07/09/2023 CareLineLive - Single Assessment Framework - What does SAFE look like?
Running a SAFE service is the objective of providers across health and social care both in the UK and further afield. Within home care the challenges can be significant due to care staff working in multiple environments with a range of service users who have diverse needs.
People using services must be assured that their liberty and best interests are protected and that they will be SAFE when accessing services. They should be confident that staff levels and skill sets are appropriate to meet needs and expectations.
SAFE and the related quality statements
The Key Question of SAFE explores how safety and continuous improvement is embedded into the culture of a service. Leaders should ensure that areas that pose the greatest risk are identified and managed collaboratively in a way that improves SAFE outcomes for service users.
Collaborative working and integrated care are pivotal to risk management and safe and effective care journeys. Transitions between services should be seamless and coordinated in ways which are inclusive and give people control of their choices, and what they consent to. People using services should be encouraged to make informed decisions when balancing the risk of harm and exploring positive risk taking.
Current CQC guidance on the quality statements is clear as are references to the regulations. Therefore, make sure you understand the regulations and what they mean for your service. The quality statements that relate to the key question of SAFE are:
- Learning culture
- Safe systems, pathways and transitions
- Safeguarding
- Involving people to manage risk
- Safe environments
- Safe and effective staffing
- Infection prevention and control
- Medicine optimisation