A DOMICILIARY care agency in Oldham has been rated as "outstanding", following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

CQC inspected Future Directions CIC in October, 2019. The service provides support for people with a wide range of needs, including people with a learning disability, mental health needs, autism, dementia and acquired brain injury.

At the time of inspection 208 people were using the service and the inspection found that people benefitted from safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care.

A full inspection report has been published on CQC’s website: https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-443780345.

Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all adult social care services are rated according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

Future Directions has been given an overall rating of outstanding and is rates as "good" for being safe, caring and effective. It is rated "outstanding" for being responsive and well-led.

Helena Dennett, CQC Head of Inspection for Adult Social Care in CQC’s north region, said:“Our inspection team was very impressed by the level of care and support offered by Future Directions.

“Inspectors found that people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.

“Without exception everyone we spoke with was full of praise for the service and its staff. The service was driven by its five values: 'put people first, be transparent, go the extra mile, be creative, be adaptable'. And, through our observations and discussions with people and staff, we saw that the service truly put these values into action.

“People were treated with dignity and respect in a way that valued them as individuals and to be as independent as they could be. Staff helped people to set goals and supported them to achieve their dreams and aspirations and to lead full and meaningful lives.

“Staff were highly motivated and proud to work for an organisation which valued and praised them and there was a strong and knowledgeable management team who led by example and who were committed to continually monitoring and developing the service.

“We found the service was forward thinking and innovative and worked creatively with outside organisations to promote the well-being of people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, dementia and an acquired brain injury.

“All of this meant people received a high standard of care, which is why it has been rated outstanding.”

The service was previously rated as "good" overall when it was last inspected in March 2017.