Honeycomb 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.

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.

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

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

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

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning reviews of their medicines with their health provider, including when changes happened. The service had systems in place to safely store, administer and record the use of medicines. Preferences for how people wished or needed to take their medicines were recorded. Some residents were unable to take their medicines by mouth. Guidance was in place to enable trained staff to safely administer appropriately prescribed medicines into a stomach tube (Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy, also known as PEG).

Some areas not legally required for care at home services but were best practice to ensure safe management of medicines were not always being completed, such as recording and checking of stock balances prior to administration, temperature records and putting open dates on bottles containing medicines in liquid form. This meant there was a risk medicines were being used beyond the manufacturers recommended period after the date of opening. However, the registered manager acted promptly and implemented systems and methods for monitoring these during the inspection process.

Instructions for medicines which should be given at specific times were available. Detailed guidance specific to each person on how to administer medicines prescribed as and when people required them, known as ‘PRN’ was available to staff.

Processes were in place to record medicines related incidents or errors. These were investigated and staff were supported to learn lessons and where required complete additional training.

Professionals spoke highly of the registered manager. A professional said, “I was approached by the [registered manager] to review a person’s pain management. During our conversation, the [registered manager] demonstrated a level of concern, empathy and compassion that was a credit to both them and their organisation. They clearly go above and beyond to endeavour to provide a consistency of care for people. They have also sought our opinion and advice on drug administration and communicated information to staff to improve their skills and knowledge.”

Managers and members of staff qualified to handle medicines, regularly completed audits to make sure that procedures were followed. Staff had completed a training and induction process for medicines management. Staff competencies were assessed regularly to make sure they had the necessary skills. Staff were supported to speak up and keep updated of changes in supervision and staff meetings.

People were very happy with the care given by Honeycomb Care’s registered manager and staff. A relative told us that prior to Honeycomb Care providing support, staff had identified during their initial assessments medicines were not all being recorded or ordered correctly by the person being supported. Staff supported the person to agree what medicines were current, checked with their GP and found a balance between retaining the person’s independence and dignity while ensuring safe medicines management. The person was happier and healthier once their medicines were correct. Another relative told us, “Honeycomb Care are by far the best care company we have ever dealt with. We can get hold of them, they reply and respond promptly. I have nothing but praise for the [registered manager] and their team.”