A Baldock care home is having a double celebration after the completed refurbishment of its Best Friends Café coincided with receiving an overall ‘good’ rating from Care Quality Commission inspectors.

Providence Court has completed the refurbishment of its Best Friends Café area, created for families and friends to spend time with loved ones in a comfortable, homely environment.

It is also used for residents to watch live entertainers that come into the home and for birthday parties.

North Herts District Council chairman John Bishop was invited to cut the ribbon of the revamped café, which followed an unexpected inspection by the CQC.

The report was published last week, with the care home given a ‘good’ rating for providing a safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care service.

The CQC report stated: “People told us that staff were kind. One person told us, ‘kind and caring? Oh yes, every one’.

“Another person said ‘staff are all kind and caring, all the time. Everyone is caring and well humoured. It’s clean and tidy, done with minimum fuss. I’m very comfortable here’.

“People felt that staff promoted their dignity and protected their privacy. A relative told us that a person who had lived at the home for a short respite break had stated they had appreciated the kindness of staff and that they would come back for long-term care if needed.

“One staff member said ‘training happens all the time’.

Acting home manager Nathan Burton said: “We are all absolutely delighted that the home has been recognised for the quality of care that is being delivered on a daily basis. It is proof that we are a reliable and high-quality care home for both residential and dementia care.

“It was also a pleasure to have Councillor John Bishop officially open our Best Friends Café not long before the CQC news was published.

“There is a really nice atmosphere in the home and long may it continue. We are an important part of the community in Baldock, next month we are looking forward to holding our summer garden party on Saturday, July 21, which will be open to the public.”