Arden Court

This CQC report summarises the findings of an inspection of Arden Court, a care home providing personal and nursing care. The inspection focused on evaluating the service's performance across five key areas: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership. Overall, the report highlights significant improvements made by the home since the last inspection, addressing previous concerns and demonstrating a commitment to enhancing the quality of care provided.

On safety, residents expressed feeling secure, and staff demonstrated a strong understanding of safeguarding procedures. The home has successfully improved its management of medicines and risk assessments, working collaboratively with external health bodies to ensure safe practices. Care plans are personalised and regularly reviewed, with specific attention paid to managing risks related to nutrition, hydration, and pressure care.

In terms of how effective the care is, residents' outcomes were consistently positive, with individuals reporting high levels of satisfaction. The service ensures people have maximum choice and control over their lives, supporting them in the least restrictive way possible, with policies and systems in place to uphold these principles. Staff engage with residents in a friendly and attentive manner, showing kindness and sensitivity.

Regarding how caring the service is, residents and their relatives reported overwhelmingly positive experiences, with comments such as "Staff are all lovely" and "The carers are all great." Staff are noted for being attentive to residents' needs and engaging in good-natured conversations, demonstrating a genuine understanding of individual preferences and histories to provide personalised support.

In the area of responsiveness, the home has made notable improvements in its record-keeping systems, which were previously identified as an area for development. Care plans are now highly personalised, utilising an electronic system that details individual needs, abilities, and preferences, and it's clear that residents and their families are actively involved in their development and review.

Concerning how well-led the service is, Arden Court has implemented robust governance and monitoring systems, including a detailed action plan to address previous shortfalls. The service actively collaborates with external professionals to enhance standards, and quality assurance procedures have been revised to ensure continuous improvement throughout the home. The registered manager has clear oversight, contributing to effective overall management.