Daventry care home awarded Outstanding by CQC

A care home in Northamptonshire has been awarded an overall Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection that recognised exceptional leadership, personalised care and a strong commitment to promoting independence.

Flora Innes House, in Byfield near Daventry, is operated by Solden Hill House Limited and supports people with learning disabilities and complex support needs. At the time of the inspection, nine people were living at the home, with seven receiving regulated activities.

The inspection was carried out using CQC’s Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture framework, which assesses whether services enable autistic people and people with a learning disability to live with dignity, equality, choice, independence and access to their local communities.

Following the inspection, the home’s overall rating was upgraded from Good to Outstanding. Ratings for Safe and Effective also improved from Good to Outstanding, while Well-led increased from Requires Improvement to Outstanding. Caring and Responsive remained rated Good.

Inspectors praised the home’s person-centred approach, highlighting how staff worked closely with people to build confidence, develop life skills and support greater independence. One example described a person who had arrived at the home with low confidence and limited independence but, through tailored support, had gone on to cook independently, use public transport and take part in employment and hobbies they enjoyed.

The report found that staff had an exceptional understanding of the people they supported, including their communication preferences, personal histories and individual goals. Relatives told inspectors they felt fully involved in care planning and consistently described the support provided as compassionate and personalised.

Inspectors also recognised the home’s strong partnership working with healthcare professionals, including GPs and speech and language therapists. External professionals praised the quality of communication, with one highlighting the knowledge and preparation shown by a staff member supporting a resident during an outpatient appointment.

The CQC found that leaders had created a positive culture focused on learning, continuous improvement and delivering the best possible outcomes for people. Incidents were reviewed thoroughly, lessons were shared across the team and improvements were made while maintaining people’s independence wherever possible.

Staff were also commended for using a wide range of accessible communication tools, including easy-read information, visual timetables and objects of reference, helping people understand their care, make informed choices and actively participate in decisions about their lives.

Inspectors found that people’s needs were comprehensively assessed, living environments were adapted to support comfort and wellbeing, and staff felt respected, valued and supported by leaders. The report also noted that leadership had significantly improved since the previous inspection, helping to embed a culture centred on high-quality, person-focused care.

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