A WHITCHURCH care home is celebrating the difference a year can make after turning around its troubled past.

Edgeley Court, in Edgeley Road, was rated inadequate by the Commission for Quality Care and Social Services in 2016 before Carolyn Fisher was appointed to manage the home.

Speaking on National Care Home Open day on June 16, Ms Fisher said she knew the home had a future despite criticisms for a lack of management leadership, staff shortages and lack of training.

She said: “I could see straight away there was real potential at Edgeley House. It is a lovely old building set in beautiful grounds which lends itself to a real home-from-home feel.

“I instantly felt that with the right training and guidance, we could make a success of the home

“The resident, as an individual, is the centre of everything we do. Care plans are tailored to suit their individual needs. Their privacy and dignity are paramount. They have choice in the way their care is received and in all aspects of their daily lives.

“I am really proud of how the team has pulled together and turned the home around.”

Under her guidance the home has gone from an ‘inadequate’ rating to ‘good’ with the inspectors noting there had been ‘significant improvements to improve the quality of treatment and care to people who use the service’.

Ms Fisher had built up a reputation as a trouble-shooter and decided a new challenge was needed and took on Edgeley House.

The home provides  general and dementia care and all staff have received specialist dementia training, including kitchen staff and  the handy man.

Ms Fisher stressed many residents have dementia at some level and it is important that everyone, not just care staff, understood how this effects a person and how their needs could be better met.

Recently, pupils from Sir John Talbot School went into the home and designed and decorated a corridor with a seaside theme which has provide a great talking point for residents.

Ms Fisher has recently been invited to sit on the Shropshire County Council Peer Review Challenge, which looks at best practice in social care.

For more information about Edgeley House please call 01948 662832.