“If I could afford not to be paid, I’d still do this”

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Affinity Trust’s operations in Cambridgeshire as ‘Good’, with an ‘Outstanding’ rating for their responsiveness.

CQC, the independent regulator of social care in England, visited Affinity Trust in Cambridgeshire in May and July 2018. At the time, 39 people were supported at 19 locations, including some in nearby Northamptonshire.

The CQC inspector spoke to three people who are being supported by Affinity Trust, one family member, and several staff. They reviewed paperwork including people’s support records, quality assurance audits, training records and complaints arrangements.

The inspector noted that:

• People supported by Affinity Trust said that staff treated them with dignity and respect. They were involved in discussions about how risks associated with their needs – like travel, bathing, and medication – were managed and reviewed.

• The people they spoke to made very positive comments about the staff and how they met people’s needs. One relative described how staff had taken “a great deal of time to get to know” their family member.

• Staff were positive about the training and support they received. One staff member described the training as: “Brilliant. I can’t fault it. It’s one of the things we pride ourselves in.”

CQC said that the registered manager and staff had an excellent understanding and were very responsive to each person’s needs. The report described how one person was supported to visit the area where their family had lived. Another had enjoyed a music workshop; a third had taken part in indoor skydiving.

“One of the most professional providers that I have worked alongside” – health professional quoted by CQC

CQC said: ‘We found that staff had used their imagination, creativity and understanding…to empower them to experience new opportunities and achieve lifelong goals.’

The registered manager and staff team showed great commitment in enabling people to live as independently as possible. Staff understood people’s care and support needs and were empowered to have choice and control of their life through person-centred approaches. One staff member said, “If I could afford not to be paid, I’d still do this [job]”.

External professionals praised how the service was run, one calling it “one of the most professional providers that I have worked alongside”.

All of Affinity Trust’s services regulated by CQC are currently rated ‘Good’.

Read the full report on CQC’s website
See all our ratings, reports and inspections