STAFF and residents at a Yarnton care home are celebrating after being given a thumbs up by health inspectors.

Yarnton Residential and Nursing Home in Rutten Lane has been rated "good" by the Care Quality Commission, after being visited by inspectors on May 4.

In the report staff were praised for their enthusiasm for the job, their high level of care towards residents and the home's friendly atmosphere.

Home manager Sheena Montague said the rating was down to the hard work put in by her team over the past year.

She added: "All my team work so hard to do their best for our residents so we are all over the moon that this is reflected with such a positive rating.

"The report highlights how kind and compassionate the fantastic people in my team are and I couldn't be prouder."

The home received "good" ratings in all five areas of the commission's report, including being "caring", "well-led", and "effective".

Inspectors noted that "there was a calm, warm and friendly atmosphere at the service".

It added: "Every member of staff we spoke with was motivated and inspired to give kind and compassionate care.

"Staff knew the people they cared for and what was important to them.

"They appreciated people's unique life histories and understood how these could influence the way people wanted to be cared for."

The report also praised the activities organised within the home as being "person-centred", with these including art therapy and a gardening club.

Resident Anna Stockford, 85, said: "If you can’t cope at home then Yarnton is the place to come.

"There is a lovely atmosphere where staff look after us and take us out on trips so we feel very independent.”

This week will see a double celebration for the home – today staff are holding party for the Queen's 90th birthday on national Care Home Open Day.

Bunting will be up, and cupcakes will be baked to perfection as residents play their part.

Local people are invited along for the free event which will also have live music from singer Andrew Francis and a performance from choristers at William Fletcher Primary School.

There will also be a delicious buffet, a vintage sweet cart and some traditional jugs of Pimm's.

Ahead of the event Ms Montague said: "Many of our residents are very keen followers of the royal family and the nation seems to have been swept up in the excitement of the Queen's birthday, so this is a very fitting theme for our Care Home Open Day.

"We look forward to welcoming people from our local community along to celebrate the day and our successful CQC report with us."

The event will run between 11am and 4.30pm.