Suffolk care group bosses have expressed their delight after turning around a struggling home previously rated by inspectors as requiring improvement to "outstanding".

Top-performing company Stow Healthcare snapped up poorly-rated Cedars Place at Halstead, near Coggeshall, two years ago.

At that point the Essex home was deemed as requiring improvement by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body tasked by the government to uphold standards in homes.

The new owners, based at Stowlangtoft, near Bury St Edmunds, said they were "ecstatic" after it shot up the rankings to gain an "outstanding" rating - which just 2% of homes achieve - on its first inspection under its new management.

The group - which is owned by farming family the Catchpoles - now has four homes across East Anglia rated outstanding by the CQC of the eight that it runs.

It was recently named Care Group of the Year at two national awards for the second year running.

"Stow Healthcare the new provider, took over the management of the service approximately two years ago at a time where the service had struggled to provide a good, rated service," inspectors said. 

"Since taking over the management of the service, the provider has provided strong effective leadership which has transformed the service and the care provided.”

The home was also rated outstanding in two of five categories.

Stow Healthcare director Ruth French said: "The staff, residents, and families of Cedars Place are ecstatic.

"We have an excellent team at the home, who have worked so hard to create a warm, loving and vibrant home that the town can be proud of. We are thrilled that the inspectors have recognised the outstanding care we provide at Cedars Place."

Inspectors - who visited the site in December - described the home's service as "oustanding".

"People and relatives spoke highly of the culture and leadership of the service and the care people received from the staff," they said.

"The leadership team and staff consistently looked for new opportunities to support people to maximise their quality of life and independence in an exceptional person-centred way.”

Home manager Judith Morgan Worrall - who joined at the start of 2022 - said she was "incredibly proud" of the team.

Braintree MP and foreign secretary James Cleverly expressed delight.

"I pay tribute to the fantastic, dedicated staff of Cedars Place and Stow Healthcare who have worked tirelessly to make this happen,” he said.

Essex County Council head of provider quality Sam Crawford said: “This is to the credit of Stow Healthcare who have embarked on a journey of continuous improvement.

"The strong leadership, dedicated staff team and commitment to providing excellent care to the residents of the home, is evident throughout the inspection report.”

Among the group's other homes include Manson House in Bury St Edmunds and Horkesley Manor, Colchester -  both of which it took over in 2022, and Brandon Park.