Thornlea Rest 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

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 management team at Thornlea made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. People and relatives told us they were involved in agreeing their individual care needs when they moved into Thornlea. Relatives told us they were kept up to date with any changes in their relative’s needs.

Processes were in place to assess people’s needs where possible prior to admission to the home. Risk assessments and care plans were reviewed and regularly audited by the management team. One person said, “When I first came there a lot of planning went into my care. Now because I am so much better, just every so often we have a chat with staff to make sure I am happy.”

The management team 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.

Staff were able to tell us how they supported people with their eating and drinking and promoted choice in their dietary needs. Staff knew people’s dietary needs and who required dignified support at mealtimes. Comments about the standard of food was good and included from people, “The food has definitely improved 100% since [staff member] took over the food preparation. We can always make suggestions and have meetings about it.” Where appropriate, the management team made referrals to relevant health professionals to meet people’s individual health needs including any dietary needs. Training opportunities, any relevant updates to support people were shared with staff. This was through regular discussions with management team and individual one to one meetings. Records we looked at confirmed this.

The management team 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.

People’s care plans contained information about their health and care needs. This meant information was available and ready to share across the service so that people received consistent care. We received positive feedback from social work local contracts team who recently visited the home. They told us about how well staff and management team engaged with people and what support individuals needed.

Thornlea staff and management team supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. The service supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

Thornlea is a small friendly home and when we spoke with staff, we found them to be knowledgeable about people’s needs and care. For example, there were meal and food choices available to match people’s needs and their requirements. A staff member said, “We are one family and being a small home, we support people individually to help them be healthy and encourage people to make choices.” Care plans we reviewed contained guidance and information on people’s scheduled appointments such as, dental and optician appointments if required. The management team had a close link with the local GP practice and staff were able to contact them directly for any immediate concerns.

The service routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent.

People and their relatives told us they received positive outcomes from staff and the management team. People described the care they received as person-centred. One person said, “I can live an independent life within reason. I share my home with others, and we rub along together. The home allows me my time but are there if needed.” In addition, a relative said, “The staff do a wonderful job they all get along and it is a lovely family home.”

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

People’s consent to care and treatment had been documented in individual care records we looked at. Where restrictions were noted in people’s care plans, it was recorded how the decision had been reached. In addition, people who had been involved and consulted had their choices recorded. The registered manager had processes for assessing and documenting people's consent to care. Documentation was completed and contained relevant information to enable staff to provide the best care possible. The registered manager had submitted Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications when appropriate and kept a record to ensure updated applications were made when needed.