Residents and staff at Torkington House care home in Acton are celebrating after the home was praised for being the third highest rated care home in the country in a nationwide survey of family and friends of the residents. The results, launched on Monday 25th March, show Torkington House was given an Overall Performance Rating (OPR) score of 973 out of 1,000 by family members and friends of the residents. This compares favourably to the national average of 842 and last year’s score of 950 for the home.

Now in its seventh year, the Your Care Rating survey is the country’s largest and most authoritative survey of care home residents and now of their families and friends as well. The nationwide survey gives residents and their families and friends a voice, putting their care at the heart of understanding more about how well care homes perform. 11,188 residents in 532 care homes across the UK responded to the Residents’ survey, which achieved a 42 per cent response rate. Meanwhile, 6,956 relatives and friends of residents living at 525 homes responded to the Family and Friends’ survey.

Each care home achieved an Overall Performance Rating and four statistically derived ‘theme’ scores (‘Staff and Care’, ‘Home Comforts’, ‘Choice and Having a Say’, and ‘Quality of Life’) based on residents’ responses to all questions in the survey. Care homes participating in the Family and Friends’ survey achieved a separate Overall Performance Rating and four theme scores (mirroring those of the Residents’ survey).

Torkington House achieved a high score of 992 for ‘Quality of Life’, 971 for ‘Home Comforts’, 969 for ‘Staff and Care’ and 967 for ‘Choice and Having a Say’. The home was also highly praised by its residents, receiving an Overall Performance Score (OPR) of 940 out of 1,000 in the Your Care Rating Residents’ Survey, which compares favourably against the national average of 882.
Margaret Siriwardena, Home Manager at Torkington House, said: “It’s wonderful to hear that not just our residents, but their families and friends value so highly the care they receive at Torkington House. All our scores across the four themes are really positive, which shows that life for our residents is happy and fulfilling and is recognised by their loved ones. At Torkington House we strive to give the best possible care to people living with dementia, encouraging the residents’ independence and engaging them fully in the life of the home. We are delighted that families and friends of our residents recognised the great care their loved ones receive at Torkington House.”

Torkington House provides residential and dementia care to 32 residents in a homely setting. The home prides itself on delivering a person-centred care. The care home is part of Greensleeves Care, an award-winning care charity which provides highly innovative and personalised care for older people in its residential, dementia and nursing homes across England.

All of this year’s results for every care home surveyed are displayed on the Your Care Rating website (www.yourcarerating.org). The website also shows how homes that took part in the survey last year performed. All of this helps families and potential residents who are choosing a care home for a loved one by giving them vital information on what the current residents and their loved ones actually think of each home and the standard of care.

The survey was compiled by leading research company Ipsos MORI with input from the care home operators taking part, plus the National Care Forum and Care England. This means the survey is the most authoritative of its type, and is also the country’s largest, capturing more views of residents than any other.