Leamington Spa care home retains outstanding CQC rating

A Leamington Spa care home has retained its outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an unannounced inspection in July.

Priors House provides personal and nursing care for up to 80 people, including people living with dementia, and is run by Care UK Community Partnerships Ltd and Care UK Care Services Limited.

Following the latest inspection, CQC again rated the home outstanding for how responsive and well-led it is, while its ratings for safe, effective and caring remain good.

Inspectors found that leaders knew residents well and had created a culture where staff felt valued and supported. People living at the home told CQC they felt comfortable and secure and were involved in decisions about their care, while relatives said staff took time to understand their family members as individuals.

Staff used a recognised dementia care model to understand what was important to each person and tailor their support accordingly. Inspectors found that employees took time to understand individual routines, preferences and personalities, rather than using the same approach for everyone.

Residents were also involved in shaping how the home operated. Regular meetings had resulted in changes including adjustments to mealtimes to help improve people’s appetites and an upgraded hearing loop system to make it easier for residents to hear around the home.

The home supported people to continue accessing services and activities such as GPs, hairdressers and community groups where possible, helping residents maintain independence and continuity after moving into Priors House.

Links with the wider community included a monthly dementia café, weekly singing sessions and visits from a local school, providing opportunities for residents to meet people and maintain connections outside the home.

Inspectors also highlighted the home’s use of a red bag scheme, which allows important medical information to accompany residents when they go into hospital and supports continuity of care between services.

Complaints and concerns were dealt with quickly, with leaders using them to identify patterns and opportunities for further improvement.

Amanda Lyndon, CQC’s deputy director of adult social care in the West Midlands, described Priors House as an excellent example of outstanding care and praised its person-centred approach.

CQC said the inspection highlighted a well-run home where leaders and staff continued to look for ways to improve the care people received.

Stay informed with the stories shaping health and social care.