Safer Staffing Solutions Ltd

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. Policies and processes were in place to learn from safety incidents. Records identified when changes to people’s care and support were required, the provider acted quickly to implement these. The provider reported incidents to the appropriate agencies when required.

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 ensured that important information about people was shared appropriately with professionals when required. For example, a staff member recognised a change in the needs of a person they were supporting, the registered manager made a referral to health services regarding this to request support and an assessment of needs.

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. Staff received training in safeguarding and understood how to identify and report on safeguarding issues. Records evidenced that when required appropriate referrals were made. People told us they felt safe with the care being delivered.
The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) were understood by the registered manager and there were processes in place to review people’s capacity in line with the MCA. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. The MCA requires that, as far as possible, people make their own decisions and are helped to do so when needed. When they lack mental capacity to take particular decisions, any made on their behalf must be in their best interests and as least restrictive as possible. We found the service was working within the principles of the MCA.
 

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. People and their relatives were involved in initial assessment and regular reviews of their care plans. Care plans were person centred and included important information about people’s wishes. People told us they were happy with the care they received. One person’s relative told us, “They have adapted to our needs.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Initial assessment of the home environment was completed to ensure the safety of both people and staff. Where equipment was in place to support care delivery the provider ensured all necessary maintenance checks had taken place. The provider ensured that all staff had the necessary training in place to operate equipment safely.

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. Recruitment was completed safely, and pre-employment checks took place in line with current guidelines. People told us they received care from a consistent team of people and that new staff were introduced gradually. A relative told us, “When there is a new carer they team them up with the experienced ones, they picked up [relatives] routine without issue.” Staff told us they had sufficient time in their rota to travel to their care calls and people confirmed that staff arrived on time.

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 adequate stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE). The provider carried out spot checks of care which included staff use of PPE. Records evidenced that PPE was used correctly.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Medicines were managed safely. Staff received training to ensure they managed medicines safely. The registered manager undertook regular spot checks to ensure staff competency in this area. Records evidenced that medicines were administered as prescribed and the registered manager had systems in place to monitor daily administration.