Business Hub, Simms Cross

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 71 (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.
The provider used an assessment tool to consider a person’s needs prior to them moving into supported accommodation. The assessment captured the level of support the person would need as well as any potential risks or specialist support required. People’s care plans were written with them and reflected their views, preferences and wishes along with input from others who knew them well such as families. Care plans were regularly reviewed and updated to reflect people's changing needs, with opportunities for people to set goals and aspirations for their wellbeing and future development.

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.

Recognised approaches, including Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies were used to support people who displayed signs of distress. Staff received appropriate training and competency assessments to ensure they could provide effective support. These approaches were detailed in people’s care plans, including agreed responses, so support was consistent. Care plans were regularly reviewed and updated to ensure support remained effective and responsive to people’s current and changing needs. The provider could demonstrate how they met the standards of national guidance Right support, right care, right culture, promoting choice for people, ensuring their care was personalised and people had meaningful activities of their choosing in their everyday lives.
 

The provider did not always work well across teams and services to support people. For example, actions agreed at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting for one person had not been completed. Staff did not always seek timely professional input when people's needs or presentation changed, and managers did not consistently share relevant information within their staff team or with healthcare professionals promptly, meaning staff were unable to review and update the support for people. However, there were some examples of effective joint working. Staff had made timely referrals for one person and requested additional support hours to help meet their changing needs. Most staff worked closely with healthcare professionals, including community matrons, to coordinate health assessments, reviews and referrals where needed. The provider had recognised areas for improvement and had begun strengthening management oversight. People also received specialist input from Speech and Language Therapists (SALT) to support safe eating and drinking, whilst Occupational Therapists supported Mental Capacity assessments and the provision of equipment to help keep people safe.

The provider always supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to fully maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their need for future care and support.

People were supported to live healthier lives through a range of approaches. They had hospital passports, a document that helped explain their health and wellbeing needs should they need to attend hospital. Their health appointments were recorded, with annual health checks and medication reviews kept up to date. Care plans included a health and wellbeing section outlining diagnoses and the involvement of healthcare professionals. Staff used easy read materials and digital tablets to help people understand their health conditions and treatment. There were positive examples of outcomes for individuals, including one person who had built up the confidence to go out in the community more, develop hobbies and begin hosting garden parties in their home.

The provider developed an innovative toolkit (YourGo) for people with learning disabilities, supporting those who used it to identify personal goals and work collaboratively with staff to achieve them. There was an abundance of evidence showing how the provider had organised community events that everyone was welcome to attend, including Christmas parties, raffles, Halloween events, easter bingo, summer festival and afternoon tea sessions. People were also given the opportunity to attend short workshops organised by the provider at the local office to discuss a range of topics relating to healthy living. Staff described how they supported people to attend health and wellbeing appointments and develop skills in batch cooking to ensure they were “more involved in food preparation and make healthier choices.” A family member we spoke with shared “Staff are aware of [person’s] needs, [person] get more physio than ever now at home, and it keeps her mobile.” While another said, “staff got [person] a new wheelchair, it makes everything easier; they (staff) did all that and made it happen, they (staff) are good with professionals and will chivvy them on if things seem to be forgotten.”

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.

Monitoring tools were used to identify changes in areas such as emotional wellbeing, weight and epileptic seizures, enabling staff to assess risks, review support arrangements and seek professional input where required. Staff also monitored the effectiveness of medicines associated with these conditions.
This approach helped people achieve positive outcomes. For example, one person, with support from staff and healthcare professionals, developed the confidence to undergo blood tests after previously being unable to do so.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People's right to make their own decisions was respected and promoted. Where concerns arose about a person's ability to make specific decisions, mental capacity assessments and best-interest processes were completed in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Restrictive practices were subject to assessment and reviewed to ensure any restrictions remained in people's best interests and lawful.

The provider took steps to support people to understand their rights and make informed choices. Through self-advocacy groups and 'Know Your Rights' workshops, people were supported to develop their understanding of choice, decision-making and the rights they were entitled to.