Royal Mencap Society - Rotherham and Sheffield Domiciliary Care Agency

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 provider 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 good systems in place to ensure accidents and incidents were recorded and information was shared with the relevant authorities if necessary. The provider understood their responsibilities in notifying the CQC about certain changes, events and incidents that affected the service or people who use it.

The provider 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 using the service were supported to attend relevant health appointments, care assessments and reviews. Any changes were discussed at meetings to ensure correct and consistent care was provided. This included relative involvement where necessary.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff 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 provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. Safeguarding was a priority for everyone, and the management team ensured knowledge was up to date through annual training. Staff were knowledgeable around ensuring people’s safety, one staff member told us, “If I suspected abuse I would speak to my manager, and record events in a formal and factual manner. I would assess the safety of the person straight away.” Safeguarding concerns were reported to the local authority safeguarding team and CQC, where appropriate.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. The person who was receiving a regulated activity at the service had a comprehensive and informative care and support plan in place to guide staff on effectively managing risk. Staff knew this person and their needs well. One staff member told us, “I keep [person] safe by following their support plan, risk assessments and our services policies and procedures.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. An effective Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) was in place to ensure staff had impactful information on how to ensure safety in an emergency and evacuate the person’s property promptly. Staff had up to date training on fire safety at the time of the inspection.

The provider 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. Staffing levels were consistent at the service, the person receiving the regulated care and support had a core staff team in place. Their relative told us, “[Person] has a small team of 3 carers, and we are going through a gradual transition at [person’s] pace, to expand the staff team to 6.” Recruitment was completed safely with the relevant checks in place. There was a structured induction period followed by on-going support with regular supervisions and medication competency checks.

The provider 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 completed training on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and had access to sufficient Personal protective Equipment (PPE) supplies. One staff member told us, “Yes, I have access to PPE, I have a good stock of gloves and face masks in my car. If I needed more, I could contact my manger or collect from one of our services."

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. People were supported to take their medication correctly and safely. There was a suitable medication policy and staff administering medication received the appropriate level of training. A practice supervision took place before staff were signed off to administer medication independently. Staff were knowledgeable around the safe administration of medicines and knew how to report any medicine errors promptly. A relative told us, “[Person] is given their medicines on time, and these are given in a safe way."