CSS Care 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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm. The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulations as they did not respond to safety events appropriately, failed to learn from incidents, accidents and safeguarding concerns, risks were not fully assessed and managed, medicines records lacked detailed information, recruitment was not safe, access to training, supervisions or appraisals needed improving, visiting records were inconsistent records and people were not always supported to have maximum choice and control. The provider had improved since our last assessment and was no longer in breach of these regulations.

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. The provider had systems to investigate and analyse incidents, accidents and complaints. However, there had not been any incidents since our last assessment. People and staff confirmed the registered manager had responded positively and made changes in response to their suggestions or concerns.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. The provider ensured there was continuity of care, including when people transferred between different services. From the outset, people and their relatives, if appropriate, were involved in determining what care was required to meet people’s needs and preferences. Staff agreed key outcomes with people, based on what was important to them. This information was used to develop personalised care plans.

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. Since our last assessment, there had only been 1 safeguarding concern. This had been referred to the local authority safeguarding team and investigated appropriately. Staff had completed safeguarding training and were confident to raise concerns. A staff member said, “I am very confident [to raise concerns]. I have raised a concern and it was dealt with, it was handled correctly.”

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. Care plans contained sufficient information about people’s individual circumstances for staff to follow, to help keep people safe. Where potential risks had been identified, assessments were carried out to help minimise the risk of potential harm to people. A staff member commented, “The people I see are safe. I do not rush, I follow the care plan and read previous notes.”

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 provider completed environment risk assessments to help promote a safe environment for people and staff.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked well together to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. People and relatives were mostly positive about the care they received. They said staff were reliable, consistent and turned up when expected. A person told us, “They [staff] stay the full time, in fact they never leave until they have done what they need to do.” Another person said, “They turn up on time. They give me a ring if they are going to be late or send a text message.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. The provider had policies and procedures aimed at promoting good infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Staff had also completed training in IPC. A staff member said, “I have completed online infection control training. The training was very helpful and easy to understand.”

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. The provider supported 1 person with medicines. Staff had completed medicines management training and had their competency assessed to check they had the correct skills and knowledge. The provider completed regular audits to check people received their medicines safely. A staff member commented, “I have had training. All medications are given on time and recorded on the MAR [medication administration record] chart.”