Gina and Ian talk about working differently to ensure residents receive unique and good life at The Great Hospital.
It takes a bravery to look at how resources can be used sustainably whilst providing subsidised activities and meals along with care that ensures independance and good care.
Ian and Gina provide examples of what this looks like, and how through working in partnership with AGE UK residents have supported awarness to what benefits can enable them to have more financial choice.
In Christophers final reflections he emphasises the impact of people being able to tell their stories and be heard.
Noting the sense of being free and being able to share their experiences without being shut down.
He finishes by noting that while budgets are important, the primary focus must be on maintaining a high standard of care that is personally owned by the individual receiving it.
Jac and Baz talk about experiences of carers who the care Jac needs as a task, such as coming in wiping her backside and going.
This is in contrast to more postive experience of care where the cares are interested in building a realationship, having chat, leaving tea, tv remoted controll within reach etc all which helps them feel seen and human instead of a piece of meat that needs cleaning up.
Fitting support around the person rather than expecting people who have chaotic lives to fit around the system is a key part of how Under One Roof provides support, otherwise it is setting people up to fail.
Zena and Angela talk about how they navigate the reality of the work with other services from managing how they run courses, exploring ways they can work with other services whilst holding the value of individuals and lived experience at the heart of the service they provide.
Sue shares words summarising the extensive challenges and stress she and her brother have faced while caring for mum and dad.
Despite being qualified to understand and navigate the care system, they have struggled to get needed respite and support services from Norfolk County Council over three years.
The constant responsibility has severely impacted their mental health, relationships, and personal well-being. They describe the complexities of managing healthcare needs, navigating insufficient and inconsistent support from care agencies, and the toll it takes on their daily life.
It has improved and whilst it is better than it was they it is a struggle to maintain their own health and balance.
Ian Callam (Manager of NR Care) gives an overview of how NR Care became a care provider at The Great Hospital.
He talks about the importance of building relationships with residents to understand their needs whilst being sensitive to the transition process staff and residents were moving through.
NR Care really believe in a 360/care approach.
Ian touches on some examples of how well this fits with the relationship they have with The Great Hospital staff and their residents from overseeing a simple shopping trip with good communication and a bit of support to working with Great Hospital staff to oversee a doctors appointment that might be made earlier in the day and needs to be supported later on.
Now that Iris has 24 hour care she feels much safer, knowing that somone is there who she can call on. This has also been a great relief to Sue and her brother meaning they don’t need to drop everything to attend.
This is especially reassuring at night reducing the need for urgent late night calls, also enhancing Iris’s sense of security.
Christopher talks about the delicate balance within peoples care plan between what people need and what they want.
He reflects that against the aspects that ensure safety the conversation of “what else would you like” is just as important enabling the person receiving care to have ownership.
He reflects this in the context of the Real Care Deal, what this means in relation to an Ethical Vision which is about defining values and principles, in turn becoming ethically good standards in social care which most critically need to be maintained.
Iris and her daughter Sue reflect on how it feels when she is not asked what she would like, how it makes her feel uncomfortable describing it as though she is not living in her own home. They talk about how they raise problems with the care provider and intervene when care is not thought through.
They talk about whether care workers are aware of the effect this has, touching on what prevents carers from understanding the experience and perspective of the person being cared for. Iris shares experiences of food provided by care support has been poor being served cold, not enough or strange concoctions like soup instead of gravy around a meal, leaving her feel uncomfortable and not listened to.
Sue notes that is is important to ask how someone might like a meal cooked rather than just what you want to east bringing to light what we take for granted ourselves and what being dependent on care looks and feels like.
Gina gives examples of what working differently means to residents the transition for staff.
An example of one resident who recognised they need a bit of help to stay safe but did not want to loose the indpendence they had and thrived on by going uneccesiarly into to more supported care and wanted to stay in their own home.
From previous experience of working in residential care Gina reflects on the beneftis of the ‘residences’ approach enabling people to live in the environment they know and like supporting greater wellbeing and a good life.
Gina talks about staff transitioning from being the care provider to providing wellbeing support, the importance of good communication and the difference a cup of tea and a catch up make to working effectively.
