Service Category: Care At Home

CQC regulated

Health and Care providers are governed by the CQC, the Care Quality Commission and we are all graded to a set of standards.  SIL was rated Good [view our report here] in all areas at our last inspection.

We are passionate and work in partnership

But, at SIL, it’s not just about a set of standards to uphold or a badge to wear, we are passionate about the care we deliver. Our mission is “to enable people affected by disabilities to exercise choice and control, to live independent lives, and to actively participate in society”.  This is why we have individually tailored support plans and get to know our service users.  We use our partnerships with disability groups, local authorities and other agencies to promote disability and independence issues.

Service users at the heart of what we do

We pride ourselves on having our service users involved in the running of the organisation; they help us to understand the need for reliable, person-centred, adaptable staff who are prepared to ‘go the extra mile’ and they help to shape the services we offer.

Experienced

Working with people with different disabilities and needs has taught us the need for individual tailored care and an adaptable service.  No two people are the same and needs change.  Our support plans are created with you, your family and input from medical experts where  appropriate.  They are not static documents and are open to change as required.

Training the right person

We think that our staff excel at what they do not only because of the comprehensive training every employee goes through but because we recruit people with the right qualities from the start.  We look for empathetic, caring, polite and respectful candidates and train them to understand all aspects of care.  From first aid and safety in the home, to how to ensure choice is respected and dignity is upheld at all times. All employees go through regular updates in training keeping their knowledge up to date and fresh in the mind.  All carers will then job shadow existing staff before working with clients alone; learning on the job and from experienced staff.

Satisfaction

In our 2022 satisfaction survey 100% of responses from our service users showed they felt our support workers are kind, polite and caring and 100% felt treated with respect in a way that protects dignity and privacy.

We are also happy to say that we regularly receive compliments like the one below:

“Thank you for the wonderfully caring ideas. They all sound great I’m really moved by the care and thought you all take. We are very lucky to have found you all, it’s such a relief that mum is showing gratitude rather than being aggressive or paranoid- long may that last and she can stay at home.”

“Thanks for all the other good work yourself and SIL do for Mum and Dad.”

We are not for profit

SIL is a registered not for profit charity meaning that our profits are used to enhance and develop new services to benefit the individuals we support.

Don’t take our word for it…

“I would not hesitate to recommend SIL.

I had been looking after Mum for 18 months since she developed vascular dementia. I arranged for a friend and a cousin to support her during the day until I finished work and then I would go and stay with her until 7.30 pm, prepare food and settle her for the night. She was then on her own until 8.00 am.

She had some falls, nothing major (in that nothing was broken) but each time her confidence was knocked and I worried about her.  I visited Mum twice a day at weekends which was manageable until Mum fell against a radiator sustaining a third degree burn. After a two-week stay in hospital, where her health started to deteriorate, I realised that she needed to be home in familiar surroundings, so I brought her back to live with me, until her health improved.  However, I soon realised she was not going to be able to be left alone again. Apart from four mornings a week when I was at work and others supported Mum, I cared for her. My husband was incredibly supportive but it put a strain on our relationship, as Mum’s needs took priority.

My life changed considerably. I could no longer make arrangements with friends or go away with my husband. Caring for an elderly relative is draining. With the best intention in the world, you can find yourself becoming irritable and end up resenting the person you are caring for. If it is a parent, you end up hating yourself every time you snap or become impatient. You go through a whole range of emotions, which saps your energy and leaves you exhausted, particularly if your sleep is disturbed.

I got in touch with Services for Independent Living who talked to me about Mum’s needs, got to know her personality and found out what was important to her. They organised a team of Support Workers to support her from Sunday to Wednesday, in her own home, while I worked.

This made a huge difference to my life. I no longer felt alone with a burden of responsibility for Mum’s care and support. My husband and I were able to have some quality time together and I was able to concentrate on work, knowing that Mum was in good hands.

I also got to know the support workers as individuals and found them to be trustworthy, competent, and patient. They communicated well with me and mum and went ‘the extra mile’, keeping the house tidy and Mum happy. Most important of all, they supported Mum’s continued quality of life at home, keeping her out of a nursing home. My time spent with Mum was quality time meaning I would be more even-tempered and tolerant, knowing that I had three days to my husband and myself, while Mum was in her own home and being well looked after.

I cannot thank Services for Independent Living enough for all the support they have given me and would not hesitate to recommend their services to anyone who is struggling to care for an elderly dependant.”

Our services are for anyone aged from later teens onwards, who requires support to live at home or to access the community.

You or your loved one might have:

• a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder
• a physical impairment
• health care needs such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease or an acquired brain injury
• Dementia
• Poor mental health
• Age related needs

Medical terms may define your medical care but they don’t define how we care for you.  Each person will receive support specially adapted for you, whether you need a little help or company, or 24 hour support. You may need someone to help you get ready for the day, to sort medication or your meals; you may need someone to support you to go shopping or just to pop in for a coffee and a chat. Or you may need support for someone who needs around the clock support; we have over 25 years’ experience supporting individuals in Herefordshire.

We also offer:

• help after hospital discharge to regain independence
• respite care and short breaks
• and palliative care.

To find out how we can help you speak to a member of our team today 01568 616653 or contact us here.

One of the hardest choices most of us will have to make at some stage of our lives is who to trust to support and care for us or our loved ones.

We understand, and that is why we’ll take the time to get to know you or your loved one to give you the confidence to know you can trust us. It’s also why we think it is important that our care and support is personalised; to help you maintain your lifestyle and independence.

SIL Care at Home is delivered through two service areas; our Homecare Service and our Independent Living at Home service, regardless of which service is right for you they are tailored to keep you confident, safe and independent in your own home and out in the community whether you have a disability, illness or are getting older. We’ll help you to decide which service is right for you and tailor the care and support we offer around what you really need.

From 30-minute companionship and welfare visits, to 24 hour, 7 days a week, care at home, we offer an adaptable service, ready to change with your changing needs.

Contact us to see how we can help you 01568 616653 or contact us here

Care and Support, You choose – We provide.