Premier Care - Bradford Branch

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 this key question was rated requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm. The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulations in relation to safe care and treatment and how medicines were managed. Improvements were found at this assessment and the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation.

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.

Lessons were learnt to identify and embed good practice. Accidents and incidents were reported and action taken to mitigate the risk of events happening again. There were clear processes in place to deal with concerns and complaints. As part of learning lessons, the registered manager worked closely with the provider’s digital team to improve the care plan formats and records staff used to provide safe care and support.

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 were assessed before starting to use the service. The initial assessment was used to inform care plans and risk assessments. Where people needed support to access healthcare advice, staff offered support. The registered manager made referrals to other agencies, such as the falls team, when required.

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 clear safeguarding processes in place and the registered manager worked collaboratively with the local authority. Staff had safeguarding training and understood how to recognise and report poor care and abuse. Safeguarding was a regular agenda item in team meetings.

People and relatives told us they felt safe. Comments included, “I feel safe in the staff’s company. They know what they are doing.”

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically.

Risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing were assessed and regularly reviewed. Key areas, such as people’s mobility, nutritional and skin integrity needs had been assessed. Staff knew people well and demonstrated a good understanding of the risks people were exposed to. The provider used an electronic care planning record which meant any changes could be updated in real time. Staff also received an alert which signposted them to any changes in a person’s needs, and they confirmed they had access to clear plans. Comments included, “You can log into care plans and everything is there.”

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

Detailed environmental risk assessments were carried out and formed part of people’s care plans. This meant staff were aware of any potential risks, when they were supporting people in their own homes. Where people were assessed to use equipment, checks were recorded to ensure it was safe and well-maintained.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. People told us they had good relationships with the staff.

Staff had good quality induction, training and supervision to support them in their role. The service had a dedicated training room for practical training. Recruitment was managed safely, and all the required checks were in place. There was a dedicated out of hours on call service to manage any emergencies or concerns.

People received continuity of care. People and relatives told us they were supported by consistent staff, who were normally punctual and stayed for the correct amount of time. Comments included, “Staff are very well trained and know exactly what they are doing. They are reliable and I can depend on them 100%.”

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.

There was a detailed infection, prevention and control policy in place. Staff had training and had their competency regularly assessed through spot checks. People and relative’s gave positive feedback about the high standards staff maintained when providing care and support.

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.

Medicines were managed safely. Some improvements were needed to ‘as required’ protocols, particularly where people were prescribed a variable dose. Protocols would also benefit from including more person-centred information. However, people received their medication on time and recording was consistently clear. Where people needed support with creams there was clear guidance about how and where this should be applied. Staff received training to administer medicines and had their competency regularly assessed.

People and relatives were happy with the support they received with their medication. Comments included, “The carers administer my medication. I always receive it on time.”