A CARE home in Kidderminster has received a prestigious ‘Gold’ rating in Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ Healthier Choices Food Award scheme (HCFA).

Offmore Farm Residential Home manager Cheryl Burge applied for HCFA accreditation after the home passed its environmental inspection with flying colours.

The award, which recognises businesses which provide customers with a healthy and flexible food menu, was handed over by Environmental Health Officer Amy Worboys.

Ms Burge said: “We pride ourselves on setting a very high standard to earn an excellent reputation. We don’t advertise, so people know about us mainly through word of mouth.

"When it comes to providing meals for those in our care, we work closely with GPs and hospitals, but also with the residents themselves.

"We have to cater for a number of dietary requirements including low fat, gluten-free and diabetic, and we ask our residents what they like, too.

"There is no point cooking meals they don’t care for!

"We wanted to achieve HCFA status as recognition for the standards we set every day. It’s important for the staff and for residents and their families to know that we are doing well.

"Being an HCFA member enhances our business credentials and comes with other benefits too such as nutritional analysis of recipes, discounted training for our staff and networking through informative events. I would urge other food providers to enquire about the scheme.”

The home was awarded HCFA Gold on account of the variety of healthy and flexible menu options and locally produced ingredients it offers to both its 28 permanent residents and daycare visitors.

Launched in 2015, the HCFA scheme is open to county eateries which have a four or five-star food hygiene rating.