Dementia Care ‘Outstanding’ in Walsall

A dementia-specialist residential care home in Walsall has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an unannounced inspection this month. The Watermill on Goscote Lane, operated by Housing & Care 21, is Walsall’s first outstanding residential care setting for older people.

The Watermill is a dementia-specialist residential care home and day centre in Goscote for people over the age of 65. The home provides personal care and accommodation for up to 40 people in one adapted building.

The care home is Walsall’s very first to be named outstanding overall by CQC, the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. The inspection considers five key questions; ‘is the service safe?’, ‘is the service effective?’, ‘is the service caring?’, ‘is the service responsive?’ and ‘is the service well-led?’. The report shows The Watermill to be outstanding overall, highlighting the home’s strengths in responsiveness and leadership.

An inspector from CQC said: “People, relatives and care staff gave outstanding feedback about the registered manager and the service as a whole. They were encouraged to be fully involved in the development of the service and making decisions. People felt they had a voice and that they were heard.

“One person told us, ‘I don't think you could improve this place’. Another person said, ‘I can't say anything detrimental. This home is by far and away the best. They outshine the others by far… other homes could learn from this home’. Another relative said, ‘We feel blessed to say she is here’.”

Caroline Binnersley, registered manager at The Watermill said: “We are so pleased to be named outstanding by CQC. The work the team have put in here over the years really does deserve this and so much more. Everything we do here is to better the lives of our residents - from the person-centred care and activity sessions, to the support for their relatives, we are all just so passionate about what we do.”

Kris Peach, Director of Extra Care at Housing & Care 21 said: “The CQC report illustrates that Caroline Binnersley, the registered manager, and the whole team at The Watermill do an incredible job of caring for people living with dementia.

“We are very pleased to have our first outstanding service and hope to see our Extra Care schemes follow suit!”

The Watermill is delivered in partnership with Walsall Council.

Councillor Rose Martin portfolio holder for Adult Social Care, Walsall Council said: “This CQC outcome is well deserved and sets the standard for other homes across the borough. The council will continue to work closely with residential homes and key stakeholders to improve the quality of residential care in Walsall.”