Asher Excellent

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 inspection we rated this key question requires improvement. At this inspection 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’s care records were person centred and included an assessment of their needs for example, communication, health and mobility. People also had regular check-ups with health care professionals.

The provider did not always plan and deliver people’s care and treatment in line with current evidence-based practice and standards.

Where people were at risk of skin damage, evidence-based approaches, such as using clinical tools to provide a structured approach to assessment had not been used. Evidence-based care involves the use of clinical tools, such as Waterlow assessments, to help improve people’s outcomes.

The service worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure any guidance given was included in people’s care records and followed by staff.

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.

Care records viewed demonstrated when healthcare professionals had been contacted by a person to discuss their care so staff could read any updates. A staff member told us, [Person] contacts the GP or nurse themselves as needed and then lets us know of any changes which we record in the notes, so the team are aware. If we noticed any changes we would discuss this with [Person] and suggest they follow up with the relevant professional."

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.

Care records included information of a person’s health conditions and contact details for the appropriate healthcare professional. Staff confirmed they had the information they needed to care for the person effectively.

One staff member told us, “[Person] likes to have a warm coffee and a cold drink together.” A review of daily care records showed staff had recorded comments including, “Left [Person] with the drinks requested and made sure they had their phone with them."

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.

Staff were able to explain how they monitored people’s health and wellbeing to improve outcomes. Staff understood what action to take if they identified a concern. One staff member told us, “When I help [Name] I look to see if their skin is red or marked. If it is, I apply their cream and discuss with them so they can monitor it as they contact the GP themselves, I would also record it in the notes, so staff knew to also monitor it.”

Processes were in place to monitor the care and support people received, records reflected people’s involvement and the outcomes they wished to achieve in the future.

We saw examples of feedback gathered from people regarding the staff team supporting them and the overall service they received. This included ensuring people were happy with the service provided and any suggestions for improvement.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

Records viewed showed a person had signed to consent to their care. Staff confirmed they had received Mental Capacity Act (MCA) training. Staff understood the importance of explaining what they were doing to people on a day-to-day basis in relation to providing personal care and ensuring they gained people’s consent.

Care records viewed contained capacity assessments which had been regularly reviewed.

A person supported told us, “Staff always ask me what I would like and explain what they are doing."