We aim to provide the highest standard of professional care to 16 elderly people, both male and female, in an environment which feel is as close to being at home as possible. In this atmosphere of care and support, our residents are both helped and encouraged to live as full, interesting and independent a life as possible. We value each resident as an individual and try to keep rules and regulations to a minimum.

We try to make sure that our residents are fully consulted about matters which might affect their well being or quality of life. Our staff understand the importance of listening to the residents' views of their care. We will also try to involve their families and friends to assist us.

We have a commitment to our staff and their training which provides a stable and professional team, dedicated to our principles of "whole person care". It is this commitment which has earned Coombe House an excellent reputation with its clients, families and GP's, making it a premier care home of South East Cornwall.

Coombe House also operates an active NVQ programme, providing staff with numerous opportunities to gain qualifications at levels 2 and 3 in Care in accordance with new national care standards. Other training opportunities are linked to external qualifications such as health and safety, food hygiene, first aid, fire safety and manual handling.

The benefits of staff training and development have been measured in a number of ways, including the development of a motivated, multi-skilled workforce that is committed to delivering the highest standard of care for its clients. At the same time, we have enjoyed a 100% occupancy rate at a time when other homes are struggling to survive.

We care for residents with mental illness and dementia but we are not a nursing home. If our residents require nursing care it is provided and supervised by the community nursing service.

We understand how dependent our residents are on the continuing care from a staff team they have learnt to trust, and we will do our very best to manage their care through all the ups and downs of illness, including their terminal care, Regular assessments are made to make sure we can properly meet these needs. As evidence we offer a link to Coombe's reports from the Care Quality Commission.

To also offer a more detailed explanation; we stipulate that Coombe House is committed to providing quality services for residents by caring, competent, well trained staff in a homely atmosphere.

This will be achieved by:

1. The Staff development programme.
2. Recruitment of staff who share our values.
3. Providing such resources as may be required to ensure that training takes place and it is effective.

Our Home will provide services based upon consultation and assessment of the residents' needs.

This will be achieved by:

1. Listening to staff, residents and others with an interest in the Home.
2. Ensuring that assessments are made which balance risks and needs.
3. Promoting a level of responsible risk-taking in daily living activity.
4. The operation of an effective care planning system.

Our Home will involve residents, if this is possible, in the planning and review of the services that are provided for them to ensure that their needs are met. Where residents are unable to take part in this process we will endeavour to involve their families and/or next of kin.

This will be achieved by:

1. Enabling and empowering residents and their relatives to influence the services provided in the Home by giving each a real say in how services are delivered.
2. Encouraging residents and their relatives to become involved in all decisions which are likely to affect them, either now or in the longer term.

Our Home will consult residents and their families about their satisfaction with the service and suggestions for improvement:

This will be achieved by:

1. Senior Staff and the Proprietor being available for residents' and relatives' discussion of their needs and wishes.
2. Regular staff meetings.
3. Consultation with other professionals who visit the Home.
4. Management review of our Quality Management System.

Our Home will provide catering services which meet the expectations of residents.

This will be achieved by:

1. Planned, structured menus which include residents' wishes, choices and preferences.
2. Menus which are nutritionally balanced.
3. Menus which allow residents to make food choices.
4. Menus which can be enjoyed by residents who find eating ordinary food challenging.

Our Home will try to ensure that residents are fully informed about all matters which might affect their well-being.

This will be achieved by:

1. Making time to talk to and listen to our residents.
2. Sharing information and giving support to their families.

Our Home will afford all residents and staff an equality of opportunity in respect of living or working in the Home.

This will be achieved by: An Equal Opportunities Policy which is detailed in our employee handbook.

Our Home will ensure that the Home is a safe and secure place to live.

This will be achieved by:

1. Ensuring that the physical environment meets all Health and Safety standards.
   • We employ the services of Peninsula Business Services Ltd to oversee our health and safety practices, and with their help we have a comprehensive Employee Health and Safety handbook issued to all members of staff. Senior Staff have a delegated responsibility in all areas of Health and Safety practice. All staff have Moving and Handling, Fire and Accident and First Aid training, as well as Food Hygiene training.
2. Ensuring that our Residents keep as few valuables in the Home as possible.
   • Providing each resident with insurance cover for their personal possessions and, if needed, a safe and secure place to store their valuables.

Our Home will aim to offer a range of social activities which meet the needs of the residents.

This will be achieved by:

1. Ensuring that activities are offered to each resident which are appropriate to their needs, abilities or expressed wishes,
2. Ensuring that the Home considers their social, spiritual, cultural, emotional and physical needs in the services it offers to residents.
3. Ensuring that residents feel comfortable to decline any or all of the activities offered by the Home.