Kemfa Services Limited

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 requires improvement. At this assessment improvements had been made, and the rating has changed to 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. This formed their plan of care and support. Assessments were regularly reviewed and updated to make sure the information was current, and care, support and treatment was meeting people’s needs and individual outcomes as expected.

Staff had access to real time information relating to people’s care and support needs on the electronic care planning application on their mobile phones. A printed copy was also kept in people’s homes. Staff kept clear comprehensive care records to support reviews and evidence of appropriate action taken in response to changes noted.

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.

Where people had been identified at risk of falls, continence care, and medicines, this was included in their care plan. People’s nutritional and hydration needs were met in discussion with them and their preferences. The provider was aware of the effects of malnutrition and dehydration, and people were supported to manage their dietary needs and associated risks. This included people with poor nutrition, dehydration, swallowing problems and other medical conditions that affected their health. People’s preferences, likes and dislikes were also recorded. Staff had received the necessary training to support them safely. A family member told us, “I can see what the staff have done on their visits and what food [relative] has eaten.” Another family member said, “Staff prepare meals for [relative] and ask what they like for breakfast and dinner.”

Staff had received training in food preparation and hygiene to ensure they provided safe care. A staff member told us, “I make sure people have choice, I always ask people before providing their meal. If people cannot communicate verbally, I will show them a choice of foods so they can choose what they want.”

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. The registered manager told us, “We use encrypted systems to share care updates and changes with relevant professionals, ensuring accuracy and reducing duplication. “

People and their relatives received support from Kemfa Services Limited to access other services to support their health and wellbeing. Staff told us they had access to the information they needed to appropriately support people. Records of interactions with health and social care professionals on people’s behalf were recorded and showed effective outcomes for people. Any changes to people’s healthcare needs were updated accordingly to record feedback and any actions or advice to be followed. A professional told us, “Overall, Kemfa demonstrates a willingness to learn and implement recommendations constructively.”

Information was effectively shared between teams and services where they worked together to deliver a person’s care. This meant all relevant staff understood people’s needs, how they will be met and by who, for example when people were referred between services. Staff were proactive in working with other services when multidisciplinary involvement was required, and any actions were followed up as needed. A staff member told us, “If there is not enough time to meet someone’s needs, I do let the office know. They will follow it up and usually send the occupational therapist (OT) in to assess, they do listen to us.”

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. People were supported to live healthier lives. People’s records included important information about their health conditions, medicines and guidance for staff on how to support people’s health and wellbeing.

The service identified risks to people’s health and wellbeing and prioritised support to prevent deterioration as much as possible. We were given examples of where the service had supported people when their health needs changed. For example, staff reported a decline in a person’s mobility, contact with the district nurse and occupational therapist was made to arrange an urgent home assessment. This resulted in new equipment being delivered within 48 hours, preventing further deterioration.

The service made sure referrals to appropriate health services were made quickly when people’s needs changed and acted swiftly on their recommendations. The registered manager gave us an example where staff had noticed the signs of a pressure injury for a person they cared for. The district nursing team was contacted and commenced visiting weekly. They also provided advice on how the staff should care for the person to support the healing process to reduce the risk of a reoccurrence.

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.

There were effective approaches to monitor people’s care, support and outcomes. People received good outcomes because of the support provided to them. The service sought and considered feedback from people, their families, carers, professionals and stakeholders as appropriate when monitoring individual outcomes. A compliment received to the service from a family member said, “[Relative] really likes [name of staff member]. Since that time, I noticed a difference as they really got [relative] to engage, and they are still talking about them till this day.”

Staff told us how they monitored people’s wellbeing for them to keep well and as independent as possible. A member of staff told us, “If we do escalate a concern, professionals do listen and recently, we got an OT in to look at a person’s care and what we were doing and what we could do better to help them with their independence.”

Care plans were reviewed regularly as part of the registered manager’s quality assurance processes. People and/or their representatives were involved in care reviews to ensure continuous improvements were made to people’s care and treatment when required. A family member told us, “Kemfa came to visit and do a review. The care plan was altered to allocate a bit of extra time for [relative] and some respite for me, which was appreciated.”

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People's capacity and ability to consent were considered, and they, or a person lawfully acting on their behalf, were involved in planning, managing and reviewing their care and support. The provider supported a wide and diverse range of people within the local community, most of whom had capacity to inform their care arrangements.

Staff had received training around the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and were able to describe how they apply this in their day-to-day practice. One member of staff told us, “The manager usually completes any capacity assessments, and we read them and do refer to a professional if there is anything complex a person needs, such as someone with dementia.”

People were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People and relatives told us they had been involved and consented to the care plan. Staff were aware of people’s right to refuse care and treatment and respected the individuals wishes.