Ree Enterprise UK 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

People and those important to them were supported to understand safeguarding and how to raise concerns when they didn’t feel safe. Staff understood their duty to protect people from abuse and knew how and when to report any concerns they had to managers. Safety risks to people were managed well. Staff assessed and reviewed safety risks to people and made sure people, and those important to them, were involved in making decisions about how they wished to be supported to stay safe. There were enough staff to support people with their needs. Staff received relevant training to meet the range of people’s needs at the service. Staff received support through supervision and appraisal to support their continuous learning and improve their working practice. Managers made sure recruitment checks were undertaken on all staff to ensure only those individuals that were deemed suitable and fit, would be employed to support people at the service.

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 told us they received safe support and staff ensured care was reviewed to ensure their needs were met. A person we spoke with said, “The management team check on me regularly to make sure I am getting everything I need.” A relative we spoke with echoed this and told us, “Management staff ring regularly to make sure we are happy and to assure us they are able to be contacted if we have any problems.” We found when people asked for any changes to their care and support, staff acted without delay. Requesting regular feedback meant staff learnt what was working well for people and what didn’t.

Staff told us the management team were approachable and when learning was required staff were informed in a group setting to ensure all staff were informed of learning required. The management team told us they had learnt from incidents and feedback to ensure the safety of care improved. For example, the registered manager told us about a monthly report they completed to review all accidents and incidents, they told us these reports were shared with the wider staff team to ensure lessons were learnt.

Staff completed training to support them to carry out their duties safely. The registered manager ensured staff completed refresher training as needed. A monthly analysis of accidents and incidents was carried out to review trends and themes. This ensured lessons were learnt and the risk of reoccurrence reduced. Lessons learnt were shared with staff during staff meetings and supervisions. There was a complaints policy in place which was accessible to people, their representatives and staff. Complaints were responded to in a timely manner.

People told us they were fully involved in developing their care plans. People told us their views were sought before they started receiving support from the service and on an ongoing basis to ensure support was aligned to their needs and wishes. For example, a person we spoke with said, “The first week [staff] rang a few times to check everything was ok and they came to the house, and we did the care plan together.” A relative we spoke with told us they had recently moved from a different service and the move had gone well, they told us they were very happy with staff and management.

Staff and the management team told us they understood how important it was to ensure people were involved in planning their care to ensure safe, personalised care was provided. Staff said, “When we meet a new person, we support them to tell us what they want carers to support them with, then we respect their wishes. We study and follow the care plan.” The registered manager told us they engaged with people, their families when appropriate, and the commissioning authority before they provided any support to ensure a safe transition.

Health and social care professionals we spoke with gave positive feedback about the service. A professional we spoke with said, “They communicate well and provide an excellent quality of care.” Another professional we spoke with said, “They always follow any advice I give them, I was particularly impressed recently, as due to their input a person avoided being admitted into hospital, I believe this showed real initiative.” We found feedback from health and social care professionals was acted upon in order to improve the safety of the service.

Systems in place ensured people were supported safely when they first started to use the service. Records we reviewed demonstrated the service assessed people prior to providing care. Care was reviewed during the first week to ensure the care and support provided was aligned to the person’s needs and expectations.

People told us they felt safe receiving care and support from the service. A person we spoke with said, “I feel safe, staff check to make sure I have everything I need to hand, and they make sure my house is secure.” People knew who to report safety concerns to and felt action was taken where needed. A relative we spoke with said, “If I need to report anything I would call the office, anything is sorted quickly.” People were provided with a service user handbook which contained contact details for the local authority to report any concerns outside of the service.

Staff understood how to recognise and respond to allegations of abuse. Staff told us, “I know how to recognise any abuse and the processes l would follow to report it, I would alert my supervisor, l would also report to the safeguarding adult team, I could also report it to the police depending on the kind of abuse.” Staff knew where to find the safeguarding policy. Staff understood what they needed to report and how they should report any concerns of abuse. The registered manager understood how to respond to allegations of abuse. They had a clear process of how to investigate and keep people safe.

Processes in place meant safeguarding concerns were reported in a timely manner to the relevant authority. Lessons learnt were shared with the staff team to reduce the risk of recurrence. If an allegation of abuse was made, there were appropriate policies in place to guide the staff team. Records showed that incidents were investigated and referred to the local authority safeguarding team if needed. Staff received training in safeguarding and were supported to discuss any learning from safeguarding incidents in their preferred forum, such as individual supervisions or at regular team meetings.

People were supported safely by staff who knew them well. A person we spoke with told us, “The staff are very nice. They are on time, sometimes early. They always ask if there is anything else I need before they leave.” People and their relatives told us staff managed risks well using equipment where required. A relative we spoke with said, “The carers encourage my [relative] to still do things on their own, they did manage to go for a walk the other day with a carer and with the use of a walking frame.” People told us staff respected and supported people’s independence. People told us they received care at their preferred time which increased their confidence in the service.

Staff told us they were able to support people safely. Most of the staff we spoke with said they were given adequate travel time. Some staff on the odd occasion said they did not have enough travel time, but they called people to ensure they were informed of any delays. Staff we spoke with discussed at length the process in place when late calls occurred, this was to ensure people who would be at a high risk of harm were prioritised. This meant people were protected from the risk of possible harm. The registered manager communicated well with the wider staff team to ensure any new or emerging risks were discussed with the team in a timely manner.

People had person-centred care plans in place. Risks were assessed and risk reduction measures detailed. For example, a moving and handling risk assessment and care plan was in place for a person who needed support with their mobility. Records we reviewed demonstrated staff followed and implemented this guidance to reduce the risk of accidents such as falls. Specialist support had been sought when needed. For example, the service worked closely with specialist nutrition teams to ensure people who were at risk of malnutrition were supported, their guidance had been implemented and documented into care plans. Reviews of monitoring records were completed by the management team to ensure support provided was in line with each person’s assessed needs, this meant poor practice was identified in a timely manner which protected people from avoidable harm.

People told us staff visited them at their home prior to providing care to ensure support could be provided safely. People told us staff always left their environment safe and secure which made them feel safe.

Staff were aware of their responsibility to ensure people were safe in their environment. Staff told us they ensured people’s homes were respected and left secure after they had supported people. Staff were aware of who to call in the event of an emergency and knew where to find policies to support them. The registered manager told us all people were visited in their homes by senior staff prior to providing care to ensure environments were safe for both people and staff.

Risks to people’s environments were assessed this included identifying exit routes and what staff should do in case of an emergency. An on-call system was in place to ensure staff had support if environmental risks were identified out of standard working hours. A lone working policy was in place and staff reviewed this as part of their induction.

People told us they received their care on time from kind and competent staff. On the odd occasion where staff were late staff always contacted them to inform them. A person we spoke with said, “We get to see the same carers and they are mostly on time. They will let us know if they will be late.” People told us staff were thorough which made them feel safe.

Staff completed training to ensure they carried out their duties safely. All the staff we spoke with felt well trained to carry out their roles effectively to ensure safe care and support was provided to people. Staff explained they updated training yearly to ensure their skills were up to date. The registered manager and management team monitored scheduled calls using an electronic call monitoring system (ECM) to ensure staff were effectively deployed. The management team explained they used the system to highlight any shortfalls in staffing and acted when needed.

Processes in place ensured there were enough suitably trained staff on duty. An electronic staffing allocation system was in place to allow senior staff to monitor and manage staffing. This meant the management team could take action promptly if staff were running late. Staff were recruited safely. Processes ensured necessary checks were completed prior to staff starting. This included reference checks, proof of identity as well as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. A DBS check is a way for employers to check a potential employee’s criminal record, to help decide whether they are a suitable person to work for them. This protected people from receiving support from unsuitable staff.

People told us staff wore personal protective equipment to protect them from the possible risk of infection. For example, a person we spoke with said, “Staff always wear masks, gloves, aprons and make sure my [relative] is safe and comfortable with this.” People told us staff supported them to keep their environments clean and tidy.

Staff were provided with personal protective equipment to wear whilst providing personal care. Staff told us they received training in infection prevention and control and applied this training in their practice. The registered manager told us they and the management team completed supervisions and spot checks to ensure staff worked in line with infection prevention and control principles.

Processes in place meant people were protected from the spread of transmissible infections. All staff were supplied with personal protective equipment with a store also being kept in the office for staff to obtain. An updated infection prevention control policy was in place to guide staff. All staff had completed infection prevention and control training as part of their induction. The management team attended care calls regularly to ensure staff were working in line with the provider’s policy.

People told us staff supported them to manage their prescribed medicines safely. Some people we spoke with did not require any support with their medicines and staff respected their right to privacy and independence. Another person we spoke to said staff supported them to remain independent with their medicines, “Staff are excellent, they collect my prescriptions even though they don’t have to, this really helps me.”

Staff were supported to administer medicines safely following both the provider’s own policy and best practice guidance. Staff told us, “I follow the 7 rights of medication administration to ensure I give medicines safely.” The 7 rights of medication are best practice guidance to promote the safe administration of medicines. Staff told us they felt confident in the training they completed. The training provided allowed them to support people safely with their prescribed medicines. The registered manager told us any medicine errors were investigated and any lessons learnt shared with the team to prevent reoccurrence.

Processes in place supported the safe management of medicines. Staff completed training and a supervision period prior to working independently to ensure they administered medicines safely. People had medicine administration records in place which detailed what prescribed medicines were needed and at what time. Monthly checks of medicines administration records meant any issues were picked up and addressed in a timely manner. A medicine management policy was in place to support staff.