Guidelines for Home Care Services
The number of people being cared for in their own homes is increasing – in fact, 13% of older people in England receive their care from privately funded sources such as Birchwood Care Services. An ageing population means that more and more people will continue to rely on home care services in the future, to assist with household tasks, personal care and any other activity that allows them to maintain their dignity, independence and quality of life.
Home care providers are, of course, regulated by the Care Quality commission (CQC), and as part of a new gold standard for services, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a guide in 2016, in which it recommends certain things you should expect from your home care service.
As well as recommending that carers spend at least 30 minutes on home visits and that people’s carers are not changed too frequently, you should also expect to:
1. Have care workers who are able to meet your needs
Care workers should have the right skills needed to support you, for example, if you have dementia or are deaf or blind. They should also respect your cultural and religious values.
2. Feel comfortable with your care workers
You should expect to see the same care workers regularly, so they can get to know you and be familiar with your needs including how you like to communicate and your likes and dislikes.
3. Be made aware of changes in advance
If for any reason, your regular care worker is unable to visit you, you should be told in advance that a different care worker is coming.
4. Be given a care diary that’s regularly updated
Home care workers and others who help you at home such as physiotherapists or community nurses should update your care diary each time they visit.
5. Be given a home care plan that meets your needs
Your home care plan should be clear, concise and include information about your health, any disabilities you may have, medicines and pain management
6. Be prepared to review the care plan
The agency should review the plan with you within six months of your first care visit to make sure that you are happy with it. After that, the plan should be reviewed every six months.
Birchwood Care boasts over 25 years of healthcare experience and is proud to have been rated ‘GOOD’ in our most recent CQC review (Dec 2017) and achieved a score of 9.5 on homecare.co.uk which reviews almost 10,000 providers across the UK.
Other articles you may like
- How home care can support long-term health In the world of healthcare, home care is often overlooked, yet it holds tremendous potential as a cornerstone for long-term health management.
- CQC Inspections and Celebrating UK Care Week Celebrating compassion with UK Care Week and understanding CQC inspections The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is central to the operation of care serviceContinue reading “CQC Inspections and Celebrating UK Care Week “
- Look after your loved one with home care The month of February is often associated with the holiday that marks its midpoint – Valentine’s Day – and the extra day that marks its end in a Leap Year. In the spirit of these occasions, we’re delving into how compassion, companionship and connection are central to home care and the well-being of our community, and considering how home care can help make a difference in your loved one’s life.
- How homecare can help beat January blues As we all navigate the post-holiday season, many individuals experience a decline in mood commonly known as the “January blues.”
- The importance of home care during the holiday season The importance of home care during the holiday season New statistics from Age UK show just how difficult and lonely this Christmas willContinue reading “The importance of home care during the holiday season “
- Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday 2023 The weekend of November 11 marked the annual Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday memorial in the UK and Commonwealth. Birchwood Care Services joined the nation in honouring members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty during the First World War and beyond.
- Protecting health and wellbeing in home careProtecting health and wellbeing in home care At Birchwood Care Services, the health and wellbeing of our clients is at the forefront ofContinue reading “Protecting health and wellbeing in home care”
- Celebrating Professional Care Workers Week 2023 The Care Workers Charity (CWC) is an important industry body with the objective of supporting current and former care workers. As part of this mission, the CWC is running its annual Professional Care Workers Awareness Week for the sixth year this month.
- How care support can help find happiness later in lifeHelping mature adults in the pursuit of joy Happiness is a funny thing. Like joy, it can be found and nurtured in manyContinue reading “How care support can help find happiness later in life”