Chesterton 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. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated good: This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 67 (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 ensured people’s care and health treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health and care needs with them. However, where care plans identified people’s social needs and interests, it was not always clear how these were being met. One person said, “I do like gardening, but I am not able to do anything like that here.” However, people told us they felt involved in their care and support plans. One relative said, "I get involved in the care plans, if I ask to see them, they [staff] always show me, and they [staff] listen to me.” People's care plans contained a range of assessments related to their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, and these were reviewed on a regular basis. However, where people experienced heightened emotions or distressed behaviours the care plans and risk assessments did not always detail clear strategies for staff to implement to support the person. The manager responded to our feedback by adding further detail to the relevant sections. Staff told us they could easily access people’s care plans, and they were kept updated with changes in people’s needs.

The provider planned and delivered people’s health care and treatment with them. People told us the provider prepared nutritious meals in accordance with their preferences. One person said, “The food is very nice. You can have an all-day breakfast if you want it.” Another person told us, “They offer fresh fruit and ice cream.” Staff told us how they monitored people's nutritional health. Staff were able to provide examples of how they monitored people's health regularly, such as people’s hydration and nutrition. People’s care and support needs were monitored in accordance with their care and risk assessments. Where people required additional support from other professionals such as district nurses, these visits were recorded and recommendations followed. Where risks to people’s nutrition was identified, such as risks from weight loss or choking risks, these were clearly recorded in the care plan, including where and when concerns needed to be escalated with health professionals.

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people. People told us staff raised concerns with other professionals when needed and they felt supported to access health professionals. One person said, "If I am not well, they [staff] will call a doctor. The optician also visits me in the home." Staff told us they worked alongside health and social care professionals. One staff member said, "We work with other professionals such as district nurses, GP's and social workers, it's important we all work together and share information." Visiting professionals told us the provider shared information promptly and transparently. One visiting professional told us staff followed their recommendations. The provider and staff worked in partnership with other health and social care agencies to deliver good outcomes for people and ensure their needs were met and reviewed.

Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support. People told us they were supported to live healthier lives and their choices were respected. One person told us how the provider met their specific preferences around their meal choices. Staff told us how they supported people to eat healthy meals and take part in exercise, such as armchair exercise programmes. People were referred to health care professionals to support their wellbeing and support them to live healthy lives.

The provider routinely monitored people’s health and treatment to continuously improve it. However, outcomes relating to people’s social needs were not always met. People told us their health had improved since moving into the home. One person told us how their mobility had improved with support from the staff team. However, people told us there were limited opportunities to engage socially. One person told us, "I would like to have more things to do." A relative said, “There are not a lot of activities here.” Staff told us about the signs and symptoms they would look out for when monitoring people's conditions. When asking a staff member about a person's diabetes management they said, "On 1 occasion, the person appeared thirsty and sleepy. I reported this back, the team leader checked the person, and they were taken to hospital." People's health and care needs were monitored and the provider worked alongside other professionals such as physiotherapists and district nurses to ensure positive outcomes for people.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected their decisions. Staff empowered people to make their own decisions about their care and support. People told us their choices were respected. One person told us, “I can choose what I wear, and I can get up early. It’s like a five-star hotel. I can have a shower or bath whenever I want.” Staff told us they received mental capacity training and promoted people's best interests. One staff member said, "We assume everyone has capacity at the time when asking a question, we take people’s answers on face value. "Another staff member told us, "I have had MCA [Mental Capacity Act] training. It’s important to always act in a person’s best interest, to help people to make their own choices." We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), and whether any conditions or authorisations to deprive a person of their liberty had the appropriate legal authority and were being met. Assessments of people’s mental capacity and best interest meetings had taken place to ensure decisions made were appropriate and least restrictive. This related to the decisions concerning where a person should live and personal care.