Care agency rating upgraded after improvements

A care agency providing residential support for people with complex needs which was branded "inadequate" has improved to a "good" rating after a new inspection.

Lifeways Community Care in Halifax, which supports 26 people with mental health issues, autism and learning disabilities, was also removed from special measures, said watchdog Care Quality Commission (CQC).

One of the main improvements was helping residents to "maximise their independence" which included going on holiday abroad, finding a job, taking control of their finances and even getting a tattoo.

A CQC spokesperson said: "People using the service were excited to tell us about the support they received from staff and how they'd been empowered to make decisions about their lives."

The inspection took place in November and December 2024 and involved 11 different supported-living houses in Halifax.

Previously the service was said to be poorly managed and the care was not "person-centred" but after a new manager was installed the rating for being "safe and responsive" was upgraded to "good".

Linda Hirst, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said: "When we inspected the service, we were very pleased to see significant improvements to people's safety and quality of life.

"People told us they felt safe and listened to, and one person compared their home and support to a family."

She also said one resident had built the confidence to go out into the community for the first time in several years and another was able to go on holiday abroad for the first time since they were aged two.

Inspectors also found staff and leaders knew how to protect people from risks of abuse or avoidable harm and residents reported they were able to do the activities they wanted, such as theatre trips, discos and barge trips.

People were also successfully matched to staff with similar interests to support relationship-building, they said.

A Lifeways Community Care spokesperson said: "This is a fantastic achievement by a dedicated team who've worked tirelessly to deliver on an intensive improvement plan."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.