A home care company based in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Woodbridge has been given an ‘outstanding’ rating by the health watchdog the Care Quality Commission.

Home Instead Senior Care helps older people remain in their homes for longer, providing companionship-based care.

Following a CQC inspection in September, the inspectors’ findings published at the end of December confirmed it had been rated ‘outstanding’, praising it for being “exceptionally well led”.

Jemima Burnage, CQC’s head of inspection for adult social care in the central region said: “Our inspection team was really impressed by the level of care and support offered to people using Home Instead Senior Care.

She added: “We found staff were passionate and committed to delivering the highest standard of care.

“Morale was high and, without exception, people and their relatives were extremely complimentary about their experience of using the service.

“They were full of praise for the staff and told us they were incredibly kind, compassionate and respectful. They spoke of how they trusted and felt safe with the caregivers, who knew them well and encouraged them to be as independent as possible.”

In particular, the report hailed the company’s dementia work, stating that carers had “an enhanced understanding and knowledge of living with dementia” and added that it had strong links with the community.

The service, which is part of a national network, was established in Ipswich in 2009, and cares for around 150 people in the area.

The rating means it is in the top 2% of adult social care providers nationally to have achieved the rating since the revamped Ofsted-style inspections were introduced in 2015.

Chris Lye, who established the facility in 2009 and runs it alongside general manager Joanna McCall, said: “It is gratifying to read the report and see so many positive comments made by everyone involved; particularly those about our wonderful caregivers who are doing such a great job.

“We are all committed to changing the face of ageing through the delivery of high quality care and support.

“This report confirms that we are absolutely getting it right and are bringing peace of mind to our clients and their families.”