Health, Social Care and Early years provisions.

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Leanne Knott 12RMO

 

Health, Social Care and Early years provisions – Unit 5

We have been asked to produce a case study on one local health, social care or early year’s organisation that it part of a national framework. The study should show your understanding of how services have developed and care structured and must include:

  • The purpose and functions of the organisation, including the impact of demographic characteristics.
  • Reference to the purpose and functions of the national framework
  • How clients and informal carers gain access to the service of the organisation and the barriers they may encounter
  • How the organisation is funded nationally and locally
  • Recent changes in legislation, reforms or policies that have affected the organisation.

Introduction into Foulgers House.

Foulgers house is a residential home for the elderly located on Ber Street, Norwich approximately ten minutes walking distance from the city. The accommodation in which it offers its potential residents is situated on one level, looking out onto some fine views of the city. The aim of Foulger’s house is to provide a standard of individual care for the residents.

THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL SERVICES AT THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL

When Parliament passes laws which requires certain services to be provided they are called statutory services. The majority of health services come under this heading, and the too main providers of the statutory services are that of the National Health Service and the Social Services departments. These services are generally organised the same across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Social services at a National level

The National Social services set out new plans in 1998, which incorporated developing a new General Social Care council. This council would raise the standards of social care staff and make sure that the training levels are enhanced.

At National Level the secretary of State for Health is accountable for the provision of social care services although it is the local authorities that oversee them, although at a local level the director of the Social Services at county hall will be responsible. The Parliament holds all the power and responsibility over the local authorities. Each of these local authorities has a social service committee, which have the authority in developing the social acre within their particular area, and each must appoint a director of social services whose department administers the social acre services. The structure of social services is sometimes prearranged into offices depending on which area it is operated from. Below is a diagram of the way in which social services are organised;

                                             

The organisational structure within the social services hierarchy authority structure has changed over the past few years to enable new roles which had been made compulsory by a new legislation.  Due to this new change, many departments have had to change their staffing structure in order to suit the new functions. It now means that there is more emphasis on for the social services acquiring the care, alternatively to the providers of the care. This new change will mean that the social services can no assess the need for care. To achieve this, the social services divide into different groups to provide for specific groups, such as elderly, children and families etc. This has now meant that a clear division between the providers and purchases of care has been created, and because of this social services have been able to become more efficient by the splitting into the various groups to provide for them. An example of the structure of social services departments is show below:

Social services and their functions

Social services mission’ statement (at the local level/Norfolk):

'The Social Services Department exists to ensure that people in Norfolk with social care needs are provided with help, care and support to enable them to live independent and dignified lives at home or elsewhere in the community.’

The Norfolk social services are predominately there to help the elderly to live their lives to their full potential, whilst making sure that they continue to have their autonomy and independence. Norfolk social services do not only help the elderly, but also help the carers who care for them mainly by providing funding for the different services that is on offer. For example money is provided for:

  • Home care
  • Day services
  • Residential or short term accommodation
  • Rehabilitation or special equipment

Social services make sure that they help as many people as they possibly can nevertheless priority are given to those who are in need of help the most. The help is aimed at those who are extremely frail and vulnerable. To decide who needs their help first, a chart is drawn up of the basic needs each person has, and what would happen if these needs were not met.  If a person does not reach a certain level called ‘major concern’ then they are not eligible to receive help from this particular department. In this event, information will be provided about what other services can help someone. If someone’s conditions change and deteriorate then they can get a further assessment from the department again.  Help can be arranged if you have any of the below problems:

  • Someone can’t get out of bed without help of others.
  • Preparing meals, washing yourself and simple and essential tasks are too hard to do by yourself
  • If someone is in sustainable risk because relatives or friends who usually help cannot provide it anymore
  • For carers who are putting their own health and welfare at risk because of their caring tasks
  • If someone is a sufferer of depression or dementia.
  • If someone has been subjected to physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse, or if there are good reasons to suspect you might be at risk of this happening

Although social services do provide help to those with the above problems, they do not provide help for any of the below:

  • cleaning (other than hygienic)
  • shopping
  • collection of pensions
  • collecting any prescriptions
  • ironing or other household tasks
  • bathing, if you can manage a shower or strip wash

Social services do have a list of County Council accredited agencies, which do provide care at home and information about the local shops which deliver goods and also about independent organisations which maybe provide other useful services.

Within Norfolk the head of social services is Lisa Christensen, and she has three assistants, which are in charge of different departments. Glen Garrod is responsible for community care, which involves all services for adults who are clients including; assessment and care management, homecare, residential or short-term accommodation, day services, rehabilitation and equipment

The other two assistants, , being the senior assistant is responsible for services including planning, finance, administration, research and information contracting, training, buildings and supplies and communications, and Rosemary Claridge who is an assistant director is responsible all services for children and families who are clients, including child protection, residential accommodation or fostering, family support and services for children with disabilities and adoption.

THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE OF FOULGER’S HOUSE

The management structure at Foulger’s house is relatively simple. It takes the form of a hierarchical structure, which clearly states the order of authority.

                                                                                                                                                

All of the staff stated above has different roles to carry out within the residential home. These are described below:

The manager

The manager will take the overall charge within Foulger’s house. They will set out such things as sorting out finances, patients and staff. Managers will be involved in such activities as completing the staff’s time sheets, recruiting new staff, and the general running of the residential home. They will be making sure that the assistant managers, care assistants and domestic assistants are all carrying out their own personal tasks in a efficient manner.

The assistant managers

The assistant managers are there to be directed by the manager. They will be involved in such activities as making sure that effective assessments have been made of all of the residents, and their own individual needs are being carried out by the care assistants. They will also take the role of making sure that care plans have been made for the residents.

The care assistants

The care assistants are the actual people who take care of the elderly people within Foulger’s house. They will do such tasks as to wake up the residents, get them washed and dressed and taken down to breakfast. They will make sure that they have eaten all meals each day. Other things will include bathing the residents and administering specific drugs under the safeguard of the assistant manager. The care assistants are much more hands on than either the manager or the assistant managers.

The domestic assistants

The domestic assistants will be accountable for such tasks as washing the resident’s laundry, or cleaning Foulger’s house to make sure that it is a clean and homely place to live in. they may also have to take care of such tasks as cooking the residents meals, and making them drinks etc.

THE PURPOSE OF FOULGER’S HOUSE AND THE SERVICES IT HAS TO OFFER

The staff at Foulgers house aim to provide a standard of individual care for the residents, which is as high as it possibly, can be achieved. They want to create an environment, which is not only friendly but also homely. They also have other aims in which they strife to achieve to make sure that the residents are cared for to the best of the staff’s ability:

  • There will be no limitations on the rights that the residents receive as an individual, and they will be treated with respect and dignity.
  • There is no restrictions on a residents or visitors privacy, and it can be requested at all times
  • Preferences and choices of any resident will be respected in keeping with their abilities and safety.
  • Residents will be encouraged to keep their own independence, lifestyle and to continue any of their own interests.
  • Each of the residents will have their own care plan based on their own particular social needs and assessment and evaluation of care. This programme will also include risk assessment.
  • Assisting residents to maintain fulfilment in their daily live will be taken care by the staff. Activities will be offered to residents to maintain personal and social skills.
  • Encouragement will be aimed at friends, relatives and visitors to enter into social activities and any comments will be welcomed and if fitting acted on.
  • The staff in the home will offer carers such support as may be necessary in respect of matters relating to their relatives living at home.
  • A high level will be maintained to make sure that the environment is that to the limit of the budget allocated by social services.

Foulgers house is able to accommodate twenty-two residents on a long-term basis. There are nineteen single bedrooms and two double bedrooms and a respite care bedroom, which relieves the pressure. The bedrooms include;

  • Basins
  • Electric sockets
  • And call bells
  • Television aerials and telephones may be installed if required

There are communal areas in which include a dinning room within the home, two very attractive lounges, wide and open corridors. There are bathrooms situated centrally in the building, and two of them are able to assist people with disabilities.  There is also a comfortable lounge for visitors and residents to make tea and coffee too.

Visitors:

Friends, relatives may visit at any time and are also very welcomed. However visits must be arranged if they are wishing to eat with the residents, and a small charged is asked for this. Visitors are very welcomed to come and join in any fund raising events, which the home might put on.

Join now!

Laundry

All clothing is asked to be labelled when admitted. However if a relative or friends wishes to help with a residents laundry this is acceptable.

Meals

Breakfast is served at 8.30.

Lunch is served at 12.30

Tea is served at 4.30

These times stated above are flexible and the homes will accommodate to any dietary requirements. If meals want to be taken in the evening this can be arranged. There are choice of two main meals and deserts daily. There are also additional snacks such as salads fresh fruit. There is a ...

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