A CARE home that takes residents out shopping, on day trips, and plays games has been rated “Good” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Hartington House received the positive rating in a report published by the watchdog last week.

The service, which is currently supporting five adults with mental health conditions, was rated good in each of the five inspection categories – measuring whether the service is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.

Employee Nicki Billington said: "It's really lovely to see the report.

"I've been here for ten years and most of the staff have all been here for years too and that speaks for itself about what it's like here.

"Honestly all our patients are really lovely people to look after, I've been sat in the kitchen doing crafts with two of them all afternoon – we're going to redecorate the kitchen wall with their posters."

Inspectors visited the site on Hartington Road on March 5.

Staff were praised for the variety of activities available for the residents, which normally includes day trips to places like Blackpool, going to play bowling, and hosting BBQs.

Workers were also praised for providing healthy meals that met each person's nutritional needs.

The home, which has capacity to house six people at a time, supports adults with learning difficulties or mental health issues.

It redecorates and updates furnishing to keep residents comfortable, and those living on the site are also given opportunities to keep their independence.

Care was praised for being personalised and centred on each person's needs and preferences, whilst also respecting the privacy of patients.

Ms Billington added: "It really is their home, we've got one resident who's been here 22 years and he says it's his home for life, and another who moved in just five weeks ago.

"It is a house, a very homely house, with six bedrooms, and our lounge and our kitchen.

"Every few weeks we sit down and give everyone the photos that we've printed out of everything we've done and they get to choose which ones they want to put in their scrapbooks.

"They're all in the shelf in the lounge for anyone to get out any time and they can look at each other's too which is really nice, it helps to job their memories."

The five residents currently being cared for are aged between 29 and 64.

This inspection was announced, with the CQC giving Hartington House 48 hours notice to ensure that people who used the service, staff, and visitors were free to talk.