Ambito Community Services East Midlands

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.

This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated 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.

People’s needs were assessed and reviewed regularly. Support plans were detailed.

Families described detailed care plans covering physical, emotional and communication needs. “The care plan is reviewed every year,” “It covers everything and is very thorough,” and, “They do risk assessments at the house.”

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them and/or their families where appropriate, including what was important and mattered to them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards.

Care and treatment reflected current best practice and guidance which included Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture. Staff completed training to support this. The provider had access to recognised best practice assessment tools, for example, assessments of an individual's risk of developing pressure ulcers. Support plans were detailed to provide guidance to staff on delivering evidence-based care and treatment.

Professionals reported that staff were responsive to clinical guidance and willing to learn. One professional described how exercise and diet recommendations were implemented promptly. Others noted that guidance was followed well for people who used services, reflecting a positive learning approach.

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 collaboratively to deliver effective care. Staff were confident in referring to other organisations. People received effective monitoring of their health and where concerns were observed, appropriate referrals to partner healthcare partners were made in a timely way.

Families reported good joint working with day services, schools, respite, physiotherapy and social workers. “They are dedicated as a whole team.”

Staff described good communication within the service, supported by digital platforms and team handovers. They felt leaders worked collaboratively with the team and understood the realities of frontline work. Staff said this helped ensure decisions were practical and made with a clear understanding of people’s needs.

Managers were described as knowledgeable, proactive and engaged. Professionals noted strong attendance at review meetings and good partnership working. Individual managers were praised for their understanding of people’s needs and for seeking advice appropriately.

Professionals highlighted the service’s reliability, saying staff were consistent and support was delivered as planned. They described staff as flexible, accommodating and able to adjust to changing needs.

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. External health and social care professionals were involved as required. Staff completed training to support people to manage their health and wellbeing, including nutrition and hydration. Easy read information was available for people regarding skin care and oral hygiene.

A relative described tailored support, “They work on healthier eating and portion sizes.”

Professionals told us staff followed clinical advice, such as supporting healthier lifestyle changes or continuing physiotherapy programmes.

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.

Outcomes were monitored and used to drive improvement. Monitoring tools were used to identify and then monitor any emerging healthcare needs and external professionals were involved in helping to address these needs. Team meetings, supervisions and regular reviews of people’s care all considered outcomes and how to drive improvement.

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

People’s consent was sought and respected. Policies were in place. Mental capacity assessments were completed and support plans also included evidence of best interests’ decision-making processes.

Families reported staff respected choice and involved relatives when needed.

Staff demonstrated a strong understanding of the Mental Capacity Act. They told us they always presumed people had capacity and used a range of communication methods to support decision‑making. Staff involved families and professionals where a person lacked capacity and described participating in best‑interest meetings to ensure decisions were person‑centred and least restrictive. Staff had completed training on consent and the Mental Capacity Act.