Nation Care 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

People’s support needs were assessed, and care plans were reviewed. The provider had a process to assess if a person was able to consent to their care and worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Care workers were provided with additional information on people’s medical conditions and how they could impact their care.

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.

People confirmed they had been involved in the identification of their care needs and the development of their care plan.

Care workers said they knew the support and care needs of each person they visited as they visited the same people each week.

The provider carried out an assessment of the person’s support needs before the care package started. Initial information was provided by the local authority and a full needs assessment was then completed to indicate if the persons care needs could be met and if there were any additional support needs. Care workers were provided with a list of the care tasks required for the first visit and a full care plan was developed within two days. Care plans were reviewed every year or earlier if there was a change in needs.

People felt the care workers had a good understanding of their specific support needs. People and relatives confirmed care workers provided support, when required, with preparing meals. A person commented, “I have help with meals. I have [pre prepared meals]. Carers provide afternoon tea. I choose what I have to eat. I get enough to eat and drink. The night time girls get me tea and cake.”

Care workers explained they completed training reflecting people’s care needs and were provided with additional information on medical conditions and other support needs.

Care workers were kept up to date with current best practice through completing regular training, team meeting and staff newsletters. Care plans included information on if the person required support with preparing meals and their food and drink preferences. There was also a nutrition risk assessment to identify if the person was at risk of malnutrition.

People and relatives confirmed the care workers kept them informed about any issues or changes in the care provided as well as contacting professional when required.

The registered manager confirmed that, if the person required support with accessing healthcare professionals and other organisation, appropriate support would be provided.

Care plans included information of healthcare and other professionals who were involved in ensuring people received the support they required.

People explained care workers, if required, supported them to access healthcare professionals. Care workers also monitored people’s heath and relatives told us the care workers would contact them if their family member was unwell. A person said, “Yes, I’m supported to access health professionals. The carers take note if I don’t feel well, or I tell them.”

The registered manager told us information sheets had been developed to provide care worker with guidance on the medical conditions people were living with and how they might impact how care was provided.

Information on people’s health and wellbeing was included in their care plans and risk assessments.

People told us they had regular care workers visiting them so they had a clear understanding of their support needs.

Care workers demonstrated they understood what to do if they had any concerns about the person, they were providing support for. A care worker told us, “I record on the daily notes and inform office as well as family members.”

Care plans included goals and outcomes for all aspects of the person’s care. Care workers completed records of the care provided during each visit including if they had any concerns or changes to the care provided. These records were monitored by the senior staff so they could take appropriate actions to ensure the care reflected their support needs.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. The MCA requires that, as far as possible, people make their own decisions and are helped to do so when needed. When they lack mental capacity to take particular decisions, any made on their behalf must be in their best interests and as least restrictive as possible. The provider’s processes to assess people’s capacity to consent to aspects of their care reflected the principles of the MCA. People and relatives confirmed that care workers explained the support they were going to provide and asked the person’s consent. Their comments included, “Yes, explain what they’re doing and ask me if I’m happy for them to start care” and “Yes, Staff explain what they’re going to do and ask my [family member] if they’re happy.”

Care workers had completed training on MCA and understood how to support people with making choice.

The provider undertook mental capacity assessments to identify if a person was able to consent to their care. If a person required support with making decisions about their care the provider identified how it should be provided in the person’s best interests. People’s care plans included a consent to care and treatment form which they or a representative had signed.