St Joseph's Nursing Home

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

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.

The provider always treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. Staff treated colleagues from other organisations with kindness and respect.

People and relatives told us staff were very kind. Comments included, “Everything is kept private, they [staff] talk to us as a mate, which is good, they are very respectful”, “Staff give me privacy, I don’t want them in there when I shower and they respect my privacy, there is nothing for them to do better”, “Staff are very good, they are very caring, they are gentle and kind”, “This is a happy place, the people here care. I pray 5 times a day, staff give me full respect” and “[family member] gets the care they want, the girls are so good with them and staff knows [family member].”

The provider treated people as individuals and made sure people’s care, support and treatment met people’s needs and preferences. They took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics.

People received care personalised to their needs. Care records showed people had care plans in place which reflected their views and wishes. This enabled staff to support them in the way they wanted.

Staff took time to understand each person’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, cultural background, and protected characteristics. One staff member said. “I always maintain people’s culture and diversity by treating them fairly regarding their religion, age, sex, etc. We have a resident on a halal diet, and we informed the kitchen staff about their dietary needs.” Another staff member said, “I asked [person] if they were ok with the Christmas tree in here with the blue lights, this is their lounge, and they gave me the thumbs up otherwise I would have swapped it with another one.”

The provider promoted people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.

People were supported to maintain relationships with others, and there were no restrictions on visiting. This helped people stay connected with family and friends, which contributed positively to their wellbeing. A relative told us, “Staff are very kind people. I feel at home here, and with that support and help, my life is worth living. [Family member] cannot move, and I thought that this was the end of my happy life, but I can still live and smile.”

Care plans contained guidance for staff on promoting independence in areas such as mobility, communication, and managing risks. Regular reviews were held with people and their relatives to discuss any changes and ensure care remained aligned with their wishes. One care plan recorded. “Do not rush [person]; allow them to feel in control of what is happening to minimise any distress. Use a kind, gentle but clear communication style, giving lots of reassurance, support, and understanding.”

People told us they had choice and control over their daily lives. One person said, “It is my choice in everything. Getting up and going to bed, what I do. I prefer to stay in my room, but I go and watch entertainment like the singers.”

Activities were planned to reflect people’s interests and promote social engagement. People and relatives were positive about the opportunities available. A relative told us. “Singers come in the social area, both in the lounge and the garden. I bring [family member] in the wheelchair. Their parties are wonderful—you see people singing and dancing, some residents singing and some, if they can stand, dance with the staff.”

Staff worked creatively to ensure everyone could participate. One staff member explained:

“I organise five different singers. I keep the same five, so they know the residents. Tonight, we have the Brownies singing, and we will go round all the rooms for residents who don’t come out. The therapy dog goes round. The vicar gives holy communion in the dining room for a small group, and I asked residents if they wanted it individually or in a group, they chose a group session plus room visits.” This demonstrated the provider’s commitment to enabling choice, maintaining independence, and supporting meaningful connections for people living at the service.

The provider listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.

We observed staff responding promptly to people throughout our visit. This included reacting quickly to requests and anticipating needs before they were expressed. Staff regularly checked with people to ensure they were comfortable and offered choices, such as asking whether they wanted a drink, assistance with mobility, or support with activities.

A staff member told us, “I am responding promptly if we have an emergency with an effective manner. I am updating my documentation accurately and clearly for the person-centred care provided to the residents and if there are any changes.”

The provider demonstrated a strong commitment to caring for and promoting the wellbeing of staff, recognising that a supported workforce is essential for delivering high-quality, person-centred care.

Staff told us they felt valued and appreciated and spoke positively about the initiatives in place to support their wellbeing. A staff member explained, “The manager organises monthly team-building activities where we all come together. We have staff bingo nights, two quiz nights, and every Thursday for a month they put on a continental breakfast for us. Every Tuesday afternoon for a month they ordered pizzas for the staff. They do a lot for us, and we feel valued.”

The provider also operated an Employee of the Month scheme, announced in the monthly newsletter. A recent entry read, “For September, we proudly awarded [staff member], whose dedication, compassion, and consistently high standards truly embody the spirit of the organisation.” The newsletter also included wellbeing initiatives, such as an upcoming session with a professional therapist offering 15-minute head and neck massages. These measures demonstrated the provider’s commitment to creating a positive working environment, recognising staff contributions, and supporting their physical and emotional wellbeing.