Sunningdale Court wins approval of national care inspectors

Home news

Aug 11, 2017

A national care watchdog has given Sunningdale Court the seal of approval, with relatives and residents praising its caring and attentive team members.

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report gave Sunningdale Court an overall ‘good’ rating, following an unannounced inspection.

The home received ‘good’ ratings in all five categories, including safety, effectiveness, level of care, responsiveness and having a well-led service.

Praise was given to the team, highlighting that they displayed a sound knowledge of safeguarding procedures and clear understanding about the actions they would take to protect residents from harm. One resident commented: “I feel safe because there are always people around. There are always enough team members.” A relative added: “Yes, it’s very safe here. We visit every day and see what goes on and how the team treat [resident] and the other residents here.”

The report noted that residents were supported effectively by competent team members. A relative commented: “We are very impressed with the team, they are well trained and knowledgeable.” Colleagues advised that the training they received was thorough and they felt they had the skills they needed to carry out their roles effectively.

Residents told the inspector that they enjoyed the meals provided by the home, commenting: “They come round and ask you what you want for breakfast, lunch and tea. There’s always fruit and snacks to eat.” Another resident commented: “If you don’t like the meal they will always find something to satisfy you.”

The report also found that residents were encouraged and supported to develop and maintain relationships with people that mattered to them. Relatives said that they felt welcome at any time and that they were involved in decisions about the health and wellbeing of their family members. A relative said: “We can have a meal with mum here and they always offer us a drink. I get an invite to meetings where I can express any views or provide feedback and the manager is very approachable.”

During the visit, inspectors observed that the team met the needs of residents in the ways that they wanted them to and at the time they needed support. One resident commented: “They [team] really get to know you. They come and talk to you when you first come in and find out what your likes and dislikes are.” The care home has employed two activity coordinators who could be seen supporting individual and group activities each day. Group activities included film afternoons, reminiscence, exercise groups, crafts, baking and pamper sessions.

Team members also organised residents and their families to work on ‘Life Story’ booklets about their background, family and interests. During the visit, it was noted that team members would chat to residents about their interests and it was clear they knew about their likes, dislikes and personalities.

It was also highlighted through observations that clear, caring relationships had been developed between residents and the team. Privacy and dignity of residents was respected by the team who encouraged them to be independent and make choices and decisions in their daily lives.

To assess service standards at Sunningdale Court, the CQC’s inspector spoke with team members, residents and their visiting relatives on the day of the inspection. They also reviewed the records and procedures already in place at the care home.

Linda Portlock, home manager at Sunningdale Court, said: “Creating a welcoming atmosphere that enables residents to feel at home is one of our main objectives at Sunningdale Court, so to see that the CQC officers have recognised our efforts is fantastic. Being awarded a ‘good’ rating truly reflects the care and passion that our team members invest into ensuring each and every resident feels at home and receives care tailored to their needs.

“We have a fantastic team and it is through their dedication and enthusiasm that we are able to offer the best levels of care possible. I thank them for their hard work and I know that it is greatly appreciated by our residents and their relatives.”