The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: The Hope Residential and Nursing Care Home

Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 8BQ (01223) 359087

Provided and run by:
The Healthcare Management Trust

All Inspections

4 October 2013

During a routine inspection

We received many positive comments both from people living at the home and their relatives about the frequency of activities provided, the cleanliness of the environment and the high quality of the staff. One person told us, 'Staff are very cheerful and helpful, what more could you ask for'. One relative told us, 'Staff are brilliant, mum can be absolutely infuriating at times and they are always so patient with her'. Another told us, 'I have 100% confidence that my mother is looked after with care and concern at the home'. People told us that there were enough staff available when they needed them. However a number of relatives raised concerns at the high use of agency staff at the home in the last year, and felt that these staff did not always know their family members as well, and therefore did not provide as good care as the more permanent staff.

We spoke with three GPs who knew the home well. Each told us they rated the care there highly. One stated, 'The nurses are professional and experienced and know their patients so well. When I pass the home with my son I always tell him, 'That's where daddy wants to go when he gets old'. The other GP stated 'Compared to other homes I visit, it's great'. A vising physiotherapist reported, 'I always recommend The Hope, there are very high standards of medical and social care and the whole culture of the home is good'.

Staff we spoke with clearly enjoyed their job and told us they felt well supported in their work.

We found that the provider was compliant in all outcome areas we assessed. It was quite evident from all the people we spoke with (those who lived there, their relatives, care professionals and the provider's own staff) that this was a well-managed, clean and happy home. People had access to a range of varied and stimulating activities each day and were supported by competent and caring staff.

10 May 2012

During a routine inspection

During our visit on 10 May 2012 we spoke with seven people living in the home. They all said that the staff respected their privacy and that they were cared for with respect. They all said that they were happy living in the home and made positive comments about the care that they received. One person told us that the staff, "Couldn't look after me better". Another told us that the staff are, "Always helpful, we can have what we want".

The home had a chapel on the second floor and Catholic Mass was held three times a week. One person told us that this was the reason that they had chosen this home and that they really enjoyed being able to attend Mass on a regular basis without having to leave the home. The manager told us that services of other faiths also took place in the chapel.

We spoke to a family carer who told us that the staff kept them informed about issues affecting their relative and that they were involved in reviews of care.

We asked about the time it took for staff to respond to call bells and two people told us that they rarely wait for longer than two or three minutes. One person said that the time taken was, "Variable" but declined to give us any further information. One of the family carers told us that, in their opinion, staff answered call bells very promptly.

We spoke with people about the activities that were available. Everyone knew that there was a programme of activities which took place and told us about some of the ones that were provided. Two people said that they chose not to take part in group activities, one said, 'I don't want to take part in the activities as I am happy with my own company'. Others said that they really enjoyed the activities. One person said, "I go to all of the activities that they do here".