Rons Place

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 made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them however care records and care plans were not always regularly reviewed and updated.

We found some areas where record-keeping could be strengthened. Although care plans contained relevant information, some had not been formally reviewed within expected timescales. For example, one person's personal care plan had not been updated since 2023 and another person's oral health care plan had not been reviewed since 2024. We also identified some inconsistencies within care records. For example, one person's choking risk assessment advised staff to avoid providing foods such as sausages, while their dietary support plan indicated sausages could be offered. Such inconsistencies could increase the risk of confusion and highlight the importance of ensuring records remain accurate, consistent and up to date.

Despite these issues, we found staff had a strong understanding of people's current needs, preferences and risks. Staff were able to describe the support people required and demonstrated this in practice. People continued to receive care and support in line with their needs, including access to healthcare services such as oral health appointments where required.

The registered manager had already identified the need to strengthen care plan oversight and had undertaken a review of care records across the service. Action was being taken to update and review documentation to ensure records accurately reflected people's current needs and provided staff with clear and consistent guidance. This demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring people continued to receive safe, effective and person-centred care.

Care plans were comprehensive, person-centred and reflected people's individual needs, preferences and circumstances. In addition to detailing care and support needs, records considered the whole person and included information about communication requirements, dietary preferences, cultural and religious needs, personal histories, interests, relationships and the people who were important to them. This helped staff to provide care that was tailored to each person's unique circumstances and promoted their wellbeing.

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.

The service worked effectively with a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure people received appropriate, evidence-based care and treatment that reflected their current needs. Staff liaised regularly with a range of healthcare professionals and consistently followed specialist advice to support positive outcomes.

Advice and recommendations provided by the Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) team were clearly reflected in people's care records and implemented in practice. This included guidance relating to food and fluid consistencies to reduce risks associated with eating and drinking. Kitchen staff demonstrated a good understanding of individual dietary requirements and adapted meals as required to ensure people could eat safely while continuing to enjoy a varied and nutritious diet.

The service also worked collaboratively with district nursing teams to support people with specific healthcare needs, including catheter care. People had regular access to healthcare services and specialist professionals when required. This included routine appointments with a specialist learning disability dentist, helping to promote and maintain good oral health.

Recognised assessment tools were used to monitor risks relating to falls and skin integrity. Where concerns were identified, appropriate assessments were completed and timely referrals were made to relevant healthcare professionals for further advice and support. Risk assessments were clear, detailed and provided staff with practical guidance on the actions required to minimise risks. This included information about preventative measures, monitoring arrangements and any specialist equipment in use to support people's safety, health and wellbeing.

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.

The provider worked effectively in partnership with a range of health and social care professionals to ensure people's needs were met and they received coordinated, person-centred support. This included working closely with local authority teams, occupational therapists, GPs, district nurses and other specialist services. Information was shared appropriately and in line with data protection requirements to support continuity of care and positive outcomes for people.

For example, one person required support with a suprapubic catheter. Staff worked collaboratively with district nurses, who were responsible for carrying out catheter changes, while ensuring all ongoing care requirements were completed in accordance with clinical guidance. This included supporting increased fluid intake before and after catheter changes, changing day and night drainage bags as required, and ensuring catheter leg straps were replaced regularly. District nurses had also provided staff with training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge needed to deliver safe and effective catheter care between nursing visits.

Professionals and partner agencies spoke positively about their experience of working with the service and described effective collaborative relationships. Staff regularly attended multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, which helped ensure everyone involved in people's care had access to up-to-date information about changing needs, health outcomes and support requirements. This joined-up approach enabled care to be planned and delivered consistently across services.

Staff told us they worked well together and felt supported by the management team. They described positive communication within the staff team and explained how they worked closely with external professionals to promote people's health, wellbeing and independence. Records demonstrated regular engagement with healthcare services and evidenced that professional advice was acted upon appropriately.

Communication within the service was effective. Staff used handovers, daily records and ongoing discussions to share important information and ensure continuity of support. Relatives also spoke positively about communication and told us they were kept informed about matters affecting their loved ones. One relative described the service as proactive in sharing information and involving them in important decisions. Relatives told us they felt well informed and reassured by the regular communication they received from staff and management.

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 maintain active and meaningful lifestyles that promoted their health, wellbeing and independence. Staff encouraged people to remain as physically active as possible and supported them to take part in activities that reflected their interests and preferences. For example, some people regularly attended seated exercise sessions at a local church, helping them to maintain mobility and social connections within the community.

People were also supported to access a wide range of community-based activities and opportunities. This included shopping for food and clothing, going bowling, attending the cinema and participating in other social outings. These opportunities helped people develop and maintain relationships, build confidence and remain actively involved in their local community.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people's health needs and were responsive to any changes in their physical or emotional wellbeing. Appropriate support was put in place when concerns were identified, and people were assisted to access healthcare services as required. This included attending routine health appointments, specialist consultations and annual health checks, ensuring their health and wellbeing were regularly monitored and any concerns addressed promptly.

People were also supported to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, with staff encouraging good hydration and positive lifestyle choices. Where individuals had specific dietary requirements, these were clearly identified and managed in accordance with professional guidance and clinical recommendations. Staff worked closely with healthcare professionals to ensure dietary support met people's needs and contributed to positive health outcomes.

The provider did not always routinely monitor people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They did not always ensure that outcomes were positive andconsistent, or that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

Care records did not always demonstrate that care and support had been formally monitored, reviewed and updated in a timely manner. For example, one person's care plan identified a goal of attending college; however, there was no documented evidence to show how this objective had been explored, progressed or reviewed.

When discussed, staff were able to clearly explain the actions that had been taken and the reasons why this was no longer an outcome the person wished to pursue. They acknowledged that, while the support provided had reflected the person's wishes, the care records had not been updated to reflect this change. This meant the person's care plan and identified outcomes did not always accurately reflect their current goals and aspirations.

The management team recognised the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date records and acknowledged that improvements were needed to ensure care plans clearly evidenced the review process, changes in people's wishes, and the outcomes achieved. Strengthening these arrangements would provide a more complete record of people's progress and ensure care documentation consistently reflected the support being delivered.

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

People told us that staff consistently sought their consent before providing care or support, which was also observed during our inspection. Staff respected people's choices and decisions, and where consent was not given, this was appropriately documented and honoured.

Assessments of people's capacity to make decisions were completed in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Where individuals had been assessed as lacking capacity to make specific decisions, this was clearly recorded within their care records. Appropriate arrangements were in place to ensure consent was obtained from those with the legal authority to make decisions on a person's behalf where required, and this was clearly documented within care plans.

The service worked effectively with partner agencies and professionals to promote and protect people's rights under the MCA. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the legislation and were able to explain how they supported people to make their own decisions wherever possible. They consistently applied the principles of least restriction and best interests when providing care and support.

People were encouraged and supported to be actively involved in decisions about their lives. Staff used a range of communication methods tailored to individual needs, including signs, pictures and other accessible approaches, to help people understand information and express their wishes, preferences and choices.

Where people lacked capacity to make specific decisions, best interest decision-making processes were followed appropriately. Records clearly identified the decision to be made, who had been involved in the process, including family members and relevant professionals where appropriate, and the rationale behind the final decision. This helped to ensure decisions were made lawfully, transparently and in a way that promoted people's wellbeing, rights and preferences.