THREE Worcestershire care homes have again received a top industry award.

Thee Grange, Howbury and Timberdine have again been granted the customer service excellence award for meeting the Cabinet Office’s standard of Excellence.

The Grange, in Kidderminster, and Howbury House, in Malvern, are resource centres that offer a range of services to older people, including intermediate care, which comprises the assessment and rehabilitation of service users following an episode of illness or accident. Timberdine Nursing and Rehabilitation Unit in Worcester provides assessment and rehabilitation services that were previously provided in hospital. It also provides stroke care and a dedicated stroke unit.

There are more than 200 staff across the three centres, including managers, social care, domestic, catering, handyman and administrative staff. Nurses at Timberdine are led by a matron and senior sisters and all three centres are served by physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers based in the centres or who work very closely with them.

Cllr Marcus Hart, Worcestershire County Council cabinet member for health and well being, said: "I am really delighted with this report which throws into light the excellent work done by staff at all three centres. Well trained staff and managers provide a safe environment and personalised care service that understands people's preferences and needs without restricting their freedoms. The report is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all the staff.”

Gill Pratt, registered manager at Timberdine, added: “The report highlights many of our strengths that we are proud of. It report picks up on our mantra that “we treat people in the way we would want our own parents and relatives to be treated”.

Assessors visited each centre and met with service users and staff. Strengths highlighted in the independent assessment report included the high priority that staff, in all three centres, put on the protection of customers’ privacy.