Millcroft

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. However, we found people who had regular short stays for respite care, up to date information was not always obtained between each stay. We discussed this with the registered manager who assured us they would complete a full assessment for people returning for respite care.

Despite this people who lived at the services on a permanent basis had their needs regularly assessed and reviewed. Staff carried out reviews with people and their relatives, where consent had been given to do so. Reviews gave the opportunity to discuss all aspects of care including any visits from health care professionals since the last meeting. One person told us, “I’ve not seen a care plan, but I have had a verbal review of my care”.

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 used nationally recognised tools to assess and monitor people’s needs. For example, assessment tools were used to assess if people were at risk of skin damage, where this was identified, measures were put in place to reduce the risk. People’s nutrition and hydration needs were assessed. Staff liaised with health careprofessionals when people were losing weight and implemented measures to manage and monitor this. Catering staff were kept informed of people’s dietary needs and catered for these as required. People told us they liked the food. Their comments included, “The meals are very good, I’m happy with the food, I have no complaints” and “The meals are pretty good, they take some beating”. The chef attended the ‘monthly residents’ meetings’ to talk about meals and receive any feedback or requests people had.

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.

Leaders told us they had developed good working relationships with health partners. Monthly multi-disciplinary team meetings were held and weekly clinics to ensure people’s health care needs were reviewed and managed effectively. A healthcare professional told us the service worked well with them and responded to people’s needs in a timely manner

Staff supported people with their health appointments and with consent updated relatives with the outcomes. A relative told us, “[Person’s name] has had much better access to the doctor and health care professionals since being at Millcroft than when they lived at home”.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. The service supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support. For example, people were supported and encouraged to be as physically active as possible. A range of exercise classes were available for people to access. One person said, “I join in the yoga and exercise classes”. Another person told us they did various exercise classes some online and liked to walk.

Staff supported people to access routine hearing, sight and dental checks.

The provider had systems in place to monitor and review people’s care needs. For example, where people were experiencing unintentional weight loss, measures were put in place to increase calorie intake and monitoring. A relative told us, “When [person’s name] was admitted to hospital they lost weight but has regained it since they came back to Millcroft”.

Records showed people’s care needs were reviewed regularly and updated when changes occurred. Monitoring took place where it was needed. For example, 1 person required regular repositioning to prevent them developing sore skin, records confirmed this had taken place. People received annual health checks and medication reviews.

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

People told us staff asked their consent before delivering care and support.

Care plans included people’s ability to consent and make decisions. Staff completed capacity assessments and where people had been deemed to lack capacity, they consulted relatives to support with any decision making.