Blandford Lodge

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the service involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

The last rating for this key question was good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.

This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

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.

Staff treated people with kindness and respect. People told us they liked the staff. People told us staff were kind and caring. They said they were happy with the support they received. We saw staff interacting well with people, offering choices, respecting their feelings and explaining what was happening. People were relaxed and comfortable in the home. Comments from people included, “Staff are nice, and they are my friends” and “I feel happy here and they help me.” People told us they were friends with each other and people they met outside the home. They enjoyed each other’s company and spent time together at social events.

Staff treated people as individuals. People’s needs and choices were assessed and planned for. Care plans were person-centred. People were supported to express and follow their faith and to pursue individual interests. Staff explained how they supported people to prepare for and celebrate different religious and cultural festivals. Staff told us 1 person was at risk because of obsessive routines and rituals. They had worked with the person to identify ways to reduce the person’s need to complete these rituals. They had found the person felt more relaxed and settled when listening to religious texts, so they had organised for this to be played when the person was feeling anxious. Staff also helped people to identify, plan and prepare meals which reflected their culture and beliefs.

Staff supported people to make choices and be independent when they were able. People had developed a plan of events and activities which they enjoyed each week. These included attending places in the local community, meeting with friends and undertaking activities at home. Some people went out independently, and others were supported by staff, to go to shops and places of interest to them. People told us they were unrestricted and had support if needed when they went out.

People were encouraged to understand and manage their own money with support from staff. People took part in some household tasks and cooking. One person’s mobility had been affected by an illness and hospital admission. Staff worked with other professionals to make sure the person had access to the equipment and support they needed to stay mobile and increase their independence. Staff told us they supported the person to complete exercises planned by a physiotherapist.

Staff responded to people’s immediate needs. Staff knew people well and monitored their physical and mental health. They recognised changes in people’s conditions and responded to this. They discussed people’s needs and worked closely with other professionals to make sure people were safe if or when they became unwell.

The provider supported staff with their wellbeing. Staff told us they were happy working at the service. They said there was good teamwork and communication with managers. Comments from 1 member of staff included, “We work as a team. We all feel involved and listened to.” Staff had opportunities for promotion and to develop their skills. Managers held regular individual and team meetings. Staff were able to contribute their ideas at these.