A Vale of Glamorgan Council-run care home in Barry has been praised following a recent inspection.

Care Inspectorate Wales visited Cartref Porthceri unannounced and was impressed by the level of service offered to its 30 residents.

The inspection evaluated the home's performance in four areas: Wellbeing, Care and Support, Environment, and Leadership and Management.

In the first of these categories, the report found that: "People have positive relationships with staff and are supported to achieve their personal outcomes. Care and support is personalised to enable people to achieve their personal outcomes. People told us they are happy at Catref Porthceri and enjoy positive relationships with staff."

Under the heading of Care and Support, inspectors noted: "Care staff interact with residents in a friendly and respectful manner. People's choices are promoted, for example regarding meal, drinks and snack options. Care staff show good knowledge of people's wishes, needs and how to respond to them. People we spoke with are happy with the care and support being provided."

There were further positive comments under the Environment section as the document read: "People have a sense of belonging. The home offers several small communal areas for people to sit and enjoy time with others or spend quiet time. Bedrooms are personalised with items of people's choice and personal belongings. There is a large dining area and garden areas which gives the home a pleasant feel and where people can enjoy spending time in the warmer weather. There is good access and egress for people with mobility needs. The entrance to the home is secure and visitors must ring to gain entry. The home has a resident cat which people enjoy, and which provides a 'homely feel'."

Finally, in the area of Leadership, inspectors commented that: "People can be confident management monitors the quality of the service they receive. Systems and processes help promote the smooth running of the home. Management oversees incidents, accidents, and complaints. The home carries out internal audits to monitor standards and practice. Daily handovers ensure pertinent information is shared between staff at shift handover.

"People can be assured that staff are competent to undertake their roles and there is a robust recruitment process. We looked at three staff recruitment files which were sent via a link from the Local Authority offices and noted they contained all the pre-employment checks required in respect of any person working in regulated services."

 The Council has also noted areas the report highlighted for improvement and will use this information to guide future practice.

Cllr Eddie Williams, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health, said: "We are grateful to Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) for the work it has completed in assessing Catref Porthceri and very pleased with the outcomes of its report, which are overwhelmingly positive.

"Above anything else, the report is a ringing endorsement for the care home staff, who, like others across the County, have continued to perform to exceptional levels during and after the pandemic at a challenging time for Social Care provision in Wales.

"They have worked diligently, and often selflessly, against a backdrop of stretched resources and increased demand, continuing to offer first-class support to some of the Vale's most vulnerable residents. For that, all involved deserve immense credit."