An “exceptional” and “life-changing” Calderdale Council service, helping residents to stay independent between leaving hospital and returning home, has earned top marks in its latest care inspection.
Heatherstones Court in Halifax has been named ‘outstanding’ – the highest rating it can get – by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which monitors, inspects and rates health and adult social care services to make sure they meet safety and quality standards.
Heatherstones Court provides short-term residential care and support to help people regain their independence and skills after illness or injury, so they can stay in the community after leaving hospital. It was the first scheme of its size and style in the country when it opened in 2015, uniquely supporting adults of all ages.
The CQC inspected Heatherstones Court in March 2026, talking to staff and considering residents’ experiences to make its assessment.
An outstanding rating shows exceptional quality in safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.
Cath Gormally, Calderdale Council’s Director for Adult Services and Wellbeing, said:
“I’m delighted that our amazing team at Heatherstones Court has received national recognition for going above and beyond, day in, day out. It’s more than a job for them – they are relentlessly dedicated to making a difference to local people, and it’s heartening to hear residents say that Heatherstones Court has changed their lives.”
The inspectors were impressed with the “overwhelmingly positive…and consistently outstanding experiences of care” that people told them about. Staff were described as “kind, caring, professional and supportive”, going “above and beyond” and “taking the time to provide both practical and emotional reassurance”.
This supports the Council’s person-centred approach to care and means that residents feel “welcomed, relaxed and genuinely valued” and “settled, safe and comfortable” following hospital discharge. They see significant improvements in their mobility, wellbeing and ability to live independently after staying at Heatherstones Court.
The CQC inspection report includes quotes from residents showing “deep gratitude for the care they received” and describing the service as “excellent, faultless and life‑changing” – “We could not have gone anywhere better.”
Leadership was rated highly effective and visible, with a strong culture of staff wellbeing, inclusion, development and innovation. Staff said they feel “valued, supported and empowered”. This contributes to consistently high standards of person-centred, compassionate care, with residents actively involved in decisions about the support they need to regain independence, and being treated with “dignity, warmth and empathy”.
Inspectors also praised the service’s partnership working, saying it works “exceptionally well with health, social care and housing partners to provide joined up‑support”.
Heatherstones Court’s outstanding report can be found at www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1824694698(external link)