RAF Charity Celebrates Care Home’s ‘Outstanding Rating’ By Regulator Care Quality Commission Putting It In The Top 2% Of Adult Social Care

Princess Marina House, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund’s flagship care and respite centre on the West Sussex coast, has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating following an inspection earlier this year.

Independent regulator the Care Quality Commission rated the home and its Respite at Home service outstanding in three categories caring, responsive and well-led and good in safe and effective – the five key lines of enquiry. Only 2% of adult social care providers have been awarded the overall ‘outstanding’ rating nationally.

The inspection report described both facilities, based in Rustington, as ‘extremely well-managed’ and credited staff and management with ensuring that ‘people who stayed at the home and those that used the Respite at Home service had access to high quality care, as it was evident and embedded into their practice’.

Comments from guests in the report included ‘this place is the jewel in the crown. I would recommend it,’ and ‘The manager is on the ball. It is beautifully run’.

General Manager Shirley Steeples said: “I am delighted with the overall rating of outstanding. Princess Marina House strives to provide excellent care to our guests to ensure their short break with us is a meaningful and memorable experience and they return refreshed and energised.

“I am proud to lead such a caring, dedicated and enthusiastic team at Princess Marina House and this is a well-deserved accolade for all their hard work. Princess Marina House has evolved into a centre of excellence for short welfare breaks. It is a great honour to serve the RAF Family and along with the team at the RAF Benevolent Fund we will continue to strive to be the best in class.”

Princess Marina House can host up to 50 RAF veterans and their partners for welfare and respite breaks. Guests enjoy ‘hotel-style’ rooms and service with the peace of mind that should they require extra care or support, highly skilled staff are on hand to provide it.

Air Commodore Paul Hughesdon, Director of Welfare and Policy at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “Shirley and her team at Princess Marina House should be congratulated on their outstanding achievement. We make sure that staff have time to talk and engage with guests and the service they provide is second to none. I’m delighted the Care Quality Commission has recognised their hard work and dedication.

“If Princess Marina House is a flagship operation for the Fund, then Shirley is an excellent captain, leading our specialist team of enthusiastic workers to such success.”