Allura Care Ltd

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.

There was a learning culture. Staff reported all accidents, incidents and concerns. The registered manager investigated these. The agency worked closely with people, their families and external professionals to improve care following things that went wrong. The provider made timely referrals for extra support when people needed this. The registered manager developed guides for staff to help ensure that people and staff were safe. They adapted these following incidents. Staff told us they were consulted about changes and felt there were opportunities to learn and improve their practice. Relatives told us the provider had responded well to incidents.

The provider supported people to have safe transitions between services. The registered manager carried out assessments of people’s needs. They asked people, their relatives and external professionals for their views. This helped ensure they provided safe and appropriate care straight away. The provider supported people when they accessed other services. For example, they had supported 1 person to visit a care home when their needs changed and provided essential information to the care home to help them care for the person safely. A relative explained a person had moved home. They told us the registered manager and care workers helped to arrange the transition. They commented, “[The agency] arranged the house move and transition. This was amazing. They were so efficient and aware of [person’s] needs. This helped minimise disruption.”

The registered manager created care plan summaries and ‘grab sheets’ which recorded information about people’s communication, health needs and medicines. They kept a supply of these in people’s homes to help provide essential information to healthcare visitors, including emergency workers. The registered manager told us these were designed so that people could take them to hospital if needed.

There were systems to help protect people from abuse. Staff undertook training about safeguarding. They were able to describe how to recognise and report abuse. The registered manager and staff worked closely with the local authority and others to investigate allegations and help protect people from avoidable harm. People and their relatives told us they felt safe with the agency.

The provider assessed, monitored and planned for risks. The registered manager discussed risks with people and their relatives. They supported people to be independent and to make informed choices. They helped people to plan ways to remain safe. Staff were given guidance and information about risks and how these were being managed. The provider had responded well when people’s needs changed, updating guidance and assessments. The provider consulted with external healthcare professionals to make sure risks were managed in a way which reflected best practice guidance. Staff undertook training to understand how to safely care for people, including how to support them to move and how to safely use equipment.

The provider supported people to live in a safe environment. They assessed the risks in people’s home environments and discussed this with people and their relatives. The provider supported people to understand about environmental safety.

There were systems to check staff suitability when the provider recruited them. However, these had not always been followed. The provider had not always verified references. Failure to carry out robust checks meant there was an increased risk staff were not suitable. We discussed this with the registered manager. They carried out other checks before recruitment and a range of checks during staff inductions. This had helped to mitigate risks. The registered manager agreed to ensure they verified references in the future.

There were enough staff to support people and meet their needs. Care workers arrived on time for visits and stayed for the right amount of time. People told us they were not rushed. The provider matched care workers to meet people’s individual needs and preferences. People were cared for by the same familiar care workers. People had good relationships with them and thought they were skilled. A person commented, “The care workers are well trained and very professional. We are very blessed to have them.”

New staff completed an induction and a range of training to help equip them for the role. The management team tested staff competencies and knowledge. They carried out regular spot checks, supervision and appraised staff work. This helped to make sure staff understood and followed good practice.

There were systems for preventing and controlling infection. These included suitable procedures, staff training and provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all staff. People using the service and their relatives explained staff followed good practice with cleanliness, wearing PPE and hand washing. The management team carried out spot checks to observe care workers. These included checking staff compliance with infection and prevention control procedures.

People were supported with their medicines in a safe way. Staff undertook training to understand about safe medicines management. Managers assessed their knowledge and skills. The provider created clear care plans and risk assessments relating to people’s medicines. Staff recorded when they had administered medicines. These records were checked by managers. Staff reported concerns relating to medicines and the management team liaised with doctors and pharmacists when needed. People told us they were happy with the support they received with medicines.