Inver House

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. Consideration was given to the level of care and support a person required prior to a person moving into Inver House. Comprehensive assessments were completed by the registered manager whilst visiting the person in their home, hospital or current placement. Visits to the home by people or family members prior to admission were welcomed as part of the preservice assessment.

People’s care and treatment was planned with them, this included identifying what was important and mattered to the person. This was done in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice standards. Nationally recognised assessment tools were in use such as for skin integrity and risk of malnutrition. People were generally happy with the meals they received. We discussed with the registered manager how people on a texture modified diet would be provided with snacks (if unable to eat biscuits) and they agreed to ensure suitable alternatives were available for staff to offer people. The staff provided a very wide range of activities and community involvement providing both mental and physical stimulation.

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 management team understood how to seek support from health and social care staff when required. External professionals were generally positive about the service and felt able to make suggestions to the registered manager and that these or guidance would usually be followed. Some raised that senior care staff were often very busy and did not have the time to talk with them and that they sometimes had to chase for information such as people’s weight. Care staff said they received a handover at the start of each shift which provided them with all necessary information about people. Staff described a positive team working environment.

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. Care plans included information about medication and past medical history. A person told us, “Staff are aware of my health needs.” Care staff confirmed they had training to understand and meet specific health conditions such as diabetes. They understood what actions they should take in medical emergencies and were able to describe the signs of a stroke or if a person may have a urine infection. The management team were aware of how to access health and social care professionals should there be a need.

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’s weight was monitored at a frequency in line with their risk of weight loss. Care staff were able to describe changes in people’s skin which may indicate skin integrity concerns. Staff were using a formal system to monitor people who were showing signs of being unwell. External professionals told us they were contacted appropriately.

People were told about their rights around consent and staff respected these when delivering person-centred care. Care staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the mental capacity and consent and that people had the right to refuse offered/required care in which case they said they would try later or ask a different staff member to try. Decision specific Mental Capacity Act and best interest decisions were generally in place where people were unable to make the informed decisions such as in respect of medication or aspects of their care. A person told us, “The staff will always ask permission before they want to do anything.”