Northumberland home gets seal of approval from national care watchdog

Home news

Mar 21, 2014

Care UK’s Ponteland Manor care home in Ponteland, Northumberland, has been given the seal of approval by a national care watchdog, after inspectors visited the home and talked to residents and relatives.

The Thornhill Road home accommodates up to 52 older people who need nursing, residential or respite care and also offers specialist care to those with physical disabilities. 

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors examined the home and its records on December 4 last year and interviewed team members, residents and relatives before announcing that the home meets the Government’s five national standards of quality and safety which are:

• Treating people with respect and involving them in their care; 

• Providing care, treatment & support that meets people's needs; 

• Caring for people safely & protecting them from harm; 

• Staffing; and

• Management

Residents told inspectors that they were happy with the care they received and the food on offer, commenting on the fact that the catering team were always ready to offer a choice of meals, and to produce dishes to suit individual needs. A visiting relative told inspectors: "It's very good. Staff are caring and very helpful."

The team do all they can to encourage people to keep their independence, as well as supporting residents throughout their daily activities. The inspectors, when checking that residents received their medication appropriately, were told by one resident that they were in control of their own medicines, which they appreciated. Team members also showed the inspection team the records they kept, which showed clearly when people had been helped with topical medicines.

The home’s team also encourage residents to keep up their interests and their community links, with activities such as an art group and a ukulele group, and visits from the home to places of interest as well as personal trips to see friends and family.

Manager David Bell said: “I am delighted that the inspectors found that we met Government standards. We focus all our efforts on offering a high standard of personalised care and the team here is dedicated to that.”