We are delighted to announce that Eastfield Residential Home in Maidstone is a quintuple threat, having achieved a ‘Good’ rating from the CQC in all 5 areas! The home was rated good in the key areas being safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
This is outstanding achievement is due to the hard work and dedication of the team at Eastfield to continually providing the best care and seeking to not only meet – but exceed expectations every step of the way.
The key to Eastfield’s rating is the staff, led by manager Lauren Traveller, and their ability to recognise their residents as individuals, considering their strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture, and unique backgrounds to not only tailor their care, but build relationships built on trust and compassion.
Inevitably, there are challenges in providing truly tailored care, however Lauren comes up with creative ways to keep our residents engaged and supported. “We had a French person living with us before and I arranged for a language student to come and have lunch with them.” she tells the CQC “I’ve emailed the language students again to see if they’d like to come in and spend time with [person’s name] as they are (European nationality).”
At Eastfield, care isn’t just about monitoring a resident’s condition, but also helping to better it through consistent care, treatment, and emotional support to give residents a better quality of life. The team ensures that outcomes are consistently positive, and that residents meet both clinical expectations and the expectations of themselves.
Relatives affirmed that they always feel happy and comfortable to raise any concerns with management and felt they would be listened to and the concerns acted upon – a testament to the fact that care doesn’t just end at our residents but extends to their families as well.
In the end, at the heart of the care is the team at Eastfield, and the registered manager Lauren, who oversees all aspects of the home, no matter how big or small. We can only provide the care our residents need and to make them happy by first having a happy and supported team.
Lauren says “It’s all about trying to make sure staff feel valued. We have staff meetings now where, rather than just talking at staff, we do quizzes to create more discussion, as well as team building exercises.” As a result of the positive, cohesive culture, the team has built a common goal of providing the best care for their residents, with an attentive, considered, and patient approach.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard to turn things around, this rating reflects the dedication and compassion of our team.” says Lauren.
Eastfield looks ahead at providing a more homely, comfortable space, working alongside residents and their families on ongoing refurbishment to the bedrooms. It is part of the home’s continual quest to improve the quality of care provided and ensure our residents always feel like they are at home.