The Care Quality Commission has upgraded the rating for Tigh Fruin from requires improvement to outstanding following an inspection carried out between November and January.
Tigh Fruin, run by Kisimul Group Limited, is a residential care home in Retford providing personal care and support to autistic people and people with a learning disability. At the time of assessment, five people were using the service.
The inspection was carried out to follow up on the breach of regulation found during the previous inspection. The service was found to no longer be in breach of any regulations and was providing outstanding care overall.
The CQC has also upgraded the ratings for caring and responsive from requires improvement to outstanding, and for safe and well-led from requires improvement to good. The rating for effective remains good.
Greg Rielly, CQC Deputy Director of Adult Social Care in the East Midlands, said:
“At our inspection, we found significant improvements in the care people received. There was a clear cultural overhaul, which the registered manager is credited with being a central part of. Staff displayed exceptional kindness and worked tirelessly to give people a higher quality of life.
“This kindness was evident when a person appeared uneasy around one of our inspectors, due to them being an unfamiliar face in their home. Staff immediately offered reassurance, calmly explained who the CQC were, and facilitated a sensitive introduction. This relaxed the person, and they began engaging with the inspector, holding their hand while proudly showing them photos on the wall.
“Staff were adaptable and committed to tailoring their approaches to communicate with individuals with complex needs. We saw leaders empower them to use their creativity, with many tools and technologies made available. One person showed increased confidence when staff used an electronic device with a recording of a family member’s voice.
“The service was committed to treating people as individuals, utilising personalised approaches where possible. The registered manager introduced goal boards that were themed around people’s likes and preferences, in response to a lack of engagement with more traditional goal boards. We saw first-hand the difference this made, with people already making progress on key goals.
“Everyone at Tigh Fruin should be proud of the changes made at the service. The contents of the report, notably comments from fellow professionals, relatives, and people in their care, are a testament to the hard work and dedication they show to make a difference in people’s lives.”
• CQC rates Nottingham care home as Outstanding after first inspection
Inspectors found:
Staff assessed people’s needs thoroughly and on an ongoing basis. People were actively involved in planning their care, with relatives and legal advocates contributing meaningfully to decisions.
The service demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and innovation, ensuring people consistently experienced high-quality, progressive care.
Tigh Fruin detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities, and technology supported the delivery of safe care. The environment was well maintained, designed, and adapted to meet the needs of people living at the home.
Leaders promoted a positive culture where staff and people felt able to speak up and raise concerns without fear.
The service demonstrated an exceptional level of integration and continuity in the way care and support were delivered. Staff worked closely with education providers to ensure that learned skills were consistently reinforced within the service.
Staff responded well to people’s immediate needs and supported them in a timely and attentive way. People appeared relaxed and comfortable in staff’s company and asked for help when they needed it.
• CQC raises concerns over safety and staffing in Nottingham maternity services
