HIL CARE (EAST YORKSHIRE) 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. Staff reported safety concerns as required and the management team took appropriate action to address these. However, the provider did not always record lesson learnt following incidents and accidents. The provider confirmed that they would implement lesson learnt alongside their individual action plans.

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. People's needs were continually assessed, care plans and risk assessments were used to detail people's diverse needs and support. Information was available to support people when accessing healthcare facilities.

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. People felt safe at the service. One person told us "I do feel very safe with the staff, they are great. They are all nice and helpful for me." A relatives told us, "I am happy with the care, and my relative is safe." The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. The service had a safeguarding policy in place and the management team followed internal and external processes to keep people safe. Staff knew what action to take to ensure people were safe and protected from harm and abuse.

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. Staff understood where people required support to reduce the risk of avoidable harm. Care plans contained explanations of the control measures for staff to follow to keep people safe. People's individual risk assessments were detailed and person-centered. These records were monitored, reviewed and updated when people's needs changed. Where people had risks that required monitoring, appropriate records were completed and reviewed. For example, Monitoring charts for behaviors people displayed when communicating their needs were in place. This supported the service to identify triggers to positive and negative behaviors. This supported the service to record and apply appropriate care for people.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Appropriate checks were carried out to ensure people lived in a safe environment.

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. Staff were deployed effectively to support people in line with their needs and preferences. Staff told us they completed a range of training courses which included those of specific support required for the people they supported. Recruitment checks were in place. However, the provider did not always ensure these were followed. For example, we found not all staff had appropriate references obtained prior to starting at the service and the staff’s full employment history was not always explored. The provider confirmed they would address this straightaway.

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. The provider had procedures in place to manage infection control. Staff confirmed they had access to personal protective equipment and had received regular training to support their good infection control practices.

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. People were given their medicines safely and in a timely manner. This was recorded on their medicines administration record (MAR) and medicines were stored safely and securely. There were processes in place to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines. We saw evidence that management or staff carried out regular medicines’ audits. Staff had received medicines handling training, and their competencies were assessed regularly to make sure they had the necessary skills. There was a process in place to record any medicines errors. Some people had a different routine and this was accommodated to ensure they were kept safe. Records were completed to indicate the name and quantity of medicines taken on offsite visits.