Lady Dane Farmhouse

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.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained 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. Care plans were reviewed regularly and updated of any changes. We viewed care plans and they were reflective of people’s needs. For example, one person who could become anxious, there were methods of how to support them during this time. People and relatives were involved in creating care plans. Staff told us how they got to know people moving into the home by reading their care plans and spending time with the person. People had keyworkers who spent time building a rapport with them and developing a good understanding of their needs and preferences.

One relative told us, "They settled in very well, their key worker is brilliant." Another relative told us, "They meet their needs very well. Before they went in there [Management team] came over and chatted for about 1.5 hours just about them and it has evolved since then. All things are taken into consideration."

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. Some people had been identified as needing support when eating and drinking. Assessments had been completed by Speech and Language Therapists (SaLT), and support plans developed from these. Records showed the use of nationally recognised tools for example the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) for monitoring people’s weight. People’s weights and diets were monitored and adapted where needed. People had the equipment they needed. Community professionals and relatives told us how the home worked collaboratively with them, which helped ensure care and support was delivered safely and effectively.

One relative told us, "They are really responsive and get things done before I have even raised anything. They tend to know what they need. I did a workshop with all the carers to describe the seizures, and it gave them confidence to deal with their seizures."

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 told us how they worked as a team and supported each other. Staff told us, "We have a very good, strong team. If we are short, the team leads come on the floor to provide the care and make it safe." The home shared information collaboratively with community professionals. One health care professional told us, "They are proactive with advice, provide timely feedback and always have the best interest of our patients at the forefront of what they do."

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. The chef told us how they knew people's dietary requirements and this was displayed in the kitchen as well as their care plans. People's diets were tailored to meet their diabetic or low-calorie dietary needs. For example, sugar free puddings provided. The home had a nominated person who made smoothies, there was a pictorial menu displayed in the dining area. The home found this had a positive impact on people’s health and reduced the need for medical support. The registered manager told us, how currently there was no one under the dietician due to people’s healthy eating plans.

People were involved in cooking classes and would access the local shops to buy their ingredients. This supported one person to improve their relationship with food, and their Body Mass Index (BMI) and eating habits had improved.

Relatives told us, "I was involved in the care planning, and it is ongoing." One person told us, “Food is lovely and we do get choices.”

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. Staff told us in team meetings they discussed people’s goals and targets. People were supported to manage their own medicines and self-administer insulin. The home had sourced local honey to reduce hay fever symptoms for people and were liaising with the GP to ensure this would not react with some people’s other medicine.

One relative told us, "They are constantly monitoring, the care programme they have is excellent.” Another relative told us how their loved one had everything they needed, including equipment to support them.

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

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. The MCA requires that, as far as possible, people make their own decisions and are helped to do so when needed. When they lack mental capacity to take particular decisions, any made on their behalf must be in their best interests and as least restrictive as possible.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the MCA. In care homes, and some hospitals, this is usually through MCA application procedures called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The metal capacity assessments we saw contained the relevant information and demonstrated the involvement of people, their relatives and how decisions were made in people’s best interests.

Staff told us they have training for MCA and had a good understanding. Staff were observed asking people for consent to help them to their room for personal care, to sit with them or to give them their medicine.

One relative told us, "They always ask for permission to give covid and flu jabs.”