Acquah Lodge- 60 Dalkeith Grove

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.

People’s needs were assessed and planned for. People and their relatives where appropriate had been involved in the care planning process. A care needs assessment had been carried out before people received care from the service.

Assessments were used to help create care plans which provided information about people’s care and support needs. Care plans were developed with the involvement of people and their relatives.

Care support plans were of a good standard and covered areas including personal care. They were person centred and contained information about how to support people. Care plans were reviewed to reflect changes in people’s needs, wishes and health conditions.

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.

Staff delivered care in line with guidance and kept detailed records to support safe and effective care delivery. The electronic system allowed staff to review tasks and changes in health. Staff sought input from health professionals when needed.

Staff undertook a range of training to help them perform their role effectively. Staff told us training was helpful, and they felt appropriately skilled and well informed. A member of staff said, “The training is really good. The training supported both practical and theory and the company that does the training is really good. There are also assignments we have to complete.”

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people. Where appropriate, professionals were involved in the people’s health, care and support.

Staff worked effectively with external professionals, including GPs, mental health teams, and wellbeing services, to help ensure people received coordinated care. Staff told us they felt communication within the team was strong and that management and their colleagues were approachable and supportive. A member of staff told us, “The support works perfectly. Staff support each other. There is good teamwork and rapport between staff. Communication is really good.”

Staff had effective communication systems in place. Regular meetings were also held for staff and provided an opportunity for staff to share information about the running of the service and people’s individual needs.

Staff shared information with one another as necessary to help ensure people experienced continuity of care. Staff told us they were supported in their work and felt valued working at the service. They said they felt comfortable reaching out to their colleagues and management for support.

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. For example, people were supported to eat healthily and participate in activities that they were interested in within the community.

Staff encouraged and supported people to maintain their health and wellbeing. They made referrals for health input, such as GP reviews, and community health checks. Staff supported people to attend hospital or community appointments.

A system was in place to help monitor people’s health and well-being. Staff recorded people’s progress on the care management system. This ensured that important information and updates were accessible to staff that were involved in the care and support of people.

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to help continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent.

The service used audits and care plan reviews to help identify issues and take corrective action where required. Relatives said they felt reassured that staff understood people’s needs and would take appropriate action where required.

Care plans included information about how people wanted to be supported to achieve their outcomes. Staff were able to respond to people’s changing needs promptly to help promote positive outcomes.

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

People were able to consent to their care as much as possible. They were involved in developing their own care plans so they reflected what support the person wanted.

Staff were aware of the importance of seeking people’s consent before each individual care task and the actions they would take if a person lacked the capacity to make decisions about their care. A member of staff said, “We always ask what people want and let them know what we are doing. Choice is essential. We give people options so that they can make decisions for themselves. Every step is explained to them.”

No concerns were raised by people or relatives in relation to staff seeking consent.