Cathedral Care (Sale)

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

People were supported safely. Risks to people were identified and mitigated. Staff were aware of the risks people may present and what action they should take to ensure people were safe. Staff were recruited safely. Staff had the skills, experience and training to effectively support people. People knew how to report any concerns they had, and staff were able to describe safeguarding processes. Staff felt fully supported to raise any concerns they had with the management team. Medicines were managed safely and staff received regular medication training and competency checks. Infection control arrangements were in place and followed.

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.

People told us the staff and management team were responsive and took on board any feedback.

Staff told us they were encouraged and felt supported to raise any concerns and would proactively try to identify risks to people’s safety. Staff understood the importance of reporting and recording and told us there was a culture of transparency and openness.

The provider promoted a positive learning culture. There was an ethos across the organisation for learning from where things went wrong and how the provider could prevent repeat occurrences of accidents, incidents and other concerns arising. Staff were promptly reporting any concerns via follow up and feedback forms and the management team promptly responded to reduce any further risks to people. We saw learning from accidents and incidents was shared with staff via team meetings, staff supervision, using a secure chat group and regular phone calls to staff. There were very few themes to any incidents as the provider was proactive at learning from events and embedding lessons learned.

People told us they safely transitioned from the hospital or other home care providers to Cathedral Care (Sale). Everyone we spoke with was positive about their experience and a family member told us, “[Name’s] mood is different compared to the previous care company. A total change.”

Staff were aware, safe pathways was a priority for everybody. There were 3 trusted assessors working for the organisation and this role had been key to the success rate in preventing readmission to hospital. Staff told us they supported people to increase independence which then led to people requiring less care and support and allowed them to remain living in their own home.

Partners told us the provider was extremely responsive and engaging.

The provider worked in partnership with commissioners and hospital teams to support the safe discharge of people to their own home with a package of support and to avoid hospital admission. Assessment records evidenced people’s views were listened to and where a discharge to the provider was not always safe, the provider was proactive in sharing the concern with discharge teams for wider learning.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe being supported by the staff team. One person told us they “Felt safe” and “Trusted staff.” A relative told us, “[Name] felt safe with the staff.” People and their relatives were aware of processes to report any concerning information. All people spoken with confirmed they felt confident to raise concerns with the management team.

Staff understood the importance of keeping people safe. Staff told us they felt fully supported to raise any concerns and were confident the management team would be responsive and act without delay. Staff were aware of local and national safeguarding processes and were committed to supporting people to balance risk while ensuring people were protected from avoidable harm and neglect.

Processes to support people to stay safe were robust. The provider worked with people using the service, professionals and staff to safeguard vulnerable people and uphold people’s rights to live free from harm. We saw any concerning information was reported to the local authority safeguarding team. Safeguarding was a regular agenda item at staff meetings and in staff supervision and staff confirmed they updated their safeguarding training annually. Any safeguarding risks were clearly documented in people’s care records and prompt action was taken by the provider to reduce risks and to keep people safe. Staff had received training in understanding how people’s capacity may fluctuate and how people may be deprived of their liberty. Processes were in place for the provider to refer people for further assessment where they may lack capacity to make a particular decision.

People were involved in their care planning and managing any risks. A relative told us they were confident staff knew how to hoist their relation safely. We saw people had been involved in developing their risk assessments and care plans and a relative told us, there was a regular review of the care plan.

Staff understood and could describe the risks people presented. Staff told us they accessed risk assessments electronically via an app, and any changes to people’s wellbeing was shared with the management team and the risk assessment was updated in conjunction with the person supported. Staff understood the importance of balancing risk with people’s choices and told us they talked with people and their families to ensure their care and support was continually being provided in the individuals’ preferred way.

People’s care plans were written in consultation with them and with their consent. Care plans included a summary of risks with links to separate documents for further guidance and management of those risks. People's health goals and aspirations were also included in the Care plans. Management recorded and monitored risks within their quality assurance process. Risks were reviewed and updated in the care plans and risk assessments by management as part of this process as people's needs changed. Environmental risks were considered by management for all properties staff visited as part of their initial assessment.

People told us they felt safe in their home being supported by the staff team. People told us they were supported with personal care, bathing and showering safely and staff knew what they were doing.

Staff generally worked in pairs for their own safety and that of the people they supported. Staff were committed to ensuring equipment used in people’s own homes was safe and regular checks were made on moving and handling equipment and health related equipment to ensure they could be safely used. Any concerns with equipment were reported to the management team or appropriate person for further action.

The provider was pro-active in recognising where people may require equipment to keep them safe. Some staff were trained as trusted assessors and they able to promptly assess and speak with professionals to ensure the living environment remained safe. Some people used monitoring technology or pendants to alert others when they may have fallen. This type of equipment was embedded into care plans and a task was set for all care staff to check monitoring equipment was in place and in use prior to them leaving an individual’s property.

People spoke positively about the staff. People told us and we saw, there was a consistent staff team supporting each individual. People told us staff were, “Very knowledgeable and very caring” and “They know what they are doing.”

Staff told us they received training, appropriate for their job role. Staff told us and we saw, the management team completed competency checks on their ability to administer medication and move and handle people safely. Staff told us the high morale and teamwork enabled them to work effectively and they felt secure and well supported by the management team and their colleagues.

Recruitment was robust and pre-employment checks were in place prior to an applicant commencing their employment. An induction was completed by all new staff members. Staff received regular training in line with their job role and staff were provided with additional information via staff meetings, supervision and a secure chat group. Spot checks were completed on staff at people’s homes and feedback was gained from the person and the staff member. Staff received an annual appraisal, and the provider was keen to upskill staff and give them the autonomy to make their own decisions, knowing and respecting, staff will follow policy, procedures, guidance and good practice.

People and their relatives confirmed staff had access to and used personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.

Staff told us personal protective equipment (PPE) such as aprons and gloves were available in plentiful supply. We observed staff popping into the office to collect PPE and staff understood the importance of following good hygiene practices including effective hand washing and disposal of waste. Staff ensured one person had access to a sharps bin when required and it was being used correctly. Staff told us and we saw they had completed training in infection control.

The provider was effective in assessing and managing the risk of infection and followed local and national guidance to ensure people and staff were protected as much as possible. We saw information has been shared with staff and people using the service relating to the current offer of COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations. Staff were aware of good hygiene protocols, and we saw examples in care plans of how certain equipment should be cleansed and stored. Staff had received training in food hygiene and infection control.

People spoke positively about the support they received with medicines management. One person told us, “They (staff) get them ready for me. They know what they are doing, and they make sure I have had my tablets.” People were involved in understanding their medicines administration requirements to promote independence.

Staff told us they felt well trained and confident to support people to receive their medicines safely. Staff confirmed body charts were used to assist in identifying where topical creams were to be applied. Staff told us, they felt confident to report any concerns with medicines to the management team and they promptly reported any changes to people’s medicines to the office. Staff reviewed the support people required with the safe administration of their medicines to ensure it was suitable and promoted independence.

Processes were in place to ensure medicines were received, stored and administered in line with the prescribers’ instructions. Medication records were fully completed and were counter-checked to ensure the instructions were correct. Staff received medication training, and their competency was checked to ensure they understood the requirements for the safe administration of medicines. The staff team were proactive at reporting any changes to people’s medicines promptly. Body charts were used to identify where topical creams should be applied.