CASE MANAGEMENT
A care sector in turmoil IS DIRECT RECRUITMENT A SOLUTION? There is no doubt that the care sector is in turmoil and in some ways may never be the same as a time before Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic as, before all of that, factors such as an ageing population, pay and conditions and increased sector competition were already putting a strain on care.
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Concerns can be mitigated further by the way that care is o B Wilkins, Head of Care Support Services at Bush provided and for many, direct recruitment is the solution. & Co, a leading brand in case management and expert witness services, shares her views on the care sector and the world of direct recruitment for THE BENEFITS OF DIRECT EMPLOYMENT people following catastrophic injury. As the name suggests, direct employment uses available funding The level of uncertainty and to recruit dedicated support workers disruption in the UK care sector has Bespoke packages of care to deliver social care, as opposed to reached unprecedented levels in recent using a care agency to source staff. Both can be developed and years. Inconsistencies in government approaches have benefits, with direct implemented, providing patients employment offering consistent and funding for business owners and support workers within the sector is often quoted with all the benefits of being an monitored care,while the care agency route as the main driver of a reality where employer and the peace of mind perhaps offers greater agility to react to the resources are stretched to their limits and unexpected. that the administration is all operators within the sector are struggling Whether funded using a settlement to meet the standards of care needed by from a court action or a local authority taken care of. an increasing number of patients. personal health budget, direct employment Many of the challenges within the sector have existed for many places greater control with the patient, making them the recognised years, but others have surfaced more recently and will have a employer of their support worker and allowing them to select and lasting effect. Traditional challenges are seen as including an ageing develop relationships with the people providing their care. ■ population, changes to the levels and structure of government funding, pay and conditions for support workers, a fragmented care home sector and increased competition. Add to that the new At Bush & Co, Bush Care Solutions challenges of Brexit and Covid-19 and the care sector creaks further provides comprehensive, cost-effective under the pressure. patient care management using the direct These issues have had a profound impact on patients and their families, with the uncertainty surrounding immediate and employment model, with dedicated Case continuing care the cause of great anxiety and distress.
THE COST OF CARE The diversification within the sector has seen a number of independent care home owners struggling financially and selling to larger operators with more resources. Costs often increase as a result, as higher fees are needed to meet greater operating costs and shareholder expectations. The inability of government funding to keep pace with the changes in an individual patient’s needs can also create a deficit in funding, leaving families and care providers vulnerable to being without sufficient funding to maintain levels of care at short notice. Increases in care costs place greater emphasis on ensuring awards remain aligned, so appropriate levels of care continue and don’t become too expensive. Knowing they are in the right place receiving the right care from the right people has an enormous positive impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing.
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Managers or Care Managers (where a case manager is not in place) operating under delegated responsibility to oversee a patient’s care plan and perform a supervisory role over support workers.
To find out more about the benefits of direct employment and Bush Care Solutions, contact Jo Wilkins, Head of Care Support Services and CQC Registered Manager at hello@bushco.co.uk. sevenstarmedia.co.uk
