High Standard 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.

At our last assessment this key question was not rated. At this assessment the key question rating 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 registered manager reviewed shortfalls and ensured learning was shared with the team through team meetings and supervision. The provider had systems in place to review accidents and incidents. People and their relatives shared their views about the service being provided. The provider reviewed this feedback and used the information to drive improvements.

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 needs were assessed before they received a service. This was to ensure the provider was able to support people safely and effectively and meet their needs. One person told us, “The service is safe.” The registered manager monitored the support and input from other services and liaised with them to ensure a continuity of care.

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.

No safeguarding concerns have been raised regarding the service. Staff received safeguarding training, and the provider had an up-to-date safeguarding policy in place. Staff were familiar with the safeguarding policy and its contents were discussed in team meetings. The registered manager understood their responsibility to report safeguarding concerns to the local authority and the regulator.

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.

The registered manager worked collaboratively with people and their relatives to assess risks. Where risks were identified measures were put in place to mitigate them. For example, staff followed the guidance of a healthcare professional to maintain people’s skin integrity. This reduced the risk of pressure sores developing. Care records noted people’s risks and provided staff with the guidance required to keep people safe.

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 undertook risk assessments of people’s home environments to ensure that care and support was delivered safely. For example, slip and trip hazards were identified and removed. Staff received training to move and support people safely and to manage food hygienically.

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 vetted to ensure they were safe to provide care and support. The provider interviewed potential staff, took up references, confirmed their identities and carried out criminal records checks. New staff received an induction, and all staff received on-going training. People were satisfied with staff skills and knowledge. One person told us, “I have no concerns with the staff. They do everything well.” Another person told us that staff were, “professional and know what they’re doing.”

There were enough staff deployed to ensure people received their care and support as planned. One person told us, “They are punctual and never missed a call.” Another person said, “They have enough staff. I always have same carers.”

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 told us that staff followed good hygiene practices. One person said, “They’re safe. They wash their hands and they’re clean.” Another person said, “They’re well trained. They wear gloves and aprons.” Staff received training in infection prevention and control. The registered manager ensured that personal protective equipment (PPE) was distributed to staff in a timely manner and observations of staff were carried out to ensure that PPE was worn appropriately.

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.

Staff received medicines training so they could administer medicines safely and maintain proper records. The provider had a medicines policy in place which provided guidance to staff, and to the registered manager, whose role it was to monitor staff and audit medicines practices.