A WINCHESTER care home has received a top rating from inspectors.

Sunrise of Winchester, on Stockbridge Road, is celebrating being awarded a prestigious overall ‘Outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Only one per cent of homes receive this overall, making Sunrise of Winchester one of the country’s top care communities.

The rating was awarded following a comprehensive inspection in December 2017, which found “a warm and homely environment” where “people, their relatives and staff were very proud of the community they lived and worked in”.

The quality and commitment of the management at Sunrise of Winchester was highlighted by the CQC, who said: “The registered manager embraced the registered provider’s visions, values and a mission, ‘To Champion Quality of Life for all Seniors’. This mission was evident throughout the community in the way people and staff were supported, respected, nurtured and worked together for the good of people who lived there and those who were important to them”.

The rigorous, high-quality training at the home was remarked upon, including for dementia care, with inspectors reporting that “the specialist dementia care training… was evident in all staff interactions with people which were excellent”.

The focus on the individual was also noted throughout. The CQC found that “person-centred care planning was evident throughout and there was a high level of engagement with people about their previous life experiences and hobbies”. They also found that “people enjoyed an excellent dining experience at the home which respected their choices and promoted their independence”and that “special dietary needs were met and cultural difference in diets had been celebrated with themed meals”.

This focus on person-centred care has been further enhanced in recent months with the introduction of CareConnect, which is a secure electronic health record system that tracks individual resident care plans to ensure they receive the very best care and support, according to their personal preferences and care needs.

Sunrise of Winchester is part of the Sunrise Senior Living group that manages 25 homes throughout the UK. Sunrise of Winchester provides luxury care facilities for up to 103 residents, including specialist dementia care.

Sharon Hare, general manager at the home, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the whole team here at Sunrise of Winchester. It pays testament to the pride our team members take in the care we provide, and the dedication they show to the residents that live here.”