Updated 14 June 2019
PSS Birmingham is operated by Prometheus Safe & Secure Ltd. The service opened in 2014. It is an independent ambulance service in Birmingham. The service serves the communities within the West Midlands but also provides a national patient transport service upon request.
The service has had a registered manager in post since 2014.
Updated 14 June 2019
PSS Birmingham is operated by Prometheus Safe & Secure Ltd. The service provides a patient transport service.
PSS Birmingham specialise in transporting patients whose primary diagnosis or need is for mental health rather than physical health, and as such provide a secure transfer service.
We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out an unannounced inspection on 16 April 2019.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the same five questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people's needs, and well-led?
Throughout the inspection, we took account of what people told us and how the provider understood and complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
We rated it as Good overall.
Staff understood how to protect patients from abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.
The service controlled infection risk well. Staff kept themselves, equipment and all but one of the vehicles clean. They used control measures to prevent the spread of infection. The service had suitable premises and equipment and looked after them well.
Staff completed and updated risk assessments for each patient. They kept clear records and asked for support when necessary.
The service had enough staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep people safe from avoidable harm and to provide the right care and treatment. Staff of different kinds worked together as a team to benefit patients.
The service managed patient safety incidents well. Staff recognised incidents and reported them appropriately. Managers investigated incidents and shared lessons learned with the whole team and the wider service.
Staff understood their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They knew how to support patients experiencing mental ill health and those who lacked the capacity to make decisions about their care.
Staff cared for patients with compassion. Feedback from patients confirmed that staff treated them well and with kindness. Staff provided emotional support to patients to minimise their distress. Staff involved patients and those close to them in decisions about their care.
The service planned and provided services in a way that met the needs of local people. People could access the service when they needed it.
The service treated concerns and complaints seriously, investigated them and learned lessons from the results, and shared these with all staff.
Managers at all levels in the service had the right skills and abilities to run a service providing high-quality sustainable care. Managers across the service promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.
The service had a vision for what it wanted to achieve and workable plans to turn it into action.
The service had systems to identify risks, plan to eliminate or reduce them, and cope with both the expected and unexpected. The service collected, analysed, managed and used information well to support all its activities.
The service engaged well with staff, and local organisations to plan and manage appropriate services, and collaborated with partner organisations effectively.
The service was committed to improving services by learning from when things went well or wrong, promoting training, research and innovation.
However, we found the following issues the service provider needs to improve:
One vehicle had dirt on the floor surface and did not have a supply of antibacterial gel on board. Data from the service post inspection clarified this vehicle was awaiting a deep clean at the time of inspection.
Vehicles did not carry spill kits on board at the time of inspection despite this being required as part of the infection prevention and control policy. Following the inspection, we were assured vehicles were stocked with spill kits.
Zero hours staff had not previously had the opportunity to engage with an appraisal process. However, data from the service reported this was due to a high turnover of zero hours staff. This was discussed during inspection and plans were in place to manage this.
Following this inspection, we told the provider that it should make improvements, even though a regulation had not been breached, to help the service improve.
Amanda Stanford
Updated 14 June 2019
PSS Birmingham delivered a patient transport service 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The service specialised in the transportation of patients with a mental health condition as their medical need.
We rated this service as good overall.