ONE in five care homes in Bolton requires improvement ­— while just one facility in the town has been rated as outstanding.

The remainder ­­are classed as good, while one care home is yet to be rated. No care homes were rated as inadequate.

Of the 46 care homes in Bolton, nine have been told to clean up their act by the health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

But the majority of facilities ­— 36 in total or 80 per cent ­— have been rated as good.

The full list of ratings is below.

The Bolton News:

Bakewells Care Home on Junction Road, in Deane, joined the elite club in September last year.

Fewer than one per cent of care homes in England are rated as outstanding.

The CQC report said: “The service was exceptional in placing people at the heart of the service and its values.

“People were supported by an excellent staff team that knew them well and understood their needs and preferences.”

The manager of the care home, Cllr Andy Morgan, said the outstanding rating was a “team effort with a great team looking after our lovely residents".

He said there had been “a lot of innovation, not just doing the same thing over and over again, improving the living standards of residents".

There have also been improvements further down the ratings with Lever Edge Care Home ­— which had been placed in special measures under its last inspection in September 2018 ­— moving from an inadequate rating to requires improvement.

The Bolton News:

The home came under fire in November 2018 as there was found to be an “overpowering stench of urine and faeces-stained sheets".

The latest CQC inspection, from June 2019, stated that: “Systems and procedures were in place to monitor the quality and effectiveness of the service. The regional manager had already completed some audits to identify areas of good practice and issues for improvement.”

After the last inspection the registered manager left and the home was placed under the management of a regional manager, which led to improvements.

The report added: “People confirmed that the interim managerial arrangements were working well.

“The majority of people spoken with said they were well cared for.”

A spokesman from Lever Edge Care Home said: “Our last CQC inspection report recognised significant improvements in all areas of the care and service we provide.

“Since then, we have continued to push for the highest standards for our residents, and a new and highly experienced home manager has been appointed to lead the home forward.”

Three homes in Bolton have had their ratings downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’.

The Bolton News:

Four Seasons, on Breightmet Fold Lane, was downgraded last year.

The inspection was prompted in part by a notification of “two specific incidents”, according to the CQC report, following which two people using the service died.

The report said that: “The systems to monitor falls were not always used effectively at the home and there was a lack of oversight of managing the associated risk. Medicines were not consistently managed safely and advice and guidance was not always being followed.”

The CQC also received “mixed feedback from people about management and leadership within the home”.

A spokesman for the home said: “Following the inspection in July 2019, we are pleased to have already made significant progress.

“This includes reducing the use of agency staff, meaning residents receive greater continuity and quality of care across all areas. We are confident we will continue to build upon the positive progress we have already made and that this will be recognised by the CQC at its next inspection.”

The Bolton News:

Bolton Care Homes – CQC ratings (February 2020)

Bakewells Care Home – Outstanding

Astley Grange – Good

Beechville – Good

Glenbank Care Home – Good

Grange Lea Residential Home Limited – Good

Hartington House – Good

Hazelbrook Christian Nursing Home – Good

Hollands Nursing Home – Good

Hyde Lea – Good

Laburnum Lodge – Good

Lyngate Care Home – Good

Max Potential – Good

Max Potential UK Ltd – Good

Meadow Bank House – Good

Mere Hall View – Good

Morden Grange – Good

Next Steps The Elms – Good

Queens Park View – Good

Respite House, now New Lane – Good

Somerset house – Good

Southlands Residential Home Limited – Good

Spennymoor Care Home Limited – Good

Starmount Villa Residential Care Home – Good

Strathmore Nursing Home – Good

The Old Vicarage – Good

Thicketford Place – Good

Wilfred Geere House – Good

Wingates Residential Home – Good

Woodlands Westhoughton Dementia Care Home Services – Good

Withins (Breightmet) Limited – Good

Abafields Residential Homes – Good

Parkview Residential Home – Good

The Clough Care Home – Good

Chorley House – Good

Mill View Care Home – Good

Sonning Drive – Good

The Bungalow – Good

Farnworth Care Home – Requires Improvement

Four Seasons – Requires Improvement

Glenhomes Care Homes – Requires Improvement

Ainsworth Nursing Home – Requires improvement

Greenlands Residential Home – Requires improvement

Shannon Court Care Centre – Requires improvement

Sunnyside Residential Home – Requires improvement

Take A Break With Choices – Requires improvement

Lever Edge Care Home – Requires improvement

44 Glen Avenue – Not Rated