The care home has been upgraded from ‘good’ to ‘oustanding’
A South London care home where residents reported seeing their health improve has been rated “outstanding” by the care watchdog.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said people living at Devonshire Dementia Care Home in New Malden consistently saw better outcomes than expected compared with similar services, with the provider delivering “exceptional care and support”. The care home’s overall rating has been upgraded from “good”, given at the CQC’s last visit in 2020, to “outstanding” following the latest inspection in May.
A new report by the CQC said the home always supported people to stay healthy, taking into account their culture, background and expressed wishes. Managers and staff were described as always involving residents in decisions about their care, while supporting them to maximise their independence.
The CQC praised the home for keeping residents safe, with staff managing risks and medicines well. It found that there were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications, and experience to support people, and that there was a fair and inclusive culture at the service.
Residents and their loved ones told inspectors that their health and well-being had improved since moving into the home, including better mobility, nutrition, and hydration, and consistently described staff as kind, respectful, and supportive.
Inspectors found the home’s hydration programme had reduced urinary tract infections over the previous 12 months, while motion sensors had contributed to a major reduction in falls in the same period.
One resident said: “There is always a wonderful atmosphere in the home and some interesting activities happening in the lounge. It’s never dull here. I can’t fault anything about the home.”
The care home told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it was “absolutely thrilled” with the report, with the whole team “very pleased with the outcome”.
Amanda Partington-Todd, the CQC’s deputy director of adult social care in London, said the service’s dedicated staff delivered “exceptionally personalised care that was genuinely built around each person’s identity, history and wishes”.
She encouraged other services to look at the report as “an example of outstanding practice to support people to lead their best lives”.
Ms Partington-Todd said: “People and their relatives consistently told us they received exceptional care, and our inspectors saw this for themselves. They described staff as kind, respectful and compassionate, and spoke warmly about the welcoming atmosphere, meaningful activities and the positive experience of living at the home.
“Staff knew the people they supported deeply, not just their care needs, but their interests and what made them feel like themselves. One person who loved gardening was supported to design and manage their own garden in the grounds, which helped increase their confidence and sense of purpose. Another person was supported to paint because staff knew it was something they had enjoyed before moving into the home.”
Community partners praised the home’s leaders for working with them to develop new initiatives and pilot schemes that better met the needs of people with dementia.
Ms Partington-Todd added: “We also found staff thought creatively about how to make everyday experiences better for people. They used music chosen by residents throughout the home, including through a built-in sound system in bathrooms, to help people feel calm during personal care.
“For one person, staff played traditional music and displayed images from their country of birth during mealtimes to enhance their emotional wellbeing.
“It was also encouraging to see leaders create a culture where staff felt empowered to share ideas, embrace innovation and continuously improve people’s experience of care. Staff never lost sight of what mattered most to people as individuals and looked for new ways to help them live fulfilling lives.”
The care home can accommodate up to 34 older people with dementia. A total of 32 people were living there at the time of the inspection.
Got a story? Email [email protected].
Don’t miss out on the biggest local stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.
