A LOCAL service helping people living with dementia to remain in their own homes has been rated “outstanding” by a care watchdog.

Calderdale Council’s Support in Mind care service has received the rating from the Care Quality Commission, which inspected it in November and has just released the results.

With three out of the four benchmarks rated “outstanding” and two “good” giving the overall “outstanding” rating,

The verdict from people and their carers and families using the service was universal, says the report.

“The Support in Mind team excelled in gaining the confidence of and supporting people who had previously refused intervention from health and social care professionals.

“People were extremely positive about the service and told us they would have no hesitation in recommending it.

“People unanimously described the service as ‘outstanding’,” said the CQC.

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The council’s Cabinet member for Adults’ Services and Wellbeing, Coun Bob Metcalfe (Lab, Town) was justifiably proud of the work done by staff to improve the lives of some of Calderdale’s most vulnerable citizens.

“This is a fantastic achievement.

“I’m thrilled that the CQC has recognised the hard work and dedication of our kind and caring staff, who always put residents first.

“I have heard heartening feedback about how the Support in Mind team has made life-changing impacts for local people – one person was able to go out for the first time in many years, and another resident was supported to live independently after their spouse passed away,” he said.

The team provides short-term support to people in their own homes who are living with dementia or other mental health issues and the aim is to prepare residents for longer-term care from other providers.

The CQC report went on: “People were supported by staff who were exceptionally kind and caring.

“Staff were dedicated to ensuring people experienced the best possible care and support.

“We found many examples of staff going the extra mile to make sure people experienced exceptional care and support…

“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests – the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.”

During the inspection, the CQC spoke to staff and relatives of people who use the service about their experiences of the care provided and responses included they were “extremely positive” about it, “would have no hesitation in recommending it” and one family member said “I don’t know where we would be without them; actually, I do, and it’s not the happy place we are in.”

One area for improvement identified in the CQC report is end of life care planning, where inspectors said the service would benefit from recording this in a more consistent way in residents’ care plans.

The council says further work has already started on this, as part of the authority’s commitment to continually improving services for local people.