Home care agency where care workers 'love their job' is rated 'outstanding'

Home Instead Senior Care in Oldham, where care workers and the people they care for 'develop genuine friendships', has been rated 'outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission for the second time consecutively.

The home care company is the only home care service in Oldham & Tameside that has received this much-coveted rating twice.

The report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) praised Home Instead stating: ‘Staff told us they loved their job and were proud to work for the organisation. They said they felt listened to and supported by the management team, who cared for them and their wellbeing. There was a positive workplace culture, as the organisation valued, encouraged and praised its staff.’

'We train and support them to really take the time to care with compassion'

Of the double ‘outstanding’ accreditation, director Mick Sheehan said: “Jenny and I have always known that our team was outstanding but to have that confirmed and now reconfirmed by independent inspectors means an awful lot.

“We all do this because we genuinely care. When we hire someone, the question we ask ourselves is would we trust them to care for our own parents? When we find those special people that we trust, we train and support them to really take the time to care with compassion.

“For me, the standout comment of the report came from a client who told inspectors 'It's a very personal service and it seems to be more than just a job to them'. That sums up everything about Home Instead!”

Inspectors spoke to clients, relatives of clients and Home Instead staff members before producing their recent report, which states ‘everyone we talked to, without exception, spoke very highly of the service, its staff and how it was managed.’ It goes on to say, 'we did not receive any negative comments about the company.'

Home Instead was praised throughout the report for helping older people to live independently. One caregiver told inspectors: “it's about the little things, making sure they feel safe, having everything close to hand and making sure it's how they want to do things – I like them to lead the way.” Inspectors revealed that clients told them 'staff helped and encouraged them to be as independent as possible'.

'She knows all my likes and dislikes. I love her to bits.'

Home Instead's caregivers told inspectors that 'they were 'matched' with the client they supported, and this helped them develop genuine friendships.' Wonderful connections between clients and their caregivers are cited throughout the report. One client is quoted as saying, “They couldn't have matched me up with a better person. She's a gem. You've no idea how nervous I was in contemplating having this type of service but the moment we met, we both knew it was just right.”

Another client said of their regular caregiver: “She knows all my likes and dislikes. I love her to bits.” Another commented: “All the staff are kind and caring. They listen to me and act on everything I ask for. They would do anything for me, which gives me comfort.”

click here for more details or to contact Home Instead (Oldham & Saddleworth)