Routes Healthcare Preston

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 79 (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 needs are assessed prior to the service commencing, to ensure the provider could meet their needs safely. People's needs were consistently reviewed to ensure changing needs were accommodated. We saw care plan reviews took place which involved people and their families as well as updates from staff and professionals involved in people's care and support. One relative said, “I am fully involved in the care plan, when we started with the company the co-ordinator came to the house, and we discussed [family member’s] needs and arranged times. The care plan is reviewed regularly.”

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. Evidenced based clinical tools were used to assess and monitor people’s needs and associated risks. For example, a nationally recognised skin integrity tool was used to ensure pressure damage was identified at an early stage. Relatives complimented staff for their swift responses when their family member showed signs of deterioration. One relative said, “Last week the carers noticed something wasn’t right with my loved one they had a bulge of fluid on their hip I rang the GP who prescribed medication, and everything is sorted now I wouldn’t have been aware if the carers hadn’t told me, I am thankful my loved one is supported my competent kind and trustworthy staff.”

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 worked well as a team ensuring records were well maintained and informative. Staff and leaders worked well with external professionals and their advice was carefully documented in people’s care plans and outcomes monitored.

The provider always supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to fully 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 and leaders ensured people had access to healthcare professionals and provided support in line with their guidance. Monitoring tools were used to ensure people with declining health needs were recognised managed appropriately. Staff identified concerns early and approached external professionals for guidance and support to improve people’s situations. Staff and leaders demonstrated excellent partnership working by planning together and sharing information. For example, 1 person was declining and required support to improve their emotional wellbeing and personal care. Staff and leaders swiftly identified the issues and liaised with external professionals. With involvement from mental health professionals and the social work team, the package was increased, and staff improved the person’s quality of life.

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’s care was well planned and co-ordinated. People and relatives were involved in all aspects of their care and support. One relative said, “When we first started requiring care for my loved one the company discussed what my loved one’s needs were and we agreed timings and what support was required the carers listen to me and do their job, if I was unhappy, I would ring the office I have a book with all the numbers in.”

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. Staff and leaders involved people and relevant others in their care plans to ensure they were supported in a safe way. The management team and staff were knowledgeable about the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and worked in line with the guidelines. Where people lacked capacity, systems were in place to ensure decisions were made in people’s best interests. People and relatives told us staff were always considerate and involved them in decisions about their care. One relative said, “My [family member] is mainly nursed in bed, the carers always come in 2’s and usually the same carers they do support my loved one to have a shower they always ask first and are very good at explaining what to expect and what to do, my loved one trusts them all.”