Legally all care homes in England are responsible for making sure that the care they provide meets national standards of quality and safety. They are monitored and inspected by members of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who inspect the home to make sure it is performing to the required standard. They can inspect a home at any time, especially if a concern is reported to them by a relative, these inspections usually occur without any warning to the home itself.
In effect residents, or someone acting on their behalf will: –
- Be involved in discussions about the persons care, treatment and support;
- Ensure that the person gets support regarding making decisions;
- Check with them before administering any care, treatment or support;
- Have their privacy and dignity respected; and
- Will be given opportunities, encouragement and support to help them live as independently as possible.
The home has a duty to: –
- Assess your personal needs, especially about diet and medication;
- Your care needs coordinating (especially if being transferred to/from another care situation such as a hospice/hospital and so on)
- As a very general example, they would respect such things as your
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- Cultural background;
- Sex (checking if you wish for personal care to be provided by someone of the same gender)
- Mobility (not asking you to walk too far, ensuring you have required walking aids etc)
- Sexuality (whether you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual person
- Protect the resident from the risk of abuse, keep your environment safe and clean, and make sure staff are trained in any of your needs, including moving and handling via hoists and so on.
Most homes will be happy to arrange things such as your daily paper, magazine subscriptions, visits from podiatrists and hairdressers and so on to giving you your favourite dessert now and again.
There is a national standard for homes, for more information please see: –(.PDF)
If you feel that a loved one is not receiving the care, they deserve then bring the matter to the home manager, if there is no remedy then we suggest you contact the CQC and report the matter. It is only if the situation is classed as illegal, i.e., they are being deliberately abused in some way that the matter becomes a legal issue. If you suspect this then you should inform the police at the earliest opportunity as this is a criminal offence.
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