Homelium Dorset

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 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. People were involved in their care, the service worked with people following an accident or incident to prevent recurrence. The registered manager told us they supported learning across the service, this had included reviewing events across the service to identify any themes and trends. Records confirmed reviews were undertaken regularly and in accordance with the service policy.

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. People and their relatives told us they felt staff at the service communicated when required with external professionals, such as the GP. Relationships between the service and external professionals were established and operating well, feedback collected during the assessment was positive. There were safe systems in place to ensure essential information was shared with the necessary health and social care professionals. The service had produced a summary of people’s needs and requirements, this meant a safe transition between services, such as, for admission to hospital. A member of staff said, “I personally believe all the clients are safe and that everyone does their best by keeping them all safe.”

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. People told us they felt safe in the care and support of staff from Homelium Dorset. Staff knew how to ensure people were protected from harm and abuse. A member of staff said, “All carers are amazing, and the clients are happy and safe.” Staff told us how they would raise concerns both within the service and externally. Staff were confident the registered manager would follow up any concerns and make the necessary referrals to the local authority as required. Staff understood how to ensure people were kept safe from avoidable harm and had received training in safeguarding adults during their induction. Regular reminders and updates meant keeping people safe was at the forefront of their mind. A member of staff said, “Clients are safe, and if anything, different happens we are always informed in advance and to follow what is the best for the client in different situations.” Records showed all referrals had been made as appropriate.

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. People told us staff worked to keep them safe and understood their needs. Relatives agreed they had confidence and peace of mind. Staff knew people well and told us they had enough information regarding people’s individual risks. People’s risks were assessed before they started to use the service and updated as needed. Risk assessments were created and maintained; they were accessible to staff. A staff member said, “All risks are clearly laid out in each client's care plan and risk assessment paperwork. We also communicate as a team very well to make each other aware of any new risks.”

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Environmental risk assessments were in place for people’s care and support, they were reviewed and updated as needed. Staff had received training on using equipment correctly, for example, equipment used to help people move around their home. Senior staff had received training in teaching correct techniques so were able to support staff in real life situations. Assessments were comprehensive and included staff lone working and actions staff should take to ensure people were evacuated safely in an emergency.

The service made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. Staff were complimentary about their colleagues and told us they worked well as a team. The service had a thorough induction, shadowing, competency checks and ongoing support process in place. Training was in accordance with good practice guidelines for staff who worked with people to meet their care needs. Recruitment processes were in place; staff were recruited safely, following our assessment the registered manager strengthened the process to ensure records were accessible. Procedures were in place to ensure the required checks were completed prior to staff commencing 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. Support was ongoing and there was a schedule of supervisions and spot checks, records showed the conversations were two-way and detailed. Staff told us they were supported by the registered manager. A member of staff said, “The passion I bring to care is equalled by all the support and appreciation I get back. It makes me so, so proud to be part of the team it really does.”

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. Staff had access to the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed and supplies were plentiful. Policies and procedures regarding preventing the spread of infection and avoidable harm were in place. Records showed staff had received training and ongoing monitoring for infection prevention and control. A member of staff said, “We have plenty of PPE and it’s always supplied on time if I run low.” People told us they were confident staff worked in a clean and hygienic way.

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 their medicines as prescribed. There were safe procedures in place for ordering and administration of medicines. Care plans correctly reflected the level of support a person required with their medicines. People were confident they received their medicines on time and records reflected this. Medicines records were held on an electronic system, this meant they were updated as changes were made. Alerts from the system informed the registered manager if a medicine was late, or not given, action was then taken to support compliance with medicines. Regular audits and checks were undertaken to identify any patterns or concerns. Staff received training, both theory and practical together with competency checks to ensure safe practices with medicines. Communication channels were open with the GP and pharmacy to ensure people had the right medicines at the right time. There was guidance in place to ensure medicines administered as required could be done so in a consistent way. The registered manager was improving guidance and prompts for staff to further develop their system. A medicines policy was in place which underpinned practice within the service.