Residents and colleagues at HC-One’s Northview Lodge in Castletown are celebrating an historic first as the home became the first care home in Sunderland to receive an “Outstanding” rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the highest grade that the regulator can award.
The overall “Outstanding” rating recognises the highest level of care being provided by Northview Lodge’s ‘motivated’, ‘friendly’ and ‘welcoming’ team, and places the home among the very best in the country. Only around 3% of care homes in England achieve such a high honour.
In a glowing report, the CQC highlighted the ‘clear and visible person-centred culture’ at Northview Lodge, noting that there is a ‘family feel to the nature of care’ and a ‘tangible infectious cheerfulness throughout the service’. The team at Northview Lodge were showered with praised for constantly going well beyond the call of duty to ensure that Residents are supported in the kindest and most effective way possible – for example, the CQC cited how Residents who wished to go abroad for holidays were supported and even accompanied by members of the care team, allowing them to enjoy incredible experiences that they would otherwise have been unable to. One Resident, who had never been abroad before, told inspectors how “amazing” it was to be able to go to Benidorm with carers from the home.
The CQC’s glowing assessment of Northview Lodge was shared by Residents at the home, who spoke of the close and affectionate relationships they had with their carers. “I am definitely happy with my care, I feel they [HC-One colleagues] care and love me”, said one, while another commented, “I am very happy with my care, the staff are lovely, I love them all”. Perfectly encapsulating the opinions expressed by everyone at Northview Lodge, a third Resident stated, “They all know we all love living here; I am really happy here”.
Northview Lodge was further praised for the way it supports Residents’ family and loved ones as well. The CQC’s report cited one clear example of this, when HC-One colleagues invited the parent of a Resident who had passed away to join them at Northview Lodge for Christmas dinner, to ensure that they did not have to spend the day alone.
To celebrate this historic achievement, Northview Lodge threw a huge party for all Residents, colleagues, relatives and friends. The team at Northview Lodge pulled out all the stops to ensure that the event lived up to the momentousness of the occasion, and numerous guests went home commenting that it was one of the best and most fun parties they had ever been to. With a bouncy castle, rodeo bull, singers and a magician (not to mention a fabulous barbecue provided by the Northview Lodge kitchen team) it’s not hard to see why!
Patrick Morley, HC-One Northview Lodge Care Home Manager, said:
“This is a huge achievement by the team at Northview Lodge, and comes as a result of their hard work, loyalty and commitment to providing the kindest and very best care for the Residents here. I am so pleased that they have received the recognition they deserve, and I am proud to be able to say that I now work at the first Outstanding rated care home in Sunderland!”