Surrey homecare provider Assist Care Group rated Outstanding by CQC

Assist Care Group – Surrey has been rated Outstanding overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with Outstanding ratings for both Caring and Well-led.

The independent assessment recognised exceptional compassionate care, distinctive leadership and a culture of kindness, inclusion and continuous improvement.

With only around one in twenty rated homecare services achieving an overall Outstanding rating, the result places Assist Care Group – Surrey among a relatively small proportion of services to receive the regulator’s highest rating.

Care that goes beyond the expected

During its assessment, CQC gathered feedback from people receiving care, their families, staff and health and social care professionals.

One relative, whose family member had received support from Assist since 2007, told inspectors:

“I have nothing but absolute praise for them in all aspects of their care. They are outstanding.”

Inspectors highlighted examples of care workers staying with people while awaiting ambulances, responding to unexpected hospital discharges and supporting people and their families through difficult end-of-life situations.

CQC concluded that the service had:

“An exceptional culture of kindness, openness, inclusion and continuous improvement.”

An Outstanding achievement for the whole team

Tim Wilson, Managing Director and Nominated Individual of Assist Care Group, said:

“I’m incredibly proud that CQC has recognised Assist as exceptionally caring and exceptionally well-led. But the most important words in this report aren’t mine. They’re the words of the people we care for, their families and our colleagues.

“We have always tried to build Assist around one simple question: would this be good enough for my loved one?

“Outstanding care doesn’t happen because an inspection is taking place. It happens every day, through the kindness, judgement and commitment of colleagues who are there when somebody needs them.

“And I believe there’s another side to that. If we expect a care worker to protect somebody else’s dignity, we must protect theirs. That’s why fair employment, respect and the wellbeing of our colleagues matter so much to us.

This rating belongs to our colleagues whose care and commitment made it possible. Today we will celebrate it, we will learn from it, and tomorrow we will carry on caring.”

Recognition beyond the service

The assessment also recognised Assist’s commitment to workforce wellbeing, equality and inclusion, and its work to improve employment practices across the wider social care sector.

In CQC’s accompanying press release, Amy Jupp, Deputy Director for Adult Social Care in Surrey, said:

“This report reflects the very high standard of care people were receiving from Assist Care Group – Surrey and other services can look to it to see what outstanding looks like in a home care setting.”

Assist Care Group will be celebrating the achievement with colleagues and sharing the findings with people receiving care, families and local partners.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About Assist Care Group

Assist Care Group is a homecare provider supporting people to live independently in their own homes across Surrey and West Sussex since 1998. The Outstanding rating applies specifically to its Surrey registered location.

CQC rating: Outstanding overall; Outstanding for Caring and Well-led; Good for Safe, Effective and Responsive.

Photograph: A team photograph celebrating the Outstanding rating is available for publication.

Media enquiries:
Tim Wilson
Managing Director and Nominated Individual : Assist Care Group
01306 710900
media@assistcaregroup.co.uk