Best Care Liverpool Limited

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 72 (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.

Safety was a top priority, and risks were not overlooked or ignored. Lessons were learnt with opportunities to learn from safety events being communicated to staff to help support improvement. Policies were in place to help ensure people’s safety, such as a whistleblowing and safeguarding policy. One member of staff told us, “All concerns are accurately documented and, where necessary, referred to the relevant external safeguarding authority. Lessons learned are used to improve practice."

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.

Staff told us they were confident in recognising and responding to any changes in people’s needs. One member of staff told us, “Care plans are regularly reviewed and updated, ensuring that support is tailored to individual needs while maintaining safety."

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.

Staff understood safeguarding and how to take appropriate action to keep safe. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities about protecting people from the risk of abuse and harm. Staff told us, “Everyone can raise a safeguarding if a service user is at risk of anything” and “Safeguarding means protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect."

Although we were assured staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them and worked well with people to understand and manage risks, some risk assessments required further detail.

Whilst risks to people had been identified, some risk assessments required more information to help provide guidance to staff. For example, for 1 person with a mobility equipment risk assessment in place, there was no guidance for staff to check equipment was in good working order before using it. For another person who required staff assistance when mobilising, the number of staff needed had not been recorded.

However, staff were able to tell us how they identified and managed risks to people, to help keep people safe from harm. Comments from staff included, “Yes people are kept safe. Care plans are accurate and get updated” and “We take a proactive approach to managing risk, balancing safety with each person’s right to make their own choices.”

People and their relatives told us they felt safe when receiving care. Comments from people included, “Yes, they [staff] are very good at making sure they leave me in a safe position”, “They[staff]check my hoist and chair” and “Yes, I feel safe. They take care of me”. Peoples’ relatives confirmed, “Yes, they [staff] always do a risk assessment”,“ Yes, they [staff] would point out risks” and “Yes, they keep[Name]as safe as they can."

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

Processes were in place to help ensure the safety of people’s home environment. For example, risk assessments of the environment were carried out to ensure the safety and well-being of both people and staff.

People and the relatives we spoke with told us had not been involved in any accidents, whilst receiving care. One person told us, “They [staff]make sure that my environment is safe.” Relatives confirmed, “Yes, they [staff] make sure [Name] is safe and nothing is on the floor” and “We all make sure the environment is as safe as can be."

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.

Processes were in place to ensure staff were recruited safely and supported to perform their role in a safe and competent way. Staff had completed an induction and mandatory training. One member of staff told us, “We cover all important topics.” In addition to training, staff completed shadow shifts to further prepare them for their role. One member of staff confirmed, “The shadow shifts were an essential part of the induction, ensuring that I was fully prepared to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care.”

People and their relatives told us they thought staff were well trained and they had continuity of staff. Comments from people included, “The carers are competent," "Yes, they [staff] have the training and “Yes, they are trained to use the hoist. On occasions senior carers come with new carers to watch what to do.”

Relatives told us, “They [staff] have the training to look after him” and“ Yes, they have the training to support her, and they also support my other relative.”

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.

Staff confirmed they had completed Infection Prevention and Control [IPC] and Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] training and had access to IPC guidance.

One person’s relative told us, “Hygiene is excellent, they [staff] use PPE."

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.

People and their relatives told us they received their medicines safely and on time. Comments from people included,“ Staff give me medication” and “I get medication when I need it.” People’s relatives told us, “No issues about getting medicines on time”, “They [staff] do night medication. No issues, [Name] gets them on time” and “They [staff] massage his legs with creams. They give him his nebuliser.”

People’s allergies to medicines were identified in people’s records.

Where medicines errors had occurred, appropriate action had been taken to help mitigate the risk of any future recurrence. One member of staff told us, “We have medication mandatory training. Medication competency is checked by coordinators every year."