East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership's care at home service, 'Homecare' received considerable praise following a recent Scottish Care Inspectorate inspection.
Following an unannounced inspection from the Scottish Care Inspectorate, its first in three years, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership’s Homecare service are delighted to have been awarded a 4-star quality grading.
East Lothian’s Homecare service is a combined care at home and housing support service, delivering personal care and independent support to residents across East Lothian. It currently delivers 1,346 hours of care per week, supporting 230 individuals and their families.
The Homecare team also provides a specialist Emergency Care Service who respond to community alarm calls, and other contacts, mainly related to falls or requests for urgent care support needs.
The Care Inspectorate’s visit took place in September 2023, and involved numerous discussions with Homecare service users, their family members, as well as speaking to staff and observing daily practices.
A key feature of the report highlighted the ‘warm, respectful and compassionate interactions between staff and people using the service’. It continues, ‘Staff clearly knew people well and had developed bonds with them.’
The inspection report also observed that, ‘staff took their time in providing care, this ensured positive outcomes for people and a level of care that met people's needs and preferences.”
It included positive remarks for the Emergency Care Service, noting that ‘people could be confident that their urgent care needs would be supported.’
The inspection included a review of existing operational practices and team leadership, with praise being given to the Homecare management team by staff and inspectors alike for be ‘supportive and approachable’, which ‘ultimately improved outcomes for [clients]’.
Members of the East Lothian Homecare Team
Fiona Wilson, Chief Officer at ELHSCP comments, “This is a great achievement for East Lothian’s Homecare Service and is a testament to the dedication and commitment each member of the team plays in supporting individuals with daily activities in accordance with their assessed needs and agreed personal outcomes.
Knowing that in older age, people prefer to live in their own homes for as long as possible, the Homecare team provide an invaluable service, to support clients to live independently at home, whilst providing reassurance and easing the pressure for family members.
We grateful to the Care Inspectorate for the positive feedback and recommendations on how we can continue to enhance this valued service further.”
Having recently introduced a new electronic care monitoring system, the Homecare Team are already starting to see the benefits of this new technology. Improvements in communication and engagement between colleagues, the ability to monitor and evaluate care quality for effectively and deliver an enhanced care experience for clients and their family members are just a few of the benefits.
With an increase in demand for care at home services, ELHSCP’s Homecare team is currently recruiting Care Support Workers to join the team and support individuals to live independently in their own homes.
Enthusiastic individuals who are caring and supportive and possess excellent communication skills are encouraged to enquire and apply for these positions. With contracts of varying hours available, as well as staff benefits including generous annual leave allowance, full annual payment of SSSC registration fees, SVQ qualifications in level 2/3 Social Services and Healthcare paid for you, career progression and the opportunity to make a positive impact on client’s welfare and wellbeing, its an opportunity not to be missed.
For more information about East Lothian’s Homecare Service and current vacancies visit www.eastlothian.gov.uk/elhscp.
East Lothian Homecare’s full Care Inspectorate Report can be viewed at www.careinspectorate.com