Sheffield care home improves after previous CQC inspection

The Laurels and The Limes Care Home, on Manchester Road, received an overall “Good” rating from the CQC – as well as “Good” across all five key areas of their inspection report.

This has been welcomed by staff at the home as the previous inspection rated it as requiring improvement.

Inspectors spoke to more than three dozen residents, relatives and staff during their unannounced visit, when they also spent time observing daily life at the home.

In their report, inspectors noted: “People received a good standard of care and we saw examples where people had experienced a better quality of life after moving to the home, made possible due to the dedication and skill of the staff team.

“Throughout the inspection we saw very caring interactions between staff and people who used the service. Everyone involved in the service provided very positive feedback about the overall quality of the service. There was a person-centred culture with the management and staff team and all were highly involved in peoples' care and support.”

Inspectors quoted one relative of a resident who said: “She has got dementia and there is no other way to describe this place other than marvellous.”

Other relatives said: “She is totally safe here. The staff are lovely with her. I would say affectionate towards her. I am very impressed with them.

“The staff know how to help people with dementia in the right way and they make us feel very welcome when we visit” and “Staff are very caring and they are like family to her. Like one big family. She is happy here and she has familiar faces looking after her.”

Asked about their job satisfaction, a staff member was quoted by inspectors: “One hundred and ten percent I am happy in my role. Now I get free time to support carers and work on care plans. I also spend two days per week with [registered manager] to learn some of their duties. They are upskilling me for when the manager is not around. They are upskilling everyone actually.”

Inspectors also noted the activities available to residents living at The Laurels, which predominantly supports people living with dementia, and The Limes, which supports those who require nursing and residential care.

The report said: “The provider was very committed to reducing social isolation for

people living at the home and members of the public within the local community.

“There was a regular and varied programme of indoor and outdoor activities to promote people's wellbeing and interaction.

“The provider had also developed strong links within the community. For example, the provider worked with a leading charity for older people to promote social inclusion within the local area. The charity referred people in the community to the home, so they could spend time with other like-minded individuals, socialise and engage with the many daily activities that took place at the home.

“The service and staff worked hard to provide people living with dementia meaningful activities which was tailored to their needs.

“Feedback from relatives confirmed the service was exceptionally skilled in this area. Comments included, “The staff know how to deal with her dementia and I know she is not distressed because there is a smile on her face. I've no sense that she is frightened at any time”.

Louise Spooner, home manager at The Laurels, said: “We are absolutely delighted with our latest inspection report from the CQC.”

Craig White, home manager at The Limes, added: “The report is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, who provide a safe, caring and comfortable place for our residents to live.”

To read the full report visit https://www.cqc.org.uk/what-we-do/how-we-do-our-job/inspection-reports

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