An Ipswich care home has been given the seal of approval by a national watchdog, following an unannounced inspection.

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report gave Care UK’s Prince George House care home, on Mansbrook Boulevard, an overall ‘good’ rating – praising the team for their kindness and compassion.

The care home was rated ‘good’ in four out of five categories for safety, effectiveness, caring and having a well-led service, and ‘outstanding’ for responsiveness.

The team were praised for prioritising residents’ indvidual likes and experiences, and involving families in the planning of care. It was noted that the home created a ‘Wishing Tree’, which allows residents to make requests for socal events and activities. Residents have since enjoyed a range of different trips, including attending Ipswich football club matches, visits to the local bingo hall, and an outing to a stable to groom and feed the horses.

Inspectors were told that entertainers often visited the home to perform, and during the summer residents were regularly visited by an ice-cream van.

The report also highlighted that, when one resident was unable to participate in a group trip to the theatre in Felixstowe, the team arranged for the show to visit the home to give a private performance instead.

Residents were encouraged to continue hobbies while living at the home, from gardening to baking. One relative said, “Thanks to the catering team [their relative] is now baking and cooking again and, with the patience and encouragement of the team, they are knitting again... They have a new lease of life since they have been here.”

Jennie Rodger, home manager at Prince George House, said “We strive to create a welcoming ‘home from home’ feel at Prince George House, and I’m so pleased our efforts have been recognised by the CQC’s inspectors.

“Everyone here works incredibly hard to support residents with compassionate, person-centred care, and to receive a ‘good’ rating in all four out of five categories, and an ‘outstanding’ in the final category, shows just how dedicated the team is in terms of looking after every individual’s needs. I’m extremely proud of our team and I would like to say thank you for their hard work and dedication, which I know is also greatly appreciated by residents and their families.”