Park Lodge 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.

People using the service were receiving effective care and treatment.

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, risks and choices were assessed and planned for. Local authority referral information and initial assessments with people and their relatives were used to create care plans which outlined people’s care and support needs, and tasks staff were required to complete. Care plans were regularly reviewed to reflect any changes in individuals needs and wishes. Care plans and assessments included information about people's histories, communication needs and how they wanted to be supported. Care records were regularly reviewed and updated as people’s needs changed, ensuring care remained responsive and consistent.

We observed how people were supported at lunch time. Where people required support from staff to eat their meals safely, we observed that support was provided appropriately and with dignity. People were offered choice of meals which looked and smelt appetising. Comments from people about the meals provided included, “I like the food here, and if I don’t like it, the staff get me something else.”, “The food here is lovely and I am sure they keep an eye on what we eat”, and ”The food is nice and plentiful.” We observed one person request and was given another meal instead of the main meal on offer.

Catering practices within the service were well organised and person-centred. The chef demonstrated a clear understanding of people’s dietary needs, including cultural preferences, allergies, and specialist diets such as diabetic or textured-modified meals. Menus were varied and nutritionally balanced, and people were encouraged to contribute ideas and feedback to ensure meals remained enjoyable and tailored to their tastes. The chef told us food was freshly prepared each day, with attention to presentation and portion size to promote dignity and appetite. Kitchen areas were clean and well maintained. The service has a food standards rating of 4. The chef spoke positively about teamwork and communication with care staff and how this ensured people received the right support at mealtimes.

Staff told us teamwork was good and there were regular team meetings where they discussed people’s care and support needs. A person told us staff were good at noticing if someone needed some support. The registered manager told us the service communicated effectively with other professionals such as the GP, district nurse, tissue viability nurses, community mental health teams, palliative care teams and dietitians. People also received support from visiting opticians, dentists and chiropodists.

People’s health needs were assessed and care plans documented how best people should be supported. People told us they had access to health care professional when required. A person told us a speech and language therapist came to see them and another person told us they had sessions with a physiotherapist. Staff monitored people’s conditions and acted if people became unwell. We saw staff made timely referrals when people required medical treatment and when staff needed advice and information for changes in people’s conditions. A health care professional from the GP practice told us they consistently found Park Lodge to be managed extremely well in both efficiency and care for residents. They knew if the care home called them there really is something wrong as they managed everything so well.

Staff monitored people’s health and wellbeing. Monitoring tools and records were kept for the monitoring of food and fluid intake, medical conditions, weight and skin conditions amongst others. Care records showed people were supported by health care professionals. A person using the service told us they saw a physiotherapist and practiced movement and exercises for their hand.

The registered manager told us the service worked closely with various teams such as the local authorities falls team and care home intervention team (CHIT) and pharmacy team. The CHIT provided support with care planning and training for staff on supporting people with dementia and or behavioural needs. A member of the CHIT told us staff engaged well with them and were good at understanding people’s needs.Several Park Lodge staff were currently attending an off-site dementia trainingdeliveredby CHIT. The staff who attended engaged well in the interactive training

A member of the pharmacy team told us the manager and staff demonstrated strong engagement, consistently acting on their recommendations to enhance person-centred care and recommendations aroundmedication related systems.

People were asked to consent to their care and treatment. People told us staff listened to them and respected their wishes. Staff spoke confidently about supporting people to make their own choices wherever possible and involving families and advocates in decision-making. The service demonstrated a positive and responsible approach to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Where restrictions were necessary to keep people safe, applications for DoLS authorisations were made promptly and appropriately. Records showed that assessments were detailed, person-centred, and reviewed regularly to ensure restrictions remained proportionate and in the person’s best interests.