​Rapid response service wins watchdog praise

Bury’s rapid response service to keep vulnerable people safe has received a ‘good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The service provides urgent support to people in their own home, with staff from the NHS and Bury Council offering nursing, therapy and social care.

The aim is to intervene in a crisis and prevent residents having to be admitted to a hospital or care home. People are referred to the service by health and care professionals and there will be a response within two to 48 hours. If someone still needs help after five days, they will be referred to the appropriate service.

The health and social care watchdog found that Bury’s multi-disciplinary team provided a service which people were very happy with and there was a good system for staff training, supervision and competency checks.

Staff felt supported in their roles and a safe recruitment process was in place.

One person who had received care from the service wrote: “A wonderful team when I needed them most. I don't know what I would have done without them.”

Councillor Andrea Simpson, Bury Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We’re delighted with this report as it confirms that the rapid response team is working effectively across the borough to help people get better at home, which is better for the patient and helps us make sure that the only people who are in hospital or care homes really need to be there.”

In its report, the CQC states: “People received a high quality, holistic approach to supporting them to maintain their independence and remain safe and well.”

This is the first inspection the CQC has carried out on the rapid response service.

Health and social care is being transformed in Bury by bringing together the main organisations responsible for delivering services to form a single, innovative body. The Bury Local Care Organisation (Bury LCO) will deliver better co-ordinated care and improve health outcomes across the borough.

The partners who comprise Bury LCO are: Bury Council; Bury GP Federation; BARDOC; Bury Voluntary, Community and Faith Alliance; Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (Salford Royal and Pennine Acute Hospital NHS Trusts); Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust; and Persona Care and Support Ltd.

The full CQC report can be read online at https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-2913050566.

ENDS

Press release issued: 16 September 2016.