Dementia@Home

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

We assessed all the quality statements in the Safe key question.

This service scored 72 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe when they were being supported by staff.

The registered manager told us staff were encouraged to share any concerns about ways of working. The registered manager said all incidents were recorded and reviewed to find improved ways of working and were communicated to staff.

Incidents and accidents were recorded with actions taken in response. The senior management team reviewed incidents to identify any changes needed to prevent recurrence.

Staff worked with other services to ensure people received continuity of care, for example, liaising with existing care providers and community health services.

The registered manager told us senior members of staff completed assessments prior to people starting their care packages. They said they worked with other health and care providers to ensure people received continuity of care.

Health and social care professionals told us the service worked well with other providers to ensure people received continuity of care.

In some cases, we observed people had care delivered by multiple care agencies. Staff communicated with those agencies to share information about people’s outcomes. Staff also communicated with family members to make sure they were aware of any concerns or changes.

People told us they felt safe with carers from Dementia@Home in their home. People and their relatives had access to information about how to raise any concerns they might have.

Staff told us they had completed safeguarding training. Staff were clear about how to report any alleged abuse and they were aware of the whistleblowing policy and process. Staff were confident the registered manager would take action if they reported concerns.

Incidents of safeguarding were recorded and shared with the local authority safeguarding team. Staff received safeguarding training and records demonstrated staff were sharing concerns with management.

Relatives told us they were confident people were safe when the staff were providing care.

Staff were not always aware how to manage risks people faced. Most staff were aware of the risk people faced and the support they needed to manage them. However, one member of staff who supported a person with diabetes told us they were not confident to identify if the person was becoming unwell. The member of staff said they did not have this information in the support plans or the action they should take.

Risks to people’s safety had not always been recorded. We found risks for people’s mobility had been assessed but no guidance for staff to follow had been recorded. People who experienced distressed reactions did not have clear guidance for staff to know what support to provide. It was not clear what approach was safe and effective for staff to use when people experienced distress. The registered manager took immediate action during the assessment to resolve the shortfalls identified.

Relatives said staff knew how to safely use any equipment people needed.

Staff liaised with health professionals to make sure people had the equipment they needed. Staff told us action was taken quickly when concerns were identified about the safety of equipment people used.

If people had equipment this was recorded in their care records. The registered manager told us guidance on how to use equipment would be sought from relevant professionals.

People told us staff had the right skills and knowledge to meet their needs. People said staff usually arrived on time and stayed the full duration of their scheduled call. Comments included, “They have always been on time and reliable”.

Staff said they had regular support meetings with their supervisor. Staff confirmed they had completed employment checks before they started work and told us they had completed training necessary for their role.

Required pre-employment checks had been completed for staff before starting work. This included a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). New staff received an induction, which included training and shadowing experienced staff. Records demonstrated staff had regular supervision sessions. The registered manager had a record of training staff had completed and a system to plan when refresher courses were needed.

People did not provide any direct feedback about infection prevention and control but did tell us they were happy with the service and felt staff provided safe care.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of infection prevention and control processes they should follow and said they had received training. Staff said they never had any problems obtaining the personal protective equipment they needed.

The provider had an infection prevention and control policy, which was regularly reviewed and updated to reflect current guidance. The management team completed spot checks of staff, to ensure they were putting the procedures and their training into practice.

The service does not provide support for people to manage their medicines. We have not scored this quality statement but used the key question rating score so as not to alter the rating.

The service does not provide support for people to manage their medicines. We have not scored this quality statement but used the key question rating score so as not to alter the rating.

The service does not provide support for people to manage their medicines. We have not scored this quality statement but used the key question rating score so as not to alter the rating.