Care England has welcomed the launch of Teaching Care Home Impact Report; this suite of reports sums up the Teaching Care Home Programme - ground-breaking, nurse-led pilots to improve the learning environment for staff working in homes, undergraduate nurse apprenticeships and all learning placements in care homes.
Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England says: “These pilots demonstrate that the care sector is a crucial part of the health and social care landscape. Both nurses and carers have a vital part to play in the professional nursing agenda. This initiative has fostered strong partnerships and goes some way to developing a sustainable workforce that takes pride in providing high quality, joined up care.”
The report was launched at the Care Home Parliamentary Reception in the House of Lords hosted by Baroness Greengross. Representatives from the pilot care homes had the opportunity to meet Parliamentarians, members of the Care Home Parliamentary Network and providers and they received a trophy in recognition of their hard work and commitment.
Professor Martin Green OBE continues:“Care England has enjoyed working in partnership with ILC UK, Manchester Metropolitan University and the Foundation of Nursing Studies. The year long project has demonstrated that care homes are an essential part of an integrated health and social care system and they have an important role to play in training and developing an integrated workforce. We are delighted that the participants have agreed to continue to share their knowledge and we are in the midst of seeking additional funding to further this objective.”
The pilot projects have explored a range of areas including the untapped resources and expertise of the registered nursing workforce, the residents’ experience of mealtimes and developing practice within care homes. The pilots have brought home how care homes are an interesting place to work as well as the need to retain the rich and diverse workforce in order to rise to the challenges of delivering social care fit for the 21st Century.
Professor Deborah Sturdy, director health and wellbeing, Royal Hospital Chelsea says: “Care home nursing is a much misunderstood part of the nursing family that requires a plethora of skills often not recognised by NHS colleagues. Without expert nurses in care homes many older people, or those with learning disabilities, do not receive the care that they need and deserve”.
The pilot sites are as follows:
Millbrook Lodge, Orders of St John Care Trust in Gloucestershire
Rose Court, HC-One in Bury
Berwick Grange, MHA in Harrogate
Lady Sarah Cohen House, Jewish Care, in Barnet
Chester Court, Barchester in Bedlington
The reports can be found at http://www.careengland.org.uk/teaching-care-home-pilot
