My Homecare Redbridge

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.

System was in place to learn from lessons following incidents. Records showed that incidents had been recorded with actions taken and lessons learnt to minimise risk of reoccurrence.

Management told us that all incidents were analysed to learn from lessons to ensure there was a culture of continuous improvement.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored.

The service ensured they received all information available when supporting a person to transition to their service. This included speaking with the referring agency, the person and their relatives.

Systems were in place for pre-assessments to ensure information on people’s support and care needs were captured to determine the support that was required. This information was used to inform assessments processed and ensure a smooth transition between services. The service also ensured, where possible that people had the same carers to ensure relationships were built so people received continuity of care.

There were processes in place to safeguard people from abuse and harm. The service had a safeguarding policy that detailed the types of abuse and how to escalate concerns if staff suspected or saw abuse to ensure people were protected.

People and relatives told us people were protected from abuse and felt safe. A relative told us, “Definitely yes (safe). They [staff] are very kind to [person].” Another relative commented, “They keep [person] safe, yes.”

Staff had been trained in safeguarding adults and understood how to protect people from harm and who to report to when required. Staff were able to tell us the importance of reporting any concerns to the management team. Staff also felt they could be open to the management team if they had any concerns.

During our last inspection we found the service was in breach of regulation 12 (Safe Care Treatment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 as robust risk assessments were not in place for people with specific health conditions and people at risk of falls.

During this assessment, we found improvements had been made and the service was no longer in breach in this area.

There were risk assessments to ensure people received safe care, specifically on people’s health conditions. We found risk assessments were in place for people with specific health conditions such as risks associated with stroke and breathing issues. Risk assessments had been completed for people at risk of falls and skin complications. Risk assessments included the risks and how to support the person to minimise risks.

People and relative told us that staff looked after people well, which included minimising risks to ensure people were safe.

The registered manager and staff were aware of the importance of having robust risk assessments to ensure risks were minimised and people received safe care and support at all times. A staff member told us, “I go through the care plan and risk assessments. Minimise the risk by having all the training and ensure the risk assessment is accurate and raise anything with the manager if I do not understand.”

Risk assessments had been completed on people’s home environment. Information included details on risks or hazards within the environment to ensure care and support could be provided to people in a safe way and risks to staff and people were minimised.

During our last inspection we found the service was in breach of regulation 18 (Staffing) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 as staff were late for care calls, at times over an hour therefore people were not receiving care in a timely manner.

During this assessment, we found improvements had been made and the service was no longer in breach in this area.

The service used a digital system to monitor staff time keeping. The system alerted if staff were late for calls, which then the office could monitor. The system gave the service oversight of staff timekeeping. Management also carried out audits on staff timekeeping as part of monthly operations audits. The data showed that staff were on time for care visits.

There were enough staff to support people safely and staff knew people well. A person told us, “They do know what they are doing.”

We found staff had been trained in a number of key areas such as with safeguarding, moving and handling, medicines and first aid. Specific training had also been provided such as on dementia, positive behaviour support and Oliver McGowan training (specific training for staff on learning disability and autism).

Systems were in place to recruit staff safely. Pre-employment checks had been carried out such as on criminal and identity checks and references had been sought. Staff had received regular supervision to ensure they were supported in their roles.

Staff were supported in their role. The registered manager told us that staff were supported through training, supervisions, and spot checks to ensure staff ccould receive regular support.

Staff told us that they received regular supervisions and support from the management team. A staff member told us, “Yes, (supervision) happens monthly but if we need anything they (management) are always on the line.”

The service had a supervision and training matrix, which gave management oversight to ensure staff were supported regularly with training and support. A staff member told us, “[Registered manager] is good and supportive and ensures I have my training.”

Systems were in place to prevent infections. There were infection control care plans, which included hygiene protocols and information on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in order to prevent and control infections.

Medicines were managed safely. Staff signed the electronic medicines administration record (MAR) charts to show that medicines were given as prescribed. MAR charts evidenced that people received their medicines as prescribed. Care plans included the support people required with medicines and the type of medicines people needed support with.

Staff completed medicines training before they were able to complete medicines tasks. Medicine competency assessments were also completed to check if staff were competent to manage medicines.