Short Term Intervention Team (STIT)

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 good. At this assessment the rating has remained 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 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. Where incidents had occurred, the registered manager had reviewed what had happened. They introduced new procedures to ensure staff knew what to do should it happen again.

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, including when people moved between different services. The registered manager had developed effective working relationships with other professionals and agencies involved in people's care and support. A professional who works with the service told us, “The service escalates practices that are unsafe appropriately, in relation to discharges and works proactively to improve process to support this.”

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. Staff were aware of types and signs of abuse. They were clear about how to report any concerns and were confident these would be fully investigated to help ensure people were protected. One relative said, “We are treated well. They [staff] are very caring and [relatives] safe at all times.” A staff member said, “People are kept safe by the staff, we make sure the environment and care is safe for people.”

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. Staff completed risk assessments during the initial visit to find out what people were able to do safely and what they may need support with and assess any environmental risk. Care plans contained risks assessments which outlined measures in place to enable people to receive care safely with minimum risk to themselves and others. Risk records included moving and handling, risk of fire, nutrition and access. However, we noted some enablement and support plans would have benefited from clearer guidance on the management of risks. The management team told us they would work on improving this information.

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

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. The provider ensured sufficient staff were on duty at all times to meet people's needs safely. The service was not time specific, or time limited as staff were responsive to people's needs at each visit. Therefore, specific visit times were not allocated. This was explained to people during the initial assessment of their needs. People gave us mixed feedback about this. Visits were flexible and responsive to people's needs. Where a person's needs increased or decreased, visits were adjusted accordingly.

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. All staff were provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including, uniforms, plastic aprons, disposable gloves and hand sanitary cleaner. All staff were trained in infection control.

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. People were supported to take their medication safely. Staff had undertaken training on safely handing medication and periodic competency checks made sure they were following the provider's policy.