Elected members agreed to create a facility which will lead the way in piloting a new approach to delivering care across the region.

The new approach is based upon the very successful care village approach in the Netherlands, with extending respite and day opportunities key features of the plan.

The building will be completely refurbished to provide five ‘homes’, each with six bedrooms, wet rooms, accessible showers and new living/dining areas. New social spaces and outdoor seating areas will also be created giving friends and family the chance to enjoy the space with their loved ones.

Tracey Logan, chief executive of Scottish Borders Council, explained: “This is a fantastic opportunity to allow us to drive forward a fundamental shift in how we look after our older people in the Borders.

“It is our aim to ensure people feel at home and live happy, enjoyable lives no matter how complex their needs are. Our older people must have access to the right care to meet their needs, and they must be able to do that in a homely, welcoming and enjoyable environment.

“As always, we are being ambitious, but we have a clear vision about how we want our care homes to look, feel and how they should operate. We have seen an exceptionally inspiring model in the Netherlands, and there is no reason why we can’t deliver something as fantastic here in the Borders.

“The approach at Deanfield will inform our strategy for our care homes going forward with a plan to survey all our care homes by the end of October.”