Royal Mencap Society - Central Hampshire

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.

They completed initial assessments of people’s needs prior to care packages commencing. Assessments incorporated information from people and professionals; to help ensure they reflected the support required. Care and support plans were clear, detailed and person-centred, and included how staff were to support people to meet their needs.

A relative told us they received reviews of the person’s care and support to ensure their care and support plan met their current needs. Staff, who knew people well, told us they were involved in updating people’s care and support plans. This meant the most up to date information about how to support people was available.

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 provider had worked with people to plan and deliver their care and had worked with professionals to implement their guidance. Referrals were made to relevant health care professionals when required.

Staff told us if they had any concerns about people’s eating and drinking, referrals would be made to dieticians or speech and language therapists (SaLT) who would provide specialist guidance. Staff we spoke with were aware of how to support people at risk of choking, with details provided in their app on any modified food or drink consistency in accordance with national guidance.

The registered manager told us they were a positive behaviour support (PBS) coach and able to support staff in addition to the provider’s own learning and development team.

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.

People’s care and support plans included information where other stakeholders were involved in their care (such as GPs). Staff told us they worked together well as a team and contacted external professionals as needed or escalated concerns to management to follow these up. A staff member told us, “I am key worker so handle GP appointments and hospital appointments.”

The registered manager told us they also worked closely with the local intensive support team around implementing effective PBS strategies as part of people’s care.

The registered manager told us they had worked hard to ensure staff teams worked well together. Where this had been an issue, they had used mediation or moved staff around to improve the team.

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’s healthcare needs were identified in their care and support plans. Daily care notes were reviewed for any changes in people’s condition. Staff told us they monitored people’s weight and they get annual health reviews with the doctor. The registered manager said the local authority and learning disability nurses had been very helpful in ensuring GP surgeries were getting health checks done properly.

Staff said they would raise any concerns with management if people’s health changed. People were encouraged to eat a balanced diet to maintain their health. One relative told us, “[Relative’s] diet is under review.”

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.

People’s care and support plans identified specific goals and outcomes related to their care. There was ongoing evidence of where people had achieved these including being encouraged to try new activities. The provider had worked well with professionals to improve outcomes for people. There was information and risk management plans in place. Staff were aware of these and how to support people. People were encouraged to plan activities they enjoyed and relatives confirmed this.

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

The provider obtained consent from people where they had capacity to make the decision. Best interest decisions were documented, as well as any decision specific capacity assessments. This helped to ensure the provider was following the correct procedures around gaining consent to care. There were policies and procedures in place to ensure valid consent to care was obtained. Staff told us they sought people’s consent before delivering care and support. Staff we spoke with were aware of the importance of checking if a person had the capacity to make a decision.