The quality of a short-term care and support service in Berwick has been rated as Outstanding by the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
North Locality Homecare (Berwick), provided by Northumberland County Council, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to ensure the service meets quality and safety standards.
In a report published this week, the services have been rated as Outstanding.
The Berwick-based service provides short-term care and support to people in their own homes, often following a recent illness, hospital discharge or to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
It is part of the Short Term Support Service (STSS) which is managed in partnership with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Northumberland County Council leader, Peter Jackson said: “We welcome this report which highlights that the service is flexible and responsive to people’s individual needs and preferences, and staff are highly motivated and caring.”
The report praised the service’s joined up approach to providing holistic care that met people’s needs. Inspectors noted that people using the service and their families described it as ‘Excellent’, ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Exceptional’.
The report highlighted that:
- People, relatives and health and social care professionals said staff were exceptional in enabling people to remain independent
- People and relatives were extremely positive about the caring nature of staff
- Staff used inclusive ways of involving people so they felt consulted, listened to and valued.
Northumberland County Councillor Veronica Jones, cabinet member for Adult Wellbeing and Health, said: “We know that sometimes people need a short period of help to get them back on their feet and I am delighted to see that this service is helping people to regain their independence so they can continue to live safely in their own homes.”
North Locality Homecare registered manager Sue Davison said: “This service provides support to people in their own homes and it is particularly pleasing to see that staff are committed to providing dignified and compassionate care and support.”
Debbie Westhead, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North, said:
“We found the quality of care provided at North Locality Homecare (Berwick) in Northumberland to be outstanding.
“It was impressive to see how person centred the service was. People’s individual needs were really taken care of and this bespoke service reflected the changes taking place in their lives, confidence and abilities.
“The feedback we received from people using the service, as well as their relatives was overwhelmingly positive. Healthcare professionals in partner organisations, also told us how impressed they were with the responsiveness of the service to people’s needs.
“All the staff should be very proud of the care they are providing and I hope other providers look to their example of what outstanding care should look like.”