Care UK has been awarded its 13th 'outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at Mills Meadow care home in Framlingham in Suffolk.
The care home was rated ‘outstanding’ for caring and being responsive, with inspectors praising the exceptionally caring and compassionate interactions between the team and residents.
The report highlighted numerous areas of impressive service and noted that residents were ‘exceptionally happy’ with the care they received from the team at Mills Meadow. One resident commented: “I am pretty lucky to live here. I want for nothing, the food is delicious, the care is first-rate, the team understands me and knows what I need sometimes before I know myself. Nothing is too much trouble. I consider myself blessed to live here.”
CQC inspectors also noted the commitment of team members who consistently went ‘above and beyond’ and treated residents ‘like members of their own family’, even bringing their young children and other relatives along to visit residents.
One resident told inspectors: “A while back I was talking to a member of the team about my favourite film and why I like it so much. They were in town shopping and saw a book about the lleading actor. They got it for me and brought it in that afternoon, even though they were not working. That was a lovely thing to do. I felt very special.”
The report also highlighted the focus on ensuring residents remain as independent as possible and are supported to lead fulfilling lives. The home’s ‘wishing on a star’ initiative encouraged conversations about what different residents wanted to do and had inspired ballet, art gallery and theatre trips.
A popular weekly activity included trips into the community on the Hour Community Trishaws pulled by volunteers. One resident described the sense of freedom this gave them having the ‘wind in their hair as they went around town’. The home also welcomed the local community regularly, hosting events such as the Macmillan Coffee Morning and taking part in Care Home Open Day.
Phillip Steyn, regional director for Care UK, says: “The team has worked extremely hard to ensure Mills Meadow is a home-from-home to all residents and their families and everyone at Mills Meadow is really proud of really of their achievements.
“Receiving an ‘outstanding’ rating shows just how dedicated the team is to looking after everyone’s individual needs and we will continue our hard work to ensure residents receive the highest quality care and live fulfilling lives.
"I am incredibly proud that Mills Meadow has been rated ‘outstanding’, and would like to say thank you to the team for all of their hard work, which I know is also greatly appreciated by residents and their families.”
To assess service standards at Mills Meadow the CQC’s inspector spoke with team members, residents and their visiting relatives on the day of the inspection. They also reviewed the records and procedures already in place at the care home.
