West Lancashire Short Break Services

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 outstanding. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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 did not always make sure information about people’s care and support were effective, but they did check and discuss people’s health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

Staff did not always ensure information in people’s support plans was robust. There was a lack of detail to several people’s support plans and some information had not been completed in full. For example, a person needed constant supervision when out in the community but there was no information about why, what the risks were, or support needed to reduce those risks.

Regular reviews were evidenced in support plans we looked at, though some tools and supplementary documents had not been kept up to date.

However, relatives told us they were involved in creating support plans and reviews, and were regularly contacted prior to people’s stays to discuss any changing care needs. A relative said, “I’ve always been involved in the support plan, I attend all the meetings.”

Following feedback, the manager confirmed information about people was being reviewed in full prior to being inputted onto the new electronic support planning system.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, but they did not always do this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards.

Staff did not always ensure guidance around people’s diet was followed. A person had recommendations in place from the speech and language therapy team (SALT) about which foods they needed to avoid to prevent choking. Whilst there had been no record of choking incidents, we observed staff serve them with a food from the list, and guidance around their mealtime environment were not followed in full.

However, staff had access to refresher training and up to date policies to help ensure staff had a good understanding of current legislation and good practice.

Following feedback, the manager immediately implemented a system to display people’s specific dietary needs and risks more prominently during their stays.

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people and made sure people only needed to tell their story once.

Staff confirmed information was effectively shared amongst the team; and we received feedback from a partner about positive working relationships between themselves, the manager and staff at the service.

Staff worked closely with relatives and partners prior to and following stays to ensure important messages were shared. Generally, feedback about information sharing was very positive. A relative said. “They communicate over the phone, but when you go in everything is in the book. Everything is written down; what [people] have eaten, how they’ve slept, what they’ve done.” Another added, “No matter what happens, they contact. They’re fabulous.”

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control and staff supported people to live healthier lives.

Relatives told us healthy meals were provided, and staff gave examples of how they supported people to move more or eat a more balanced diet to promote healthier living. A staff member said, “A person in a wheelchair does armchair exercises.” Another added, “We explain healthier eating and encourage it were possible. There’s lots of home cooked food.”

Staff identified risks to people’s health and wellbeing early, ensuring they received the appropriate support to prevent deterioration. The manager explained how the team sought medical advice, supported people to attend appointments and contacted relatives to escalate any emerging medical issues.

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.

The service had fluid and bowel charts in place for those who needed them, and logs were used to record seizure activity and any support or treatment provided during seizures.

Staff spoke about people’s outcomes having improved as a result of positive encouragement and support. For example, teaching someone how to make their own sandwich, and improving another person’s experience by getting to know them and their behaviours better as a team.

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

Staff understood the importance of obtaining consent before they delivered care or support. Staff completed training in The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), to aid their understanding of people’s rights, and gave examples of how they sought consent from people. We observed staff knocking on people’s bedroom doors and seeking consent prior to care interventions.

The service involved relatives and those acting on behalf of people, in decision making.