Winchcombe Place

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

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 assessed people's health, wellbeing, communication, nutritional, cultural and support needs to ensure care was delivered ways that reflected their individual preferences and circumstances. Care plans and assessments were personalised and informed by information gathered from people, their relatives and healthcare professionals.

Relatives spoke positively about the way care was planned and delivered. One relative told us,

"The care planning is good, and it is built around the individual, not a 1 size fits all."

Another relative said,

"I do feel my involvement in my relative's care is appreciated. I can make suggestions and can give my opinion."

People's needs were assessed using a range of information sources, including specialist assessments and professional guidance.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people's needs and were able to describe how support was adapted to reflect individual preferences, health conditions, communication needs and cultural requirements. Specialist guidance was available and used to inform care delivery, including support with communication, nutrition, eating and drinking, sensory needs and long-term health conditions.

Relatives told us they felt listened to and involved in decisions about their family member's care. One person said:

"We have been very involved in our relative's care. Our opinion is always sought and acted upon if necessary."

Systems were in place to assess and monitor people's health, wellbeing and nutritional needs.

Staff monitored changes in people's health and sought advice from healthcare professionals when required.

Relatives told us they were kept informed about changes to their family member's health and care needs. One relative said:

"When a doctor was needed for my relative, it was done immediately. The staff are trained to make sure they observe residents and note any changes in their health. This enables the home to react accordingly."

People benefited from care and support that was tailored to their individual needs. Our observations demonstrated staff understood people's preferences and support requirements well and provided care that reflected both people's wishes and relevant professional guidance

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 planned and delivered care and treatment in partnership with people, ensuring care reflected what was important to them and aligned with current legislation, evidence-based practice and recognised standards.

Staff adopted a holistic and person-centred approach to care, working collaboratively with people, relatives and external professionals to achieve positive outcomes.

For example, 1 person living with dementia had experienced a significant deterioration in both their physical and mental health.

Staff worked closely with specialist mental health professionals and relatives to better understand, monitor and respond to the person's behaviours of distress.

Through a consistent and personalised approach, the person experienced significant improvements in their overall wellbeing. Their physical health and mobility improved substantially, progressing from being unable to weight bear to walking independently without the use of mobility aids. The person also regained greater independence and emotional wellbeing.

The provider planned care using assessments, specialist guidance and recognised approaches to nutrition, hydration, dementia and falls prevention.

Staff monitored weight, used food and fluid records where needed and adapted meals to cultural, medical and personal preferences.

We observed a calm mealtime where people chose where to eat and received support at an appropriate pace.

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.

People benefited from coordinated care delivered by a staff team who worked effectively together. Staff maintained positive, open, and transparent communication with external professionals. Referrals were made promptly when people required additional support, and staff actively followed professional guidance, using specialist expertise to enhance their own knowledge and practice. Feedback from external professionals about both the staff team and the provider was consistently positive. One external professional told us staff were proactive, responsive, and worked collaboratively to ensure people received the support they needed.

One professional told us, “The team leads are incredible;, you cannot fault their commitment.”

Relatives told us communication between staff and families was effective. One relative said,:

“I feel that because the home keeps the staff well informed about the resident’s health and wellbeing, they are very effective in the care they provide. It is a joint effort between family and staff. “Another stated,: “I do feel my involvement in my relative’s care is appreciated. I can make suggestions and can give my opinion.”

Staff shared information through handovers, daily meetings and care-plan updates. The provider worked with GPs, district nurses, physiotherapists and mental-health teams. A community nurse said the provider was proactive, followed advice and communicated well, adding, “The team leads are incredible; you cannot fault their commitment.” Relatives also described care as a joint effort between family and staff. This meant changes in people’s needs were identified and acted on in a coordinated way.

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 need for care and support.

We found the provider supported people to maintain and improve their health and wellbeing. People’s health needs were regularly monitored, and staff helped them access healthcare services such as GPs and other professionals when required. The Registered Manager had introduced weekly GP rounds, which helped ensure people received timely medical reviews and ongoing support for their healthcare needs. This contributed to effective oversight of people’s health and wellbeing and supported early identification and management of any concerns.

The provider demonstrated a commitment to promoting people's health and wellbeing through innovative and evidence-based approaches. For example, a fruit trolley was available in the reception area, encouraging healthier food choices. In addition, the provider promoted hydration through the provision of electrolyte-enhanced drinks, in kitchen areas throughout the home. Staff explained this initiative had contributed to improved hydration levels and formed part of the provider's wider falls prevention strategy.

Risks to people’s health were identified and reviewed, and staff responded promptly to any changes. People were supported to make choices that promoted their health and wellbeing, including maintaining good nutrition and hydration. This helped people to remain as independent as possible and supported them to live healthier lives.

Staff consistently demonstrated a proactive approach to monitoring and improving outcomes for people. They had a strong understanding of each person’s needs, preferences and emotional wellbeing, enabling them to recognise early signs of distress and provide personalised support. Staff anticipated how individuals might respond in different situations and tailored their approach accordingly.

The provider monitored people’s health and quality-of-life outcomes through daily meetings, care reviews, audits and analysis of incidents. Falls trends were used to introduce additional observation, environmental changes and specialist input, after which falls reduced.

The provider supported to experience improved outcomes, for example, coordinated support helped a person regain mobility and emotional wellbeing. Staff recognised early signs of distress and adjusted their approach. This meant care was reviewed against its effect on people rather than simply whether tasks had been completed.

The provider informed people about their rights regarding consent and respected these in practice.

The provider respected people’s rights to make decisions about their care. Records included consent information, decision- specific capacity assessments and best-interest decisions where required. We observed staff offering choices and responding when a person did not wish to move to the dining room. Where restrictions were necessary, the provider applied for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and reviewed conditions. This meant people’s choices were generally respected and lawful safeguards were used when they could not make a particular decision.