Katherine House receives CQC rating

Katherine House in Westbury on Trym, a residential care home for 41 residents, has received an excellent review from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who inspected the home in June and published its report on 22nd August 2019.

The CQC is an independent regulator in England that monitors and inspects health and social care services to ensure that people are provided with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care. The five categories rated in the inspection report are: safe; effective; caring; responsive; and well-led.

The inspector examined the premises and the care provided, looked at individual care records, as well as records relating to the running of the home, and rated Katherine House as Good in four categories and Outstanding in ‘responsive’.

The report gave an extremely positive account of Katherine House throughout. The highlights included some of the comments noted by the inspector after speaking with residents, family members and staff.

“It amazes me how well we are looked after, I could not ask for anything more.” Resident

“The staff are so helpful and will always go out of their way to make sure you are content and have everything you need.” Resident

“Mum lost lots of weight before she lived here, but since, she has flourished”. Family member

“Mum is comfortable and secure and staff deliver a high quality of care.” Family member

“The positive attitude of staff and the quality of their interactions are excellent.” Family member

The inspector described staff morale as high, noting that one staff member, when asked whether they like working at Katherine House, said: “Love it!”

She also reported that people’s outcomes were consistently good, and that the feedback gathered was, without exception, positive.

The inspector described “a pleasant and cheerful atmosphere where staff treat people with respect” and described how residents were “truly respected and valued as individuals; empowered as partners in their care in an exceptional service”.

The report also noted that “equality and diversity was acknowledged and celebrated at the home” and that “everyone felt welcome and supported”. She said that “people were encouraged to be active and healthy with the wide range of activities on offer” and that “care plans were clear and person-centred, created with the full input of people and their families”.

She said that “it was very evident throughout the day that strong relationships had been built between staff and people in the home. Staff were kind, respectful and fun and this created a positive atmosphere.”

The management team were highly praised by the inspector, who said that they “led by example with their person-centred approach to caring for people.” She went on to say that this approach “was evident in many ways, from how staff interacted with people respectfully and with good humour, to how activities and events were planned to suit the individual needs of people using the service.”

The breadth of activities available to residents was also commended, with the inspector describing how residents “were supported to live active and fulfilling lives” where “activities reflect the needs and preferences of people living at the home.”

Particular examples were picked out by the inspector, including a fortnightly dance class, with one resident saying: “The evening ballet session made me feel happy and nostalgic, it reminded of when I used to dance as a child”.

The inspector gave further examples of a theatre visit to watch Swan Lake, quoting a resident who said: “I have always wanted to see Swan Lake, I thought I would never get the chance, but thanks to you all I have been able to fulfil one of my life-time dreams.” Another resident described a visit to see Concorde as: “simply wonderful, a magical day”.

The Manager of Katherine House, Vivienne Withers, said: “We are delighted with the content of the report, which reflects the calibre of our staff, who are dedicated to providing the highest possible quality of care for our wonderful residents.”

Katherine House is part of the Cote Charity, whose trustee is the Society of Merchant Venturers.