Deangate 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. 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 83 (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. People’s care plans were detailed and included person-centred information about how the person wanted to be supported. People and their relatives were involved in the care planning process and were kept informed of any changes. Regular reviews of care plans were undertaken to ensure that information remained reflective of people’s needs.

The provider always 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. They worked to develop evidence-based good practice and standards. Managers and staff embraced change and were enthusiastic about trying innovative solutions to improve the lives of the people they support. Managers had worked in partnership with local health professionals to pilot and assess an improved approach to supporting those at risk of weight loss. A revised tool to assess and monitor those at risk was rolled out in the home to assess individuals who could benefit from the revised approach. Staff received specialist training and implemented changes within the service in partnership with people. Changes included swapping items available as snacks for more calorie dense and appetising options, in line with people’s preferences and offering fortified fruit juices, milkshakes and smoothies. The effectiveness of this approach was closely monitored and had resulted in 23 people gaining weight, reducing their risk or malnutrition and associated health issues. All staff at the service were aware of the new approach and staff were visibly proud of the changes implemented and were keen to showcase the successful changes made and the foods and drinks available throughout the day. People were observed to visibly enjoy the food, snacks and drinks on offer throughout the day.

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. Records showed that information from professionals was clearly recorded and adhered to by staff. They had good working relationships with professionals and resources in the wider community. Processes were in place to ensure information could be shared promptly and accurately where needed.

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 ensured that where health needs required monitoring, that this was done accurately and when required, for example food and fluid charts were up to date. Where monitoring indicated a potential issue, or a person reported feeling unwell, the service responded appropriately. A person told us, “If you get sick, they get the Doctor, I’ve only been ill once, they were there to look after me and to see to me, I feel safe.”

The provider monitored all people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they fully met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. Care plans were person-centred and contained detailed information about the individual approach to care each person should receive. Staff knew people well and understood each person’s different needs and preferences. Records and feedback from people and their relatives showed that people had positively gained weight, improving their health outcomes. People had reengaged in old hobbies and in some cases taken up new interests. Where possible, people had been supported to improve their mobility and regain a greater level of independence through the use of equipment, technology, adaptations and physiotherapy. A relative told us, “At home, my [relative] never used to sleep at night, they were on their own after being widowed, and they were frightened. As soon as [relative] came to the service, they slept right through. They felt safe here, and I felt safe leaving them.”

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People’s capacity was assessed, and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) were followed. Staff and managers were knowledgeable about the legislation and legal requirements necessary where people were no longer able to make certain decisions independently. Where required, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) had been applied. Records showed that consideration had been given to supporting people in the least restrictive way possible. Staff understood the importance of consent for care interventions. A staff member told us, “We talk to people (about their needs and preferences), if people can’t communicate, we look in their care plans for their likes and dislikes.”