A Different Approach

In the Care Industry, one of the biggest Industries in the UK, bad care is endemic, and from the considerable research undertaken over many years, has long been known.

The Foundation therefore has to question why the UK is not adequately addressing these issues, and why no true progress has been made in improving the consistency of social care.

Is it because people don’t know how to care for the ever-increasing population of frail and vulnerable people needing these services? Or is it because health and social care, now reflects a lack of political will on the part of leaders to protect their most vulnerable populations?

The concept that lack of money and limited resources being the main cause of failing care services, are disingenuous. Bad care will be found where management leadership systems are professionally dysfunctional, and disconnected, are not closely linked to the respect, value and support of its staff and to making the best use of research, education and development.

According to Sir Robert Francis “the following accumulation into the warning signs of a culture of abuse and neglect:

·         A negative culture

·         Disengagement and not listening to those being cared for or staff,

·         Poor governance

·         Lack of nursing and care standards in service

·         Lack of openness to criticism

·         Lack of consideration for those receiving care

·         Defensiveness and secrecy,

·         Acceptance of poor standards*

(* Taken from Sir Robert Francis QC- Summary of The Mid Staffordshire-NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry).

Management cannot guarantee any good quantified experience and will struggle when systems show all the risk of safeguarding issues where:

·         It has failings at organisational levels

·         Hasn’t the presence of an effective staff team,

·         Staff struggle to cope without united guidance, support and encouragement

·         It does not enable good management and leadership practices to prevent the disregard of the welfare of the people receiving care

·         You cannot have good care because not everyone works together.

Such care systems will stifle innovation; it leads to poor attitudes and approaches that demotivate staff and leads to staff resigning because they cannot deliver the standard of nursing and care they would wish. Therefore, care providers become reliant on good care from individuals, rather than cohesive team work.

Old ways have not worked. It is time to move forwards and towards fresh ideas and a new approach to care. Prevention is possible, but it is only through care training that is dedicated to building a thoughtful reflection from management and staff on understanding how to share their caring purpose.


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