A Swindon care home has received a perfect score for caring in its first assessment by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Willowbrook View, part of the Connaught Care Collection, was awarded 100 out of 100 for Caring, resulting in an Outstanding rating in the category.
The home, which has only recently opened, was rated Good in the other areas assessed by inspectors – Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led.
The CQC report praised the compassionate and personalised approach taken by staff, with residents and their relatives describing the team as kind, respectful and attentive to individual needs.
One external professional told inspectors: “I’ve worked with plenty of care homes and I wish every one was like this. Staff are really attentive to people and their individual needs.”
Inspectors also highlighted the home’s approach to learning and improvement, including involving residents’ relatives in staff training. Their experiences are used to help staff develop a greater understanding of the needs of residents and their families.
The report found that residents were supported to maintain choice and independence, with activities shaped around their individual interests and preferences.
Willowbrook View also offers a range of facilities including a hair salon, spa room, gym and physiotherapy facilities.
Residents told inspectors they were happy with the care they received. One said: “I like living here and I like the staff,” while another described the staff as “marvellous”.
Several residents compared the home to a hotel rather than a traditional care home, reflecting the surroundings and the level of choice available to them.
Families were similarly positive about the care provided.
One relative told inspectors that their family member had “flourished, blossomed under the care”, while Jan Richardson, whose mother lived at Willowbrook View, praised the team for caring for her mother during the final months of her life.
Neil Wimbledon also thanked staff for the care given to his father, saying the exceptional standard of care was evident every time he visited.
The CQC report also highlighted an example of a resident who had previously been bedridden and unable to feed themselves but went on to make significant progress with support for personal care, nutrition, mobility and everyday wellbeing.
The home’s support also extends to families during difficult periods, including end-of-life care. Staff help relatives understand and discuss their loved one’s wishes, while providing practical support, meals and accommodation where possible so families can remain close.
General Manager Mathan Balasubramaniyan said the Outstanding rating for Caring was particularly meaningful to the team.
“What makes me most proud is our Outstanding in Caring rating,” he said.
“Compassion, kindness, dignity, and genuine care cannot simply be written into a policy or taught in a single training session. They come from the dedication, values, and hearts of an incredible team.”
Amanda Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Connaught Care Collection, also praised the Willowbrook View team following the publication of its first CQC report.
She said building a new care home required “resilience, teamwork, determination and a strong commitment to doing the right thing”, adding that the team had demonstrated all of those qualities.
The result marks a strong first assessment for Willowbrook View, with inspectors recognising both the quality of care being delivered and the emphasis placed on residents’ individual needs, dignity and independence.
