Cherry Lodge

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has been rated good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

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 always treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. People’s comments included, “It's like we are getting all the freedom in the world that any person would need. It's like Buckingham Palace here.” Healthcare professionals said, “Yes, staff and clients seem to have a very good relationship. It is felt in the atmosphere when I go in, and the way the residents interact with the staff” and “I think the carers I have met with clients I work with at Cherry Lodge, know their residents well and treat them with dignity and privacy in our appointments. For example, I have noted some carers being very interested in hearing the resident’s perspective and responded appropriately, showing they know the individual and their background well.” A staff member told us, “I make sure I ask [a person’s] permission and consent. Anything we do, we explain. I make sure that everything I do is done in a respectful way. The bedroom door needs to be closed when we support with personal care.”

The provider treated people as individuals and made sure people’s care, support and treatment met people’s needs and preferences. They took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics. People were provided with opportunities to take part in the community activities of their choice, including attending a day centre and church. Staff supported a person to get voluntary work which helped them develop and learn new skills.

The provider promoted people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing. This was people’s home and we saw them feeling comfortable in their surroundings and interacting with visitors freely. To make a visitor feel welcomed, a person offered, and independently made, a drink for them. Family members’ comments included, “It’s very much [my relative’s] home, he’s well settled there.” Staff supported and encouraged people’s independence making sure they were able to do things for themselves such as undertaking house chores, food shopping and preparing their own meals.

The provider listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress. Staff knew people and their care needs well. Their comments included, “[Name of a person] doesn’t tell us what he wants, we know him. We give him lots of fluid and stuff he likes to eat as this is in his care plan. We go according to what he likes or doesn't like.”

The provider cared about and promoted the wellbeing of their staff and supported and enabled staff to always deliver person-centred care. Staff were provided with on-going support in their role, including guidance based on the provider’s policies and procedures. There was an open-door policy so that staff could seek support and reassurance from the management team at any time they needed it.