Rothbury Cottage Care Ltd

Updated 17 October 2024

Date of Assessment: 12 December 2024 to 13 January 2025. Rothbury Cottage Care Ltd is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 14 people who have physical health conditions. It is based in a converted community hospital. At the time of the inspection 14 people used the service. The management team worked with staff to encourage a shared vision, strategy and culture. Following the closure of a local community hospital the Trust had found there was a need for a community service in the Rothbury area. Professionals discussed how the service they had created with NHS colleagues had addressed the unmet needs of the local community for step-down, convalescence and respite services. Partner agencies found access to the service had markedly reduced delayed discharges from hospitals and allowed people to be supported close to their home. Staff treated people with dignity and kindness. People experienced a wide range of activities. The catering staff understood people’s needs and ensured people received enjoyable, nutritious meals. People, relatives and professionals were complimentary about staff who were supporting individuals. People felt safe. Staff understood people's needs and how to manage any presenting risks. We discussed the enhancements that could be made to the electronic assessment template. The management team confirmed they would work with the team who designed the template to make these improvements. There were always 2 care staff on duty. During the weekdays this was enough as other staff were around. At other times there was just enough staff if no incidents occurred, and people were fairly independent. The dependency tool did not capture when people had been assessed as having high needs. This meant the staffing calculations constantly remained at 2 staff. The provider had noted these issues and was already taking action to resolve them.

Updated 17 October 2024

People were extremely positive about the quality of the care. Everyone we spoke with told us they found staff were very caring and supportive and often went the extra mile to ensure people’s needs were met. A person said, “I can’t fault the place at all. The staff are excellent and so kind. They have gone out of their way to make my stay here really pleasant.” Another person said, “I come here a couple of times a week. It is such a nice place and there is always plenty to do, which is why I chose to come for day care.” We used a structured observation tool to assess whether they received good care. This approach showed people were included and listened to and staff consistently interacted positively with them. We observed staff worked with people in a sensitive, caring and considerate manner. They encouraged people to be as independent as possible and really encouraged them to reach their full potential. People felt safe and their dignity and human rights were fully promoted. They were encouraged to make decisions. People and their relatives told us about the positive impact the service had had on their lives. A person said, “I’m so pleased this service is in Rothbury. It is where I and my family live and means it’s so easy for them to pop in to see me.” A relative said, “[Person’s name] often goes out with the staff to shows and the local community centre. [Person’s name] tells me they are very happy at Rothbury Cottage Care, and it has made them feel better being so close to home.” People told us they felt listened to and consulted around how their care and support should be provided. Relatives discussed how skilled staff were and how well they treated their loved ones. All felt staff were competent and knowledgeable. People felt able to complain and were confident action would be taken and improvements would be made. A person said, “They (staff) really listen to what I have to say and take the time to do the things I ask.”