Delight as Council-run care centre receives "good" rating

A Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council-run care centre has been rated "good" across the board following an inspection.

The Rosedale Centre, in Bishopsgarth, received an unannounced visit by Care Quality Commission inspectors, who spoke to staff, people receiving care, and their families.

People are admitted to the centre following discharge from hospital, or from the community in an attempt to prevent hospital admission, and generally stay no longer than six weeks.

In their report, published last month, inspectors noted that "staff meet people's needs promptly and were unhurried when assisting them".

The centre's leaders were also praised, with inspectors saying "the culture they created promoted high-quality, person-centred care".

A relative of a person being cared for commended the "approachable" staff, adding: "I know that if there was something I needed to know, they would tell me."

And one of those being cared for at centre told inspectors: "I feel safe because there is always someone about. You only have to ring your bell and they come quickly."

Councillor Ann McCoy, the Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "We're delighted with the outcome of this inspection, which recognises the raft of improvements we've made at Rosedale over the last year or so.

"I'd like to thank the centre's staff and managers for all their hard work and the care they provide to people day in day out. I'd also like to thank those who've been cared for at the centre and their families for engaging with us throughout this time."

Councillor Steve Nelson, Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, added: "I'd like to thank staff for all the work they do to help people remain in their own homes and help those coming out of hospital return home more quickly.

"We know these are the things people need and value.

"It's especially heartening to read the comments in the report from staff, relatives and people who are cared for at the centre because in paints a picture of how highly they think of the centre and the care that's provided there."

The Centre, which can accommodate up to 44 people, was given a "requires improvement" rating by the Care Quality Commission in July last year, having previously been rated "good".

The Council responded swiftly with an improvement plan, moving to increase staffing levels and management capacity and tightening up procedures in the centre.

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