A Wandsworth care home, which is now under new management, has been rated 'outstanding' overall by the Care Quality Commission.
Heritage Care Centre in Gearing Close, was rated outstanding for being caring and well-led. It was rated good for being safe, effective and responsive, following an inspection in September 2018.
Heritage Care Centre provides personal care and nursing for up to 72 older people, some with a diagnosis of dementia.
Inspectors found that people and their relatives were full of praise for the management and staff at Heritage Care. Comments included: "The culture flows down from the manager"; "Starting from the top, everyone is so caring and friendly. They take their time and you can tell it's genuine"; "Staff are a top team, very hands on"; "We are incredibly happy. It was such big wrench for us to leave [family member], but as soon as we came here we just knew it was the place. We got an immediate sense of tranquillity and calmness. We were really impressed."
The provider was open and transparent to new ideas and collaborative working which had a positive impact on the care provided to people. The home had worked with a local primary school to set up an after-school club for children. This involved a weekly visit by the school children to the home where they took part in various activities. People enjoyed the interaction with the children, it gave them a sense of purpose as they could help the children to read, and play board games with them.
Heritage Care Centre was also involved in initiatives with the Care Home Research Network to improve the lives of people using the service, especially those living with dementia. Staff participated in network forums, attended training and workshops where they shared ideas and practice.
The home’s manager had arranged for a local councillor to visit the home and speak to staff about the impact of Brexit on staff recruitment and retention, as this was something that potentially could have an impact on the service provision.
The service worked in collaboration with the GP federation and the Clinical Commissioning Group as part of the Care Home In-reach team project. The aim of this was to develop the skill set and confidence of staff to reduce avoidable emergency admissions to hospital. This meant that pressure on local NHS services was reduced.
Debbie Ivanova, deputy chief inspector, Adult Social Care, says: “Heritage Care Centre is a well-run care home that thoroughly deserves its outstanding rating overall. I was particularly impressed with the way the home interacts with local primary schoolchildren, that people could help the children to read and play board games with them.
“Comments from people and their relatives at Heritage Care Centre were fulsome of the home’s caring leadership and staff – one person said staff were a top team and I would like to second that.”
