Kingston Dementia Care Home Upgraded to Outstanding by CQC

A dementia care home in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has been upgraded from Good to Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection completed in May.

Devonshire Dementia Care Home, which provides residential care for older people living with dementia, was supporting 32 residents at the time of the inspection and can accommodate up to 34 people.

The inspection formed part of the CQC’s routine monitoring programme. Following the visit, the regulator upgraded the home’s overall rating to Outstanding, with Effective and Responsive also improving to Outstanding. The service retained Good ratings for Safe, Caring and Well-led.

Inspectors praised the home’s highly personalised approach to care, finding that support was centred around each person’s life history, preferences and individual interests.

Examples highlighted in the report included supporting one resident with a passion for gardening to design and maintain their own garden, while another person was encouraged to return to painting because staff recognised it as an important part of their identity before moving into the home.

The inspection also recognised creative approaches to enhancing people’s wellbeing. Residents helped choose music played throughout the home, including in bathrooms to promote calm during personal care. For one resident, staff played traditional music and displayed images from their country of birth during mealtimes to create a familiar and comforting environment.

Inspectors also found several examples of positive outcomes for residents, including:

• A co-designed hydration programme that increased fluid intake and reduced urinary tract infections over a 12-month period.
• Motion sensor technology to alert staff when people at risk of falls required assistance, contributing to a significant reduction in falls.
• Residents and relatives reporting noticeable improvements in mobility, nutrition, hydration and overall wellbeing after moving into the home.
• Recognition as a finalist in the Gold Standard Framework’s Best Care Home of the Year national awards.
• Strong collaborative working with community partners to develop new initiatives and pilot schemes for people living with dementia.

The CQC also found leaders had created a culture where staff were encouraged to share ideas, embrace innovation and continually improve the experience of people living at the home.

The regulator said the service demonstrated how person-centred care, strong leadership and a focus on continuous improvement can deliver exceptional outcomes for people living with dementia.

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