Care inspectors give Hythe care home top marks

A Hythe care home has been praised by national inspectors for its activity-based approach to care. 

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report gave Care UK’s Carpathia Grange, on Southampton Road, an overall ‘Good’ rating, following an unannounced inspection.

 

The home received ‘good’ ratings in all five categories, including safety, effectiveness, level of care, responsiveness and having a well-led service. 

The team’s activity-based approach to caring for residents was complimented in the report, with the devoted lifestyle team and the variety of activities available daily impressing the inspectors.

Residents are actively encouraged to try new hobbies and activities, including arts and crafts and chair exercises. One resident told the inspectors: “I love the place. It’s great, lovely, we laugh a lot.” Recently the home organised a ‘day out’ to the home’s very own beach – this proved to be a very popular activity. 

Carpathia Grange also impressed CQC inspectors with it warm and friendly atmosphere. The environment was people friendly and activities were accessible for people to dip in and out of. The report also noted the memorabilia around the home, which is age appropriate and tasteful. For example, a tool bench, tools and an oil can, a church organ with sheet music, a desk with an old typewriter and a jukebox. 

The inspectors highlighted the positive interactions between team members and residents, and praised Carpathia Grange’s open and inclusive culture, which places people at the centre of the organisation. 

This person-centred approach includes tailored care plans, which outline the individual’s needs, but also incorporates their beliefs and preferences. A resident said: “The friendliness of the carers is wonderful. They care. We have everything.” While another said: “They [team] come in, enjoy themselves. I've been here a few years and I wouldn't move.”

The home's proactive approach to ensure residents maintained in close contact with their family throughout the pandemic was also acknowledged in the report. A relative commented: “I was impressed with the measures they took over COVID-19 and the way they enabled families to keep in touch.”

The report also noted that relatives felt the management team were effective and reliable. One relative said: "They've been outstanding, incredibly supportive to my [family member], my sister and myself. From the first it's felt like a family run home and we have a very good relationship with the manager".

Pooja Dhoot, Home Manager at Carpathia Grange, said: “We are thrilled to receive this Good CQC rating. 

“It's wonderful to see the CQC inspectors' positive comments; they're a true testament to the team's dedication and commitment to continue to provide personalised, exceptional care while adapting to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at Carpathia Grange for their hard work especially during a very challenging 18 months. They are the reason that our care home is such a fantastic place to live for all of residents, and I applaud everything they do on a daily basis.”

To assess service standards at Carpathia Grange, the CQC inspectors spoke with team members, residents, and their visiting relatives on the day of the inspection. They also reviewed the records and procedures already in place at the care home.

Carpathia Grange is a three-storey care home, which provides residential, dementia and nursing care, features 62 ensuite bedrooms, and has been designed to enable its residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.

For more information, please email Customer Relations Manager, Nikki Toomer, at nicola.toomer@careuk.com, or call 0238 098 8733. 

For general information please visit: careuk.com/carpathia-grange.