Staff at one of our Salutem care homes in Torquay have been praised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for receiving a ‘good’ rating after it was graded as ‘requires improvement’ in 2019.
Tobias Centre is a care home that accommodates up to eight adults who have a learning disability, are autistic or have mental health needs. It is operated by Salutem Care and Education.
In the CQC inspection report, staff are commended for the involvement of families of the individuals we support when making decisions such as care planning and reviews. This helps keep families involved and helps improve the overall wellbeing of those supported by the service.
A relative told CQC: “Management are very good, and they always help. I have spoken to the manager, and she is very good. Every time I have approached her with an issue, she has solved the problem.”
Another family member told the CQC: “If there is a new member of staff, they are always with an experienced member of the team.”
Tobias Centre’s personalised care was praised for ensuring that every individual supported by the service is looked after based on their needs.
The report states: “Staffing was arranged around people’s individual needs. Agency staff were used to ensure there were enough numbers of staff available to ensure people’s safety and to support their various activities.
“Inductions were in place to ensure any new or agency staff had the skills and knowledge to support people safely. There were enough staff to meet people’s need both within the service and when people accessed the local community.”
The CQC commended the Tobias Centre for ensuring that the supported individuals had maximum choice in their lives.
“People were supported to have control of their daily lives and staff supported people to live as independently as possible. Staff supported people to take part in activities they enjoyed, within and outside the home.”
Eva Barry, manager at Tobias Centre said: “A huge pat on the back to our team. We recognise how every member of staff has put in hard work to ensure that the individuals supported by the service are well looked after. The constant efforts to go above and beyond are inspiring.
“The turnaround from the last inspection has been incredible, thank you to everyone at Tobias Centre, we ensure that we are continuously improving day by day.”
John Godden MBE, CEO of Salutem Care and Education said: “This “good” rating from CQC is a testament to the hard work and the dedication of the staff at Tobias Centre, who ensure the individuals they support receive excellent, consistent, and personalised care.
“A big well done to Eva and the team. This external validation that everyone is safe and happy is extremely pleasing and we look forward to a positive future for all.”
