Wide Care Limited

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 newly registered service. This key question has been rated good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 69 (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. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. Relatives said they were comfortable raising and discussing concerns with management. One relative said, “I’m happy she is being looked after where she is. I would go straight to the managers If I had any concerns.”

The provider 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 and staff supported people to transition into their new homes as independent tenants. A person’s relative told us, “[Name] has been there a couple of years and not had any regrets about her going there.” We saw people who became distressed where consistently supported and there was a focus on planning for a good day. We saw staff understood people and where monitoring any changes that would cause that person to become distressed.

The provider 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 provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. A staff member told us, “It is the practice of protecting a person’s health, well-being, and human rights. safeguarding is about having rules and ways of doing things to keep vulnerable adults, kids safe from abuse, neglect, or harm. By Spotting and reporting concerns, reducing risks and deal with problems.”

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically . For example, we saw that the provider worked with people to understand any historical challenges such as geographical or who was involved in their life in the past and what impact this had. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. Risk assessments were in place to guide staff in areas such as healthcare conditions and when people were communicating a need, expressing feelings or an emotional reaction. However, we did see some staff were not aware of restrictions that were in place for some people. Other health partners told us they had been working with the provider to have better understanding of their responsibilities. They told us, “They attend our multi-disciplinary team meetings and communicate well, but we have had to support them around expectations regarding safeguarding (the reporting of and awaiting advice before investigating) as well as understanding DoLS and their responsibilities.” Where people may need to be deprived of their liberty in order to receive care and treatment in their own homes, the deprivation of liberty safeguards cannot be used. Instead, an application can be made to the Court of Protection (CoPDols) who can authorise deprivations of liberty.

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 had worked to support access to a bespoke and specialised living space for a person, designed to promote their safety, independence and privacy.

Overall, the provider 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. We reviewed staff recruitment files and found recruitment processes required some improvement to ensure the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) information was stored securely. The registered manager acted straight away to address this for existing staff, and to strengthen processes going forwards. We saw some staff had not completed the Oliver McGowan training on autism and learning disabilities. The deputy manager told us they were planning to arrange this training for staff who had not completed it. This is recommended and essential training and from 1 July 2022, all health and social care providers registered with CQC must ensure their staff receive training in how to interact appropriately with people who have a learning disability and autistic people, at a level appropriate to their role.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

The provider made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Records showed medicines were given safely and as prescribed. Staff received medication training which included training about how to safely administer specialist emergency medicines in case of a seizure. The managers completed audits and had identified additional support for staff.