AN ANDOVER care home has started off on the right foot according to its first inspection by the industry watchdog.

Ravenna Lodge, in Augusta Park, received an overall rating of ‘good’ after an unannounced visit from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) between February 27 and March 1.

The home, which provides accommodation and support for adults with mental health conditions, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, having opened in February last year.

Manager Annett Allen said: “It’s been a very busy first year, getting the home set up and the people we support settled in. It’s also been exciting having a brand new building with lots of space and a lovely staff team who work so well together.”

The Ravenna Lodge team was one of many aspects of the home’s service singled out for praise in the report.

It was noted that staff turnover was high when the service opened but this has since settled in recent months.

The CQC found that current staff were caring and considerate and that they supported residents “in day-to-day tasks, in the community and at point of crisis when they most needed person-centred support.”

The report added: “We saw staff working with complex individuals who had a diverse range of mental health conditions. At times staff could be put under significant pressure if someone was experiencing a crisis.

“Despite this, the support was provided with empathy.”

Management at the facility was also recognised, both for the way in which they motivated their team to provide high quality care and the way in which they supported staff in a personal capacity.

The report added: “Staff told us they felt supported by both the registered manager and the assistant area director.

“One staff member told us, ‘I was feeling lost one day due to things happening in my personal life. The registered manager saw this immediately and supported me.’”

Annett added: “It’s great to get recognition for the staff team.

“We really enjoy our work, are totally committed to the people we support and take a great pride in their achievements.”

Elsewhere in the report, the service was found to be responsive to people’s needs, effective in its treatments and safe in terms of both managing and administering medicines.