Right Choice Home 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. At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm. The provider was previously in breach of regulation in relation to fit and proper persons employed. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulation.

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. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

People told us they felt safe. The service ensured incidents and concerns were immediately investigated and changes made to people’s care and support where required to reduce the risk of recurrence. 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.

Staff worked in partnership with families and social workers to develop care packages that best met people’s needs on admission to the service. People’s care plans included information about the key services and professionals involved in their care and support.

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 service 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 reported safeguarding concerns to the Local Authority when they arose and provided required notifications to the CQC.

The provider 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 and their relatives, where appropriate, were involved in developing their person-centred risk assessments and risk management plans. The risk management plans contained guidance for staff on enabling people to maintain their independence while respecting their individual choices and preferences.

The provider 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 for potential risks when they started using the service and this was regularly reviewed. Staff were provided with guidance 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 recruited safely. Staff received an induction before commencing work with people. A programme of training was undertaken at induction and refreshed on an annual basis. This was linked to the Care Certificate which provides a nationally recognised set of learning standards for staff working in social care. Staff spoke positively about the quality of the training and support they received.

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.

People’s risk assessments included guidance for staff on reducing and managing the risk of infection. This was supported by policies and procedures which reflected current best practice. Staff had received training in infection prevention and control, including food safety. People confirmed staff used personal protective equipment (PPE) such as disposable masks, aprons and gloves when they were providing care.

The provider 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.

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.