Compassionate 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.

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 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’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

People’s care documentation was reviewed regularly and amendments made when people’s needs changed.

Staff told us they were kept updated with people’s needs when they came onto shift. A staff member commented, “I receive handovers at the beginning of every shift. We are informed of any changes so everyone knows how to support each person best."

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.

The provider worked closely with people and relevant healthcare professionals to develop person-centred care plans and risk assessments. This helped ensure staff had the information they needed to deliver personalised care and support, reflecting people's individual needs and promoting positive outcomes.

People’s preferences and goals were included in their plans. One person we spoke with told us, “These [Staff] have helped me. I think if I was in own place I’d have used [substances] or be dead.”

A visiting professional told us, “They [the provider] is receptive to recommendations that I have suggested and work collaboratively with other professionals to provide safe, person-centred care."

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.

Records confirmed partnership working took place across different organisations to support people in achieving positive outcomes. People and relatives were positive about the care and support provided.

Relatives, staff and professionals commented positively on the communication between one another and described this as effective. One relative told us, “Very good communication, they take my concerns seriously.”While a visiting professional commented, “They are responsive and communicate reliably and effectively to help meet the person’s needs, whether that be responding to an issue around their health, finances or any specific accommodation issues.”

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.

Staff understood how to support people to maintain their health and wellbeing. They encouraged people to make healthy food choices and take part in activities which promoted positive health outcomes.

People we spoke with told us staff cooked 1 main meal daily and they managed the rest of their meals and drinks with staff support throughout the day. One person told us how staff supported them to go to the shops.

People’s care records reflected activities they enjoyed and wished to participate in which supported their health and wellbeing. Staff encouraged and supported people to engage in these activities. Where appropriate, people were also supported to manage their alcohol consumption in line with agreed plans, with staff providing guidance and encouragement to help them make informed and positive choices.

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.

The provider routinely monitored people's care and treatment to identify changes in need and support positive outcomes. Systems were in place to review people's care and ensure support remained responsive to their needs.

Regular reviews were completed to monitor people's progress and any changes in their health and wellbeing. Staff told us they observed and reported changes in people's needs. For example, people's weights were monitored and concerns were escalated appropriately when required.

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

People were encouraged and supported to make their own choices about their care and treatment and people’s ability to make decisions was considered and where appropriate, relevant Mental Capacity Act (MCA) assessments had been completed. Although MCA assessments were in place, these were not always decision-specific with all information and decisions combined into one overarching assessment of capacity.

The MCA 2005 provides a legal framework for making specific decisions on behalf of people who may lack mental capacity. Where people could not make a decision, best interests meetings and decisions had been completed to ensure decisions were appropriate and least restrictive. In some cases, restrictions were required to keep people safe and were applied lawfully.

Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act and told us how they would assume capacity unless otherwise proven.