Ami Group - The Knoll Unit and Ami Court Unit

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 told us they were involved in planning their care with staff. People we spoke with understood their needs and had agreed with staff how to manage them. For example, a person understood they needed to be sat up to eat and drink but found this difficult. Staff had worked with them to find a way they could be comfortable as well as safe.

People’s care plans contained information about all areas of their lives including their physical health, mental health and wellbeing. Staff had continued to review people’s plans with them to make sure they reflected their needs.

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. Staff used recognised tools to assess people’s needs such as Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) to identify if people were at risk of weight loss. When people had been identified as being at risk of weight loss, they were given fortified meals and referred to the dietician when required. Nurses were following current NHS and local guidance, when assessing the risks to people’s skin integrity, by using the ‘Purpose T’ assessment tool. The assessment tool provided staff with specific pathways to follow according to the outcome of the assessment.

There were systems in place to make sure the chefs were aware of people’s nutritional and dietary needs. We observed a lunch time and people received meals in the consistency they required following Speech and Language Therapy guidance. When people were at risk of not eating or drinking enough, staff monitored their food and fluid intake. Nurses reviewed the records and acted when people were not eating enough. We observed people being offered snacks and drinks during our onsite assessment.

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. Relatives told us, they were kept informed when their family member was unwell or their needs changed. People told us, they thought staff worked well together and knew about any changes to their care or needs. Staff took part in verbal handovers when they came on duty and there was a written record for staff to refer to.

Staff had a good working relationship with the GP who visited the service weekly to review people’s needs. Staff contacted the GP outside of their visit if people became unwell and obtained medicines, (such as antibiotics) quickly.

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 were supported to access vaccinations, dentists and opticians as needed.

People were supported to make meal choices including healthy options when people had decided to lose weight.

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. Nurses managed people’s wounds, ensuring the most appropriate dressings were used and monitored the outcome, when required nurses had requested specialist tissue viability support.

People’s expectations and outcomes had been discussed with them. For example, a person had identified a routine which supported their wellbeing. The routine included walking around the service and not taking part in activities but they liked to observe others enjoying themselves. The person had confirmed they felt supported and content during care plan reviews.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People’s capacity to make decisions had been assessed and recorded in people’s care plans. Staff had recognised people’s capacity may fluctuate when they were unwell and the different ways people could communicate their choices.

People were supported to make everyday choices. We observed staff asking people what they wanted to drink or where they wanted to sit. People told us they made decisions about the care they received care in the way they preferred.

When people did not have the capacity to make decisions, this had been recorded. Staff had ensured decisions made in people’s best interest were completed involving family and health professionals when needed.