Exeter care home rated excellent for culture of care
An Exeter care home has been rated ‘excellent’ following an audit by a national care organisation with a focus on relationship-centred cultures of care.
The Old Rectory was visited by auditors from Meaningful Care Matters (MCM) who assessed the staff’s interactions with residents, as well as the home’s environment and the level of care given.
Founded in 2019, MCM aims to change the culture of care by ensuring people have purpose, are empowered to be themselves and have meaningful relationships within their care setting.
Auditors said the 46-bedroom care home created a sense of ‘family’ among those living and working there. They also praised the care home for their ‘highly personalised care experience’ which had ‘elements of meaningful engagement, occupation, and connections’.
Southern Healthcare CEO Geoffrey Cox commented: “The team at The Old Rectory work tirelessly to provide a high level of care for the residents, both in terms of their physical needs and their wellbeing. The feedback from the MCM auditors on the day was excellent and this report is a positive springboard in our continuing endeavours to provide high quality care where the residents are at the centre of everything we do.”
The thorough audit also reviewed care plans, the care home environment, as well as interviewing staff and residents about their experience of living or working at the care home.
Care home manager Kerry Dempsey said: “We encourage people to be themselves and express their individuality. We do our best to facilitate this by promoting choice when people are deciding what to wear, what they’d like to eat and what they’d like to spend their time doing. We also encourage people to help around the home by setting tables and collecting dishes. By doing these basic tasks, the residents can feel like they are doing something meaningful and productive."
The auditors commented on the care home's "wonderfully happy and welcoming feel" and the "real sense of community" among staff and residents. They also commended staff on the bright and engaging hallways.
Part of The Old Rectory, Christow House, has a complex mix of people living there, some of the residents are in the later stages of dementia, and some are recovering from illness. The report commended the team for "creatively responding to all these different needs in quite a small living area."
MCM audits residential care homes (and other care homes), community support programs, day centres and hospital settings using the Butterfly Approach®. This model of care is about supporting people living with dementia to live well, have increased wellbeing, have meaningful relationships with staff, and work towards a significant reduction in the use of neuroleptic, sedative, and psychotropic medication.
