Greenfields 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.

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 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.

People's needs were assessed before and throughout their time at Greenfields Care Home to ensure care remained safe, effective and person-centred. Assessments considered people's physical health, mental health, communication needs, mobility, nutrition, risks and personal preferences. Care plans were detailed, regularly reviewed and provided clear guidance for staff on how to support people safely whilst promoting their independence.

The service used a range of assessment tools to monitor and respond to changing needs, including assessments relating to nutrition, falls, skin integrity, moving and handling, choking risks and dependency levels. Where specialist support was required, referrals were made to healthcare professionals and guidance was incorporated into care plans to support consistent care delivery.

People's histories, routines, preferences and goals were used to inform care planning. Care plans included detailed information about what was important to people, how they preferred to receive support and the outcomes they wished to achieve. One person’s care plan focused on maintaining independence with personal care and making daily choices about routines and clothing.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people's assessed needs and observations showed staff were generally able to describe risks, preferences and support requirements well. Relatives we spoke with were positive about the home's understanding of their relative’s needs. One relative told us, "Staff are trained well in how to support someone with dementia."

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 received care and treatment based on current best practice and specialist advice. Care plans incorporated guidance from professionals such as GPs, dietitians, speech and language therapists (SaLT), district nurses and mental health teams, helping staff deliver safe and consistent care.

The service used recognised assessment tools to monitor areas including nutrition, falls, choking risks, skin integrity and frailty. Electronic systems also prompted staff to complete key interventions, such as repositioning, hydration and oral care, helping to identify concerns early and reduce the risk of deterioration.

We found positive examples of evidence-based practice being used to improve outcomes. For example, referrals were made when people's swallowing needs changed, resulting in specialist diets and support being introduced to reduce choking risks. Staff also worked closely with healthcare professionals to monitor long-term conditions and respond to changing needs.

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 worked effectively with each other and external professionals to support people's health, wellbeing and safety. Regular multidisciplinary meetings took place involving GPs, pharmacists, mental health professionals and other healthcare specialists, enabling people's needs to be reviewed and changes acted upon promptly.

Communication systems supported effective joint working. Electronic care records, handovers and task alerts helped staff share information about people's needs, risks and care requirements. Staff described a supportive culture where units worked together and provided assistance when required.

There was evidence of strong partnership working with healthcare services. Records showed timely referrals and ongoing involvement from professionals including district nurses, speech and language therapists, dietitians, opticians and community healthcare teams. This helped ensure care remained responsive to people's changing needs and reduced the risk of avoidable hospital admissions.

Relatives we spoke with were positive about communication and collaborative working. One relative told us, "They usually ring and check with relatives if they need to get health professionals," and another relative told us, "If anything goes wrong, they are quick to contact us."

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 maintain and improve their health through regular monitoring, timely access to healthcare professionals and personalised care planning.

Care records evidenced ongoing monitoring of areas such as nutrition, hydration, weight, skin integrity, bowel health and long-term medical conditions. Where concerns were identified, referrals were made and specialist advice was incorporated into care planning to promote positive outcomes and reduce the risk of deterioration.

People were very complimentary around the food available within the home. One person told us, “The food is very good. Good home-made food.” A relative told us, “Staff encourage and try different things for her.”

There were positive examples of preventative healthcare. Staff identified changes in people's health, including swallowing difficulties, and worked with specialists to ensure appropriate support was put in place. Relatives we spoke with told us staff were proactive in seeking healthcare support.

People were also supported to maintain their independence and wellbeing. One person told us, "They do let me do what I can do for myself. I like to be independent." Care plans reflected people's preferences, routines and personal goals, helping to promote both physical and emotional wellbeing.

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.

The service had effective systems in place to monitor people's health, wellbeing and care outcomes. Staff used electronic care records, health monitoring tools and routine observations to identify changes in people's needs and ensure appropriate action was taken.

Staff demonstrated a proactive approach to identifying deterioration and making timely referrals, helping to reduce avoidable hospital admissions and promote positive outcomes for people.

Relatives we spoke with were positive about how the service responded to changing needs. One relative told us, "If they think something isn't right, they question it, but they keep us informed," reflecting a culture of ongoing monitoring and review.

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

People were supported to make choices and decisions about their care wherever possible. Care plans reflected people's preferences, routines and wishes, with staff encouraging people to remain involved in day-to-day decisions such as meals, activities, personal care and daily routines.

Records showed consent was considered throughout care planning, with decision-specific assessments and best interest processes used when required. Care plans clearly identified where people were able to make their own decisions and where additional support or involvement from representatives was needed.

Relatives we spoke with all told us they were involved in important decisions about care and treatment. One relative told us, "We can very much make suggestions, and they will act on it."

During the inspection we observed staff routinely offering choices around food, drinks and daily activities, adapting their communication to help people express their wishes and preferences. Staff demonstrated an understanding of the importance of involving people in decisions and promoting choice wherever possible.