A Frodsham-based home care company has been rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Home Instead Senior Care received the award following a detailed inspection by the care industry’s regulatory body.
Home Instead provides care and companionship to older people in their own homes, allowing residents of Frodsham, Runcorn and Widnes to live independently for longer. In the CQC report, a client’s family member is quoted as saying, “It’s the excellent support that my father receives that enables him to continue to live in his own home.”
Currently, just 3% of home care companies are rated as outstanding, so the award is a real accolade and testament to the service observed by the inspectors. In their findings, they reported that ‘People received exceptionally personalised care and support specific to their needs and lifestyle choices’ and that Home Instead ‘put people at the heart of the service.’
Alison Moynihan, director of Home Instead, said, “We are thrilled that the Care Quality Commission has awarded us with an ‘outstanding’ rating, recognising the wonderful team here at Home Instead. We care very much about our clients and our caregivers, who each and every day go the extra mile, making sure that we are providing exceptional care at home and out in the wider community.”
Alison and her husband Brian Moynihan, co-directors of Home Instead, are also praised in the report, which states that ‘leadership was exceptional and distinctive’. They were acknowledged for engaging the team and the local community working in partnership with others with activities such as dementia awareness talks and charity cake and coffee mornings.
Laura Clark, operations and registered care manager, was recognised for her leadership, dedication and commitment to promoting a culture that is extremely person-centred and inclusive. The report highlighted that Laura was, ‘extremely knowledgeable and someone who inspires confidence and passion within the staff team.’
There are numerous examples included in the report which demonstrate how caring for people is at the heart of the service. One client was supported throughout their discharge from hospital by their caregiver who ‘maintained regular contact with health care professionals to ensure that the right care and support was provided on the person’s return home.’ In that instance, a family member stated that the team ‘went above and beyond.’
Inspectors heard about a Home Instead client who had a lifelong interest in horses and one breed in particular, but they hadn’t been able to have contact with horses for a long time. The team knew how much it meant and arranged for their client to visit a local stables that specialised in the breed, allowing them to spend time around the horses which was such a special moment for everyone.
Also taking extra care of their client’s likes and dislikes is hugely important, and one client really enjoyed a cup of tea and it had to be just right. So their caregiver put together notes, step by step, on how they liked their tea prepared with personalised tea making instructions built into their care plan, so it would always be perfect.
“The details really matter,” said Brian Moynihan, director of Home Instead, “Our caregivers are in our clients’ homes every day and care visits last a minimum of 60 minutes. This means they have time to build up relationships with their clients, learn about what they like and what motivates them. Without the rapport that exists between our caregivers and their clients, we simply couldn’t support older people in their independence as well as we do. To care, you really have to care!”
Home Instead is unique in that clients are matched to caregivers that share their interests. As stated in the report ‘people receive personalised care and support specific to their needs and lifestyle choices’. Such as a client who wanted to go swimming, so they were matched with a caregiver who is also a swimming instructor. The caregiver was able to take them swimming and supported them so they could swim happily and safely.
There can be no higher praise than the observation made by the CQC inspectors that ‘people were treated with dignity and respect and felt the service was caring’.
To find out more about Home Instead Senior Care, or for details about becoming a caregiver please call: 01928 733020 or visit: https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/halton
Fraser House, Bridge Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 7HD
