Churchview Care Services (Taunton)

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. There were clear systems in place for reporting incidents. This included electronic systems and team discussions, with learning shared through debriefs and group communication channels. One staff member told us, “We always report incidents, they are manageable. We complete an incident report and send it to the office. We talk as a team and share information.”

Staff and leaders gave examples of how learning had led to improvements, such as adapting staffing approaches to meet individual needs. This reduced incidents and improved outcomes for people.

The registered manager gave examples of how the provider shared learning across the organisation.

The provider worked with people and 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.

There were processes in place to ensure people transitioned safely into the service. Pre-assessment processes ensured people’s needs were assessed before receiving care, and staff worked with a range of professionals to support continuity. There were processes to ensure information was available if people needed to be supported by other services, for example in an emergency.

The provider worked well with people to understand what being safe meant and they concentrated on improving people’s lives and protecting their right to live in safety.

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 any concerns appropriately.

People told us they felt safe. One person commented, “Yes, I do feel safe with staff” when asked if they felt safe. Relatives thought their family members were safe. One relative told us, “[Name of person] is so happy, it's all I worry about, they are happy with the staff and yes they are safe.”

Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse. They received safeguarding training and demonstrated knowledge of internal and external reporting routes.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks. 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 risks were recorded in their care plans and risk mitigation measures were in place. Areas covered included, road safety, home security, people becoming anxious and safety whilst cooking. One person had a health condition that could pose a risk in certain situations. There were control measures in place to reduce risks, however these were not all recorded in the persons care plan. We discussed this with the registered manager who confirmed they would be recorded. Staff knew people well and were aware of the risks. One relative told us, “Yes all risks are managed.”

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

Care plans included information relating to environmental safety such as how people would evacuate in the event of a fire. Records demonstrated staff supported people with health and safety checks in their home.

The service 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.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs safely. People and relatives told us staff were consistent and knew people well. One person told us, “I have the same staff, sometimes it's someone different, it’s okay I'm happy with the staff.” One relative commented on how consistent staffing had contributed to their family member experiencing a reduction in incidents.

Staff told us shifts were covered, for example when staff were sick. One staff member told us, “Yes we have enough staff, we are overstaffed.”

Staff received a range of training to ensure they understood people’s needs. One staff member told us, “The training is fantastic.” Recruitment processes ensured staff were employed safely.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading.Staff followed infection prevention and control practices to reduce the risk of infection. Staff received infection prevention and control training and told us they had access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

The provider made sure that medicines were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences.

Medicines were managed safely. Staff received training and had their competency assessed, Medicine administration (MARs) charts were completed. Where people were prescribed ‘as required’ medicines (PRN), there were PRN protocols in place. One person told us they were happy with how staff supported them with their medicines. A relative told us how a recent medicines change had a positive impact on their family member, they told us, “Yes I am happy with this [medicines].”