Carestaff Solutions

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 75 (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.

The registered manager undertook a thorough assessment about people’s needs alongside people and their family members. People could see their assessments and support plans via the electronic system on their computer and the service could provide a paper copy if preferable.

Staff accessed information about people’s health and care needs and recorded their caring tasks throughout the day, which could be monitored by managers.

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 provider used nationally recognised tools to conduct thorough and holistic assessments of people’s needs. For example, the managers considered risk to nutritional health and risk of weight loss, and how to assess pain levels for people who did not communicate verbally. Policies underpinning this were detailed and reflected current guidance and links to relevant legislation, including CQC’s Right support, right care, right culture. Staff understood people’s needs such as their dietary requirements and made sure support was in line with this.

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.

Staff reported to us they worked well as a team, and we saw staff feedback forms collected by the provider which reflected positive team working. Handovers were managed effectively and people’s relatives were very much part of the team to ensure consistency and exchange of information. Staff documented important information in a communication book and into the electronic system. Leaders used electronic systems such as email to update staff at regular intervals. We saw that regular team meetings were arranged and staff could raise any ideas or concerns they had and would be listened to.

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.

Staff established a routine according to people’s preferences regarding eating and drinking and made sure meals were freshly prepared and healthy. For example, 1 person supported liked to have a set menu and preferred to have items they were familiar with. Staff supported people to exercise such as daily walking and swimming. Staff supported people to attend regular health appointments to make sure any changes in health were identified in a timely manner.

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.

Staff knew people well and where people did not communicate verbally, staff were able to observe nonverbal behaviour to monitor people’s mood and adapt support accordingly. Staff also monitored people’s weight, food and fluid intake. Staff monitored people’s health and wellbeing and took action if they noted any changes or deterioration.

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

Staff completed training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understood the principles of consent. Staff talked to people about what they were doing during caring tasks and made sure people were comfortable. We saw evidence of Mental Capacity Act 2005 assessments and best interests’ decisions for example around consent for support to take medicines.