Hope Farm Medical Centre

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

We looked for evidence that staff protected people from avoidable harm and made sure care was delivered from environments that were clean and well maintained. At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same.

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.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safeguarding during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment and ensured that equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.The service had contracts in place to maintain the premises. Staff and leaders completed health and safety risk assessments and undertook audits to identify and address risks. The service also had a business continuity plan, which was regularly reviewed and outlined how the service would continue to operate in the event of disruption.The service had a process in place to manage and store prescription pads; however, this was not always effective. For example, while a system was in place to record who held prescription pads, serial numbers were not routinely tracked or stored separately. We discussed this with the provider who wasreceptive to our feedback and provided assurance that the issue would be addressed.

The service ensured there were sufficient qualified, skilled, and experienced staff who received support, supervision, and development. Staff worked well together to provide care that met people’s individual needs; however, systems were not always effective in retaining appropriate evidence and ensuring follow-up actions were completed.

While leaders had systems in place to monitor mandatory training and ensure staff worked within their areas of competence, these were not consistently effective in ensuring training was completed.

The service did not always follow safe recruitment procedures when employing staff, in line with national legislation. Of the recruitment files sampled, we found some areas where records were not fully complete, including retaining evidence of revalidation checks. In addition, not all required documentation was consistently available, including photographic identification, proof of qualifications, and right to work checks.

Following our assessment, the provider submitted evidence demonstrating that action had been taken to resolve these concerns.

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

The service had cleaning schedules available, which outlined how staff should clean the building and its equipment. The service demonstrated how these were monitored for completion to maintain oversight of cleaning arrangements. During our onsite visit, the service's premises and a sample of equipment reviewed was noted to be visibly clean. The service’s infection prevention and control lead conducted regular risk assessments and audits to ensure compliance, but it was identified that further assessment and auditing of clinical waste were required to ensure associated risks were appropriately monitored and managed.

We discussed this with the provider who was receptive to our feedback and provided assurance that the issue would be addressed.

Staff had completed relevant training in infection prevention and control.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.