Birch Social Limited

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 newly registered 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.

Assessments were completed before care commenced. A relative said, “[Registered manager] completed a visit before the contract started to get all of the information for the care plan and the staff are all aware of its contents and will query any changes”. Staff had immediate access to information about people’s needs via the provider’s electronic care planning system.

Information about people’s care and support needs was updated as necessary. Records completed by staff accurately reflected the care people received and were person-centred.

Management and staff told us any changes to care provision were made without delay and advice was sought from professionals as required. This included contacting an occupational therapist to assess a person, to ensure they had the correct equipment to enable them to remain living in their own home safely.

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 had been actively involved in developing and reviewing their care plans and assessments. This person-centred approach enabled tailored care that reflected people’s unique circumstances and wishes. A relative told us, “Care plans are available and are updated accordingly to achieve individualised care for [person’s name]”.

The registered manager and staff told us they worked with people following good practice guidance, this included supporting people’s physical health, and wellbeing. Evidence-based care underpinned the policies and procedures within the service. Regular training and supervision reinforced the importance of adhering to these policies and best practice.

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.

People felt confident their information had been shared appropriately and securely with relevant healthcare professionals, such as their GP. Care records reflected any contact with health and social care professionals and discussions with relatives.

Staff maintained records of the care and support provided, which could be shared with external professionals if needed. Feedback from staff and leadership highlighted effective teamwork and clear communication within the service, supporting a consistent approach to meeting people’s needs.

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 set out people’s health needs and lifestyle choices. Staff knew people well and were alert to any changes in their well-being and health. If staff had any concerns, they sought appropriate professional advice in a timely way. The use of an electronic records system allowed information about people’s health needs to be updated immediately and be shared efficiently among staff.A relative told us, “Staff are very aware of any changes in [person’s name] demeanour and will report any concerns they have.”

People were supported to manage their health proactively, with the service encouraging independence and promoting overall wellbeing. Staff told us, “The service does well supporting people in a person-centred way and helping them stay independent in their own homes”.

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 and risk assessments were clear and updated regularly. People’s nutritional needs had been assessed and there were clear instructions in place for staff, including guidance on ensuring skin integrity was regularly checked and monitored.

Regular reviews of people’s care and support needs enabled people and their relatives to give feedback and make any changes to the support received. This ensured the person’s wellbeing and enabled additional support to be offered if needed.

Feedback from staff confirmed a strong commitment to improving outcomes for people, such as regularly asking if the care and support met their needs and wishes.

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

The registered manager told us they fully understood where there was a concern about capacity, the necessary assessment would be completed in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Decision making was supported by clear policies and processes. Records showed consent had been sought for the care provided. Policies and procedures underpinned practices within the service to ensure people’s rights were respected

Staff understood the importance of consent in domiciliary care and sought consent before providing care during visits. Staff had completed training in the Mental Capacity Act and were aware of the main principles. They told us they always assumed capacity unless a formal assessment determined otherwise.