Constable Care

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.

The registered manager responded quickly to a concern we raised during a visit to their location office, related to restrictive practices. This prompted a review of best practice, discussion with stakeholders including safeguarding teams, the person and their nominated relatives. Resulting in more streamlined practices and staff upskilling around capacity and consent.

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 provider worked well with the local GP surgery to support people to access appointments, home visits when required and health checks.

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.

The provider had not had to raise any safeguardings, however, they and staff had received safeguarding training and knew what and where to report 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 informed staff as to how people wished the risks to be managed, such as how they liked to be positioned and the type of food they liked to eat depending on support they needed, such a softer diet.

The provider had identified increased risk for a person who was becoming increasingly immobile due to physical health condition. They worked with the person and health professionals to ensure that adaptions could be made to the person’s home.

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

People’s risk assessments included a review of their home environments and whether there was sufficient space for staff to use any moving and handling equipment, such as standing aids and full body hoists.

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 was looking to recruit new members of care staff to expand their service to the local community. The registered manager told us that due to working in a small town, most carers walked or biked and if there was sickness or leave, part time care staff were quick to cover shifts.

New staff underwent a period of supervision and shadowing and existing staff and people using the service were asked for feedback before posts were confirmed.

Staff undertake mandatory training. The registered manager and provider who had also undertaken mandatory training, worked alongside care staff. They had ensured that all the required background checks had taken place to ensure that staff could safely support people.

Staff told us most of the mandatory training was online, with exception for moving and handling. The registered manager told us where people required specific pieces of mobility equipment, the training provider was asked to demonstrate how best to use it.

Some staff said they would like more in person training, for example first aid basic training.

The registered managers had not always documented supervisions, and observations, due to frequently working alongside care staff. This is discussed in the well led domain.

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 registered manager had identified a named member of staff to ensure that people's homes were stocked with the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and aprons. Staff told us, “In rare circumstances when PPE isn’t in the persons home, we have some emergency supplied in our car, or we can call into the office.”

The registered manager also supplied foot protection wear to staff to avoid contamination from shoes on people’s carpets.

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.

Staff would support administrating of medication if required and not managed by the persons [relative]. In most cases medication was in prepared boxes. Staff supporting medication had received training and observations as required.