Blythe House

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.

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 delivered care and support which reflected people's individual preferences. Support was flexible and reflected people's personalities, communication styles and aspirations.

A person was supported to plan and save towards purchasing a large item they wanted, with staff helping them understand their spending and available budget. Another person preferred detailed information about their day and used a personalised visual timetable showing where they were going, how they would travel and what activities were planned. Staff understood that providing this information reduced anxiety and helped the person make informed choices.

People were supported to pursue interests that were meaningful to them. Support was tailored around each person's preferences rather than expecting people to fit into a set routine or activity programme. This ranged from horse riding to day trips to places of interest. One person attended a supermarket trial for a job on the till but decided not to pursue that option and is looking at other roles they might enjoy more. One person told us, “I was going shopping and am happy.” A relative told us, "They are always doing something, I rang [my family member] up and they were out, they are always going out somewhere." Another relative said, “[My family member] is very happy and confident there.” People told us they were going to a disco later that night. Some people were away visiting family or out having a picnic.

The provider understood people's individual needs and coordinated support around them. People received care which reflected their circumstances and helped ensure important aspects of their lives worked together effectively.

People experienced continuity because many staff had supported them for significant periods of time. This helped provide stability for people who benefited from familiar routines and relationships.

The provider worked with relatives to share information and respond when people's needs changed. Relatives told us issues were generally discussed and resolved together.

Support extended beyond people's home and reflected their wider lives. People maintained relationships with relatives, attended healthcare appointments, accessed education or activities and spent time in their local communities. Staff supported these arrangements in ways that reflected each person's needs and preferences.

The provider supplied information in ways that met people's individual needs and helped them understand decisions about their care and daily lives. People had different communication needs and staff used personalised approaches to support understanding. Information was provided using methods such as Makaton, pictures, visual schedules and other aids which reflected how each person preferred to communicate.

People were supported to understand plans and other decisions that affected them. For example, one person used pictorial schedules which showed what they would be doing throughout the day, helping them understand what was happening and what to expect next.

Other people used an element of Makaton to communicate about their day, feelings and planned activities. A relative told us they had access to their family members care plan and said, "It is completed correctly. I am kept up to date and happy with the process."

The provider had information available to support communication with external services. Most guidance had an easy read version using simple English and pictures. For example, information about how to stay safe or how to make a complaint.

The provider had systems in place to gather people's views and involve them in decisions about their care and support. People and relatives were encouraged to share feedback through reviews, meetings, surveys, telephone calls and discussions with staff and managers.

People were involved in decisions about their daily lives wherever possible. Keyworker meetings provided opportunities for people to discuss and reviews things that were important to them and plan future activities.

Information about how to make a complaint was available and staff understood how concerns should be responded to and escalated. Relatives told us they felt able to raise concerns and speak openly with the service. One relative told us, "We have no problems speaking up." Another relative said, "If I am not happy about something which is very very rare, they will take it on board."

The registered manager was receptive to feedback and had already identified a number of areas for development. People, relatives and staff had opportunities to share their views and influence changes within the service. Relatives’ suggested opportunities to strengthen communication by providing more regular updates about what their family member had been doing and to receive information about appointments more consistently. Some relatives also felt a greater use of Makaton would further support communication. The provider had already responded to this feedback and additional Makaton training had been arranged for staff.

The provider supported people to access the care, support and treatment they needed in a way that reflected their individual needs and circumstances. People had access to healthcare services, community activities and specialist support when required. Staff supported people to attend appointments and worked with professionals to ensure their needs were understood. Information was available to support healthcare access for people with complex needs and to help other services understand how best to support them.

The provider recognised that people experienced barriers to services due to communication preferences. Care plans specified how best to support each person to access various health checks and local services safely.

People were supported to access opportunities within their local communities based on their preferences and interests. Relatives described people attending activities, holidays and events that were meaningful to them. One relative told us, "The Kisimul group are brilliant after Easter they had a big gathering and it was one of the happiest afternoons I have had. Different age groups and people and it was absolutely joyous."

The provider understood that people with a learning disability and autistic people could experience barriers to achieving positive outcomes and required tailored support to meet each person's individual needs.

Care records contained detailed information about people's health, communication and support needs. Staff used this information to provide personalised support and make reasonable adjustments where required. This included using visual information and other communication tools to help people understand information and express their views.

Where people found it difficult to communicate changes in their wellbeing, staff sought advice from relevant professionals and advocates when needed. The registered manager recognised the importance of listening to people who may be at greater risk of poorer outcomes and ensuring support reflected their individual needs. Staff reflected on experiences when supporting people to access local services to see how they could make this better.

The provider supported people to plan for important changes in their lives and involved them in decisions about their future wherever possible. Care records contained information about people's aspirations, future plans and areas where they wished to develop greater independence.

Some people were working towards goals relating to daily living skills, money management and increasing their involvement in their local communities. Although improvements were needed to ensure goals were consistently recorded and regularly reviewed, people were being supported to develop skills and make decisions about their future.

Staff understood the importance of helping people prepare for change. Support was adapted to help people understand upcoming appointments and significant events. Visual information and personalised communication approaches were used where needed to help people make informed choices.

People and their relatives were supported to consider decisions at a pace that reflected their individual needs and level of understanding. For people who had considered their wishes in the event of serious illness or dying, this had been recorded in their care plan so that it could be respected.