An in-home care company, that delivers an ‘exceptionally caring’ and ‘empowering’ service has been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating by the CQC.

Home Instead Senior Care Wandsworth, Lambeth and Dulwich has improved its inspection rating from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’.

The report acknowledged that people were truly respected and valued as individuals and "empowered as partners" in their care.

Speaking of the rating, owner and manager Tony O'Flaherty said: “We are so pleased to have received an outstanding rating from the CQC.

"The feedback from families of how respectful our caregivers are and how they go above and beyond to continue to enable people to remain independent in their own homes is wonderful.”

Throughout the report, inspectors shared examples of how staff went the extra mile for their clients.

A particularly notable success story was when a client had resisted attempts by her family to go out of the house and socialise but with the encouragement of the caregiver had regained the confidence and independence to start going to a dementia café.

A relative said: “Having my mother attend the Home Instead Wellbeing Café, a community initiative run and funded by Tony, earlier this year was probably the best thing she did.

"She interacted with other people who, like herself, find life very isolated and lonely. Although she didn’t want to go at first, once her barriers came down she started chatting to people, telling them all about her past life, dancing and needlework.”

The CQC report also highlighted how Home Instead worked to promote independence with community initiatives including the Lambeth Dementia Action Alliance to improve the health and social care of people living with dementia and their carers.

Mr O'Flaherty added: “Receiving an Outstanding rating shows just how dedicated our team is to looking after everyone’s individual needs, and we will continue our hard work to ensure clients receive the highest quality care to live fulfilling lives.

"I am incredibly proud that Home Instead Wandsworth has been rated Outstanding, and would like to say thank you to our team for all of their hard work, which I know is also greatly appreciated by all of our clients.”