Ambassa-dog on top care team
THIS adorable spaniel has been bringing comfort to elderly people across Northumberland.
Martha is a ‘special ambassador’ at Home Instead Senior Care South East Northumberland and goes out with carers to visit clients.
The adorable pooch was given a special mention in an inspection carried out by the Care Quality Commission after clients told them they loved meeting her.
Home Instead specialises in caring for older people at home and was given an ‘outstanding’ rating by the CQC – a rating which is achieved by only 2% of inspected care providers.
The business was set up 18 months ago by couple Guy and Carole Kirk and serves clients in Morpeth, Cramlington, Blyth and the surrounding area.
Guy, of Morpeth, said: “We are humbled by the very many positive comments contained within the report and so proud of our team.
“We share a vision and that is to allow people to live in their own homes, leading a fulfilled life, and it is lovely to see we are allowing people to achieve this.
“Our care team does a fantastic job and we are extremely grateful to them for everything they do.”
In the report, inspectors said: “Staff demonstrated a real empathy for the people they cared for.
“They spoke with pride about the importance of ensuring people’s needs were held in the forefront of everything they did.”
Inspectors noted that Home Instead matches caregivers to clients based on shared interests and personalities to “make sure relationships were built and people experienced the best possible outcomes.”
People they spoke to were exceptionally positive about the service with comments such as “they go beyond what is expected” and “they are faultless and have exceeded my expectations.”
A relative, who is a nurse, said: “I would say they are outstanding. It is a big relief to us as a family.”
One caregiver took their client out in a wheelchair for the first time and said: “Seeing the pleasure and delight on her face when the wind blew through her hair and the sun shone on her face made me smile inside.”
The company was also praised for its work to create a dementia friending community which included setting up and chairing ‘Dementia Friendly Morpeth.’