Alvina 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 service involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. The last rating for this service was good. At this assessment, the rating remained 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.

People were treated with kindness and respect. They told us they had good relationships with staff. Some of their comments included, “It is much nicer living here than [where person previously lived]”, “I get very good treatment from the staff’’ and “I feel it is alright living here.” We observed positive interactions between staff and people. These were kind and showed mutual respect. Staff encouraged people and praised them. They used appropriate language and found ways to encourage people. Staff spoke enthusiastically about the people they supported and their work. Their comments included, “I love working with [people living at the service]” and “[People] need our attention, love and kindness.”

People told us they were happy being cared for and supported by both male and female staff. Their comments included, “I don’t feel embarrassed talking about personal care with the staff” and “I am happy with either gender of staff giving me prompts for my care needs.’’

People were treated as individuals. Each person had a care and support plan designed around their needs. These were regularly reviewed and monitored with the person. People told us they were supported to make choices and live the life they wanted. Their comments included, “I am happy with how I spend my time”, “I can come and go as I want. If I want alone time, I am given personal space and freedom” and “Staff help me with cleaning and cooking. I get help when I need it. I understand the house rules and I do not find these a problem. They are meant to help us.” Staff told us they enjoyed guiding and supporting people. A staff member commented, “They are lovely guys here, I like talking to them, helping with activities and they need a lot of encouragement. It is important to help their mental health, to engage with them and be interested.”

People were able to make choices about their care, support and how they spent their time. Their comments included, “Staff do make suggestions about where to go and what to do, but it is my choice” and “I can manage my own money and spend this how I want.”

People were encouraged to participate in daily group activities. These were an opportunity to socialise and speak with staff as well as taking part in the activity. People were able to choose what they wanted to do. The registered manager told us they had recruited an activities coordinator who was looking at expanding the activities they offered outside of the home. We saw people had given examples of places they would like to go and things they would like to do.

The staff responded to people’s immediate needs. People told us they did not have to wait for support when they needed this. They explained staff were attentive and always available throughout the day and night. Staff explained they used techniques to de-escalate situations when people became distressed. Records showed that care plans and risk assessments were followed and staff discussed different scenarios with each other to help make sure they were following best practice.

The provider supported staff with their wellbeing. There were formal systems for staff to speak about their work through individual and team meetings. The staff told us they felt supported in their work. The registered manager explained they had introduced a range of initiatives designed to support staff with their wellbeing. These included celebrations of success and achievements. The provider also supported staff from abroad to settle in the United Kingdom and provided financial help, information and guidance to staff when they needed this.