Rochdale Borough Council’s STARS service – the team that supports people leaving hospital to regain independence at home – has been rated good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its most recent inspection.
What the inspection found
The CQC concluded the service provided a high standard of care, finding it to be well led and effective, and that staff delivered caring and responsive support. The service works across Heywood, Middleton, the Pennines and Rochdale and supports more than 1,200 vulnerable residents each year.
- Support focused on helping people remain independent at home after hospital discharge
- Staff described as treating residents with kindness, empathy and compassion
- Positive findings on partnership working and communication with families and external agencies
Inspectors highlighted the service's emphasis on involving people in decisions about their care and praised its communication with family members and other care providers.
“The CQC report is testament to the amazing service STARS provides for thousands of people in the borough... I would like to thank members of the STARS team who are doing such an amazing job,”
The comment came from Councillor Shah Wazir, the council's cabinet member for adult care, who welcomed the rating and said the service helped reduce health inequalities and free up hospital beds.
Background and local impact
STARS has been operating since 2008, providing short-term support to enable safe discharge and to promote ongoing independence. Services of this kind are central to pressures on health and social care locally because they aim to reduce delayed discharges and avoid unnecessary hospital readmissions.
For residents and families, the CQC's findings offer reassurance that the team supporting post-hospital care is judged competent and well managed. For health partners and the council, a positive inspection supports ongoing efforts to coordinate care between hospitals, primary care and community services.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Service | STARS adult care discharge support |
| Coverage | Heywood, Middleton, the Pennines and Rochdale |
| People supported each year | More than 1,200 |
| CQC outcome | Good |
What this means for residents
Residents who use STARS can expect a service that the regulator found to be person-centred and collaborative. The praise for staff conduct and communication is particularly relevant for families coordinating care after hospital stays.
The borough council said the rating follows a separate CQC assessment in which its wider adult care services were also judged to be good.
Further detail on the inspection and any recommendations from the CQC will be of interest to local health partners and councillors as they continue to plan services that support hospital discharge, maintain independence and manage demand on NHS beds.
