Pathfinders Specialist and Complex Care

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 ensured people’s care and treatment were effective by thoroughly assessing and regularly reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs in partnership with them. People had clearly identified goals and outcomes recorded within their care plans, which were reviewed routinely to ensure care remained appropriate and responsive to any changes in need.

Where people had specific health conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy or risks relating to tissue viability, these were clearly identified within care plans. Detailed guidance was now in place to support staff on how people should be cared for safely and effectively, including when specialist input from external health professionals was required. This approach ensured care was well‑coordinated, personalised and based on ongoing assessment of people’s needs.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment in partnership with them, ensuring it reflected what was important to them and supported positive outcomes. Care was delivered in line with relevant legislation and current evidence‑based good practice and standards. Since the previous assessment, care planning had been strengthened to provide clear, detailed guidance for staff. For example, care plans clearly identified when and how people at risk of pressure damage should be repositioned.

Daily care records completed by staff demonstrated these instructions were being followed consistently, providing assurance that care and treatment were delivered as planned. This approach supported safe, effective and person‑centred care and helped reduce the risk of avoidable harm.

We did not look at How staff, teams and services work together during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

We did not look at Supporting people to live healthier lives during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

We did not look at Monitoring and improving outcomes during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

The provider ensured people were informed about their rights in relation to consent and that these were respected when delivering person‑centred care and treatment. Since the previous assessment, the provider had strengthened arrangements to support staff in understanding and applying the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. Staff had received appropriate training and ongoing support to help them assess people’s varying capacity and to make best‑interest decisions safely and effectively, in partnership with people and, where appropriate, their relatives.

Throughout the assessment, staff across all areas of the home were consistently observed seeking permission and obtaining consent from people before providing care and support. This demonstrated a respectful and rights‑based approach, ensuring people were involved in decisions about their care and treated with dignity at all times.