Little Oaks Residential Home

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 is the first assessment for this care home since a change of provider on 14 October 2021. This key question has been rated Good.
 

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 and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

The provider completed initial assessments of people’s needs before they were offered a place in the home, with a manager visiting people where possible to carry out the assessment. People’s assessments considered individual risks, needs and preferences. People, their relatives and professionals were involved with the process. Staff told us they received good information about people’s needs.

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.

Staff delivered care in line with recognised good practice and up to date guidance. Care plans reflected people’s assessed needs and included information based on clinical recommendations. Staff received regular training to make sure they were kept updated with best practice guidance. The registered manager regularly audited care plan records, to identify concerns or shortfalls.

The provider 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.

Care records were detailed and person centred. People’s needs and preferences were well documented and shared with people on a need-to-know basis. During our assessment we spoke with the local GP and district nurses who regularly came to the home to support people with their health needs. Their feedback about the home was positive, the staff team were praised for how they managed and built good relationships with external teams.

A health professional told us; “I feel the communication is excellent. Each week when I arrive, I receive a handover either from the manager or a senior carer, detailing any important updates such as new [people], falls or other reasons a particular resident may need a review. I have made suggestions about equipment which the service have responded to in a very timely manner”

The team understood the importance of working with other professionals. This supported a coordinated approach to care delivery and prompted positive outcomes for 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.

Staff told us they supported people to live a healthy life, for example, assisting people to be active in the home. Activities were provided throughout the week and staff encouraged people to get involved and be active. These included daily activities such as games, arts and crafts, word puzzles, baking, music and exercise sessions, flower arranging and dedicated events such as cheese and wine tasting. The service had organised various outings and the most recent one had been to visit a local garden centre where people chose plants and vegetable seeds for the garden. People were involved in planting and maintaining these on the terrace for everyone to enjoy.

There were weekly exercise classes provided to people from an external professional. The activity lead had implemented “Wellbeing Wednesdays” for people to engage in a tranquil space set up in a dining room using dimmed lights, calming music and light projectors whilst people enjoyed foot soaks and hand massages. Meals provided were nutritious and freshly cooked each day and people were encouraged to eat a healthy balanced diet. People were supported to maintain contact with family and friends. Digital equipment was made available for people if they wanted to contact family who were unable to visit or lived further away. People who were at risk of isolation were encouraged to be active and join in activities.

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

Monitoring records demonstrated when any concerns regarding a persons’ health were identified, action had been taken to seek support from relevant professionals. Staff maintained records of care they had provided. Records were in place to monitor people’s nutrition and hydration, people’s level of distress and people’s skin conditions. People gave positive feedback about their care. Staff were proactive in meeting people’s individual dietary and mobility needs to promote good outcomes.

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

Capacity assessments and best interest decisions records were in place when needed to ensure the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) was applied in line with requirements. MCA and best interest decisions, where people lacked capacity to consent to restrictions, had been carried out. We observed that the template used by the provider was inconsistent and the registered manager advised they were reviewing this and looking to implement an improved version. Staff had completed relevant training in this area and were able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of the MCA including the importance of gaining consent from people.