Braintree Nursing Home

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• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

We reviewed 4 quality statements under this key question: person-centred care, listening to and involving people, equity in experience and outcomes and planning for the future. People were supported to make decisions about their own care and support. Staff treated people as individuals, providing a person-centred approach. People had access to activities and opportunities to engage in their hobbies or interests. People had access to external health care professionals to ensure their health needs were met. Where possible, staff supported people to plan and document their end of life wishes.

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 positive about the opportunities for social interaction and stimulation at Braintree Nursing Home. Comments included, “[Name of staff member] organised a taxi to take me to the cemetery to visit my late husband as it was his birthday,” “There is enough stuff to do, bingo, singalongs, keep fit in the chair, religious people come in, we had the children in at Christmas singing, pantomime group came in. We also play dominoes Connect 4 and lots of quizzes.” And “I go to the park and do sports in the wheelchair but not been this year, the children come from schools and join in the singing. I was in town yesterday in my wheelchair with [Name of staff member] who takes me a lot, I like it if the market is there.”

Staff knew people well and were able to describe their likes and dislikes. The service had introduced ‘resident(s) of the day’ to offer each person every month to be celebrated. One member of staff told us, “I take people out and about to do things they like, for example weekly visits to the church to enable people to maintain their faith.” The deputy manager told us they were working with the dementia support team to provide further training for staff around person-centred dementia care for people.

People’s bedrooms had their own personal belongings in them. For example, a person’s soft toys were beautifully displayed on their bed. People were kept stimulated throughout the day with various activities taking place in the main lounge. Staff were engaging with people using a reminiscence newspaper, playing cards and books. Staff were also supporting people to access the outdoor spaces if they so wished.

People received personalised care, tailored to meet their needs, and enhance their lives. Where required, care was flexible to enable people to attend health care appointments. If needed, staff accompanied people to appointments. Relatives informed us they were always kept updated on their family member’s health.

The service placed the needs of people at the centre of its values. This was visible from the management team and cascaded down through the staff. Staff were encouraged to provide holistic care. They worked closely with people to put together a care plan that was person centred and achieved their desired outcomes.

Visiting professionals spoke positively regarding the partnership working at Braintree Nursing Home. One professional we spoke to said, “They always support with exercise plans hence they take onboard the need for exercise. They are pro rehabilitation. What makes the difference here is what staff can do to support people on a daily basis rather than just infrequent physio visits.”

People’s views and preferences were incorporated into person centred care plans. Where necessary information was available in other formats such as large print and pictorial cards.

People’s information could be provided in different formats should they require this. For example, easy read with pictorial images, braille, large print and audio books.

Care plans were individualised an deflected people's current needs. The feedback from staff and professionals who worked in collaboration with the service was overwhelmingly positive.

People’s communication needs were assessed and recorded in care plans. Annual surveys provided people using the service with the opportunity to feedback their opinions on the support they received. The information received was collated and used to drive improvements.

People told us they knew how to voice their concerns or raise a complaint if they needed to and were confident any issues would be dealt with. One person told us, “We have residents’ meetings, there were not many there, our feedback was asked for. I have not had to make any complaints.”

Staff we spoke to were confident should they raise any concerns they would be responded to and dealt with in a timely manner. One member of staff told us, “Our manager is very supportive, they listen and take action.”

Staff we spoke to were confident should they raise any concerns they would be responded to and dealt with in a timely manner. One member of staff told us, “Our manager is very supportive, they listen and take action.”

People felt they were treated fairly and equally by staff. They told us they were able to access services such as the GP and district nurse without a problem, “All we have to do is ask and its sorted!”

Staff had completed equality and diversity training and understood their role in ensuring people had equity of access to various health and social care settings.

The feedback from professionals who worked in collaboration with the service was overwhelmingly positive. Throughout the day we observed staff treating people kindly, respectfully and without prejudice. There were several external professionals visiting people at Braintree Nursing Home on the day of our assessment at the request of the senior team to ensure people’s health care needs were promptly met.

The registered manager used good practice guidance in relation to equality and diversity. Care plans included information about people’s social and cultural needs. Staff knew about people’s individual characteristics.

People felt they were treated fairly and equally by staff. They told us they were able to access services such as the GP and district nurse without a problem, “All we have to do is ask and its sorted!”

Staff had completed equality and diversity training and understood their role in ensuring people had equity of access to various health and social care settings. Throughout the day we observed staff treating people kindly, respectfully and without prejudice. There were several external professionals visiting people at Braintree Nursing Home on the day of our assessment at the request of the senior team to ensure people’s health care needs were promptly met.

The registered manager used good practice guidance in relation to equality and diversity. Care plans included information about people’s social and cultural needs. Staff knew about people’s individual characteristics.

We saw where people’s end of life care had been discussed their wishes had been clearly documented in their care plan. Some people had a do not resuscitate order (DNAR) in place and advanced decisions planning with their end of life wishes. One relative told us, “[Name of person] came here a few months ago and was under the hospice care when they came. All the medicines are here, and I am reassured as communication is good.”

The registered manager told us, “We receive support from a local hospice. They will come in and visit the person. These visits will become more frequent as the person’s health declines. We create an advanced decision care plan and liaise with the persons GP for any anticipatory medicines which may be required to ensure the person remains comfortable and pain free.”

Staff had received death, dying and bereavement training. Peoples care plans documented their wishes and how they would like to be supported at the end of their life wherever possible.