A residential care home in Oldham is celebrating a glowing report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which has rated it 'good' in all key areas.
Franklin House on Franklin Street provides residential care for up to 39 people, some of whom have dementia and/or require nursing and personal care.
The home has historically been rated 'good' overall by the care watchdog and in a report published this month, a follow-up CQC inspection reveals Franklin House has maintained its high standards.
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Visiting in May this year, CQC inspectors found residents receive safe care "from supportive staff" who understand "how best to support them".
The home has good systems in place to keep its residents safe from abuse and harm, with enough trained staff on hand even in quieter times.
A resident told the inspector: "I feel happy and safe here because I can call staff if I need anything.
"I would speak with the manager, or deputy if I had any worries."
Another resident said they receive "gentle care" while a relative said staff had been specially trained on using a pressure relief chair to seat their loved one in a comfortable position.
To this end, the CQC report described staff and the registered manager as "competent" and thorough with safeguarding practices.
Regular observations between staff and residents are carried out and employees told the CQC they felt "confident" to report any concerns since they have been trained on safeguarding and whistleblowing.
The team has also received training in several other areas to cater to the needs of residents, including administering medicines, dementia, diabetes, catheter care, moving and handling, decision-making, mental capacity and all other health and personal care needs of those in the home.
The report revealed the heart of the "culture" in Franklin House is "open and transparent" and where "people's human rights" are respected.
A visiting GP also commented: "Residents are safe here.
"I am not concerned about anything.
"Anti-psychotic medicines are managed well, there are no issues and no concerns with overuse."
As for recruitment and cleanliness, the assessment said the home has "robust" recruitment processes and is kept clean and tidy with residents saying they like their tidy rooms which also have their own personal "bits and bobs" which makes them feel at home.
The service also scored five stars for food hygiene and safety from the Food Standards Agency.
Assessing the home's level of caring, the CQC inspector found staff act "with kindness, dignity and respect", and noted how residents are encouraged to remain as independent as possible.
They enjoy a range of choices, such as what to eat, drink and wear every day, and activities four days a week while their relatives can visit "any time".
As for the responsive levels of the home, the CQC said residents are treated equally and receive personally tailored care.
Franklin House hosts a residents' meeting to allow those in care to have their say on things that matter to them, such as activities or meals they'd like, which has had positive results - for instance, a change in food menus.
A resident said: "The staff listen to me. I am treated fairly and with respect. For example, they celebrated my birthday well and they made me a birthday cake."
Finally, the inspector assessed whether the home is well-led and found the management team is "committed to improving" with an "open and supportive culture between management and the staff team" as well as a "conscientious" approach to providing care.
The CQC said the registered manager has "clear values" and a "passion for providing high standards of care".
To improve the overall 'good' grade even further, the CQC suggested a need for more activities, particularly dementia-friendly activities that support movement and singing.
The inspector observed one game of bingo but found some residents were "withdrawn" while not all staff have a "good knowledge" of supporting people with dementia.
Similarly, the inspector found while residents enjoy a choice of meals, some couldn't engage with questions and would have "benefitted from more dementia-friendly strategies" when asked.
The CQC also highlighted the recording of some medicines, notably prescribed fluid thickeners and creams, were "unclear" on the medicine administration record but that the manager "took action" during the inspection and implemented a new process.
Another two incidents were observed by the inspector where staff failed to show "best practice" in moving and handling residents, however, staff were promptly provided with more training and the CQC recorded no further incidents on the second day of the assessment.
In addition, it was noted some residents sometimes had to wait for support during busier times, such as during lunch, and employees felt they needed more staff.
There were concerns raised about staff "occasionally falling asleep" on night shifts, however, the manager explained those involved were subject to the home's disciplinary procedure and that there would be more unannounced night checks scheduled.
Speaking to The Oldham Times, manager Lynette Mellor, said the positive report "feels good" and that they had a "nerve-wracking wait" for the report to be published this August.
She added: "It can be a thankless job sometimes, but it's priceless.
"When there's a resident that gives you that bit of eye contact or responds positively, or you hear such positive feedback from residents, it makes all the heartache and all the hard work worthwhile."
The news comes as the home recently held a huge party with a band to celebrate the birthdays of Margaret Taylor, 101, and Elsie Thaw, 100.
While Margaret had served in the Women's Royal Naval Service during the second world war, Elsie had been deployed to France to work as a spy for the British Army.
The home was filled with joy, dancing, family, friends and lots of cake for the occasion.
In Margaret's own testimony for the home, she said in her birthday speech: "[The staff] are here for us, you get all the attention you can have.
"I've been a terror sometimes and they've never grumbled at me.
"They are wonderful people who look after you - when you're not feeling well, this is the place to come.
"Thank you for all the carers, you can't ask for a nicer place."
Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk
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