The CQC has found the quality of care provided by The Old School House, a care home in Beverley, Humberside, to be among the best in the country.
The service specialises in the care of older people who are living with a dementia and is run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The service was rated Outstanding by the CQC following an inspection in March.
CQC asks five questions when it inspects. Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led? The Old School House is rated as Outstanding for effective, caring and well-led, and Good for being safe and responsive.
A full report of the inspection has been published on our website.
Debbie Westhead, CQC's Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North, said:
“We found the quality of care provided at The Old School House in Beverley to be outstanding."
“We saw an exceptionally caring service that was planned in partnership with people and their families, and really met their individual needs."
“Without exception, people told us they were extremely happy with the level of care received and we saw staff who enjoyed their jobs, and treated people professionally but also with kind-heartedness and consideration."
“The culture at The old School House was also very impressive. It was caring, open and transparent. Staff worked closely and effectively with other healthcare partners and really took people’s views on board and acted on feedback."
“This service, which catered to people’s changing needs is truly setting an example, and I hope other care providers look to them to see what outstanding care looks like."
“The whole team should be very proud of the service they are providing.”
The report highlights a number of impressive areas at The Old School House.
Relationships with families and friends were highly valued. We saw friends and families had built relationships with other people living at The Old School House and often continued to visit them after their own family members had died. This provided people living in the home with continued friendships and connections.
All of the interactions observed between staff and people using the service, without exception, were extremely positive and staff respected people as individuals. They spoke with them in an adult way and took time to pay attention, listen and understand what the person said or communicated through their body language, facial expression and gestures. People were rarely upset because staff understood their communication and provided the reassurance they needed, when they needed it.
A visiting GP told inspectors: "Talking about care in this area, they are outstanding. They show a very deep understanding of dementia and show the greatest care in preserving people's dignity."
Relatives, staff, health care professionals and volunteers were confident in the leadership of the service. They were encouraged to raise any areas of concern, which were taken seriously and the appropriate action taken.
Staff supported people in a positive way and were able to recognise when people may require additional support. They had received bespoke training to intervene when people were at risk from behaviour that may challenge others and they intervened calmly and confidently when they noticed anything that could cause a person to become distressed.
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For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Officer Kerri James by email kerri.james@cqc.org.uk or by phone on 07464 92 9966.
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We saw an exceptionally caring service that was planned in partnership with people and their families, and really met their individual needs
Debbie Westhead, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North