INTERVIEW
Becoming one of a tiny number of businesses nationally to secure IiP Platinum status at the first time of assessment, Ariya Neuro Care is proud of its role in delivering outstanding care to ABI Service Users while also helping to raise the bar for health and social care workers. NR Times meets the company keen to push the boundaries of excellence
Investing in their people For most businesses, the thought of being assessed by independent regulators during the COVID-19 pandemic would be something that would fill them with dread but for Ariya Neuro Care, it was something they actively sought. And their confidence in their offering has proved to be entirely correct, with Ariya securing the Platinum award from Investors in People (IiP) at the very first time of assessment - becoming one of a handful of companies from any sector to secure such a feat. The company, founded six years ago, operates a supported living service for ABI service users across South Yorkshire with two residential transitional services in Rotherham and Barnsley. Its community programme and seven-bed Clifton Court site in Rotherham were both rated Outstanding by CQC at the first time of assessment - but with its site in Barnsley opening in early March 2020, no inspection has been possible due to the ongoing impact and restrictions of COVID-19. However, keen to demonstrate its unfaltering commitment to the highest standards for service users and their families, which continued despite the unprecedented challenges brought by the pandemic, Ariya invited scrutiny from IiP to independently confirm the quality of their service. Lucy Fallon and Paul Constable, who founded Ariya after lengthy careers working in health and social care, believe
NRTIMES
their award is testament to the outstanding work of their team, whose development they continue to invest in. “We weren’t being inspected by the CQC during the pandemic so we thought it would be good to get an external benchmark and see things we could improve on, as well as to celebrate the work of our staff,” says Lucy. “We were absolutely committed to maintaining and improving our quality and standards, we didn’t just want to firefight. We felt if we dropped the standards during lockdown, we’d have to work even harder afterwards to pick it up. “When we were being assessed, we were asked what we think our difference is. Anyone can say they are a good company to work for, but what we value our staff as professional people and support them. “Health and social care is often undervalued but these people are behind the delivery of really amazing services and they deserve to be invested in and not to be treated as a commodity, or seen as just a number. Often, these people don’t get the respect they deserve, but health and social care is very skilled work. “We have a really strong emphasis on our people and the development of our team, and that is what we believe has made the difference. As care providers, we all have a role to play in raising the bar.” With an 80-strong team working across South Yorkshire
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