Balmore Country House

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

People received care in accordance with best practice guidelines and legislation. Staff had a good understanding of people’s individual needs and care was provided in a way that led to positive outcomes. There were minor omissions in the review of the monitoring process of people’s food and fluid intake. People were supported to lead healthy lives. People’s or other relevant person’s views were considered before decisions about their care were made.

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.

We did not look at Assessing needs during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

People told us that they received information on their health conditions. This allowed them to be as healthy as possible. A relative said, “The staff talked to me about what [family member] needs, and they chat to me regularly about how they are doing.”

Staff had good knowledge of tools that the service used, and how they impacted the care given. For example, one staff member explained how a person’s food and fluid intake was monitored to reduce the risks to the person’s health and safety. Staff understood how to work with external health and social care providers, to provide support in the most effective way.

People’s nutrition and hydration needs were supported in line with current standards. Staff had identified people at risk of weight loss and were monitoring how much food they were consuming. However, although we were told the amounts people had consumed were monitored, records provided did not support this. For example, the maximum and minimum amounts of food or drink a person should consume were recorded but were not signed to say they had been reviewed. This could result in a delay in identifying any issues to their health. Care plans followed national guidelines on how to support people most effectively. For example, following recommended processes for reducing the risk of people developing pressure sores. People were given opportunities to live as healthily as possible.

People felt they were supported to receive the care they needed at the home. They also felt supported to access external health care, this included assistance with attending appointments.

Staff and management understood how to ensure people’s risks to their health and safety were assessed and relevant information provided to external health care agencies when required.

No concerns were raised by partners in relation to this.

When people received care from a range of different staff, teams, or services, it was co-ordinated effectively. All relevant staff, teams and services participate in assessing, planning, and delivering people's care and treatment and staff work collaboratively to understand and meet people's needs. We did find one care plan had not been updated following a stay in hospital. We told the registered manager about this, and action was taken immediately to address it, ensuring the person received the most appropriate and up to date care and treatment.

People told us staff supported them to lead healthy lives. A relative said, “they look after [family member] really well, their [condition] is well controlled, and staff monitor them carefully. We are both really happy with the care. [Family member] gets a regular bath which they like.” We asked a visiting chiropodist if they would be happy for them or a family member to be cared for at the home. “I really would. You see the same staff, so you have continuity, it’s nice and relaxed which makes it a ‘home’.”

Staff understood how to ensure people led healthy lives and how they could support them to do so. A staff member described what they did support healthy living. “I ensure they drink more fluids; they have a balanced diet, and their medications is well administered. I encourage people to eat healthily and prompt daily activities like exercises or encourage mobility movement like walking.”

The registered manager told us and records confirmed that a number of processes were in place to promote healthier living. No-one had been assessed as currently overweight, and some people were having their food and fluid intake monitored to promote healthy weight gain. If a person had a planned health appointment and needed to be accompanied by staff, the registered manager ensured that sufficient staff were in place at the home to cover, ensuring people’s day to day health needs were not affected. Where people could not attend external appointments to help them maintain good health such as an optician and chiropodist, arrangements were made for them to attend the home. GP visits were completed on a weekly basis and people could request to see the GP during this visit, or at an external appointment if required.

People who use the service consistently experience positive outcomes. These met agreed expectations as set out in legislation, standards, and evidence-based clinical guidance.

Staff understood how to support people in a way that led to positive outcomes. This included supporting people to walk again after being cared for in bed for a period of time and providing appropriate care should a person develop a pressure sore.

There were effective processes to monitor people’s care and treatment and their outcomes. This meant that continuous improvements were made to people’s care and treatment.

People understood their rights around consent to the care and treatment they were offered. People and relatives told us they or their family members were asked for their views and input before care and/or treatment was provided.

Staff understood the importance of ensuring that people fully understood what they were consenting to and the importance of obtaining consent before they delivered care or treatment. A staff member told us they knew about people’s ability to consent by, “reading the care plan and talking to the service user and asking for their consent before I do anything for them.”

When people lacked the capacity to make specific decisions mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were documented. These covered key areas such as medicines, health and personal care and finances. Appropriate people were consulted on decisions, where required. This included health and social care professionals, relatives, and people with lasting power of attorney. This ensured people’s rights were respected.