ASL Services

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.

Before people started using the service there was an assessment of people’s needs and choices to ensure these could be met. People and their relatives were involved in these decisions and discussions. People’s needs were continually reviewed. Care plans and risk assessments were updated as their needs and choices changed. Staff knew and understood people well. They were updated about any changes to support needs and this helped to ensure effective care and support was provided.

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.

Records showed the use of nationally recognised tools for example, the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) for monitoring people’s weight. Staff received PBS training, which was used to identify the causes of people’s anxieties to support and reduce them.

Staff received regular training and updates to help ensure they understood the current standards of care to support people effectively. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of how each person’s learning disability and autism impacted on their lives and what they needed to do to be able to deliver effective support to each person.

People’s care and support needs were regularly reviewed, and staff were aware of any changes. Care plans and risk assessments included details of the support required.

People who had a diagnosis of epilepsy had their health overseen and regularly monitored by a specialist epilepsy team with management guidance in place.

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 together with other teams to ensure people received the appropriate care and support. Records showed, and staff told us about, referrals and ongoing discussions that were taking place regarding people’s health and social care needs. Staff told us they worked together as a team to ensure people received the care and support they needed. One staff member said, “The staff have got the team spirit to make things happen.”

Staff were updated each day at handover and through information on electronic devices, about changes to people’s needs. There was a plan developed each day which included information about what each person was doing, details of any appointments or planned visits. This was also used to inform staff of who they were supporting and any other roles for which they were responsible. This provided a structure and guidance throughout the shift.

Feedback from external professionals was positive. One told us, “Communication with the staff team is appropriate when required.”

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 understood people’s health needs and when to support people to contact the relevant health professionals. People were supported to attend regular health appointments and checks including the dentist and optician. Staff understood how people may present if they felt unwell or were in pain. This information was also recorded in people’s care plans. Staff were also mindful that changes in people’s behaviours may indicate they were unwell. Staff spoke to us about one person who was unwell and what actions had been taken to support the person.

Care plans contained information about people’s health and well-being needs. These were regularly reviewed and updated. They provided clear guidance for staff.

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.

With support from staff outcomes for people improved. One person had been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. The person was supported to adjust their diet and recent blood tests indicated the person was no longer at risk of developing diabetes. There were systems in place to monitor people’s care and support. This helped to continually improve outcomes and ensured the support provided met people’s needs. Staff knew people well and monitored them throughout each day. They were able to identify changes in people’s health and well-being and seek appropriate support when required.

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

Staff had received training for the Mental Capacity Act and understood their responsibilities under this legislation. Staff told us they asked people’s consent before providing any care or support. People were able to make their own decisions and choices and how they supported them to do this, for example by ensuring communication was appropriate for each person and involving people’s family and / or representatives. They told us some people made, what could be considered, unwise decisions about their care and support. Staff told us how they respected people’s decisions and measures they put in place to ensure the person remained safe.