A DAY service operated on the philosophy of a 19th century Austrian social reformer has been deemed fit for the 21st century.

Garvald West Linton Day Services is based at Garvald House close to the village.

The service is registered to provide 40 day places for people with learning disabilities.

Among the workshops provided are bakery, crafts, weaving, gardening and working on the 76-acre estate.

The service follows the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, who pioneered holistic development.

A representative of the Care Inspectorate paid an unannounced visit to the service on July 13.

It was rated ‘very good’ for its support of people’s well-being and ‘good’ for leadership and the care and support provided.

The report says: “We spent time observing how people interacted with others and staff. People told us that they found the staff to be very kind and polite.

“We saw on many occasions positive interactions which demonstrated that people were treated with dignity, respect, and genuine affection.

“People told us that they enjoyed participating in meaningful activities both within the home and out in their local community.

“This included participating in educational, recreational, and social opportunities, such as the bakery, art and crafts and working on the grounds of the estate.

“People were proud of their involvement and achievements, enhancing their self-esteem and confidence.

“People were supported to also sell their home-made produce to outside organisations, and it was evident this gave them a real sense of purpose, and pride.

“Staff were motivated to supporting people to achieve their aspirations and wishes while actively promoting new opportunities of learning. Records were maintained to reflect what people enjoyed about the different activities and what could be improved the next time they took part.

“Several events were held during the year and the service actively encouraged family involvement as much as possible.

“This supported the well-established community feel to the service. Staff understood and valued the contribution family and representatives can make to improving people’s wellbeing.”

The Care Inspectorate representative also noted that improvements had been made in three areas following visits in 2018.