SDL Kingston

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 was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. People and their relatives were involved in their assessments to identify their care needs and how they wished to be supported. These conversations and information from the local authority were used to inform care planning and develop people’s care and support plans. A person told us, “The manager came to the house and discussed what my needs were.” A relative confirmed, “I was involved in the care planning. There was a full discussion on what I could provide and what they could provide.” People and relatives also told us that a member of the team came to review the care package and ensure it continued to meet their needs, and relatives confirmed they were kept well informed when their family member’s needs changed.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care 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. The registered manager stayed up to date with best practice guidance and shared this with care staff. They told us they shared reading materials, topics of interests and question and answer sessions, for example on pressure sore management and dementia care to ensure care workers were kept abreast of best practice guidance.

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. Staff worked well together to ensure continuity of care and to ensure people’s needs were met. They worked with other healthcare providers to ensure people received the support they required. This included working with physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams to support people’s rehabilitation. Staff worked well together. Previously there had been concerns raised regarding double up care and staff not arriving together, but this was mainly due to the impact of roadworks and has since been resolved. A staff member told us, “Working with colleagues is good. We meet in front of the [person’s] house, we cooperate and work as a team to provide the best care.”

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. Staff supported people with meal preparation, where required, and encouraged people to have healthy diets which met their needs. A relative told us, “My [family member] had difficulty swallowing so they changed their food. They are on the ball, observing all the time.” It was clear in people’s records what their dietary requirements were and how these were to be met. Care records included details of people’s GP and staff were aware of how to escalate concerns should people’s health deteriorate. One person told us, “[My care worker] always asks if I am ok. They ask me if I need a doctor, but I can do that myself but it’s nice they offer to do it for me.”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care 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. Staff discussed with people what they wanted to achieve and supported people with their rehabilitation. Staff supported people with their exercises and supported them to rebuild their strength.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care. Most people whose care we reviewed had capacity to make their own decisions and were fully involved in their care. Where people did not have capacity or had variable capacity, staff were aware of who was appointed to make decisions on people’s behalf. Information about people’s lasting power of attorney was included in care records. Staff told us they included people in decisions where possible and gave them relevant information to enable them to make informed choices. One staff member said. “I give them informed choices then let them decide what it’s going to be.”