Angels Care Home 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 69 (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 worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. The management team had experience of working with external professionals and partner agencies to ensure there was continuity of care for people, including when they moved between different services. The provider worked closely with professionals to ensure people’s preferences and wishes were understood and respected.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. The management team had experience of working with external professionals and partner agencies to ensure there was continuity of care for people, including when they moved between different services. The provider worked closely with professionals to ensure people’s preferences and wishes were understood and respected.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect.Safeguarding concerns were reported quickly and appropriately to the relevant authorities. Staff and managers understood how to protect people from the risk of abuse and received training in safeguarding people. There were safeguarding systems and processes in place that considered the protection of human rights and protecting people from abuse, neglect and discrimination.

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.

Assessments were undertaken to identify risks to people’s safety. These assessments involved the person using the service and their representatives. Risk management plans were in place to support people and mitigate risks to their safety. These covered areas such as mobility, nutrition, choking, personal hygiene, mental health and risks related to long term health conditions.

People and their relatives told us they were satisfied with how the service worked with them to protect them from coming to harm. They confirmed they had been involved when discussing risks to their health and felt staff knew how to keep people safe. A relative said, “The carers understand the risks [family member] has and how to support them.” Another comment from a relative was, “We have a detailed care plan and the carers follow it well.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. The management team carried out an assessment of environmental risks in people’s homes during the initial stages of the person’s assessment to check if it was safe for staff to work and carry out tasks. This included fire safety and environment hazard checks.

The service provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff who received effective support, supervision and development. However, recruitment checks were not always robust.Staff were recruited following the appropriate background checks being carried out. However, we noted in some cases, professional references for staff had not always been received. The management team told us these were being followed up and they had also taken verbal references but had not recorded them. The registered manager assured us these would be completed.

There were processes in place for staff to be deployed effectively. Most staff worked with people who required long term care. Staff supported them throughout the whole day in 12-hour shifts, or during the night in some cases. A relative said, “The carers are very reliable and always come at the right time and handover to each other appropriately.” Another relative said, “The carers arrive on time, and they are very good.” Staff told us they were able to take planned breaks throughout their day for their own health and wellbeing. Some people required the assistance of 2 care staff and the service was able to provide this level of support.

New staff received an induction and completed training. They had the opportunity to shadow other staff supporting people to help them get to know them and become familiar in practices and procedures. A relative said, “The carers are professional and seem to be well trained.” Staff told us they felt well supported by the registered manager and had individual meetings with them to discuss any issues. They received continuous training in areas such as safeguarding, infection control and moving and handling, to keep their skills and knowledge up to date.

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. Infection prevention and control procedures were in place.

Staff received training on infection prevention and control. Staff wore personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk and spread of infections.A staff member said, “We have plenty of PPE and we are trained in infection control.” A relative said, "The staff always use their PPE and wash their hands.”

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Staff told us they received medicines training and felt confident they could support people with medicines. Information about people's medicines was included in their care plans.

Most people did not require support with their medicines as this was often the responsibility of relatives. However, staff spot checks were carried out should they be involved in supporting people with medicines to ensure they did so in accordance with procedures. People told us staff supported them with medicines, and they were happy with their arrangements. A relative told us, “[Family member’s] medication is administered safely and recorded on their notes using a phone.”Staff confirmed that regular monitoring and audits were completed by way of checking people’s medicines administration records (MAR), and feedback from people and relatives.