A homecare company which specialises in care for older people has become the first home care provider in the Richmond to receive an outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

In achieving this accolade, Home Instead Senior Care Richmond joins a select group as only three percent of home care services inspected in England have achieved an Outstanding rating, the highest rating available.

Mike Jefferies owns and runs the business which provides companionship-based care for people in their own homes. The former advertising executive was praised for the support his team of caregivers give to the company’s clients who are encouraged to engage in activities that stimulate and promote their overall wellbeing.

Home Instead was also praised for working closely with local community groups in order to support people in activities outside their home environment.

Relatives spoke about how caregivers were matched to their family members with one saying 'they care for my relative as they would care for their own'. Another said 'the care is superb. My relative couldn’t be without his caregiver'.

Speaking about the matching of clients to caregivers, the CQC Inspector said: "This meant people had continuity from staff who understood their needs and people were reassured by the consistency of being supported by a familiar person."

The Inspector made particular mention of the various not-for-profit events that Home Instead run in the local community. These events are open to anyone and include monthly supper clubs, quarterly tea parties and a Gentleman’s Lunch club which allows older men to enjoy a pint in a pub. There is also a twice-monthly Memory Café with activities for people living with or supporting someone living with dementia.

One healthcare professional said: “I don’t think I have ever come across such a fantastic group of people.”