The first general nursing home in England has been rated ‘outstanding’ in all five areas by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Godswell Park care home in Oxfordshire, which opened in 2011, was awarded ‘outstanding’ for being safe, effective, caring, responsive and well–led.
Michael Bone, the nursing home’s chairman said: ‘I am so very delighted with these results which endorse our complete commitment to offering the best that is possible in nursing care. I was inspired to set up a care home after the struggle I had to find a place that could care well for my own mother, and this is a wonderful legacy for her.’
A small number of other social care providers have attained this rating from the CQC, however, Godswell Park is the only general, standalone nursing home in England solely for older people, out of the 18,000 that are registered with CQC, to achieve a score of outstanding in all five inspection areas.
‘Elderly people requiring nursing care are some of the most vulnerable in our society. It is important that staff have ample time to support them individually so that each resident may continue to live as fulfilling a life as possible,’ Mr Bone said.
‘To achieve this with an outstanding score means not only that this is happening, but that it is carried out to the highest standards, with kindness and care.”
The care home’s management noted their heavy investments in staff training and personal development, as well as technology and equipment. The home has a computerised care planning and medication system to ensure it offers the most advanced approaches to residents’ care.
The management said it, ‘recognises the importance of combining the use of technology and individualised medical care with traditional approaches to well-being, including an eight acre accessible garden and grounds with its own flock of Soay sheep.’
‘Everyone at Godswell is absolutely delighted and I hope you’ll agree that it’s very refreshing to have a good news story coming from the care home sector.’
Mr Bone added: ‘We look at innovative ideas and best practise being used in other parts of the world and bring them back to Oxfordshire, such as our sun room, complete with sandy beach, which was pioneered in Sweden. We were the first care home in the UK to incorporate this in our premises.
‘My aim has always been to provide the best possible care for the elderly at fair value. This CQC report has shown that it can be achieved, and I’d like to thank each and every member of staff at Godswell Park who make it happen.’
Deborah Ivanova, deputy chief inspector of adult social care for the CQC, said: ‘I was delighted to read this report and to hear about the passion and drive displayed by the whole staff team. Godswell Park is clearly an outstanding service where both care delivery and the physical environment are designed around meeting people’s needs in a way that makes their lives full and meaningful.
‘We observed staff demonstrating kindness, respect and compassion by focusing on the well-being of people and going above and beyond their regular duties.
‘It is encouraging to see a service where the care provided is of such high quality. The service demonstrates a real commitment to innovation and using technology to improve the lives of people in the service.
‘For each person living there the care is truly individual and personalised. This is a considerable achievement and I would like to congratulate the staff and management team for the work they continue to do for people in their care.’
The full inspection report can be found on the CQC website.
