Platters Farm Lodge

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. Pre assessments were carried out prior to people coming to stay at the service, these contained evidence of people’s needs and involvement with them and relevant stakeholders. Staff told us, “We assess people before they arrive here. Families and professionals are involved depending on what people are coming here for. We have built good ongoing relationships with people who come here for respite, and they continue to come back. If it is for rehab or they will be living with us permanently, we carry out an in-depth assessment to make sure we can meet their needs. It is an honest and transparent process that involves all professionals, staff and therapists, a lot of work goes into it. We make sure people arrive with everything they need.” One person told us, "I am so warm and looked after that I don't think there are any changes."

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 weights were monitored and recorded regularly. People’s preferences around food were in their care plans. Drinks and snacks were offered throughout the day to ensure people had adequate intake of food and drink. There was also a snack and treat trolley that went around the service in the afternoon. Care plans contained guidelines from professionals around people’s food and fluid intake and we saw these were followed. The chef gave examples of how they share information with care staff to manage people’s specialist diets. Allergies were recorded and any dietary requirements could be catered for. Staff told us, “People and staff are encouraged to eat together to make mealtime sociable and to encourage people to eat more.”

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 were observed working well together and supporting each other when needed. Referrals were made to community healthcare professionals when people needed. Staff told us, there were folders in people’s rooms containing everything you would need to know about someone if they were going into hospital or to an appointment. It really helps the staff to have all that info to hand. Staff told us, “We work very well with the managers and staff here. We share information all the time around people’s rehabilitation and how they are getting on. The staff are very good at following our advice and guidance. Each room has a folder that contains information that is easily accessible for staff should a person need to leave the service to access another service. It contains personal details and their hospital passport.”

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. There was a dedicated GP round. There was a rehabilitation room onsite, with therapists visiting. Community health care professionals told us, “We work with the home to rehabilitate people. It’s not just people’s physical wellbeing, it’s their emotional wellbeing and confidence they need to gain as well. Staff work well with us.” Staff told us, “We encourage people to help themselves, to get moving and if they can get involved in some physical activity.”

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. Rehabilitation plans were in place for people in the rehab unit. These were monitored to track progress and help meet people’s assessed goals. People not in rehab had other outcomes assessed and monitored, for example encouraging people to gain weight, or to manage their anxieties. The therapy team told us, “We work with people to achieve their goals. These are sometimes big like being able to stand with a frame, or smaller like improving their fine motor skills.” One person told us, "I've been here for a while now, can't say how long. They have all been nice here. If I don't feel well, they do everything to get me better. They have moved my room to near the lounge now so I can get to it."

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). DOLs had been applied for and was monitored to ensure they remained relevant for individuals. There was a DoLS tracker in place and MCA assessments had taken place. Staff had specific training. Information around consent and MCA was displayed around the service. Staff told us, “I understand consent, we always ask first. You must assume capacity.” One relative told us, "She is not able to really make decisions, but they do always ask her what she wants to do. They do know her well." Another relative told us, "They always inform me and discuss any changes, and I know that she is under a DOLs."