Barnard Castle care provider back on track, say inspectors

A LEADING Teesdale care provider has been taken out of special measures after “totally restructuring everything”.

Earlier this year, Castle Care was rated “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and given six months to demonstrate significant improvements were being made to its operation.

Inspectors returned to the provider, based on Harmire Enterprise Park, Barnard Castle, in June, and say progress is being made.

The recently published CQC report states: “During this inspection, the service demonstrated to us that improvements have been made and they are no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions.

“Therefore, this service has been taken out of special measures.”

Castle Care is now rated “requires improvement” overall, with inspectors saying it must keep up the good work.

The report adds: “We found the provider had worked hard to meet all required regulations but needs to complete the improvement work they have started and to sustain the improvements long term.”

During inspection visits, the CQC judges whether the service being provided is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The report states: “On this visit, we saw all policies and procedures had been revised and shared with staff in relation to medicines, and all staff had been trained in the safe handling of medicines.”

Staff had undergone a programme covering all mandatory training requirements and all clients now had a care plan that had been reviewed in place.

Feedback from clients found that staff were caring, upheld their dignity and treated them with respect – this had led to a ‘good’ rating for providing a caring service.

“There had been no complaints received since our last inspection and we saw that the service’s management team had met with people and their representatives as they reviewed people’s care,” the CQC report adds.

Castle Care has been operating for about 20 years across Teesdale and employs a team of 28 carers.

At the time of the latest inspection, 40 people were receiving personal care.

Registered manager Tracey Elliott said Castle Care had worked with Durham County Council’s commissioning department, a regulatory consultant and the CQC to ensure the required improvements were put in place.

“It has been useful bringing people in to work with us. It has made us stop, look at things and put things in place. We have totally restructured everything.”

As a result, Ms Elliott said it had come as no surprise that the steps taken had been recognised by the CQC.

“It is all positive compared to the previous report. It just needs to be continued.”

She added: “All the clients have been really supportive. They and the staff have stuck with us.”

Ms Elliott said the CQC inspectors would visit Castle Care again within six months to ensure standards were being maintained.