Archived: The Croft

Buckland Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 9JP (01737) 246964

Provided and run by:
Heddmara Limited

All Inspections

29 September 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Many people who live at the service have lived together for many years. They present as a close group who clearly care about one another. All people living at the service are over 55 years old and continue to enjoy the quiet, relaxed pace at the service.

People were observed to have a range of choices over how they occupied their time and what they had to eat and drink. One person told us how much they liked their lunch and that this is what they had chosen. We saw how improvements made to practices means that people have opportunities to be independent.

A person told us that if they did not like something or wanted to do something different they could tell staff. There are opportunities for people who live at the service, their carers and health care professionals to feedback their views about the service. This has resulted in changes to the food, activities and the environment.

1 February 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

A person who uses the service told us that they liked living at the home as they felt they had the freedom to do what they wanted when they wanted. People told us that they felt safe. Carers consistently told us that their relatives enjoyed and benefited from the quiet relaxed pace at the home. A carer said that the 'the environment is a bit institutional'.

People who use the service showed signs of positive wellbeing. This included relaxed body language, smiling, touching, engaging in contact, noises and movement used to express contentment.

Positive feedback was received from carers regarding the high standard of health care provision being provided. A carer spoke of kindness of the manager and staff when they were supporting their relative during a stay in hospital, saying 'that they went beyond the call of duty'.

Some people who live at the service told us that they like the food they were eating. Some carers told us that they had concerns regarding the quality of the food, that there was not a focus on health eating options and that there was a lack of variety.

During the course of the site visit a person was unwell and much care was taken to preserve their dignity and privacy including a consultation with their Doctor in private.

People and carers told us that they felt confident to raise any concerns they had with the manager and felt that this would be dealt with promptly.

Several carers expressed concern of the number of staff that have left the service recently and that 'this has lead to a high use of agency staff who are all very nice but this can not help residents in being able to express their needs'. A person who uses the service told us that they were not aware of why a favourite member of staff no longer worked at the home. Another person told us how kind staff were to them.

Carers consistently said that their relatives were very fond of some staff. A carer said 'The staff definitely know him very well they are always smiling and glad to see them, he has never expressed unhappiness'

Staff consulted with said how much they enjoyed working at the service and that there was a strong emphasis on team work. A staff member said that an area in which the service could improve upon was in the consistency of staffing, but felt that that once all vacant posts have been recruited to this would help ensure that the people who live at the service have more consistent support.

Carers told us that they have been asked in the past for their views on the service and if there is anything that could be improved.