The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by a hospice in Gravesend, Kent to be Outstanding following an inspection in July.
Inspectors rated Ellenor Gravesend in Coldharbour Road, Gravesend, Kent Outstanding for being caring and responsive to people’s needs and Good for being safe, effective and well-led. The overall rating was Outstanding.
Ellenor Gravesend provides palliative care for babies, children and adults. They deliver personal, emotional and holistic care through a multidisciplinary team of nurses, doctors, counsellors, physiotherapists, therapists, spiritual leaders and a range of volunteers.
On site the 15 bed inpatient ward admits people from 14 years to adulthood and thehospice day service provides support for up to 20 adults. There are community teams that provide hospice services for people in their own homes as well as those in care and nursing homes and also respite services for parents/carers; cancer care for children so they can receive chemotherapy in their own homes and a range of clubs and activities. The service was providing support for around 1,420 people and their families at the time of the inspection.
Deborah Ivanova, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said;
“Ellenor Gravesend is providing exceptional care and operates an ethos based on consistently treating everyone using the service as individuals and with dignity and respect."
“Adults and children are supported by staff who are compassionate, understanding, enabling and caring. It is clear that providing high level support to a child, adult or family members is central to the values of the service. Staff embody and demonstrate these values when providing compassionate and professional care in supporting the whole family before, during and after a death."
“Inspectors were told of outstanding end of life care where children and adults are enabled to experience a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death in the place of their choice when possible."
“Inspectors found that the service is led by a management team who lead by example and have created an open culture where staff are listened to and valued."
“The management and staff have demonstrated great commitment and dedication in implementing the improvements highlighted during previous inspections and I would like to congratulate them on achieving our highest rating.”
The full inspection report can be found on our website.
Key findings from the inspection include;
In the adult service, the Care Home Support team contacted all nursing homes in the local area to identify each adult with a life-limiting condition. It had grown from supporting 140 people in January 2017 to 770 people at the time of the inspection. The service had met with all GPs in the local area and through this process had identified over 300 people whom they could offer support to help them to remain in their own homes, in preference to spending their last days in hospital.
The hospice had further developed the range of health, social and therapeutic activities available as a direct response to the needs of children and adults. Groups included music for well-being, cooking, poetry, meditation, gardening, spiritual reflection, an after school club and a tea and movie night.
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Ellenor Gravesend is providing exceptional care and operates an ethos based on consistently treating everyone using the service as individuals and with dignity and respect
Deborah Ivanova, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care