Barlavington Manor

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 62 (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 used assessments to identify the type and level of support people required. People’s needs had been assessed prior to using the service. Information was gathered from the person, those close to them and healthcare professionals and used to plan their care. We received mixed feedback from people about their involvement in planning and reviewing their care. Most people recalled having discussions about their care when they moved to Barlavington Manor but told us they did not recall being involved in reviews since. Multidisciplinary assessments were used to assess changes in people’s needs including the risk of malnutrition, skin integrity and pain. Protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 such as disability, ethnicity and religion were considered in the assessment process. This ensured people's diverse needs were considered and promoted within their care.

The provider did not always plan and deliver people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. Care records did not always evidence reviews, and updates had been made in partnership with people. People consistently told us they had not seen their care plan although three people said they had contributed to theirs. A person said, “I’m not sure if I have a care plan but my needs are met.”

We viewed people’s care plans and there was evidence these had been updated when advice or their needs had changed. However, information recorded was task focused and lacked meaningful detail about people’s involvement or preferences. Relatives said they were not involved in reviews but felt their loved one’s needs were being met. A relative told us, “Staff are always there if I need to discuss any aspects of my relatives care.”

The provider worked across teams and services to support people’s health, care, and wellbeing. When people’s needs or circumstances changed, referrals were made to multidisciplinary professionals for advice and treatment. However, there was a failure to ensure guidance from healthcare professionals was consistently followed or accurately reflected in people’s care records. The provider was responsive to our feedback and took immediate action to address our findings.

People who had mental health needs were monitored regularly by healthcare professionals and there was evidence of regular medicine reviews. People told us staff worked collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, to ensure they received continuity of care. A person told us district nurses and staff supported them well with wound care. Another person said they received good support from the local GP practice. A person said, “It’s great, staff can get hold of them easily and they pay us a visit weekly.” A visiting health care professional told us staff communicated well and had people’s needs in mind.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing. People said they were provided with support to manage pain, health conditions and dietary needs. Staff told us it was important for people’s well-being to remain as physically and mentally active as possible. Staff supported people with gentle exercises and physiotherapy programmes. People were provided with a varied and nutritious diet. Personal preferences and specialist diets were catered for. Relatives told us the care provided at Barlavington Manor had helped their loved ones maintain and improve their health.

The provider did not always ensure people’s care and treatment was effectively monitored. There was failure to ensure outcomes were in line with clinical requirements and people’s own expectations. Staff did not always follow care plan guidance and records were not always a true reflection of the care given. For example, we reviewed people’s repositioning and nutrition charts against our observations of staff practice. There was evidence of inaccurate and retrospective recording and people not being repositioned in line with their care plan guidance. There was no evidence people had been impacted negatively by this; however, people had been placed at risk of avoidable harm. Following our feedback the registered manager took action to improve monitoring processes.

People’s daily notes recorded changes in people’s health, and we were able to see monitoring of people’s vital signs such as temperature and oxygen saturation. Records showed people were monitored appropriately following a head injury. This was in line with the providers head injury protocol and took into consideration the risks associated with blood thinners.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. Staff and managers worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken appropriately. Restrictions placed on people’s liberty to keep them safe, were lawful, appropriately authorised and monitored. Process to check people’s Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) were robust and ensured those making decisions on behalf of someone else had been legally appointed to do so.