The Old Vicarage

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 was the first inspection 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 79 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service always made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by thoroughly assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. The charities Autism Practice Group (which is largely centred upon complex care services and the registered manager of the Old Vicarage is a core member) have designed and developed an Autism Quality of Life assessment tool. The assessment tool assesses 9 key areas in which a person's autism profile may impact upon their quality of life. The autism quality of life assessment tool is then used to inform care planning, risk management and service development. Using this assessment process has enabled staff to support people to make significant achievements since moving into the service. For example, reducing restrictive practices in place prior to people moving to the service. The registered manager closely monitored the autism assessment tool, which allowed them to adapt and tailor support provided to maximise outcomes in community accessibility, health and communication. For example a gentleman no longer requiring medication for diabetes (due to a healthier diet and lifestyle), Also a person had re-engaged with their religious community, which prior to their move to the Old Vicarage they had not attended for several years. People and those involved in their care took part in assessments and reviews of their care. People’s input was gathered using their preferred communication style. Due to the limitations people have around verbal communication the service has developed different ways of capturing feedback via choice making through PECS and talking mats. A staff member told us, “We use a range of ways to gather service users’ views about their care and will always go back and check they are happy.”

The service 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 found the training really supported them to provide the best care possible for the people who used the service. Staff ensured people’s health needs were monitored, and they received a nutritious diet. Staff worked in very creative ways to introduce more food types to people’s diets, and this had significantly widened the meals they enjoyed. A professional said, “The staff from the Old Vicarage generally seem to know their residents well and actively seek medical treatment or review by our surgery appropriately, so I do not have any particular concerns.”

The service 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. People were supported to live a healthy life and professionals were engaged in reviews and assessments to ensure relevant information was incorporated into people’s care plans. A professional said, “The staff are always very ‘on the ball’ and managed my client’s needs really well – very person centred and flexible. Communication is open and timely, and I have never had any concerns.”

The service supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Changes in people’s presentation, emotional state or distress which may show a deterioration in their health or wellbeing, were recognised by staff. Staff acted in a timely manner when they identified changes and escalated them to relevant professionals. People attended external appointments with reasonable adjustments being consider, planned for and communicated. This meant people had a positive experience, good outcome and their disability did not prevent them from accessing prompt care and treatment.

The service monitored all people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they fully met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. People were enabled to live their best life. Staff engaged people, used information available and asked those closest to the person about their life so the support could be tailored to the persons’ physical, social and psychological needs. A staff member told us, “I am pleased with the collective efforts and accomplishments of the four adults residing in the Vicarage. Their progress since their initial move-in is commendable. I am confident that they will continue to improve and grow.”

The service told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and associated codes of practice. They appropriately completed capacity assessments and ‘best interests’ decisions. People made their own choices and decisions on a day-to-day basis about what they did, what they ate and how they filled their time. Where people were not able to verbally communicate their choices, there were tailored communication plans for staff to follow, to ensure people were in control of their own lives.