CQC upgrades rating of Doncaster homecare service to outstanding

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has upgraded the rating for Age UK Doncaster from good to outstanding, following a May inspection.

Age UK Doncaster, run by an organisation of the same name, is a care at home service providing personal care and support to adults of all ages, some of whom were living with dementia. At the time of inspection, 41 people were using the service.

CQC has also upgraded the ratings for caring and well-led from good to outstanding. The ratings for safe, effective, and responsive remained good.

Victoria Marsden, CQC deputy director of adult social care in the north, said: “At our inspection, we found a service that ensured people’s outcomes were positive and consistent, fully meeting both clinical and people’s expectations.

“The service took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture, unique backgrounds and protected characteristics, with staff involving people in decisions regarding their care right from the beginning.

“Promoting people’s wellbeing was central to the service. Staff ran a ‘befriending’ program, which matched people in their care with others who held similar interests to combat social isolation. At Christmas time, staff and leaders organised visits and gifts for those identified as being at risk of loneliness.

“We found leaders made sure there were always enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, and provided them with thorough support, supervision and strong development opportunities. Staff and leaders took appropriate action to fully investigate safety events and identify learnings to improve people’s experiences of the service.

“Everyone at Age UK Doncaster should be very proud of their dedication that is having a positive impact on people’s lives. Other services should look to this report to see what they can learn.”

Inspectors found:

• The service had strong links with external partners to provide a continuous standard of care.

• Staff supplied appropriate, accurate and up-to-date information in formats tailored to individual needs. Any barrier to people’s communication were overcome.

• Staff and leaders ensured people had the right to decide what care and support they required as well as the right to refuse the support offered. Consent and confidentiality forms were completed with people and clearly identified what people had consented to.
• Staff detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

The report will be published on CQC’s website in the next few days.