A HEYBRIDGE care home has been given a clean bill of health by a watchdog.

Firstlings, based on The Street, Heybridge, provides care for up to 32 people some of whom have dementia.

The home has now been rated good across the board by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection in October.

Inspectors found the service was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The report, published on December 30, said: “There were sufficient staff who had been recruited safely and who had the skills and knowledge to provide care and support in ways that people preferred.

“Staff had received training in keeping people safe and they knew how to raise any concerns if they suspected someone was at risk of abuse or harm. Staff understood the risks people could face day to day and how to ensure their safety.”

Firstlings was also praised for ensuring staff had correct training and support.

The report added: “People knew how to complain and felt confident their concerns would be listened to and people's complaints were valued and used to improve the service.

“People's medicines were managed safely and staff received training and support in order to maintain their knowledge and skills in delivering quality care.

“People had a nutritious and balanced diet and enjoyed the meal time experience. There were systems to monitor and improve the quality of the service. Checks were carried out to ensure care was delivered safely and effectively.”