Style Acre

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 outstanding. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 71 (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 and their relatives were involved in the initial assessment process and subsequent reviews.

Staff undertook assessments of care needs and preferences prior to people moving into the service. This included assessing religious, cultural and spiritual needs, and ensuring that people would fit into the social community of the house. Where people preferred to use communication aids, staff had completed training to ensure they had the skills to effectively use these and involve people in decisions related to their care. Staff assessed and took into consideration the physical environment people live in, to be able to effectively support the person in their own home.

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.

People told us they were able to choose the meals they enjoyed and in line with their individual needs and preferences. One person described their meal planning, “Help cook it, take turns. Have help with breakfast, can pick what I want to eat.” Another person said, “Have a menu, choose what I want to eat. Eat a lot of vegetarian stuff”.

Staff had completed nationally recognised training to support people with a learning disability and/or autistic people, and understood national guidance and how it should be applied when supporting people, including Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture (RSRCRC). RSRCRC is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and/or autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

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.

Staff worked together to achieve positive outcomes for people. Staff told us they worked together well and supported each other. A member of staff told us, “There’s massive support. They’ve got telephone directories, people who are always willing to support you with whatever you need.”

Staff shared information about people’s needs effectively, including when their needs changed. Information about changes to people’s care and support was shared at daily handovers and in regular meetings.

The provider generally supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff generally supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support. One relative told us, “[Person] is taken to all medical appointments. They are very careful’. Another relative commented, “All medical issues are treated well and professionally.”

Feedback from healthcare professionals was overall positive, but we also received comments that the oversight of services by the service managers was not always consistent in ensuring staff followed external professionals’ advice. Another healthcare professional involved in the placement of a person commented, “[Person’s parent] feels [person] is more verbal and chatty within the realms of [their] limitations, and [parent] sees the move to [person’s] new accommodation as very positive.”

People were supported with their oral care needs. Staff ensured people were able to see a dentist regularly should they wish to and encouraged people to learn about the importance of oral hygiene.

The provider operated regular wellbeing sessions for people as part of their ‘Ways to Wellness’ programme. These included weekly activities such as exercises at the gym, karate, football and Zumba.

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured outcomes were positive and consistent, and they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. Where there were delays in health treatments, staff followed up with the relevant service by making referrals to the relevant services. A relative told us, “They let me know immediately if there are any medical needs and take them to all appointments.”

The provider ensured people knew about their rights around consent and these were respected when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People told us staff sought their consent prior to starting a task and they were empowered to make decisions because staff provided them with communication aids to be as involved in decisions as possible. We observed staff gaining consent from people prior to commencing a task, communicating clearly with people and respecting their wishes where people chose not to engage. One person told us, “Take turns [to choose what to eat]. Pictures on chart on wall.”

Staff had received relevant training and understood their responsibilities in relation to the mental capacity act (MCA) and followed its principles. One member of staff told us, “Everyone has a folder with their information including MCA guidance. We work together to support their best interests.”

People’s relatives were invited to take part in the assessment process and contribute with their views. Applications were submitted to the relevant authorities and decisions were made with the involvement of professionals. Care records included information on consent and how people were involved in completing their care plans.