Homecare CEO spells out scale of sector crisis

INCREASED demand, a recruitment crisis, poor pay and repeated failures to meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of society are some of the major issues hampering the provision of homecare, according to a leading figure in the sector.

Dr Jane Townson, CEO of the Homecare Association, fears people are being ‘neglected in the community’ because of problems impacting the sector.

In an interview with Newcross Healthcare’s Voices of Care podcast, Jane outlined some of the challenges facing the sector. These include; n Growing demand for homecare provision. n Carers leaving the sector in their droves. n Delays in discharging from hospital due to lack of available support at home. n Poor pay, terms and conditions hampering recruitment. n People’s needs not being met due to an increase in 15-minute visits. n Failure to make the most of digital developments.

She added: “We’ve got a population aging with multiple long-term conditions, and obviously the preference of most people is to stay at home surrounded by people that they love in familiar surroundings and able to do what they want when they want.

“But we’re seeing staffing issues translate into problems discharging people from hospital.

“Nuffield Trust reported that one in four people who are stuck in hospital are waiting for homecare and then, at the front end because people are being neglected in the community, they’re deteriorating, ending up in ambulances in A&E when, with some support at home, we could keep them safe and well in their own homes.”

Recent research from the Homecare Association found that the average price being paid by public organisations for home care in England after April 1, 2022 remains significantly below the cost of recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce and delivering high-quality, sustainable home care services.

Meanwhile, the podcast heard how the pay rate for someone in care was once higher than someone in retail or sales, but is now much less, making the sector unattractive to those looking to decide their careers.

Jane added: “So many councils still purchase home care by the minute. So that puts such a lot of pressure on the care workers.

“They feel that they’re rushing from one place to the next and they’re in it because they want to make a difference to people’s lives, and they want to meet people’s needs. But it’s really stressful when you can’t do that.”

Azalea House in Bedford has been given an excellent report following a visit from the local borough council. It was rated excellent in five areas including personalised care and support, care and welfare of service users and respecting and involving service users. The service was evaluated using the Provider Assessment and Market Management Solution online assessment tool. Manager Donna-Maria Masters said: “It is a testament to how hard our team work with the individuals we support to make Azalea House not just a care home, but their home too. We will continue to keep our high standards and excellent quality levels, and look forward to welcoming the local authority back to see us again in the future.”