Ryedale Homecare

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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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.

Monthly audits of care records reviewed documentation standards, medicines records, personal care delivery and governance requirements. Audit outcomes were shared with staff and actions monitored to completion, demonstrating learning was used to improve practice. One member of staff told us, "We have audit meetings where we discuss any omissions or improvements as a group. It works well." This demonstrated lessons learnt were shared with staff to support safer practice and continuous improvement.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed and monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

People had comprehensive and up-to-date electronic care records which supported continuity of care and incorporated information from healthcare professionals. Care plans included hospital passports, communication information, healthcare correspondence and end of life planning documents to support safe transitions between services.

For people with a learning disability, hospital passports provided clear information about communication needs, health conditions and support requirements. Records showed staff worked effectively with healthcare professionals, including GPs and speech and language therapists, to respond to changing needs and update care accordingly.

One relative said, "[Person’s] swallowing has got worse recently and they [staff] contacted SALT [Speech and Language Therapist]. [Person] was already on the waiting list, but they managed to get [them] bumped up and [they were] seen within 3 days. Now the care plan is on the fridge for everyone to see." This demonstrated effective partnership working to maintain people's safety and wellbeing.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff protected people from abuse, avoidable harm and neglect and shared concerns appropriately with external agencies.

Safeguarding processes were effective. Staff had completed safeguarding training, understood their responsibilities and told us they were confident raising concerns. Where people lacked capacity to make specific decisions, records demonstrated decisions were made in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and involved relatives, attorneys and other representatives where appropriate. Safeguarding records showed concerns were appropriately reported and shared with relevant authorities when required. People told us they felt safe receiving support. One person said, "I feel safe with staff.”

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care that met people's needs and enabled them to do the things that mattered to them safely.

People had detailed and up-to-date risk assessments which identified known risks and provided clear guidance for staff on how these should be managed. Risks relating to mobility, choking, medicines, epilepsy and accessing the community were regularly reviewed and linked to individual care plans.

People were supported to access activities and their local community whilst maintaining their safety and independence. One relative told us, "They know how to safely handle [person] and how to use the hoist and all of that."

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

Environmental risk assessments were in place and provided staff with clear guidance on managing risks associated with people's homes, including fire safety, access and moving and handling.

We reviewed care records and visited people in their homes. Risks had been assessed and managed appropriately, and both homes were clean, well maintained and supported people to live safely and independently.

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 received regular supervision, performance reviews and competency assessments, including medicines administration and moving and handling. Training records showed staff had completed training relevant to people's needs and managers monitored any outstanding training.

Staff told us they felt well supported. One staff member said, "The manager is always available day or night. Any concerns are actioned without delay." A relative also told us, "There are sometimes new carers, but they shadow the other carers and then slowly become more involved. They soon slot in."

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of infection spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly when required.

Staff received infection prevention and control training, and the provider's policies reflected current guidance and practice. Infection prevention and control was also discussed during staff meetings and monitored through quality assurance processes.

People provided positive feedback about staff maintaining high hygiene standards and their use of personal protective equipment through the provider's quality assurance surveys. During the assessment, staff demonstrated a good understanding of infection prevention and control practices.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people's needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people and, where appropriate, their representatives when planning and reviewing medicines support.

Medicines administration records were completed appropriately, regular audits were undertaken, and staff competency assessments helped ensure safe medicines practice.

Care records contained clear guidance for staff, including information about prescribed medicines, as required [PRN] medicines and covert administration were authorised by healthcare professionals. One person told us, "They [staff] help me to manage my pills."