Archived: In Home Care Chichester

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 71 (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’s assessment processes did not always ensure people’s needs were comprehensively assessed and used to inform accurate care planning. Pre-admission assessments were completed to identify people’s health, care, wellbeing, and communication requirements. However, the information gathered was not always accurately reflected in care and risk management plans. Assessments for people with a learning disability did not consistently align with national best practice guidance Right support, right care, right culture. As a result, we were not always assured that the assessment process was sufficiently robust to inform the delivery of safe and effective care for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

People told us they had been involved in their initial assessments. One person said, “[Name] initially came here and talked to us about what they could do, and that was good.” Another person commented, “The care coordinator comes round and reviews the plan.” This demonstrated that people were included in discussions and planning regarding their care.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment in partnership with them, focusing on what was important and what mattered to each person. People’s protected characteristics, cultural needs, and personal preferences were considered to make sure support would be tailored appropriately. People and those important to them were actively involved in the assessment and review of their care to ensure care reflected people’s wishes and promoted choice, dignity, and independence. Assessments undertaken by healthcare professionals were used to inform care planning. These included assessments for nutrition, falls, skin integrity. people’s cognitive ability and mental health needs. A relative told us, “I think the [staff] who support Mum understand dementia, and what support is needed. They are very patient with her, which is needed.”

The provider worked effectively across teams and external services to support people’s care and treatment. Staff told us any changes to people’s care and treatment plans were communicated promptly and clearly through the provider’s electronic care monitoring system. This helped to ensure relevant information was shared in a timely way and staff had access to up-to-date guidance about people’s needs. People and their relatives described positive partnership working. Relatives shared examples of being contacted when staff identified changes in their family member’s wellbeing. A relative told us the care agency had supported them to arrange district nurse support when their loved one’s needs changed. This demonstrated staff worked collaboratively to help ensure people received coordinated and effective care.

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. Care records showed people had access to routine and specialist health care treatment and appointments. A relative said, “They’ve helped me get home visits by the doctor, which has been good.” Staff knew how to signpost and refer people to specialist services ensuring people received appropriate support and guidance. This included guidance on nutritional advice, diabetes and equipment that encouraged people’s independence.

The provider had systems in place to monitor people’s care and treatment and to support continuous improvement. Reviews of care were undertaken annually and when people’s needs changed. Care records we reviewed reflected these updates and demonstrated that changes in needs were recorded and responded to appropriately.

People and their relatives told us the monitoring processes were effective in helping to ensure care and wellbeing needs were met. One relative said of the care staff “…they are very observant, if they see something wrong, they let me know.” This demonstrated staff monitored people’s wellbeing and escalated concerns appropriately.

The provider promoted people’s rights in relation to consent and ensured these were respected when delivering person-centred care and treatment. Staff worked collaboratively with people, their families, and relevant professionals to help ensure people’s rights and freedoms were upheld. People told us staff sought their consent before providing care and support.

Staff and managers demonstrated an understanding of their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). They were aware of the principles of the Act and described how they supported people to make their own decisions wherever possible. Where people lacked capacity to make specific decisions, staff explained how best interest decisions were made in consultation with relevant others.