Dearne Valley Care Centre

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs.At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.

This service scored 79 (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 was exceptional at making sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices and they decided, in partnership with people, how to respond to any relevant changes in people’s needs.

The service made sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices and they decided, in partnership with people, how to respond to any relevant changes in people’s needs. People and family members told us they were happy with the care provided and the way this was organised. They told us they were involved in care planning which was regularly reviewed to ensure information was current and up to date.

People were exceptionally well supported as individuals, in line with their needs and preferences. Staff and the registered manager knew all of the people who used the service extremely well. One relative said, “The staff take time to have a bit of banter with mum sometimes. It’s good to hear her laughing.”

Staff anticipated people's needs and recognised potential triggers of distress. Another relative told us their relative sometimes refused medication. They explained a staff member recognised the person felt distressed by the staff uniform. The relative said, “By the time I arrived, the staff member had changed into their own clothes and picked a daffodil from the garden. Together we encouraged mum to admire the daffodil, which reduced her anxiety and enabled her to take her medication. It worked a treat.”

The provider understood the diverse health and care needs of people and their local communities, so care was joined-up, flexible and supported choice and continuity.

The provider understood the diverse health and care needs of people and their local communities, so care was joined-up, flexible and supported choice and continuity. Staff had up to date training on supporting the needs of the people who lived at the service, including Dementia Awareness.

People were supported exceptionally well to live healthier lives, access healthcare services and support. Staff worked in partnership with families and professionals and advocated strongly for people, to ensure people had access to healthcare. This focused, person centred approach ensured people had access to appropriate health treatments and prevented re-admission or admission to hospital.

Systems and processes were in place to ensure information was accurately recorded and shared with staff. The provider used an electronic care planning systems which alerted staff to changes and enabled the provider to have up to date access to daily records which they could audit where necessary to give themselves assurances people were receiving continuity of care.

The provider supplied appropriate, accurate and up-to-date information in formats that were tailored to individual needs.

People's communication needs were clearly stated within their support plans. Staff learnt how people preferred to communicate as part of the initial assessment and transition activities. Staff demonstrated an understanding of how communication was key in effectively working with people. Staff told us how they built up a rapport with people and got to know their communication styles. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities to provide people with information in their preferred communication styles, to ensure people could make their own choices. We observed interactions between staff and people were natural. Staff had empowered people to express their views.

The provider made it easy for people to share feedback and ideas, or raise complaints about their care, treatment and support. Staff involved people in decisions about their care and told them what had changed as a result.

The provider made it easy for people to share feedback and ideas, or raise complaints about their care, treatment and support. Staff involved people in decisions about their care and told them what had changed as a result. The provider had a complaints process which supported people in raising concerns about the service. Members of the management team told us complaints were welcomed and used to develop the service and improve practice.

The provider made sure that people could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it. The service was accessible for the people who lived there. There was appropriate signage throughout the building, and sufficient equipment was in place to enable people to mobilise around. Care plans considered people’s needs, and what reasonable adjustments could be made to ensure people could access their care and support effectively.

Staff and leaders actively listened to information about people who are most likely to experience inequality in experience or outcomes and tailored their care, support and treatment in response to this.People’s care plans reflected their diverse needs, including religion, ethnicity, disability and important relationships. This supported staff to understand what was important in people’s lives. Leaders and staff actively listened to information about people who may have experienced inequality and adapted care and support accordingly. Staff knew people well, personalised support, protected people’s rights and took action to reduce barriers wherever possible.

People were supported to plan for important life changes, so they could have enough time to make informed decisions about their future, including at the end of their life.

The provider had systems in place to support people at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death. There was a care planning policy and procedure in place to guide staff when caring for someone nearing the end of their life. Where appropriate, people's care records contained guidance for staff about how to care for them at the end of their life. During this inspection we observed the service worked very closely with the GP and district nurses when a person was receiving end of life care. This helped to ensure people's pain was effectively managed.