A Sidmouth care home once requiring improvement has been praised for its ‘significant culture change’ by a health inspector.

Ridgeway Residential Home has received ‘good’ across the board by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection in April.

The health body previously visited in December 2015 and January 2016 and said the home ‘required improvement’.

In their report the inspector said improvement had been made across all four areas and the provider had produced an action plan ensure improvements were made and sustained.

The inspector said: “It was evident that staff had developed good relationships with people. People looked happy, were smiling and relaxed with staff and saw people laughing and sharing a joke with staff.

“People using the service, their relatives and professionals were universally positive about the quality of care provided by the staff team.”

They also said since the last inspection a new registered manager had been appointed who had ‘high aspirations’ to improve the service.

Register manager Ali Galling said: “We shifted the way we think about people. I say to all the staff to walk in the resident’s shoes so it became a person centred approach.

“It was a huge step forward in all areas. I’m aiming to get outstanding. We’re constantly moving forward, we’re constantly striving to do what our residents want us.”

Graham Bess, director for Ridgeway Residential Home, added: “It is particularly pleasing to see that Alison and her staff have blended seamlessly to care for our residents in a manner we are accustomed and this has reflected in our overall CQC rating of good.””