Sunbury Nursing Homes

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.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.

This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 71 (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. However, we identified that care plans did not always fully reflect protocols or associated risks for people’s health conditions.

We found seizure management protocols for epilepsy and information about the risks associated with blood-thinning medicines were not consistently documented within care plans. This meant staff may not always have had access to consistent written guidance about how to respond to seizures or manage risks associated with blood-thinning medicines.

However, staff demonstrated an understanding of people’s needs and were able to describe actions they would take in the event of a seizure or when concerns arose. Following the assessment the provider updated care plans to ensure guidance was available to staff.

However, the provider completed assessments of people’s health, care, wellbeing and communication needs. These included assessment tools to identify and monitor people’s physical health, such as wound care and skin integrity. Staff also demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs and preferences.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. They planned and delivered care in line with current evidence-based guidance and recognised good practice.
Care plans reflected people’s individual needs, preferences, life histories and what was important to them. People were encouraged to make choices about their care. Where appropriate, relatives and healthcare professionals were involved in care planning and review processes.
People’s nutrition and hydration needs were assessed and monitored in accordance with recognised guidance. For example, one person had recently been assessed by healthcare professionals due to swallowing difficulties. As a result, the person was provided with a modified diet as recommended.

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.
Leaders and staff worked with other healthcare professionals to ensure people’s needs were understood and consistently met. Staff had access to information required to deliver personalised care and support. The provider operated a structured staffing rota to specific areas of the home where possible. This enabled staff to build relationships with people, develop an understanding of their needs and deliver consistent care.
There were clear systems for sharing relevant information when required. For example, one person received yearly checks of their pacemaker. There were also regular blood tests, and healthcare professionals completed medicines reviews when results indicated this was required. This approach ensured people received care from a range of professionals.
Staff completed shift handovers to share information about people’s health and any changes in their needs. Leaders routinely reviewed the day’s events to discuss concerns in advance of the next day. This ensured information was effectively communicated between staff and care for people was consistent.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to maintain their health, wellbeing and independence.

Care plans contained clear information about people’s health conditions and support needs, enabling staff to provide effective support. Staff monitored people’s nutrition and hydration needs and took appropriate action when concerns were identified. Where people were at risk of dehydration or weight loss, food and fluid charts were implemented and reviewed. We saw staff encouraged people to maintain adequate fluid intake and supported them with eating and drinking when required.

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They monitored people's care and treatment to help ensure outcomes remained effective and reflected people's needs and preferences.

Care plans were regularly reviewed to monitor people’s care and treatment to ensure it remained effective and responsive to people’s changing needs. For example, one person receiving end of life care developed a wound that required regular assessment and monitoring. Staff worked in partnership with healthcare professionals and maintained detailed records as the wound healed. Care records also showed staff supporting the person with repositioning to prevent further damage to their skin.

Staff completed checks during the night in line with people’s assessed needs. These enabled staff to monitor people’s health and safety. One person told us, “They do check up on me at night – they’ll ask if I would like a cup of tea.”

The provider supported people to understand their rights around consent and staff respected people's decisions when delivering care and treatment.

Care records contained detailed information about people’s communication needs. These provided clear guidance for staff on how people preferred to communicate, and adjustments required to support people to make decisions.

Staff understood the importance of seeking consent before providing care and support. They gave examples of how they supported people to make choices throughout the day. We observed staff explaining care options in a way people could understand, providing reassurance and respecting people’s choices.