Staff and residents at a Whitehaven care home are celebrating after it was praised by a government watchdog.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Harbour View Care Home good in all areas.

They said services at the home continued to be safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

Gillian McAllister, Home Manager, said: “We’ve maintained this standard for 20 years, during which the home has never been rated as anything other than good, or equivalent. This is thanks to the caring and dedication of the entire team.”

Inspectors found that residents felt safe and relaxed in the home, which is run by Four Seasons Health Care, and were looked after by a caring team who treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.

There were sufficient staff to meet residents’ needs, they found.

The premises were safe and secure, medicines were stored safely and recorded well, and steps were in place for infection control.

The home, in Bransty Road, provides care for older people, some of whom have complex physical and mental health needs or are living with dementia.

Residents looked well, and well cared for, and responded warmly to care staff, the inspection team found.

Staff responded sensitively to their needs.

Each person had a care plan describing their individual care supports needs, their preferences, routines and interests, which enabled the team to provide a personalised service, the team found. Residents and their relatives were consulted as much as possible about the care plans.

Residents told the inspectors that the staff cared about them and were pleasant. One said: “The staff are very good.” Another said: “They treat you well.” A visiting relative said: “We are over the moon...can’t fault the care. From the first day everyone was made to feel part of the family here”

The inspectors also heard positive comments from visiting health care professionals including that the nursing staff “Could handle any situation” and “They give fantastic nursing care.”

Inspectors noted that staff worked closely with health professionals to ensure people had safe and effective care and their physical and mental health was promoted. They encouraged people to be as independent as they could and supported them to have maximum choice and control of their lives.

They observed that residents were supported to maintain balanced diets, and there was a programme activities and outings to keep them entertained.

The report, which has just been published, follows an unannounced visit on September 27.