Eagles Mount 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 they received care that achieved their outcomes. Eagles Mount Care Home worked with external professionals and services to meet people’s needs, including their health needs. The home had access to resources to support people to live healthier lives. Consent was sought and people were involved in their health and wellbeing; people told us they were able to make choices about their care. If there was a concern a person lacked capacity to make individual decisions, an assessment was carried out in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA ).

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.

People and their relatives told us care needs and personal preferences were discussed prior to moving to Eagles Mount Care Home. People were involved in the care assessments and arranged their care the way they wanted. A relative told us, “Nothing is too much trouble, my loved one was here for a short stay, said they wanted chips, and the manager made it happen. Now they’ve moved in!”

Staff told us people were offered choice, for example, when to be supported with personal care and what to eat. A staff member stated, “The kitchen team will make alternatives if people do not like what is on the menu, and the kitchen is always open.”

Evidence-based care was significant in the service’s policies and procedures. This was especially true in meeting people’s nutritional needs; the manager demonstrated an improvement in people’s food and fluid intake following increasing the tea trolley rounds and activities involving food.

People and their relatives told us staff were very responsive to changes in people’s care needs. They felt confident any referrals for treatment or for specialist input were made in a timely manner. One relative stated, “I have no concerns about (my loved one’s) safety. They fell and broke their nose shortly after moving in and being put on new medicines in hospital. It made them sleepy but now they are not on any medication because the Eagles Mount team got the community mental health team involved.”

Staff spoke highly of the improved relationships with visiting health and social care professionals. A staff member informed us, “Part of my role is to co-ordinate the weekly nurse practitioner visit. This consistency helps us manage a situation and provide care in line with best practice.”

Records demonstrated people were supported to achieve positive outcomes such as: meeting nutritional and fluid targets, improving skin integrity and using equipment to mobilise safely. People’s care notes reflected the care and treatment people received.

People told us staff supported them with all aspects of daily living, including arranging appointments and supporting them to access health care. Relatives confirmed this. One person said, “I’m very happy living here, the carers are so helpful to us.”

Without exception, all staff spoken with told us about the importance of working as a team. Comments included, “This role is most hands on and I've learnt the most. I feel proud and very well supported to work here” and, “The teamwork doesn't stop in this building, we can get support from head office any time. There is a real culture change under new management.”

Visiting health and social care professionals spoken with on the days of our site visits consistently commented on the improved communication with the home and stated this was "Such benefit to the patients".

The provider operated an electronic care-planning and monitoring system which supported information sharing with external professionals and stakeholders.

People told us staff supported them to access health services, which enabled them to maintain and improve their wellbeing. We observed staff encouraging people to drink; for example, we saw a member of care staff explained to a person the importance of staying hydrated for good health. A person told us, “When I first came here from hospital, I couldn’t do much for myself so at first I had to have a lot of help. Gradually because of that help, I felt better and can do more for myself.”

Staff attended daily meetings where they were made aware of any short-term care interventions such as increased checks for people who had been unwell or recently fallen.

Information about people’s needs and ongoing progress could be easily shared as records were clear and comprehensive.

People and their relatives told us about improvements to their wellbeing and credited this to the care provided at Eagles Mount Care Home. A relative stated, “My (loved one’s name) is better than when they were at home, in and out of the hospital after falls and up all night with deteriorating mental health. Now there’s none of that because the care is always there.”

Staff told us they contacted health and social care professionals without delay to ensure people's well-being was maintained. Feedback we received from professionals confirmed this and included, “The staff are doing very well, they are actually very careful and attentive to details."

Care plans contained clear goals and outcomes for people, particularly for how best to support people during times of distress. Each care plan was individual, and work was ongoing to continue to develop care plans.

People told us they were able to make choices about their care and treatment. Comments included, “I can make my own choices and decisions here. I can choose, I’m not pressured” and, “If I want to walk I can go out into the garden and call in at the café downstairs. It’s very good in here.”

Managers and staff had a comprehensive understanding of the principles of the MCA. Staff had received training and told us the importance of asking consent before providing care for people.

A clear process was in place to carry out mental capacity assessments where required. Mental capacity assessments had been completed for individual decisions. Care was planned in the person’s best interests in the least restrictive way and in consultation with those important to the person.