A CARE home in Froxfield, near Marlborough, has begun 2017 in the best possible fashion after receiving an overall Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), making it one of the best in the country.

The Brendoncare home, which provides nursing and dementia care for 44 residents in Littlecote Road, excelled in the quality and effectiveness of its care and scored Good for its safety, responsiveness and how well it was run by staff.

Thanks to this rating, the care home now joins an illustrious company among as it is now within the top one per cent of care homes in the country.

Manager Tina Jayne Manterfield said: “I am immensely proud of all of the team, their hard work and dedication, which have made Froxfield an outstanding home for residents.

“We were just so pleased to get this rating, which very few other care homes have in the country. It has been a big team effort and the staff really deserve this.

“If we could get outstanding in all five of the criteria that would be incredible. It is a happy home and we will keep working as hard as ever to deliver a top-level service.”

In the CQC’s December report the inspectors praised the staff and management of the home saying how staff developed extremely positive caring and compassionate relationships with people.

They also found that patients received a high standard of care because all staff were guided by an experienced and committed management team.

Zoe McCallum, Brendoncare’s chief operating officer, said: “We are immensely proud of the team at Froxfield. Their care, compassion and person-centred approach is truly outstanding and it is wonderful that this has been recognised in the CQC’s latest report.

“The strong management team at Froxfield has created an environment which is highly responsive to the views of residents, relatives and staff and where the safety and wellbeing of residents is the first priority at all times.”

Other areas which were praised by the CQC inspectors focused on how there was a strong emphasis on supporting people to eat and drink well, excellent links with healthcare professionals, suitable levels of trained staff and compassionate end-of-life care.

The home, which is supported by a group of volunteers and a League of Friends for fundraising and trips out, is part of the Brendoncare Foundation.

The registered charity, based in Hampshire, runs 10 care homes across the South of England, and has been caring for older people for more than 30 years.