Archived: Aston House Care Home

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.

The last rating for this key question was 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 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Managers assessed people’s needs and choices before they moved to the service. They used these assessments to develop care plans. Staff regularly reviewed these assessments and made changes when needed. People using the service and relatives were consulted about assessments and care planning. Staff met with people each month to discuss their needs and ask them if they wanted any changes.

Staff delivered evidence-based care. Staff undertook a wide range of training to help them understand about people’s needs and best practice. The provider sourced expert professionals to provide additional support for staff. For example, a dementia care specialist had spent time at the service observing care. They provided guidance, support and coaching for staff to help improve their knowledge and practice.
Staff told us they had opportunities to discuss their work with managers and each other. They found this helpful. Some staff led on key areas of practice and undertook advanced training. They worked with other staff and shared their learning.

Staff worked well with each other and shared information. Key staff had daily meetings to discuss the service and people who lived there. They discussed important information with all staff and provided updates. Staff kept accurate and detailed notes about people’s care and needs.

There were regular team meetings. Staff told us they were well informed and there was good teamwork.

Staff liaised with external professionals and colleagues within the organisation to help make sure people’s needs were identified and met.

The provider supported people to live healthy lives. Nurses working at the service assessed, planned for and monitored people’s health needs. They wrote comprehensive plans to show the support people needed. They liaised with doctors and other healthcare professionals to discuss people’s needs. People told us they could see the doctor when they needed. People and their relatives told us they were happy with the support they received in this area. Staff were attentive when people’s needs changed and had made timely referrals for additional help when needed.

The provider offered people a range of nutritious freshly prepared food and drinks. People told us they liked the food. Staff monitored people’s weight. Staff ensured people had good fluid intake.

Staff organised a range of activities including exercises. People had access to physiotherapy when needed.

Staff monitored people’s needs and outcomes. They supported people to set objectives, and these were recorded in care plans. Staff kept records about people’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Staff used an electronic care recording system. Managers were able to view this in real time and act when risks were identified.

Nurses and managers had regular discussions about people’s needs. They responded when people’s needs changed.

The provider ensured people consented to their care and treatment. Staff offered people choices in a way they could understand. People had agreed to care plans. They had regular meetings with staff to discuss these. Some people lacked the mental capacity to make decisions about aspects of their care or treatment. The provider liaised with their representatives to help make sure decisions were made in people’s best interests.

Some people received their medicines in a covert manner (without their knowledge). The provider had sought appropriate authorisations for this.

Staff liaised with relevant authorities to discuss any restrictions for people and to ensure these were agreed as suitable and were the least restrictive option for each person.