Crystal Social Care

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.This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has been 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.

The registered manager had carried out a face-to-face assessment to gather information and involve people and their relatives. They said, “I went to service user’s home, with our assessment form. We discussed medical history, GP details any professionals involved, any goals the service user might have or preferences for the call. We also assessed any risks.”

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.

The registered manager kept themselves and their staff up to date with national legislation, evidence-based good practice and required standards. They said, “I make sure my own training is also kept up to date.”

The provider worked well across teams and services 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.

Care plans were reviewed regularly to ensure information was up to date and accurate. The registered manager said, “I am used to liaising with other professionals so aware of importance of accurate records.”

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

Staff were following the guidance from the care plan which included supporting a person with both speech and mobility exercises. A relative said, “They do speak with the physio, and they take on any instructions they leave.”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

The service was very small; however, the registered manager understood and had explored various systems they may need if their business were to grow to ensure outcomes for people were effectively monitored. This included electronic call monitoring and care planning systems. A staff member told us, “If I notice any deterioration in a person’s health, I will fully update the registered manager who is always accessible.”

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. The Act requires that, as far as possible, people make their own decisions and are helped to do so when needed. When they lack mental capacity to take particular decisions, any made on their behalf must be in their best interests and as least restrictive as possible.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the MCA. When people receive care and treatment in their own homes an application must be made to the Court of Protection for them to authorise people to be deprived of their liberty. We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA.

Whilst there was no one currently using the service who lacked capacity the registered manager had a good knowledge of the MCA. They told us, “This is looking at best interest decisions, incorporating any past wishes, desires or religious needs. I would feel confident to assess capacity to ensure people could understand the decision, process information and retain information. Assessments should always be time and decision specific."