Review Over 15 Minute Home Visit Ordered By Care Minister
- 17 Oct
The 15-minute short-term care visits to vulnerable disabled and elderly people has catalysed the government to take action.
Figures obtained by Leonard Cheshire, the largest voluntary sector provider of disabled care, found that in the past five years the proportion of visits lasting a quarter of an hour or shorter had risen by 15%. Almost two-thirds of local councils are now commissioning 15-minute visits.
Experts say the reason for such tiny slices of care time is that cuts to council funding have led to a £2.6bn reduction in social care budgets.
This is depriving people vulnerable people of their dignities and the government is to announce a review concerning it.
The minister Norman Lamb will say that from next April the Care Quality Commission will look at whether home care visits are "long enough to respond to people's needs" and "consider looking at how staff working conditions might be impacting on care". This will be in response to criticism from charities.
The Guardian also reports that in a speech to the National Children and Adult Services conference, Lamb will say that the regulator will consider not only whether care is "delivered with compassion, dignity and respect", but also how many staff are employed on zero-hour contracts, considered to be the reason why up to 220,000 care workers get less than the minimum wage.
"The current approach to home care is not fair on those who need support, it's not fair on care workers and it is stripping away the human element of caring.
"Fifteen minutes is not enough time to help people who are older or who have a disability to do everyday things like wash, dress and get out of bed. Some do not even get the chance to have a conversation with their home care worker, who may be the only person they see that day."
Care workers who visit vulnerable people in their homes are increasingly forced to cram tasks such as bathing, feeding and cleaning into ever tighter schedules.
Liz Kendall, the shadow care services minister, said:
"The scandal of 15-minute home vists must not be accepted. It is leaving vulnerable people to get up, wash, dress and be fed in too short a time. The government must take responsibility for the huge cuts to local council funding that has made this problem.
She said that although Lamb had publicly criticised 15-minute personal care visits, there was nothing in the government's care bill in the upper house earlier this month to "prevent this practice from continuing and, indeed, from spreading further". "You really have to have the money to be able to do that."
Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/759889
Related articles
- 25 May
CARE HAS IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY IN ENGLAND
Almost three fourth of 372 care homes rated inadequate in 2014 and still operating have improved.205 care homes have improved from a low rating to requiring improvement, 68 are now rated good and 99...
- 24 May
NHS ADJUSTMENTS TO BUDGET CUTS
NHS trusts which have been previously rated good or outstanding will not be inspected as frequently as before, but those rated as inadequate will be regularly visited by the CQC.The Guardian reports...
- 19 Mar
Government to inspect if housing can reduce NHS costs
In the Budget document the government have said it's looking at the ‘cost-effectiveness of options to integrate spending around some of the most vulnerable groups of people.' This includes...
- 15 Oct
End of life patients are lacking support
The charity has found that almost 92% of NHS clinical commissioning groups do not provide round the clock telephone helplines, reports the BBC.Guidelines say there should be 24-hour telephone...
- 15 Sep
Social care is being limited due to council cuts
ADASS are warning that cuts are making the care system "unsustainable" with charities saying hundreds of thousands of people are struggling without help, even though the government says councils have...
- 17 Jul
Young people should not be placed in B&Bs says MPs
The Commons Education Select Committee has said that B&B accommodation is "threatening and frightening" and should only be used in emergency situations reports the BBC.MPs say that young people...
- 16 Jul
Special measures system designed to improve failing care homes
A scheme similar to special measures of hospitals will be introduced for care homes and home care agencies next year, ministers will say, reports the BBC.This will cover 25,000 services and could...
- 14 Jul
Research says that one in three Alzheimer's cases can be prevented
The research says that the main risk factors of Alzheimer's is lack of exercise, smoking, depression and poor education, reports the BBC. Alzheimer's Research UK said age was still the biggest risk...
- 10 Jul
NHS boss says those with vulnerabilities need joint health and care budget
Simon Stevens wants to see older people, those with disabilities and people with serious mental health problems given joint pots from the NHS and council-run social care services, reports the...
- 17 Jun
Council falters in reviewing autistic man’s care plan
According to Community Care:"The ruling was made by the Local Government Ombudsman after the man's mother complained that his physical and mental health deteriorated in the two-year period after...
Support Solutions 5th National Housing Support & Social Care Conference 2014 Good organisation from beginning to end. Excellent keynote speaker. Relevant and important topics for discussion which were to everyone's advantage within the supported housing sector. B.H - Stevenage Haven
