Winslow 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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to good.

This meant people’s outcomes were 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 care was reviewed and sections developed within the care electronic system to better reflect people’s needs. Some plans were more detailed than others’ and not all contained specific information relating to people’s needs. For example, some people’s care plans did not have oral care plans and other people’s had detailed information about their preferences.

People and their relatives mostly told us they were involved in care and medicine reviews. One person told us, “I do have care reviews and medication reviews are included in this.” The service was supported by a visiting health professional to develop specific health care plans for people. Peoples’ communication needs were recorded.

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 had access to external health and social care professionals when they needed them. Staff and leaders supported referrals to professionals. People with health conditions which required monitoring, had systems in place for regular reviews. People who were at risk of choking and required a modified diet had speech and language therapist (SALT) guidelines in place. These were clearly documented in people’s care plans and where food was prepared. Some care plans did not have oral care plans in place. The provider had a plan to show how they were reviewing and updating care plans. However, auditing of care plans had started only recently.

People’s nutrition and hydration needs were met. People told us they enjoyed the food.One person told us, ‘‘The food is very good, always well cooked.”

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 service made referrals for people where additional support was required. The service met regularly with the local GP practice to share and review people’s health. Where people required medical appointments, the service liaised with family and other health professionals and ensured a multi-disciplinary approach was followed. New guidance provided by professionals was added to people’s care plans and shared with staff to ensure it was followed.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing where able, so people could maximise their independence, choice and control. People told us they received support to access healthcare, inside and outside of the service. The provider had recently commissioned a pharmacist to support staff and offer additional training around medicines and their impact for the people they supported. People had access to outside activities which promoted their wellbeing. One person told us, “All kinds of things going on here. This tea party today, musical things I like. Going out on visits if you want to, all lovely things.” Another person told us, “We have a knitting club and I join in with as much as I can, the new activity person is very good. I like to get outside in the summer months.”

The provider monitored people’s care and treatment to support improvements. The provider sought outside advice from charities and professionals to give staff and people support with specific conditions.

There was evidence of regular reviews and action being taken immediately following any changes to people’s health needs. People we spoke with told us they were involved in care reviews. People’s skills, life experience and strengths were discussed with them and those involved in their care, and what outcomes they wanted from their support.

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

The service made appropriate referrals to the Local Authority where people required a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessment. We observed people being asked for their consent before being supported with care and support.