What does Quality Care really mean?

What does Quality Care actually mean?

Quality.   It's a word you find a lot in the Care Sector.  Most Care providers say they deliver quality care. 

Including us. The Right at Home logo says "Quality Care In Your Home" after all.   And even the Regulator's name and logo stresses Quality (the "Q" in CQC is "Quality"). 

But it seems that not everyone finds it easy to explain what Quality means in the context of Care, and why it is essential.   It seems that "saying" you deliver quality is easier than actually delivering it.

And that is why we thought we'd share our thoughts in this article.

When we talk to our clients there are some re-occurring themes that they tell us is how they know they chose a Quality provider.  So this article reflects some of the topics that we and they think are important, and that guide our approach to care at Right at Home Reading & Wokingham District.

High Quality: The Cornerstone of Excellent Homecare

In today’s rapidly aging society, the demand for homecare services is growing at an unprecedented rate. As more families choose to care for loved ones in the comfort of their own homes, the importance of high-quality care has never been more critical. Homecare is not simply about providing assistance with daily tasks — it is about delivering compassionate, personalized support that protects dignity, promotes independence, and enhances quality of life.

High quality in homecare encompasses a wide range of factors: professionally trained caregivers, consistent and timely service, respect for client preferences, and careful attention to safety and well-being. When any of these elements are lacking, the consequences can be severe. Poor quality care can lead to health complications, emotional distress, and even hospitalization — all of which can be avoided with the right support in place.

Moreover, high quality homecare plays a vital role in keeping people out of hospitals and care homes, reducing pressure on the NHS and other health systems. With the right care, many individuals with chronic conditions, disabilities, or age-related challenges can remain in their own homes safely and happily for years.

Families also benefit. Knowing their loved ones are in capable, compassionate hands brings peace of mind and reduces the emotional burden often carried by informal carers.

How Right at Home ensures High Quality Care

A core belief at Right at Home Reading & Wokingham District is that in order to deliver the best quality of Care for clients and their families, it is.  It is important to take great care in hiring people into the team and ensuring they are ready to reliably deliver care to a high standard.

The team members are regularly DBS-checked and references are followed up for all the team, which is great reassurance for the families supported.    Every carer undertakes a full Induction Training Course, regardless of their previous experience.  This Princess Royal Award Winning training ensures that from Day 1, the values that underpin our approach to care are understood and brought to life. Extensive shadowing with experienced members of the existing team is completed before visiting clients alone, and there are then regular QA checks and supervisions to support each Carer.    

The Right at Home "No Strangers" rule ensures that Carers are all personally introduced to each of the clients they work with by a member of the management team, or an experienced carer who already knows the client well.  Before they become part of the small consistent team assigned to that client and deliver any visits alone.

Visits are sympathetically scheduled, to allow time for the carers to arrive on time, spend all the allocated time actually working with their client, and to work at the pace of the client.  No rushed visits with stressed carers who have little knowledge of their clients' preferences, and the resulting anxiety of those clients.   

Carers use mobile technology to ensure accuracy and transparency of record taking, another factor in the maximising client-facing time while also providing near real time updates on the interactions, which (with client consent) can be securely accessed by family/next of kin.

Feedback from client families reflects the value of the service also extends to providing peace of mind and confidence that their loved ones are in good hands. 

The link between hiring training supporting and retaining a highly motivated and professional team of Carers and the quality of the Care provided is proven by the recognition of Right at Home Reading & Wokingham District as a first class Employer by its employees,  and the corresponding reputation for delivering high quality care as rated by its clients and their families.

Right at Home Reading & Wokingham District can also point to 5 Google reviews, it's 5**** Rating (by employees) on Indeed, it's 10/10 rating (consistently 9.9 or 10/10 since 2018) by clients on the UK's leading homecare directory and review site homecare.co.uk; and having been named one of the Top 20 most highly recommended homecare providers (out of more than 1800) in the whole of the South East of England,  in 5 of the last 7 years. 

In Summary

Homecare is not just a service; it’s a lifeline for millions. Ensuring it is delivered to the highest possible standard is not only a moral obligation — it is a societal necessity. When we demand high quality in homecare, we’re not just caring for individuals — we’re caring for families, communities, and the future of how we age with dignity.

The care sector is currently facing significant challenges, including staffing shortages and damaging government policy, but maintaining high standards must remain non-negotiable. Investment in training, fair wages, and ongoing professional development is key to attracting and retaining skilled carers. In return, high quality care leads to better outcomes, higher satisfaction, and a stronger, more resilient system.

At Right at Home this encapsulates our approach to Care, and we are fierce advocates for that approach,  as we are for our Clients and our Carers.

CQC (Care Quality Commission) logo

Proven link between High Quality as a Care Employer, and High Quality as a Care Provider.

For the 7th consecutive year, Right at Home Reading & Wokingham District has been awarded "5*Star Employer" status by Employee engagement specialists WorkBuzz (following annual anonymous Surveys of Right at Home employees) AND ALSO achieved 100% Client Satisfaction in annual anonymous Surveys of Right at Home clients (also executed by WorkBuzz on behalf or Right at Home UK).