The Lodge

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 did not assess this key question, at our assessment published 14 August 2019 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 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.

Needs assessments were undertaken with the input of people using the service, and their representatives, where appropriate. A relative said about the assessment process, “We were consulted every step of the way.”

The needs assessments were used to inform the care plans and risk assessments, which were kept under review, as people’s needs and preferences changed.

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 care plans and risk assessments included industry recognised assessments to assist the management team to identify potential risks and put measures in place to reduce them. This included people’s hydration and nutrition needs.

People were provided with their choice of food and drink during our visits, and records demonstrated people were provided with fluids to reduce the risks of dehydration. A person told us, “Nothing to complain about on the food, it is hot, get plenty of drinks, I am not backwards in coming forward if I want one.” There were jugs of drink people could help themselves to. Records showed people’s fluid intake was monitored to ensure they were receiving enough to drink each day. Where people were at risk of malnutrition, their food intake was being monitored and encouragement provided where needed.

During our visits, the weather was hot, we saw people being offered a platter of fresh fruit and ice lollies to choose from, as well and regular drinks to keep them hydrated.

Catering staff told us they were kept updated regarding people’s specific dietary needs and they were able to tell us about these. There were records available to the catering staff which identified people’s needs, including textures of food as recommended by the Speech and Language Therapy team (SALT). A person told us about their specific dietary needs and how these were being met.

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.

Staff told us they worked well together. A staff member said, “I really enjoy caring for the residents and working alongside a dedicated team.” The management team told us how they worked well with other professionals involved in people’s care. This was evidenced from documented outcomes to referrals made to, for example, health care professionals when the staff had concerns about a person’s wellbeing. A health care professional told us, “[Staff] always escalate any concerns.”

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 told us they had access to health professionals when needed. A person said, “Seen the doctor, optician came here, seen chiropodist, no dentist.” Another person told us, “I have seen the nurse.” A relative said, “[Family member] regularly sees the chiropodist and the doctor when necessary.” They told us how they had been present when their family member had been supported by the district nurse, “Whilst the nurse impressed me with [their] thoroughness and care whilst treating [family member]. I left there that day, like most, thinking [family member] was being well looked after.”

Records showed when people had accessed health professionals, the outcomes were recorded as well as guidance received. This included providing a high calorie diet for people to maintain and healthy weight. Records showed when people had needed to see a dentist, a member of the management team had arranged for people to see one, if they did not have an existing dentist.

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.

People’s weights were kept under review and referrals made to a dietician where people were losing weight. Guidance was documented to ensure people received the support they required to gain weight, where required.

The management team worked in partnership with the GP surgery to monitor people’s health and identify any concerns to ensure they received the support they required. A staff member told us how they met with a member of the GP surgery team and the district nursing team to discuss people’s wellbeing and identify any actions they could take to achieve good outcomes for people.

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

The service was working in line with The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), which 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’s mental capacity had been assessed, and records showed when people had capacity, they had consented to the care provided. Support people had received relating to decisions made in their best interests, when they lacked capacity, were documented.

We saw staff asked for people’s consent before providing any support.