Wisteria House Residential Home - Rutland

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.

People told us they were aware of their care plans and had been involved in developing them. One person said their plan also included their end‑of‑life wishes, including decisions about resuscitation. A relative told us, “[The registered manager] updates me about [family member], just to have a catch‑up.”

The registered manager explained that care plan reviews were used as an opportunity to speak with people and relatives, adding that most families felt reassured because both they and their loved one were happy with the care provided. They said, “I’ve been here 26 years. I love my residents, all of them I know them very well.”

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.

People’s nutritional needs were assessed and met, and staff ensured people had enough to eat and drink. People spoke positively about the meals and the choice available to them. Comments included: “I’ve not yet found anything I wouldn’t want to eat. I do eat a lot, so I get bigger portions.” “It’s all cooked well. I like to have lunch and tea downstairs unless there’s sport on the TV, then I can have tea in my room.” “The [Owner] comes here every day and has a meal, the same menu as residents and talks with them.”

Most people ate their own meals and drinks independently, some required support with cutting up their food.

Nationally recognised tools appropriate to assess and monitor people’s needs. For example, the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) was used to identify people from risk of malnutrition.

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.

People and their relatives told us there was effective communication between the staff team and visiting health professionals. One person said staff were, “more attentive to my (medical condition).”

Staff also reported good communication within their own team, supported by thorough handovers and regular contact with health professionals to ensure people’s needs were understood and acted upon.

Professionals told us that staff followed the advice provided and worked collaboratively with external teams. One professional said, “All advice given is taken, we are involved with key decisions as are the GP practice. I would like to say that the care given by staff is exemplary which means that we have minimal referrals for wound care and pressure sores.” Another professional shared, “Overall, the care home staff work collaboratively with us and respect our clinical input, helping to ensure residents receive personalised and consistent care. This collaborative approach helps ensure decisions are holistic, patient-centred, and in line with the resident’s needs and preferences.”

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.

People were encouraged to take part in exercise sessions that supported their health and wellbeing. One person told us, “An activities coordinator comes here every fortnight and does some exercises. I like it, and it keeps everything working.” A relative said, “The place is a godsend, it keeps the elderly population moving. [Person] says it’s like a hotel.” Some people were also supported to access exercise opportunities in the community, helping them maintain independence, social connections and routines that were important to them.

Staff supported people to live healthier lives and took action when they noticed changes in a person’s health. The registered manager described how one person had been experiencing frequent involuntary movements that affected their ability to eat and sleep. Staff sought medical advice, and following input from the GP and health professionals, the person’s symptoms and sleep improved, and they gained weight. The nurse later discharged them but remained available for re‑referral if needed.

One professional told us, “Staff are fully aware of all healthcare and well being needs of residents. It is a very happy homely and caring home. In all the years I have worked here I have never had any concerns.”

Another professional said, “I feel this is a very good care home. The staff know their residents well and appear very engaged with them. I often see staff encouraging residents to spend time in the lounge and participate in activities together, which helps promote social interaction and wellbeing.”

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.

Some people’s care records included outcomes such as maintaining independence, and people and their relatives told us this was reflected in day‑to‑day support. Staff described how they monitored for any signs of decline, including changes in temperature, oxygen saturation levels and blood pressure. They explained the steps they would take if they were concerned, such as speaking with the person, increasing observations, monitoring fluid intake and contacting the manager, GP or district nurses when required. Staff said the small size of the home meant they could check on people frequently, for example every 30 minutes if someone chose to stay in their room. This helped ensure any changes in health were identified and responded to promptly.

One professional shared, “The staff are well prepared and provide clear information about the needs of the resident and their family, which makes reviews efficient and effective. They also contact the surgery between ward rounds if a person becomes unwell or if additional support is needed. Overall, the communication is excellent and ensures residents receive timely and appropriate care.”

The provider did not always tell people about their rights around consent.

People’s capacity to make their own decisions had been considered. However, mental capacity assessments were not always completed where a person lacked capacity. In some cases, there was no recorded best‑interest decision, and documentation did not clearly show who had been consulted as part of the decision‑making process. This is important because clear, accurate records ensure decisions are made lawfully and in line with each person’s rights and best interests.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of respecting people’s wishes and decisions this included when a person lacked mental capacity.