A home care agency based in Shanklin has been awarded an outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its first-ever inspection.
Maximus Support Services Ltd, which supports people with mental health needs, autistic people and those with learning disabilities in their own homes across the Isle of Wight, was inspected in April.
At the time of the inspection, the service was providing personal care to 13 people.
The CQC rated the provider outstanding for being caring, responsive and well-led, while it was rated good for being safe and effective.
Inspectors found that staff created highly personalised care packages for people with complex needs and a history of placement breakdowns, helping individuals rebuild confidence and improve their quality of life.
The report also highlighted the service’s rapid response to urgent referrals and crisis situations, including helping people move from hospital into community settings to avoid unnecessary out-of-area placements.
Staff were also praised for supporting people to pursue their own goals and ambitions, while encouraging independence and helping them remain connected to their local communities through the use of public transport and community facilities.
Neil Cox, CQC’s Deputy Director of Operations in the Isle of Wight, has said:
“When we inspected Maximus Support Services, we found a service where people weren’t just receiving care, but were being supported to build meaningful, fulfilling lives.
“What stood out most was the quality of the relationships between staff and the people they supported.
“Staff knew people exceptionally well and treated everyone as an individual, responding to their preferences, moods and goals with real compassion and flexibility.
“We saw a member of staff rearrange an entire room so someone could sleep where they felt most comfortable – that kind of thoughtful, person-centred response tells you a great deal about the culture of a service.”
Mr Cox also praised the leadership team, describing managers as visible and approachable, with a culture where staff felt confident to speak up and learn from experiences.
He added:
“External professionals described staff as going above and beyond, particularly when supporting people through crisis or complex transitions that other services had struggled with.
“Overall, this is a service others should look to as an example of what outstanding care looks like, and the people being supported here are fortunate to have a team so committed to helping them thrive.”
The full report is expected to be published on the CQC website in the coming days.
Well done Maximus, let’s hope other island organisations
can clean up their act.
All that means is the paperwork is good and says it treats everyone as an individual.