The Importance of Employing Quality Staff in Residential Homes

Every care home manager dreads reading in the news about cases of abuse in Residential Homes. Not only does this mean that residents have suffered, but it also means that the spotlight falls, once again, on all Homes and the level of care and support that is given to residents.

Every Home Manager worries about their residents, and tries to put in place as many safeguards in place as possible, but the truth is, bad people are still slipping through the net and cases of abuse in Homes are on the rise once again. From the horrific case of Teo-Valentin Todorovits to the homophobic abuse suffered by Noel Glynn at the hands of care staff, it has never been more obvious that investing in employing good care staff should be a priority, before more residents are hurt – either physically or psychologically.

The Race To The Bottom

Unfortunately, due to the cost-of-living crisis, one of the main factors considered when taking on permanent (or agency staff) is the cost. Many Homes are cutting costs via staff wages, leading to a race to the bottom. Whilst this obviously saves money in the short term, it can lead to issues in the area of safeguarding in the future, and an obvious decline in quality.

One way that some Homes are trying to save money is with internationally resourced care staff. Some internationally resourced staff are new to the country, and while they may have years of care experience in their home country in Home and/or hospital settings, it can take some time for them to become up to speed with the way a UK Home is run and the safeguarding policies and procedures that are in place. This can lead to gaps in care and an increased risk of abuse, due to new staff being unaware of, or how to report, issues.

The quality of care that residents receive in a Home is directly affected by the quality of the staff who work there. Residential Homes should consider whether the cost of staff is the most important issue at hand, or is the safety of residents the priority.

Why is it important to employ experienced staff in Residential Homes?

There are a number of reasons why it is important for Homes to employ experienced staff. These include:

• To provide the best possible care for residents. Staff with experience in UK healthcare settings, and an understanding of safeguarding, are more likely to be able to identify and report abuse and neglect.
• To create a positive and supportive environment. Experienced staff can help to create a home-like environment where residents feel safe and respected. They can also help to promote social interaction and activities that enrich residents’ lives.
• To reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. Experienced care staff are more likely to follow safety procedures and take steps to prevent accidents and injuries.
• To improve staff morale and retention. When Homes employ experienced and skilled care staff, it indicates that they are committed to providing quality care. This can help to improve staff morale and retention, which is essential for providing high-quality care.

How can Homes ensure they employ quality staff?

There are a number of things that care homes can do to ensure they employ proficient care staff. These include:

• Set clear standards for agency staff qualifications and experience. Care homes should set clear standards for the qualifications and experience that staff must have. This will help to ensure that only qualified and experienced staff are employed.
• Conduct thorough interviews and reference checks. Care homes should conduct thorough interviews and DBS checks to assess candidates’ suitability for the role. This will help to ensure that only the best candidates are employed.
• Use agencies that provide ongoing training and development opportunities for staff to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest care practices. This will help to improve the quality of care that residents receive.
• Create a positive and supportive work environment. Care homes should create a positive and supportive work environment where staff feel valued and appreciated. This will help to attract and retain quality staff.

What we do differently at Medilink Nursing

• All of our agency staff are required to have at least 6 months’ relevant UK-based experience within the past 2 years, or 2 years’ UK-based experience within the past 5 years
• We also provide our staff with regular refresher courses as if they were full-time staff at a regular workplace. This includes People Moving & Handling, Infection Control, Food Hygiene, and more.
• All of our agency staff are DBS Checked regularly, and now we are moving our staff to the DBS Update Service via Aaron’s Department’s Automatic Update Service.

In addition to the points mentioned above, Medilink Nursing also considers the following factors when recruiting staff:

• Communication skills. Care home staff need to be able to communicate effectively with residents, their families, and other staff members.
• Empathy. Care home staff need to be able to understand and empathise with the residents’ needs.
• Patience. Care work can be demanding and stressful, so staff must be patient and understanding.
• Resilience. Care home staff have to be able to cope with the emotional challenges of the role.

Conclusion

The quality of care that residents receive in Residential Homes is directly affected by the quality of the staff who work there. Homes should therefore make every effort to employ skilled, experienced staff who are committed to providing the best possible care, or use an agency such as Medilink Nursing, who offers skilled agency staff with prior UK-based care experience.

If you’d like to make use of our agency staff, get in touch! You can reach our Operations Team on 0113 877 6383, or email us at care@medilinknursing.com. We’ve got people in the office from 6:00am to 10:30pm, ready to assist and answer any questions you may have about our services. We hope to hear from you soon!