Help at Home Care

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.

Care records were reviewed and updated regularly at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, and annually, or sooner if required. These reviews involved input from staff, the person receiving care, and their relative, where appropriate. Updated information was clearly communicated and shared with staff to ensure continuity and consistency of care delivery.

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.

Care delivery was provided in line with relevant legislation, national guidance, and evidence-based best practice standards. Staff received training in key areas of best practice, including dementia awareness and learning disabilities.

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 together to provide good quality care. There were systems for staff to communicate with each other. Staff took part in regular meetings with the registered manager to discuss any concerns. Staff told us they could contact the registered manager whenever they needed. Staff explained the registered manager was responsive and helpful.

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 access day centres and participate in activities within the community, promoting social inclusion and reducing isolation. Opportunities for meaningful engagement were facilitated, including playing games and watching films, which supported stimulation and enjoyment.

Staff supported people with their dietary needs, ensuring that nutrition and hydration were maintained in line with individual preferences and requirements. In addition, staff provided reassurance, emotional support, and companionship, contributing to people’s overall mental and emotional wellbeing.

People were supported to achieve personal goals, with goal-setting incorporated into care planning to drive progress and positive outcomes.

Where required, the provider made referrals to other services to ensure people received additional support appropriate to their needs.

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.

Care plans were used as the primary tool to monitor outcomes, with clear documentation of people’s needs, goals, and progress. Regular reviews ensured that any changes in needs or outcomes were identified promptly and reflected in updated care planning.

The provider had access to a range of clinical monitoring tools and demonstrated knowledge and previous use of these where required. However, at the time of review, such tools were not deemed necessary for the people using the service. This indicated that the provider was able to respond flexibly and implement appropriate monitoring measures should people’s needs change.

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

A consent policy was in place, and Mental capacity processes, including best interest decision-making, were established. Training records confirmed that all staff were up to date with Mental Capacity Act training.

Staff consistently sought consent before delivering care, and this was clearly recorded within care documentation and confirmed by relatives. One relative said, “Even though they are non-verbal they ask, always.” This demonstrated that people’s rights and choices were respected in day-to-day care delivery.

Consent practices were further monitored through spot checks, where senior staff verified that staff were appropriately asking for and gaining consent during care visits.

In addition, consent was embedded into staff induction, ensuring that new staff were aware of expectations from the outset of their employment.