GAIN Care Limited - Leeds

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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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.

There were policies and procedures in place that were used to support staff to continually improve their practice and provide safe care to people. Accidents and incidents were reported and investigated by the management team.

In our conversations with staff, they knew how to safely deal with accidents and incidents such as a medical emergency or a fall. Staff were confident that any concerns raised would be acted upon by management.

People and relatives told us the service provided safe care. Their comments included, “[Person] is very safe with them as [person] has carers that [person] knows and trusts.”

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.

There were policies and procedures in place that were used to support staff to continually improve their practice and provide safe care to people. Accidents and incidents were reported and investigated by the management team.

In our conversations with staff, they knew how to safely deal with accidents and incidents such as a medical emergency or a fall. Staff were confident that any concerns raised would be acted upon by management.

People and relatives told us the service provided safe care. Their comments included, “[Person] is very safe with them as [person] has carers that [person] knows and trusts.”

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.

There were policies and procedures in place in relation to safeguarding and whistleblowing. The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities under safeguarding.

Staff had received safeguarding training and knew who they could report concerns to internally and externally. Staff were knowledgeable about signs of abuse and neglect and what action to take, as well as how to whistle blow, if required, by following internal policies and procedures, contact local safeguarding team or CQC. A staff member commented, “If I had any suspicion [of a safeguarding concern], I would follow the procedures, speak with the individual, I am giving them an opportunity to speak, without interfering, I am listening, I am recording it, and then I am going to report to the manager.”

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 service completed relevant risk assessments to people’s care. This included risks to people's individual safety, well-being and environmental risks. These assessments generated plans that guided staff on how to support people against ongoing risks.

Some people required staff to use equipment to move them safely. The provider had a system in place to ensure the equipment had all relevant checks and was safe to use. Staff were aware of people’s risk assessments and felt they could confidently support people safely.A staff member told us before supporting people with any moving and handling, “The first thing is to make sure [people] have a care plan, which is going to tell me the sling and the colours [of the loops], to know how to put on the colour of the sling. Before using the sling, I check it is the correct size, and when hoisting someone we need to make sure the space is clear.”

A person told us, “I feel very safe and have no concerns when I am hoisted.” A relative commented, “The carers were well trained in using the hoist, but we all discussed and agreed it was better for [person] to stay in bed. They safely move [person] to wash [them] and change bedding using slide sheets and gently rolling [person].”

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 assessment of people’s home environment was always completed before a care package was provided and these were shared with the staff team, so any identified risks were known and mitigated.

Processes were in place to monitor the environment, and any equipment used to support people.

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.

There were policies and procedures in place that were used to support staff to continually improve their practice and provide safe care to people. Accidents and incidents were reported and investigated by the management team.

In our conversations with staff, they knew how to safely deal with accidents and incidents such as a medical emergency or a fall. Staff were confident that any concerns raised would be acted upon by management.

People and relatives told us the service provided safe care. Their comments included, “[Person] is very safe with them as [person] has carers that [person] knows and trusts.”

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.

There were appropriate policies and procedures to minimise the risk of infection.

Staff knew to escalate any concerns and took correct measures to maintain hygiene.

People and relatives told us staff followed safe practices to manage the risk of infections. Their comments included, “They will change [person’s] sheets often and also wipe the hospital ripple mattress; they are aware of the need for infection control” and “The carers wear their PPE and always wash their hands before giving any food or drinks.”

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's needs around their medication were assessed, planned and delivered safely.

The provider was working with relevant healthcare professionals to ensure people who required medication to be administered via a gastrostomy tube received their medication safely.

Staff were trained in the administration of medicines and could describe how to do this safely. Their competency had been checked regularly. Medicine audits were regularly completed and actions taken when required.