Reydon care home receives high praise from industry inspector

A care home based near Southwold has been rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following an inspection into the quality of service it provides. Oaklands House, which is part of the Healthcare Homes Group and located in Reydon, was inspected in May and has since received this positive grading.

Inspectors visited Oaklands House in an unannounced visit and spent time speaking with staff, residents, the relatives of residents and the registered manager. They looked to determine whether the service delivered at the home was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The home was rated as ‘good’ in all five areas. The home provides care for up to 29 people, and the team prides itself on creating a happy home, where residents can thrive. Inspectors noticed this warm, caring atmosphere, stating, “There were engaging and friendly discussions between people and staff and lots of laughter and smiles. This contributed to a positive environment.”

Residents are involved in the planning of their care, which is entirely based around their needs and wishes, with regular involvement from their families. Inspectors spent time with residents to understand how effective this is and were told by one resident that “this is our home, we do what we want.”

This focus on personalised care is described in detail within the report, which lists just some of the ways in which staff respond to the needs of residents. One resident commented that they didn’t have many family photos so a Mother’s Day photo shoot was arranged, another missed being able to knit, so she was supported in starting this hobby once again, and dancing talks and activities were arranged as many of the residents had met their spouses through dancing.

This exceptional care has also been recognised by relatives of residents who have provided positive feedback on the independent review website www.carehome.co.uk. The home is currently rated as 9.6 out of 10 and has received such comments as “The care is excellent. All teams of carers worked in harmony like clockwork, attending to your every need. The food was excellent, beautifully presented, not too much or too little. Everyone knew their job….and everyone was friendly and hardworking.”

Manager of Oaklands House, Hanro Steytler said: “We are thrilled with the positive comments found within this report.

“What matters to us is the health and happiness of our residents, so to hear such glowing feedback about the way we provide care, tells us that all of the team’s efforts are working.

“The whole team works with the same ethos – every resident is unique and we must do all we can to make them comfortable and at home. This means we never stop looking for new ways to improve our care and we will now build on this excellent report to further strengthen our service.”

The full inspection report can be viewed at www.cqc.org.uk. Oakland House is based in Reydon near Southwold. For more information on the range of residential services available, call 01502 724955 orvisit www.healthcarehomes.co.uk.

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