Fembistem Care

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 not had any accidents or incidents since providing personal care. There were accident and incident policies and procedures in place. The policies identified analysis of incidents would be carried out to identify lessons learned to support continuous improvement.

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. Pre-assessment visits were completed with people by the registered manager. There were good relationships with community-based health and care services along with good communication and partnership working to support packages of care and to facilitate continuity of care for people.

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. Policies and procedures were in place to keep people safe. Staff had accessed the appropriate training to keep people safe and they knew how to alert people if they suspected abuse. One member of staff told us what they would do if they thought someone was at risk of harm or abuse, "I would report to the manager. I would also document the person’s responses about the matter. If the manager did not act on my report, then I will escalate it by reporting it to the local authority."

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs which was safe, supportive. It enabled people to do the things which mattered to them. Care plans were person centred and risks and mitigations were clearly identified in the assessments. Care plans and risk assessments were completed with people and their families and we saw evidence of their involvement and consent. We reviewed daily notes and observations made by staff after each care call and care was delivered in line with care plans and people were happy with the care they received.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. There was a clear moving and handling policy in place and staff had accessed training to ensure they used equipment safely. People’s equipment needs were detailed in their care plans and risk assessments were completed to ensure safe use and practice.

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 which met people’s individual needs. Staff were recruited safely and all pre-employment checks were completed appropriately. Staff were deployed effectively to meet people’s needs. A comprehensive training package was in place and all staff had completed all mandatory and statutory training. Staff received specific training about how to support people with a learning disability and autistic people.

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. Staff had received training on hand hygiene and infection prevention and control (IPC). Staff told us they had access to supplies of personal protective equipment and they knew how to use it properly. The registered manager checked IPC practice when they review members of staff practical competencies in people’s homes. A member of staff told us, “I have access to personal protective equipment (PPE) which I do get from the company’s office whenever I’m in need. I have had training on infection prevention and control both online and in-person which included how to prevent and control infections in different environments, understanding microorganisms, and hand hygiene.”

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 received their medicines as prescribed, by staff who were trained in how to administer medicines safely. Staff competency to administer medications was checked and reviewed by the registered manager.