AN Oxfordshire care home has been awarded the top rating by the official watchdog.

Rush Court, the Elizabeth Finn Home in Wallingford, was given an overall grade of ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The rating follows an inspection in July which found that ‘there was a strong caring culture that created a family feel to the service’.

The inspectors particularly praised the staff at Rush Court, saying: “The registered manager promoted a person-centred culture that ensured everything the service did benefited the people who lived there.

“Staff were passionate about their work and were supported by the management team within the service”.

The report said that ‘people received compassionate care that put them at the centre of everything the service did. People developed relationships with staff based on mutual respect and kindness’.

Inspectors also said residents were engaged in activities that took into account their individual interests, and enjoyed regular outings to local places of interest.

The Shillingford Road home has capacity for 50 residents and is a dual-registered home, providing care for residential residents and those with ‘complex nursing needs’.

Richard Hawes, chief executive of Elizabeth Finn Homes, said: “This is an excellent outcome for the home, it really recognises the commitment of all our colleagues at Rush Court to provide exceptional care in a quality environment, putting the people who live there at the centre of what they do.”