Praise from Care Quality Commission of Homefield Grange Care Home
Homefield Grange Care Home, has been praised in its first Care Quality Commission (CQC) report whilst under Caring Homes Group, for having a friendly, kind and caring team.
The care home was rated as ‘Good’ in each of the five inspection categories – ‘safe, effective, caring, responsive’ and ‘well-led’ – during the visit, which took place recently. In line with the CQC’s new ways of working following the COVID-19 pandemic, the infection control and prevention measures in place were inspected in full. This is to ensure the home is prepared in preventing or managing any infection outbreak.
Part of the Caring Homes Group, Homefield Grange delivers the highest standard of residential and dementia care for up to 64 elderly residents in a friendly and supportive environment. The home, in the historic town Christchurch, benefits from being near to to award-winning beaches, coastal nature reserves, heritage attractions and the charming Quay.
Inspectors noted that each individual’s care was designed and planned to meet their unique needs and were reflective of lifestyle choices and understood by the staff team.
The care team were seen to know their residents well. One relative said "(staff) are assessing everything, (relatives care needs). I originally met with the senior nurse, and they shared with me what they will do as a starting point and they are working on what they will do in the long term." Relatives further described the staff as “friendly, kind and caring.”
Staff are proud to work as part of a team to care for people. Inspectors noted when speaking to residents, their families and staff, they spoke positively about the management of the home and felt able to share their views, opinions and ideas with the management team. A staff member commented to inspectors, "the words I would use to describe the culture would be family, friendship and constructive."
Residents were seen to enjoy the daily activities at Homefield Grange which provide mental stimulation and social interaction. A varied activity programme is available for residents to join in with every day, including sensory experiences such as guess the flavour or a mystery box of touch. Inspectors observed a group of people making cheese dough balls, with flour everywhere, laughing and chatting and having a great fun time.
One resident commented “to be honest, I'm too busy to go to the (organised) activities. I knit, crochet, and have got tomatoes and ginger that are growing outside my room in the garden, in pots."
Ruth Wildman, Home Manager, said: “This is a great achievement for our home and the team is thrilled as it shows that the CQC have witnessed the combination of great care, great service and great practices as well as great people working within our home.”
Julie Mason, Senior Care Operations Director, commented “I am delighted that Homefield Grange, a recent acquisition to the Caring Homes Group, has achieved such a tremendous outcome from the recent CQC inspection. It is a testament to the achievement of all our colleagues to maintain and provide great standards of care through a period of change.”
To find out about life at Homefield Grange, the inspectors spoke with three people who live at the home, and five relatives about their experience of the care.
They also interviewed 12 members of staff including the senior operations director, registered manager, home manager, nurses, care workers, chef, administrator and receptionist.
The team also reviewed care records for six residents, multiple medication records, staff recruitment files, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
