AN ILKLEY care home has been celebrating being rated as ‘outstanding’ by a health and social care watchdog.

Abbeydale Residential Care Home, in Grove Road, received an unannounced inspection from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) earlier this year to check on its standards of care.

Inspectors rated the home outstanding in caring, being responsive and well-led and good in being safe and effective, earning Abbeydale an overall rating of outstanding.

Inspectors said: “People were genuinely at the heart of the service. The philosophy of care was very inclusive. People were actively consulted and involved in the day to day running of the service and their needs and preferences shaped care delivery. Without exception, people told us that staff listened to their views and made them feel that their opinions mattered.”

The registered manager was praised for working extremely hard to ensure the staff team were happy in their work.

Inspectors also found the home to be clean and well maintained and meal times “were a real occasion in the home and people received high quality, varied and nutritious meals.”

Abbeydale was established as a prestigious, family-run care home in 1999, when Bob and Catherine Dey utilised their 15 years’ experience in the hotel and catering industry to form a remarkable care home like no other. They wanted Abbeydale to be a place where residents could enjoy a luxurious hotel-like experience, with exquisite dining, quality entertainment and superb on-site facilities, infused with outstanding care services to create the ultimate care home.

Since opening, Abbeydale has developed a longstanding reputation as one of the most well-regarded care homes in West Yorkshire. It proudly preserves strong links with the Ilkley community, hosting highly successful fundraisers and events, which many residents love to help organise. Not forgetting Abbeydale’s masterpiece: its breath-taking gardens which continue to achieve a Yorkshire in Bloom Gold Award and Ilkley in Bloom Gold Award every year.

At the heart of it all, Bob and Catherine, alongside their daughters Kelly and Francesca, are devoted to creating memorable experiences for every resident.

Registered manager Francesca Dey said: “We as a team have always been committed to delivering an outstanding service for all our residents, however this accolade could not have been achieved without our exceptional staff team who go the extra mile to ensure that Abbeydale truly is the care home with a difference where excellence comes as standard. In CQC’s 2018 assessment, staff were praised on their adaptability towards resident’s changing needs and complimented on their kindness, compassion and dedication towards providing outstanding care.

“Most importantly, every aspect of care at Abbeydale is bespoke, right down to the smallest details. Food menus, activities and trips are all created through feedback from monthly meetings with residents. Our commitment to outstanding levels of personal care and our dedication to continually improve every resident’s experience is what makes Abbeydale care home unique.”

To celebrate the achievement - which places Abbeydale in the top one per cent of homes in the country - they hosted a party for all residents, relatives, family and friends on December 6.

Ilkley based photographer Karen Ross attended to capture the party on camera and food was catered by Eat Arts Venues.

Francesca added: “We would to thank all who attended and made the evening a huge success.”