RCS Care Solutions 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.

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 service 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. The registered manager carried out various audits which highlighted good practice and shortfalls. Where shortfalls were identified these were discussed at monthly staff meetings. This helped to make sure the service was able to continually learn and improve. One staff member said, “Everyone is very open. You feel able to report any mistakes so we can all learn.”

The service 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 had worked with people, relatives and other professionals to make sure the transition to the supported living service was positive and met their needs. One member of staff said, “The residents [tenants] have been matched perfectly so everyone gets on.” Each person had a hospital passport which gave other professionals, such as hospital staff, clear information about people’s abilities and needs.

The service 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. Risks of abuse to people were minimised because staff had received training in how to recognise and report abuse. Safeguarding was a standing agenda item on all team meetings to make sure staff knew what to do if they had concerns. Relatives felt people were safe and relaxed with the staff who supported them. One relative said, “I am totally confident they [people] are safe and well looked after.”

The service 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. Risks to people were assessed and managed. This included carrying out risk assessments to enable people to take part in activities which promoted their wellbeing, such as swimming and holidays. Risk assessments were also completed to enable people to gain independence skills such as taking part in household chores and cooking.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. People lived in a house which was adapted to meet their individual needs and where health and safety checks were carried out. If issues were identified, the registered manager liaised with the landlord to make sure people’s comfort and safety was maintained.

People were supported by adequate numbers of staff who had been safely recruited. Rotas were developed around the needs of people who used the service. Relatives had confidence in the staff who worked for the agency. One relative commented, “I have every confidence in the staff. They know what they are doing.” Staff spoken with knew people well and were able to meet their individual needs.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. People were cared for by staff who had received training in infection prevention and control and food hygiene. Staff had access to personal protective equipment such as disposable gloves and aprons. This helped to minimise risks to people.

The service 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. People received medicines safely from staff who had received training in the safe administration of medicines and had their competency assessed. The registered manager worked with other professionals to make sure people’s medicines were reviewed and they did not take unnecessary medicines. Some people were prescribed medicines on an ‘as required’ basis. There were clear protocols in place, and additional training where necessary, to make sure these medicines were given consistently .