Be Caring Leeds

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's needs were reflected in their care planning and risk assessments. Care plans and risk assessments set out people's needs in sufficient detail for staff to provide them safe care. People received their medicines as prescribed. There were good processes in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse and staff received safeguarding training. There were processes in place review accidents and incidents to ensure learning.

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 and their relatives told us the staff helped them with anything they needed to ensure they could live independently. This had included accessing support from external professionals. One relative said, “The whole service works for her very well, if I raise any concerns they are sorted immediately."

Staff reported concerns and were confident they were followed up. The registered manager ensured there were detailed records of incidents and clear actions taken. The registered manager understood the concept of learning and identifying trends.

Records were made of events and incidents that occurred and the appropriate action taken. Records were analysed and lessons learnt and shared.

People told us they felt safe, and relatives confirmed their loved ones were safe. Relatives and people we spoke with told us staff work effectively with external professionals.

Staff and the registered manager told us they had good, strong working relationships with external professionals to ensure care was joined up. Communications with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, community nurses and people's GP’s meant people had seamless care.

Partnership relationships were established and operating well. Feedback collected during the assessment and inspection was positive. One professional said, “I have worked alongside Be Caring in the community as a health professional for the last 2 years. Throughout this time, we have shared numerous service users with the aim to provide holistic care for them. Be caring are a very professional company. They are communicative towards the service users and towards other professionals.

There were safe systems in place to ensure essential information was shared with the necessary health and social care professionals.

Staff and the registered manager told us they had good, strong working relationships with external professionals to ensure care was joined up. Communications with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, community nurses and people's GP’s meant people had seamless care.

Staff knew how to ensure people were protected from harm and abuse. They told us how they would raise concerns both within the home and outside. Staff were confident the registered manager would follow up any concerns and make the necessary referrals. Staff understood how to ensure people’s rights were fully respected and had received training in safeguarding adults with regular refreshers. The registered manager and provider were clear about the process to follow to ensure people were protected and concerns were reported and without delay. Feedback we received from professionals was positive in terms of the appropriateness of referrals and actions taken by the service to keep people safe.

Safeguarding policies and procedures were in place and staff knew the correct reporting procedures. Records showed all safeguarding concerns were logged and followed up.

People and their relatives told us staff worked to keep them safe and understood their needs. An example was where a person was at risk due to their mobility, staff worked well to ensure they supported the person correctly using equipment. People told us they felt involved.

Staff told us they had enough information about people’s risks and detailed some of the risks the people they support faced each day. Safe ways of working were in operation and staff were able to be involved in their creation and update. A member of staff told us, if I have a new client, I read their care plans the day before. Everything is included that I need to know.

People’s risks were assessed before they started to use the service and added to as needed. Risk assessments were created and maintained within the provider electronic care planning system. Assessments were updated regularly and as things changed. The electronic care planning system meant updates could be made instantly. All these measures contributed to the safe management of risk within the service.

People and their relatives told us staff worked in a safe way. People told us they were confident staff were trained and had made a thorough assessment of their home environment.

Staffing numbers met people’s needs and provided care and support safely. Continual assessment was carried out to ensure people received appropriate staff at times that were right for them. A member of staff told us “I have been to a single call which has been changed to a double for extra support."

Training records showed staff were up to date with their essential training and attended regular updates to ensure their knowledge and skills were maintained. Supervision and appraisal records confirmed staff received the support they needed to deliver safe care. Risk assessments were carried out to ensure staff had a safe working environment in people’s homes. Equipment checks were maintained where it was used, and consideration had been given to emergency situations such as fire or utilities failure, this included how to safely evacuate the home. Records confirmed all people using the service had the necessary risk assessments and guidance for staff in place.

People were supported by regular staff members who knew them well and understood their needs, one person told us “I am happy with everything that the girls do for me, and I am so grateful for their help it made such a difference to my life to have this extra bit of help each day.”

The registered manager and provider told us keeping the same staff with people where possible was their priority. Most people told us seeing the same staff where possible was important, one person told us “It seems to be a team of ladies. They are all so kind and very caring. Not one of them is better than the others they all know what we need to do. No, I am never rushed we have plenty of time to do what I need, because we work as a team” when asked if this was an issue they replied, “this is not an issue as I like to talk to different people and the carers all know what to do.” Staff told us they were supported and had received enough training within their induction and ongoing to help them carry out their role well. Training was varied and covered all the subjects required for staff to carry out their duties safely. When asked one staff member told us “Additionally training can be asked for and would be provided.” Supervision and appraisal records confirmed staff received the support they needed to deliver safe care. A member of staff told us about how they are supported and said, “They support me by making sure I’m alright and if I need extra support to just ask.”

Staff were recruited safely, and recruitment records reflected this. Procedures were in place to ensure the required checks were carried out on staff before they commenced their employment. This included enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for adults. DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the police national computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

People and their relatives told us the staff worked in a safe and hygienic way; they did not have concerns about staffing in terms of infection control. People and their relatives told us staff wore their personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed. One person told us “Yes the girls all wear uniforms, have gloves, aprons and they all have over shoes, they don’t wear masks now, but they used to all the time during the pandemic. “

Infection prevention and control measures were followed at all times and staff had received training with regular updates. Due to the global pandemic in recent years infection prevention had become more in depth, training and procedures were more robust. Staff were more aware of the importance of cleanliness and hygiene. Staff told us supplies of PPE were plentiful.

Infection prevention and control procedures were robust, in line with the providers policy. Compliance with the infection control policy was observed during monitoring checks in people’s homes where staff demonstrated how to work in a safe and clean way.

People received their medicines as prescribed. There were safe procedures in place for ordering and administration of medicines where it was part of the care plan. People were confident they received their medicines on time and records reflected this. No one told us they had any issues with their medication. People received them when required and care staff supervise people taking their medication to ensure it is swallowed.

Staff worked to ensure people had their medicines on time, where this was part of their care plan, visits were spaced to ensure safe administration, such as allowing adequate gaps between doses. Staff received training, both theory and practical together with ongoing checks to ensure safe practices. The team communicated with the surgery and pharmacies to ensure people has the right medicines at the right time and was safe.

Safe procedures were in place for the administration of medicines. This included medicines taken occasionally. Actions taken where there was an error was immediate and effective to ensure people’s safety. There was detailed medicines policy and procedure in place.