A second St Monica Trust Care Home has been rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Charterhouse Care Home, which is run by the Bristol-based charity, was rated by the CQC as ‘outstanding’ following an unannounced inspection in April this year.
Out of the five key lines of enquiry (KLOEs), Well Led and Caring were rated ‘outstanding’, with Safe, Effective and Responsive rated as ‘good’.
Only 3% of care homes in the UK are rated as ‘outstanding’ and two of the St Monica Trust’s four care homes have now achieved the highest rating, with John Wills House Care Home in Westbury-on-Trym being the other.
Giving residents "the best day they can have, every day..."
The CQC inspection highlighted Charterhouse’s “strong, values-led culture across the service, where people were treated as individuals by staff who were committed to maximising their quality of life,” adding that “the compassionate, person-centred care we saw was made possible because leaders had embedded their values of connection, contribution and choice throughout the service.”
Charterhouse Care Home’s General Manager, Gail Stone said: “The aim of every single member of the Charterhouse team is to give our residents the best day they can have, every day.
"Delivering great care to our residents on a daily basis and always questioning how we can do things better has become the norm at Charterhouse, so this recognition from the CQC is a welcome reminder to the whole team that what they provide here is truly exceptional.”
“The home was exceptionally well run”
In awarding their ‘outstanding’ rating, the CQC inspectors observed that residents and relatives “consistently told us the registered manager and staff were excellent,” and that “the home was exceptionally well run.”
Residents and relatives also spoke highly “of the caring culture and responsiveness of staff,” and that relatives highlighted the “strong communication and support from management, especially during transitions into care, which helped ease what could be a distressing experience.”
The inspectors observed how people benefited from access to “a diverse range of high-quality on-site facilities and activities, including a swimming pool, gym, and regularly organised pop-up events in the reception area, such as markets, crafts, and entertainment,” and how “people were encouraged and supported to contribute in meaningful and valued ways, promoting their independence and choice of social inclusion.”
Examples of this in the report, included residents taking on volunteering roles, “such as leading small group activities, delivering newspapers, and providing French lessons, which strengthened confidence, helped people maintain skills and a sense of purpose.”
Also noted was the care home’s commitment to embracing and co-developing innovative technology with residents, such as tracking the quality of people’s sleep to detect potential health conditions and AI ‘smart socks’ to monitor vital signs and movement.
"A four-and-a-half year journey"
St Monica Trust’s Chief Executive, David Williams, said: “My congratulations go to Charterhouse’s General Manager, Gail Stone and her entire team on achieving their ‘outstanding’ CQC rating.
"This success has not been achieved overnight. It has been a four-and-a-half year journey for Gail and her team, based upon the fundamentals of consistently delivering great care to our residents and the necessary dedication to seek continuous improvement.”
Located in Keynsham within the St Monica Trust’s Chocolate Quarter Retirement Village, Charterhouse is a 93-bed care home offering residential care and specialist care for people with general nursing needs or who are living with dementia.
The care home also offers respite and rehabilitation services, and free physiotherapy and occupational therapy for residents.
For further information on Charterhouse or any of the St Monica Trust’s Care Homes, please contact our admissions team on 0117 919 4263 or e-mail carehomes@stmonicatrust.org.uk.