A recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection of Knowsley Council’s Reablement and Rapid Response Service (known officially to the CQC as the Halewood Centre) has judged it to be ‘Good’ across all areas.
Inspectors highlighted feedback from service users who they reported had ‘consistently described having a very positive experience.’ They also said they felt ‘supported, respected and encouraged to remain as independent as possible’ with staff described as going ‘above and beyond’ to support people to remain safely at home.
The Rapid Response and Reablement Service provides targeted in-home support and care to residents with the aim of supporting people to remain at home, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and supporting people to regain independence wherever possible.
The three-day inspection which took place in March aimed to consider 5 key questions to determine if the service is safe, effective, caring, responsive to needs and well led. The CQC judged the Knowsley service as ‘Good’ across all five areas – resulting in an overall ‘Good’ judgement.
Cllr Del Arnall, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “We are delighted with the findings of the inspection which clearly recognise the fantastic work that our Rapid Response and Reablement Team is delivering. We know from speaking to residents how much people want, wherever possible, to stay in their own homes and this targeted service supports people in doing that safely. It works with individuals and families – sometimes at particularly difficult times – to provide the support and additional care people might need for a short period of time.
“It is so encouraging that people using the service consistently described having a very positive experience and that they felt listened to and supported. I want to pay tribute to the team delivering this invaluable support – keep up the excellent work!”
Other positives highlighted by inspectors included:
- The service had a strong reablement ethos, and people were clear that staff focused on what they could do, rather than staff taking over tasks unnecessarily.
- People said staff were kind, caring and respectful, and that they felt listened to.
- Relatives spoke positively about how staff communicated and involved them, particularly during times of stress or crisis.
- People told us they felt reassured knowing there was support available if they needed it, including access to an out‑of‑hours contact.
- People also described staff as professional and respectful of their homes
- Where people progressed well, support was reduced appropriately, and people were involved in decisions about next steps.
- Overall, people experienced a service that was responsive, respectful and person‑centred.
- There was a calm, supportive atmosphere, with positive relationships between people, families and staff.
- The service was described as having clear leadership, with leaders visible and approachable, and staff speaking positively about the culture and the support available to them.
This latest inspection is yet more positive endorsement for the work of the Council which was rated as ‘Good’ by the CQC following its inspection of Adult Social Care Service last year.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It ensures that health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care.