Larkswood

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

The service was caring. People told us the staff were kind and friendly. Relatives also found staff approachable and pleasant. Staff told us they helped people to retain their dignity and always gave them choice in how care was offered. The manager told us how they used ‘Resident of the Day’ to review the care of each resident in turn, and also to make them feel special and cared for with small gifts and their favourite foods. We saw staff and people chatting with each other in friendly conversation.

This service scored 70 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People we spoke to were happy with their care. They told us “I’m well looked after, they do a good job.” and relatives said, “The girls seem lovely…They are very, very, kind.” And one relative told us about their loved one’s experience at the home, saying, “They do genuinely care for her. They have a very nice attitude towards her.” A relative said, ‘She’s been given good care. She’s got much better because of the care. She was assessed by the doctor as end of life, but she’s much improved because of the care she’s received here.”

Staff cared about the wellbeing and dignity of people. Staff told us how they gave people choice, and ensured they had privacy during care. A staff member said, “I give people choice when to wash them, I close the door, I keep them covered. I respect their choices and what they want to do. I always ask them what they want.” The chef told us how people could choose what to eat, and how it was served. A set of plastic plates had been purchased for a person who felt safer using them.

Partners told us how the home used the ‘Resident of the day’ policy to not only review people’s care, but to give them gifts and make them feel special on that day, for example by giving them flowers or chocolates and by ensuring their favourite meal was provided.

We saw staff and people talking to each other and having caring, polite and friendly interactions. People were pleased to see staff, and both staff and people called each other by ‘pet names’ . Staff knew people well and people obviously felt relaxed around the staff.

People were happy with the care and how it was tailored to them. People told us that they had showers or baths on allocated days. People felt this suited them and said if they wanted to have a bath on another day they could ask.

Staff treated people as individuals. Staff knew people and understood that people all needed and reacted to different styles of care. The chef showed us the four weekly meal plan and told us how people could choose their favourite meals to ensure all tastes were catered for.

We saw people enjoying their lunch. People had choice about what to eat and where to sit. Their were signs around the home to help people orientate themselves. A lift ensured people could move between floors regardless of their mobility needs.

Care plans included information specific to people and ensured staff had the knowledge they needed to treat people as individuals. For example, care plans included information about people’s diets and food preferences, and ways staff should encourage or talk to people about those choices.

We did not look at Independence, choice and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Caring.

People told us staff came quickly when people used the call bell or asked to speak to someone. People said staff reassured them that they were there to help, one person said “I hope I’m not a nuisance. They tell me off when I apologise for asking for something, they say, ‘that’s why we’re here.” And another person said “You use the buzzer and they come. You don’t wait. I’ll tell you, the night staff are very good.”

People’s immediate health needs were met. The manager told us how they contacted other health care professionals to ensure people’s needs were addressed. The manager told us how people were included in discussions about care and people were often spoken with, to ensure they were happy with the responses and decisions made about the home and their care. Relatives had told us some appointments in the past had not been supported due to staffing issues and the manager had told us there could be busy times. Staff had been recruited to cover busier times at the home.

Staff supported people promptly. Call bells were responded to in a timely manner. People asked for drinks and they were available as needed. Staff encouraged people to drink as the day was warm.

We did not look at Workforce wellbeing and enablement during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Caring.