Strode Park House

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to good.

This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

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 always treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. Staff treated colleagues from other organisations with kindness and respect.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to people being treated with dignity and respect.

We saw positive interactions with people. For example, with a person who was non-verbal. A staff member approached her, and her beaming smile and gestures clearly demonstrated how pleased she was to see the staff member.

We received positive feedback from people and relatives around the kindness of staff and how they took time to get to know them, their needs and preferences.

One relative told us, "He wants to stay there as the dignity and respect he feels from the care staff I can’t put it any other way." Another relative told us, "I would say that the staff are welcoming and kind. It’s a huge place and they also say, ‘hi [Name]’ and hold her hand as she goes by. I can FaceTime at various points of the day. There are no secrets as the managers are always available. I wish [Name] had gone there a long time sooner”.

The provider treated people as individuals and made sure people’s care, support and treatment met people’s needs and preferences. They took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to people’s choices and preferences being reflected in their care plans.

People were involved in decisions about their care and support. Care plans were person-centred and reflected people’s individual needs and their protected characteristics.

Relatives told us, "[Relative] looks pleased being there. She loves a gossip and the general chitchat as when they’re doing something to her, they chat and she’s beaming and really engaged. She looks at the clock to see if I’m visiting and they talk about that and know about our holidays. She’s not just sat watching telly and now as they do more of arts and crafts and cooking which she didn’t do but is doing now." Relatives also told us, "The care [my relative] gets has been excellent and he’s come out of his shell, he is talking again."

The provider promoted people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to the home not always promoting people’s independence and not always knowing their rights and having choice over their own care.

People were supported to understand their rights and were encouraged to make choices about their care support. The home promoted independence, ensuring people had choice and control over decisions that mattered to them. People were also supported to make everyday decisions. One resident told us that they did all their own washing and ironing. A relative also told us, "She likes people there and goes out shopping and they know her."

People’s individual preferences were clearly recorded in their care plans, and staff were knowledgeable about how to support these. Care plans reflected personalised goals focused on maintaining and promoting independence, including activities and tasks people wished to undertake themselves. People were seen to be doing their own thing, having choices offered and enjoying themselves. We spoke with one person in the lounge who was very happy they were going to be watching their favourite film with their friend. People’s wishes were listened to and acted upon. For example, one person told us, they like to be outside, and staff always supported them to get outside when they wanted.

The provider listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to staff not always responding to people’s needs in the moment or acting to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.

People’s care plans included information around how to support and communicate with people.

Staff told us that they have developed strategies to help with communication for a particular person, this strategy was supported by the management and formed part of their care plan. We observed call bells being answered within an appropriate timeframe, along with staff responding to verbal requests for assistance.

Relatives told us how their loved one had formed a good bond with staff and engaged well with them. Another relative told us, "There are enough staff and I think it’s never been an issue. He looks happy enough of when I’m there and they keep looking in to see if he wants anything and he has call button that they are very responsive to."

The provider cared about and promoted the wellbeing of their staff and supported and enabled staff to always deliver person-centred care.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to the provider not always caring and promoting the wellbeing of their staff or supporting staff to deliver person-centred care. Staff told us, they had regular supervisions and appraisals, and felt well supported and happy. Staff were welcomed to join the staff council and regular meetings were held to discuss how the provider was supporting them and to make suggestions for further improvement.

The staff’s cultural needs were addressed by the management team. As some staff reported they were unable to get home often, cultural evenings and specially prepared meals were arranged. These events were inclusive for everyone at the home, and this was a positive experience for all. There were awards evenings arranged for employees, with people and staff picking the winners, who received meals and well-being vouchers.