Blythe Rose Care Home Also known as 1-12948766437

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.

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 made sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices and they decided, in partnership with people, how to respond to any relevant changes in people’s needs.

Care plans were largely person centred and contained good levels of detail about people’s preferences, risks and how support should be delivered. Care plans described clear, compassionate approaches to care, including step‑by‑step guidance on supporting eating and drinking, recognising pain in people who could not verbalise this, and identifying triggers with graded interventions. Cultural and religious preferences were detailed, and staff facilitated these in practice, such as supporting a person who enjoys talking about her religion by engaging in conversations about their beliefs. Staff demonstrated strong knowledge of people. One relative said, “Staff know people well. They know what triggers [the person] and causes distress. They bother to do the little things… like get [the person] eyes tested or have a dental check.”

The provider understood the diverse health and care needs of people and their local communities, so care was joined-up, flexible and supported choice and continuity.

The service worked closely with a range of health professionals, including specialist nurses and therapy teams, to ensure people received timely and appropriate support, with families involved in discussions where appropriate. Staffing levels were adjusted according to people’s dependency and risk, and rotas showed continuity within teams to ensure there was continuity for people. One relative told us, “They put on extra staff to manage [the person] settling in… staff are flexible and the support is there. [The person] is safe here.” Regular staff worked consistently on specific areas, building strong relationships with people, while also being trained to work in other areas of the home when needed. Where agency staff were used, leaders recognised the risks and ensured experienced staff were always on shift to maintain continuity. Managers shared their ambitions to move towards an agency‑free workforce however due to their remote location this was a challenge they were trying to overcome.

The provider supplied appropriate, accurate and up-to-date information in formats that were tailored to individual needs.

Each person received a personalised communication assessment before admission, considering spoken language, understanding, non‑verbal cues and preferred times for receiving information, which informed bespoke communication plans within care records. Staff understood how to access and share information, and a bank staff member told us, “A handover takes place at the start of each shift, so I am always aware of what is going on. I’m in contact with the nurses and clinical leads and very up to date on training.” The service used a range of approaches to support understanding, including sensory cues such as familiar breakfast aromas to signal daily routines, large‑print materials, talking books and interpreters when needed.

The provider did not always make it easy for people to share feedback and ideas, or raise complaints about their care, treatment and support. Staff did not always involve people in decisions about their care or tell them what had changed as a result.

Families gave mixed feedback about communication following incidents; while some felt well informed, others said they were not always updated and had to chase for responses. One relative told us, “When you do raise concerns… they say they are investigating, or getting back to you, but never do,” and another said the manager was, “Often busy and can’t meet with us or return calls.”

However, there were positive examples of people being listened to and involved. People and relatives described concerns being acted on, such as equipment being repaired and care plans updated following discussions. One person said, “They do listen to you… they spoke to the manufacturer to get my chair fixed,” and a relative explained concerns about a soft diet were addressed, resulting in clearer guidance and improved meals. Regular resident and family meetings took place, including remote options, and minutes showed actions were discussed and followed up.

The provider made sure that people could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it.

People had regular access to healthcare, with a GP visiting weekly and opportunities to speak with them as needed. People were supported to access some community facilities and activities, including local shops, garden centres and a weekly walking group, with increased opportunities during warmer months. However, some people, relatives and staff felt that access to a minibus would improve opportunities for wider community engagement and day trips. One staff member commented, “People would benefit from day trips… we don’t have access to the wider community, we go for walks around the estate.” The manager acknowledged this and explained they were focusing on accessible local options while exploring future opportunities. The service operated an open visiting policy, enabling families to remain involved. People were supported to go out into the community independently with relatives.

Staff and leaders actively listened to information about people who are most likely to experience inequality in experience or outcomes and tailored their care, support and treatment in response to this.

Cultural and religious needs were identified before admission and clearly communicated to all staff, including bank and kitchen staff. For example, a person who followed a vegetarian diet for religious reasons was appropriately supported, with staff taking responsibility to ensure this need was consistently met. Staff demonstrated a strong understanding of people’s backgrounds and beliefs. One staff member described supporting two people with different religions, stating, “One likes to pray and only eats vegetarian food… for another person we recently celebrated Diwali and tried to get snacks related to these celebrations.” People were encouraged to express their identity through their choice of clothing, room decoration and personal interests, and religious and cultural festivals were celebrated throughout the year.

People were supported to plan for important life changes, so they could have enough time to make informed decisions about their future, including at the end of their life.

We found the service ensured essential paperwork, such as Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) or Recommended Summary for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) forms, was in place, although conversations about wider end of life wishes had not always consistently been held with people or their representatives. One relative stated they had discussed a DNAR decision for their loved one but not wider end of life wishes. Where discussions had happened, families told us they were handled sensitively. Health professionals described end of life care at the service as, “Very good.” Care staff and nurses received relevant end of life training, and spoke about preparing families for what to expect and signposting them to support such as Macmillan. Relatives told us staff kept them informed about changes in health, and one person said the home contacted their spouse to discuss end‑of‑life care when their condition changed. One family member wrote to the service describing the end of life care their relative received as, “Exceptional” and said they were comforted knowing they had been well cared for.