Anchor Home leaps from 'Adequate' to 'Excellent' CSCI rating

Three stars for Excellent Thornton-in-Craven care home

A North Yorkshire care home has been awarded the highest quality rating possible by national regulator the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

Thornton Hill, in Thornton-in-Craven, had its Excellent three star rating confirmed this week, following an unannounced day-long inspection in July.

The result is a marked improvement on its previous rating, which was Adequate: Home Manager Jill Wiseman credits the dedication and professionalism of her team of care staff with the homes success.

Jill, who has managed Thornton Hill since October 2007, said:

I am so proud of our Excellent star rating. Residents and their relatives and friends can be assured of the quality of care that we offer here.

The comments we received from relatives, professionals and staff during the inspection were all positive, and made us feel like we had a won a gold medal at the Olympics.

It would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of my staff. It is wonderful that CSCI have recognised that Thornton Hill provides an outstanding service for both residents and relatives.

Me and my team at Thornton Hill are now going to work hard on retaining our Excellent rating, and ensuring that we continue to provide a service we can be proud of.

My aim is to see Thornton Hill go from strength-to-strength, and be a leader in residential care for older people in the Craven area, alongside our sister Anchor Homes, Gills Top at Grassington and Townend Close at Cross Hills, which have also received Excellent star ratings.

CSCI launched its star rating system earlier this year, to help those looking for care services. Care homes can be awarded a score from nought to the maximum of three stars, with ratings of 'Poor', 'Adequate', 'Good' or 'Excellent'.

Each home is rated in a series of areas such as daily life, management and care, which add up to make the homes overall score.

The report praised quality of care at the home, and the warm and caring attitudes of staff towards residents.

Relatives and friends are always made to feel welcome, and encouraged to get involved with the life of the home by, for example, staying for lunch with residents. The dignity and privacy of residents was respected at all times.

The inspector also singled out for praise the good quality of food, the high level of staff training, the close-knit community atmosphere and the hard work of the homes activity co-ordinator, who has organised everything from Christmas parties to Remembrance Sunday services.

The inspection report said: All staff were knowledgeable about the importance of residents retaining as much independence as possible, and on the day of the inspection, were seen to respond to the individual choices made by residents.

All the residents spoken to during the inspection said that the food was very good, they get up when they wish, and visitors were able to visit at any time.

Provision at Thornton Hill includes a 21-bed dementia care unit, where residents are looked after by a team trained in specialist dementia care.

Seven of the homes staff, including Home Manager Jill, have completed an advanced specialist dementia care course, designed and implemented by Anchor, which provides carers and managers with the skills to care for those with particularly high levels of need.

Thornton Hill is owned and operated by Anchor Homes, which is part of Anchor Trust, Englands largest not-for-profit provider of care, housing and support for older people.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. If you would like to interview the Home Manager of Thornton Hill, Jill Wiseman, or the photograph Jills team and home residents, please contact Joanna Nurse, Senior Communications Officer at Anchor Trust, on 0207 759 9111, 07770 314959 or at joanna.nurse@anchor.org.uk;
2. Thornton Hill is owned and operated by Anchor Homes, which is part of Anchor Trust, Englands largest not-for-profit provider of care, housing and support for older people;
3. Anchor Homes also owns two residential care homes in the area: Gills Top at Grassington and Townend Close at Cross Hills;
4. For more information about the work of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), please go to www.csci.org.uk