You First Support Services CIC

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

At this assessment, we found 1 person had not been protected to live in safety, free from harassment or abuse.

This service scored 62 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

People were not always kept safe in line with the provider’s policy and procedures. One person had been mistreated by a senior staff member. Concerns raised by another staff member and a relative about this staff member had not been acted upon promptly which allowed the situation to continue. The person involved told us, “Some things [staff member’s name] did upset me. I feel hurt and betrayed.” Their relative said, “It was an abuse of [the staff member’s] position of trust.”

Staff received safeguarding and whistle blowing training and were asked about people’s safety during work meetings. Staff were encouraged to report any concerns to their line managers. Whilst concerns were generally acted upon, concerns regarding 1 person being supported was not 'heard' when initially reported and this led to the situation continuing. The staff member who raised the original concerns raised these with 2 registered managers at different times and again on leaving the provider’s employment.

The provider had clear up to date safeguarding, whistleblowing, use of social media and staff code of conduct policies. All staff were given copies of these policies in the staff handbook and were expected to adhere to them. These policies had not been followed in relation to 1 person supported by the service. The senior staff member concerned had attempted to control the narrative regarding concerns raised about them. They also tried to direct/influence the provider’s internal investigation for several weeks. Another senior member of staff told us, “Yes [the staff member concerns were raised about] is very influential, articulate, knowledgeable, and looking back has discredited [the 2 people who raised concerns].” The provider had taken some actions in July 2024 and August 2024 in relation to the person’s safety whilst they were trying to establish the full nature of the allegations. Not all of these actions were successful in protecting the person at risk. This led to a delay in concerns being reported to the local authority safeguarding team to ensure the concerns were shared and fully/independently investigated. The provider had failed to protect people from abuse and improper treatment. This was a breach of Regulation 13 (Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment) of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe environments during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe and effective staffing during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.