Mitcham

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 assessment 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 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 service had a system for monitoring, investigating and reporting incidents and concerns. Staff were involved in discussions about safe practice through supervisions, team meetings and daily contact with the registered manager to ensure lessons were learned.

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.

People’s care plans included information about the key services and professionals involved in their care and support. Staff liaised with families and health professionals to ensure people’s needs were safely managed.

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.

People were provided with information about safeguarding and understood how to raise any concerns they might have. Staff had received safeguarding training. They understood their roles and responsibilities in ensuring people were safe and in reporting any incidents or suspicions immediately. The registered manager understood their duty to report safeguarding concerns to the Local Authority when they arose, and to provide required notifications to the CQC.

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.

People were involved in developing their individual risk assessments and risk management plans. These demonstrated a focus on enabling people to maintain their independence and skills. People’s risk management plans contained detailed guidance for staff on how to minimise risk while respecting people’s personal choices.

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 service had carried out assessments of risk in people’s home environment. People’s risk assessments and care plans included guidance for staff on the safe use of equipment required for the delivery of personal care.

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.

Staff were safely recruited. They received an induction before commencing work with people. This included training linked to the Care Certificate which provides a nationally recognised set of learning standards for staff working in social care. Staff received regular supervision from the registered manager who also carried out spot checks of staff practice in people’s homes. Staff spoke positively about the quality of the training and support they received.

People were supported by regular staff members who knew them well. There were sufficient staff to ensure people received the care and support they required.

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 service had carried out individual assessments of infection risk for people. These included risks associated with people’s health conditions and their cultural backgrounds. Guidance was provided to staff on reducing the risk of infection, and reporting concerns immediately. Staff had received training in infection preventions and control. The service maintained stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, aprons and masks for use by staff when providing personal care.

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.

Records of people’s prescribed medicines were well maintained. Staff had received training in safe administration of medicines and their competency was assessed by the registered manager during regular spot checks of care in people’s homes.