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The ‘good’ rated care home where ‘fantastic’ staff guide and reassure dementia sufferers
A care home which looks after older people has been rated “good” by inspectors who said it was safe and well-led.
The Poplars Care Home was given the good rating, maintained from its last inspection in 2020, by the Care Quality Commission. Three inspectors from the health and social care regulator had made an unannounced visit to the residential home on Thornaby Road, Thornaby when it looked after 39 people, some living with dementia.
The CQC’s report says: “People and relatives told us they felt the service was safe. Staff understood their role in safeguarding people.
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“The home was clean and safety checks were carried out. Medicines were managed safely.”
It said staff were recruited safely and the home was working to overcome recruitment challenges: “There were enough staff to meet people’s needs when we visited the home and staff told us they usually had enough time to support people according to their wishes. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.
“We observed staff meet people’s needs quickly and received feedback from most people and relatives that staff were available when they needed assistance. We received some feedback that some people occasionally had to wait for care or felt they needed to fit in with the routines of the home.
“Staff told us they generally had time to meet people’s needs safely and we observed staff had time to engage in conversations and positive interactions with the people they supported.”
The inspectors spoke to eight people who used the service, seven staff members and three relatives. They found people were “protected from abuse and avoidable harm”, with risks safely managed, appropriate maintenance, safety checks, staff trained in safeguarding, and systems to promote safety and report concerns.
They added: “The service was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders and the culture they created promoted high-quality, person-centred care.
“There was a positive culture that promoted good outcomes for people. We observed positive and caring interactions between people and staff.
“For example, we observed staff guide and reassure people living with dementia. One person told us ‘they are fantastic the staff’ and ‘the staff are very careful and caring’.
“Staff told us they felt supported and could seek advice, guidance or share any concerns they may have. A member of agency staff told us, ‘The staff are very friendly, and I know the residents well. I have worked in other homes, but I like this one.’
“Most people and relatives told us the registered manager was approachable. One relative described them as ‘champion, helpful and friendly’.
“Staff worked with external agencies and members of the community to enhance the experience of people living at the home.”
The commission said there were systems to monitor accidents and learn lessons, with no evidence that people were at risk of harm from infection prevention or control concerns. Inspectors made a recommendation to review the records of daily care given to people, as this was not always recorded.
The home has been contacted for a comment.
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