Working at Hepworth House

The provider had extremely effective systems to safeguard people with robust monitoring and root cause analysis ensuring lessons learned. Proactive audits addressed risks like pressure sores and falls successfully, with open transparent culture and confident staff reporting.

There was an incredibly friendly, positive and homely atmosphere. Staff told us that staff morale was excellent and staff said, 'Here, I feel like I am needed, wanted and valued and so do the service users,' and, 'All the managers are supportive.'

Enough staff were deployed to meet people's needs and people were cared for by a core team of staff to provide continuity. Staff dependency calculations and actual staff on duty were on display showing sufficient staff to meet needs.

Staff completed a comprehensive induction including the Care Certificate and had ongoing training and support. Staff received regular supervisions that actively encouraged them to develop their knowledge and skills; staff were champions in safeguarding, dementia, skin integrity, falls, medication, end of life care, nutrition and infection control.

The registered manager was an excellent role model for the staff team ensuring and directing continued development and improvement of the service based on feedback from people. Staff said, 'The manager is so enthusiastic' and, 'The manager listens to us, they implement anything that will make this home better.'

Varied activities included Hepworth harmonies choir group, therapy dog weekly, community projects like making poppies for remembrance wall and post box cover, sensory and fairy gardens with awards, pop-up cafés celebrating cultures, health groups for dementia and Parkinson's, and intergenerational Halloween event.