Care home bounces back with 'outstanding' rating

A care home in Nottinghamshire that was told to make improvements by health inspectors has been rated as "outstanding" following a fresh visit.

Retford's Tigh Fruin, run by Kisimul Group Limited, supports people with autism and learning disabilities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out the inspection after a previous visit found the home was breaching regulations by not maintaining consistently safe levels of staff support.

"There was a clear cultural overhaul, which the registered manager is credited with being a central part of," said Greg Rielly, the CQC's deputy director of adult social care in the East Midlands.

"Staff displayed exceptional kindness and worked tirelessly to give people a higher quality of life."

He added the team was also "adaptable and committed in tailoring their approaches to communicate with individuals with complex needs".

The report found staff assessed people's needs thoroughly and on an ongoing basis, the service demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning, and Tigh Fruin detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment.

Leaders were also praised for promoting a positive culture where staff and people felt able to speak up and raise concerns without fear.

Rielly said: "The service was committed to treating people as individuals, utilising personalised approaches where possible.

"Everyone at Tigh Fruin should be proud of the changes made at the service. The contents of the report, notably comments from fellow professionals, relatives, and people in their care, are testament to the hard work and dedication they show to make a difference in people's lives."

The inspection was carried out between November and January and at the time of assessment, five people were using the service.

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