Why can’t Homecare be as good as our parents deserve?

The recent Equality and Human Rights Commission report into home care says that there is evidence of a “systematic failure” across the country and that the human rights of elderly people are being breached.  Elderly people are being robbed, left hungry and unwashed and face unchecked “ageism” from council-funded care that is meant to let them live in their own homes.

These are our parents and grandparents; and they will be us.  So how is this happening and what can we do now to improve matters?

Much of the blame seems to be pointed at the carers themselves – possibly because they are the ones least able to answer back.  But in many instances council spending cuts have reduced the time on site for each visit to 15 minutes.  How much care could you give a disabled person who needs washing, dressing and feeding if you are only given 15 minutes and perhaps have not met them before?

Others blame the outsourcing of the services over the last few years; driving key services from a profit motive and reducing carer pay to the minimum legally possible.  This might also link to a Human Rights Act loophole which means the Act doesn’t apply to those cared for in their own homes.

Clearly there is a series of complex and inter-related systemic failures and we can’t address all of them here. But it is important to remember that half of all cases surveyed were satisfied with their care, which suggests that half of care providers are providing good services.  There is an opportunity here for those providers to grow their businesses quickly and improve home care provision across the board – a win for everyone except poor providers!

At least one Local Authority is intending to implement a system of tagging carers in order to time visits.  This doesn’t really address the quality issue – it feels more like something intended to punish providers and employees.

But how about extending this idea using modern technology to help the Authority, the provider and the carer deliver quality as well as monitor and audit?

Qualsys suggests the use of its EQMS software delivered via smartphones or tablets issued to all the carers. The software is already widely used by care providers in care homes to support the delivery of consistent, high-quality care to the requirements of the CQC.   So how can the software delivered in this way help the home care service quality?

The phone/tablet can be used to perform functions such as:-

• check where the carer is and so provide reports to the Authority;
• time the length of  a visit; 
• allow the provider or Authority to require randomly timed photographs which will prove where the carer is;
• send photographs back to base/Authority showing, say, repairs that need making to the accommodation;
•  capture reports from the carer and upload them over a 3G phone network to the provider.

 The EQMS (which can be delivered through PCs to office workers and smartphones or tablets to carers) can drive an improved quality process by, for example;

•  Downloading an individual’s care schedule and record to the carer so the carer knows what needs doing and is aware of any past issues;
•  Make available up to date process information to ensure the carer complies with company policy and presumably, Authority and CQC requirements;
•  Capture field reports and file them securely in the provider’s database to provide an audit trail of evidence.

For information about Qualsys contact Robert Oakley on +44 (0)114 282 3338.
Email robert.oakley@qualsys.co.uk

7th December 2011

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