- Homecare service
Craven Intermediate Care service
Assessment report published 1 April 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Assessment date: 10 March 2026 to 18 March 2026.
The Craven Intermediate Care service supports people in their own homes to regain independence following a period of ill‑health or hospital admission. At the time of the assessment, 14 people were using the service. The service provided safe, person‑centred reablement within a clear multi‑disciplinary framework. People consistently told us they felt safe and well‑supported, and staff demonstrated strong skills in managing risks, delivering rehabilitation, and responding promptly to changes in need. Care plans were detailed, goal-focused and regularly reviewed with people, ensuring support was tailored to what mattered to them. The service had the service user band of learning disability and autistic people. However, no one was being supported with this service user band at the time of the inspection.
Staffing levels were appropriate, and people said staff spent the full duration of visits, worked patiently, and never rushed them. Leaders ensured staff were trained, supervised and supported, and digital systems provided effective oversight of call times, medication, incidents and environmental risks. Medicines, infection prevention and control, and safeguarding were all well managed, with no recent safeguarding incidents and strong assurance processes in place.
Partnership working was a strength. Health and social care professionals described communication and collaboration as excellent, and regular bi‑weekly multidisciplinary meetings ensured people’s progress and goals were understood by all involved. People received clear information in accessible formats, and feedback mechanisms were well established, with learning shared across the team.
The culture was consistently described as supportive, compassionate and improvement‑focused. Staff and professionals praised leaders as approachable, credible and responsive. Governance was strong, with regular audits, oversight systems and a structured service improvement plan. Overall, the service delivered safe, effective and caring reablement, with a strong focus on independence, partnership working and continuous improvement.
People's experience of this service
People consistently told us they had a positive experience of the Craven Intermediate Care service. They said staff helped them feel safe, respected and well supported during a period of recovery following illness or hospital discharge. People described staff as “kind and caring”, “very friendly” and “extremely conscientious”, and several commented on the patience staff showed when tasks took longer. People said staff helped them regain confidence and independence by offering practical solutions and encouragement. One person described how staff offered creative ideas to overcome physical limitations, explaining that “they were always coming up with excellent ideas”. Others told us visits made a real difference to their wellbeing, with one person saying they were “very sad when the service stopped” because staff provided meaningful conversation and emotional support. People felt the service was reliable. Most said staff arrived on time and stayed for the full duration of visits, explaining if they were occasionally running slightly late. Several people told us they would recommend the service, describing it as “very well run”, “absolutely brilliant” and “invaluable.” Relatives spoke positively. One family member told us care was “superb, kind and patient” and said the support had been a significant relief at a time of personal ill health. Others felt well informed and said staff respected people’s property, preferences and routines. People said they felt comfortable raising concerns, although most had not needed to. A small number told us they had met the manager or key worker, while others said they were unsure who the manager was. However, feedback showed people felt listened to and involved in planning their care. Overall, people experienced a caring, respectful and empowering service where staff promoted independence, treated them as individuals and created a positive atmosphere that supported recovery and wellbeing.