July 2012
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Report calls for ‘cultural shift’ for care By Dominic Musgrave LEADERS in the health and social care sector must drive a ‘major cultural shift’ to tackle the underlying causes of poor and undignified care in England. That is the main message contained in 'Delivering Dignity', the final report from the Commission on Improving Dignity in Care for Older People, an independent group set up by the NHS Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Association. The report received widespread support following a month-long consultation, with feedback from more than 230 health and social care organisations, patient groups and individuals across the country. The commission has recommended a number of ‘always events’ – things which it says should never be forgotten and should be considered as basic rules for the delivery of dignified care. These include introducing formal and informal feedback from older people and their carers to improve practice. It also urges the Government to ensure that every person receiving care is protected under human rights legislation. Currently only those people whose care home place is arranged by their local
authority are granted this protection. In a joint foreword to the report, the commission co-chairs, from Age UK, NHS Confederation and the Local Government Association say: “Delivering dignity will mean changing the way we design, pay for, deliver and monitor care services as the numbers of older people in care continues to grow. “Alongside the consistent application of good practice and the rooting out of poor care, we need a major cultural shift in the way the system thinks about dignity, to ensure care is person-centred and not task-focused. “This will require empowered leadership in the care home, as well as a lead from boards and senior managers. It will also mean changing the way we recruit and develop staff working with older people.” A joint action plan from the three organisations will provide practical solutions to the recommendations to help support care home leaders and to encourage change in the way the system designs and delivers care for older people. Other recommendations include an evaluation of the way staff assess patients’ needs to allow adequate time to understand and record preferences of older people.
Resident receives Royal response
Sir Bruce Forsyth was the special guest at Sunrise Senior Living of Virginia Water’s 10th anniversary celebrations. Bruce, a local resident, dropped by for a cup of tea and entertained the audience with jokes, stories, singing and even some tap dancing and, before leaving, he was presented with a specially commissioned Heart and Soul Award by the company. The awards are usually presented as part of Sunrise’s employee recognition programme for staff that go above and beyond the call of duty. Picture credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
A BURTON-upon-Trent care home resident who wrote to the Queen had a surprise reply on Her Majesty’s behalf. Penny Manning wrote the letter a number of weeks ago to congratulate the Queen on her 60 years’ service to her country, and on all the wonderful celebrations happening during 2012. However, staff and residents were shocked when a letter from Buckingham Palace dropped through their letterbox and landed on the doormat of the home. The letter expressed gratitude for Penny’s ‘words of loyalty and support’ along with a number of pictures of the Queen from the last 60 years. Manager Anne-Marie Robinson said: “Penny just wanted to congratulate the Queen, she didn’t for one minute expect a response.” See pages 20-23 for a full round-up of Jubilee events held in homes.