An Oldham-based care service has received the top rating from healthcare watchdog inspectors for the second time in a row.
The Care Quality Commission gave Complete Care and Enablement Services, known as CareTech by most of the people who use the service, an "outstanding" overall rating.
Just four home care services registered in Oldham have the top rating out of 46 such services registered.
The service carries out its care across Greater Manchester in Tameside, Stockport, Wigan, and Trafford.
Some who use the service are Oldhamers who use the service in Tameside, but whose care is funded by the council.
Broken down, inspectors rated CareTech "good" for being safe and effective, and "outstanding" for being caring, responsive, and well-led.
Most people using the service have a learning disability or complex mental health needs and are under the age of 65.
Inspectors said the service, which supports 178 people, supported people "extremely well to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence" and had "very low" staff turnover.
One staff member told inspectors: “It’s a very fulfilling job and I’m the happiest I have ever been.”
Staff culture was praised for helping people lead fully inclusive and empowered lives, such as by helping them overcome fears of hospital appointments and surgery, with inspectors praising “exceptionally good quality care.”
One relative of a service user said she was "leading a much more meaningful life than before, and you can see she is happy".
The use of voice-activated technology to help people communicate was also praised.
The report also praised the service for its responsiveness, adapting care plans to specific needs.
One person went from being non-verbal to verbal as a result of care provided by staff – with a relative saying: “I’ve never heard [my relative] saying short sentences. It’s almost like the staff have woken something up inside of [my relative], it’s amazing and something I thought I’d never hear.”
Rgistered manager Jo Withington said: “We’re over the moon – it’s the second time we’ve got the outstanding rating.
“It’s more difficult to get the second one than the first one, to be honest – and we’ve actually improved our ratings – last time we got outstanding in two domains, and this time we got it in three domains.
“To do it twice has been just unreal. I can’t thank the people that support and the team enough, because they’re just the best, obviously. I’m absolutely over the moon.”
The full CQC report can be read here.
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