Vecta 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 care records contained assessments and support plans covering their individual needs and identified risks. These were reviewed regularly and updated when people’s needs changed. People and relatives described being involved in the admission process, and one person told us, “I came here and saw it. They asked me, I had a choice.”

Staff planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. Staff delivered care and treatment in line with current guidance and monitored people's health needs through clinical reviews, wound care, repositioning, falls analysis and nutrition and hydration monitoring.

Staff had completed training to support them in working effectively with people living with dementia and were able to demonstrate an understanding of best practice approaches. Discussions with staff showed they knew people well and understood their individual needs, preferences and abilities. Staff were able to explain how they adapted their approach to provide personalised support and help people achieve the best possible outcomes.

Staff understood people's dietary requirements, preferences and associated risks, and people were offered choices at mealtimes. Systems were in place to monitor people's food and fluid intake where risks had been identified, and the registered manager had recently reviewed arrangements to strengthen oversight of hydration.

Staff, teams and services worked well together to provide people with coordinated care and support. Daily meetings brought together staff from across the service to share information about people's changing needs, incidents, medicines, nutrition, wounds and staffing. Staff described positive teamwork and knew how to obtain advice from nurses, managers and external professionals when required.

The provider also worked alongside people's relatives and representatives to help ensure important information was shared and that people received consistent care and support. Relatives and representatives were involved in assessments, care planning and reviews where appropriate and were kept informed about changes in people's health and wellbeing. The service also provided opportunities for relatives to share their views through meetings, day-to-day discussions and feedback processes. Relatives told us they felt involved in discussions about their family member's care and health needs.

Staff supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. People were supported to live healthier lives and maintain their physical and mental wellbeing. Care plans addressed people's physical health, mental health, emotional wellbeing, nutrition, hydration and identified risks. Staff understood people's individual healthcare needs and recognised signs which could indicate a deterioration in health or wellbeing. People had access to healthcare services when required, including GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, paramedics and specialist healthcare professionals. Staff also supported people living with dementia and mental health needs through reassurance, meaningful interaction and support tailored to their individual needs and preferences. People had access to communal and outdoor spaces which supported opportunities for social interaction, activity and fresh air.

The provider routinely monitored people's care and treatment to improve outcomes. Staff monitored individual areas including weight, nutrition, hydration, skin integrity, falls and other identified health risks. Staff demonstrated an understanding of signs that may indicate a deterioration in a person's condition, including symptoms associated with urinary tract infections, pressure damage, stroke and other health concerns, and understood the importance of escalating concerns promptly to nursing staff or healthcare professionals. The management team used audits, clinical governance meetings, action plans and regional oversight to identify areas requiring improvement and monitor the actions taken.

Staff told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. They sought people’s consent before providing care and respected their choices and decisions. People were offered choices about their meals, activities and day-to-day support, and staff respected decisions to decline. Staff supported people to make informed choices in ways that met their individual needs, helping people living with dementia make meaningful decisions wherever possible. One person told us, “They give you the attention you want. They don’t force it on you.”

Where people lacked capacity to make particular decisions, records contained mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions. Staff understood people’s right to make decisions others might consider unwise when they had the capacity to do so.