A Care home which supports people with accommodation, nursing and personal care has been judged as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.
CQC inspectors visited Canford Chase in Poole, Dorset on the 17 & 18 September 2018 and rated it as outstanding in the effective and responsive categories and good for being safe, caring and well-led.
There was a strong emphasis on the importance of eating and drinking well at Canford Chase. The service provided a choice of appetising, good quality food, with flexibility to accommodate people's needs and preferences. People were positive about the food, particularly the main meal at lunchtime, and ate their meals with enjoyment. The menu was devised centrally but prepared by the service's chefs and tailored to suit choice and needs. There was a range of options for each course including a vegetarian option. People were offered the portion size they preferred, which meant people with smaller appetites were not put off by a large meal. People selected their choices the day before for lunch, which was the main meal, and supper. If they did not want what was on the menu, they could choose an alternative. However, the kitchen was able to cater at short notice for people who changed their mind, including people who had special diets.
Presentation was important for people's enjoyment and to stimulate their appetites; meals in the dining room and served to people in their rooms were all set out attractively. The provider's nutrition guide gave precise instructions as to how staff were to set out trays for people who ate in their rooms, to make sure these looked inviting. Staff went around with the ‘Jolly Trolley’ before meals, offering aperitifs or wine with meals where appropriate.
The CQC also highlighted that the service had established links with the local community and continued to develop these. Some relatives of people who had previously lived at the service served as volunteers, assisting with activities and trips out. Volunteers ran a successful 'knit'n'natter' group and a bridge club that was open to the wider community. A student from one of the secondary schools in the area regularly spent time with people as a volunteer. Children from a nearby nursery visited from time to time, for example, participating in an Easter egg hunt. Fish and Chip Friday provided an opportunity for new visitors to spend time meeting people who lived at the service and enjoy lunch. The home sponsored a bowls club, as a person living at the home had been a member and their relative was president. People visited the bowls club and people from the club often used the service for respite. Some people were fans of the AFC Bournemouth football team, so earlier in the summer the team's community trust had visited for a kick-about activity. The service had close connections with local churches and Jehovah's Witness and Jewish communities had also given pastoral support. Visits from the Samaritans provided informal opportunities for people to discuss any concerns.
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