TWO Swindon care homes have been chosen by residents and their families in the top 20 in the South West.

Grove Hill Care Home in Highworth and Fitzwarren House are among the top 20 in the carehome.co.uk 2018 awards.

The award is based on reviews of the care home written by their residents, as well as their friends and relatives.

It comes after the Highworth care home was rated as "good" across all areas by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection in December.

Davina Ludlow, chairman of carehome.co.uk, said: “It is the residents and their families and friends who have first-hand experience of what a care home is like, which is why we use their reviews to find the best care homes in the UK. Their reviews reveal that many care homes are warm and sociable places, where residents can interact with others and take part in stimulating activities, looked after by staff who are caring and compassionate.

“Grove Hill Care Home proved that they provide a high standard of care and we would like to congratulate them on being a Top 20 care home in South West England! It is such an achievement to be recognised for being a top-rated care home by the very people you care for.”

James Dunn, manager of Grove Hill Care Home, said: “Grove Hill Care Home is honoured and privileged to receive this recognition as one of the top 20 care homes in the South West of England.

“Grove Hill Care Home would like to thank all of their staff team together with all their partners in care especially the doctors and staff team at Westrop Medical Practice, the Community Nursing team, the team at Highworth Pharmacy and the relatives/representatives for their continued support with hard work in achieving individual holistic care for the Residents of the Home.

"This award would not have been achieved without them.

“The staff team at Grove Hill work hard with love, empathy and dedication to achieve a truly home from home environment.

"On announcing the award to the residents, relatives/representatives and staff team; a resident commented ‘what wonderful news, it is great that the home has been given this award as it is such a lovely place to live and I am so happy here’, another resident said ‘I am not surprised, all the staff work very hard and they are all lovely and very caring and nothing is too much trouble’.

"A relative commented ‘it is nice to know that my mother is safe and well looked after, this is helped by the continuity of staff that makes all the difference’.”

The home is currently planning on arranging a party to celebrate the award and will be inviting relatives, friends and partners in care to join the residents and staff.