Beersheba Social Care Services Limited

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.

This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has been rated 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.

Staff felt confident to raise concerns and understood their responsibility to report incidents, accidents and near misses relating to people’s care. These were reported to the registered manager, who reviewed them promptly and took appropriate action to reduce risks and prevent recurrence. For example, following concerns about a person’s choking risk, the registered manager updated the person’s care plan and risk assessment to ensure guidance reflected the identified risk and required support. The registered manager and staff held regular discussions and updates to review incidents, concerns and near misses. Learning from these was shared with staff to improve the care delivered to people.

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.The provider had a system they followed to screen referrals which included assessing people’s needs before people started using the service. As part of this process, staff met with individuals and, where appropriate, their families to discuss needs, preferences and risks, ensuring care could be planned safely and effectively.

The provider worked collaboratively with external professionals to support people’s health and wellbeing. For example, staff worked alongside a dietitian and occupational therapist to ensure the right level of support and equipment was available for people. They worked with other agencies and services involved to get handovers, relevant information and guidance on how to support people appropriately.

People were supported to complete referrals to other services when required, which helped ensure access to appropriate care and reduced the risk of delays or gaps in support. These arrangements promoted joined‑up working, continuity of care and safer outcomes for people using the service.

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.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe with staff. One person said, “I totally feel safe with all the carers. They are lovely.”

The provider had effective systems and processes in place to safeguard people from abuse, including a safeguarding policy and procedure for staff to follow if they had concerns. Staff had received training to help them identify different types of abuse and neglect. Staff understood the actions they needed to take if they had concerns and knew how to report these appropriately. They were also aware of whistleblowing procedures and understood how to raise concerns with external agencies if required to protect people.

The registered manager demonstrated a clear understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities including notifying and involving other organisations where necessary.

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.

Individual risk assessments were completed and covered areas such as people’s physical health conditions, risks of pressure damage, nutrition, moving and handling, and risks associated with specific health needs. Risk assessments and management plans detailed how staff should support people safely and reduce any risks associated with their health conditions and care delivery while continuing to support people’s independence.

People and their relatives confirmed that staff followed guidance and supported them in a way that promoted safety and wellbeing. Staff discussed risks with people and, where appropriate, their relatives, and agreed how risks should be managed.

Appropriate equipment was available to support people safely with moving and transfers when required. An occupational therapist had been involved in assessing people’s moving and positioning needs and in developing moving and positioning plans. They also supported staff training to ensure care was delivered safely and promoted the safety of both people and staff.

Risk management plans were reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in people’s needs or circumstances, helping to ensure care remained safe, responsive and person centred.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Individual risk assessments for people’s homes were completed, including fire safety assessments. Equipment, facilities, and technology were checked regularly to ensure they were safe, well maintained, and supported the delivery of safe care.

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.

People and their relatives confirmed staffing arrangements were reliable and responsive. One person told us, “They are here when they should be and they support me well. If they are running late, they always let us know. We have never had a time that they did not show up.” A relative said, “The carers are good. They are competent in their roles and I believe they have had the right training.” The service had a team of staff available to cover visits as required, which helped maintain continuity and reduce missed calls. One person confirmed, “I always do double up for a client as we use hoist and there are always 2 of us.”

Staff received appropriate training and supervision to carry out their roles effectively. All staff completed an induction when they started, which included mandatory training, shadowing experienced staff and competency assessments. Records showed staff had completed training relevant to their roles and responsibilities.

Staff told us they were well supported through regular supervision, observation, spot checks, performance review meetings and opportunities for reflective practice. One member of staff said, “The [registered manager] is available to support me with anything I need. I feel well supported by them.”

The provider followed safe recruitment practices. Staff had completed the required pre‑employment checks before starting work, including references, criminal record checks, verification of employment history, proof of identity and confirmation of the right to work in the UK. These measures helped ensure people were supported by staff who were suitable to work with them.

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.

People were protected from the risk of infection. The service had clear infection prevention and control policies and procedures in place, and staff had completed training to ensure they understood their responsibilities. People and relatives confirmed that staff followed infection control practices and used personal protective equipment appropriately.

Staff used personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and aprons, safely and correctly when providing care and support. The registered manager carried out practice observations to monitor staff compliance with infection prevention and control procedures and to ensure these were followed consistently. This oversight helped maintain safe standards of care and reduced the risk of infection for people using the service.

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.

The provider had safe systems and processes in place for the administration and management of medicines. People confirmed staff supported them to take their medicines safely. Staff had received training in the safe administration and management of medicines, and their competency was regularly assessed to ensure safe practice. Medicines administration records were completed accurately. Care plans set out the support people required with their medicines, and staff followed this guidance to ensure medicines were administered as prescribed.

The registered manager carried out regular audits of medicines records to identify any issues or discrepancies. This oversight helped ensure medicines were managed safely and any concerns were addressed promptly, reducing the risk of errors and promoting positive outcomes for people using the service.