Kineton Manor Nursing Home in Warwick shire has been rated outstanding by healthcare regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Inspectors visited 23 April 2019 and rated Kineton as outstanding in three areas, the caring, responsive and well-led aspects of the report, and good for the safe and effective elements.
Kineton Manor Nursing Home provides accommodation, nursing and personal care for up to 51 older people, who may have dementia.
The CQC report highlighted that staff spoke about people in a very compassionate manner and cared about people as a family member would.
One relative told inspectors that a staff member had gone above and beyond what was expected of their role when their family member was too unwell to look after their dog who lived in the home. To promote the person's emotional well-being, the staff member had taken the dog home with them at night and brought it back for the person during the day.
Each month staff wrote down a 'golden moment' when they had done something special for a person, the winning 'golden moment' receiving an award. This approach enabled staff to share special moments and see how small gestures could have a massive impact on people's wellbeing.
Management had recognised some people living with dementia did not experience the full benefits of group activities, particularly if they had difficulties communicating. They had therefore introduced Namaste Care to the home which focuses on engaging the senses. Although this was still in its infancy, the use of sensory activity in very small groups had already had a positive impact on some people's wellbeing. More staff were to be trained in Nameste Care, so the project could be further developed.
Furthermore, the registered manager had recently had a demonstration of a 'Magic Table'. This is an innovative Dutch creation, developed for and with people in the moderate to severe stages of dementia. It is an interactive light game which projects bright and colourful images on to a tabletop with associated sound effects. The images respond to hand and arm gestures by moving around the table and encourage physical activity and social engagement. The registered manager told us this had been a great success and they had ordered a table so it could be a regular activity.
Residents praised the atmosphere within the home and spoke of the dedication of both managers and the wider staff team.
One relative said, "I think they are phenomenal. I hope one day I would end my days here. It is an extraordinary place."
Another relative said, "It is very friendly and very homely. It is a bit like a family but when they have to be professional, they are."