Archived: Circle of Care (Devon)

People we spoke with told us they felt that care workers treated them with respect. Comments included "all of the staff are very kind, they can't do enough for me".

People who used the service and their relatives told us they were very happy with the care they received. They said "it's absolutely brilliant', "they look after me beautifully' and 'we'd be lost without them'. Care plans contained enough detail so care workers knew how to meet people's needs.

People who used the service told us they were happy with the way staff supported them to take their medication. There were clear policies for care workers to follow to make sure people were protected.

We found that care workers received appropriate training and professional development so they could carry out their job role effectively.

There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. People told us that their comments were listened to and acted upon. People told us "nothing could be better' and 'we've got no complaints, they know we're happy'.

We found that people were treated with courtesy and respect and with regard to their age, disability, sexuality and gender. People told us that care workers were friendly and helpful. One person said 'What they said they would provide seemed too good to be true. Turns out it isn't. They provide all that was promised and more'. All the people we spoke with said they would have no hesitation recommending this service to others.

Each person had their needs assessed. People told us that this assessment included getting to know them as a person so that the service was personal to them. Care plans gave care workers information about how people's needs should be met. For example, they described people's moving and handling needs, and the equipment used.

People told us they felt safe and well cared for. Some people commented that care workers carried out extra tasks if they had time, and noticed the small but important things. One person said 'since this agency started providing my care, my quality of life has improved'. Another person said 'they are like family. We would be lost without them'.

Staff were recruited using robust methods and received training appropriate to their roles and responsibilities. Systems were in place to hear feedback from people and to improve the quality of the service provided.