Care at Home: a summary of findings from our survey

During 2016, Healthwatch Sheffield heard increasingly from people concerned about the availability, cost and quality of care at home or domiciliary care as it is more formally known. As the local consumer watchdog for health and social care, we wanted to investigate the situation and gather people’s views on home care. This was also timely as the Commissioning Team at Sheffield City Council was in the process of recommissioning the services and they were interested in hearing the views of individuals using the services. The survey was therefore completed very quickly to fit in with these timescales.

In addition to completing this survey, we worked with Age UK, Carers in Sheffield, Disability Sheffield and Stroke Association to share views and suggestions about this whole area. The culmination of the work to date was a successful summit held in February 2017 with these organisations and commissioners from Sheffield City Council, which has influenced the new service specification. We will continue to work with commissioners going forward.