Loving Homecare Ltd

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. We assessed 8 quality statements in the safe key question. Although staff were aware of any risks to people, people’s care records did not always evidence they had been fully considered and did not always contain enough guidance for staff. Although no incidents had taken place, processes were in place to ensure lessons were learned from safety incidents. Safeguarding and whistle-blowing policies were in place which helped protect people from the risk of abuse and harm. The service carried out an environmental check of people’s home to help ensure the environment was safe for both people and staff to work in. Staff were recruited safely and were provided with training and support to ensure they were able to carry out their roles.

This service scored 72 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People's feedback confirmed there was a culture of safety and learning and that risks to people were managed and not overlooked. People told us they felt safe when they were being supported by staff. One person told us, “Yes, I feel more than safe when being supported.”

Feedback from leaders confirmed safety was a top priority for everyone and that risks were not overlooked or ignored. Lessons were learnt with opportunities to learn from safety events being communicated to help support improvement. Although the service had not experienced any incidents, the registered manager was able to explain how an incident would be recorded, how a full investigation would take place, and how action would be taken to rectify. They explained how additional training would be put in place if necessary to prevent recurrence of any incidents.

Although the service had not experienced any incidents, processes and policies were in place to help ensure people’s safety, such as a whistle blowing and safeguarding policy.

People's feedback confirmed that safety and continuity of care was treated as a priority.

Leaders understood their responsibilities for ensuring safe systems of care including working with other professionals and services, to help ensure people received continuity of care. The registered manager explained how they had worked alongside external professionals such as district nurses and occupational therapists to help ensure people received good continuity of care.

Feedback from partners confirmed the provider worked with them to maintain safe systems of care. One partner told us, “The service is aware of risks and contacts other agencies for support with clients.”

Processes were in place to help ensure people received continuity of care, this included working with people to ensure appropriate referrals were made as needed.

People’s experience confirmed they were protected from the risk of harm, abuse and neglect. People were supported to understand what being safe meant to them and how to raise concerns. One person told us, “Not that I have ever needed to, but yes, I would know how to raise any concerns.”

Feedback from leaders confirmed there was a strong understanding of safeguarding and how to take appropriate action. Staff had completed safeguarding training and a safeguarding and whistle blowing policy and procedure was in place.

Processes were in place to help people receive care in a safe way and to help keep people free from the risk of abuse and harm. This included policies and procedures for staff to follow.

People’s experience confirmed they were informed about any risks and how to keep themselves safe. People told us they felt supported to manage their risks.

Although feedback from leaders confirmed individual risks to people were understood and managed, the current electronic systems didn’t always best reflect the action taken by staff to minimise such risks. The registered manager told us, “The current system doesn’t best align with care at home but, risks are reviewed on a monthly basis and involve people’s input and decisions which are respected.”

Processes did not always ensure there was a balanced approach to risk in line with their choices and ability. People’s care plans did not always clearly document what risks had been identified. Where risk to people had been identified, risk assessments did not offer clear guidance for staff to follow to manage and mitigate the risks. However, on speaking with the registered manager, we were assured they knew how to manage risks to people appropriately. As the service was only supporting 2 people, the registered manager carried out all care and support and was able to explain the process of identifying risk to people and how to both manage and mitigate the risk. The registered manager explained how they were in the process of changing their electronic care plan records so information could be better recorded.

People’s experience confirmed staff were able to identify any risks in the home environment, but as they lived in their own homes, this was something they had control of.

Feedback from leaders confirmed they had completed training in topics of health and safety. The registered manager explained, “We do an initial assessment of the person’s home and we ask them if there are any things we need to be aware of when visiting their home.”

Processes, such as health and safety checks, were in place to help ensure the safety of the environment and any equipment used.

People told us staff were trained and competent to meet their needs. One person told us, “[Staff Name] is more than competent and trained, just wonderful.”

Although the service did not currently have a staff team other than the registered manager, plans were in place to grow the staff team, as the numbers of people being supported increased. The service had also employed a small number of staff in the past. Feedback from leaders confirmed how staff would be trained rained to meet people’s needs. The registered manager explained how staff underwent an induction when starting with the service, “Staff have 3 days induction. They meet the person they will be supporting before they start and do shadow shifts, so they know what the person’s routine is.”

Processes were in place to ensure staff were recruited safely and supported to perform their role in a safe and competent way. We looked at the process for staff recruitment for past staff members. Staff were further supported with supervisions monthly for the first 6 months but could request them more frequently if they felt they needed further support.

People told us staff wore PPE (personal protective equipment), if needed when supporting them with personal care.

Feedback from leaders confirmed the risk of infection was assessed and managed. The registered manager told us, “This is covered in training, we have PPE, don and doff training as well as an in house practical. Staff know how to dispose of it and check PPE for its expiry date.”

Processes were in place to ensure staff were trained and had a good awareness of infection, prevention and control.

As there was nobody being supported with medicines at the time of our assessment, we were not able to obtain feedback from people. However, processes were in place to help ensure the safe administration of medicines.

Although there was nobody being supported with medicines at time of the assessment, feedback from leaders confirmed how staff were trained in medicines management. The registered manager was able to explain what action they would take if there was a medicines error, “If any medicines are given late or missed the system would alert me right away and I would contact staff and record it."

Processes and policies were in place to ensure medicines were given in line with best practice guidance and appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe management, use and oversight of medicines.