Branksome Heights

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

This means we looked for evidence that the service met people’s needs.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.

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.

We did not look at Person-centred Care during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.

We did not look at Care provision, Integration and continuity during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.

People received the care and support they needed with their communication needs, in line with their care plans. For example, staff supported people to wear clean spectacles as they needed. Staff spoke with people in ways that suited the person, for example, adjusting their approach to meet hearing impairments, memory impairments or speech difficulties. People had regular eye tests, unless they did not wish to or it was not assessed as being in their best interests. They also had any assistance they needed to keep hearing aids in good order.

Information was presented clearly and attractively for people. A person showed us the activity board, describing this as "a helpful board with things on to do".

Staff had a comprehensive understanding of the care and support people needed, including support with communication needs.

Since 2016 all organisations that provide publicly funded adult social care are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard. The Accessible Information Standard tells organisations what they have to do to help ensure people with a disability or sensory loss, and in some circumstances, their carers, get information in a way they can understand. It also says that people should get the support they need in relation to communication.

The service met the Accessible Information Standard. People's assessments identified and recorded their information and communication needs. Care plans included these, with instructions for staff on how to support the person. Communication needs were shared appropriately with ambulance and hospital staff.

Information was in accessible formats tailored to recipients' individual needs. This was both general information and information about individual people's care.

All staff had had training in data protection, including GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requirements. Access to the service's computerised care recording systems was unique to the user and access was password controlled.

We did not look at Listening to and involving people during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.

We did not look at Equity in access during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.

People told us how they were encouraged to be involved in things going on at Branksome Heights. We heard no accounts of discrimination, nor did we observe any indication that people were experiencing discrimination.

The provider’s Admiral nurse spent time weekly at the service, in particular supporting families of people living with dementia, as well as providing support and training for staff around dementia. Admiral nurses are specialist dementia nurses who provide support for families affected by all forms of dementia. They receive ongoing support and development from a national dementia charity.

Assessments of people's needs, and the care plans developed from them, were holistic, and people received the care they needed. Assessments and care plans considered people's equality characteristics, such as their race, religion, disability, and sexual orientation.

The registered manager had a clear understanding of equality and promoted this throughout the service. She recognised that discrimination, whether at Branksome Heights or in the wider community, could be a safeguarding issue. She promoted the rights of people at the service to have a meaningful and active part in planning about their care.

Policies upheld people's human rights and protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. For example, the policy on Personal and sexual relationships specifically recognised that sexual relationships are not exclusively heterosexual.

We did not look at Planning for the future during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.