Award-winning homecare provider DoCare, which expanded into Bristol this year, has been given top marks in its latest inspection by the industry watchdog the Care Quality Commission.
DoCare was found to be meeting the necessary standards in all areas inspected, including the care and welfare of its clients. The Gloucestershire-based firm covers Bristol from its Yate office after winning a contract with the city council’s Social Services department.
The unannounced, routine inspection, carried out last month, also looked at areas such as staffing, record-keeping and safeguarding clients.
The report praised the DoCare team saying: “We spoke with three people during our visit they told us ‘The carers have great personalities, are joyful and caring’. People told us that they were supported by a regular team of care staff, staff arrived on time and they were contacted if carers were going to be late. One person told us that they liked to see familiar faces and had the same carers for some time.”
The report added: “Comments were positive about the care and the support they received. One person told us ‘I could not be without them, they are marvellous’.”
DoCare’s managing director Stephen Mills, pictured, said he was delighted at the Care Quality Commission’s report: “We take enormous pride in our work, and want to provide the best possible support to people to enable them to be able to carry on living in their own homes.
“We invest a great deal in staff training, particularly in the area of dementia support, and so to have this endorsed by such a well-respected body as the Care Quality Commission is testament to the hard work all our team put in.”
He added: “The CQC sets rigorous standards for homecare companies to meet. We welcome those standards because, by achieving them, we can demonstrate to our clients that we are providing the high level of service they expect and deserve.”
Stephen established DoCare in 2004 following difficulties sourcing homecare for his elderly father-in-law. The family-run business has grown to a 100-strong team covering a 1,000 sq mile area.
One of DoCare’s area managers – Kerry-Ann Lees – is the current holder of the title Dementia Carer of the Year, one of the national Great British Care Awards. Stephen and his wife and co-director Una have been shortlisted for the Care Employer Award at this year’s national Great British Care Awards.
DoCare provides homecare support for adults, mainly elderly people, to enable them to carry on living in their own homes instead of going into care or a nursing home. The company provides extensive training to staff, and many – including Kerry-Ann – have taken the Gloucestershire Dementia Link Care Programme to enable them to deliver expert support to clients with dementia.
