Rotherham care home recognised for helping residents build fuller lives

A Rotherham care home has received the Care Quality Commission’s highest rating after inspectors found residents were being supported to pursue ambitions, develop independence and take part in experiences they had once considered beyond their reach.

Fitzwilliam Lodge in Rawmarsh has been upgraded from good to outstanding following an inspection in August. Operated by Parkcare Homes (No.2) Limited, the service supports up to 16 younger and older adults with physical disabilities and mental health conditions.

The home was rated outstanding for being caring, responsive and well-led, while its safety and effectiveness were judged to be good.

Inspectors received overwhelmingly positive feedback from residents, who described staff as kind, encouraging and willing to go beyond routine care. People said employees believed in their abilities, including at times when they lacked confidence in themselves, and helped them work towards personal goals.

Residents had been supported to make friends, attend concerts and festivals and become more independent. Staff also provided personalised help during bereavement, periods of deteriorating mental health and other significant moments, involving relatives in important decisions where appropriate.

People who had died while living at Fitzwilliam Lodge continued to be remembered within the home. Memorial plaques, a memory wall and an olive tree were used to recognise their lives and the relationships they had formed with residents and staff.

Victoria Marsden, CQC deputy director of operations for adult social care in the North, said inspectors had found an exceptional service that treated people as individuals rather than defining them by their support needs.

The CQC found that the home maintained sufficient numbers of qualified and experienced staff. Employees received regular supervision, support and development opportunities, while managers were described as visible, approachable and responsive.

External professionals also reported positive working relationships with the service. Leaders maintained close links with other organisations and the surrounding community, using those partnerships to shape support around residents’ needs and aspirations.

Inspectors found infection-prevention arrangements were effective and the home was appropriately clean. Residents and their families received detailed information and regular updates, while staff helped people improve their health and, where possible, reduce their future need for care.

The regulator said the home’s approach offered lessons for other services seeking to combine safe care with genuine opportunity, belonging and personal growth.

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