12 Channel Lea

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 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 had care plans that were regularly reviewed to ensure they reflected people’s current physical and social needs, and people and their representatives were involved in these reviews to ensure the care people received continued to meet their expectations.

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. There was strong guidance in place which was shaped by upto date advice from wider health and care agencies on how to manage any health conditions safely. This included any signs of concern to look out for, and at what point a referral or review of their health needs might be needed. For example, one person was at greater risk of choking and staff described clearly how they would monitor and support this person to enjoy food safely. There was a clear plan of how staff should respond if they were to choke.

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 collaboratively to ensure people received care that was consistent and met their complex needs. Where people’s needs changed, care records were updated, and any changes were communicated to staff to ensure everybody continued to have an up-to-date understanding of how to safely support people. One staff member explained, “We always have a really good handover before starting a shift. When people’s needs change, we always have access to this.” Staff felt confident in the team they worked and that they worked well together to support people in getting the care and treatment they needed, when they needed it. Another staff member explained “I have absolute faith in the team I work with. They are all competent, knowledgeable and aware of people’s health needs and when we might need to seek routine or emergency medical advice.”

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 had a strong understanding of the health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability and autistic people. Staff worked collaboratively to ensure people could access the health and treatment they need to support them in living healthier lives. We saw people had been supported to access annual health checks, access flu and COVID vaccinations, as well appointments with services such as dentists, opticians and chiropodists. Staff would also encourage people in making healthier choices such as around their diet, and as result of this people who had previously struggled with their weight were now losing weight.

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. People had designated key workers who would meet with them monthly to talk to them about their care, discuss the outcomes they wanted to achieve and allow staff if any changes were needed to help people achieve the things that mattered to them. These were used to check people’s mental and physical wellbeing, and any goals people had. For example, one person was interested in volunteering in the local community. Staff were exploring further what opportunities might be available to this person to help them feel socially connected and improve their mental wellbeing.

Where people had complex health conditions, there was clear guidance and systems in place to monitor these to allow them to identify where people’s health was deteriorating and they may need support from wider health services. One relative told us, “They do notice a difference in my relative’s behaviour and health. I noticed it, they kept an eye out and got them a doctor’s appointment, they make sure they took their medication. They’re pretty good, they tend to notice what’s going on with them.”

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. Staff we emphasised the rights of people to make their own choices and have control over their own care. One staff member explained, “The person I support has got capacity to make decisions and choices for themselves. People say they can’t, but they can and do. We always encourage this”.

Where people were considered not to be able to safely make choices, the provider undertook mental capacity assessments to confirm this. Where this was the case, best interest decisions were made on people’s behalf which involved wider professionals and people’s representatives to advocate for them These were regularly reviewed to make sure that any restrictions remained appropriate and the least restrictive option.