Alderwood

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 the last inspection we rated this key question good. At this inspection the rating has remained good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 79 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Staff made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. The staff worked closely with the hospital teams when considering new admissions to the service. Comprehensive assessments were completed prior to admission and throughout people’s stay, involving relatives where possible. Care records included detailed information about mental health conditions and their impact on daily life. Staff used person-centred approaches and collaborative planning to ensure people were actively involved in creating their care and risk management plans. One staff member told us, “People are actively involved in creating their care and risk management plan through partnership, shared decision-making and respect for their lived experience.”

Care and treatment were delivered in line with current best practice and supported by evidence-based tools. Staff demonstrated strong knowledge of mental health conditions and worked collaboratively with healthcare professionals to ensure timely interventions. Care plans reflected positive risk-taking to promote independence and recovery. A staff member told us, “Positive risk taking is encouraged to build independence and for good mental health.” Professionals praised the service for successfully rehabilitating individuals with complex mental health needs, enabling safe discharge into the community.

The service 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. Staff worked effectively with health and social care professionals, including GPs, community mental health teams, and palliative care services to make sure care was tailored to the individual’s needs. Evidence from follow-up visits showed strong links with external agencies and community engagement, such as Age Concern and local green initiatives. Professionals praised Alderwood’s ability to rehabilitate people with complex mental health needs and maintain continuity during transitions. One visiting professional noted, “[Registered manager] invited me to attend the service to deliver oral health promotion to the residents. They felt a professional from an outside agency with equipment would be of benefit to the residents in addition to what they already do. The residents engaged well and were supported by staff throughout the talk.” The service design promoted integration, with multidisciplinary meetings and proactive discharge planning. A case study illustrated how staff collaborated with housing providers and social workers to support a person to move to independent living.

Regular team meetings and themed supervision sessions promoted learning and continuous improvement. Clinical supervision processes were standardised across services, and staff appraisals were ongoing. The service also engaged with community resources, arranging visits from external agencies and encouraging service users to participate in local events.

Staff supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives through health promotion activities and education. Visual displays on healthy eating, smoking cessation, alcohol use, and dental hygiene were created by staff as well as student nurses and prominently displayed. People were proactively encouraged to manage their oral health, and this had led to marked improvements in their health. Activities such as exercise classes and healthy eating groups were available, and service users were encouraged to access community amenities. All these activities supported people to improve their wellbeing and overall health.

Staff routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured outcomes were positive and consistent, and they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. Quality assurance processes included regular audits of medication, infection control, and care environment, with action plans implemented promptly. The service introduced a scoring system to evaluate improvements and track progress against previous action plans. Case studies and success stories demonstrated positive outcomes, such as people regaining independence and moving into their own homes. One person told us, “I would not be where I am now if it was not for Alderwood staff, the support and kindness they have shown I will never forget.”

The service told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and associated codes of practice. They appropriately completed capacity assessments and ‘best interests’ decisions. At the time of the inspection, no one lacked capacity to make decisions. Staff worked with people who may be subject to community treatment orders and conditional discharges. Staff had a good understanding of their role supporting people to understand their right to appeal under the Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007).