Outstanding! National care inspectors commend Haverhill care home

A national care watchdog has named a Haverhill care home ‘outstanding’ for the second time. 

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has awarded Care UK’s Cleves Place, on Millfields Way, ‘outstanding’ in its level of care and its responsiveness, resulting in an overall ‘outstanding’ rating.

The home was a “hive of activity”, which reflects the interests, history and backgrounds of residents. This included supporting a resident-led activity to mark Burn’s Night, and inviting a tap dancer into the home for a resident who expressed their love for the dance.

It was noted that the person-centred culture shined through in the home’s ‘Wishing Tree’ initiative, which sees residents share wishes which the team then make come true. Going the extra mile, the team organised for their local fire service to visit a resident who was a retired fire fighter – celebrating his career and encouraging reminiscence.

The recruitment and training process of team members at Cleves Place was also praised with “overwhelmingly positive feedback” for the care team and the “exceptionally high-quality care” provided, with residents recalling feeling immediately “settled and happy at the home”. 

After speaking with relatives, the inspectors were impressed with consistent feedback being how “caring”, “compassionate” and “enthusiastic” the team is, going above and beyond their expectations with acts of kindness. One resident commented: "I landed in one of the best homes, I am happy here, they talk to me. I think they value us each in our own way, that is what makes it tick here, they allow you to be you.”

One relative commented: “I am very happy with all aspects of Cleves Place and their care for my [family member]…The team are of an exceptionally high standard and I have no concerns at all. The teams genuinely care for [residents] on a personal level and I can never express enough gratitude about that.”

Supporting residents to increase their independence, team members have introduced a new shopping trolley at the home. This initiative allows residents to choose their own preferred snacks and other purchases.

The management at the home was also praised by inspectors and relatives, who described the overall culture as positive and compassionate. The Home Manager, Clare Mooney, has implemented a caring culture where people feel valued and supported, an approach reflected in the quality of the care residents receive, with team members described as kind and caring. 

Clare said: “Here at Cleves Place, we see beyond a residents’ health conditions and older age, to their personality, hobbies and passions. We don’t see obstacles, we see opportunities. Every aspect of life here is tailored to the residents and how they want to live their lives.

“I’m so pleased our continued efforts have been recognised once again by the CQC’s inspectors, especially in light of the recent challenges of the pandemic. Everyone here is incredibly passionate about improving the quality of residents’ lives, and they work hard to make a positive difference each and every day. 

“To be rated ‘outstanding’ for the second time shows just how committed the team is and I’m extremely proud of each and every one of them. I would like to say thank you for their hard work and dedication, which I know is also greatly appreciated by residents and their families.”

To assess service standards at Cleves Place, 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.

Cleves Place is a modern care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space both in and outdoors for relaxation and recreation. 

To find out more about Cleves Place, please contact Home Manager, Clare Mooney, on 01440 857909 or email Clare Mooney clare.mooney@careuk.com  

For general information please visit: careuk.com/cleves-place