Outstanding work: Care Quality Commission Inspector Pauline Kelsey (right) presents the certificate to Sam Reid, Interim Home Manager at Colten Cares Linden House.
A Hampshire care home is celebrating after being officially rated as one of the top dedicated dementia homes in the country.
Colten Care’s Linden House in Lymington is one of only 55 dementia homes in England to be declared ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The rating also places the New Street home in the top one per cent of all care homes in England.
CQC Inspector Pauline Kelsey was among the guests at a tea party marking the home’s success together with residents, relatives and staff.
Presenting the ‘Outstanding’ certificate to Sam Reid, Interim Home Manager, Pauline said: “We found staff at Linden House were welcoming, whatever their level of seniority. Nothing was too much trouble.”
Other guests at the party included Lymington Mayor Cllr Barry Dunning.
He said: “We’re very proud of Colten Care and to have an ‘Outstanding’ rating is amazing. My warmest congratulations to you all.”
Linden House was assessed across five criteria – being safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led – during an intensive two-day inspection.
The 22-page report singled out staff for particular praise, saying they supported residents in an “exceptionally personalised way.”
It added: “Families felt the service went above and beyond and were extremely experienced at looking after people living with dementia.
“People received excellent care that was based around their individual needs and that ensured care was personalised and responsive.”
Mark Aitchison, Chief Executive, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Linden House is our first dementia home to be rated ‘Outstanding’. I read the inspection report with immense pride.
“It is great news that Linden House is one of only 55 dementia homes in England to be declared ‘Outstanding’. It is actually even better, when you look at care homes that are solely dedicated to elderly dementia care and also provide nursing care as there are then just a handful across the country, including Linden House, achieving this accolade. That is an amazing achievement and one to be very proud of.
“It’s a huge tribute to the wonderful team at Linden House. There is a fantastic team spirit and ‘can do’ attitude at the home which puts our residents at the heart of everything we do.
“We were particularly delighted that CQC Inspector Pauline Kelsey was able to take time out from her busy schedule to personally present us with the ‘Outstanding’ certificate.
“This is the second ‘Outstanding’ rating for one of our homes and demonstrates how our ‘One Team’ approach to everything we do is clearly working for our residents.”
Family owned Colten Care has 20 quality care homes across Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex and Wiltshire.
Earlier this year the company’s Kingfishers home in New Milton was also rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission.
The inspection report on Linden House can be found at http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1228683337. For more information about the home, visit http://www.coltencare.co.uk/linden-house
Notes to editors: With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 20 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care. Colten Care is determined to set the highest standards in all aspects of care of the older person. Colten Care is also committed to raising money for charitable causes. In the past year, residents and team members have raised more than £40,000 for charity.
Media contact: Please contact Andrew Diprose, Director, Deep South Media, tel: 01202 534487 or email: andrew.diprose@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
