Conifer Lodge in Wisbech has been rated 'outstanding' following an inspection

A specialist residential home that looks after adults with learning disabilities or mental health issues has been rated 'outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission.

Conifer Lodge on North Brink, Wisbech, was visited by inspectors two days in July and they were impressed by what they found rating the home 'good' in three of the five categories and 'outstanding' in the other two and rating it 'outstanding' overall.

It was rated as good for being safe, being caring and providing effective care and outstanding for being responsive to the needs of its residents and being well-led.

The the inspectors' findings published this week said, the home which caters for up to 13 people mainly with learning disabilities and autism, meets the CQC's expectations treating residents with respect, equality, dignity and allowing them choices, independence and good access to local communities - things that most people take for granted.

'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it, said the report.

Inspectors said: "Although best practice is for no more than six people using this type of service, people using the service had developed long-term friendships and lived a life being treated equally well. There were plans in place to support people to move where this had been deemed in people's best interests.

"Based on our review of is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led questions, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture."

They continued: "The staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control to be independent and they had control over their own lives. The service gave people care and support in a safe environment that was clean and suitably equipped to meet people's physical and emotional needs.

"Staff totally focused on and promoted people's equality and diversity completely, supporting and responding exceptionally well to their individual needs. This totally changed people's lives for the better.

"Staff's diligence and persistence enabled people to exceed their aspirations. This helped people live a meaningful life full of opportunities they might otherwise not have had."

The report pointed out the inspection had been planned as the home had been under new ownership since March last year.

Inspectors added: "The last rating for the service under the previous provider was 'outstanding'. Although there was a new owner of the home, the registered manager and most of the staff team had been with the home for many years. The current provider registered the service with us on March 5 2021 and this is their first inspection."

They concluded: "Staff put people's wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did." Adding: "People described the service to us as, 'The best place I have ever lived' … 'Exceptional staff', and 'Changed my life for the better for ever'."