‘Outstanding’ report for Musbury carehome

Staff at a care home near Axminster have been praised for developing ‘kind and compassionate relationships’ with residents in an ‘outstanding’ report from the health regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave Barley Close in Musbury, three ‘outstanding’ and two ‘good’ ratings. The Axminster Road home is owned by Voyage Limited and currently looks after seven residents living with a range of physical and complex learning difficulties.

In the report, the inspector said: “There was a relaxed, calm and happy atmosphere at the home with lots of smiles, good humour, fun and gestures of affection. People were relaxed and comfortable with staff who were attuned to their needs.

“Staff could recognise how a person was feeling from their non-verbal cues such as body language, gestures and vocal sounds and they responded appropriately.”

Alison Murray, CQC’s head of inspection for adult social care in the south, added: “We were struck by the extent to which the service places the people it supports at the heart of everything it does. While this should be standard practice across the sector, we do not see it often enough – and this, amongst other good practice found, is why this service deserves the outstanding rating which has been awarded.”

The report also praised the home’s management and ‘open door policy’ for both staff and family members. It also noted staff were ‘attune’ with residents’ requirements with detailed plans for each person. The inspector added that staff respected residents’ privacy and were supportive in improving their quality of life.

Julie Jinks, registered home manager for Barley Close, said: “We see all our residents as individuals and we strive to ensure that the care we provide is right for them and tailored to their specific needs.”