A national care watchdog has given a care home in Fulham the seal of approval, with relatives and residents praising its kind and caring team members.

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report gave Care UK’s Farm Lane care home on Farm Lane an overall ‘good’ rating, following an unannounced inspection.

The inspectors highlighted that residents felt safe, and the report observed that the Care UK team met the resident’s needs at all times. One resident added: “The team go out of their way to help you.”

A family member mentioned that their loved one had recently been in hospital and they described that it was relaxing for them to return back to the care home. The relative added: “There is a super atmosphere here, the team are wonderful and such a help.”

Residents and their families expressed their confidence in how the team support the residents to maintain good health, and have access to other health care professionals and services to meet their needs.

Carla Infante, deputy home manager at Farm Lane said: “We strive to create a welcoming home from home at Farm Lane, and I’m so pleased our efforts have been recognised by the CQC’s inspectors. Everyone here works incredibly hard to support residents with compassionate, person-centred care- and to be rated ‘good’ shows just how committed the team is to making a positive difference to residents’ lives each and every day.

I’m extremely proud of our team and I would like to say thank you for their hard work and dedication, which I know is also greatly appreciated by residents and their families.”

The inspectors added that Farm Lane implemented a detailed, person-centred approach to care plans. They noted that the team demonstrated an excellent knowledge of the residents’ prescribed medicines and why they had been prescribed those medicines.

One resident said: “I want to stay here, I feel safe, there are many team members on duty 24 hours and I’m quite happy.”

Residents are supported by team members to pursue their interests and hobbies, and participate in social activities. While inspectors were visiting the home, a group of pupils from a local sixth form visited the home to take part in activities, which demonstrates the close relationships the home has with the community. The report also draws attention to the Care UK team members who continue to demonstrate enthusiasm to provide a caring and supportive service. One team member added: “I have compassion for people, I say to everyone, remember the ‘Mum test’. Just imagine this is your mother or a person you care for. It’s not about sympathy, its empathy.”

To assess service standards at Farm Lane, the CQC’s inspector spoke with team members, residents and their visiting relatives on the day of the inspection. They also reviewed the records and procedures already in place at the care home.

Farm Lane has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, as well as short term respite and day care.

For further information on Farm Lane please contact deputy manager, Carla Infante on 020 7386 4180 or email carla.infante@careuk.com.

For more general information visit careuk.com/farm-lane.

Submitted by Amy Lehal