Member Article

Outstanding results for Bridlington care home

An investment programme has turned a good performing Bridlington care home to ‘outstanding’, according to inspection body the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In a new report for Kirkgate House, in Kirkgate, CQC inspectors acknowledged the outstanding level of service responsiveness to residents.

Kirkgate House, operated by Hull-based Hica Group, supports up to 28 individuals aged 18 and over with a learning disability and associated care and support needs. CQC praised the manager Julie Wood and her team of 33 staff, saying: “The management team and staff were powerful role models for people with regard to learning and developing life skills and engaging and being active in the community.”

Inspectors added: “We saw that the service was well-led and both the culture and the management style of the service were positive, progressive, approachable, inclusive, open and honest.”

The CQC report acknowledged the improvements following investment in the facilities along with Hica’s own SHINE initiative which underpins the visions and values that put people at the heart of the service.

Inspectors said: “People had excellent opportunities to engage in occupation, pastimes and activities if they wished to in order to lead fulfilling lifestyles and to develop their potential. They were empowered to engage in the local community as citizens and to take part in innovative ways of having their needs met.”

Overall Kirkgate House received a ‘good’ CQC rating – but was marked ‘outstanding’ for service responsiveness.

Penni Brown, chief executive of Hull-based Hica Group, said: “We are delighted with this most recent report from the CQC. The hard work of management and staff combined with our ongoing investment in training, facilities and creative ways of providing care to older people and those with learning difficulties is starting to shine through.

“It’s always satisfying when our dedicated staff are praised for making a real difference to the wellbeing of our residents. Such acknowledgement reflects the Shine philosophy that we’re trying to embed across the organisation.”

Penni also said the findings and positive comments by CQC about the wellbeing of residents reflected the activity programme that staff, in partnership with Oomph! have rolled out across the homes during the last 18 months. Activities have been embraced by residents who have enjoyed noticeable improvements in their quality of life. There has also been the introduction of tablet computers for residents to improve their independence.

The Hica Group is a not for profit organisation, which operates a portfolio of 19 residential care homes, five of which are for people with a learning disability, along with two retirement villages. The company also runs a home care service providing approximately 11,500 hours of support and care from four regional offices in the North of England.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The Hica Group .