CQC rate Applewood Care Home, Basingstoke as Outstanding

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated the care provided at Applewood Care home as Outstanding overall following an inspection in May 2016.

Inspectors rated Applewood Care Home located in Basingstoke, Outstanding for being effective, caring, responsive to peoples’ needs and Good for being safe and well-led.

Applewood Care Home provides residential care to older people living with a range of medical conditions including diabetes, those living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

A full report of the inspection has been published today at: www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-143956703

Deborah Ivanova, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said:

“Staff should feel proud of the work they do and of the outstanding support they provide for people in their care. Staff had the right skills and knowledge to deliver an exceptional level of personalised care.

“The leadership of the home and the real focus on quality, alongside an open and inclusive ethos meant staff morale was excellent. They felt motivated by the manager to provide compassionate and dignified care.”

“People should always be cared for by services that are safe, effective, caring, responsive to their needs and well-led. Our inspectors’ full findings are detailed in our published report which demonstrates how real quality care can be achieved.”

The report highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

• A commitment to staff training through creative, proactive and innovative techniques that develop staff skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality care.
• Encouraging people to participate in daily activities, to remain independent and live enriched and fulfilled lives.
• Staff were compassionate and caring with people. For example, the positive relationships that staff had with people encouraged participation in meal times, which in turn improved people’s health and well-being.
• A drive to improve the quality of care provided, people’s complaints, views and opinions were sought, listened to and acted on in a timely fashion.
• The registered manager and the provider clearly demonstrated their commitment, both financially and ethically, to ensure the design of the care home supported those living with dementia and personalised bedrooms provided a homely atmosphere.
• The service treated people with respect and maintained their privacy at all times. This included support for people’s end of life plans.
• Applewood Care Home delivered an exceptional level of person-centred care and people’s feedback showed that staff exceeded their expectations and enabled people to live fulfilled, active and meaningful lives.

Ends

For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Officer Farrah Chandra on 07917 594 574 or, for media enquiries, call the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours. Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. (Please note: the duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters).

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