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Care Campaign for the Vulnerable is delighted to have as our Official Sponsor Slater and Gordon Solicitors. For far too long CCFTV has been repeatedly highlighting the need for safety monitoring in care homes and places where vulnerable people live. Regrettably, the vast majority of care providers have continued to resist the use of such technologies, despite the ever-increasing number of safeguarding referrals as noted by both the regulator and service commissioners. Those referrals follow the occurrence of untoward - usually unwitnessed - events in care facilities, that have resulted in injury and at times the premature death of an elderly loved one.

Providers often are forced to admit that they don’t know how unwitnessed injuries were sustained and for the most vulnerable - those with dementia - no personal account can be given. As a result and in the absence of safety monitoring, families are left in despair, wondering exactly what happened to their loved ones and how serious injuries could have resulted.

Slater and Gordon is a well-respected law firm, one that has always sought to represent the vulnerable and stand up for those individuals needing representation, even when taking on a corporate body.

It is our hope, that after a year in which older vulnerable care home residents have suffered greatly with limited or no visits, with virtually no external inspection and monitoring and having endured disproportionately higher levels of suffering as a result of the pandemic, that 2021 will bring a greater focus on their welfare, their safety and wellbeing. We suggest that care providers reflect on the last twelve months, recognise in hindsight the value that safety monitoring would have added and make a real commitment in 2021 to embrace such for the safety and welfare of those that live and work in their care homes.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE- Leading law firm teams with leading safety in elderly care organisation to support the vulnerable

Leading legal business Slater and Gordon have partnered with Care Campaign for the Vulnerable (CCFTV) after a challenging year for residents of care homes and their families. CCFTV has seen their workload more than double during 2020 with families becoming increasingly concerned for their relatives isolated in care homes. The not-for-profit organisation was originally set up to challenge the care given to the vulnerable, calling for safety monitoring as well as speaking up for those that didn’t have a voice. Founder Jayne Connery has recent personal experience of the issues faced by the vulnerable in some care homes. Her mother was the victim of neglect and a general lack of consideration.

Jayne was so dissatisfied with the conditions and care she found within several homes that she was impelled to remove her mother and bring her into her own home. This is a scenario currently faced by many families. Her bad experience inspired Jayne to draw attention to the plight of the elderly and their carers. Fast forward five years into the midst of a global pandemic and Care Campaign for the Vulnerable found itself dealing with more queries than ever before from distressed families. Relatives have become increasingly concerned about the effects that Covid-19 has had on the residents of homes. In addition to the high number of deaths, there has been a dramatic rise in the threat of evictions from homes, allegations of elder abuse, long periods of isolation and no access to visiting. This comes at a time of uncertainty regarding how care homes are being monitored and how healthcare workers are being supported in the pandemic.

Slater and Gordon have stepped in to provide essential financial support to Care Campaign for the Vulnerable in the form of a sponsorship agreement. Slater and Gordon have long offered a range of personal legal services and specialist lawyers. CCFTV has been involved in various campaigns throughout the pandemic, including calls to make abuse against the elderly a hate crime, ‘Let Loved Ones In’, as well as furthering calls for safety monitoring in a virtual sense. In April 2020 CCFTV were amongst the first organisations to call for a public inquiry into Covid 19 care homes deaths. They continue to urge the government to instigate an inquiry – something that is backed by Slater and Gordon.

Public Inquiry specialist lawyer Kim Harrison said: “Covid 19 has had a devastating impact on both individuals and our society as a whole. Whilst we mourn all of those who have died we have a responsibility as a society to reflect on what has gone wrong and to analyse and forward plan to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again. “Some of the most important issues to consider are the discharge of elderly people infected with Covid 19 from hospitals into care homes, the isolation of elderly people from their loved ones during this time and ensuring there is adequate safeguarding legislation for the vulnerable.”

Director of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, Jayne Connery, said: “Care Campaign for the Vulnerable is delighted Slater and Gordon are confirmed as our official sponsor. “This will allow us to continue our vital work offering support to families and care workers that contact us with care concerns and continue as lead influencers in the care sector promoting the use of safety monitoring in communal areas in all U.K. care homes. Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the UK since its emergence in March and it was perhaps most acutely felt by the families and older vulnerable people that CCFTV set out to support. CCFTV have also supported care providers and care staff who have been working hard to facilitate safe visits to ensure important contact for our most vulnerable. But there were care homes that were left unchecked and families had no way to monitor the safety and care of their loved ones. It has been unprecedented times and we welcome the invaluable support and experience of Slater and Gordon.”

Alicia Alinia, Chief People Officer at Slater and Gordon, said: “After such a challenging year for everyone in the UK we have really been moved by the objectives of Care Campaign For The Vulnerable – and it was something we really wanted to back and support where we could.

“Although CCFTV was founded well before the pandemic, it is more essential than ever that the most vulnerable of our society are properly supported – and the organisation can help as many people as possible. “We hope through or partnership we can provide some reassurance as well as support at a crucial time.”