Care Campaign for the Vulnerable is learning of the pressures faced by conscientious led Care Providers striving to offer a caring and safe environment to both service users and staff. Safety monitoring is proving to be a invaluable care assist tool - bringing a more open and transparent culture into care homes as well as saving valuable resources within the care home sector and the NHS
Why we need now, more than ever, safety monitoring in all care homesA plea to the CQC
During this distressing time relating to the Covid 19 crisis, Care Campaign For The Vulnerable has been very concerned about the increasing volume of messages we are getting from care workers, families and care partners. Indeed we have been posting messages that confirm the heightened levels of anxiety families are experiencing because they cannot visit loved ones living with later stage dementia. They cannot understand why more hasn’t been done to allow care partners to continue to visit while taking obvious PPE precautionary measures.
We understand from the many e-mails and calls coming through to us, that some providers are in fact allowing family members to visit under exceptional circumstances, ie nearing end of life or because vulnerable residents are refusing food and drink that normally would be coaxed /administered by a care partner. Many families and care workers say they are increasingly worried about elderly residents deteriorating very quickly with medical help being denied, refused or simply unavailable.
Families often state that before this virus emerged in care homes, loved ones in CQC inspected homes (that required improvement or rated as inadequate) were already receiving a sub standard service. CCFTV is sure that CQC have plans in place to externally monitor said homes, families continue to come to us stating that no on site independent review appears ongoing at all. Sadly, very many who before lockdown had believed their loved ones were well cared for now find that same family member has died as a result of "suspected“ Covid19.
We know these families and many others are questioning “suspected“ but the reality is without any evidence they cannot really get to the bottom of their concerns. They are effectively left without an explanation and often without the opportunity to visit to say farewell. We are even receiving reports GP’s are refusing to go into care homes and ambulances are being delayed or not even called despite a family request.
One senior manager who contacted us stated that an elderly gentlemen who needed to be seen by a doctor was instead subjected to a video call that was supposed to ‘assess his breathing‘. The elderly patient died four days later. That manager told us before lock down this resident would possibly have survived had he received the right medical care. Regrettably this is not an isolated incident.
CCFTV receives hidden camera footage that suggests wilful neglect, and this in a home rated GOOD and we are currently working with LA safeguarding teams as well as supporting the family who are seeking an explanation.
We accept we must support our fantastic carers and care providers who continue to work under such pressure and in unique circumstances, we must also surely we find a way in these awful times to ensure the risk of abuse and neglect to those most vulnerable, is mitigated. We continue to believe that if safety monitoring was utilised in many more homes, so much more could be evidenced in terms of both good and poor practices.
It seems we as as a nation cannot expect 'normal life’ to return anytime soon. We may get a second wave of infections, we may in time be exposed to further pandemics that could have similar devastating consequences. Surely it is time for CQC to consider this crisis as an alarm call and think about how technology in similar scenarios could ensure much greater transparency under lockdown situations.
For now, even if the CQC current website offered information and confirmed support for the use of overt monitoring that would be a start. As we know from bitter experience, dreadful covert monitoring footage means the abuse and neglect has already been inflicted on vulnerable residents. Managers and staff are always unhappy when families place hidden cameras as it suggests a breakdown in trust and confidence exists. In such circumstances it is very difficult for families and providers to restore confidence. Yet, families have no option if they believe a loved one is not adequately protected.
We know CQC has been willing to discuss the use of monitoring in care but this crisis has confirmed to us and many of the families we support that action is now paramount. If this situation prevails for months and social distancing becomes the norm, visitor restrictions will be in place for a very long time. Inspections will have to probably change format to meet distancing guidelines.
Safety monitoring permits virtual audit at any point in a 24/7 timeframe. It facilitates complete transparency, collates evidence and removes ambiguity around untoward events.
"The evidence from Providers who have installed CCTV seems to me to merit careful attention and to be quite persuasive"
Just some of the Care Providers who support our CCTV Safety Monitoring in Care Homes
Download their 'Safety Monitoring In Communal Areas in Care Homes' document
Chiltern and South Bucks District Council SAFE PLACE SCHEME has called on Care Campaign for the Vulnerable to add our support to the initiative for those who are vulnerable in the community to get help if out and about and feeling scared , lost or confused.
Read more
Care Campaign for the Vulnerable is learning of the pressures faced by conscientious led Care Providers striving to offer a caring and safe environment to both service users and staff. Safety monitoring is proving to be a invaluable care assist tool - bringing a more open and transparent culture into care homes as well as saving valuable resources within the care home sector and the NHS