Somerset

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 the first assessment of 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.

People's needs were assessed before they started using the service to ensure staff understood their needs and preferences. One person told us, “[The registered manager] came to see me to see if they could help and to see what care I needed. I think that was about 2 years ago or maybe a little longer. They've been providing care for me since then.” A relative had complimented the service stating, “Right from the start they [staff] have listened to our needs and worked with us to figure out the best care package.”

Assessments contained information about people's care needs, care preferences, preferred times of care, any religious or cultural beliefs and their personal relationships. Each of these assessments helped form the person’s care plan.

Before accepting any new care package, the provider made sure they had the right number of trained staff available to deliver safe, consistent care without affecting the quality of care and support already being provided to people.

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 received regular training to make sure their practice was in accordance with best practice guidelines and legislation. One staff member said, “I believe the care we provide is effective and based on good practice, while also being tailored to each person’s individual needs.” The registered manager sought advice from relevant professionals when this was needed to ensure people’s specific needs were being met in line with current guidance and research.

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.

The provider completed an assessment prior to people using the service to ensure they could meet the person's needs safely and effectively. If a decision was reached to offer support, a care plan and risk assessments were developed, put in place and a start date agreed.

Staff worked closely with other care professionals to ensure people received safe and effective care and good practice guidelines were followed. This included GPs, district nurses, podiatrists and other healthcare professionals when required. One person told us, “Due to my age, I seem to be in and out of hospital all the time now, but they [care staff] know all about that.”

If staff noticed any changes in a person’s health or wellbeing, they reported this promptly to the appropriate professional, usually a GP or district nurse. The person’s consent was sought before sharing information and/or involving their family members.

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.

People said they were encouraged to be as independent as possible. One person told us, “I'm very independent but they visit me to help me with [personal care] and other things that they do that I can’t like putting my washing on for me.” People saw medical professionals, such as a GP, when they needed to.

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

People’s wellbeing was monitored by care staff during their visits. Staff knew people well and were able to pick up if people were unwell or not their ‘usual self’. If any concerns were identified these were raised with the registered manager or with relevant professionals.

The registered manager gave examples of people experiencing very positive outcomes. For example, supporting 1 person to recover from operations which had affected their mobility.

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

People said their rights were respected and staff always sought consent before providing any care. One person said, “[Carers] always listen to me. I look forward to them coming. We have a little bit of a natter when [they] arrive and a little bit of a natter before [they] go.”

Both people currently being supported had capacity to make their own decisions. There were systems in place to ensure people consented to their care and to ensure the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) were followed if/when people were to lack capacity to make decisions about their care.