Lotus Community Care Service

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

We assessed 6 quality statements in the effective key question. The provider assessed people’s needs before offering the service. This was to make sure they could meet people’s needs. Health care professionals were involved in people’s care. People were encouraged to live a healthy life. Consent to care was obtained according to the person’s wishes.

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’s care needs had been assessed by the provider, prior to the person beginning to use the service. People’s care plans outlined their needs including their likes and preferences. Care needs assessments were reviewed on a regular basis. This meant people could be confident their needs were being met.

Staff and leaders told us they carried out comprehensive assessments of people’s care needs. This was to make sure they could meet their needs.

The provider worked well with partners, for example, the local authority. The local authority made regular visits to the service and feedback was always positive.

The provider had an effective care planning/review process in place. People’s needs were recorded in detail. Care plans were update when needs changed. This meant people could be confident that the provider prioritised their needs.

People’s care plans had input from other professionals, such as the speech and language therapist. This meant that people could be confident that their communication needs could be met. Relatives told us they were happy with the input from health care professionals.

Staff told us they have regular discussions with the managers about people’s needs. Staff said they received regular guidance about meeting people’s needs.

The provider had an effective system to provide people with care and support. Care plans reviewed outlined who had been involved in the person’s care. For example, care notes showed the speech and language therapist was involved in people’s care and support.

Relatives told us the staff worked well together.

Staff and leaders told us they work well together. Staff said they felt confident about meeting people’s care needs. They attended appointments with people to ensure they received and recorded the right information.

Feedback from health care professionals was very positive about how well the team worked in the service.

The provider had an effective system to ensure staff teams worked well together. Regular meetings were held for staff to come together and discuss concerns or to learn from each other. Staff had regular opportunities to share their experiences

Relatives told us they had some issues with how food was being prepared. The service was working closely with the family and health care professionals to resolve any concerns they had.

Staff and leaders told us they promoted a healthy lifestyle. For example, people were encouraged to do some exercises and eat fresh fruit and vegetables.

Health care professionals spoke positively about how the service worked to support people to live a healthy life.

The provider encouraged people to live a healthy life. Care planning and reviews showed people had access to health care professionals when needed. Health outcomes were recorded, and improvements were measured. This meant people could be assured that their health was a priority.

Relatives told us they were happy with the care that was provided. They said they were involved in people’s care plans and understood the aims and achievements.

Staff told us people had goals set out in their care plans. Staff described how they were promoting independence. For example, putting in place a programme around personal care. This enabled a person to learn to do some of their own personal care and not depend on staff support.

Outcomes were routinely monitored by staff. There was a process in place to ensure care plans were regularly reviewed. This meant people could achieve their goals and aspirations.

People were asked to give their consent for care and support. People’s care files contained evidence of consent forms and if a person lacked capacity a best interest decision meeting was held to support them to decide.

Staff told us they always asked for consent when supporting someone with care and support. A staff member said, “If a person does not want a shower, then we wait until they are ready. We let people know what we are doing and check with them if it is okay.”

The provider had an effective clear process in place for obtaining consent to care from people using the service. Care plans reviewed showed consent was obtained from people and relatives. Consent from people who may lack capacity was obtained following the principles on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Documentation was up to date and in line with legislation.