People who required support with their medicines received this in accordance with their assessed needs and care plans.

Staff responsible for administering medicines had completed appropriate training and competency assessments before undertaking this role. Staff demonstrated an understanding of safe medicines management and their responsibilities in relation to administering, recording and reporting medication concerns. One member of staff told us, "I only administer medicines if I have been trained and assessed as competent and always follow the medication policy."