TrailMed

This was the first time we inspected this service. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records.
• Staff provided good care and treatment and gave patients pain relief when they needed it. The service met stakeholder and patient expectations. Managers made sure staff were competent and monitored patient and stakeholder satisfaction. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their immediate health needs. They provided emotional support to patients and relatives.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of people in different circumstances, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• The registered manager ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s values, and felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with their stakeholders to plan and manage services well. They used feedback from patients to improve the service.

However.

• They did not manage storage and stock control of medicines well. This was rectified immediately after our inspection.
• Managers did not routinely use clinical audit to monitor the effectiveness of the care they provided.
• Although substantive staff had daily meetings with the medical director to plan their work and assess risks, they did not hold formal governance meetings with staff. This was rectified immediately after our inspection.
• Although new staff had their skills and competency checked during induction, there was no formal record of this. The registered manager planned to add this to the electronic monitoring system.