THE Care Quality Commission has given a Crediton care home a glowing report after its latest inspection, describing it as “warm” and “community‑focused”.

The health and social care watchdog visited Hillbrow, which provides accommodation and personal care to 23 people with physical conditions or dementia, in February.

It rated the care home on Park Road as “good” overall. The CQC has four ratings, namely “outstanding”, “good”, “requires improvement”, and “inadequate”.

“People told us they felt safe, respected and well cared for, and we observed a warm, consistent culture where staff supported people with kindness and patience,” said a CQC spokesperson.

“Leaders promoted a learning culture and staff reflected openly on safety, using incident reviews and multidisciplinary input to improve care.

“People experienced safe and effective care, with timely assessment, personalised risk management and prompt responses when health needs changed.

“Medicines were managed safely; any identified issues were promptly addressed to mitigate risk and share lessons learned.

“The environment was clean and comfortable, although missed fire safety checks showed gaps in oversight; leaders had already taken action to strengthen monitoring.

“Staffing levels met people’s needs, and although some people experienced occasional waits at busy times, call bell audits showed typical responses between four and seven minutes with staffing added at peak periods.

“Leadership was visible, compassionate and inclusive, and people consistently described the home as “a happy place” where they felt safe and supported.

"Overall, Hillbrow fostered a caring, person‑centred culture with strong teamwork, reliable clinical oversight and a commitment to continuous improvement.”

The watchdog added that feedback from patients was positive, with one person saying: “They [staff] are lovely with us… I am safe and happy here”.

Relatives also praised the team, describing them as “very kind and very caring” and were pleased with their communication.

“Mealtimes were sociable and unrushed, with people offered choices and alternatives,” the CQC spokesperson continued.

“We saw people received the right level of support during meals, including a staff member assisting a person at their pace during lunch, offering reassurance and gentle conversation.

“People said there was plenty to do, and activities were varied and meaningful. They enjoyed exercise groups, themed events, local museum visits and regular one‑to‑one time.

“Those who preferred to stay in their rooms were still engaged through daily check‑ins, conversation, and access to reading materials or music.

“People appreciated these opportunities, with one describing Hillbrow as “a home from home.””

A small number of people told the watchdog they sometimes waited longer than they would like after using their call bell, but still felt “staff did their best”, and most said they “felt safe and able to ask for help”. Call bell audits showed typical response times were a few minutes, and the provider was actively monitoring feedback to ensure staffing remained appropriate.

“Overall, people experienced a warm, community‑focused home where staff knew them well and provided compassionate, attentive care,” the CQC said.

“The atmosphere was friendly and inclusive, and people felt listened to, respected and reassured by the support they received.”