Royal Windsor Care Home

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.

This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated 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.

People’s needs were assessed to support the delivery of personalised care. Assessments were completed prior to people moving into the service to ensure their needs could be met and to support compatibility with other people living there. One relative told us, “We visited several [care homes], but this one stood out. My [family member] took special interest in the chef.” People and their relatives were involved in discussions about their care and ongoing needs. One relative said, “Yes, I was involved in [my family member's] care plan and I’m kept fully informed of any developments.”

Staff told us they were expected to read care plans and keep themselves informed of people's needs.

Care and treatment was delivered in line with people’s needs and current good practice. Staff demonstrated a strong understanding of how to support people with a range of health conditions and worked effectively with external professionals to ensure care remained appropriate. One relative told us, “Most [staff] are very competent, and understand the way Parkinson’s and dementia affect [my family member's] life and their care.”

Training supported staff to deliver care in line with good practice, including areas such as nutrition and supporting people living with dementia.

Records and recognised tools were used to monitor people’s health and identify risks. Care plans and associated records tracked changes in people’s condition, including areas such as hydration and skin integrity. This supported early identification of concerns and timely action.

Staff worked together to support people’s needs and ensure care was delivered in a coordinated way. Staff described effective communication within teams and an expectation to remain up to date with people’s needs. One relative told us, “They can’t do enough for [my family member] – very supportive, very friendly.”

Staff told us they supported each other during shifts to respond to people’s needs, particularly where care was more complex. This helped ensure people received consistent support throughout the day.

Staff described regular communication systems within the service, including daily meetings and written records, which supported the sharing of key information and ensured actions were followed up.

Team working extended to collaboration with external professionals. Staff worked with community nurses and other healthcare services to review people’s needs and adapt care where required.

People were encouraged to maintain their health and wellbeing and were involved in managing their health needs. For example, one staff member used their own experience of diabetes to help a person better understand their condition, which enabled them to take greater control of their health.

People were encouraged to remain as active as possible and activities and daily routines helped maintain mobility and reduce the risk of falls. Where risks such as falls were identified, appropriate monitoring and support were in place to help people stay safe while maintaining independence.

People were supported with their nutritional needs and made aware when modified diets were required. One relative told us, “I think [my family member] looks forward to their meals even though they are [on a modified diet] because [they are] liable to choke.” Conversations were held to help people understand changes to their diet and support their involvement in decisions. Kitchen staff demonstrated awareness of people’s dietary needs and worked alongside care staff to ensure these were followed. Staff worked closely with other professionals, including community health services, to review and adapt care as needed. One relative told us, “The speech and language therapy team are always happy to support.” This meant people received care that responded effectively to their changing needs.

People and their relatives spoke positively about how health needs were supported. One relative told us, "[My family member is] quite settled. [They] came here when discharged from hospital. They had lost a lot of confidence and really couldn’t look after themselves safely. We knew the place and we knew [staff] were very supportive, [and my family member] would be safe.”

People’s health and wellbeing were monitored and reviewed to ensure care remained effective. Information recorded in care plans and daily records was used to identify changes in people’s needs and take appropriate action. Staff knew people well and were able to recognise when they were not themselves or when there were subtle signs of deterioration. This supported early identification of concerns and timely responses. Where concerns were identified, staff acted promptly to ensure people received the support they needed. This included seeking support from health professionals and, where appropriate, arranging urgent or emergency care to keep people safe and well.

People experienced improvements in their health and wellbeing over time. For example, a person had been admitted following a period of ill health and the support provided helped them regain confidence and independence, enabling them to return home successfully rather than remain in long-term care.

People experienced consistent support as their needs changed. Feedback from people and their relatives was positive. One relative told us, “No regrets at all. My [family member] likes it, the staff are very supportive.” This indicated care continued to meet people’s needs over time.

There was a positive approach to supporting people to give consent to care and treatment. People were supported to make their own decisions and staff respected people’s rights to make unwise decisions. Conversations were held to help people understand risks and make informed choices

Staff demonstrated an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the importance of involving people in decision-making. Where people lacked capacity to make specific decisions, mental capacity assessments had been completed where appropriate, and people and those important to them were involved in the decision-making process. Staff supported people in a way that respected their preferences and promoted choice and control.