The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Age UK - Northumberland (Alnwick Office)

Unit 4, Linnet Court, Cawledge Business Park, Hawfinch Drive, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 2GD 0845 140 0088

Provided and run by:
Age UK Northumberland

All Inspections

11 July 2012

During a themed inspection looking at Domiciliary Care Services

We carried out a themed inspection looking at domiciliary care services. We asked people to tell us what it was like to receive services from this home care agency as part of a targeted inspection programme of domiciliary care agencies, paying particular regard to how people's dignity was upheld and how they could make choices about their care. The inspection team was led by a CQC (Care Quality Commission) inspector joined by an Expert by Experience ' a person who has experience of using this type of service and who can provide that perspective.

As part of this review, we visited four people in their own homes and spoke with them, and their relatives, about their experiences of the support they had received from this service. At the time of our visit to the service, we spoke with the manager and two care workers. We spoke over the telephone with a further 26 people who used the service, one senior care worker and two care workers.

People we spoke with were positive about the care and support they received. Comments included, 'I could not be happier with the girls who come' and 'I regard them (the care workers) as important people in my life."

Comments from relatives included, 'I'm quite happy with it, I'm glad of the help' and 'It's very good care, there's not really anything they could do better." Another relative told us, 'They seem to understand his needs. He gets on very well with them. It took a little while to get organised but now it's very good."

People told us they felt comfortable and safe with their care workers. People also told us they would feel comfortable speaking to the manager, or the office co-ordinator about any issues which may arise.