Caring Connections

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 4 quality statements in the safe key question and found no areas of concern. The scores for these areas have been combined with scores based on the rating from the last inspection which was rated good. Our rating for the key question has not changed and remains good. The service was safe. Systems were in place for management of any safeguarding concerns raised. People were supported with their medicines appropriately. Staff had access to guidance and support in managing people’s medicines. People’s care plans and risk assessments promoted safe care and support and contained important information as to how individuals wished for their care to be delivered. Care plans and risk assessments were reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Staff received regular training and checks to provide safe effective support whilst delivering and medicines to people.

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.

Feedback from people and their family members about their experiences of safeguarding was overall positive. People felt safe when care is delivered, comments included, “Oh, yes definitely” and “Yes, all the time.” One person raised a situation when they didn’t feel safe, this was raised with the management team and addressed. People and their family members knew who to contact if they did not feel safe.

Staff told us they had access to safeguarding policies and procedures and knew where they were located. Staff told us they had received training and were confident and knowledgeable around safeguarding people. Staff were able to describe signs and indicators of people experiencing potential harm.

Policies and procedures were in place for the safe and effective management of safeguarding concerns raised. These processes were available to all staff. Staff had received training around safeguarding people. People’s care plans and risk assessments contained information to minimise any risk from harm.

Overall people were positive about how risk was managed. Comments included, “I’m very unsteady and frightened of falling in the shower but they make sure I’m safe” and, “Oh yes, I feel very safe when they help me in the shower; I need a lot of help from them, and they do it properly.” People said they had been involved in discussions about the management of risk, however the majority of people spoken with told us they did not have access to a copy of their care plan. This was discussed in feedback with the management team.

Overall staff and leaders understood people's risks and how they were to be managed. Leaders explained risk was assessed as part of the initial assessment and kept under review. Staff were knowledgeable about people's risks, they told us they were set out in people's care plans. Staff told us people had the equipment they needed to keep them safe.

Systems were in place for the management of known risk. People’s care plans showed that where a risk had been identified, care was planned to mitigate these risks. For example, people’s care plans contained risk assessments for both delivery of care and people’s living environment.

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

Overall people told us they were supported by the right number of staff who had the right skill and experience. People’s comments included, “Yes I need 2 carers' and I always have 2”; “They mostly keep to my call times and don’t leave until they’ve done everything they need to for me”; “They seem to know what they are doing, never had a problem. They are really good” and, “Oh yes. I only need one to help me. They are all very nice and careful. They are mostly on time.” Some people did however tell us some staff were better than others, mostly referring to their care staff know their needs well.

Overall feedback from staff was that visits were attended by the right amount of suitably skilled and experience staff. Staff told us they felt well supported and had completed training required for their role. Leaders explained how they supported staff and assessed their performance through regular meetings, supervisions and spot checks.

Systems were in place for the management and oversight of staff rotas. This planning included travel time between staff visits to people. Wherever possible, people’s specific requests were considered and planned for in relation to staff visiting them. For example, requests for specific gender of staff.

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.

People told us they were overall positive about the way their medicines were managed.

Staff were confident in the management of people’s medicines. Staff told us received regular training and competency checks in relation to medicines management. Staff were able to explain what checks they carried on the electronic medicines records prior to supporting people with their medicines. Staff told us they were aware of how to report any errors or concerns regarding people’s medicines.

Systems were in place for the recording and monitoring of people’s medicines. This included an electronic medicines monitoring system and policies and procedures that were available to all staff. People’s care plans contained information in relation to medicines people were supported with. This information included when and how support was needed, the time and dosage to manage their medicines.