How Surrey residents rebuild independence after illness

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-24 18:57 3 min read

A diverse group of healthcare professionals standing and sitting in front of a building.

By the demoduck.co.uk News Desk | Published 24 July 2026

Washing, dressing, preparing a meal and moving safely around the home can become difficult after illness, injury or a hospital stay. Across Guildford, Waverley and Surrey Heath, a specialist team helps residents rebuild those everyday skills through up to six weeks of free, personalised support.

That team, the West 1 Reablement Service, has now received the Care Quality Commission’s highest rating. Inspectors upgraded it from “good” to “outstanding” following an assessment carried out in April and May.

Free support built around everyday independence

West 1 supports about 1,000 people each year. Its roughly 70 staff include reablement practitioners, occupational therapists and out-of-hours coordinators working seven days a week, including during heatwaves and snow.

Reablement focuses on helping people recover practical abilities rather than simply completing every task for them. Staff identify what each resident can do, agree personal goals and provide assistance intended to build confidence and daily living skills.

Occupational therapists play a central role. Their work can include developing tailored exercise programmes, arranging specialist equipment and setting clear goals that help residents progress towards greater independence at home.

The service has also widened its referral criteria in recent years, according to the regulator, allowing more people—including residents with complex needs—to receive support. The supplied council announcement does not specify the referral route, so residents or families seeking access would need to check the current arrangements with Surrey County Council or the relevant health and care professional.

Inspectors found kindness backed by strong planning

The Care Quality Commission based its assessment on feedback from people using the service, relatives, staff, managers and professionals working alongside West 1.

Inspectors reported that staff treated people with exceptional kindness, empathy and compassion while protecting their privacy and dignity. Care was tailored to each person’s needs, strengths, preferences and aspirations, with residents’ decisions respected throughout their recovery.

One resident told inspectors: “They are all wonderful and I feel extremely fortunate to have them visit.” Relatives also described progress towards more independent living that exceeded their expectations.

The regulator found that West 1 worked closely with colleagues and external partners, allowing care plans to be reviewed as residents’ needs changed. Technology was used both to help people live safely at home and to shorten the time between a referral and support beginning.

Why an outstanding CQC rating carries weight

“Outstanding” is the highest of the Care Quality Commission’s four possible ratings, and only a small proportion of adult social care provision nationally reaches that level. The upgrade therefore reflects more than positive individual experiences: inspectors examined leadership, staff development, partnership working, care planning and the service’s approach to continuous improvement.

Amy Jupp, the CQC’s deputy director for adult social care in Surrey, said strong leadership and a well-trained workforce underpinned the quality of care. She said staff concentrated on residents’ abilities, enabling people to set their own goals and participate in reviewing their progress.

“Everyone at West 1 Reablement Service should be proud of the positive impact they have on people’s lives,” Jupp said. “Other services can look to this report as an example of what high-quality, person-centred reablement looks like in practice.”

Recognition for a 70-strong Surrey care team

Sinead Mooney, Surrey County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for adult social care, described the rating as recognition of the team’s expertise and compassion. She linked the result to the “good” rating received by Surrey’s wider adult social care service in 2024 and the more recent assessment of its prison-based social care work.

West 1 is one of four reablement services operating across Surrey. The county’s other three services are currently rated “good” by the Care Quality Commission.

Source: Surrey County Council Press Releases

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report was checked against Surrey County Council’s account of the CQC inspection, service coverage and resident support.

Checks

Confirmed that the inspection took place in April and May 2026.
Confirmed that West 1 was upgraded from good to outstanding.
Checked the stated coverage of Guildford, Waverley and Surrey Heath.
Checked the figures of about 1,000 residents supported annually and roughly 70 staff.

Surrey County Council Press Releases Check wider coverage