Pathways to Independance

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.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 79 (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 reflected people’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, communication requirements, relationships and aspirations.

People, relatives, advocates and professionals were involved in care planning and reviews where appropriate. Care records demonstrated staff understood people’s individual needs and preferences. Reviews were used to respond to changing needs and support people to achieve outcomes that mattered to them, including greater independence, community participation and improved wellbeing. Staff feedback identified care-plan updates as an area for improvement, with some staff reporting that information was not always updated promptly following changes in people's needs or circumstances.

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 received support that reflected professional advice and recognised good practice in areas including learning disability support, autism, epilepsy, mental health and medicines management. Staff followed detailed care plans and risk assessments to support people safely while promoting independence, choice and control.
 

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 effectively with families, advocates, health professionals, social workers and community services.

Healthcare professional feedback was consistently positive and demonstrated effective communication, partnership working and continuity of care. A healthcare professional described communication with the service as “excellent” and told us, “I’m confident that issues are flagged up and shared with the social worker and me.”

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.

People were supported to access healthcare services, specialist appointments and routine health reviews. Staff monitored physical and emotional wellbeing and acted when concerns were identified. People were supported to make informed decisions about their health while maintaining choice and independence.

The provider monitored all people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they fully met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

Reviews and outcome monitoring were focused on people’s individual goals, aspirations and progress. Staff regularly reviewed outcomes with people and those important to them and adapted support where needed to help people achieve the best possible quality of life. Care records, reviews and feedback demonstrated that support remained responsive to people’s changing needs and ambitions.

Evidence showed people made sustained progress towards goals that mattered to them, including improvements in communication, confidence, independence, community participation and maintaining important relationships. A relative told us, “We’re just amazed at how [Person] has developed, mainly with their speech.”

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

Records showed consent was routinely considered and documented. Where there were concerns about a person’s ability to make a specific decision, staff followed the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This included decision-specific capacity assessments and, where a person was assessed as lacking capacity, decisions made in their best interests with the involvement of relevant people. Staff supported people to make their own decisions and used the least restrictive approach, helping them maintain choice and control over their lives.