National care inspectors praise Cavell Court

Home news

Feb 19, 2019

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

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

The care home was rated ‘good’ in all five categories, which include safety, effectiveness, caring, leadership, and responsiveness. 

Residents told the CQC inspectors that they felt safe at Cavell Court, and the team at the home demonstrated that they reviewed each resident’s care records regularly to ensure that they reflected current risks to safety, and managed them effectively. A relative of a resident said: “I've got peace of mind now. [My relative] is safe and cared for."

The team also ensured exciting activities were taking place at the home throughout the year, such as yoga classes, Bonfire Night celebrations, and a reindeer visit for Christmas. The report highlighted that the team placed importance on the individual preferences of residents, such as providing church services for a resident who expressed a religious interest. One resident commented: “The team are always thinking up different things to do."

CQC inspectors noted that the residents at the home spent a lot of time with the local community, including taking part in intergenerational work with visits from local schoolchildren, and regular sessions with a mother and toddler group. Residents had also taken part in a six-month project to create a sci-fi film with Pathways College students.

In addition to meaningful activities, residents were encouraged to make decisions on what life is like at the home. Cavell Court’s in-house shop is stocked with items that residents have requested, with a team member commenting: “It was [the residents’] idea for the shop and what they wanted to see in it”. The home is also developing roles for ‘resident representatives to participate in new team member interviews and chairing residents’ meetings. 

The home was praised for its attention to detail with décor, commenting on how the team had made the home easy to navigate for those living with dementia, with reminiscence items available on the walls and within the lounge areas. The in-house café provided a central and lively hub for residents and their relatives. 

The report also commended the positive changes that the home manager had implemented, commenting on the “noticeable leadership” within the home, and praising the “hands on” and “visible” approach. A relative of a resident commented: “They need recognition for what they have been doing" and "they [the team] are not just smiley today because of you [CQC] being here…that is how they always are."

Jennie Rodger, home manager at Cavell Court, said: “Everyone has put in a lot of hard work to ensure we offer a home-from-home to all the residents and their families, and the whole team are really proud of their achievements.

“Receiving a ‘good’ rating shows just how dedicated the team is to looking after every individual’s needs, and we will continue our hard work to ensure residents receive compassionate, person-centred care. I would like to say thank you to the team for their dedication, which I know is also greatly appreciated by residents and their families.”