CARE homes in the borough have been improving according to the latest figures released.

Last year 55 per cent of care homes were rated as “good” or “outstanding” by the healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

This statistic has now shot up by 33 per cent to 88 per cent.

The rise follows the announcement by the local authority earlier this year that care homes in the borough were the third most improved in the UK out of 151 local authorities.

Wigan Council have been working closely with providers to improve residents' quality of care.

Two years ago, service providers were invited to bid for the council's Innovation Fund for a portion of £2m to make them better for the future.

It is part of the local authority's The Deal scheme which supports the community.

The funds have led to the care homes addressing issues such as an ageing population and the challenge of keeping staff.

Cllr Keith Cunliffe, deputy leader and cabinet member for adult social care and health at the council, said: “Our aim is to ensure each and every home provides excellent, kind and compassionate care to residents and their families.

“This improvement in quality of care has been achieved through developing great relationships with providers based on shared goals and values.

“Our providers have absolutely embraced The Deal and our different way of working and it is clearly having a positive impact.

“We’re so proud of our care homes and the high standards they strive to achieve.

“When we launched The Deal our priority was to give everyone the opportunity to retain their independence and connect into the community while experiencing the best care.

“Working in partnership with our providers we all share the vision to buck the national trend and have the highest standards of care in Wigan for our residents.”

The council believes it is one of a small number of local authorities that have balanced its adult social care budget at a time where they have had to find a way of cutting costs.

It has managed to save a total of £115m and is on course to sticking to its budget.