BLACKBURN’s flagship specialist dementia care service has been named as Britain’s best dementia care home.

The £5million EachStep development on the site of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary’s decaying War Memorial Wing, collected two top awards at a UK wide ceremony.

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Its National Dementia Care Awards were presented at a special ceremony in Brighton.

EachStep Blackburn was named as Best Dementia Care Home and its manager, Phil Benson, collected the Best Dementia Care Manager award.

EachStep Blackburn is part of the charity Community Integrated Care.

The home has been developed in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council.

As well as providing 64 beds for frail pensioners, it aims to be a hub for the local community offering comprehensive outreach services for Alzheimer’s sufferers.

It created 100 jobs and opened in May.

Mr Benson said: “It was an incredible honour for EachStep Blackburn to win Dementia Care Home of the Year.

“We have a fantastic team, as well as families and community partners, who are all absolutely dedicated to ensuring that the people we support lead full and happy lives.

“I am delighted that our passion, creativity and teamwork has been celebrated on this national stage.”

Paula Spence, director of Older People’s Services at Community Integrated Care, said: “We are so proud to see Phil and the team recognised at these awards.

“EachStep Blackburn was developed by our charity in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council with the aim of making a real difference to the local community - this is truly happening.”