TWO care homes are celebrating after scoring top marks in a national performance survey.

Rose Lodge Care Home in Newton Aycliffe and Willowdene Care Home in Sedgefield have taken part in Your Care Rating – the country’s largest and most authoritative survey of care home residents.

The results show both homes, which are both part of Maria Mallaband Care Group, are performing well, with Rose Lodge coming out with an overall rating of 958 out of 1,000 and Willowdene scoring 872.

Designed to give residents a voice, the nationwide survey puts resident care at the heart of understanding more about how well care homes perform.

The survey, which was conducted by research company Ipsos Mori, is not a nationwide ranking of the best and worst care homes in the country.

However, the results are a vital tool for families when they are choosing a care home for a loved one, giving them direct feedback on the views of the most important audience – the residents.

Over 20,000 residents in 1,055 care homes across the UK took part, providing feedback on a range of categories.

These include: staff and care, home comforts, choice and having a say, and quality of life.