Birchwood Care Services

Do not know what timescales Carer use - at present times all over the place. I have repeatedly asked and was informed they come within what is in their instructions i.e 8-9 am but could be 7.30 am when not awake or 11 or 12 evening. They turn up anytime between 6pm-8pm or thereabouts when the instructions stated 7.30-8pm.

Very helpful girls. I have no complaints about them.

I have had many care agencies over the past 15 years, none has come anywhere near Birchwood for quality and the very high standard of their Carers.

The only downside is that sometimes they are very pushed for time and then have to rush which Dad can find a little upsetting.

Generally good. Main advantage is a fairly small team working with my mother, and a fairly stable team, so she has been able to get to know them. Also, they are all kind and helpful, and include some carers who are exceptionally so, with whom my mother has formed a genuine bond of trust.

There have been a couple of organisational hitches but generally, administration works well.

On a small number of occasions, the visit has taken longer than the time allocated, because of the needs which have needed addressing. More often though the visits are a little shorter than the time allotted. This is not a problem when I am there, but from this point, I will be there less often and I would appreciate the reassurance that the full 30 minutes will be given on those occasions as it is the only contact on some days my mother will have with other people.

It would be helpful to have a fully itemised invoice when paying, Does your telephone login service provides printouts of visit durations?

Especially in winter, the carers have to wear boots or trainers. I feel it is important that they are provided with plastic over covers for their footwear, they have to stand on the bathroom when helping me wash or bath and to me that is not exactly hygienic. Secondly when I have to cancel a visit the message does not get given to the carer attending me, which means sometimes they come over 10 miles and then find me not in. That's a waste of time and petrol which they have to pay for. They all carry phones so it should not be difficult to deal with this situation. The carers are kind and will do anything to help me.