A WEST Bay care home has been shortlisted for a national dignity and respect award.

Harbour House is in the running to be named Dignity and Respect Care Home of the Year at the National Care Awards 2016.

Winners of the National Care Awards will be presented with their trophies at a high profile gala night held on Friday, November 25 at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, in front of more than 700 guests.

Harbour House registered manager Anna Filsell and head of care Andrea Winfield attended a panel interview in London last month, after being selected as one of the top five care homes in the country for dignity and respect.

Ms Filsell said: “We are absolutely delighted to have made it to the final five in this category.

"There was a lot of competition from across the country and we are overwhelmed to have got this far. This category is extremely important and represents the entire ethos of Harbour House."

She added: "Every day we strive to provide high quality care to all our residents and families. This is equally supported by our professional colleagues and visitors. The staff and team at Harbour House recognise that dignity and respect is where care both begins and ends each day - it is paramount in their daily support routine whether they are in the domestic, kitchen, maintenance, admin or care team.

"I am very proud to manage such a wonderful care home and delighted that our families refer to us as a ‘little piece of paradise' and the 'house of smiles'."

In 1964, Eileen Morland formed the West Bay Housing Society to help provide accommodation and care for elderly people. Harbour House is now managed by the society.

The National Care Awards is an annual event organised by the Caring Times magazine, a management magazine for the social care sector.

The Awards were introduced to celebrate success stories of people and businesses in the long-term care sector, by highlighting excellence and rewarding those who work tirelessly to provide consistently outstanding care.

This year, there were a total of 18 categories to enter and there were four or five finalists in each category marked by two independent judges.

For more information, visit careinfo.org/care-awards-2016