http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17777113
Just how are these care homes allowed to stay open, does anyone care.
If you went to a hotel and the staff punched you, would you send your relatives there.
Depends on the relative...
For once, I agree with Project, this does make my blood bouil, my mum is in oneo fhtese places.
Many are very good of course!
Problem is no matter what processes and checks these companies have in place at the end of the day they're reliant on someone at or on the minimum wage to deal with often challenging behaviour calmly and consistently.
Perhaps some of the people who are willing to do this sort of work for that amount of money lack the emotional maturity to do it successfully?
As wwaswas says
I wanted to run my own nursing home and spent years garnering the skills to do so. It became apparent that to run one relying on the state funding of £500 per week per resident while providing even an acceptable let alone good standard of care is simply impossible. Nearer £1000 per week per resident would allow yo to pay the care staff a reasonable amount allowing you to attract good staff and train them well
Problem is no matter what processes and checks these companies have in place at the end of the day they're reliant on someone at or on the minimum wage to deal with often challenging behaviour calmly and consistently.
Never seen a member of staff at Tesco hit a customer, though some customers could clearly do with a slaop accross the head with a wet fish.
Well thankyou Cynic-al.
[i]Never seen a member of staff at Tesco hit a customer, though some customers could clearly do with a slaop accross the head with a wet fish.[/i]
I suspect if they were alone in a room with a customer who couldn't report them and a wet fish there'd be some scales hitting flesh?
Project - Actually it does happen - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/police-probe-tesco-guard-assault-422667
and do tesco staff have to deal with difficult challenging behaviour under huge pressure for paltry wages. The result of this is recruitment is extremely difficult leading to recruiting unsuitable people on occasion.
One home I worked in that actually paid above the going rate advertised widely for care staff and go no suitable applicants at all. None. the home still had the residents to care for.
because of the low wges a lot of staff do excessive overtime as well and the recruitment pressures mena this is often encouraged or a blind eye turned.
Want a higher standard of care - you need to pay for it one way or another
Want a higher standard of care - you need to pay for it one way or another
Perhaps make people sell their homes to pay for the care,
perhaps privatise the care so large comapnies make large profits to care for the elderley,
perhaps make staff work 12 hour shifts, just like office workers dont,
Perhaps stop paying senior management so much in hidden bonuses and company cars,
Perhaps reduce the tax the high rate tax payers pay, so they have more money to spend on their care in old age,
Perhaps employ staff who cant speak english properley, and who the residents have no idea what theyre saying,
Perhaps let a major care home group run up huge debts and then go bust, with nobody to blame, but pay the management huge salaries.
Easy isnt it.
Oh and Tesco dont employ security guard, theyre employed by an outside firm, best to ask them about their recruitment policies.
Project - you need to understand the economics of the situation. Its done on the cheap - do something on the cheap then you get poor quality. Its the main reason for cases such as this.
there is not significant money to be made in teh nursinghomes - hence the problems with southern cross.
When I'm 70 I'm going to the States to buy a .50 BMG weapon to stick in my mouth or to Switzerland.
Not going out in an old peoples home or in a geriatric ward, going out in style and honour.
I've worked in care homes. Still do occaisionally.
No one does it for the money, there are far easier ways of making minimum wage.
The job deserves much higher rates of pay, but the failures which lead to abuse are top down, systemic management failures.
Some care home owners just do not care who they employ.
They will take on staff who are just fundamentally unsuited to the job, because it's cheaper and easier than undertaking a thorough recruitment process.
If you are choosing a care home, speak to your local district nurse, care workers and social services staff.
DO NOT choose a home unless it is specifically recommended
by people you know and trust.
Of the three in my area, I'd only be happy in one myself, as either an employee or resident.
Funnily enough, it's the slightly scruffy one, with walls that could do with paint but wonderful, genuinely caring staff and very happy residents.
More later.
The job deserves much higher rates of pay, but the failures which lead to abuse are top down, systemic management failures.
Well said and strangely its those managers who get very good wages.
A good tip is visit at different times of the day, most have open visiting and if not ask what are they hiding, and if you see anything amiss always question it, and or report it to management and keep notes.
1 member of staff now in prison for 14 months and being deported after, and another 4 sacked.
Still looking forward to old age are we.
Well said and strangely its those managers who get very good wages.
Really - usualy far lower than the equivalent jobs in teh NHS. Poor management is a huge part of the issues
As I have said - £500 that the state provides is simply not enough to provide even an adequate level of care double that if you wnat something more than adequate
With the financial pressure it is simply not possible to pay enough to attract good staff. thats the basic issue
Rusty 0- many of the are staff are only doing it for teh money - hence the excessive overtime
Important piece of documentary, highlighting how crap our care of the elderly is in this country... But worse piece of journalism ever! Proper GCSE media project quality writing!
Really - usualy far lower than the equivalent jobs in teh NHS. Poor management is a huge part of the issues
Strangely you have forgoten about Staffordshire hospital, and Dr Shipman, all well paid staff.
What union for poorly treated elderley residents then.