Archived: Park Lodge

People made many positive comments about the staff employed in the home, the standard of the meals and the environment of the home. One person told us, 'You'd have to be daft if you didn't like living here, the staff are brilliant.' Another said, 'The staff redecorated this lounge themselves, they got money from the League of Friends. It's looks lovely.'

The home had created a friendly, lively and welcoming atmosphere. The close links developed with the local community meant that there was a constant stream of visitors coming and going, and people living in the home were actively supported to maintain these links. The home benefits from local volunteers who support the staff team. One person told us, 'I'd been coming for coffee mornings for several years before actually coming to live here. I feel so safe; it's the best decision I've ever made coming here to live.'

The manager implemented the organisation's quality monitoring systems that ensured the standards of care, the safety and maintenance of the home. We found that accurate record keeping ensured that people were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment.

We spoke with people in the home and observed people spending time how they chose. A noticeable feature of the home was the relationship and interactions between staff and the people living there. There was obviously a genuine affection and respect shown by staff in the way they attended to and responded to people. We found that the majority of people were well stimulated and had frequent staff attention for both care and social needs. People were engaged in their surroundings and alert, frequently having conversation with each other and with staff.