A Banstead care home has received glowing praise from the Care Quality Commission as it puts the finishing touches to the UK’s first dedicated dementia unit for retired seafares.

Inspectors made an unannounced visit to the Royal Alfred Seafarers Society (RASS) which provides help and support to former seafarers at the Weston Acres centre.

Of particular interest was the charity’s nursing home, Belvedere House, which achieved the top standard across all categories after residents were interviewed and staff shadowed as they carried out their roles.

Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt OBE, Chief Executive of RASS, says: “At a time when compassion in both medical and mainstream care of the elderly is in the news for the wrong reasons, we are delighted at this part of the CQC’s review in particular.

“It is one thing to impose high standards in say, cleanliness or food quality, where failures are relatively easily spotted, but a genuine care for often vulnerable people is an attitudinal one and springs largely from having the right staff in place.”

The charity’s brand new dedicated dementia unit is scheduled to be opened officially in July.

The new annex will lift care capacity from 20 to 36 residents suffering with the condition, and has been designed so that residents will receive specialised dementia support from trained staff without having to travel to hospitals or other facilities.

To see a copy of the Care Quality Commission’s review, go to www.royalalfredseafarers.com