Sylvian Care Southampton

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.

At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. This included initial assessments of people’s needs prior to care packages commencing as well as reviews of people’s care at agreed intervals or when their needs changed. This helped to ensure care plans and assessments were kept current and reflected people’s needs. A relative told us, “Lots of good information was provided, especially operational information about bookings of care visits.”

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards. Senior staff conducted competency assessments to ensure staff were following best practice and the advice provided by health professionals. The registered manager told us how they worked closely with health professionals and the local authority ensuring they took advice to keep people safe living at home.

The provider worked well with health and social care professionals and other care providers to support people. They made sure people only needed to tell their story once by sharing their assessment of needs when people moved between different services.

The service worked closely with many health professionals, including social workers, occupational therapists, community nurses and doctors. A relative told us, “At reviews, my husband and I chat beforehand, i.e. the physio changed my exercises. They [Sylvian Care] were more than happy to fit these in during the afternoon.” A health professional told us, “The service has established good working relationships with external agencies, responding proactively to requests for support and ensuring coordinated care for service users.”

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing as they chose, including promoting their independence as far as possible. Staff supported people to live healthier lives whilst respecting their choices, and where possible, to reduce their future needs for care and support.

People were supported to access relevant health services, including their GP and community nurses. Information about people's diagnosed health care needs was recorded in their care plans, including how this might impact on them. Staff supported people to make healthier choices. One person told us, “They encourage me to eat more fruit. That’s rather nice. It makes my life pleasant. They have an effect on my diet. They put fruit on my breakfast tray. They peel the skin of the satsumas. I am impressed how they present my breakfast, on a tray, with a serviette.”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment for opportunities to improve it. They ensured outcomes were positive and consistent, meeting both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

Staff recorded details of the care and support provided during each care visit. Office staff monitored these to confirm people’s needs were being met. The service worked with district nurse to keep records necessary for monitoring people’s health and any concerns were passed on to the district nursing team. A health professional told us, “There is a strong culture of collaboration, with open communication and joint decision-making contributing to positive outcomes for service users.”

The provider had improved their processes to ensure they followed Mental Capacity Act (MCA) requirements. Staff told people about their rights to give and withhold consent. They respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

People told us staff sought their consent before delivering care. Staff had a good knowledge around the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to apply this practically in their everyday roles. Where people had appointed someone to hold lasting power of attorney, the provider ensured this legal authority to act on a person’s behalf was verified. This helped ensure the provider was following the correct procedures around gaining consent to care.