The relationship between social workers and care home

Healthwatch Hull wanted to explore the relationship between care home managers and social workers in Hull and assess the effectiveness of communication channels between them.

Overall, from the feedback received from care homes, it is clear that care homes across Hull generally do have a good relationship with social workers and that it can be an effective working relationship. Care homes have found social workers to be responsive and helpful when dealing with more complex cases. 

However, whilst there is a strong relationship between social workers and many of the care homes, several of the homes highlighted areas for improvement in regards to communication that is received from the social workers who are involved with care homes in Hull. Homes did not know or find out about a social worker moving onto a new role. There have been times were social workers did not inform the home of their visit to the resident. This also reflects the need for more clear communication alongside the feedback from social workers around communication. 

It was highlighted by social workers that homes should were possible have a member of staff on weekends who is authorized to communicate when or if needed with social workers. 

However, whilst there are those areas for improvement there was more feedback provided around the strengths of the current system. This report and the recommendations along with it are aimed to help foster a more positive and effective relationship between care homes and social workers and to enable them to provide an overall better experience for residents of care homes in Hull.