Morning All,
http://caringforourfuture.dh.gov.uk/files/2011/09/SocialCareFeedbackForm_acc.pdf
I am sending the above document (found through the Community Care Website) to as many home care workers as I can reach. I don't know whether our views will be ignored or not, but I am ever the optimist and you never know unless you try. If nothing else, I believe that any exercise that gets often dejected home care workers to express their views constructively and publicly is a good thing.
However, has anyone tried to fill this thing in yet? I've been trying to think of a way to describe it and my addled brain keeps producing the word 'gobble'. The language isn't exactly obtuse but the layout isn't user friendly either. What do you think? Is this really an accessible document for front line workers, carers and service users?
The 'Caring for our Future' press release on the DH website does claim that the views of carers are being sought, though it is not entirely clear whether they mean the paid or unpaid type. I hope it is both as both are essential to a successful service.
Fairly par for the course I'm afraid. What would improve it, do you think? What would you like to see the form looking like and asking?
1) Less jargon: Integrated Services and Practice-based Evidence are not phrases I hear workers, carers, and SUs using (although personalisation seems to have filtered down now). This does not mean that they would not understand the concept if described another way, eg. How could carers, GPs and District Nurses work better together? Give examples of when xyz has happened.
2) Ask the contributor directly: What, if any, barriers to integration should be removed, and how can we incentivise better integration of service at all levels? (3d) should read something like, Have you ever experienced any problems trying to get social workers, nurses, carers etc to work together? Why do you think it was difficult to get them to work together?
3) Ask one question at a time. Question, space for answer, question, space for answer. Six vague questions followed by a blank space looks really uninviting. You may as well put: Public spending should be focused on prevention, not intervention. Discuss. (1000 words, marks will be lost for grammar and spelling mistakes).
4) Ask open questions. None of the questions under section four (prevention) invite any ideas for preventative action. Our ideas might not be particularly sophisticated but I reckon SUs, carers and workers could point out some things that would have managers kicking themselves. One of my favourite prevention issues is dry skin. As dry skin cracks it pulls apart the good skin underneath, which leads to bleeding and the need for district nurses to make visits to apply and change dressings. These kind of injuries are very difficult to heal and - if on the feet - can lead to the loss of mobility (leading to loss of independence and the need for extra mobility aids). Simple solution: Give everyone receiving carers a pot of (dirt cheap) aqueous cream or white paraffin and make sure it is applied to the heels and shins after washing. Ta Da!
I might be wasting my time, but I'm going to write to Paul Burstow about my ideas. I'll let you know how I get on.