County’s care services pass with flying colours

Six of Worcestershire County Council’s services have recently had unannounced visits from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and all passed the inspection “with flying colours”.

Pershore Short Term Breaks, which provides short-term residential care for people with learning disabilities so their carers can have a break.

The CQC report on the visit, made in January, said: “We saw that staff cared for people well and that they have a good understanding of people’s individual needs and personal preferences.”

Worth Crescent, which offers a similar respite break service in the Stourport area, was also praised after receiving an inspection in January.

Exmoor Drive in Bromsgrove, which provides accommodation for 12 people with learning disabilities, also had an unannounced visit in December 2012 and a relative told the inspector that “staff are confident, skilled and responsive to people’s needs”.

Timberdine Nursing and Rehabilitation Unit in Worcester, which provides rehabilitation services for people who have had a stroke or need nursing and personal care, had a visit in December.

The CQC report said: “Workers cared for people in a way that respected their dignity and privacy.”

The Home Care and Promoting Independence services also received positive reports. The first focuses on helping people with dementia and their carers to stay in their own homes and also has a rapid response service which, since its inception in 2011, has helped more than 1,000 people.

Promoting Independence, part of the council’s response to the ‘personalisation agenda’, a government commitment to giving people more control over their own social care, has seen more than 70 per cent of people discharged with no continuing needs.

Eddie Clarke, Worcestershire County Council’s director of adult social care, said: “I am delighted that these four facilities which provide essential care and support for county people have received such excellent reports.”