CQC hails outstanding home care provider as 'beacon to aspire to'

The Care Quality Commission has praised a London home care provider as ‘outstanding’, calling it a "beacon that other adult social care services should aspire to".

The Good Care Group based in Waterloo, London, has achieved five ‘outstanding’ ratings for being safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led - the highest ratings the Care Quality Commission can give.

The home care provider was rated ‘outstanding’ March this year and at the time of the CQC inspection, there were 250 people using the service.

The report by the CQC commended the provider for introducing urinalysis kits and training all staff in their use for early identification of potential urinary tract infections, one of the primary reasons for hospital admissions. This has produced very positive results and a decrease of 60 per cent in the number of related hospital admissions among people who use the service.

'I do not feel I could survive without them'

Debbie Ivanova, CQC's deputy chief inspector of Adult Social Care, said: “I am delighted to be able to congratulate everybody linked to The Good Care Group, in achieving five ‘outstanding’ ratings across the board.

“Management and staff have achieved excellent levels of care and we heard nothing but good things from people who use the service and their relatives."

People using the service told inspectors they thought it was unique in its delivery of care. A client and a relative's comment included: “Wonderful service. I do not feel I could survive without them” and “Excellent services that has truly given me a lifeline.”

People and their relatives told CQC the service was exceptional and distinctive. Comments included: “They are always on the ball, they ensure that my relative is well as can be. They aim for prevention, never ignoring any issues" and "the service is outstanding, the people are wonderful."

The senior management team and the board took an active interest in listening to the views of staff. A weekly care workers' lunch was chaired by one of the directors.

One healthcare professional said: "In my opinion, The Good Care Group deliver their services with the people that they support at the heart of everything they do. They ask for feedback from service users and then develop what they offer based on that, to ensure that they can meet the needs of individuals."

The Good Care Group are specialists in caring for people with dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke rehabilitation, MS and providing end-of-life care.

For more information, please click here: www.homecare.co.uk/homecare/agency.cfm/id/65432188457

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