A RESIDENTIAL care home has been rated “good” by the health watchdog.

People living at Brandon Lodge, in Brandon, near Durham, are treated with “kindness, dignity and respect” according to report by Care Quality Commission (CQC) following a recent inspection.

One resident told inspectors: “The staff are really good and pleasant. They pop in and have a cup of tea and a chat with me. I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

Inspectors praised staff for treating residents as individuals, tailoring care to meet their needs.

One carer said: “We treat people as individuals, as I would like to be treated, like family.”

The carers’ warm welcome extended to their families, with one relative commenting: “They are always pleased to see you, they know you by name and make a cup of tea.”

Residents enjoy an array of activities in the home from arts and crafts to bingo and baking. Regular trips to the shops, hairdressers and the local pub were organised to ensure people maintain relationships with their fellow residents.

The effects of a “hard-working” and “supportive” registered manager were felt throughout the home, said the report.

Marjorie Condacos, for Four Seasons Health Care, said: “It is testament to the excellent standard of care that the team at Brandon Lodge are providing. I am really pleased that our residents feel safe and happy in our care.”