News

A very positive and informative meeting was had today at the Headquarters of the Care Quality Commission in London. Kate Terroni Head of Adult Social Care and David Janes Head of Social Care Policy was indeed understanding to the families and care staff who contact us and many aspects to the need of mandatory safety monitoring was discussed. It was a privilege to represent the families, carers and providers who contact us in support of safety monitoring in care homes. It is evident everyone who attended the meeting has the welfare and safety of residents and staff as a priority. We now ask the question - how far do we go to protect vulnerable residents deserving to live in care homes safely - and equally important is care staff who should work in an environment without feeling vulnerable also. Safety monitoring IS that way forward.

We have no doubt more debate will face us regarding the subject of safety monitoring in care homes but the meeting was ended with a positive feeling that the door is by no means closed shut.

Care Campaign For The Vulnerable Statement.

Care Campaign For The Vulnerable is often invited to care homes across the UK to talk about Safety Monitoring. During those visits, we regularly meet with staff and know that very many of them would welcome camera technology use in their care home. They tend to make the point that ‘if all staff are conducting themselves properly and professionally there is nothing to hide’. That view is one we support and therefore its no surprise to learn of the growing support for such systems from care staff across the long term care sector.

Providers with safety and monitoring systems already in use have provided visual evidence that has occasionally vindicated staff when a complaint or concern has been raised. That has ensured any staff disciplinary process has resulted in fair and appropriate outcomes as opposed to the process still conducted in the vast majority of homes, which is to make a decision on the basis of probability.

Staff, we have met first hand and with whom we have had the opportunity to outline how safety monitoring can benefit residents, staff and families have generally almost en mass confirmed their total support and desire to see safety and monitoring systems become standard use in care homes. Care Campaign For The Vulnerable know from the messages we receive from families and care staff who contact us safety monitoring is the right and correct direction to take for the safety and protection of our most vulnerable as well as our dedicated care workers. The time is now to cease the debate and ACT.