Ark Forth Valley

1. To support people’s health and wellbeing, the provider should ensure health documentation is accurate, up to date, and follows current best practice guidance. This should include, but is not limited to, guidance on when to administer all ‘as-required’ medications; recording the result of ‘as-required’ medications, and body-maps to inform the use of topical medications. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which states that: 'Any treatment or intervention that I experience is safe and effective' (HSCS 1.24) and 'I experience high quality care and support because people have the necessary information and resources' (HSCS 4.27).

2. To support people’s health and wellbeing, the provider should consider all aspects of future care planning, to help ensure the service can continue to offer safe and effective support if people’s needs change as they age. This should include, but is not limited to, considering any adaptations that can be made to support mobility and access (in areas where the provider has responsibility for maintaining the environment), and considering any potential training needs for staff (including but not limited to dementia awareness training). This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which states that: 'My future care and support needs are anticipated as part of my assessment' (HSCS 1.14) and 'I am supported and cared for sensitively by people who anticipate issues and are aware of and plan for any known vulnerability or frailty' (HSCS 3.18).

1. To support people’s independence and skills, the provider should ensure support staff take a consistent approach where people’s opportunities are promoted. This should include, but is not limited to, strengthening team work and communication, and supporting people with agreed and defined goals. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which states that: 'My care and support is consistent and stable because people work together well' (HSCS 3.19) and 'I am confident that people are encouraged to be innovative in the way they support and care for me' (HSCS 4.25).

2. To support consistency, team work and communication, the provider should consider leadership capacity to ensure a regular leadership presence throughout all service areas. This should include but is not limited to, regular opportunities to meet with staff in services, monitor staff practice, carry out auditing and quality assurance activities, and get feedback from people using the service. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which states that: 'I benefit from a culture of continuous improvement, with the organisation having robust and transparent quality assurance processes' (HSCS 4.19) and 'I use a service and organisation that are well led and managed' (HSCS 4.23).