First Choice Medical 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. We assessed a total of eight quality statements from this key question. This key question has been rated requires inadequate at the previous assessment on 28 November 2022. This meant some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. During our current assessment of this key question, we found people were kept safe. The registered manager had robust systems in place to assess and manage risk. People participated in the management of risk and provided with information to help support them to make informed decisions about any risk they choose to take. For example, if a person wanted to participate in a particular activity, a risk assessment would be completed along with the person, so the person would be able to make an informed decision considering any potential risks. People were protected from potential harm and abuse. There were effective infection control measures in place. Accident, incidents, and events were recorded and reviewed, and any lessons learnt shared with staff. People were supported to take their medications regularly by staff who had completed medication training and had their competencies checked. There were robust recruitment measures in place to ensure all pre-employment checks were completed in advance of staff starting work. Staff received training, supervision and support which provided them with the skills and knowledge to support people safely. The culture of the service was one of learning and staff and the management team were resourceful in being receptive to any learning and sharing of best practice. People were supported to transition through services safely.

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.

We have an initiative-taking and positive culture of safety based on openness and honesty, in which concerns about safety are listened to, safety events are investigated and reported thoroughly, and lessons are learned to continually identify and embed good practices. People felt that staff and the management team were receptive to feedback and demonstrated a good learning culture. For example, they used reflective practice when things went wrong to consider how they could learn from events.

The registered manager told us that as part of the learning culture they had established a range of monitoring systems so they were able to identify quickly when things went wrong. As apart of the reflective practice they reviewed what had happened and what they could have done differently. Staff were involved in reflective practice meetings to help them understand the consequences, and possible impact to people and other staff members.

People were positive about the service they received. They told us the staff were amazing, kind caring and knew what they were doing. A member of the management team visited regularly to observe staff providing care using safe practices. Staff told us about the induction, training, and ongoing support they received which helped them to care for people safely. The staff had observed practice which ensured that high safety standards were maintained.

Staff were positive about the training they received. Staff told us they were able to care for people with a range of different needs safely. \the management team had established systems and processes to ensure people were kept safe. Care staff told us they were well supported and the culture of the organisation was blameless and embraced transparency, and learning.

Professional feedback was positive. For example, one partner told us “The service staff have worked really hard to establish a stable and safe routine to support my service user.” This has had a positive impact on their well being. All aspects of the service had specific systems and processes that were in place to monitor and manage people’s safety. This included recording, reviewing, and developing safe care pathways, including when people moved between services.

The provider and registered manager had established safe systems to ensure a smooth transition when people they supported moved between service or had input from partner organisations.

People told us they felt safe being cared for by the care staff. One person told us “The staff know what they are doing, they get training and support. I have always felt confident.” Family members told us they had no concerns in relation to their family members safety.

People were protected from the risk of potential harm and abuse because systems and processes had been established to identify record and report any concerns. The registered manager told us safeguarding procedures were in place for each person identified vulnerable to any form of abuse. Staff told us they received training and knew how to report their concerns internally to their managers and externally to safeguarding authorities.

There were robust safeguarding processes in place. Any concerns were recorded and reported as required. We were able to see notifications that had been sent to CQC as well as the local authority.

People engaged in the development of their care plan, and this included the risk assessment. Where risks were identified, people were provided with information which enabled them to make an informed decision about whether they wanted to take the risk. Risk assessment were kept under regular review. If anything changed in relation to a persons ability, this would prompt a review of their risk assessment.

Staff and managers told us how they involved people to manage their own risks as far as possible. The culture of the service was to support and enable people to live their lives as they wished even if they sometimes made decisions that were risky. Systems and processes were in place to capture a comprehensive approach to peoples support plans. If people wanted to take risks staff and managers embraced their decisions.

There were various processes in place to ensure that people were involved in making decisions about any potential risks. Where risks were identified people were provided with information to help them make an informed decision about the possible consequences of taking risks.

People told us the staff and managers had oversight. This included completing an environmental risk assessment. People who used equipment told us the staff and managers made sure the equipment was maintained and where required regularly serviced.

Staff told us that it was important to do a risk assessment of the working environment, not only to keep the people they support safe, but also to ensure staff safety and well being was maintained. Risk assessments were completed for all aspects of peoples care and support plan. The risk assessments were kept under regular review and any changes to people’s well being or ability would prompt an immediate review. Staff confirmed this process was followed in all cases where changes had been noted.

The service had systems and processes in place to maintain safe environments for people they supported and staff members.

People were positive about the staff skills, ability, and experience. One relative told us “I have never been worried about my family member since this care service took over the care. They are on the ball, and that alleviates any worries I have had in the past.”

Staff told us how they went through a robust recruitment process. Various checks were completed prior to them being offered a job. The skills set for staff was managed effectively and specialist training was available if a person had an identified need that required specialist training. Staff completed knowledge checks to test their understanding.

There were robust and effective recruitment and selection processes in place. Potential staff were interviewed, completed an application, and provided references, in addition staff had a disclosure and barring check completed, and if staff were from overseas, they had to provide a letter of identification from their country of origin .

People were protected from the risk and spread of infection. Staff were trained and provided with personal protective equipment to help keep people safe. Staff told us they had completed training in infection prevention and control. They were given gloves aprons anti-bacterial gel, masks etc in line with government recommendations and best practice guidance.

The registered manager told us staff had training in infection prevention and control and that they followed current guidance in particular during covid and or other outbreaks. Staff confirmed they had completed training and were provided with personal protective equipment to help reduce the risk of spreading infections.

Infection control was assessed, and measures put in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection . Staff were able to demonstrate they knew how to minimise thr risk and spread of infection through effective hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment.

People were supported to take their medicines by staff who had completed medication training and had their competencies checked through regular observations. People told us they were confident in the staffs ability to support them to take their medicines regularly.

Staff and managers told us people were supported to take their medicines regularly. Any changes or additional medicines for example a course of anti-biotics was added to the medication administration record and staff were informed.

There were systems in place for the collection storage administration and return of medicines when they were no longer required. Any medication errors were recorded and reviewed. If a medication error was identified the staff member was supported with additional training and support.