Harlow Hall

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 71 (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 did not always make sure people’s care and treatment were effective as people’s needs were not always comprehensively assessed prior to them moving to the home. However, the registered manager told us systems for completing assessments had been reviewed and amended. Changes made included ensuring more comprehensive information was gathered, tighter boundaries regarding what needs the provider could meet and greater attention to how people would fit in with others living at Harlow Hall.

People and their relatives told us they felt their needs had been assessed and information regarding the service had been provided to them. One relative told us, “‘There was an assessment before she moved in. The manager came to the house. We were both involved.” Assessment information included information regarding people’s care needs, health, preferences, life history and religious and cultural needs. Staff told us they received this information prior to people moving in, so they were able to get to know what was important 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. People received care and support in line with best practice. Recognised tools were used to monitor risks to people’s skin integrity, nutrition and hydration. This meant preventative action could be taken to minimise risks and keep people safe. People’s needs relating to how their food was prepared were known to staff were aware of relevant guidance regarding modified dietary needs to ensure this was done safely.

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. In addition to handover meetings, managers met daily for a review of what was happening that day, any incidents, concerns or changes to routines. This helped to ensure good communication throughout the home, so appointments were not missed, staff were informed to people’s needs changing and the registered manager was aware of potential issues. The provider used resources across services to provide skills training and support to Harlow Hall. The registered manager told us this had been useful whilst setting up systems and processes.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives. People’s health needs were monitored by staff, and support was provided to access healthcare professionals as required. The provider used recommended tools to monitor people’s wellbeing. This information was passed directly to people’s GP practice and other relevant professionals. This assisted staff and professionals to make judgements as to when people required treatment and/or hospital admission. In addition, people’s weight was monitored, and action was taken where concerns or significant variances were noted.

People were encouraged to maintain mobility and movement. Activities to support this included going for local walks, armchair exercises and Pilates. People told us they enjoyed these groups and the camaraderie they offered.

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. Care plans were devised to incorporate people’s outcomes or goals as part of the planning process. These were generally recorded in relation to people being able to maintain their independence, have choice and control over day-to-day decisions and to remain safe and well. These outcomes were reviewed monthly in line with people’s care needs and any changes in needs recorded.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People and relatives we spoke with told us staff were respectful and sought their consent prior to providing their care. We observed staff speaking to people regarding what was happening, asking where they wanted to spend their time or eat lunch and gaining permission before entering people’s rooms.

The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed to protect people’s rights. Capacity assessments were completed for people receiving 24-hour support and, where applicable, being unable to leave the premises without support. Where people were found to lack capacity, best interest’s decisions were recorded which reviewed if the least restrictive options were in place and ensured decisions involved those who knew the individual best.