A TOP healthcare chief has heaped praise on a care village after visiting the site.

Belong Atherton welcomed chief executive of healthcare watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Ian Trenholm, to its home recently and he was impressed with what he saw.

The Mealhouse Lane care village was given the highest possible rating of "outstanding" after CQC inspectors visited last year - a feat that only two per cent of care facilities in England achieve.

Mr Trenholm said: “It has been a pleasure to visit Belong Atherton today and to meet the staff and residents.

"What stands out at this care village is the commitment to a strong person-centred culture built on kindness, respect, compassion and dignity.”

Trenholm was part of a group including Jon Rouse, Richard Preece and Jo Chilton from Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership who were given a tour around Belong Atherton.

They met with staff and residents and were shown the facilities such as its exercise studio and multi-sensory equipment, which provide stimulation for those unable to do more physical activities.

Belong deputy chief executive, Tracy Paine, said: “We were honoured to host Mr Trenholm and colleagues from across Greater Manchester.

"It was really rewarding for our team in Atherton to have this opportunity to demonstrate the positive impacts of the initiatives and technologies they have implemented.”

In its inspection last year, the care village’s hand-held Mobile Care Monitoring system, which is used to provide an up-to-the-minute insight into each resident’s wellbeing and support needs was recognised.

The care village also scooped three wins at the Hospice in Your Care Home Awards 2018 for the quality of its end-of-life care, which is accredited under the Gold Standards Framework.

It won the "Innovative Quality Outcomes Award" for its exercise service at the Third Sector Care Awards too.

International recognition of its outstanding people management practices was also given at the Investors in People Awards 2018.