A HEXHAM-BASED company has been recognised with an award for being a top 20 rated home care provider.

Home Instead Tyne Valley has been handed a 9.7 out of 10 rating from Home Care. 

It comes after the in-home provider was rated as 'good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in its first inspection with an 'outstanding' rating for caring - earlier this year.

The company has around 40 clients across the district in areas including Acomb, Corbridge and Riding Mill, and 20 members of staff.

"We are really proud, it's wonderful when our work is being recognised and rewarded", said owner Heather Hughes, who set up the branch just before the first national lockdown. "It's nice to get good news.

"The team are doing a great job in difficult circumstances and really difficult times; they're always cheerful, happy and got loads of feedback.

"We're certainly getting a good reputation, clients are really happy which is the most important thing and staff are happy which is really important.

"Initially, clients aren't happy to receive the care, but once they get charmed by our staff, they're really happy and it opens up whole new horizons for them that they never realised they had, choices and everything they should have in their home."

Service users, families and friends all reviewed the service, with comments focusing on the attentive care given by staff, described as reliable, supportive and conscientious.

The care standard was described as excellent, with people saying they'd recommend the service.

Heather started the business, which helps people to stay in their own homes, after her struggle to find good care for her own mum. 

At the time, she said: "I am passionate about providing a service that could really help to make a difference, not only for those being cared for, but also for their families.

“When my mum was ill, I became acutely aware of the lack of good care for older people in the area. Thinking back, it would have been so nice for mum to have regular caregivers, who she knew and were familiar to her.”