SD Care Agency London

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 the best available evidence.

This was the first inspection for this newly registered service. This key question was rated good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this .

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.

The provider made sure people’s care was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them before delivering care.

Before a care worker was assigned to care for a person, a comprehensive assessment was carried out to understand people’s medical, social, support and personal care needs. This included discussing preferences, daily routines, and mobility levels to ensure a tailored care plan was developed. Families were involved in this process to provide additional insight and ensure the proposed care plan was appropriate to meet the person’s needs. The provider prioritised matching people with care workers based on gender preference, cultural background, and experience level. The registered manager told us, "We do an assessment, fill out forms, and ask what they would like from a carer." This ensured a highly personalised care approach.

The provider 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.

The provider delivered care that was aligned with best practice and tailored to people’s individual needs.

Staff were trained to follow current care guidelines, ensuring people received safe and effective support. The provider liaised with healthcare professionals such as GPs, district nurses, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists to provide evidence-based care. The provider developed care plans which were regularly reviewed and updated when people’s needs changed.

Staff were able to rely on evidence-based guidance, seek expert knowledge, and stay informed about best practice when delivering care. A staff member said, "If I have an issue or I don’t know something about a person…I can go to them and ask.”

The provider worked well with external professionals and collaborated effectively with health and social care teams to improve people’s outcomes. The provider demonstrated collaboration with a variety of external professionals, including GPs, district nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, social workers and hospitals staff. This enabled people to receive joined-up and comprehensive care. In addition to this, the provider had communication channels in place to coordinate care and manage referrals. For example, they used a system for secure communication with hospitals and GPs and ensured that any concerns were raised in a timely manner.

The provider also worked with families to ensure their involvement in care planning and making decisions. - The provider adapted care plans according to people’s feedback. The provider conducted regular audits and communicated with people to help to identify and address any issues proactively. The registered manager said, “We have to get the right bodies involved to get the right outcomes achieved.” This demonstrates how the provider actively engages with healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive care, addressing both the health and emotional needs of people.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

The provider actively encouraged healthy living choices while respecting people’s preferences.

Staff monitored if people were eating and drinking enough to identify risks related to diet or weight loss. When needed, concerns were escalated to GPs or dietitians. Additionally, staff encouraged safe and meaningful activities, such as music therapy, to support people’s overall well-being.

The registered manager told us, "If weight loss is a concern, we escalate to a GP." This approach balanced autonomy with health promotion.

The provider monitored people’s well-being and adjusted care when needed.

Staff regularly checked on people’s physical and mental health and reported any concerns to health professionals. If a person experienced weight loss, confusion, or changes in their mobility, staff raised these concerns to their GP. The provider also used feedback mechanisms to evaluate care quality and identify areas for improvement. Training and support for care workers were adapted based on people’s needs.

The registered manager stated, "We work with the GP, District Nurse, social services, SALT (Speech and Language Therapist), and OT (Occupational Therapist)." This helped provide better care by bringing together different professionals to meet the individual’s needs.

A relative said, "[The person is] actually quite a lot better than when we started having carers."

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

Care was only provided with people’s consent, and preferences were respected at all times. Staff explained care processes clearly and ensured people and families understood their rights and choices. If a person lacked mental capacity, the provider worked within legal frameworks and consulted with families to determine the best approach. Staff also encouraged people to participate in care planning, ensuring their voices were heard.

The registered manager commented, "We make sure people understand their options before making a decision about their care." This reinforced respect for autonomy. A member of staff also said, "First thing is to talk to the person, ask how they are... They might not be in the mood to do the same thing they did last time." This showed respect for people’s rights and choices.

A relative said, "There is a personal details and consent form, [the person supported] signed in April 2024." The person signed the consent form in April 2024, agreeing to their care and support and ensuring their choices were respected.