Findings from the Healthwatch independent consultation on Stockton Borough Council’s Review of Homecare Services
Download (PDF 225.99 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees aimed to gather feedback from users of Home Care services about their views on how their Home Care is delivered to an independent body. The data was collected in partnership with Stockton Borough Council through both surveys and a focus group.
Respondents of the survey were generally positive, and results highlighted that most people reported a general satisfaction with the standard of Home Care they receive. The majority of people felt that they were treated with dignity and respect, and carers arrived on time. Most people felt that their care workers fully understood their care plan. The report shows a general satisfaction with the carers’ punctuality, support, communication and giving medicine. Most people stated that the care they received enabled them to remain independent and those who utilised a Personal Budget gave positive feedback, indicating that this mechanism for organising care met their individual needs.
The survey did, however, highlight issues Stockton Borough Council may wish to take into account as part of this review such as safety and lack of social interaction.
Half of respondents highlighted that they were not kept informed about changes to their care rota by the care provider. Despite not appearing as a specific question in the survey, the majority of respondents indicated that they had experienced difficulties when interacting with the care providers’ administrative office.
The Young Carers Eastern Ravens Trust’s focus group also highlighted positive and negative elements about their experiences of Home Care services. The key themes they covered were about staff training, confidentiality, maintaining professional boundaries, delivery of care, administrative issues and safety and wellbeing. The young carers indicated the skills, qualities and behaviours they would like to see from Home Care services commissioned in the future.
A list of recommendations by Healthwatch are included in the report.