Sussex care home branded ‘outstanding’
A West Sussex care home has been rated ‘outstanding’, as just 3% of care homes in England currently are.
The Leonard Cheshire run St Bridget’s in Rustington scored impressively highly for being responsive and well-led when reviewed by the industry regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April this year.
Will, who recently moved into the service, said:
‘[The home] enables me to do things more independently with other people around and it makes me happy to be here. I like living here because I can do my own things around the home.’
Will’s comments echo those of other residents, one of whom told the CQC: ‘I do whatever I want’, while another said: ‘They listen to me. They know they’re just here to help me with what I need’ and ‘I always choose’.
Such comments, along with all the care that the CQC witnessed, led them to report that:
‘[the] service had distinctive and very strong person-centred values and placed people’s wellbeing at the heart of their work.
‘The management team and staff were passionate about enabling people to lead fun, fulfilled lives and helping ensure people had access to activities that met their needs and interests.’
Service manager Marcus Richards said:
‘The recent inspection at St. Bridget’s demonstrates the passion, hard work and commitment of the entire staff team. Every person working at St. Bridget’s contributed toward this fantastic achievement and I am proud to work with them all.’
As one member of staff, Simon Gawn, said:
‘I came in on Christmas morning last year especially to support one person to skype his sister in New Zealand. He and his sister really appreciated it. It made me feel all warm inside. It’s one of the good parts of this job.’
St Bridget’s also got special mention for its measures to promote diversity and people’s rights.
The report stated:
‘The service respected and promoted people’s diversity and helped promote people’s rights. For example, they had recently created a Pride Network which was open to people who used the service and staff members.
‘This network had online information and support for people to discuss any issues, ideas, make friends, share experiences and allow people to explore their sexuality.’
The care home, which was opened in 1955 by war hero and global humanitarian Leonard Cheshire, was the fifth Cheshire Home to open. The home changed buildings in the 1980s and today houses 37 residents and employs 80 staff.
Media enquiries
For further information, interviews and high res images please contact Claire Farrell via Claire.farrell@leonardcheshire.org or 020 3242 0389