A RESIDENTIAL care home in Ellesmere Port for people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities held an open doors event as part of a national day of celebrations.

Rivacre House, on Seymour Drive, took part in National Care Home Open Days, which encourages homes to open up to the public once a year.

Visitors and residents were treated to a barbecue and buffet, with candy floss and popcorn stalls. Garden games included giant Jenga and Quoits, while children enjoyed face painting and a bouncy castle.

Each year, the celebrations take on a different theme, and for the seventh annual open day, it was the role of arts in care. Visitors joined in with the theme by taking part in a giant picture quiz on the walls at Rivacre House. Staff also used the opportunity to raise funds for a new sensory garden for residents to enjoy.

Paul Gilmore, deputy manager at Rivacre House, organised the event. He said: “National Care Homes Day is a brilliant way to involve families and make them feel welcome in the home where their relatives live. We are a very open service and always encourage families and visitors, but this national event is a great opportunity to further highlight what we do here.

“We’re also raising money to create a sensory garden, which is an environment that promotes good mental health by using smells, sounds and touch. Guests at the open day took part in a raffle, which raised £73, and my colleague Lisa Lee and I did a sponsored cycle ride from Liverpool to Chester which raised a further £704.50.”

Rivacre House is operated by the national adult health and social care charity Making Space and provides personal care for up to 12 people with mental health needs. It is rated ‘outstanding’ in responsiveness by the CQC, the health and social care watchdog, with an overall rating of ‘good’.