Strode Park House

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 inadequate. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

At our last inspection we found the provider was in breach of legal regulation in relation to consent. At this inspection, enough improvements had been made, and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation.

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. Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to people needs being assessed prior to them moving into the home and people’s care plans needing more personalised information. We viewed people’s care plans and case tracked people to ensure that people’s care plans reflected people’s health and care needs. Care plans were regularly audited to ensure information was up to date and relevant.

Staff told us, "The care plans are up to date now, they have everything in there, I review them. We are good at recognising when people need outside help, all the staff talk to me and we make referrals quickly."

People told us, "Yes had quite a few meetings and feel my care needs are fully met." A relative said, "I haven’t been involved with writing the care plan, but I speak a lot with staff. I requested the care plan and looked through it, and it’s covered most of things and I’ll follow up with a key worker." Community healthcare professionals told us, "The staff at Strode Park are supportive and nursing staff also took part in providing training to the new care team as part of an MDT training package which was held at Strode Park."

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.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to the detail of information recorded in people’s care plans. We saw information for staff, recognising hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia, the signs to look for and when medical support is necessary. People had regular weights and staff monitored this. Staff told us, "I record everyone’s weights, we monitor this very closely. Care plans contained guidelines from professionals around people’s food and fluid intake and we saw these were followed. Nationally recognised assessment tools were used. Relatives told us, "The physical care is good. The catheter care is good and there’s an activity coordinator who plays board games." Relatives also told us how the clinical team are working with them to try to get adaptive equipment to improve their loved one’s quality of life.

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.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to effective communication between services to ensure continuity of medical and care support. We saw referrals to community healthcare professionals within people’s care plans. There was effective communication between teams and services. Community healthcare professionals told us, "The home manager supported us to enable the nursing team to provide training, and provided a suitable room for training and ensured that the nurse who knew the client best delivered the training."

Staff told us, "Really enjoying the role so far, others are helpful." Staff also told us, "Others are always happy to help. It is a good place for teamwork."

Relatives also told us, "I have seen improvements, like documentation since many months ago they’ve improved. They’re recording things properly so it’s not an issue as they refer to records if I ask anything, so I feel satisfied."

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.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to people being able to access the equipment they needed. We saw people had their Capillary Blood Glucose checked regularly and actioned if necessary. We saw evidence in people's care plans that they were supported to do their exercise routines. We saw evidence in peoples care plans of good pressure care. People told us, they liked the food and their diabetic dietary needs were met. Relatives told us, "He is cared for far better and his skin and hair look better. I can’t praise them enough." Another relative told us, "I’ve been impressed with the therapist who’s just been taken on and works with the external Physiotherapist as she does exercises with [Name] first thing in the morning as she has to do exercises in bed, so they have been proactive."

The GP visited weekly to review people’s health needs. The home worked alongside community healthcare professionals to ensure people had the right support when they needed. Community health care professionals told us, "In terms of basic care I am very satisfied that, from what little contact I have with the number of residents, their standard of care is good. My clients are always clean, ready for their sessions and I can easily obtain up to date information from the appropriate staff regarding any recent changes in health or medical interventions. I receive regular communication form the in-house OT and she works in a collaborative and thoughtful way with me at all times."

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.

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to people health needs being monitored, but not always reviewed and goals and outcomes not always recorded. Evidence was seen in people's care plans for PEG feed care and tube flushing. People had specific care plans for these. People had their diet and nutritional needs recorded within their care plans, as well as any emotional wellbeing needs. We saw evidence of the home supporting people with applying for certain finances such as benefits. Care plan’s had SMART goal framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) plans in to measure people’s engagement and to tailor activities for people. Staff had specific training to meet people's need such as chest physio and staff were trained by the physio. Relatives told us, "Strode Park House has been a huge improvement for him." Another relative told us, "It’s been a bit of a blessing for his quality of life

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

Previous areas requiring improvement identified at the last inspection had been met in respect to the detail of information recorded in people’s care plans around consent and best interests.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. The MCA requires that, as far as possible, people make their own decisions and are helped to do so when needed. When they lack mental capacity to take particular decisions, any made on their behalf must be in their best interests and as least restrictive as possible. People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the MCA. In care homes, and some hospitals, this is usually through MCA application procedures called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). DOLs had been applied for and was monitored to ensure they remained relevant for individuals. There was a DoLS tracker in place and MCA assessments had taken place. Staff had specific training in MCA and DoLS. Staff were knowledgeable about the MCA and we observed staff asking for people’s consent throughout the day. People’s care plans contained information around specific decisions.