York homecare provider rated outstanding

The team at the Great Care Company in York are proud to announce their ‘Outstanding’ rating in Caring by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), backed up by a ‘Good’ rating overall. 

The Great Care Company is a home care agency, providing care and support to people in their own homes with physical disabilities, dementia or old age.

With offices in the north east including York, the achievement serves to reflect the ‘truly holistic approach’ the team offers, as well as the positive relationships developed with clients.

The inspection report states that: ‘People’s wellbeing and happiness were made a priority by the provider who exceeded contractual obligations to ensure people’s independence, welfare and social/emotional needs were promoted and provided for.’

A key example of this was when one of their homecare assistants purchased an electronic tablet for a client whose first language was not English. They uploaded a translation app onto the tablet, enabling the client to hold direct conversations with care workers about their support needs. 

The care workers also received top marks, with the report stating that ‘care workers were highly motived and were actively involved in and contributed to the continuous improvements in care and support. The provider and registered manager were dedicated to providing individualised care that met the highest standards and promoted people’s independence and quality of life’.

Central to how the company operates is the use of what’s known as the ‘Extra Mile Fund’. The fund is an incentive scheme set up to provide additional funding to staff to enable them to enhance people’s wellbeing and reduce social isolation.

To date, the Great Care Company has provided more than 90 hours of free care or support to clients using this fund.

Angela Gregory, registered manager of the York office said: ‘This rating means so much. The Outstanding rating in Care makes all the hard work worthwhile.

‘It ensures people receive care that is personal to them and their needs, and that our service is provided to a high standard. To have achieved this in our first CQC inspection makes me very proud of our team.’

Fiona Scarce, homecare assistant added: ‘I try to be professional and do my role with a happy outlook. I want to make sure clients can participate and interact as much as possible and retain their independence.’

Alison Giles also a homecare assistant at the company said: ‘I always treat clients as individuals. We become a familiar part of their day and as such, I treat them with kindness and respect.

‘I talk to them about their interests and find out about their pasts to help me understand them better. I am always happy and chatty and go out of my way to make sure they are happy in themselves and with the care I give.’

The CQC report comes on the back of the recent award achieved by the Great Care Company as one of the Top 20 Home Care Providers in the Yorkshire and Humber region. In the words of the CQC inspector ‘without exception, people told us their care was, ‘brilliant,’ ‘respectful and caring.’

Photo Credit – NCF