21 June 2012
During a themed inspection looking at Domiciliary Care Services
We used postal surveys, telephone interviews and home visits to people who use the service and to their main carers (a relative or friend) to gain views about the service.
People who use the service told us that they understood the care and support they were to receive. They said the choices available to them had been explained, and that they were involved in making decisions about the service they were provided with. 'We had a meeting to discuss what help we wanted', 'the initial assessment was completed with my family and my social worker' and 'there is good communication with the office and we can contact them if we need to change things'.
They told us that they received the service that they expected to. 'We would not be able to manage without their kind and loving support. The staff genuinely look after both of us', 'when the care worker arrives, it gives me (the spouse) the opportunity to take a break and go out, or they go out to do something' and 'we are very well looked after and I have recommended this agency to other people we know who have similar difficulties'.
We received the following comments about the care workers who were supporting people and their main carers. 'We have every confidence in the staff, they are very patient and know how to handle my relative', 'the staff are all very good', and 'the staff seem to be very well trained and know what they are doing'.