Wolverhampton home care service rated Outstanding by CQC for second time
Care 4 U Wolverhampton retained its top overall rating, with inspectors praising personalised care and strong relationships between staff and people using the service
A Wolverhampton home care service has been rated Outstanding by inspectors for the second time.
Care 4 U Wolverhampton Limited, based in Penn, retained its overall Outstanding rating following an unannounced Care Quality Commission assessment carried out between April 24 and May 8.
The service was rated Outstanding in three of the five areas assessed – effective, caring and well-led – while safe and responsive were both rated Good. The effective rating was upgraded from Good at the previous assessment.
The CQC said the service provided exceptionally effective and person-centred care, with staff demonstrating a strong understanding of people's individual needs and preferences.
At the time of the assessment, 25 people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care from the domiciliary care service.
Inspectors found people were supported to maintain their safety and manage risks and medicines, while staff were praised for their relationships with people, relatives and colleagues.
The CQC said everyone it spoke to described relationships with staff as being "like family", while staff repeatedly went above and beyond to ensure people had positive experiences.
Andrew Peck, CQC deputy director of adult social care, said: "We found Care 4 U Wolverhampton was delivering exceptionally effective care by providing personalised and tailored support that carefully considered people's individual needs and preferences.
"People told us staff were like family and went above and beyond to ensure they had positive experiences."
The CQC also highlighted partnership working with other health and care organisations.
In one example, staff identified that a person was becoming unwell and referred them to a rapid intervention team. The person was then seen by a virtual ward team and was able to avoid a hospital admission after receiving treatment at home.
Inspectors also found staff were supported by relevant training, including nutrition and diabetes training, and that leaders had systems in place to monitor the quality and effectiveness of care.
The service was also praised for supporting people to maintain their independence and wellbeing. Inspectors highlighted activities introduced for a person with dementia, including memory games, which staff said helped the person become calmer and reduced their anxiety.
Registered manager and owner Caroline Evans said the rating reflected the ethos on which the service was founded.
"Care4U was set up by myself to care from the heart – and that's exactly what every member of staff does," she said.
"It's not just about earning a wage; it's about caring as though we're supporting our own family members."
The latest assessment followed a previous CQC rating in 2018, when the service was also rated Outstanding overall, with Outstanding ratings for caring and well-led.
Care 4 U provides personal care to people in their own homes, including older people and people living with dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments.