A YORK care home that supports people with enduring mental health difficulties has been rated as outstanding.

Christmas Lodge in Mount Vale, near York Racecourse, received top marks after being inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors, who visited the home last October, were full of praise in their findings, which were published in the latest round of CQC reports.

The report found that staff at Christmas Lodge, which provides care and personal support for up to 15 people, went "above and beyond" to achieve high standards.

Ryan Buglass, operations director at Amitola Communities, which runs the home, said: "We have the same ethos across all of our care homes, so we are very happy to be recognised by the CQC as providing an outstanding service at Christmas Lodge.

"We are very much of the opinion that life is for living, that is at the heart of our strategy and plays out each day in our care homes.

"It is a privilege to be able to make a positive difference in people's lives and we take great pride in affording our residents the best quality of life possible.

"The outstanding rating of course has not happened by chance, we have a dedicated staff and management team that are very passionate to put into practice what we preach.

"The outstanding standard has now been set and we will be doing everything possible to maintain that rating in the future."

Christmas Lodge was rated outstanding overall and also for its caring and responsiveness.

The other three categories - safety, effectiveness and being well-led - were all marked good.

Inspectors found that people received care and support from staff who knew and understood their histories, preferences, hopes and goals.

One person had wanted to go on a jet ski – and the staff arranged it.

Another had asked to go paragliding when on holiday. Staff looked at the risks involved and supported the person in doing this.

Debbie Westhead, the CQC's deputy chief inspector for adult social care in the north, said: “Christmas Lodge has been providing an outstanding service to the people in its care.

"We observed warm, caring, kind interactions throughout our inspection.

“We saw many examples where the care delivered was responsive to people’s needs. People consistently told us that, when they raised ideas or suggestions to staff, they were supported so that this could happen.

“It is quite clear that people’s dreams and aspirations were considered alongside their day to day care needs – and that is what makes this care home outstanding. I congratulate the providers and all their staff on this achievement.”