WHEN Robert Evans took over Thelwall Grange Care Home in April last year, ‘nothing worked’.

The home had looked set to be shut down by Warrington Borough Council and the Care Quality Commission after a chequered recent past.

It was in special measures after the CQC had rated it as inadequate twice in the space of six months, while its previous owners would later be fined £60,000 for a series of fire safety breaches.

But now, with £350,000 having been spent refurbishing the Weaste Lane nursing home, the CQC has rated the facility as good in all areas following an inspection in May.

A change of ownership brought about refurbished bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms as well as the installation of a cinema and allotment and a renovated garden.

The care home, previously described as ‘half full’, now has no vacancies.

Robert, director of owners Staffordshire Care Limited, said: “Since we’ve acquired it, I haven’t found anything in the home that worked properly.

“My strategy in care homes is very simple – you’ve got to give good care, spend money on the environment and provide good activities, then you’ll find you’re full.

“The care home business is so tough at the moment and you’ve got to spend money, because if you don’t the care and the home will go downhill.

“No money had been spent on the home at all and what we’ve achieved shows you that if you spend the money and give good care you will get people wanting to come to the home.”

In a report into the home following the inspection, the CQC described residents as ‘happy’ while staff engaged with service users in a ‘compassionate manner’.

Robert added: “I’m really proud of what’s been achieved at Thelwall Grange.

“The report is fantastic – my manager and staff have worked so hard and we’ve spent a lot of money on the home.

“Everything is going well at the moment and we’ve got lots of plans to improve the place going forward, which is great.

“It’s a lovely home and I’m so proud that we’ve managed to turn it around and now we’ve got a good reputation.”