Castle Dene

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’s care and support needs were assessed. The home worked with external professionals and services to meet people’s needs. Healthcare needs were met, access to resources were available to support people to live healthier lives. People had enough to eat and drink and where there were concerns this was monitored. Consent was sought and people were involved in decisions about their health and wellbeing. If there was a concern a person lacked capacity to make individual decisions, an assessment was carried out in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

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's needs were assessed before they moved into the home and information was used to create care plans. Where appropriate, relatives and friends had been involved.

Staff understood people’s needs well. They told us the documentation they used was of good quality and detailed.

People’s care and support needs were assessed, reviewed, and updated as required. People’s records were accurate to the care they were receiving, and they were person centred.

People told us they were kept informed and involved in their care. Relatives were included where appropriate. People were complimentary about the food and drink available to them. One relative told us their loved one’s weight and general health had improved because of the food and said, “My relative [name] is eating more here and more of a variety than they did at home. Their eating used to be something I worried about, but I know now they will get them something they fancy any time of the day or night.”

Staff told us they worked with people following guidance and good practice documents, this had included working to support people’s nutritional needs.

Evidence-based care underpinned the policies and procedures within the home.

People and their relatives told us they felt information was shared appropriately within the service and to external agencies as required.

Staff told us the information they had for people was accessible to them through the providers electronic care planning system. The registered manager and deputy manager were confident to share information, as appropriate with external partners.

A health professional told us, “Staff at Castle Dene know people, they spot things early and send us a picture so we can start treatment without delay. I can't fault their communication with us or how they interact with people. You can see it for yourself.”

People’s information was stored using an electronic care planning system which was accessible. This had included a summary of the person’s key needs and most urgent risks. Records could be easily shared with staff, professionals and others involved in people’s care.

People were encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle; many people and their relatives told us how their general wellbeing and health had improved whilst living at Castle Dene. People were complimentary about the food and drink available to them in terms of quality and taste. The dining room experience was a social occasion enjoyed by everyone, meals were enjoyed together or alone as people preferred.

The registered manager told us they worked well with external health professionals. Staff knew people well and understood the risks they faced in terms of their general wellbeing and health. Staff who were responsible for meals knew about people’s needs and information was up to date and available for them in regarding the safe intake of food and fluids.

Information about people’s needs was shared efficiently as records were electronic, clear and comprehensive. Nutrition and hydration needs were known and were in place for each person, this included special diets such as for Diabetes and for safe swallowing.

People told us how much their general health and wellbeing had improved whilst living at Castle Dene. An example was where a person was having frequent falls at home and now had support to live a safer life. Relatives told us they had peace of mind knowing their loved ones were safer and had company throughout their lives.

The registered manager and staff told us they worked with people and their families to get the best possible outcomes for them.

Records detailed clear goals and outcomes for people, and this included instructions on how to achieve them. Each care and support plan were individual and centred around the person.

People told us they were treated with respect and supported to live their lives how they chose. Relatives confirmed their loved one was treated with dignity and where appropriate they had been involved in decisions made on the persons behalf. Consent was sought from people and where necessary in accordance with the MCA.

The registered manager, deputy manager and staff had a good understanding of the principles of the MCA. Staff had received training and told us the importance of asking consent before providing care for people. We observed staff asking questions and offering choices during our assessment.

A clear process was in place to carry out MCA assessments where required. Records showed MCA assessments had been completed for individual decisions. Care was planned in the persons best interest in the least restrictive way and in consultation with others. The assessment detailed all the options explored, including how the person was supported to make a decision and how the best option was selected as the outcome.