Powys Equipment Service Receives National Accreditation

A Powys community service providing vital disability equipment to county residents has received national recognition for its work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Community Equipment Service in Powys, run by NRS Healthcare with a base in Newtown, has become the first CECOPS Accredited Service in Wales. The service is to be commended for having a good commissioner/provider relationship, a continuous improvement focus and for always looking for better ways of working. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

CECOPS accreditation is the prestigious award granted to organisations which comply with sector related standards. CECOPS is the independent standards body in the UK for disability equipment, wheelchair and seating services and has a recognised Code of Practice for these services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The equipment service in Powys recently underwent a CECOPS assessment, undertaken by world leaders in quality and risk management, DNV GL Healthcare. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The service is operationally responsible to the Powys County Council and Powys Teaching Health Board and provides a comprehensive range of different disability products and services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Stephen Hayes, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Powys County Council said, “The accreditation from CECOPS is testament to the collaborative work between Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board and NRS Healthcare. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The help and support they give to disabled and elderly people in Powys is reflected in this award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The equipment store not only delivers a very high quality service to people who need assistance, but ensures that safety is paramount when assessing an individual’s needs right through to them receiving adaptations or mobility equipment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Powys Equipment Store should be proud of the recognition they have received in being awarded the accreditation, a first for not only Powys, but for the whole of Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the CECOPS assessment, the lead assessor, Aileen Orr (DNV GL) said: “NRS Healthcare has created a supportive culture in Powys and it was clear from the assessment visit that all staff involved in the provision of the service are enthusiastic about continually improving it. Whenever any observations were raised during the assessment staff were keen to remedy them immediately. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The service had prepared well for assessment with the Head of Business Process and Information Security conducting a robust and accurate self-assessment using the iCOPS® self-evaluation tool. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Staff have an excellent working relationship with commissioners and aim to provide the best possible service.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sir Bert Massie CBE, CECOPS Chairman, said, “Disabled and elderly people are dependent on services working to high standards to ensure they receive good quality and safe services.; it is encouraging therefore to hear of the excellent service provided in Powys and their commitment to working with our standards. I am delighted to learn that there has been a commitment to the CECOPS standards between commissioners and NRS Healthcare in Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​