Frithwood Nursing 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. The last rating for this key question was requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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 assessed people’s needs and choices. They used this information to develop person-centred care plans. We found assessments were comprehensive and appropriately detailed. These included individual plans of care and guidelines for staff. There was evidence of regular reviews and meetings with people and their families to discuss care plans. People and their families told us they thought their needs were met and their choices were respected.

The provider ensured people received evidence-based care and support. Staff undertook a range of training, including training about dementia and managing challenging situations. Some staff took on ‘champion’ roles where they undertook extra training and were able to cascade their knowledge to staff, monitor and observe other staff and make suggestions about how to change practice. The management team held regular meetings to discuss best practice in different areas. Staff told us training was helpful, and they felt appropriately skilled and well informed.

The provider assessed people’s nutrition and hydration needs. They had developed individual care plans for people. All staff involved in preparing and supporting people with meals had the information and training they needed. Staff monitored people’s weight, food and fluid intake and ensured people had healthy and balanced diets. People were given a choice of culturally appropriate food. Some people were on special diets for health or through choice. These diets were well thought out and met their individual requirements. People told us they liked the food. Their comments included, “The food is good, and we get plenty of choice” and “I really like the meals.” The chef met with people to discuss their mealtime experiences. They kept a record of feedback and used this to help them plan menus. Staff were proactive at offering drinks and making sure people always had access to these.

Staff worked well together and communicated with each other. There was always a nurse on duty who made sure people’s needs were met. Staff had handovers of information at the start and end of each shift. They also used records and messaging applications to communicate key messages with each other. Staff told us they felt communication was good. Their comments included, “We work as a team” and “There is a handover, and we have the information we need about the residents.” There were regular team meetings for staff to discuss the service.

The staff worked well with external healthcare professionals. They made timely referrals when they identified people had a specific need. The care home support team from the local health authority regularly contacted and visited the service. They discussed people’s health needs with nurses at the care home and supported them with links to other professionals and guidance.

The provider supported people to meet their healthcare needs. They assessed and planned for these needs. Care plans were comprehensive and personalised. There was information for staff on how to monitor and care for people to keep them safe and well. People had regular appointments with their GP and other healthcare professionals. They confirmed this.

Staff supported and encouraged people to stay active, mobile and eat a healthy diet. Exercise programmes were designed with the support of a physiotherapist. A relative explained, “The staff help [person] to do [their] exercises.” The activities coordinator told us they incorporated movement into their plan of social and leisure activities. They told us, “We do morning exercises every day. I help them get their body working, we have an activity plan. I look to see what they are enjoying and what is working.”

The provider had systems to monitor people’s care needs, skin integrity, nutrition and hydration. Staff kept records of care, and managers reviewed these to make sure care plans were being followed. The provider conducted audits for different aspects of care. For example, making sure people received support with their oral hygiene and teeth cleaning. Staff told us how they monitored people’s wellbeing. Their comments included, “We keep body maps and photographs, and we check people’s skin during care” and “We make sure people have had enough to drink and encourage fluids.” People using the service told us that managers visited them and checked they were well and had everything they wanted each day.

People’s care plans and assessments were regularly reviewed to make sure the recorded outcomes were being met and remained relevant for each person.

The provider had sought people’s consent for care and treatment. The staff had carried out assessments when people lacked the mental capacity to make certain decisions. These assessments included clear information about how choices were communicated and if the person needed extra support to understand decisions. The provider had involved people’s representatives to help make decisions in their best interests when needed.

Staff ensured people had choices and that these were respected whenever possible. They used different languages, and ways to help communicate with people.