LJ Sure Mercies

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

Relatives told us their loved ones were safe. People’s needs were assessed before care started. Risks to people had been assessed and planned for. People were assisted to take their medicines regularly by staff who were competent to administer medicines safely. The registered manager was carrying out regular audits of medicines and if concerns were identified staff were given the necessary support. People were protected from the risk and spread of infection, staff had completed training in infection prevention and control. Staff were provided with appropriate personal protective equipment including hand sanitizer, gloves and aprons. Staff were recruited safely. There were appropriate procedures in place to protect people from the risk of harm.

This service scored 72 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

People told us they were supported if they needed to attend any medical appointments or needed support with physical health issues, for example the registered manager told us if people's needs change after being discharged from hospital they would work with health care professionals to ensure people had access to the care they needed. We saw examples within people’s care plans when the registered manager sought specific support for people.

We were unable to obtain any feedback from partners.

People's needs were assessed before staff started to provide care and support. The registered manager worked with healthcare professionals to ensure people's needs were met. This would allow them to assess whether they could support the person or if any specialist equipment or skills were needed. We saw examples of the registered manager working with healthcare professionals when required.

People’s relatives confirmed they felt the person was safe receiving care from the service in their own home.

The registered manager and staff were knowledgeable about protecting people from the risks of abuse and there was appropriate procedures in place if staff had concerns.

The provider had a safeguarding policy in place. The service had policies and procedures in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. The registered manager was aware of her responsibilities under the MCA 2005.

Care plans and risk assessments had all of the information on how to support people safely. A relative told us, " The registered manager has been proactive in adapting the care plan and informing the carers when [Person's] needs change."

Staff told us they had the necessary information to mitigate risk.

Risks to people had been assessed and planned for. People had risk assessments for moving and handling, managing falls and medicines management which meant there was sufficient information to guide carers to manage identified risks. If required people had risk assessments regarding specific health conditions. These were detailed and contained information about the signs and symptoms of complications that staff should be alerted to. Risk assessments were reviewed when a person's needs changed.

Relatives told us they felt safe had the necessary training to provide safe care.

The safety of people who were cared for by staff in their own homes was everyone's priority. The registered manager told us, " I must make sure there are not hazards on the floor that might increase the risks of falls, and there are no clutters. I will ensure the carers are trained, know the policy and procedures for manual handling and assessed as competent to use manual handling equipment."

The provider carried out environmental risk assessments in people’s home. These were reviewed every three months or when risks were identified.

Relative's were happy with the care their loved ones received. People were cared for by regular staff and relatives told us they knew people well.

Staff told us they had enough time to care for people. One staff member told us, "There are specific times that we spend on every service user the least is 30 minutes and we make sure we spend the time with them."

The provider followed safe recruitment practices to help ensure only suitable staff were employed to care for people using the service. These included checks on their experience, skills, and eligibility to work in the United Kingdom. After being recruited, staff undertook an induction and training programme, so they had the required knowledge to care for people. Records indicated supervisions were undertaken and staff confirmed they received support from the registered manager.

People told us that staff used personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and aprons when supporting them.

Staff were provided with infection, prevention and control training and they told us they had adequate supplies of PPE. The provider had policies and procedures in place to monitor infection control and the registered manager carried out spot checks which looked at good infection control procedures.

People received their prescribed medicines safely from staff who had completed the required training and been assessed as competent to do so.

The registered manager used an external training company to provide training and assess medicine competency. Staff told us they had the necessary training to administer medicines safely.

Care records included information about people's medicines and any risks associated with these. The registered manager was carrying out regular audits of medicines, if areas of concerns were identified there was appropriate systems in place to support staff, such as additional training or shadowing more experienced staff.