Fernleigh House

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 using a range of formal assessment tools, these were reviewed regularly to identify if people’s needs had changed. People’s communication methods were documented within care plans and staff followed these to enable effective communication. People and their relatives were involved in the reviews and actions were agreed and documented to ensure information remained accurate and supported individual goals.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards.

Information was available to enable staff to meet people’s needs. Care records contained information to ensure staff could support a person-centred approach and records were updated when things changed. For example, people’s nutritional needs were recorded and the specific support and equipment they needed. A relative shared that staff had responded to a change in their family member’s weight and had worked with their family member to support and maintain their wellbeing. They said, “They do it at [family member’s] pace. [Family member’s] weight has improved. They’re on it.”

People were involved in planning care and could share their views and preferences. A person had been involved in developing strategies to support their health and enable them to meet their goals. They told us, “They help me you know. I’ve had meetings and I work out what I want to do and they help me.”

People were supported by appropriate health professionals if the need arose and their advice followed. Staff were able to describe the needs of the people they supported, and the help they required.

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 provider shared information with other health and social care professionals to support care planning and delivery. Records of agreed actions and treatment plans were documented to enable consistency of care. A health professional told us the service worked well with them and supported people to work towards their goals.

Staff consistently told us there was good teamwork at the service and they worked to enhance people’s lives. A staff member commented, “We’ve got a good team, we are well led.”

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 to develop and maintain their independence in ways that were meaningful to them. Staff described how one person had been supported to learn the skills needed to make their own hot drinks. As a result, they were now able to do this independently, promoting their confidence, choice and autonomy. A staff member shared, “It’s our job to give the skills to grow independence.”

People were empowered to make decisions about their food and drink. They were involved in planning their meals and were supported to change their minds if they chose something different. Drinks and snacks were readily available throughout the day, and staff provided support where this was needed. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people's individual preferences and dietary needs.

People's oral health needs were well understood and supported. Care records contained personalised guidance on maintaining good oral health, and people were supported to access dental services and advice when required.

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 provider used formal assessment tools to assess the health and wellbeing of people who used the service. For example, people’s weight was monitored at a frequency that met their assessed needs, and information was shared with health professionals when this was appropriate. If people needed support with specific diets and hydration, this was given and recorded within care documentation.

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

People were asked to consent to care before this was given. Mental capacity assessments were completed if these were required, and we saw evidence that best interest decisions were made with the involvement of other relevant persons if this was needed. If restrictions were required to maintain people’s safety, this was done lawfully.