Bowtree Homecare Ltd

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 provider made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

People’s needs were assessed prior to them commencing with the service. Care was planned in line with their wishes and individual care plan. People and their loved ones were involved in the assessment of their needs. Comments included, “We were involved in planning the care package, discussing my mother's needs and answering questions regarding her health etc for their records” and “When I first contacted Bowtree [registered manager] visited Mum and took a full history with me being present as Mum's memory is very poor. [Registered manager] then suggested what options might best suit Mums needs.”

Assessments considered the person’s health, care, wellbeing, and communication needs, to enable them to receive care or treatment that had the best possible outcomes. How staff needed to support people in these areas was documented in their care plan. Assessments were up-to-date and regularly reviewed to support staff to understand people’s current needs.

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.

People were involved in planning their care and support. Care plans reflected people’s care and support needs. They were personalised and contained information on how people wished to receive their care and support. People’s hydration and nutritional needs were supported and met. Where people had specific dietary needs, this was recorded in their care plan to ensure staff were aware of the support they required. Care plans were reviewed regularly, and changes recorded where required. One staff member told us, “I would know if someone was on a special diet as this would be in the care plan and there would be a nutrition and hydration risk assessment in place.”

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.

The registered manager explained that people’s care plans would be available should they be admitted to hospital. Information was shared between teams and services to ensure continuity of care, for example, we saw evidence of speech and language therapy input in people’s care plans.

The service involved people in planning their care and support. People told us they were supported by staff who knew them well. Comments included, “They really care. This is so important to me. The carers understand that they're in my mum’s home and provide the utmost respect and my mum is happy. They also understand the family unit and they make sure we’re all ok, not just mum.”

Staff had access to the information they needed to appropriately assess, plan and deliver people’s care and support. A staff member told us, “People’s health and wellbeing are monitored daily. I will make daily notes on my hand held device, so I am able to monitor any changes. I work alongside the duty managers.”

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.

People were supported by staff to manage their health and wellbeing and maintain their independence where possible. People and their relatives told us they were involved in regularly reviewing their health and wellbeing needs where necessary. Comments included, “I'm encouraged to feedback and to speak to the team if I have any concerns around my mum or need any changes to her plan. I have done this by just picking up the phone and the team have been extremely flexible. They have a really can do attitude and have always found a way to support what is needed.”

The provider worked with other professionals to support people to live healthier lives. Comments included, “I have seen first-hand the unique, bespoke care plans that are put into place for our homeowners. I have been present when either [registered manager] or her team have had to contact an outside professional due to a homeowner being unwell. The ladies acted swiftly and professionally in contacting the district nursing team and informing them of their concerns. This leads to our homeowner's issue being dealt with in a timely manner.”

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 involved people in planning their care and support. Care plans were regularly reviewed and updated to reflect any changes to care and support. People were supported to live how they would like and take part in activities they enjoyed. Comments included, “Knowing that mum is well cared for, treated with dignity and able to live how she wants in her own home is so important” and “My mum is getting extremely lonely, and I wanted her to go to daycare at a local care home but couldn’t get her there and back. The team literally said don’t worry about it we will make it happen, and they did. My mum now loves going and probably wouldn’t have gone at all if it hadn’t been a friendly face taking her and staying with her until she was comfortable.”

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

The provider was working in line with the Mental Capacity Act. There was a policy in place and training for all staff. At the time of assessment everybody receiving a service was able to consent to their care and treatment. The registered manager told us about the improvements they had made since the last inspection. People now consented to individual areas of care and support. The provider recorded where people’s relatives had lasting power of attorney and what this related to. Staff confirmed they asked for consent before providing care. A staff member told us, “I would always give my client a choice and ask them what they want. I would never presume anything or attempt to take away a person's independence. All the clients can make their own choice. If this is a risk that may cause harm, then I might suggest they still do it but in a different way that would minimise the risk.”