A purpose-built residential home which opened in Greater Manchester thanks to a seven-figure funding package from Unity Trust Bank has been rated ‘outstanding’ in its first inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Family-run Bowfell House, the brainchild of the Knoll Care Partnership, was erected on the site of the former Flixton Library in Urmston in 2019 in a £5m project which included a £3.4m loan from Unity.

Officials from the independent regulator of health and social care in England visited the home in the summer and it was the only care home (without nursing) in 2021 to acquire the highest rating in four of the five assessment categories – effective, well-led, caring and responsive – from more than 3,000 locations inspected.

Director Matt Callaghan said: “This is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of the whole team. It’s been a difficult 18 months for the sector, and we have worked hard to ensure that we had all the proper systems and processes in place to deal with the pandemic. How agile we were in responding to the situation formed part of the CQC assessment.”

State-of-the-art Bowfell House provides 40 en-suite bedrooms, peaceful landscape gardens and premium facilities, giving residents invaluable care and support within a secure and modern environment.

Staffing levels have increased from 47 to 65 since the home opened, boosting local employment in the area.

Matt added: “Unity’s support has been invaluable to us throughout this project and our relationship manager Ian Heesom is always on the end of a phone when we need him.”

Bowfell staff, residents and their families and representatives from Unity, attended a celebration event at the home on November 5.

Ian Heesom said: “Throughout the pandemic Unity has been committed to supporting customers that have provided vital frontline services such as care homes.

“We have worked with Knoll Care Partnership since 2017 and are delighted that Bowfell House has not only been rated ‘outstanding’ in its first CQC regulatory grading, but was the only care home (without nursing) to get outstanding in four out of the five categories it was assessed on. It’s a testament to their hard work and dedication in providing first-class care to some of society’s most vulnerable people.”

Bowfell House has been nominated for five awards at the 2021 North West regional Great British Care Awards, one of which has been put through to the National Finals to be held next year.