Aspect House

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 provider assessed people’s needs before they moved into the service. The Director of Services carried out these assessments and reviewed availability across the organisation to identify the most suitable placement. People were then given the opportunity to visit the service, look around, and have a meal, enabling them to experience the environment before deciding whether to move in.

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.

People’s care plans reflected current standards and were reviewed regularly to ensure they remained relevant to their needs, including nutrition and hydration.

The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is a screening tool used by healthcare professionals to identify adults who are malnourished, underweight, or obese. People’s weight was monitored and their MUST score recorded to enable staff to identify and escalate concerns.

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 confirmed they worked closely with other teams and professionals and important information was shared. External professionals were complimentary about information sharing. One healthcare professional told us, “They are quick to escalate concerns where appropriate, and frequently check in with mental health services when working within an MDT (Multi-disciplinary team).”

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.

There was strong evidence of support around nutrition. The registered manager had implemented measures to promote healthy eating, including the introduction of portion control plates to support people in making informed choices about balanced nutrition.

Staff encouraged the provision of fresh meals to support people in exploring healthier food choices. People were involved in menu planning and were offered alternative options if they did not wish to have the meal provided on a particular day. People told us they had access to a variety of food.

There was evidence of positive health outcomes. One relative told us their family member had been supported to improve their diet, which had led to improved health and wellbeing.

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.

People were consistently supported to set and achieve personalised outcomes. Relatives shared examples of positive progress, including improvements in physical and mental health, as well as increased independence for their loved ones.

Progress towards achieving outcomes was recorded to enable effective monitoring, review, and ongoing support.

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

People had DoLS in place where required and records of mental capacity assessments along with best interest decisions were held on file.

People and relatives told us their views were respected and they agreed with decisions made. One relative told us, “We sat down and went through everything, and I agreed with the plan.”

Staff understood the importance of gaining consent before providing care. One staff member told us, “I knock the door and ask consent. We can’t force them.”