A Review of Independent Living in Care and Extra Care housing in Salford
Healthwatch Salford (opens new window) undertook a programme of work to observe and review the quality of CQC regulated care services provided in Extra Care schemes across Salford. From June to November 2018 Healthwatch Salford worked with providers to visit each of the six Extra Care housing schemes in Salford to talk to the people living at each scheme and staff delivering care services.
This project went further than just engaging care providers and their staff on these visits and also included talking to housing providers and their staff. This was done to build a better understanding of the care and housing elements of Extra Care housing and how the two work together to support independent living.
Tenants, relatives and staff were engaged through structured conversations based on a survey. Survey questions were phrased to assess three main areas:
- The effectiveness and responsiveness of communication from the providers to tenants
- The provision of social activity within the schemes, with a focus on social inclusion
- The quality and type of care provided
Six reports were written detailing the survey feedback and visit findings, one report for each of the schemes, and a summary report was also written to capture and explore the main findings and cross-cutting themes from this programme of visits.