A CHARD care home has been ranked among the best in the country following a recent survey of residents.

More than 18,000 residents took part in the poll, across 988 care homes in the UK, with Sunnymeade Care Home receiving an Overall Performance Rating (OPR) of 996 out of 1000.

Nearly 11,000 family and friends across 650 homes also took part in the survey, which was conducted by Ipsos MORI.

The survey has been run since 2012 and the average OPR score for 2016 was 880 out of 1,000.

Nicky Passant, manager at Sunnymeade Care Home, said: “We are absolutely delighted about this. It is very good for us, great news for Sunnymeade. The most important thing for us is the residents so we are very pleased. The staff in here are brilliant.”

Sunnymeade Care home, which is situated in Helliers Close in Chard, is run by the Somerset Care Group (SCG). Grovelands in Yeovil is also run by SCG and achieved a score of 951.

Julie Cullis, assistant director of residential services for Somerset Care, said: “We are delighted that our Sunnymeade and Grovelands care homes in Somerset were ranked so highly.

“We are very pleased with our scores in the 2016 Your Care Rating survey and they show that the people who matter most, our residents are very happy with the care they receive.”

Douglas Quinn, the chairman of Your Care rating, said: “The care home sector often receives a negative perception in the UK but our latest findings paint a broadly positive state of UK care homes.

“This is our fifth annual survey and has always given those who are in the best position to judge the standard of care, the residents themselves, and a chance to air their views.

“For the 2016 Your Care Rating survey we included the views of almost 11,000 family members and friends as well as the residents to give a more rounded view. It still shows that most care homes are doing a very good job but I’m very aware that there is no room for complacency.

“Whatever score a care home receives we should applaud it for taking part because it publicly demonstrates their transparency and commitment to our sector, while offering them an insight into where they can still improve.”

  • Sunnymeade Care Home is hosting an Easter cake and coffee afternoon on April 13 from 2pm to 4pm which is open to members of the public.