Elite Care Services Limited

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• 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

As part of this assessment, we looked at 3 quality statements for the key question of safe. These were ‘safeguarding, involving people to manage risks and safe and effective staffing.' People were kept safe from avoidable harm because staff knew them well and understood how to protect them. Care and risk management plans were in place which included guidance for staff to support people when they became distressed. There were enough staff to support people safely and safe recruitment practices were followed.

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.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The registered manager was aware of their responsibility to liaise with the local authority if safeguarding concerns were raised and there were systems in place to support this process. Staff had access to safeguarding information and policies which contained contact numbers of who to contact with any safeguarding concerns.

Staff had developed positive and trusting relationships with people that helped to keep them safe. Staff told us they were trained in procedures for safeguarding younger adults and we confirmed this by looking at the staff training records. One staff member told us, "We receive regular training about keeping people safe. I would have no hesitation in reporting any concerns I had. It's our priority to keep the people we support safe."

People felt safe with the support they received, and we observed people being supported by staff in a sensitive and respectful manner. A relative told us, “My [family member] definitely feels safe because the care staff are really good. They respond quickly to their health needs and contact the GP direct when needed, always letting me know.”

People were supported safely by staff. We observed that staff knew people well and had developed strong relationships with them so they felt safe. People appeared relaxed and at ease in the company of staff and were able to communicate any concerns effectively because staff understood their individual methods of communicating.

Staff were able to tell us how they supported people safely and understood people's risks. We saw an example of positive risk taking which the registered manager described to us. “[Person] had expressed they would like to get a bike to use out in the community and in their garden. They have a health condition and are non-ambulant so we sought advice from the occupational therapist as to which bike would work best for them.” After discussing the risks with [person] a trike was purchased, and we saw photographs of them enjoying riding the trike.

There were risk management plans in place to identify all the risks present within a person's life. They were completed in a way that allowed people as much freedom as possible and promoted their independence. Risk assessments were used to promote and protect people’s safety in a positive way.

Risks to people had been assessed and their safety monitored. One relative told us, "I have absolute faith in the carers that any risks are known and plans are put in place to prevent anything harmful happening to my [family member]. I trust them implicitly."

We did not look at Safe environments during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

Safe recruitment practices were followed for staff working with at the service. Checks were carried out including references and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Staff rotas showed that staffing was consistent, and each person always had the staff support they needed. Records demonstrated that staff had been provided with induction training and those new to the service were working towards achieving the care certificate. We also saw that an on-going training schedule for staff was in place including any specialist training they needed to ensure they could meet the diverse needs of all people using the service.

Rota's showed that each person always had support by enough numbers of regular staff that ensured consistency. The registered manager said this was important to people because it reduced their anxiety. Staff told us they felt staffing numbers were sufficient to meet the needs of people using the service. One said, “Staffing isn’t a problem, it’s very good. There’s always enough staff to support people with their activities.” Staff told us they felt well supported and they told us they had regular supervision to ensure they were working in line with best practice guidance.

There were sufficient staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. One person told us the staff were “Nice and good at cooking.” A relative told us, “The carers have been so supportive of [family member] in moments of sadness, stress and anxiety. They always put [family member at ease and this makes a huge difference to me and gives me peace of mind.”

We saw sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs including for 1-1 support. Each person had a regular team of staff who knew them well and responded to their needs swiftly. We observed a white board in 1 person’s home that had a staff rota on it so the person knew which staff member was going to support them.

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.