Agenda item
RESIDENTIAL AND NURSING CARE HOMES AND HOME CARE PROVISION IN THE BOROUGH: QUALITY AND CAPACITY
This report provides an overview of the care home and home care markets in the borough. The regulatory framework within which these market sectors operate is explained as is the role of the Care Quality Commission in maintaining oversight of regulatory compliance. The report explores a range of quality and capacity issues relevant to the care home and home care market in the borough.
Report to follow:-
The report was not published five clear days in advance. The Chair has decided this report must go to the December 11 2018 Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee as the agenda for the meeting has been designed to intrinsically link this deep dive item of ‘Residential and Nursing Care Homes and Home Care provision in the borough: Quality and Capacity’ to the other two reports being presented before the committee. By reviewing all three agenda items together the committee will be able to better Scrutinise health and social care services around the theme of satisfaction and quality of home care. The reports and subsequent discussion will not be as meaningful if they were viewed in isolation at separate meetings.
Minutes:
The Committee received the report of Denise Radley, Corporate Director of Health Adults & Community and Warwick Tomsett, Joint Director of Integrated Commissioning, on Residential and Nursing Care Homes and Home Care Provision in the Borough. There was also a presentation from Keith Burns tabled on the day outlining care home quality and capacity in the UK.
In response to Member questions officers provided the following:
- John Tucker House was not listed as a care home in the report because it was classified as sheltered housing and was not regulated by the CQC.
- It was noted that the relatively low level of accident and emergency hospital admissions from care homes reflected the quality of Tower Hamlets care homes and their ability to effectively care for ill patients.
- Tower Hamlets Council is 1 of 39 registered reablement services. The Council commissions six reablement services.
- Kelly Tanner from Excel Care was invited to comment on discussions from a provider perspective. She said the Home Care Contract 2017 had improved joined up working with the local authority. The Ethical Care Charter had improved pay by joining care homes to the London Living Wage. Travel expenses were reimbursed and there was improved recruitment and retention. Tower Hamlets was unique in it’s multi-disciplinary work and joint working arrangements. She said the Council had been helpful and supportive towards care workers in the borough.
- The new care contract has commissioned six providers to work across four quadrants. It was noted that this reduced travel time between appointments and allowed more time for care. Carers were paid for travel time if working under the same provider.
- There was a discussion about the proportion of care workers working the minimum 12 hour week per Ethical Care Charter guidelines. Ms Tanner explained that care workers tended to prefer flexible hours rather than the prescribed 12 hours agreed by the provider because flexible hours offered more of a choice of when they could work.
- Councillor Muhammad Harun came to the realisation that he had a disclosable pecuniary interest to declare in that his wife worked for Apasen a sub-contractor of Excel Care. No further questions were taken from Councillor Harun.
- It was noted that the Council had limited powers in preventing a care home to close due to the sale of the business or change of use, unless there was a Covenant Agreement in place.
- Ms Tanner explained the professional requirements and training for care workers. She said that all are workers were required to complete a Care Certificate which comprised of 15 standards, unit tests and a workbook. And that induction training at the care home included information on people’s cultural needs and efforts were made to accommodate certain cultural foods or languages. Managers were responsible for one to one meetings with care workers; the meetings provided an opportunity to discuss policies and procedures.
- Although recruitment efforts were being made to hire bilingual staff, it was recognised that sourcing care workers with a broad range of community language skills was a challenge.
RESOLVED:
- To note the report.
Supporting documents:
- Residential and Nursing Care Homes Report, item 6. PDF 402 KB
- Residential & Nursing Care Homes - Powerpoint Information Slides tabled at meeting., item 6. PDF 994 KB