Staff from Frith House care home in Burnham-On-Sea are celebrating this week after inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave it the highest rating of ‘Outstanding’.
This puts Frith House in the top 1.4% of adult social care providers nationally that are rated ‘Outstanding’ overall.
The home, in Steart Drive, cares for 83 people and specialises in helping those with dementia.
The inspection took place on 13th June and looked at whether the service was safe, effective and caring, which were both rated as ‘Good’, with responsive and well-led being rated as ‘Outstanding’.
Speaking on the inspection report, Vicki Mitchell, Manager, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’re delighted to have been awarded ‘Outstanding’. The CQC report reflects just hard the team at Frith House work to make a difference to the lives of our residents. I would like to personally thank the team for their passion, commitment and dedication.”
The Secretary Of State For Health, Jeremy Hunt, has sent a letter of congratulations to the home, and Burnham’s MP James Heappey has joined him in expressing his delight at the result.
Mr Heappey said: “This outstanding report from the CQC underlines the amazing work at Frith House to support those who are living with dementia.”
“I congratulate all of the staff on their hard work. These results do not happen by accident and they should feel very proud of their achievement.”
Whilst carrying out the inspection, CQC spoke with residents at the care home:
“People told us staff were always kind and respectful. During our conversations with people, all of the comments we received were positive. One person said, ‘I get amazing treatment, it is a hard job I do not know how the girls do it.’ Another person said, ‘Staff are all friendly and helpful.’ A third person said, ‘We have good carers here, my key worker is exceptional.’ Relatives of people were also happy with the care and support provided in the home. One relative said, ‘All care is as one would hope for, I feel comfortable with the care [the person] gets in this lovely environment.’ Another relative said, ‘Staff are genuinely kind and caring, there is no one I could not turn to for help, they are really lovely and speak to [the person] so nicely.”
The inspection highlighted how staff and residents at the care home have embraced the use of technology in care. Its ‘Our Yesterdays’ programme gives information about events that occurred on that day some years ago, it includes films, pictures and quizzes, and a printout was made available throughout the home for people to read. This tool for reminiscence had been trialled at the home.
You can read Jeremy Hunt’s letter to Frith House here.
Pictured: Manager, Vicki Mitchell with Frith House resident, Joan Pruett
