The Seaton care home has been rated ‘excellent’ following an audit by a national care organisation with a focus on relationship-centred cultures of care.

The home was visited by auditors from Meaningful Care Matters (MCM) who assessed the staff’s interactions with residents, as well as the home’s environment and the level of care given.

Founded in 2019, MCM aims to change the culture of care by ensuring people have purpose, meaningful occupation, and meaningful relationships within their care setting. 

Auditors said the 28-bed care home in Seaton created a sense of ‘family’ among those living and working there. They also praised the care home for their ‘highly personalised care experience’ which had ‘elements of meaningful engagement, occupation, and connections’. 

Southern Healthcare CEO Geoffrey Cox said: “The team at The Seaton work tirelessly to provide a high level of care for the residents, both in terms of their physical needs and their wellbeing. The feedback from the MCM auditors on the day was excellent and this report is a positive springboard in our continuing endeavours to provide high-quality care where the residents are at the centre of everything we do.”

Care plans were also reviewed, the care home environment, as well as interviewing staff and residents about their experience of living or working at the care home.  

Southern Healthcare care home manager Emma Seal said: “We were thrilled the auditors noticed the strong sense of family at The Seaton between the people living and working here. We work hard to ensure our residents feel empowered to make choices that impact on their care and wellbeing.”

"The house is fun, upbeat, spontaneous and the team are always keen to try new experiences.”

The auditors also commented on the number of ‘nice’ interactions between staff and residents, paying particular reference to the care home’s gardener, who chatted to residents in the breakfast room and encouraged a resident to help him outside with his gardening work.