Helping Hands Darlington received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first inspection in May–June 2022. The service demonstrated safe, person-centred care underpinned by a strong ethos of kindness, consistent staffing, robust governance, and effective partnership working.
Strengths
· Person-centred care plans created from holistic assessments with fully identified and mitigated risks
· Consistent staffing team matched to people's specific needs, with no missed visits
· Medicines safely managed with regular competency checks and tailored staff training
· Strong ethos of kindness embedded in culture, recognised through staff awards
· Robust quality assurance systems including spot checks, telephone calls, surveys and live visit monitoring
Quality-Statement breakdown (25)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
effective: Supporting people to live healthier lives, access healthcare services and supportGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolationGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportNot rated
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candour; managers and staff being clear about their rolesGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving careGood