Above & Beyond Care Ltd Also known as Above and Beyond 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.

Any lessons learned were shared with the staff team, so they were aware of any changes to their work practice. In addition, where the provider had identified staff may benefit from additional training in specific areas where there was potential risk, this was provided. This included the purchase of a choke vest, where staff could learn how to for example, deliver back slaps if a person was choking. This was a result of providing a service to people where this may be a risk and lessons were learned to reduce risks that could arise in the future.

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.

Prior to people using the service, a member of the management team undertook a needs assessment with people and their relatives, where appropriate. A person told us, “When I was starting with them, met them… they asked me what I needed and wanted, we drew up a task list, very happy with it.”

Prior to staff supporting people, they were introduced to the person to reduce any anxieties relating to people being supported by a staff member they did not know.

The registered manager told us how important information about people could be shared electronically should a person need to use another service, such as hospital or care home.

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.

There were systems in place to reduce the risks of abuse, this included a policy and procedure and training for staff. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to identifying and reporting safeguarding concerns.

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 care plans included risk assessments which guided staff in how risks needed to be managed and reduced. This included with mobility and skin integrity. Staff had been trained in moving and handling, and their competency was monitored in spot checks to reduce the risks of unsafe support being provided to people.

People told us they felt safe with the staff and using the service. A person told us how the staff ensured their home was secure when they left their care visit.

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

Prior to people using the service a member of the management team undertook a risk assessment of people’s home environment, to reduce risks to staff and people using the service. People’s records included information about the equipment people used and how the equipment was monitored to ensure if was fit for purpose and safe for use.

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.

There were enough staff to undertake people’s planned visits. The registered manager told us they continued to recruit staff to support growth and ensure, for example, if people required additional support, staffing levels would support this. People told us there were no instances of missed visits and staff arrived for their visits as expected and they stayed for the planned amount of time. A person told us, “[Staff] come when expected and stay as long as I need them.”

Records demonstrated staff were recruited safely.

Staff told us they received training relevant to their role, which was confirmed in records, and staff felt they were supported by the management team. A person told us, “I do think [staff] are trained, never had any problems.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading.

Staff had received training in infection prevention and control. Staff told us they received personal protective equipment (PPE) which was replenished when required. The use of PPE was monitored by the management team through spot checks, feedback and stock levels.

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’s records included information about their prescribed medicines and what support people required from the staff, or if they managed their medicines independently.

The management team told us how the records were monitored, which evidenced when people were supported with their medicines. This included the use of an electronic system which did not allow logging out of a person’s care visit until support had been provided, or records were completed to show why this task was not completed, for example not needed, or refusal. Records showed 100% compliance with the support provided to people with their medicines, when required.

People told us they were happy with the support they received with their medicines. A person said, “[Staff] have to get my medication for me and pass it to me, they always do that.” A relative told us, “[Staff] come on time and [family member] gets [their] medication on time.”