JL Care Services

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. This is the first inspection for this service. This key question has been rated 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 service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. All incidents, accidents and concerns were recorded, reported and monitored. Honest and open discussions took place during staff meetings. The registered manager told us, “There is no blame culture, we all do the same job.”

The service 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. Risks to people were identified and managed, with input from partner organisations. Strong working relationships had been formed with commissioners and healthcare organisations to ensure safe transitions of care. For example, one person had recently been discharged from hospital and was uncomfortable with a piece of equipment. The service immediately explored different options working in tandem with the person and commissioners to facilitate a better outcome.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They 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 service shared concerns quickly and appropriately. There was a good understanding of safeguarding across the service and appropriate recording systems in place. Staff had been trained on the signs of abuse and had signed to say they had read and understood the safeguarding policy. Staff members confirmed they would have no hesitation in reporting any concerns.

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. People were thoroughly involved in assessments of risks and were informed of actions taken to support them. People’s independence and positive risk taking was encouraged. One person told us, “They have talked to me about risks and I have told them what I can and can't do.”

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. People’s home environments were assessed and staff were alerted to any risks. Staff were trained so they were able to use equipment safely.

The service 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. Robust recruitment practices were in place. New staff received a thorough induction, training and had their competency checked. Systems were in place to track staff training and ensure it was refreshed regularly. The service had started to develop more in-house face to face training, with an ambition for all training to be delivered in this manner. Staff were supported through spot checks, supervisions and regular meetings. A staff member told us, “I get good support. I can become a ‘dementia friend’; I can have the training I need and I’m interested in.”

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. People were supported by staff who had received infection prevention and control training and had access to the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. People received their medicines as prescribed. Medicines were recorded accurately, and appropriate systems were in place to manage and monitor these. Where people were supported with the application of topical medicines appropriate body maps were in place.