Nikki shares this latest news from Healthwatch Isle of Wight. Ed
Throughout the course of 2015, Healthwatch Isle of Wight received increasing amounts of feedback from members of the public, expressing concerns around the quality of care provided within a significant number of residential and nursing homes on the Island.
Quality of Care was subsequently identified as a priority workplan topic as a result of the annual prioritisation survey, and targeted engagement work began. This along with an analysis of our feedback identified several themes and trends that informed this work.
We felt it was important not just to listen to people`s experiences of care and nursing homes, but to reflect on why some homes are performing better than others and what can be done to support those homes that are failing.
Three strands
There were three strands to the workplan: The collections of people’s experiences, A survey for registered managers and planned enter and view visits to a range of residential care and nursing homes.
We found a vast difference in the quality of care provided in nursing and residential care homes across the Island. Some homes had a clear vision and strong leadership which contributed to a culture of continuous quality improvement and a desire to improve the quality of life of the vulnerable people they support.
Drowning in a wave of bureaucracy
Other managers and their staff seemed to be drowning in a wave of bureaucracy, paperwork and staff shortages leading to an inevitable drop in standards and a poor quality of care. Basic requirements, such as ensuring that residents were supported to wear prescription glasses and hearing aids, were not followed.
Misconceptions were made about one person’s cognitive ability because he could not recall what day it was – it was not considered that this may be difficult to comprehend when there is no daily paper, clock or calendar to refer to.
Quality of activities varied
Most homes offered a range of activities for their residents, but the quality and quantity of activities offered varied enormously amongst the homes and not all managers demonstrated an understanding of the need for meaningful stimulation and the effect this can have on a person’s quality of life.
Lack of stimulation and lack of meaningful activities was an issue that meant people’s skill levels deteriorated and increased their dependence on others.
Fearful of making complaints
Several relatives we spoke to were unwilling to make a complaint in case it adversely affected the care of their loved one and were unsure about who else they could go to for advice and support.
They felt that more information from the care home manager (such as an information booklet or leaflet explaining the rights of residents and their relatives/friends, following admission to a care or nursing home) would be useful.
Support from council needed
We asked managers how they felt they could be more supported in their role and a significant majority of managers felt that needed more support from the local authority.
There were ten comments with negative feedback about registered manager’s relationship with the local safeguarding service.
One individual stated: “There needs to be feedback following a safeguarding incident with the outcome”.
Committed, compassionate and caring staff
Many of the staff that we observed at work were committed, compassionate and caring, working hard to support people with very complex needs.
However, the difference in quality, delivered within local care and nursing homes is staggering.
Staff under pressure
Some homes are well led and promote a positive, inclusive and welcoming environment, where staff are ‘enablers’ rather than just ‘care workers’. Quality of life is central to the ethos of the home and staff are nurtured and developed to ensure the highest standards are maintained.
Links with the local community have been spread to promote wellbeing and a sense of identity, whereas in other homes, staff are under such pressure that they have become task focused, concentrating on achieving the tasks to hand, thus creating a sense of dependence and loss of dignity for the people they support.
Healthwatch recommendations and LA response
Healthwatch have made seven recommendations for the Clinical Commissioning Group and the Local Authority and three for Care Providers.
The Clinical Commissioning Group and Local Authority have issued a joint response that can be viewed below.
All seven recommendations have been fully endorsed by the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Sub Committee who thanked Healthwatch Isle of Wight for the report and commended the action taken by Healthwatch to address inconsistencies in quality of care on the Island.
Anyone who wishes to share their experiences (good or bad) of local health and/or care services with us can do so by ringing 01983 608608 or by emailing [email protected]
Image: myfuturedotcom under CC BY 2.0
