Maidenhead home wins praise and watchdog’s approval

Home news

Jan 07, 2014

Inspectors assessing Care UK’s Clara Court care home in Maidenhead have given the home their seal of approval after hearing praise for its care and cleanliness from the home’s residents and their relatives.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) report, which follows an unannounced inspection of the home in Courthouse Road, says: “One person told us "it’s a really good home". A relative told us their relation "loved it" at the home and that they had been "praying they would get a place here".

The inspectors examined the home, its records and interviewed team members, residents and their relatives to ensure that the home met the Government’s five standards of quality and safety which are:

• Respecting and involving people who use services
• Care and welfare of people who use services
• Cleanliness and infection control
• Requirements relating to workers
• Assessing and monitoring the quality of service

Residents told inspectors that “they were given choice in everything” and, through the support of team members, they enjoyed being part of the local community which helped to keep them active and independent.

The inspectors also noted that people's privacy, dignity and independence were respected with residents' views and experiences taken into account in the way the services were provided and delivered by the team so that they could feel truly in charge of their own lives.

Home manger Debbie Winwood said: “Choice is the key to maintaining someone’s wellbeing and dignity, and is an issue we really strive to achieve. Offering our residents complete choice in their care, activities and food is central to the kind of care we offer.

“Many of our residents have lived locally for much of their life, so we have developed relationships with many clubs and associations in the area - we visit them and they join us for the events and tea dances we regularly hold. This means our residents can keep up interests and friendships they have had for years – Clara Court is their home, and these links help to make it feel like that.”

The inspectors noted that the home, which provides care for people living with dementia, was clean and one relative of a person living in the home confirmed to inspectors that they felt the home was "lovely and clean". The inspectors also noted that there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.

Debbie said: “We ensure that staff are fully trained to take care of the physical and emotional needs of our residents and that includes making sure everyone understands the importance of excellent hygiene.  We strive to ensure the high standards people would expect in their own homes are met, if not exceeded, at Clara Court.”