8 40 years delivering the vital service that is supporting adults with complex mental health needs, learning disabilities, and other lifelong health conditions has positioned Comfort Care Services (UK) Ltd as an expert in its field. The sectorleading provider for more than 32 local authorities across South East England, including Berkshire, Middlesex, and South West London, and more than 450 staff cater to around 500 service users throughout the region. On hand to tell us more about the excellent services Comfort Care delivers was Abdul Sattar, its founder and CEO. Specialising in the provision of supported living and specialist care services, vulnerable adults in South East England receive access to high-quality social care support thanks to the experts behind Comfort Care, a company based in Slough, Berkshire. Aside from the supported living mentioned above – Comfort Care offers more than 100 accommodation services with the aim of empowering and promoting independent living – examples of its important work include reablement, crisis response, and domiciliary care. Independence and safety are the goals and cornerstones of each of these services, and Comfort Care works closely with the likes of the NHS, local authorities, and other regional parties to ensure these aims are achieved, as well as that those it supports feel both valued and respected. This is true of all its services users, from those who need short-term support during a mental health crisis to those reliant on its person-centred care long term. An example of the latter is the dementia care service provided by Comfort Care, with its Dementia Resource Centre proving to be a lifeline for individuals battling the symptoms of this umbrella term by allowing them to stay in their own homes longer, preserving their independence and allowing them their familiar routines. The company’s work with dementia resulted in it being a finalist in the National Dementia Care Awards 2025 and also receiving a Gold Standard Design for Dementia Care from Stirling University. Quality is inherent across Comfort Care’s portfolio, something seen through ten of its locations being registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and returning a ‘Good’ rating across all key areas during its last comprehensive assessment. The verdict aligns the company with the CQC’s new Single Assessment Framework, which has been introduced as a way of standardising the inspection and rating processes across the UK to boost transparency and make sure people know exactly what they are getting. Comfort Care owes a lot of its success in this assessment to its company values, which reflect everything from its people-first nature to the genuine care, respect, accountability, and integrity it seeks to embody on a daily basis. “These aren’t just words on a wall”, explained Mr Sattar, “Rather, they shape every decision we make and how we interact with both service users and our staff. He continued: “The values keep us both grounded and consistent, which allows us to build trust with commissioners, partners, and families alike.” “When people know we’re committed to doing the right thing, even when it’s hard, it strengthens our reputation and drives our long-term success.” The commitment to genuine, person-centred care that Comfort Care has built its reputation around since it was established in 1985 may have remained unchanged, but one that thing is constantly developing and being honed is the approach taken by its team. For example, advancements in technology have resulted in several innovations being rolled out over the past few years, ranging from sensory tools like the ‘Magic Table’ – used in dementia care – to an in-house mobile app that has boosted staff training and efficiency. On the technology front, although it is not directly related to the services Comfort Care provides, the Cyber Essentials Plus certification it boasts reflects that it more than meets the acceptable standards of data security and protection, offering peace of mind to staff and service users alike that their personal data remains safe from prying eyes. Despite these advancements, four decades of personal success stories continues to be the thing that sets Comfort Care apart, and its dedication to going a step beyond providing care and instead allowing people in need to take back control of their lives is inspirational and truly a sight to behold. This was something recognised by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Imperial College London (ICL), both of which Comfort Care partnered with as a part of the nationwide INTERACT research study. As a page on ICL’s website explains, the INTERACT study (otherwise known as the Measuring Loneliness study) is designed to map loneliness and social isolation at both a borough and city level across London. Funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration NWL, this study is the first of its kind and will help health experts paint a clearer picture of how many people consider themselves to be lonely and the impact this has. Complementing this is the ENRICH programme, which is also run by the NIHR, and comprises a national network of care homes and researchers to facilitate research within care environments. Mr Sattar told us: “Our active involvement in national research reflects our commitment to quality, innovation, and learning.” On the back of its participation, Comfort Care has not only been certified as a ‘Research Ready Home Care Organisation’, but it has also gained access to the NIHR Learning app, which further supports staff. Social Care Excellence Award 2025 – Berkshire
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