CQC rates Havant care home outstanding

A residential care home in Hampshire has been rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following an inspection which concluded in July.

Portsdown View in Havant, which is run by Connaught Care (Bedhampton) Limited, provides residential care for older people, including people living with dementia.

The inspection was carried out after CQC received concerns relating to people’s safety. However, inspectors found that these concerns were not substantiated during the inspection.

Portsdown View was rated outstanding for caring, effective and well-led, while safe and responsive were both rated good.

Inspectors highlighted the home’s person-centred approach, finding that staff took time to understand people’s individual backgrounds, interests and preferences and used this knowledge to shape the support they provided.

In one example, staff used toy dogs to comfort and reassure a resident who loved dogs while supporting them to take their medication. Another person who experienced anxiety found comfort in flowers, so staff supported them to spend time picking flowers in the garden.

People living at the home and their relatives spoke positively about their experiences, describing staff as warm and respectful and the environment as feeling like a home from home.

Inspectors also praised the support provided to people and their families during end-of-life care.

One relative was offered accommodation so they could remain close to their loved one, while inspectors also saw an example of staff demonstrating an understanding of a person’s religious beliefs and ensuring these were respected during their end-of-life care.

Nutrition was another area highlighted in the inspection. Leaders took a personalised approach to people’s dietary needs, with the head chef working directly with residents to adapt menus. CQC found this had helped people achieve a healthy weight and reduced risks associated with undernutrition.

Staff also worked alongside health and social care professionals to coordinate people’s care. In one case, a resident’s mobility improved significantly following joint working between care home staff and external health professionals.

Inspectors found a positive culture among the workforce, with leaders involved in the day-to-day operation of the home and staff encouraged to suggest improvements and raise concerns.

Changes had been introduced following employee feedback, including alterations to handover processes and improvements to the food available for night staff.

CQC also highlighted a ‘day in the life’ initiative which enabled senior leaders to spend a day working alongside colleagues in care, housekeeping and maintenance roles. The initiative was designed to give leaders a better understanding of the challenges faced by staff and identify where additional support could be provided.

The regulator found that staff felt listened to and valued, with low staff turnover helping residents receive support from a consistent team who knew them well.

Neil Cox, CQC’s deputy director for adult social care in Hampshire, said the inspection had found people receiving highly personalised support, backed by a positive culture in which staff felt valued and able to tailor care around individual needs and preferences.

He said everyone at Portsdown View should be proud of the inspection findings and the care being provided to residents.

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