Bridgecare Solutions Ltd 2

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 assessed people's health, care, wellbeing and communication needs to help ensure they received effective care and treatment. Staff involved people in these assessments and used the information gathered to plan and deliver care that reflected their individual needs and preferences.

Staff completed comprehensive initial assessments before starting a care package, to identify people's needs, risks and desired outcomes. The provider reviewed people's care at agreed intervals and whenever their needs changed to ensure care plans and assessments remained accurate, up to date and reflective of current circumstances.

The registered manager told us they completed a further review within 28 days of the initial assessment. This enabled them to confirm the assessment accurately reflected the person's needs, identify any required changes and check whether people were satisfied with the care and support they were receiving.

These processes helped the provider monitor the effectiveness of care and ensure staff delivered support that responded to people's changing needs.

The provider planned and delivered care and support in partnership with people, taking account of what was important to them and what mattered most in their day-to-day lives. Staff provided care in line with current legislation, evidence-based guidance and recognised best practice.

Most people and their relatives told us they were satisfied with the support they received to maintain a healthy diet and adequate hydration. People said staff prepared meals and drinks in accordance with their needs and preferences, helping them to eat and drink well. However, 1 relative expressed concern about some staff members' food preparation skills and gave an example where a staff member had asked how to prepare a pork pie.

The registered manager completed competency assessments to ensure staff followed best practice and implemented guidance provided by relevant healthcare professionals. Staff told us they had access to the information they needed about people's care and support requirements, which helped them provide care that met people's individual needs.

The registered manager and care staff described how they worked closely with healthcare professionals and the local authority to coordinate care and follow professional advice. They used this information to help people remain safe and well while living independently in their own homes.

These arrangements helped ensure staff delivered care that reflected people's needs, preferences and assessed outcomes.

The provider worked effectively with other teams and services to support people and promote continuity of care. Staff shared relevant information with professionals involved in people's care to help ensure people did not have to repeat their history, needs and circumstances when moving between services.

Records showed the provider worked closely with a range of healthcare and social care professionals, including social workers, occupational therapists, community nurses and GPs. Staff used information and advice from these professionals to help ensure people received coordinated care that met their needs.

People and their relatives spoke positively about how staff worked with other services. For example, when people required emergency medical assistance, staff remained with them until the ambulance arrived, providing reassurance and sharing relevant information with healthcare professionals to support safe and effective care.

Staff described positive communication and teamwork across the service. One staff member told us, “There is really good teamwork. I would know people's needs when I visit for the first time by reading their care plan first. I think there is good continuity of care because we write handover notes for the next carer, raise concerns and report any health problems or deterioration.”

These arrangements helped ensure staff shared information appropriately, responded to changes in people's needs and worked collaboratively with partner agencies to support people's health, safety and wellbeing.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing and maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff encouraged people to maintain healthy lifestyles and, where possible, supported them to reduce their future care and support needs.

Staff identified people's healthcare needs and recorded them within care plans, including the level of support required to maintain their health and wellbeing. Care records outlined people's health conditions, support needs and any actions staff needed to take to help keep people well.

People and their relatives told us they were confident staff responded appropriately when people's needs changed. The registered manager provided examples of situations where staff recognised changes in people's health or wellbeing and reviewed and adjusted care arrangements to ensure people continued to receive the support they needed.

The provider used an electronic care planning system to communicate changes in people's needs effectively. Staff updated care records promptly, enabling managers and care staff to access current information and respond to changes in a timely way. This helped ensure people received consistent care that reflected their current needs and supported their ongoing health and wellbeing.

The provider monitored people's care and support on an ongoing basis to assess its effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement. Managers reviewed care delivery to help ensure people achieved positive outcomes and received support that met their needs, preferences and expected standards of care.

Staff recorded details of the care and support provided during each visit. The registered manager reviewed these records to check staff met people's assessed needs and delivered care as planned. The provider also worked closely with district nurses and maintained relevant records to support the monitoring of people's health. Staff escalated any concerns about a person's wellbeing to the district nursing team and other relevant healthcare professionals when required.

Staff described how they observed and monitored people's wellbeing during care visits and responded to changes in their needs. One staff member told us, “I have supported people who have improved over time, for example becoming more confident with daily activities, maintaining better nutrition and hydration, and becoming more independent with appropriate support. Regular monitoring and consistent care help us recognise progress and identify when additional support is needed.”

Through regular monitoring, record review and communication with healthcare professionals, the provider sought to ensure people received consistent care and support that promoted positive outcomes and responded to changes in their needs.

The provider informed people of their rights in relation to consent and respected their decisions when planning and delivering person-centred care and support.

The provider maintained policies and procedures to support staff in obtaining and recording valid consent to care. People told us staff asked for their consent before providing care and respected their choices about how they wished to be supported.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and described how they applied its principles in their day-to-day practice. Where people had appointed a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), the provider verified the legal authority of the individual acting on the person's behalf before involving them in decisions about care and support. This helped ensure the provider followed appropriate legal processes when obtaining consent.

Staff understood the importance of seeking consent and promoting people's rights. They told us they asked for consent before undertaking each aspect of care and respected people's right to refuse or withdraw consent. Staff explained how they encouraged people to make their own decisions wherever possible and adapted their approach to support people's involvement in decisions about their care.

These arrangements helped ensure staff respected people's choices, promoted their autonomy and delivered care in accordance with relevant legislation and best practice.