Minutes:
The
Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities which provided
Members with an update on the work of the Care Homes Project. The Appendix to the report contained the
Interim Report of the Halton Care Home Project undertaken in March 2014.
The
Board was advised that Halton Care Homes project had been in operation since
July 2013. The project aimed to improve the quality of care within homes in the
Borough through: review of current care practices; analysis of the range and ease
of access residents have to health and social care services and identify
sustainable ways to improve treatment, care and support.
The
Board was further advised that the project had identified that the care
provided by homes they have worked with has been of a high standard. The
project had worked closely with the full range of Halton’s
community health and social care services. A clinical reference group had been
supporting the aims of the project and some immediate solutions to issues had
been implemented. The project had also grouped some of the key issues into
seven areas: communication; end of life care; physical care; pharmacy;
equipment; primary care utilisation and activities. It was reported that further work was ongoing
to identify an appropriate level of clinical support to continue the work of
the project.
The
following comments arose from the discussion:-
·
Clarity
was sought on who made the decision on whether to call out a GP or not in a
care home. It was reported that people
in care homes were being admitted into hospital as a result of the GP not being
called at an earlier stage. In response,
it was reported that this training and development would help to address this matter
i.e. staff could be trained to test for such things as a urine infection and if
the stick proved to show an infection, the GP could be called in at an early
stage;
·
Concern
was raised that GPs had different preferred methods for communication and some
GPs would not accept telephone calls. In
response, it was reported that the report would be presented to the GPs next
month with clear recommendations for communication practices with care homes to
ensure there was a consistent approach across all GP practices with the care
homes. It was also reported that GPs
were keen to adopt a consistent approach to this issue;
·
It
was highlighted that in some care homes, individuality was lost as they were
treated as patients not as a ‘person’.
In response, it was reported that work was taking place on leadership
and management within care homes with good practices being shared and
consideration given to how they could be adopted in their care home setting
i.e. a tv room made to look like a theatre and
activities taking place during the day that residents can dip in and out
of. This would create a culture where
they would challenge each other. The
importance of activities in the care home setting was noted;
·
It
was noted that the local Quality Assurance Team and the Quality Care Commission
(CQC) monitored care services, including Council staff;
·
Concern
was raised regarding the end of life plans, indicating that they were not
updated regularly and people go through different phases in their life which
necessitates that they should be updated on a regular basis;
·
It
was noted that the Authority had ceased some activities in Dorset Gardens and
the community recently due to a lack of participation. It was reported that the CQC had recently
looked at Dorset Gardens and it was agreed that a copy of the report be
circulated to all Members of the Board; and
·
It
was agreed that a further report on the care homes be presented to a future
meeting of the Board.
RESOLVED:
That the report, Appendix 1 and comments raised be noted.
Supporting documents: