Pytchley Court Nursing Home

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 inspection we rated this key question good. At this inspection the rating has remained good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 83 (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 always made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by thoroughly assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. A person told us, “I read all about my care plan, we do it together, I am lucky I know and can decide about my care and what to put in care plan.” A relative told us, “I am updated about [Name’s] care plan, and I like to hear how much they know about my them. It fascinates me the level of professionalism, I could never believe that level of care could exist.” Staff ensured they understood people’s current needs; they were allocated specific times in the day to read people’s care plans. The provider carried out an assessment of people’s dementia needs, the staff received additional support in the form of communication coaching which had a positive impact of meeting people’s needs. For example, we observed staff supporting one person to mobilise to the dining room for lunch, they said to the person, “I'd like you to come and sit in the wheelchair for dinner”, at first the person said no, but when staff offered them a cup of tea, the person said “Oh yes.” The person followed the staff’s instructions to push up from chair and sit in wheelchair safely. A relative told us, “[Name] hasn’t shown any response to activities offered, but staff show a good understanding of how to communicate with them.”

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 such as Waterlow for assessing the risk of pressure ulcers. People’s nutritional needs were assessed, and their preferences were followed. Staff had information about people’s favourite food and how they liked their drinks. A relative told us, “I have been very involved in the care plan. [Name] has been eating better since living in the home and accordingly has improved in overall wellbeing. It was suggested [spouse] should stay for some meals with [Name] as a means to encourage them to eat, and that has been very successful. [Spouse] has said the food is very good.”

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. The GP told us staff were, “Caring and warm. There is an ethos of care that is evident in our regular dealings with the staff.” Nursing staff also supplied clinical observations to other external health professionals to support the management of long-term conditions. This was part of an initiative to spot developing issues and reduce unplanned hospital admissions. The local authority reported, “The management team leave a positive impression ensuring the relationship across all stakeholders is nurtured.” This had a benefit for people being placed at the home appropriately, in safeguarding issues, assessments for funding, quality monitoring of the home and transition between services.

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. Nursing staff monitored people’s clinical signs. For example, food and fluid intake, weight loss or gain and bowels to help detect early signs of deterioration. A relative told us, “[Staff] have been very quick to refer [Name] to the GP over any concern, for example, [Name] is currently on antibiotics for a chest infection after they reported a cough.” Staff understood the importance of mental well-being; they had received training in mental health first aid; some people had been supported to visit a well-being tearoom at a farm.

The service monitored all people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they fully met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. For example, a person’s health and mobility had improved enough for them to return to their own home. They told us, “When I leave, I will miss all these kind people who helped me became stronger, they are now my friends and I will try to keep in touch. They take me to yoga, they take me shopping, they are all so kind and caring. I have now minimal care needs but it wasn’t like that all the time and they would be careful to explain me about everything. I had more than one care plan and they sat with me and ask what I want and what final goal I have, it was always my final goal I wanted to go back home.” Another person’s medical condition had improved; the registered manager told us, “[The] Service could see [Person’s] frustration and potential..[person’s name is] now medically optimised, on reduced medications, eating, interacting and living their life with their loved ones once again. This was achieved through compassion, curiosity and being courageous, and what a difference it made!” A relative was impressed with how staff had integrated their relative [into the home] and increased their mobility, they said, “[Name] has been further in a month with you than [Name] got in 6 months at [previous home], so well done.” Nursing staff had taken over the care of a person’s leg ulcers. Due to the consistency of nursing care their leg ulcers were improving, and the person was not in as much pain as they used to be. Another person regained their mobility and social life, the manager told us, “Through support [Name] no longer needs hoisting as they are fully mobile, no longer has a catheter and enjoys going out for pub lunches.”

The service told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. A person said, “I understand my rights and if something is not right, I would talk to senior staff or any staff member.” Another person said, “[Staff] will never make me do something I would not like.” A relative told us, “[Name] might not understand their rights, but we are here to just support them as much we can. We work together with the care home and its great symbiosis.”