St Anne's Community Services - York DCA

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

People’s needs were effectively assessed. Staff sought consent appropriately. Staff worked together well and supported people to lead healthier lives.

This service scored 67 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People’s needs were assessed, and support plans were implemented in response to these assessments. People told us communication was good, they could raise any issues, and these would be acted upon.

Staff told us they gathered information about people’s needs through their support plans and by talking with people.

Systems and processes were in place to effectively assess people’s needs. Up to date support plans were in place and communication between staff, leaders and people was good, enabling the provider to ensure they were meeting people’s current needs and wishes.

People and relatives were involved in developing the support plan and package of support required, in line with best practice guidance. People felt staff understood their preferences and we found there was some information available in support plans about people’s desired support outcomes. However, there was limited evidence of staff working with people towards longer term goals and aspirations.

The new management team demonstrated an understanding of best practice guidance, including Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture. The interim manager was able to give examples of some improvements they had made to reflect best practice. This included support to one person with their health and nutritional needs. They acknowledged further work was needed to ensure consistency and sustained progress.

Support plans reflected people’s health, nutrition and hydration needs. Staff received training in areas of practice like fluids and nutrition. Work was on-going to promote consistency of best practice.

People were supported to access other services and healthcare professionals. People felt there was good communication between the team and themselves.

Staff and leaders knew how to support people to access other services in a way that minimised any distress. For instance, they described how they encouraged one person to visit the doctors without raising any unnecessary anxiety.

Professionals involved with the service provided positive feedback and one told us, “Through collaborative working we have quickly addressed any issues.”

There were effective communication systems in place between staff and with other services. People using the service had an emergency admission pack, which contained clear information and a summary of their support requirements, in case they needed to go into hospital. Appropriate referrals to other services had been made, and advice was incorporated into people’s support plans.

Where people required support to be more active and eat well, this assistance was provided. People were also supported to access the community and their GP if there were any health concerns.

Staff and management provided examples of how they supported people to lead healthier lives and follow GP advice. This included support with weight management.

Processes were in place to make appropriate referrals to other services, and advice was incorporated into support plans.

People were satisfied with the support they received.

Staff and management felt there had been general improvements at the service over recent months. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s preferences in relation to the support they received. However, there was though less understanding demonstrated about people’s longer-term aspirations or desired outcomes.

Systems were in place to monitor outcomes for people, and there were references in people’s support plans to some standard outcomes related to each aspect of the person’s care package. However, there was less focus on people’s longer-term aspirations and personal goals. There was limited evidence of a structured approach to working towards desired outcomes and monitoring people’s progress towards this. For instance, improving people’s independence and life skills. There was opportunity to develop this area further.

People and relatives told us staff treated them with respect. People and relatives told us they were able to speak up if there was anything they were not happy with.

Staff demonstrated an understanding of consent and the Mental Capacity Act. Staff spoke about giving people choice and not supporting someone with an activity if the person did not want to.

The domiciliary care agency did not provide a regulated activity to anyone who lacked capacity to consent to their care. Staff had received relevant training and policies were in place.