Member Article

Allied Irish Bank (GB) celebrates Summerwood Care Home success

Allied Irish Bank (GB) is delighted to support Summerwood Care Home and their recent success at being rated ‘Outstanding’ in four out of five key areas by the Care Quality Commission (CQR). This achievement places them within the top percentage of national care operators achieving excellence in care.

Summerwood Care Home was opened in 2013 and is home to up to eight adults with learning disabilities and/or autism. Based in New Milton, Hampshire, it is part of Apple House Care Group which operates four services in Hampshire and Dorset.

Previously rated in 2017 as ‘Outstanding’ in two key areas giving an overall ‘Outstanding’ rating, Summerwood joined a small and select group of 1% of care homes nationally to achieve the highest rating possible. To now be recognised by CQC as having attained excellence in the four areas of ‘Safe, Responsive, Caring and Well Led’ is a real tribute to the Summerwood team led by John Caslake, Registered Manager.

The inspector commented, “People we spoke with told us they were happy living at Summerwood and relatives consistently told us they were exceptionally happy with the excellent care their loved ones received. They told us the registered manager, provider and staff were ‘absolutely brilliant,’ ‘fantastic,’ ‘they saved our life’ and were ‘completely outstanding.’ Health and care professionals told CQC, ‘I’m very impressed,’ and ‘they went above and beyond on a daily basis with their care.’”

Romaine Lawson, Director of Operations Summerwood Care Home/Apple House Care, said of the news: “I’m very proud of the full team, the people we support, family members and our health and social care colleagues. Everyone works together to make Summerwood an outstanding place to live and work.”

Emma Lane, Area Director, Allied Irish Bank (GB), South East, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Summerwood Care Home and we would like to extend our congratulations to the team. The current environment is extremely stressful and challenging for many in the care sector and to achieve the recognition of delivering ‘Outstanding’ care is a great attribute to all the staff’s hard work before and of course during the current pandemic.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Allied Irish Bank (GB) .