Dignity in Care Annual Report
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Between April 2018 and March 2019, Healthwatch Buckinghamshire made 24 unscheduled Enter and View visits to individual care homes where older people lived with residential and / or nursing care support or where people lived with a learning disability. The team spoke to staff, residents and visitors to help them understand what is done well and what could be done better.
The report found that overall observations were generally positive, and majority of the care homes were rated 4 and 5 stars. Staff were friendly, confident and attentive and treated people as equal; dining experience was dignified with good choice of food and drinks; residents were encouraged to maximise independent living whilst maintain their privacy; all care homes had visiting health professionals.
The report recommends for all care homes to continue to involve residents and work towards a strengths-based approach (SBA) to care. The recommendations for Buckinghamshire County Council is to share the recommendations to care homes, and any information about resources available to help deliver them by those who run them. Also, work with Integrated Care System (ICS) partners to provide support to care homes to improve mobility / physical activity of those living there; support care homes to understand and adopt SBA to care. Finally, as commissioners of services, also adopt these guidelines and embed them into the commissioning process.