Agincare UK Leominster

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 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. Leaders had oversight of accidents, incidents and complaints. Audits were completed and actions taken appropriately. Learning was discussed with staff at regular team meetings.

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.Leaders and staff worked with a range of professionals to ensure people received the care they needed. This included occupational therapists, community nurses and social workers.

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.Staff had completed appropriate levels of safeguarding training. They were able to add concerns to the electronic care records and report them to the manager. Staff used body mapping to record signs of potential physical abuse such as bruising. Leaders would take appropriate action and make a referral to the local authority for the concerns to be investigated.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs which was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things which mattered to them.Leaders made sure risk assessments were in place to guide staff about the risks for each person they supported. This included areas such as falls. These were reviewed regularly. People’s care plans were personalised and provided sufficient guidance to staff to keep people safe.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Staff ensured the equipment in people’s home was safe before using it and reported all concerns to leaders for action to be taken. Leaders had worked with healthcare professionals to obtain specialist equipment for people, designed to promote their safety and independence. Staff completed an environmental risk assessment in each person’s home before a care package could be delivered.

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 which met people’s individual needs.The provider had robust recruitment processes in place, and this was supported by a human resources team at the head office for Agincare UK Ltd. All necessary pre- employment checks were completed. This included asking for references and completing checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service. These checks provided information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helped employers make safer recruitment decisions.Staff received a full induction including mandatory training, shadowing and then working alongside experienced staff. Managers checked staff were competent to do their job before sending them out on lone visits. One person said, “They are very well trained, and I am satisfied with the standard of care”.

The provider made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.Records showed medicines were given safely and as prescribed. Care plans included the arrangements for receiving and safe storage of medicines, which were checked during spot checks. Staff received medicine training and regular competency checks to ensure safe practices were embedded. One person said, “I know that the company do spot checks, and my carers have always done well”.

Leaders carried out regular audits of the medication administration records (MAR). If gaps were identified this was followed up and additional competency checks were put in place for the staff members. Staff recorded if medicines were refused and put notes in the records so leaders could monitor this.

The provider made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Records showed medicines were given safely and as prescribed. Care plans included the arrangements for receiving and safe storage of medicines, which were checked during spot checks. Staff received medicine training and regular competency checks to ensure safe practices were embedded. One person said, “I know that the company do spot checks, and my care staff have always done well”.

Leaders carried out regular audits of the medication administration records (MAR). If gaps were identified this was followed up and additional competency checks were put in place for the staff members. Staff recorded if medicines were refused and put notes in the records so leaders could monitor this.