Klass Care Ltd Also known as Klass Care

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 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 service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. People were supported by a culture of openness and transparency. Staff understood the importance of reporting incidents and accidents promptly and accurately. They felt confident to raise concerns and were supported by a registered manager who had clear systems in place to review incidents and reduce future risks. Accidents, incidents, and significant events were recorded using the provider’s electronic governance system. The registered manager was informed of each incident and carried out regular audits to identify patterns and trends, which informed service improvements. Staff described a positive and open working environment, where ongoing training, supervision, and reflective practice were promoted. They felt well supported by the leadership team and encouraged to contribute ideas for improving care. Feedback from partner organisations confirmed the service worked together and communicated effectively. Relatives said they were kept informed of any significant changes. The provider maintained a lesson learned record’s which included details of each event, actions taken, and specific recommendations. This was shared with all staff, to support learning across the service.

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. People reported feeling confident their needs would be met by staff and important information would be shared appropriately to ensure continuity of care. Staff told us they had access to relevant and timely information when working with external professionals, including during hospital admissions or when a person was transferred to another care service. Care plans and risk assessments were comprehensive, ensuring staff had access to guidance on how to support people safely. When people were admitted to hospital or moved to a new care setting, a summary sheet containing essential information accompanied them. This supported smooth transitions and helped maintain consistency in care. Feedback from staff and managers confirmed that clear and effective communication pathways were in place to manage transitions safely. Partner organisations highlighted the service’s proactive approach to information sharing and collaborative working, which supported safe and responsive care delivery during times of change.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They 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 service shared concerns quickly and appropriately. People told us they felt happy, content, and safe with the care provided by Klass Care. People’s relatives confirmed this view. One family member said, “We are satisfied with all they do; our loved one is 100% safe in their hands.” Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures and what actions they would take if they suspected someone was at risk of harm, both internally and with external safeguarding agencies. Staff expressed confidence the registered manager would respond promptly to any concerns raised. One staff member told us, “The registered manager is approachable, and I feel comfortable talking to them about any issues at any time.” All staff had completed safeguarding adults training and received regular updates. They understood how to uphold people’s rights and ensure those rights were respected in daily practice. Although the service had not supported anyone subject to DoLS at the time of inspection, the registered manager and staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS processes. The registered manager maintained a safeguarding log and submitted statutory notifications to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in accordance with their duties.

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. People had been actively involved in managing risks to their health, safety, and wellbeing in ways that supported their independence and respected their individual preferences. Risk assessments were completed for all aspects of people’s care and support needs. For example, following a medical condition that affected a person’s mobility, the provider implemented a detailed care plan and worked closely with occupational therapy professionals. Additionally, the provider introduced stroke awareness training for staff to enable them to recognise early signs of a stroke and respond promptly. An electronic care planning system was used, allowing care records and risk assessments to be updated instantly. This ensured staff had access to the most current and accurate information regarding people’s risks. Office-based staff conducted regular spot checks to ensure that risk management practices were being followed consistently.

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 had been completed to support people’s care and safety within their own homes. Staff had received training on the correct use of equipment, such as mobility aids, to ensure people were supported safely when moving around. The assessments included clear guidance on actions staff should take to support the safe evacuation of people in an emergency. The provider had organised ‘safe and well’ checks in partnership with the fire service to help ensure people’s homes remained secure and fire safe. People were supported to access qualified professionals, such as electricians, to carry out essential safety repairs within their homes. Environmental risks within people’s homes were also assessed regularly. These included checks on equipment and fire safety and to prepare for emergencies such as gas or water leaks, helping to maintain a safe living environment.

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 that met people’s individual needs. There were enough suitably skilled and trained staff to meet people’s needs. People and their relatives expressed satisfaction with the care provided. One relative told us, “Staff are kind, caring and respectful towards my loved one.” Recruitment procedures were in place to ensure all necessary pre-employment checks were completed before staff began work. This included enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, which provided information about convictions and cautions held on the police national computer to support safer recruitment decisions. New staff completed a structured induction programme, which incorporated shadowing experienced colleagues and competency assessments. Ongoing support for staff included scheduled supervisions and regular spot checks. Records demonstrated these meetings were meaningful, two-way discussions.

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.Staff had received training in infection prevention and control, to support their understanding of best practice. Staff reported there were plentiful supplies of gloves, aprons, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) available. People told us staff consistently used the PPE when delivering care and disposed of it correctly afterwards. They also said staff respected their homes, always ensuring they were left clean and tidy after providing support.

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed. Care plans detailed who was responsible for supporting each person with their medicines, who ordered them, how they were disposed of, and which pharmacy supplied them. For topical medicines, such as creams, body maps were used to clearly indicate where the medicine should be applied. Staff received training in medicines management and had their competency regularly assessed to support safe practices. Staff understood the importance of administering medicines at the prescribed times. Care visits were scheduled to allow intervals between doses, supporting safe administration. Medicines records were maintained on an electronic system, which ensured updates were made promptly as changes occurred. Alerts from the electronic system notified office staff if medicines were late or missed, enabling timely action to support compliance. Training for staff included both theoretical and practical elements, alongside competency checks. The service maintained effective communication with GPs and pharmacies to ensure people had access to the correct medicines at the right time. A detailed medicines policy and procedure were in place to guide practice.