The Department of Health's National Minimum Standards include guidelines about the recruitment, training and management of staff in UK care homes.
Both care home managers and staff need to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check and be checked against the Protection of Vulnerable Adults register before they are employed, to ensure that they don't have any previous convictions for abusing the elderly.
Care home managers and staff should also be well-trained, aware of health and safety procedures, and understand the individual needs of the residents' that they care for.
The care home manager should also ensure that there are enough staff members on duty to provide adequate care for residents, particularly at night.
If the care home is one that provides nursing (a nursing home), the manager also needs to make sure that appropriately qualified staff members are on duty at all times.
However, it's a good idea to visit any care home that you are considering before making your decision.
You can then see how the staff treat the residents and ask any questions that you may have.
Here are some things to look out for during your visit:
You can then make a shortlist of care homes to visit before choosing the one that's right for you.
Both care home managers and staff need to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check and be checked against the Protection of Vulnerable Adults register before they are employed, to ensure that they don't have any previous convictions for abusing the elderly.
Care home managers and staff should also be well-trained, aware of health and safety procedures, and understand the individual needs of the residents' that they care for.
The care home manager should also ensure that there are enough staff members on duty to provide adequate care for residents, particularly at night.
If the care home is one that provides nursing (a nursing home), the manager also needs to make sure that appropriately qualified staff members are on duty at all times.
However, it's a good idea to visit any care home that you are considering before making your decision.
You can then see how the staff treat the residents and ask any questions that you may have.
Here are some things to look out for during your visit:
- Do the staff and the care homemanager seem friendly and approachable?
- Do the staff seem overworked? Dothere seem to be enough staff on duty, and do they seem to have time totalk to the residents?
- How do the staff members addressresidents? Do they seem to be talking to them with respect?
- Do the staff seem to be helpingresidents to do things rather than simply doing things for them? Do theyseem to be helping them discreetly and respectfully?
- Will a particular member of staff beallocated to you to care for you when possible?
- What training and qualifications dothe staff members have? This is particularly important if you have amedical condition that needs special care or other specific needs.
- If English is not your firstlanguage, do they have anyone working for them that can speak your firstlanguage?
- Does the care home also have domesticstaff - are the carers expected to carry out any domestic duties? If thecarers are responsible for cleaning, washing or cooking, then they may nothave as much time to spend with the residents.
- Will the staff help you to movearound the home if you have difficulty doing so on your own? Will theyhelp you to brush your hair, eat or make sure that you have taken anymedication, if necessary? Will a member of staff be able to accompany youif you want to take part in an activity outside of the care home?
- Do staff members respect residents'privacy, for example, by knocking on the door before they enter aresident's room, or by asking a resident's permission before showing theirroom to prospective residents?
You can then make a shortlist of care homes to visit before choosing the one that's right for you.