The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Virgin Care Luton (Luton Intermediate Care and Rehabilitation Service), which cares for people with brain injuries outstanding, following an inspection in November.
The service, which is now known as Luton Intermediate Care and Rehabilitation Service, provides care to people at Capwell Grange Care Home and in people’s own homes, and provides rehabilitation services for adults following serious brain injury or illness including strokes.
The inspection was carried out as part of the CQC’s regular checks on the standard of quality and safety being delivered to people using services.
The service's overall rating moves from good to outstanding following this inspection. The service has also been rated outstanding for being effective, caring and well-led. It is rated good for being safe and responsive to patients’ needs.
Craig Howarth, CQC head of hospital inspection, said:
“The standard of care we saw was very impressive. Especially set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“People were fully supported to live as independently as possible, and staff really went that extra mile to help those they care for.
“One staff member secured food vouchers from the local community to help those struggling to afford shopping, while another helped a family replace a much-needed laptop screen. It’s actions like these that make a real difference to people.
“Patients we spoke to said staff really listened to their individual wishes and empowered them to make informed decisions about their care.
“All staff were committed to learning and continually improving their services, and other providers should look to this report to see what can be learnt from this outstanding service”
CQC’s inspection found that not only were patients’ physical needs met by a range of skilled healthcare professionals but that their emotional wellbeing was also assessed and prioritised.
Staff understood the impact that a person’s care could have on those close to them and took this into consideration throughout their treatment.
People were treated with compassion and kindness, which was underpinned by compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership.
Staff worked closely with their colleagues and other services to deliver clear and cohesive treatment plans, so patients continued to receive appropriate support following discharge from the service’s care.
Full details of the inspection are given in the report published on our website.
At the time of inspection the location name was Virgin Care Luton, but is now known as Luton Intermediate Care and Rehabilitation Service.
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