Charterhouse Care Home achieves Outstanding CQC rating

A care home near Bristol has been awarded an overall Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following an inspection that recognised its person-centred approach, strong leadership and commitment to helping people live fulfilling lives.

Charterhouse Care Home in Keynsham, operated by The Council of St Monica Trust, provides residential care for older people and disabled adults, including people living with dementia.

The inspection took place in April after CQC received concerns about the service. However, inspectors confirmed these concerns were not substantiated during the inspection.

As a result of the visit, CQC upgraded the home’s overall rating from Good to Outstanding. Ratings for Caring and Well-led also improved from Good to Outstanding, while Effective increased from Requires Improvement to Good. Safe and Responsive were both rated Good.

Inspectors highlighted a strong values-led culture throughout the home, with staff treating residents as individuals and focusing on maximising quality of life. Leaders encouraged staff to view themselves as guests in residents’ homes, helping to create an environment where people were treated with dignity, respect and compassion.

The report praised the home’s personalised approach to care, noting that people were encouraged to make choices about their daily lives. In one example, staff supported a resident to write and publish a book about their wartime experiences before organising a book signing event at the home, helping to promote confidence, pride and achievement.

Residents were also encouraged to play an active role within the home by leading activities or delivering newspapers, supporting independence and providing a sense of purpose.

Inspectors found that mealtimes were calm and unhurried, with staff offering meaningful choices while encouraging people to remain as independent as possible. The home also provided access to a wide range of healthcare services, including an on-site GP practice, in-house physiotherapy, a gym and a swimming pool.

The CQC also recognised the home’s commitment to continuous improvement, highlighting its use of technology to support care. This included AI-enabled smart socks designed to monitor residents’ vital signs and movement, alongside a strong learning culture that encouraged innovation.

Inspectors concluded that leaders and staff demonstrated a good understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, with appropriate systems in place to identify, record and escalate concerns to help keep people safe.

The report recognises Charterhouse Care Home as delivering exceptional care through strong leadership, personalised support and a culture focused on choice, connection and independence.

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