Oaklands Littlehampton Limited

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 outcomes were positive and met their needs.

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 had assessments completed before moving into the service to help ensure their needs could be safely met. Care plans and risk assessments reflected people’s individual needs, preferences and routines and included guidance for staff on how people wished to be supported. Records we reviewed showed people’s care plans were updated when needs changed. Staff knew people’s individual health and wellbeing needs and described how information was shared through handovers and daily records to support continuity of care. One person told us, “I have a care plan and they discussed it with me.”

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.

We reviewed records which included guidance for staff relating to people’s health conditions, medicines support, nutrition and mobility needs. Recognised tools and guidance, including the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) guidance were used to support the delivery of care. The provider also used a digital platform to support the delivery of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for people living with mild to moderate dementia. Staff had a good understanding of people’s individual needs and how care should be provided in line with current guidance. Staff supported people at mealtimes. People were offered choice, encouraged to maintain independence where possible and supported to eat at an appropriate pace. One person told us, “If I don’t like the food, they offer other things.” Staff responded to people’s changing needs during the meal, including offering pain relief and encouraging people to increase their fluid intake, where appropriate.

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 described effective communication systems within the home, including handovers, daily communication and care records, to support continuity of care. Information about changes in people’s needs and wellbeing was shared between staff and relevant professionals when required. Records showed involvement from external healthcare professionals, including GPs and other healthcare services, to support people’s health and wellbeing needs. One healthcare professional described communication with the service as “clear and effective”, which supported smooth transitions in people’s care. This reduced the risk of delays or gaps in care and supported continuity of treatment.

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.

Staff understood people’s health and wellbeing needs and provided support in line with people’s preferences and assessed needs. Staff supported people to attend healthcare appointments and liaised with external professionals, where required, to help maintain people’s health and wellbeing. We saw people’s changing health needs were recognised and acted upon appropriately. Where concerns about people’s wellbeing were identified, staff sought advice promptly to help prevent deterioration and support positive outcomes for people.

Staff encouraged people to remain as independent as possible and supported people with routines and daily living in a way that reflected their abilities and preferences. We saw staff supporting people patiently and providing reassurance and guidance, where needed. This helped people maintain their health, independence and overall wellbeing.

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.

Systems monitored people’s care, wellbeing and safety needs, including reviews of care plans, risk assessments, incidents and audits. The provider used information from monitoring systems, feedback and day-to-day oversight to identify areas for improvement and take action where required. Records showed action was taken when people’s needs changed and staff were updated promptly to support consistent care, which helped maintain positive outcomes and reduce the risk of deterioration.

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

People were involved in decisions about their care and support wherever possible. Care records included information about people’s preferences, routines and how staff should support people to make choices about their care and treatment. Records also contained information relating to people’s capacity to make specific decisions and identified where additional support or involvement from others may be required.

Policies and guidance were available to support staff in relation to consent, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and best interest decision-making. Staff demonstrated an understanding of the importance of gaining consent before providing care and explained how people were supported to make day-to-day choices about their routines, meals and activities. One person told us, “They ask me before doing anything.” We observed staff offering people choices and checking people were happy before providing support.

Where decisions had been made in people’s best interests, this was reflected within care records and communicated to staff to support consistent and person-centred care delivery.