MJ Home Care Staffing 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. 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 registered manager and senior staff monitored all incidents and issues raised, to make sure any shortfalls could be used as learning opportunities. For example, additional training in supporting people with maintaining their tenancy and cookery had been arranged for staff from overseas. This helped to make sure all staff were practising to the same standard.

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.

Staff supported people when they began to use the service for the first time. This included working with people in their previous care setting when they moved from children’s services into adult services. One family member told us, “They were brilliant and included me in the process. I explained their behaviours and boundaries and they were receptive. They listened to everything I said and they’ve taken notice of it because they’ve worked out strategies to manage their behaviour.”

One professional told us how well the staff had worked with them when a person moved from one setting to another. They said, “They have worked alongside me, family and school every step of the way in an emotionally turbulent and unsettling time for them and their family."

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 told us they felt safe with the staff who supported them. One person told us, “I feel very safe. They couldn’t do any more if they tried.”

A professional commented, “Their approach is calm, therapeutic and person centred, creating environments where people feel safe, settled and understood.”

All staff had received training in safeguarding and were able to recognise abuse. All said they would be confident to report any concerns, and all were happy that action would be taken to make sure people were protected.

Where concerns had been raised the registered manager and senior staff had carried out full investigations and worked with appropriate agencies to make sure people were safe.

Staff worked with other professionals to make sure appropriate legal authority was in place where people needed to be deprived of their liberty to keep them safe.

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 provider carried out risk assessments in respect of people’s care. These assessments enabled people to take part in activities and outings which were important to them.

We saw risk assessments had been carried out in partnership with people to make sure they continued to be in control of their support and able to take risks where they chose to.

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

Staff and people were protected from possible risks in the environment because comprehensive risk assessments were carried out.

Staff supported people to maintain the safety of their homes. This included regular smoke alarm tests and liaising with housing providers where necessary.

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 were supported by staff who had been safely recruited and received training appropriate to their role.

People we spoke with had good relationships with the staff who supported them. One person said about their staff team, “They are just brilliant. They know how to manage things in the right way.”

Family members felt staff were well trained and had the skills needed to safely support people. One family member told us, “Yes they are well trained, MJ are very hot on that.” Another told us, “I can’t speak highly enough of the staff."

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 received training in infection prevention and control and had access to personal protective equipment (PPE). Family members said staff wore PPE appropriately. This helped to minimise the spread of infection.

The provider made sure that medicines were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

People received their medicines safely from staff who had received specific training and had their competency assessed. One family member said about medicines, “It’s managed well. It’s all documented.”

Some people were prescribed medicines on an ‘as required’ basis. We saw protocols were in place to make sure people received these medicines in a consistent way to promote their comfort and wellbeing.