Walton 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 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 did not always make sure people’s care and treatment was effective because they did not always check and discuss people’s health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. Assessments of people’s needs were not always clear, accurate or contained contradictory information. For example, one person’s records was lacking in person centred information. Their care plan and risk assessments lacked detail about any distressed behaviours and did not provide adequate strategies to guide staff on how to prevent or respond to signs of agitation in an agreed, person-centred way. Other people’s support plans did not contain information about known risks, which meant it was not clear what support they required. Staff were familiar with people’s needs and acted when there were changes, which reduced the risks to people.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. The provider used tools such as the IDDSI scale (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative). IDDSI documents the degree to which people’s food and drink needs to be modified, by pureeing or thickening, to ensure it can be swallowed safely. Records, including the care plan included this information.

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.

We found communication with healthcare professionals was documented in people’s care plans. This meant that staff could see any professional visitors that had been, or any changes that had been implemented by health care partners.

People’s relatives told us the staff team always kept them informed about any healthcare appointments. Staff had access to people’s care and support plans to understand people’s needs and deliver their care.

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.

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 supported to access a range of professionals including doctors, occupational therapists and dentists. Staff knew people well and were able to quickly identify if people may be experiencing any new health or wellbeing issues. Records showed staff acted in a timely manner to address concerns.

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured outcomes were positive and consistent, and they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

People had a good experience of living at the service and told us they enjoyed being there. One person told us they loved going shopping. Another person told us how they used to play cricket for a local team and how they now liked ice hockey and were looking forward to going to watch a game.

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

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. Staff understood the importance of seeking people's consent. This was included in management observations of staff practice. Appropriate referrals were made to advocacy services.