A SERVICE which helps people with intensive short term care has been rated 'good' for the third consecutive year.

Bolton Council’s Home Support Reablement Service has impressed the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors from the watchdog visited the service based in Castleton Street in Tonge Moor in September and found it to be good for safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership – resulting in an overall 'good' rating.

Staff help people to recover from a physical or mental illness, or adjust to an injury or disability, independently at home with support and equipment. This can be for a period of up to six weeks.

Council cabinet member for adult social care and safeguarding, Cllr Asif Ibrahim, said: "Our home support reablement service is an important part of our overall aim to help people to remain independent in their own homes.

"Some people benefit from the intensive support when they have recently been discharged from hospital, and as a result can make a speedier recovery in familiar surroundings. For some, this can mean that they avoid having to go into residential care.

"We appreciate the hard work that goes into making people feel more comfortable and their recovery quicker following an illness or injury."

Inspectors spoke to service users who praised its care and support.

The report added: "Comments included, "They came for a number of weeks. They have been very, very good. The carers have been wonderful, so caring, so kind".

"They've been more than good, they've been brilliant.

"We saw evidence of each individual who used the service having involvement in the care planning and the support they would receive.

"The service was person-centred and care files we looked at evidenced that people's likes and dislikes were documented. "

The inspector also looked at the complaints policy and found many had no complaints or missed or late visits.