I wanted to re-read your article so I googled “care home hits back” and was shocked to see six similar stories on the first page where other care homes questioned the validity of CQC reports, finding them “unjust and unfair”.

It was partly this that prompted me to contact you to tell another side to this story, that of a relative of a very happy resident in Southminster Care Home.

It made me wonder what the real story is here, are the CQC being overzealous in their approach?

Is this a case of an Ofsted-style star rating approach that measures paperwork and reporting before the happiness of care home residents?

I read the CQC report on Southminster Care Home, and could not believe it was the same place I trust to care for my mother. I even thought I must be reading about a different care home, as in my experience, seen first-hand over the last 13 months, this is not an accurate description of Southminster Care Home.

My mother is 90 years old and immobile.

She has been in Southminster Care Home since Autumn last year.

I visit twice a week and spend at least three hours with her at the home, so I have had a good opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes and check how well she is looked after.

Anyone who faces placing their parent into 24 hour-a-day care worries about choosing the right place.

With so many horror stories around about poor care, even in our hospitals, one would be anxious.

If I had any doubt about how well she is cared for, I would have moved her to another home.

While I am there, her carers pop in, bring meals or medication, or put a head around the door to ask if she is okay. My mother’s face lights up to see them and it is this reaction which confirms for me that she is well looked after.

I am amazed the CQC can publish such a one-sided report and risk a home being shut down due to bad publicity. I attended a meeting along with 20 other relatives of residents after the publication of this report, not one of them has raised a complaint, all are supportive of the staff. I am very concerned that this CQC report, if left unchallenged will risk harming this wonderful care home.

Gavin Jones, Southminster