Blossom Home Care Leeds & Wakefield

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

This is the first inspection for this newly registered service. This key question has been rated good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm. The registered manager had established systems to identify safety events and ensure these were investigated thoroughly and any lessons learnt were embedded in to practice. They worked with people and partner organisations to maintain safe systems of care. The registered manager and staff worked closely with people to understand what being safe meant to them as well as with external professionals around the best way to achieve this aim. Risks relating to people's environment were assessed so people and staff remained safe. Risk assessment records relating to people could have further detail to show how the risk was mitigated by the service. Recruitment practices were robust. There were enough staff to deliver the care package and systems were in place to ensure new care packages could be supported with adequate numbers of staff. Medicine management was effective. Staff who administered medicines had the appropriate training. Staff followed appropriate infection control measures. The registered manager ensured staff were trained to use equipment and understand how to check items to support people's independence or mobility were fit for purpose.

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 were involved in all aspects of the design of the care package and how it was delivered. They found staff were competent, caring and treated people in a dignified manner. One person said, “Initially it was agreed carers would come daily at first, then it went down to 3 times a week as I got stronger and more confident with their help and suggested aids.”

The registered manager told us that they promoted a service where they encouraged people and staff to speak up about any concerns. They said, " I like to be open and honest and I want them to be able to raise concerns.” All staff we spoke with said they felt able to speak with the registered manager. One staff said "My team is always there for me, and we often share ideas.”

The registered manager promoted an open and honest culture at the service. They regularly reviewed the systems and processes in the service to determine if improvements could be made. Action plans were used to identify and monitor where changes were required and how these could improve the service. Learning from accidents, incidents and safeguarding was shared with the staff team via meetings and coaching. The registered manager had an effective system in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service and ensure people achieved positive outcomes had been put in place.

People told us they felt safe and they experienced a smooth transition when the staff took on their care package. One relative told us, “Carers are punctual and engage with mum well.” Another said, “There now seem to be 4 regular carers in the team who come to mum but if there are a run of new ones, she does struggle with this. In fact, this morning the manager covered the call to avoid that scenario.”

The registered manager had a range of policies and procedures to manage risk and monitor the safety of both people and staff. Staff understood when people required support to reduce the risk of avoidable harm, and risk assessments were in place.

We reached out to partners to provide feedback but we did not receive any responses.

Systems were in place to ensure people transitioned to the service in a safe manner and there was continuity of care. Care packages were only accepted when the registered manager and staff were confident the person’s needs could be met. The registered manager ensured care plans contained pertinent information about people’s needs and preferences to enable staff to provide appropriate care.

Everyone we spoke with said they felt safe with the service and staff provided by Blossom Home Care. One relative said, “Mum is safe with the carers and they do look after her well."

Staff said they had training and a good understanding of what to do to make sure people were protected from harm or abuse. Staff were able to tell us actions they would take should a concern be raised with them. One staff told us, " As a carer, it is my responsibility to remain vigilant and maintain detailed records of any sign that may suggest a safeguarding concern.”

The registered manager had safeguarding systems in place. They showed us their safeguarding policies and procedures and told us how they operated an open-door policy to encourage people or staff to raise any concerns.

People told us they were happy and confident with how the service supported them to manage risks. One relative told us, “There are 3 main carers and they all make notes on the care plan app, so any new carer just has to look at them.”

Staff we spoke with told us they were kept up to date with changes to risk via the use of the app that is used to record all care needs. One staff said, "The care plans and risk assessments are reviewed and promptly updated whenever there are changes in the service user's condition. Our app notifies us of these updates as soon as we access the service user's profile.” Staff reported there were enough care workers to meet people's needs and they work together effectively to provide safe care that meets people’s individual needs.

The registered manager had an effective system in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service and ensure people achieved positive outcomes. Systems were in place to ensure staff understood when people required support to reduce the risk of avoidable harm, and risk assessments were in place. The registered manager was continuing to work through risk assessments to make improvements to detail as some risk factors did not always have clear risk mitigation recorded. We saw one person's care plan recorded they were at risk of malnutrition but it wasn't detailed exactly how the provider would support them to maintain a nutritious diet. The registered manager said they would review this immediately.

People told us staff had the skills and knowledge to carry out their role effectively. They found staff were trained in delivering all the care and support they needed. They were confident staff could carry out their role safely and competently.

Staff told us they have received training around adopting safe working practices and following best practices guidance. They felt safe working at the service and had access to all the appropriate equipment they needed. The management team told us they were involved in providing an induction for new staff which included coaching in the use of equipment.

The registered manager had processes in place to ensure the office was fit for purpose and staff could access equipment as needed. The registered manager made sure staff had received training to support people who had equipment in their homes, which included how it was cleaned. They understood what risk assessments were needed to make sure staff followed health and safety guidance. Also, the provider had policies in place for this and lone working procedures.

People told us the care package met their needs and there were enough staff to deliver it. People said staff were generally on time and they were usually made aware of any delays via a call.

Staff fed back to us they felt there was enough time and staffing at calls to meet people's needs but that travelling time could be an issue, we raised this with the registered manager for review. Staff reported they worked together effectively to provide safe care that meets people’s individual needs. One staff member told us, "Staffing and scheduling are well managed, it allows me to fully meet the needs of each person I support without feeling rushed and ensures safer, more consistent care.

Robust and safe recruitment practices were in place, and these made sure staff were suitably experienced, competent and able to carry out their role. Recruitment, disciplinary and capability processes were fair and were reviewed to ensure there was no disadvantage based on any specific protected equality characteristic. We saw evidence confirming when there had been changes to individual’s packages of care. The provider had worked closely with partners to ensure these changes were delivered safely. The staffing levels and skill mix ensured people received consistently safe, good quality care that met their needs. Staff received the support and training they needed to deliver safe care. This included supervision, coaching and support to develop, and improve services where needed. Staff received training around all aspects of care including condition specific training. The manager told us, “I like the carers to be open and honest and I'm a believer in encouraging staff to make the most of supervision sessions.”

People told us staff followed expected infection control practices.

Staff confirmed they received training on infection control procedures. They told us they had all the equipment they needed to reduce the risk of spreading infections.

The registered manager had systems in place to mitigate the risks of people and staff from catching and spreading infections. We saw evidence to confirm staff had received infection prevention and control training and their practices were regularly checked.

People’s medicines were managed in a safe manner. One person told us, “I like to do my own medication, but they remind me if they can see I haven’t taken it yet.”

Staff told us that they received training in how to safely administer medication. The registered manager explained, “If we have a new carer they have to do their training online and then they allocated with a senior for further training. All care staff are observed twice to ensure they are competent.”

The registered manager completed regular checks to ensure medicines had been given as prescribed and records were accurate. Staff were trained in medicines management and processes were in place to assess whether staff were competent to administer people’s medicines. Staff were given clear guidance on when to administer medicines.