Essence Health Ltd

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. This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has been rated 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 provider had a system in place to log any incidents which occurred. We saw where incidents had happened there was a complete review to determine if there was any learning to be considered. The registered manager told us how they would review incidents to look for themes and trends. There had only been 2 incidents and these were minor. The person had an accident when they were in the community, when they told staff they checked for injuries and ensured the person was ok and informed the persons relatives of the incident.

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 told us the staff worked to support them to ensure they maintained their independence and were safe. The provider had systems in place to ensure they worked alongside other agencies, people and their relatives to design and deliver people’s care. Care plans showed what support people needed and detailed what they could do for themselves with an emphasis on what the person wanted to achieve.

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. People told us they felt safe using the service. Staff understood how to recognise the signs of abuse and were aware of the procedures for reporting any concerns. The registered manager told us there had not been any incidents which required reporting; however staff were trained, and they had a policy in place, which included whistleblowing processes. The registered manager understood how to report concerns to the appropriate body if required.

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 told us staff supported them to maintain their safety. Staff understood how to support people and could describe how they reduced risks to people’s safety by following their risk assessment and management plans. The registered manager told us they carried out risk assessments as part of the initial assessment process and ensured these were reviewed regularly or when things changed. We saw risk assessments in place to help manage risks relating to type 2 diabetes, these considered risks relating to medicines, skin integrity, nutrition, and the impact this may have on the persons health. The plan gave guidance for staff on how to support the person to manage their diabetes and how to escalate any concerns.

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 told us staff helped to ensure their home environment was safe. Staff told us how they supported people to maintain their home. Risk assessments were in place to guide staff on any areas of potential hazards and the actions taken to reduce and remove risks.

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. People were happy with the support they received from staff. The provider had systems in place to ensure staff were recruited safely. Staff told us they received an induction and training for their role and records supported this. The registered manager had systems in place to ensure staff were up to date with their training and checks were in place to ensure staff attended peoples care calls for the right amount of time.

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 provider ensured staff understood how to prevent the spread of infection and minimise the risk of cross infection. Staff told us they had access to protective equipment and could describe how they used this safely. There was a policy in place and staff received training in infection prevention control. The registered manager told us they undertook competency assessments for staff including checks on handwashing to ensure staff understood how to do this safely.

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 had received training in medicines administration and had their competency checked. Staff were administering topical creams for 1 person, there was clear guidance in place on how and where to apply the cream. Staff signed a medicines administration record to document when the cream had been applied. Checks were conducted on the medicines administration records by the registered manager to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed and in line with the providers policy.