A CARE agency in Whitchurch has been rated as outstanding following a recent inspection.

AStar Homecare Services, based at the Park View Business Centre, was visited by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on September 30, who said the care who was outstanding in regards to being caring, responsive and well led.

The inspectors also gave the care agency a rating of 'good' when it came to being safe and effective, leading to the overall rating of 'outstanding'.

The positive report also adds to the care agency winning the Best New Business Award at the Shropshire Chamber Business Awards 2019 in June

Gillian and Adam Holden, owners of the business have recently married, so the CQC report has given them added reason to celebrate.

“I remember the day when my husband and I started this journey saying, ‘what shall we call it?’," said Gillian.

"We had a vision and passion, then here we are, a year on from registration with the amazing accolade of outstanding.

“I’m not shocked because I doubted our capabilities, but because I know it’s so hard to achieve this. But our team made our dream a reality.”

Gillian added it was a 'dream come true' to offer local people employment and careers in care and to support people in the community to remain living independently at home.

“Our team are inspiring and work so hard to be the best they can be and provide quality support," she added. "The report showed this.

"One of the reasons we started AStar was to ensure our loved ones had quality support when they needed it and there is no doubt our team all pass the mum test.

“Some people believe there is some secret recipe behind this, but it’s our belief that this is done through a robust recruitment process, background checks, a high standard of classroom training, followed by onsite competency tests and training.

"We also really support and appreciate our team. They are like our family.”

Adam added: “The basis of our success so far is through treating everyone as individuals and real people but also as if they are part of our own extended family.

"There is nothing we would ask our team to do that we wouldn’t be prepared to do ourselves”