A BOLTON care home has been given the gold seal of approval for its end of life care.

Astley Grange, in Blackburn Road, has been awarded with a Quality Hallmark award by the Gold Standard Framework.

The national award is given to care homes and services which provide an 'outstanding' end of life care to ensure better lives for people and recognised standards of care.

It follows an overall good rating for the service, which cares for a range of residents with complexity of physical and mental health needs, by the Care Quality Commission in December.

An unannounced inspection in October found the home good in all areas of effectiveness, care, response and leadership.

The report praised warm staff, including noting the "discussion and laughter".

Inspectors added: "We heard lots of positive chatter between staff and people thorough the course of the inspection.

"The staff we spoke with demonstrated a good understanding of the people they supported, their care needs and their wishes.

"Relationships between people who used the service and staff members were very warm and staff demonstrated a good understanding of the people they supported."

It also recognised the service's End of Life Care Policy and with the Gold Standards Framework in Care Homes (GSFCH) accreditation which is supported by the Department of Health End of Life Care Strategy.

Astley Grange is one of three homes to initially sign up to the GSFCH it in 2009, which is reaccredited every three years with assessments every 12 months.

Manager Barbara Oakes said: "A lot of our referrals are word of mouth from people who have had relatives here before. We are one big family between residents, staff and visitors.

"We are just a small service with 28 beds but that goes towards the homely feel.

"It has been a team effort at the end of the day. We work as a team. Myself and others have been here a long time working day to day in order to achieve this sort of things. We do it because we care, to do the job properly you have to care."