Elpha Lodge Residential 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

People’s needs were assessed and continually reviewed. Staff worked together and with other health professionals to ensure people received the care and support they needed. Care was delivered in line with best practice. People’s dietary needs were met but we found some record keeping in relation to this needed to be updated. This was addressed immediately and the registered manager was aware they needed to ensure practice was embedded. Staff had received specialist training for people who are at risk of choking. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act and sought consent from people.

This service scored 71 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People said their needs had been assessed before moving here and on admission. They described how they were fully involved in that process. Some people had visited the home several times as part of their transition from other services. This meant the person could check if it was a good place for them.

The management team confirmed pre-assessments were carried out to check the individual needs of people could be met before they moved to the home. People were encouraged to come for trial visits or spend social time at the home before making the decision.

An up-to-date admission policy was in place. An assessment of people's individual needs was completed before they were accepted into the service. Care plans were produced in line with each person’s requirements and assessed need. We reviewed 6 care records and confirmed information was transferred from assessment to individualised care planning in line with their assessed needs.

People confirmed they were involved in planning their own care and reviews of their care plans. One person commented, “When I ask for things to be put in my care plan it gets sorted.” People told us that food and drink provided was of good quality and relative felt the same. Mealtimes were pleasant experiences and used as a social event for conversation and meeting friends.

Management staff described how each person was involved, where capabilities allowed, in their own plan of care. The plan included how their care would be delivered and what was important to them. Staff and management were aware of the importance of using recognised tools to help them deliver evidence-based care. This was confirmed by staff and observations. For example, one person had been referred to the Speech and Language Therapy Team (SALT) and this information was included in care plans to support staff and ensure the person's dietary needs were met.

Processes were in place to ensure evidenced bases care was delivered. Staff knew people well and because of this there was no impact on people, but we found some kitchen records were not always up to date, including the white board in the kitchen which noted people's preferences and dietary needs. These processes were updated immediately by the management team. The registered manager had ensured staff received training regarding people's dietary needs and particularly regarding choking events. The registered manager told us they would continue to monitor this area to ensure this did not happen again.

People told us staff worked well together. People said they had been supported by the home when moving there from other services. They said the home had worked positively with other professionals during their transition to ensure the right outcome for the person.

Staff told us they were involved in meetings with people's GPs and care managers and felt they worked inclusively for the benefit of people.

External healthcare professionals had a good working relationship with staff at the service. One healthcare professional said, “I find the manager in particular very helpful and informative. She is always available to discuss things and seems to have a good understanding of each of the residents that I review. She communicates regularly with me.”

Processes were in place confirming staff shared information and worked collaboratively with others. Care plans were updated with advice from healthcare professionals and healthcare professionals were used to support the service improve via additional training.

People were supported to live healthier lives. People said they were supported with access to health care and praised the staff for their help with this. One person described the compassionate assistance from a staff member who had escorted them to a hospital appointment and helped them understand the outcome.

Staff supported people to access healthcare to support their wellbeing. Staff told us they supported people to maintain their healthcare appointments, including those at hospital, opticians or GP’s.

Processes were in place to confirm people were supported to maintain healthier lives. Care plans identified people’s health and wellbeing needs and how they wished to be supported to achieve their goals. Monitoring records and diaries ensured appointments were not missed.

People and relatives felt staff had improved outcomes for people wherever possible. People’s needs and regained skills were kept under review. People described being involved in any changes in their plan of care.

Senior staff confirmed care plans were regularly monitored to ensure they reflected people’s current requirements and involved the person’s views.

Processes were in place to monitor people's health and wellbeing and review outcomes. For example, this included monitoring food and fluid intake. Where areas of concern had been identified, processes were in place to refer to external healthcare professionals for additional support.

People said they had control of their daily lives, and their consent was sought. One person commented, “I make my own decisions. I have control over the choices I make within my physical limits.”

Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff confirmed people were always asked for permission before any support was provided and their right to make their own choices was respected. One staff member said, “Everyone has the capacity and capability to make those choices.” Staff had received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff understood the need to gain consent from people for care and to encourage people to make decisions for themselves.

Capacity assessments and best interest decisions were completed when needed. When necessary, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) had been applied for and had either been authorised or were waiting assessment. DoLS is the procedure prescribed in law when it is necessary to deprive of their liberty a resident or patient who lacks capacity to consent to their care and treatment in order to keep them safe from harm.