Nurture Care Services

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 inspection 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. There had not been any incidents in the service, but the provider had processes in place to investigate and report safety events. Staff could explain the procedures for reporting incidents and told us they would make sure people were kept safe. Staff told us they would report and record incidents or accidents such as those involving people coming to harm, using the appropriate forms. Procedures for investigating incidents included learning lessons to prevent reoccurrence and embed good practice.

The management team worked with external professionals and partner agencies to ensure there was continuity of care for people, including when they moved between different services. For example, people were supported in their care journey by the registered manager, who worked with professionals to help the person settle into their accommodation and surroundings. The person told us the service helped them get to know the local area and transition to the service.

The provider had a safeguarding procedure so that concerns could be reported. There had not been any safeguarding concerns since the service registered with us. The registered manager told us concerns would be reported quickly and appropriately. Staff and managers understood how to protect people from the risk of abuse and received training in safeguarding people. A staff member said, “I can identify abuse and I would take action if I noticed a person had a bruise, marks or injury or their mood had changed. We would contact the local safeguarding team and the CQC.”

The service worked with the person to understand and manage their risks by thinking holistically about them. The care provided was safe, supportive and enabled the person to do the things that mattered to them. The person told us staff protected them from coming to harm. They confirmed they had been involved in discussing risks to their health and felt staff knew how to keep them safe. The person told us the service had carried out an assessment of their needs and risks. The person said, “Yes, the manager talked to me about what help they give.”

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. The registered manager completed an environmental risk assessment within people’s homes to check if it was safe for staff to work and carry out tasks. This included fire safety, smoking and evacuation assessments to ensure the person was kept safe and staff understood what action to take in the event of an emergency.

The management team made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. Staff completed training and an induction when they were recruited. Training topics included infection control, food and nutrition, mental capacity, safeguarding adults, mental health awareness, learning disabilities and equality and diversity. Safe recruitment practices were implemented to ensure staff were appropriately and safely recruited. The registered manager ensured the process was thorough and processes were followed correctly. This included obtaining applicant’s employment history, proof of identification, work permits, references and carrying out criminal record checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Staff supported people in supported living settings and told us they were well supported by the management team. They confirmed arrangements were in place for other staff to take over shifts. A staff member said, “There are enough staff for us to cover shifts. We can take breaks as well. There is a shift rota we use, and we do a handover to the next staff, so they know what support the client needs.”

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff followed procedures for recording, auditing and administering medicines to people. The provider had a medication policy that reflected current and relevant best practice and professional guidance. The person was supported by staff to take their medicines. Staff told us they received medicines training and felt confident supporting people. Staff competency checks were carried out to assess their knowledge, skills and ability to follow safe medicine administration guidance. Medicine administration records (MAR) were used to record medicines that had been taken and we saw these were being completed accurately.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff followed procedures for recording, auditing and administering medicines to people. The provider had a medication policy that reflected current and relevant best practice and professional guidance. The person was supported by staff to take their medicines. Staff told us they received medicines training and felt confident supporting people. Staff competency checks were carried out to assess their knowledge, skills and ability to follow safe medicine administration guidance. Medicine administration records (MAR) were used to record medicines that had been taken and we saw these were being completed accurately.