Enhanced Elderly Care Service - Wardley Gate Care Centre

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 67 (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 did not always ensure people’s needs were effectively assessed and reviewed. Care plans showed that people’s needs and risks were usually identified, including areas such as nutrition, mobility and skin integrity. Some plans reflected people’s preferences and routines. At the time of assessment, the provider was transitioning between electronic care planning systems. Whilst information was held across both systems during implementation, records reviewed during the assessment were not always consistent or clear and did not always provide staff with clear guidance about how to meet people's needs.Documentation relating to decision-making, including mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions, was not always robust or clearly recorded. One relative said, “I have been made aware of my mother’s care but not involved in the planning.”

The provider planned and delivered care in line with current standards and guidance. Staff used recognised tools and monitoring systems, including for weight loss and pressure care, and people received appropriate support with nutrition and hydration. Observations showed safe care delivery and respectful interactions during mealtimes. One person told us, “It’s very nice, there is choice if I don’t want what’s on the menu.”

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people. Staff worked with external professionals to meet people’s needs and respond to changes in their health. Visiting professionals gave positive feedback about partnership working. Systems were in place to share information about people’s care and support. One staff member described, “Great teamwork”.

The provider supported people to maintain their health and access services. People had access to health professionals and staff monitored key health risks such as weight loss and skin integrity. Staff encouraged people to eat and drink, particularly during warm weather. One relative told us, “They encourage [Person] to speak and cater to their specific needs.”

The provider monitored care and used systems to drive improvement. There was a structured audit programme covering areas such as medicines and pressure care, alongside tracking of incidents and outcomes. Leaders used learning from complaints and safeguarding events to inform improvement plans.

The provider did not always make sure people’s rights around consent were fully understood, respected and recorded when delivering care and treatment. We saw examples where staff sought consent and involved people or their relatives in decisions about care. Some records included mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions. However, documentation relating to consent, including mental capacity assessments, DNACPR decisions and legal authorisations, was not always clear or consistently recorded. In some cases, it was not evident how decisions had been made or whether appropriate processes had been followed. This meant the provider could not always demonstrate that people’s rights were fully protected.