At Ambleside, we are committed to ensuring the service we provide is of the highest quality.
The internal regulatory compliance assurance team, which includes former CQC inspectors, are working stringently with the home’s leadership team to develop and deliver against a robust service improvement plan. The achievement of this plan will validate that the care we provide will be of highest standard, particularly through a service that is well-led and safe.
Delivering a well-led service
Our team at Ambleside is committed to providing good standards of care that promote positive outcomes for residents. Alongside the internal regulatory compliance assurance team, we are working to develop plans to support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care to enable people to live the best life possible:
- Our management team is visible, approachable and holds regular meetings with colleagues, residents, and their loved ones to discuss any concerns and emerging risks.
- As well as clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability and governance, we have a system for monitoring incidents and analysis to ensure any trends and patterns are known.
- To ensure services work seamlessly for residents, we share information and learning with partners and collaborate for improvement.
- Continuous learning, innovation and improvement are undertaken to encourage creative ways of delivering equality of experience, outcome and quality of life for residents. Our management team encourages colleagues to support their practice through further training and development.
Delivering a safe service
At Ambleside, we are dedicated to improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from harassment, abuse and neglect. In our latest CQC report, inspectors found that residents feel safe at Ambleside. Our team works with residents and healthcare partners to understand what being safe means to them and the best way to achieve that.
We consistently evaluate staffing levels and work to appropriate staffing ratios. Since our latest CQC inspection, we have set out a plan to ensure our team visit communal areas and are visible around the home, whilst ensuring we put the care needs of residents first.
We are continuing to review our systems, processes, and practices to ensure the safe delivery of care to residents living in the home:
Systems and checks are in place to review accidents, incidents and residents’ care to ensure it remains accurate. We also work with residents and healthcare partners to ensure continuity of care, including when people move between different services.
Equipment, facilities and technology support the delivery of safe care at Ambleside. We have refurbished some communal areas to provide a welcoming and encouraging environment for residents, including making adaptations to keep people safe.
Safe administration, storage and disposal of medications is practised. We ensure medicines and treatments are safe and meet residents’ needs, capacities and preferences.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is maintained, spearheaded by the IPC Lead, with effective use of PPE (personal protective equipment) and teams trained in managing and preventing the spread of infection.
Delivering an effective service
We work across teams and services at Ambleside to support residents, and we are committed to developing a plan to drive improvements in the effectiveness of residents’ care, treatment and support:
Our team develops residents’ care plans from an initial assessment of their needs, and these are reviewed monthly or when a change in residents’ needs has occurred.
The dining team receives information they need about residents’ nutritional needs, allergies and modified diets. Specialist advice is shared on a weekly basis to ensure it remains accurate and up to date.
By supporting people to manage their health and wellbeing, we help them to maximise their independence, choice and control. We support people to live healthier lives and, where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.
Our weekly programme of activities supports and enriches residents’ physical and mental health through exercise, increased socialisation and activities, and colleagues speak to residents to ensure their hobbies and interests are known and supported.
Delivering a caring service
Our team understands it is important to deliver a compassionate, reassuring and positive service for residents living at Ambleside. We are working hard to provide care of the highest quality to ensure each resident feels well-supported, cared for and treated with dignity and respect:
- We strive to work in a way that makes people feel they matter and that respects their privacy and dignity.
- Our team members encourage residents to engage in activities, celebrations and social events to promote their mental, emotional and social wellbeing. For those who are cared for in bed or choose to spend most of their time in their bedroom, we offer special time focused just on them.
- Colleagues respond to residents’ needs in the moment and act to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.
- Our management team cares about and promotes the wellbeing of our colleagues and supports and enables them to deliver person-centred care.
Delivering a responsive service
At Ambleside, we are committed to providing care that is joined-up, flexible and supports choice and continuity. We are working stringently to ensure our service meets residents’ needs, and that colleagues treat people equally and without discrimination:
We understand the diverse health and care needs of residents. Health care professionals are involved in supporting and advising on the care people received.
Care plans inform colleagues how to communicate with residents most effectively, and we supply information in formats that are tailored to individual needs. Our team ensures they communicate with people at their level to support their understanding, including by using visual prompts, for example showing plates to help residents understand the menu options available.
We ensure residents can access the care, support and treatment they need when they need it. Colleagues recognise some people cannot verbally inform them if they feel unwell and recognise that they might demonstrate a deterioration in their health through their reactions and responses.
Colleagues support residents to plan for important life changes, so they have enough time to make informed decisions about their future, including at the end of their life.
