Willett 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. At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to 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 service made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. The management team conducted preadmission assessments prior to people moving into the service. A relative told us about the process and said, “They did (complete an assessment), they wanted to know all about [person]. What they like to eat, that sort of thing.” A ‘my life story’ was completed with people and/or their relatives so staff could understand people and support them in their preferred way.

The service 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. When people moved into the service, assessments of risks were completed such as the Waterlow tool to assess the risk of individuals sustaining pressure damage to their skin. Care plans were developed to guide staff on actions to minimise pressure damage, for example, creams and position change regimes. Where needed, referrals were made to tissue viability nurses and their advice was incorporated into care plans.

The service 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. Visiting health and social care professionals were contacted by staff for help and support in a timely way and staff followed professional guidance. A healthcare professional told us, “They (staff) are good at contacting the mental health team, if already involved or the tissue viability nurses when advised to do so. They will always put in place any treatment plans, that I have provided for patients.”

The service 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. The chef was aware of people’s dietary needs, such as, gluten or dairy intolerances. People told us they enjoyed the food on offer and could make choices. One person said, “The food has been very good lately, we have a good cook, a new chef has taken over and does some very nice, good cooking. We can choose if we don’t want the menu, sometimes I fancy cheese on toast and can ask for it.” People’s weights were monitored and any concerns were escalated to healthcare professionals. People at risk of choking were assessed and received the correct food consistency and support to eat safely.

The service routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. A person had a catheter in situ and it was agreed they could be trialled without the catheter to minimise future complications and potential infections. Staff monitored the person’s urine output following the removal which was deemed to be successful; this provided a positive outcome for the person. The management team reviewed and audited infections within the home and put measures in place to reduce further infections.

The service told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. We observed staff asking people for consent throughout our visit for various decisions, staff respected people’s right to decline. Where people lacked capacity to make decisions, mental capacity assessments were undertaken and best interest decisions were made. We reviewed a person’s capacity assessment and subsequent best interest form for bedrails, this had been completed with the views of the person’s representative and least restrictive options had been considered.