Opieka Limited Office

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 78 (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’s proactive and positive culture of safety was based on openness, honesty and responsibility. Staff identified, responded to and appropriately reported safety concerns using the provider’s reporting systems. Systems ensured accidents and incidents were resolved and monitored to support learning which was then shared with staff to reduce the risk of them happening again and to embed good practice.

The management team ensured safe transfers of care through working closely and positively with people, their relatives and relevant professionals. They gathered and shared information appropriately to ensure safe packages of care were implemented or transferred to another provider.

The management team 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.

People were safe. People told us they felt safe and comfortable with staff. People’s relatives were reassured by support provided, a relative told us, “It's just peace of mind that [Person’s name] is cared for properly.” Staff had the skills and knowledge to identify and report safeguarding concerns and were confident appropriate action would be taken by the management team. Safeguarding concerns had been suitably reported to relevant professionals, and action taken to safeguard people.

Staff were trained in the use of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and supported people to make their own decisions. Where people did not have capacity to make specific decisions, systems in place ensured only people with the relevant legal rights were able to make decisions on the persons behalf.

The provider ensured risks were identified, assessed, recorded and managed through working closely with people, their relatives and professionals. They also used their systems effectively to ensure risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were minimised through regularly reviewing daily records and updating care plans and risk assessments as and when needed.

Staff monitored people’s homes for potential risks to their safety. Where concerns were identified, staff took immediate action to maintain people’s safety, resolving concerns where possible and reporting them to people’s relatives or professionals where needed.

The provider made sure there were always enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received thorough support, supervision and development opportunities. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

People were supported by a small, consistent staff team. People and their relatives consistently told us they were supported by the same staff who knew them well. One person said, “The good thing is I get the same staff member; they make sure I'm comfortable and everything before they leave and even those that fill in are the same.” A relative said, “I'm really pleased as we are getting regular staff. They were introduced to [Person’s name] before they started coming round. One staff member left, but a replacement came and met with us before they started looking after [Person’s name].”

The provider used their systems effectively to ensure all calls were attended to maintain people’s safety and wellbeing. For example, call monitoring systems promptly alerted the provider if calls were late, which meant swift action was taken to address the issue. As a result, the provider did not have any missed calls. One person said, “Staff always come and get me out of bed. If there's been an accident they let me know they are going to be late.”

Staff were recruited safely. The provider completed appropriate checks to ensure staff were of good character to support people. All staff were positive about their induction and training which gave them the required skills and knowledge for their roles. Staff were supported to complete formal qualifications and to progress their careers when opportunities arose.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. The provider ensured staff were trained in infection prevention and control and had access to PPE which was used appropriately by staff.

The provider made sure that medicines processes were safe and met people’s needs. People’s medicines were administered safely and as prescribed by trained staff who kept accurate records. One person said, “Staff give me my medication. They know what they are doing and give me it at the appropriate times.” Care call times were managed to ensure enough time had passed between people’s medicines being administered so they were always administered safely.