Nursing home with children’s after school club is simply ‘outstanding’

A Maria Mallaband Care Group nursing home that encourages intergenerational interaction between residents and local school children has been rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC.

Heritage Care Centre in Tooting, which provides personal and nursing care for up to 72 older people, joined the 3% of adult social care services with the CQC’s top rating following an inspection in September.

Regional Director, Martin Vanhinsbergh, said: “Congratulations to the team at Heritage. We are very proud of the home’s care standards, whilst still keeping the homely, welcoming feel that many homes can only strive to achieve.”

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Inspectors praised the culture of the home, stating: “People and their relatives were extremely positive about the care and support they received from staff. We saw some examples of outstanding care being provided to people during the inspection, with staff showing real and genuine empathy towards people.”

The CQC also praised the home’s “thriving and engaging activities programme” and its “strong, visible person-centred culture”.

Innovations included an after-school club for children, which included weekly activities involving pupils and residents.

The CQC said: “People enjoyed the interaction with the children, it gave them a sense of purpose as they could help the children to read, and play board games with them.”

Debbie Ivanova, Deputy Chief Inspector, Adult Social Care, said: “Heritage Care Centre is a well-run care home that thoroughly deserves its outstanding rating overall. I was particularly impressed with the way the home interacts with local primary schoolchildren, that people could help the children to read and play board games with them.

“And comments from people and their relatives at Heritage Care Centre were fulsome of the home’s caring leadership and staff – one person said staff were a top team and I would like to second that.”