A CORSHAM home care company which sets a simple test for its staff – would this be good enough for my Mum? – has been judged in the country's top one per cent, after achieving an outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission.

Home Instead Senior Care Bath and West Wiltshire has 110 clients across its area, and inspectors heard glowing tributes from many of them. One told the inspectors: “They never rush me and they have time to sit down with me.” Another said: “They have first-class staff and they know how to pick a cheerful team. I have three staff and they are all lovely.”

The local branch was set up in 2011 by Alison and Nick Yeatman, who live in Atworth.

Mr Yeatman said: “The service we provide assures the safety and well-being of our clients and brings peace of mind to their families.

“We work with our clients and their families to deliver care which is highly personalised. We match clients to caregivers based on shared interests and care visits are of a minimum one hour.

“The outstanding rating we have received from the CQC confirms that we are getting it right. Care is delivered by caring and compassionate caregivers who love their work and who feel respected for what they do. The service is highly valued by our clients and their loved ones.

“We are truly putting the care back into caring and I am delighted that this has been recognised by CQC.”

A visiting professional described how impressed they were with by the standards of the service and care provided. They said: “The agency is the best in the area and is very responsive to the needs of the people who used its service.” Another professional said: “They have a very thorough assessment system to ensure that they really can meet the needs of the client. The carers turn up as expected and do not let people down.”

The company’s caregivers were praised in the report by CQC inspectors who stated that "staff had an excellent knowledge about each of the people who used the service. Staff understood people’s needs and how their visits contributed to improving their overall quality of life. Care records showed each person’s needs were recorded in very good detail."

Mrs Yeatman said: “We work hard to find the right staff with the right attitude. Once they join us it’s really important to ensure they feel valued and appreciated, which they very much are.

“This outstanding report bears testament to their hard work and dedication and the excellent relationships they develop with our clients.”

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care, said: “We have rightly set the bar high for services to be rated outstanding. It is good to see excellent leaders at Home Instead who value and care for their staff and focus on a truly person-centred approach meeting that high standard and providing great care for the people they support.

“Everyone deserves to experience care that we'd all be happy for any of our loved ones to receive and I wish Home Instead Senior Care all the very best in continuing to make the Mum Test real.”

Part of a national network of over 175 offices, the company’s innovative care model achieved national recognition last year when they were awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.