Care Quality Services Brighton and Hove

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.

Comprehensive assessments of people’s needs were undertaken prior to care commencing. This included the office team meeting the person, their relatives and assessing the environment in which care would be given. People’s care plans were then shaped around this information and contained details which were important to the person. A person told us, “I was involved with the care plan when I began with them, and it is reviewed every few months I think. I have no problems, and I can communicate well with them”. Records showed a robust review process was in place to ensure people’s needs were constantly up to date. The service had recently implemented some artificial intelligence technology to support with formulating care plans. People were still at the forefront of this process and were always asked to agree their plan before support commenced.

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.

Records showed that changes in people’s needs were addressed promptly. Staff told us that any changes were quickly communicated via the app they used. One staff member said, “The app is great, you can update it, and the information goes straight to the office, and vice versa. People’s needs are updated in real time.” Processes were in place to monitor people’s health, this included using a number of nationally recognised tools. For example, the waterlow score and Braden risk assessment was used in monitoring people’s skin integrity. The service also closely monitored people’s food and fluid intake where there were concerns about malnutrition or dehydration.

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.

People were confident that staff worked well with each other and external professionals. One person told us, “I don’t remember if they have had to call the GP for me but I am sure they would if necessary. They are very good”. Records showed that timely referrals had been made were necessary. We saw evidence of communication between the management team, staff and external professionals when appropriate. Professionals spoke of a good working relationship with the service which lead to positive outcomes for people. One professional told us, “I have found the team to be responsive and knowledgeable when I have contacted them about a person. [Staff] provided me with the information I needed and kept me updated with how they were managing the care”. Another professional told us how staff worked well with them to achieve a robust safeguarding plan for a person using the service.

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 told us they were supported to access a range of health care professionals. Care records contained detailed information about people’s mental and physical health conditions and how these might affect people. For example, where a person needed support with soften foods, this was relayed to staff through the electronic application. Where needed, people were supported with making meals and staff encouraged these to be as healthy as possible. One relative told us, “The staff do seem well trained and know what they have to do for [person]. [Staff] encourage them with things like eating well.”

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 plans were regularly reviewed. Where needs had changed this information was shared with staff immediately via an electronic application to ensure the care delivered was in line with needs, wishes and desired outcomes. The provider had an electronic system which was utilised by the management team to monitor in real time any themes and trends in the data to improve outcomes for people. For example, the technology could identify certain words from daily notes to identify risks and put plans in place to minimise these. This meant there was good oversight of the care people received to drive better outcomes.

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

People told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and support, and their choices were respected. People were asked for consent, and this was documented in both their care plans and their daily notes. The provider met the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff were knowledgeable around the principles of the MCA and had completed training in relation to this. All staff told us they would always seek consent before supporting people. One staff member said, “We support people in the way they want to be supported, of course I would ask permission as it is the right thing to do.”