Key question: safe
We have mapped our guidelines to the CQC's single assessment framework. It sets out quality statements which providers should uphold under the 5 key questions of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
The CQC's 'safe' question, one of the five key questions they ask of all care services, assesses whether service users are protected from abuse and avoidable harm.
We have a proactive and positive culture of safety based on openness and honesty, in which concerns about safety are listened to, safety events are investigated and reported thoroughly, and lessons are learned to continually identify and embed good practices.
Guidance
Relevant sections:
NG10: Violence and aggression: short-term management in mental health, health and community settings
NG189: Safeguarding adults in care homes
Relevant section:
Relevant sections:
NG204: Babies, children and young people's experience of healthcare
Relevant sections:
NG216: Social work with adults experiencing complex needs
Relevant section:
NG46: Controlled drugs: safe use and management
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
SC1: Managing medicines in care homes
Relevant section:
Quality standards
QS15 - Patient experience in adult NHS services
QS154 - Violent and aggressive behaviours in people with mental health problems
We work with people and our partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety is managed, monitored and assured. We ensure continuity of care, including when people move between different services.
Guidance
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
NG10: Violence and aggression: short-term management in mental health, health and community settings
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
NG204: Babies, children and young people's experience of healthcare
Relevant section:
NG214: Integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
NG46: Controlled drugs: safe use and management
Relevant section:
SC1: Managing medicines in care homes
Relevant section:
NG57: Physical health of people in prison
Relevant section:
Quality standards
QS14 - Service user experience in adult mental health services
QS15 - Patient experience in adult NHS services
QS154 - Violent and aggressive behaviours in people with mental health problems
We work with people to understand what being safe means to themas well as with our partners on the best way to achieve this. We concentrate on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect, and we make sure we share concerns quickly and appropriately.
Guidance
Relevant section:
NG225: Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
NG232: Head injury: assessment and early management
Relevant sections:
CG185: Bipolar disorder: assessment and management
Relevant section:
CG192: Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance
Relevant section:
CG51: Drug misuse in over 16s: psychosocial interventions
CG89: Child maltreatment: when to suspect maltreatment in under 18s
NG10: Violence and aggression: short-term management in mental health, health and community settings
NG189: Safeguarding adults in care homes
NG205: Looked-after children and young people
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
NG57: Physical health of people in prison
Relevant section:
NG214: Integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness
Relevant section:
NG216: Social work with adults experiencing complex needs
Relevant sections:
NG55: Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people
Relevant section:
NG69: Eating disorders: recognition and treatment
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
Relevant sections:
PH40: Social and emotional wellbeing: early years
PH50: Domestic violence and abuse: multi-agency working
Related sections
PH51: Contraceptive services for under 25s
Relevant section:
PH52: Needle and syringe programmes
Relevant section:
SC1: Managing medicines in care homes
Relevant section:
Quality standards
QS188 - Coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse
QS14 - Service user experience in adult mental health services
QS95 - Bipolar disorder in adults
QS23 - Drug use disorders in adults
QS179 - Child abuse and neglect
QS154 - Violent and aggressive behaviours in people with mental health problems
QS31 - Looked-after children and young people
QS123 - Home care for older people
QS83 - Alcohol: preventing harmful use in the community
QS128 - Early years: promoting health and wellbeing in under-5s
QS116 - Domestic violence and abuse
We work with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically so that care meets their needs in a way that is safe and supportive and enables them to do the things that matter to them.
Guidance
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
NG204: Babies, children and young people's experience of healthcare
Relevant section:
NG51: Suspected sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management
Relevant section:
Quality standards
QS15 - Patient experience in adult NHS services
We detect and control potential risks in the care environment and make sure that the equipment, facilities and technology support the delivery of safe care.
Guidance
CG142: Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management
Relevant section:
CG161: Falls in older people: assessing risk and prevention
Relevant sections:
CG170: Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management
Relevant section:
NG10: Violence and aggression: short-term management in mental health, health and community settings
Relevant section:
NG105: Preventing suicide in community and custodial settings
Relevant section:
NG46: Controlled drugs: safe use and management
Relevant section:
NG93: Learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges: service design and delivery
Relevant section:
Quality standards
QS154 - Violent and aggressive behaviours in people with mental health problems
We make sure there are enough qualified, skilled and experienced people, who receive effective support, supervision and development and work together effectively to provide safe care that meets people’s individual needs.
Guidance
NG10: Violence and aggression: short-term management in mental health, health and community settings
NG189: Safeguarding adults in care homes
Relevant section:
Relevant section:
NG216: Social work with adults experiencing complex needs
Relevant sections:
NG4: Safe midwifery staffing for maternity settings
Relevant section:
SC1: Managing medicines in care homes
Relevant section:
Quality standards
QS154 - Violent and aggressive behaviours in people with mental health problems
QS123 - Home care for older people
QS182 - People's experience using adult social care services
We assess and manage the risk of infection, detect and control the risk of it spreading and share any concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.
Guidance
CG139: Healthcare-associated infections: prevention and control in primary and community care
NG113: Urinary tract infection (catheter-associated): antimicrobial prescribing
NG125: Surgical site infections: prevention and treatment
NG139: Pneumonia (hospital-acquired): antimicrobial prescribing
NG15: Antimicrobial stewardship: systems and processes for effective antimicrobial medicine use
NG199: Clostridioides difficile infection: antimicrobial prescribing
PH36: Healthcare-associated infections: prevention and control
Quality standards
QS61 - Infection prevention and control
QS49 - Surgical site infection
We make sure that medicines and treatments are safe and meet people’s needs, capacities and preferences by enabling them to be involved in planning, including when changes happen.
Guidance
CG112: Sedation in under 19s: using sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
GC140: Palliative care for adults: strong opioids for pain relief
CG183: Drug allergy: diagnosis and management
CG192: Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance
Relevant sections:
NG199: Clostridioides difficile infection: antimicrobial prescribing
Relevant section:
NG56: Multimorbidity: clinical assessment and management
NG67: Managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community
SC1: Managing medicines in care homes
Quality standards
QS115 - Antenatal and postnatal mental health
QS120 - Medicines optimisation
QS171 - Medicines management for people receiving social care in the community