Free guide to approved quality care and support services in Plymouth

People needing care and support in Plymouth can now get free help to choose good quality services.

Plymouth City Council has signed up to the Support with Confidence scheme. It assesses and approves services so that people can be reassured they are choosing trustworthy companies.

The approval process includes a rigorous audit, thorough background checks and confirmation that the care business delivers quality, client safety and staff training. The business must also be reliable, trustworthy, understanding and responsive to their clients’ needs.

Only businesses that have successfully completed the audit will be able to display the Support with Confidence logo.

Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet member for Public Health and Adult Social Care said: “We are the first council in the south west to offer this scheme and it will help make sure our vulnerable residents can choose care and support services safe in the knowledge that they have been checked and approved.”

Councillor Brian Vincent, Cabinet member for Environment whose portfolio includes Trading Standards said: “Once the companies are approved and signed up to the scheme, Trading Standards and Joint Commissioning and Adult Social Care will carefully monitor them, including using feedback from clients, so that they maintain the high standards expected of them.”

Details of care and support companies that are approved by the Support with Confidence scheme will be available on the Plymouth Online Directory www.plymouthonlinedirectory.com.

Businesses and individuals who would like to register with Support with Confidence can contact trading.standards@plymouth.gov.uk.

Plymouth Trading Standards also manages the Buy with Confidence scheme which provides a list of approved businesses and traders for everyday goods and services. www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk