This rating represents independent reassurance that Hampshire residents can expect good-quality adult social care and support from the County Council when they need it.
The CQC praised the personalised approach to assessment and care planning that promotes health and wellbeing, choice and control, while recognising the benefits of close working between health, care and community organisations in helping people access the support they need.
Residents using County Council care services, and their families, told the regulator they felt heard, valued and involved in decisions about their care and support, with many describing positive relationships with staff who took time to understand what matters most to them.
Commenting on the assessment, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Councillor Zoe Huggins, said: “Achieving a ‘Good’ rating is an important recognition of the positive difference Hampshire’s adult social care services make to residents’ lives every day. Inspectors have highlighted many of the strengths we are proud of, from the support that helps people remain independent to the strong partnerships that help residents access the care and support they need.
“It is particularly encouraging that residents and carers told inspectors they felt heard, valued and involved in decisions about their care. The recognition given to our staff and partners reflects the dedication and professionalism they show every day. The report also recognises the important role residents and carers play in shaping services and helping us improve, ensuring the voices of people who use services remain at the heart of what we do.
“Demand for adult social care has never been higher, placing significant pressure on services nationally. Against this challenging backdrop, this assessment reflects the hard work and commitment shown every day by colleagues and partner organisations across Hampshire.
“This is an encouraging outcome and a strong foundation to build on. We are determined to keep improving, working alongside residents, carers and families across our county to deliver the support people need to live well and independently.”
The report highlights a range of services that provide timely support and help people maintain their wellbeing at home. These include Hampshire’s Rapid Support Service, which provides free, short-term support at home following a hospital stay, and Technology Enabled Care, which uses equipment such as falls detectors, GPS trackers and smart speakers to help people live safely and independently at home.
Jess Hutchinson, Director of Adults’ Health and Care at Hampshire County Council, said: “Every day, our teams bring compassion, professionalism and determination to the job and their commitment to helping people live the lives they want to lead is something I am immensely proud of.
“The progress we have made and the strength of the support we provide are recognised in this report, but we also know there is more to do. We will build on what is working well, listen to residents, carers and our staff, and continue to improve and develop our services so they are ready to meet the changing needs of Hampshire’s communities now and in the future.”
Other positive findings highlighted in the report include:
- Services that provide people with help at the right time, reducing the need for more intensive support later on.
- Rapid support, recovery support and technology-enabled services helping people live safely at home.
- Strong partnerships across health, care and community organisations.
- Improved support for unpaid carers through the Hampshire Carers Support Service and Hampshire Carers Joint Strategy.
- Residents and carers report they feel heard, valued and involved in decisions about their care and support.
- People with first-hand experience of care and support services helping shape future improvements.
- A strong culture of learning, innovation and continuous improvement.
The report can be found on the CQC website.