Alchita Care Limited of Bradford

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 people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question inadequate. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

The service was no longer in breach of regulation in relation to safe care and treatment.

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 service 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 service had systems and processes in place to facilitate a positive learning culture. There was a lesson learned log following incidents or safeguarding concerns. There were audits in place to identify any patterns in relation to accidents, incidents and safeguarding to facilitate further learning. These were discussed with staff in meetings. Leaders in the service advised us they strive for improvement and learning within their staff team. Leaders told us, “We provide training, we also book external companies to train our staff. We complete supervisions and identify any areas of learning and provide additional training.” Staff told us there was a positive learning culture within the service, and these were discussed with them. One staff member told us, “Learning is a positive experience.”

The service 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.

The service had safe and robust systems in place to monitor people’s safety. The service completed thorough initial assessments with people. The service worked with external colleagues such as health services and the local authority. One professional told us, “I would possibly not have been alerted to the need for a specific assessment for [person using the service] without Alchita identifying these issues within the home environment so promptly.”

The service did not always work well with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and how to achieve this. They did not always concentrate on improving people’s lives or protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The service did not always share concerns quickly and appropriately.

The service had systems in place to protect people from harm. There was a safeguarding policy in place. Staff had relevant safeguarding training. Safeguarding concerns were shared with the appropriate agencies. The service held a safeguarding log and lessons learnt log. However, the service did not always deal with safeguarding concerns effectively to ensure the person’s safety. The service has advised how they will improve on safeguarding. People told us they feel safe using the service. One person told us, “I feel safe when the carers are here because they are so nice.”

The service did not support anyone in relation to Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs). This means people can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA). In care homes, and some hospitals, this is usually through MCA application for DoLs. However, the service had a good understanding of the principles regarding this.

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things which mattered to them.

The service communicated with relevant professionals to manage risk. Staff had relevant training to ensure safe management of care. For example, if staff required additional training to support someone with specific moving and handling needs, the service involved relevant professionals to train staff. One professional told us, “It was quickly identified by [the service] the person may need [extra support] to reduce risk of falls.” Staff also felt the service involved the right professionals to manage risk. One staff member told us, “[the service] are very good working with other professionals.” People told us they felt the service worked well to escalate any concerns regarding people’s care. One relative told us, “If they [staff] notice the slightest mark or sore area, they will let me know.”

The service 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 completed by the service to ensure people’s homes were safe for completing care, both for the person and staff. The service completed regular fire safety tests and audits. Staff advised us environmental risks were considered regarding theirs’ and the persons safety. One staff member told us, “If there are any risks to us, we are told.” People told us environmental checks were completed in their home. One relative said, “Before they [the service] started to provide carers, they [the service] did a walk around of the property to look at such things as the hoist, fire doors and the lockable cabinet medications are stored in.”

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 which met people’s individual needs.

Recruitment systems and processes were robust, with experienced and qualified staff. Staff had relevant training to fulfil their roles. Staff received supervision and appraisals from leaders. Staff felt they had the required training they needed to fulfil their role and felt there were enough staff to support people. People told us they felt staff were well trained to fulfil their role. One relative told us, “The staff have the skills to care; they have a 100 percent understanding of how to work with [my relative].”

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

There was a detailed IPC policy in place. Staff had completed IPC training and had a good knowledge of IPC procedures. One staff member told us, “We need to hand wash properly, ensuring we have the right Personal Protective Equipment in place.” People told us staff wore the correct protective clothing whilst supporting them. One person told us, “The staff always wear aprons and gloves. They wore masks during the recent flu outbreak.”

The service made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

There were relevant medication policies in place to support safe management of medicines. There were “as required” (PRN) policies in place which were well detailed. Staff had completed relevant training in medicines management to fulfil their role. Regular medication audits were completed by leaders within the service. There was at times, important medication information missing such as, whether staff supported with medications or the person self-administered, however there was no impact to people. The service has advised how they will improve on medications.

Staff told us they had completed medicines management training, and this prepared them well to ensure the safe management of medicines. People told us they felt their medicines were managed safely. One relative told us, “The carers give the medication in my absence and are thorough.”