Burnout in social care is causing significant staff retention and recruitment issues. A recent report by HFT and Care England found that a third of care providers have considered exiting the social care market due to financial pressures, further compounding the issue.
In the CQC’s State of Care Report 21/22 they stated that staff turnover is at an all-time high across both healthcare and social care leading to many care homes, agencies, and providers having to turn down contracts due to not being able to keep up with capacity.
Care worker stress then continues to build for adult social care workers left working in the market as the demand increases but the resources continue to plummet. At the start of 2022 alone, 2.2 million hours of homecare could not be delivered because of insufficient work capacities.
But what is causing care worker stress and how can local authorities help to work with healthcare and social care providers to prevent staff burnout and improve the continuity of care as individuals transition through the system?
At The Access Group we are aware of the challenges facing the adult social care market and the impacts it has on care workers, care homes, care providers, local authorities, and individuals and their families themselves.
We want to help overcome these issues so workloads can be more manageable and resource allocation can improve so individuals can receive the right care and support when they need it to avoid long waiting times, pressure continuing to build on the social care market, and most importantly prevent more social care workers leaving the profession due to burnout.
In this article we will review what burnout in social care is, what the main causes are, why it is important for everyone involved to notice the signs of burnout and how best to prevent it, as well as explaining how technology can help prevent burnout, which in turn can help improve the quality of care delivered.
Self-care and wellbeing and being able to have the tools to manage it better is getting more and more important in workplaces, and health and social care are no different.
With the events of recent years, the impact of the pandemic, strikes, and now the cost-of-living crisis, promoting wellbeing in health and social care has never been so important not just for individuals but for support workers, carers, local authorities, and care providers too.
It is vital to be able to promote wellbeing in health and social care to avoid and improve outcomes. Having support workers and carers with bad mental health and wellbeing can increase the likelihood of errors which in turn can impact the quality of care delivered.
But what is the definition of wellbeing in health and social care, why is it important, and what can cause both an end-user’s wellbeing as well as a support worker’s wellbeing to decline?
At the Access Group, we put the individual at the heart of everything we do. We know the challenges facing the health and social care market and how important it is to ensure support workers and carers have a good work-life balance to ensure end-users get the care support they at the highest quality possible.
This article will review what wellbeing is in health and social care, what can cause it to decline, as well as ways to promote it and how technology can help implement better strategies so challenges can be overcome without leading to longer waiting times and discharge delays, burnout in social care, and ultimately people leaving the profession altogether.
Telehealth vs face-to-face care has been a big discussion since the usage of telehealth services grew dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges across the health and social care market including the increases in demand, waiting times, and dependency on health and social care professionals are just some examples of the difficulties health and social care providers face.
Both telehealth and telemedicine services allow an alternative approach to help health and social care providers manage waiting times better to improve outcomes, reduce burnout, and deliver better person-centred proactive care.
But which option is better? Does telehealth work better with some groups than others? Or is a hybrid approach the best way to deliver more outcomes-focused care that concentrates on every individual?
At Access Technology Enabled Care, we know that both telehealth and telemedicine services make accessing health and social care easier by being more flexible with scheduling visits whether it is in person or virtually. We want to make it easier to implement telehealth across your community so you can improve your outcomes and concentrate on what matters to the individual.
By the end of this article, you should know all there is to know about the best ways to use telehealth services and when in-person care is better depending on every individual needs.
The difference between policy and procedure is subtle but important. Put simply, policies are rules to follow, and procedures are step-by-step instructions on how to follow those rules. Policies and procedures ensure that everyone in your organisation is on the same page and understands what is expected of them.
At The Access Group we work with thousands of providers in health and social care for whom their policies and procedures form the backbone of their service. Policies and procedures each play a distinct but vital role in shaping organisational culture and codifying good practice.
Where policies and procedures are not properly defined and promoted, organisations may incur risks to staff and clients, regulatory breaches, loss of reputation and even enforcement action (including fines) from the regulator. Furthermore, policies and procedures need to be continually evolving to keep pace with the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
In this article I will explore the difference between policies and procedures in the context of health and social care. By understanding the difference, you will be able to improve the policy and procedure management of your organisation to ensure you provide safe and high-quality services.
CQC Regulation 17 is central to leadership and standards for health and care providers in England. People can underestimate the significance governance in health and social care has when it comes to ensuring quality services, safeguarding individuals and meeting regulatory standards.
The health and social care sector are constantly changing. Whether it’s the care standards, inspection framework or the health and safety procedures, this sector needs to be able to adapt in order to thrive. The CQC (Care Quality Commission) plays a pivotal role in overseeing regulatory sectors in England, with Regulation 17 standing as the foundation for governance excellence.
To help you understand the intricacies of CQC Regulation 17, we at The Access Group have created this article offering insights into its significance, its role in fostering good governance and the broader implications for health and social care. With over 30 years of experience working with health and social care services, we know how to support this sector, maintain compliance and help care services thrive.
Confidentiality in health and social care is essential to forming trust within the sector. It forms an ethical foundation that respects the dignity and privacy of individuals receiving care. Whether it involves respecting someone’s privacy or another person’s preferences, the duty of sharing information is just as important as the duty to protect confidentiality.
We at The Access Group understand the importance of sharing information and managing confidentiality in health and social care. We have been working with care services for over 30 years and with help from our experts, have put together a guide to confidentiality in health and social care so you can understand the complexities surrounding this vital concept.
Knowing how to start a supported living business is important for the provision of supported accommodation. Many homes available to rent aren’t suitable for people with disabilities or the elderly, which is why special provision must be made for them.
Without them people are unable to enjoy independence and the freedoms they deserve, which is why setting up supported living accommodation can be such a positive business pursuit. This isn’t ignoring the fact that it’s a business venture, and as such there are ways to balance benevolence and good deeds with financial sustainability.
In this article we cover that balance – explaining what a supported living business is, how to set up supported living accommodation, the requirements surrounding housing for people with disabilities, and crucially how technology can benefit supported living businesses. This last part is obviously where our expertise at Access comes into play, but it’s also an interesting insight into the nature of modern health and care tech, and how it’s easier than ever to provide a high-quality service.
Supported Living Business
Commissioning cycles for social care can vary across different local authorities. The social care needs of a local authority can change continuously so it is vital procedures are in place to accommodate that so every individual gets the care they need when they need it.
But, what are the best ways to do this?
With the NHS pushing local authorities to use both population health management and strength-based approach, it can get complicated when figuring out how best to commission care in your local area to accommodate to your local community’s needs whilst following specific approaches, and aiming to reach national targets.
Whether you are a care provider or a care commissioner it is vital to understand the commissioning cycle definition and how to adapt it to meet the care needs of your local area. With budgets so limited it is crucial to have methods in place that re-evaluate the care delivered to ensure the best care quality at the best price is always delivered.
At The Access Group we have encountered many local authorities using cyclical models to define requirements, select providers, and evaluate their services.
This article will review what the commissioning cycle is in social care, why it is important, as well as breaking down the commissioning cycle stages and what the benefits are from using technology in every step of the commissioning cycle to enable better commissioning, better outcomes, and better quality of life for the residents in your local community.
The Care Certificate is everywhere in social care. But what is the Care Certificate? Many owners, managers, care workers and other stakeholders are still unclear on some aspects of it. In this blog we answer the key questions those groups have around the Care Certificate, including what is the Care Certificate? What kind of training is available? Where can I find a workbook? Can I find answers online? And more.
Equality and diversity in health and social care is incredibly important, but often overlooked. It should be an integral part of your service rather than a bonus or benefit.
Equality means that everyone in the care setting is given equal opportunities, regardless of their background, abilities or lifestyle.
On the other hand, diversity means that differences between people should be appreciated and people’s beliefs, cultures and values should be treated with respect.
