Blackburn Care Home receives 5 Star Food Hygiene Rating

The team at Old Gates Care Home in Feniscowles, Blackburn, which is part of the We Care Group, are celebrating following their recent inspection from the Food Standard Agency which has awarded them with a ‘Five Star Food Hygiene Rating’.

A score of zero to five, food hygiene ratings are given to food handling businesses, which includes care homes, after an inspection has assessed how well they comply with food safety laws.

Inspectors from the Food Standard Hygiene visited Old Gates Care Home on 6^th October 2023 as part of their routine inspection to ensure that standards of food hygiene are maintained. As part of the inspection they assessed how hygienically the food is handled, including how it is prepared, cooked, cooled, stored and what measures are taken to prevent food being contaminated, the structure of the premises including cleanliness and layout as well as the management of food safety records and found all areas to be very good, resulting in the Five Star Rating.

The home prides itself on its varied menu, which will satisfy even those with the smallest of appetites; from breakfast through to dinner, residents can discover something different with fresh flavours and lovely, well-presented meals.

Our great chefs are always keeping themselves busy in the kitchen creating new and exciting dishes which residents really enjoy, as well as freshly based cakes for afternoon teas.

Residents are really positive about the catering team who regularly consult with them and arrange taster sessions before introducing new meals to the menu to make sure they are to everyone’s taste or provide suitable alternatives. Following a recent taster session one resident said “I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve tasted and am impressed and excited for the new menus to start. I’m particularly looking forward to the Tandoori chicken and flat bread.”

Helen Holden, Manager at Old Gates Care Home said “It is wonderful to once again, receive the 5 Star Rating from Food Standards Agency, which is testament to the hard work of all the team.” she continued. “The home has gone from strength to strength since being taken over by We Care Group in April 2022, having also been rated Good in all 5 areas by Care Quality Commission in its report published earlier this year.”

Bernie Suresparan, Chief Executive Officer at We Care Group said “Well done to all the team at Old Gates Care Home on achieving this ‘Five Star Food Hygiene rating’, which is excellent news.” He continued “This rating is really positive for the home and builds on the excellent report from the Care Quality Commission, who inspected the home earlier this year and rated it good in all 5 areas; safe, well-led, caring, effective and responsive. Well done again to all the team.”

The We Care Group, which has been operating since 2007, is building a good reputation in the local areas it serves, to improve standards for residents and their families as well as for the staff working in the home, as part of its drive to be care home provider of choice in the communities it serves.