A care home in Plymouth, Stoke has received an ‘outstanding’ rating for the care of its residents by specialist dementia care home auditors.
Parkwood House in Exmouth Road received the highest ‘Level One’ rating for their approach to care by Meaningful Care Matters, who said the team put ‘wellbeing at the heart of everything.’
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.
Auditor, Sally Knocker said:
“It didn’t take long after the start of my observation in Parkwood House to really feel the magic and distinctiveness that I have come to associate with a Butterfly Home. Last year’s observation revealed really good care in a family like environment, but this year’s experience was elevated by a sense of a genuine whole team approach to putting social and emotional wellbeing at the heart of everything that happens in the day.”
Parkwood House is part of the Southern Healthcare group of four care homes in Devon. Southern Healthcare chief executive Geoffrey Cox said:
“The team at Parkwood House work tirelessly to provide a high level of care for the residents, both in terms of their physical needs and their wellbeing. Parkwood House has been awarded an incredible and very rare outstanding, top level one accreditation. The feedback on the day was exceptional, even though the audit itself was brought forward two days at very the last moment.”
MCM rate care providers on the care environment, the individual care plans, including the use of medication, and the meaningful relationships between staff and residents. Those care providers which demonstrate high number of meaningful interactions against a long list of criteria, are awarded the status of a Butterfly Home.
Care home manager Lorna Smith said:
“We work with people within the home to support emotional wellbeing. The team spend time getting to know the residents, so our approach really is person-centred.”
Auditors said the team at Parkwood House had thoughtfully decorated the corridors of the home with items that can be used to evoke positive memories and meaningful interactions.
Lorna added:
“We have items around that can enable people to independently join in with a meaningful activity such as washing lines, carpet sweepers, and feather dusters. We have a culture within the home where we look after each other, team members, residents, relatives, and health professionals. We undertake observations and reflect on development opportunities and celebrate success.”
Auditors said the staff ‘demonstrated the Butterfly Approach at its very best’ and they commented on their ‘fantastic use of their own dress and playful approaches to create fun and interaction.’
The report continued:
“There’s a real sense that every member of the team is involved in contributing to social experiences, for example the maintenance man taking two men to the pub for lunch and the housekeeper running a regular camera club, as well as various people spending time in the office with the manager and admin staff.”
Auditors also praised the ‘impressively multicultural team’ from Italy, Moldova, Poland, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Romania and Slovakia for their cohesiveness and genuine teamwork. They also drew attention to the manager’s natural and caring presence in the house, and the ‘outstanding’ activities team.
Meanwhile Parkwood House and a member of the team have been shortlisted for awards in the South West regional finals of the Great British Care Awards.
Kerrie Haughey is a finalist in the Care Home Activity Organiser category while the whole team are finalists in the Care Team of the Year category.
