Thames Homecare- Barnet

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.

This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated 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 received tailored support that was centred around their assessed needs, choices and decisions. People's needs were assessed before they started receiving support from the service. People's care plans contained details about how staff should best support them, and regular reviews were undertaken.

Staff knew people's preferences, likes and dislikes. They provided support in line with legislation, standards and guidance to achieve effective outcomes. Information within care plans included people’s preferences with daily routines and details about their likes and dislikes and what was important to them.

People told us they were involved and consulted around their care. Comments included, “I am kept up to date with things,” and “My son and daughter were involved with my care plan, it is all followed how it should be though and I am happy with the care that I get.”

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 worked in partnership with health professionals to ensure care was delivered safely and people had the necessary equipment to meet their needs. If people needed support with eating and drinking staff were able to provide assistance. People’s needs were recorded, and visits were planned to make sure staff were available when people wanted to eat and drink. For some people, snacks and drinks were left with them to take when they preferred.

People commented, “Staff always encourage me to drink plenty and also encourage me to do my exercises” and “They [staff] do meals for me and they always offer me choices.”

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.

People’s records demonstrated staff contacted relevant healthcare professionals in a timely way. The service had systems for staff to communicate with each other to make sure everyone was up to date with any changes.

Regular staff meetings were held, which enabled staff to discuss ways in which people could be better supported. The provider worked effectively with families, and other agencies who were involved in the provision of care for people, such as, the local authority, physiotherapists, GP’s and pharmacies. A relative told us, “They [staff] have had to contact the hospital many times for [relative] and they [staff] usually inform me as well, as I am the person who tells the hospital about [relatives’] meds etc.”

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. Information about people’s health and wellbeing needs was included in their care plans and risk assessments. People were supported to mobilise and participate in self-care skills as much as possible.

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured outcomes were positive and consistent, and met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

The management team carried out quality assurance spot checks on the care practice of staff. These helped make sure the care and support people received was safe and being carried out to a good standard. There was regular information sharing throughout the service to help make sure people’s needs continued to be met the way they wanted and needed.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. Discussions about consent had taken place with people and we saw evidence of signed forms giving consent for care and support.

Staff supported people to exercise their rights. Staff encouraged people to make decisions about aspects of their daily care routines, and staff told us they always obtained consent from the person before supporting them with personal care tasks.

One person told us, “[Staff member] always asks me if it is alright to do things and never just does things without my permission. I am very happy with them.”

A member of staff said, “I explain the medication to the person, if necessary, before I give it to them, for example, this is your medication for diabetes etc, so they know why they are taking it.”