A CARE home near York has been awarded the top rating by a health watchdog for the second consecutive time.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated the care being provided at St Johns House, in Kirk Hammerton, to be ‘outstanding’ after an inspection in November last year.

The service is registered to provide accommodation and nursing care for up to 32 people.

Back in 2013, the home became famous after a group of residents secured themselves a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest choir in the world, with an average age of 91.

Previously in 2016 the home was rated outstanding for being caring and well-led, and overall.

At the latest inspection St Johns House was again rated outstanding for caring and well-led services. However, inspectors found significant improvements to effective and responsive services, improving the ratings from Good to Outstanding. Overall St Johns House was rated Outstanding for a second time.

The inspection report says: “People told us the service was, ‘Fabulous’, ‘The best there is’ and ‘Like living in paradise.’

“The provider demonstrated how they had achieved outstanding practice, development and improvement at the service.

The report adds that people received “exceptionally effective care” and the staff were “highly motivated” and “caring, kind and compassionate with people.”

Rosalind Sanderson, head of inspection (north east and coast) adult social care, commented: “There was a clear culture within this service to continually improve the support being provided, so the best possible care was offered.

“During the inspection we learned that the service had recently been in contact with the Yorkshire Army Regiment who in turn visited the service accompanied by a tank, which people found very rewarding. The visit prompted the Army into investigating people’s military history, discovering some people were in fact due to receive medals.

“This, alongside other examples, demonstrated the significance the service placed on supporting people through their experiences and helping them maintain an active and socially fulfilling life. “

Andrea Wood, manager of the care home, said: “It was fantastic to regain our outstanding, everyone has worked hard to achieve it. We base ourselves on creating a community where everybody thrives.”