North Supported Living Service

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 consistently assessed and reviewed people’s health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them and their relatives (and with those professionals who had an input into people’s care).

Staff fully understood these needs and worked well with people. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs because they had the time to get to know them. Continuity of care was a strength of the service. People were fully involved in planning and reviewing their care packages. One relative said, “They are proactive – the manager is regularly in touch and staff catch us up on changes.”

People received a range of ongoing support and had opportunities to feedback about their care. Staff regularly checked in with people as well as holding formal reviews.

Relatives and external partners had confidence in the ability of the service to assess and act on people’s needs.

The provider demonstrated a sound understanding and application of current good practice to assess and act on people’s needs. They ensured care planning was detailed, rigorous and gave staff the right level of information to meet people’s needs. People received support from staff who knew them well, and who had the right training and support.

The electronic records system was well managed and gave a useful amount of person-centred detail.

Training was comprehensive and had regard to good practice and current legislation. For instance, ensuring staff training was delivered in line with recent best practice guidance including STOMP and Positive Behavioural Support (PBS). PBS is a way of understanding of the behaviour of an individual. It is based on an assessment of the social and physical environment in which the behaviour happens, includes the views of the individual and everyone involved, and uses this understanding to develop support that improves the quality of life for the person and others who are involved with them.

People’s nutrition and hydration needs were well met, with clear guidance from specialists where required, for instance Speech and Language Therapy.

Staff felt well supported and prepared to help people review and monitor their own needs.

Leaders and all staff worked effectively 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 they move between different services. For instance, through the use of hospital passports to help a smooth transition between services.

The provider worked effectively with a range of external partners, for instance when multidisciplinary team meetings were required.

Staff supported each other well, working flexibly and compassionately with each other. Leaders role modelled the caring approach they wanted staff to take.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing so they could maximise their independence, choice and control. People were supported to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

Staff took an interest in people’s lifestyles and encouraged a healthy lifestyle. For instance, planning healthier options when meal planning, doing more exercise, building healthy habits (for instance choosing decaffeinated coffee and taking ownership of garden maintenance). A relative said, “They are good at keeping an eye on intake and portion control.”

People were positive about the meals they helped choose and prepare, and had gained new like skills in this area with the help of staff. Where there were limits to how much they could do and plan, staff helped sensitively.

People planned their own shopping and went to local cafes regularly. One relative said, “They help [person] stay fit and healthy – they are often out and about and go to Zumba and discos.”

The provider ensured that people experienced positive and consistent outcomes. They ensured these met clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. Where there were any changes or concerns, the provider acted promptly. Staff were clearly focussed on people’s increasing independence as a main area of focus, and worked hard to help people achieve positive outcomes in this area.

Experienced staff reviewed people’s care records and needs regularly. One relative said, “There are detailed annual reviews and we can always change things if needed in between.”

Staff were experienced in using the electronic records system, which had been rolled out effectively.

Leaders and staff had a clear understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The MCA provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. Staff had received training regarding the MCA and policies were in line with the principles of the MCA.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. Staff sought consent and ensured people and families were involved in decisions about their care. Staff took care to ensure mental capacity assessments were decision specific, and that capacity was always assumed in the first place. Where there needed to be a restriction to support people safely, this was reviewed comprehensively to ensure all other options had been considered.