Home care company where staff wear 'frailty simulation suits' to experience being elderly rated 'outstanding'

A home care service where its staff wear ‘frailty simulation suits’ as well as sight impairment googles, to give them an insight into what it feels like to be elderly and vulnerable, has been rated ‘outstanding’ by the care regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Beloved Homecare in Manchester has since its last inspection implemented ‘several creative and innovative ways to enhance people's safety, particularly regarding risk management’.

In addition ‘staff had gone 'above and beyond' what was expected from their roles to ensure people received outstanding care and support’.

The service was also commended for being ‘highly passionate about ensuring people received high quality, person centred care that was based around their likes, dislikes, hobbies and interests’.

Mark Collier, managing director of Beloved Homecare said: “We’re delighted to announce that we have been rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. Beloved is now the only provider of adult social care, within the whole of the Trafford Borough, to have an overall ‘outstanding’ rating. Beloved is also one of four within Greater Manchester.”

He added: “This fantastic team achievement wouldn’t have been possible without all of the hard work and commitment from all of our staff, especially during the last 12 months. We’re pleased to be recognised by the CQC for all of our achievements and we’re proud to be able to deliver a quality and sustainable service to our clients in the community.”

Beloved Homecare in Manchester has created a special training room which has been furnished to look like someone’s lounge ‘to show new staff who may not have worked in care previously, what it was like to carry out tasks during care visits’.

‘A 'Frailty simulation suit' had been purchased, with a weighted feel to it which gave the idea of being elderly and how they feel when mobilising. Sight impairment goggles had also been purchased and provided staff with an insight into some of the sensory difficulties people may encounter when attempting to mobilise safely,’ revealed the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors found the staff encouraged the people they cared for to take ‘positive risks’ so they could retain as much independence as possible.

They highlighted the case of a person who had ‘been found to wander, potentially unsafely within the local community’.

So ‘staff introduced daily social calls to support this person to still be able to go out and made identity cards which were added to the pockets of clothing the person was wearing, to enable them to return home safely.

‘Another person, who was living with a specific health condition had a strong passion for swimming, although had not walked across the length of the pool before and instead held the sides.

‘They had expressed a wish to do this by solely walking. Following a period of staff support, the person managed to do this and was elated in doing so. Their self-esteem rose significantly, with increased confidence in recent visits,’ according to the report.

Staff had also purchased dementia and Parkinson’s cutlery making it easier for people with these conditions to feed themselves.

CQC inspectors also highlighted Beloved Homecare’s review rating on homecare.co.uk, the UK’s leading reviews site for home care, stating: ‘This included being ranked in the top 10 home care providers in the North West of England by homecare.co.uk for the past five years.’

The management and leadership of the service was also described as being outstanding in the report and praised for ‘promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering, which achieves good outcomes for people’.

The inspection was carried out using virtual methods and online tools such as electronic file sharing, video calls and phone calls.

To view the report click here

click here for more details or to contact Beloved Homecare