I was really sad to read today of a care home that is having
it’s residents removed following numerous warnings from the CQC in Ely,
Cambridge. (http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Ely/Council-acts-to-move-residents-from-care-home-04042012.htm).
I am sad for the residents and also the
staff who will now be looking for jobs and probably adding to the long list of
unemployed.
My job is to work with homes long before they reach that
stage.
There are thousands of homes in the UK, all of which have
to follow quality guidelines for safeguarding the residents and staff. Problems
are well documented. Hardly a day goes by where there are not articles relating
to homes that are falling below standard.
But there are some amazing homes out there giving people
excellent care in their twilight years. You just don’t hear about them in the
news that often. I know they are there because I work with them and I see
devoted staff and contented residents.
But I must say that I do tend to visit homes when they are
at their lowest and going through difficult times. Quite often the owners are
overwhelmed and do not know which way to turn for help. I come in with fresh
eyes and the knowledge to be able to see a clear pathway to, most of the time,
turn things round.
The key thing for all care home owners is to make sure they
ask for help early enough. I would always advocate a regular audit to spot any
failings early on, before the non-compliance issues start to stack up. My job
is to look at the systems and procedures that homes have in place and then work
with the home owners to make sure they stack up to the standards required.
It’s a simple process, yet can be life saving for homes –
literally.
Trisha
(Trisha King is a specialist providing support and solutions
for the care sector. www.trishaking.co.uk.)
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