Colten Care celebrates fifth CQC ‘outstanding’ rating

South coast care home provider, Colten Care, has been awarded its fifth CQC ‘outstanding’ rating.

Amberwood House in Ferndown, Dorset, joined the top 3.5% of adult social care services following an inspection in October.

CQC inspectors identified a range of strengths particularly in the home’s leadership and effectiveness, commenting: “Some people who come in for respite care decide to come and live at the home as their experience is so good. They could go home but choose to stay because they like it so much.”

Inspectors also praised the home’s care quality monitoring and audit procedures, admissions process, support for nurses’ career progression and induction programme for new staff.

Jim Smith, who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday at the home, said: “I am as happy now as I was on the day I moved in more than a year ago. I have no complaints but 100,000 thank-yous.”

Fellow resident Florrie Hughes said: “This is a lovely home with a devoted team. Colten Care is very lucky to have such loyal staff.”

Amberwood House’s CQC inspection took place before former Home Manager Gill Irish left to take up the reins of Colten Care’s Chichester home Wellington Grange.

Returning for its celebration party, Gill said: “I have always been very proud of Amberwood House and still am. Staff are at the heart of what makes it such a special place. They are incredibly friendly and caring.”

CEO Mark Aitchison said: “The drive to be outstanding runs through the homes, our culture and our DNA. Everybody can be immensely proud of what is being achieved and the real difference they are making day in, day out.”

Colten Care’s four other outstanding-rated homes are: Linden House in Lymington, Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, Canford Chase in Poole and Kingfishers in New Milton.

Its other 15 inspected homes are all rated ‘good’. New home Bourne View, which opened in Poole in March 2019, has yet to be inspected.