Admiralty 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. This is the first assessment for this newly registered 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 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.

The provider carried out assessments of people’s needs before they used the service. People told us they were involved in the assessment process. One person told us, “We found this place and they asked all about me. I love my room because I can see the garden.” A relative told us, “We were very impressed that staff came to assess [person’s name’s] needs. We came and had a look around and were able to choose her room. She could bring items from home and the handyman put up things on the wall for her.”

People’s care plans were robust and included nationally recognised assessment tools, such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) to assess people’s nutritional needs, and WATERLOW, to assess people’s skin integrity and reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcers. One relative commented, “Mum’s pressure care support has been very good at Admiralty Care Home.”

The manager told us they sought and reviewed feedback from other health care professionals involved in people’s care to maximise the health and well-being of their residents. She told us,“We do many audits, for example, skin care, weight, diet and fluid intake, to ensure people are kept healthy, and so we can pick up on any changes as soon as they appear.” Staff told us they continually assessed people’s health and updated records to accurately reflect their needs. Staff we spoke with knew people’s needs well.

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’s nutritional and hydration needs were assessed and planned for. Care plans were detailed, and staff followed the professional advice and guidance given to keep people safe. For example, one person told us, “I have had falls before, and I know it’s because I don’t drink enough. They are always trying to get me to drink. I have cold drinks in my room, and the carers are always offering me tea and coffee. I haven’t fallen since I have been here.” People who had specific dietary needs, including pureed, vegetarian, and gluten-free, received meals tailored to meet their needs and preferences.

We observed mealtimes and saw that people were offered choices of what they wanted to eat and drink. Staff assisted people who required support to ensure they had an adequate intake, and timely referrals were made to the GP and dietician if any concerns arose. Staff interacted well with people and supported them in a calm and gentle manner. One person told us, “The food is lovely, I really enjoy it. If there is ever something I don’t like, they make me what I ask for.” People were offered snacks, fruit and a choice of drinks throughout the day.

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 jointly with other services and professionals to ensure people received effective and timely care. Each person had a hospital passport which they took with them when they transferred to hospital or moved between services. A hospital passport is a document containing important information about the person and their health needs. Staff told us they attended handover meetings and shared relevant information about people appropriately with other services and teams involved in caring for people, to ensure people’s needs, and any changes in their needs were understood and followed. The manager told us, “We value the support of the Parkinson’s nurse, the Dietician and the falls clinic. We have pharmacy reviews and work closely with the District Nurses, the Mental Health crisis team, the local authority safeguarding team and the GP."

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 had access to the healthcare services they needed, to maximise their health. One person told us, “The paramedic from the surgery visits every Monday and you just let the senior know if you want to see them. They have a hairdresser and someone to do your nails.” A relative told us, “Staff will call the GP if needed, and they will always call me to let me know.”

Care records showed that a range of health care professionals were involved in the care and treatment of people, and staff made appropriate and timely referrals to relevant health care professionals when needed. Staff followed the recommendations of professionals who confirmed that the staff team worked closely with them to ensure that people’s health care and medical needs were optimised.

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 manager met with people daily to check that people were happy with their care. The manager told us, “Our residents are strongly encouraged to share their thoughts, opinions and preferences. This active participation is integral to ensuring that their individual needs are effectively met. By expressing their views, residents play a vital role in shaping their care plans and risk assessments.”

One person told us, “I have only had to make one complaint when my buzzer wasn’t working. The manager came straight away, checked on me and apologised. Carers checked on me every half hour until the buzzer was fixed the next day.”

Care plans detailed the outcomes expected from the care and treatment delivered to people, and staff knew what those outcomes were. For example, we saw staff check people’s glucose levels as required and document the result. We saw bowel monitoring charts for people and associated guidance for staff to support people to remain healthy.

Staff supervisions and spot checks had taken place regularly and staff told us they found it supportive and helpful. One staff member told us, “I feel supported in my role, and valued by my senior and the manager. This is because they are approachable and not only listen but take action to make things as good as they can be."

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

People, and their relatives where necessary, gave their consent and treatment to the care and treatment they received, and people’s liberty was promoted in line with legal guidance. One person told us, “They always knock on my door and ask what I want and need help with. We have a laugh and a joke. They are very respectful.”

People’s capacity to make specific decisions was assessed and documented in their care plans. Where people had been assessed as lacking capacity to make a specific decision, relatives and relevant health and social care professionals were involved in making a best interests’ decision on the person’s behalf, for example to use sensor mats and bed rails.

Staff had completed training in the MCA and DoLS and understood their responsibility to obtain consent from people in line with the MCA. People told us they made choices about day-to-day decisions. One person said, “They know what help I need and allow me to do the rest. They will always ask what clothes I want to wear and get them from me."