Care Direct Salford

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained the same. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm. There was an open and transparent culture. Staff supported people to safely transfer between services. There were systems and processes in place to ensure people were safeguarded from abuse. Staff effectively managed risks and people were involved in planning their care. Environmental risk assessments were in place. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. People and relatives confirmed staff wore personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary. There were some areas of concern regarding medicines management; we discussed this with the registered manager who took immediate action to rectify these issues.

Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained the same. This meant the service was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders and the culture they created promoted high-quality, person-centred care.

The provider had a vision and strategy. They had an up-to-date Statement of Purpose which clearly explained the organisations' aims and values. Staff spoke positively about managers and all staff felt supported and able to raise any concerns. People and relatives were complimentary about the registered manager and their impact on the service. People and relatives spoke positively about the care and support provided and felt involved. Staff told us the provider had a whistleblowing and freedom to speak up policy, which they had access to and knew how to report any concerns. The provider had up to date policies and procedures in place relating to equality and diversity, staff support and well-being. The provider and registered manager completed a number of audits and monitoring processes, to assess the safety and effectiveness of the care and support provided. People and relatives felt listened to and were able to raise concerns if they needed to. The staff team had the skills, knowledge and experience to perform their roles, and understood their roles and responsibilities. There was a strong sense of trust between leadership and staff. Governance processes were effective, however oversight of the newly implemented eMARS system needed further scrutiny to avoid any potential errors in medicines management.