The Elms

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 good. At this assessment the rating has remained 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 service made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.The service delivered effective care by assessing and regularly reviewing people’s health, wellbeing, and communication needs. Assessments were completed before people’s admission to the service, which meant their needs were met. Reviews were ongoing and involved people, helping to keep care personalised and relevant.

The service 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.People were involved in creating and reviewing their care plans, so their support matched their needs and choices. Care was personalised and followed best practice, including support with nutrition and long-term health needs. Staff worked closely with healthcare professionals to provide consistent and effective care. Policies, training, and supervision helped staff deliver safe and compassionate support.

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 spoke positively about teamwork and supporting each other to provide the best care. People were settled and comfortable with familiar staff who knew them well. The team worked closely with health professionals to ensure consistent care, and partners valued their clear communication. Each person had a health information document to share important details if hospital treatment was needed. During the inspection, a person’s needs had changed. After a multi-disciplinary meeting, the person was safely transferred between services. Everyone was involved throughout the process, which was well planned and completed successfully.

The service supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. The service supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.People had choice and freedom in how they spent their time and were able to access all areas of the service, including the garden. Staff supported people to set goals and learn new skills. Photographs showed people taking part in daily activities, highlighting the service’s focus on meaningful experiences that supported health and wellbeing. Two people went on an overseas holiday with staff support. Staff said they enjoyed the all-inclusive experience and were able to choose different foods at each mealtime. Staff also noted people were more talkative than usual. Other people chose to holiday within the UK. Everyone enjoyed their time away, which they looked forward to each year, as they could choose where they wanted to go and who would support them on the trip.

The service 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.People were observed to make positive improvements by having more choices in their daily routine. Care plans included clear, personalised goals and guidance for staff, which were reviewed regularly to reflect changing needs. Staff showed a strong commitment to improvement, supported by regular audits and quality checks to ensure care remained effective. A relative said, “The service is well run and caring. They do their best.”

The service told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.Where people were unable to make specific decisions, the appropriate assessments and legal authorisations were in place. Staff had a comprehensive understanding of the MCA and consistently sought consent, while offering choices in daily care and routines. Care plans clearly documented people’s communication preferences.