Aland Healthcare Agency

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

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 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 registered manager assessed people’s needs before their care started. Assessments covered routines, personal care, medicines, mobility, communication, consent and known risks. People and their relatives told us they were involved in assessments and received copies of their care plans. Staff used the assessment information to plan support around people’s individual needs and preferences. People said regular care workers knew them well and understood how they wanted their care to be provided.

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.

Staff completed induction, shadowing and face-to-face training relevant to their roles. They also completed the Care Certificate, a set of standards covering the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of health and social care workers. Training covered safeguarding, medicines, moving and handling, food hygiene and communication. Staff explained how they applied their learning in practice. For example, they recognised signs of distress, adapted their communication and responded calmly. This helped people feel safe, understood and supported.

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 shared relevant information with the office when people’s needs changed. The registered manager contacted GPs, district nurses, pharmacies and hospital teams when professional advice or support was needed. Staff also supported people to attend appointments and collect medicines when this formed part of their care. This helped people receive coordinated support from the appropriate services.

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.

Staff supported people to maintain their health and wellbeing at home. They prepared meals, encouraged drinks and prompted medicines in line with people’s care plans. Staff also collected prescriptions and supported people to attend GP appointments when this formed part of their agreed care. Staff monitored people’s eating, drinking and general wellbeing. One person explained that their care worker contacted a relative when they were not eating. Daily records also showed examples of staff collecting medicines from a pharmacy and responding to changes in people’s physical 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.

The provider monitored people’s care through reviews, daily records, audits and regular contact. Staff reported changes in people’s needs and adjusted support when required.

People said the care helped them remain comfortable and independent at home. Reviews provided opportunities to discuss whether support continued to meet their needs. We found no evidence of poor or inconsistent outcomes. Some records could have described people’s progress more clearly, but the wider evidence showed that people received effective support.

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

One person said care workers “ask permission to do things”. Care plans included consent sections and people received signed copies. The registered manager described involving relatives or representatives where appropriate. We found no evidence that staff provided care against a person’s wishes or failed to respect day-to-day decisions.