Homecare experiences report social care, Salford

Summary of report

Healthwatch Salford was commissioned by Salford Together to conduct a series of listening engagement sessions with frontline staff involved in the delivery of homecare services. The Care Quality Commissioning (CQC) inspections of homecare services in Salford also concluded that there are opportunities to improve standards. The Salford Homecare Transformation Project aims to implement a robust process to redesign and transform the provision of homecare services using a co-design approach. Some of the overarching strategic objectives of the engagement are to: increase understanding of the case for change of homecare services in Salford, provide opportunities for active, open dialogue throughout the process to allow service users, carers and staff to input into, and be involved in, the redesign process, produce quality standards which focus on the needs of service users, their carers and families. Through evidence based co-design, HW Salford hosted a series of listening events. 81 people participated generating 1,048 comments. These included comments made about ‘staff perceptions of the patient/service user experience’, ‘staff morale’, ‘training’, ‘terms and conditions’, ‘staffing’, ‘resources’. Staff were asked about their vision for homecare in the future and what needs to happen to improve patient experience.

Recommendations

Homecare agencies should prioritise continuity and make efforts to ensure that their clients can see the same carer wherever possible. A training and carer pathway for care workers in Salford should be developed between partners. Conclusion: HWS found staff to be enthusiastic, dedicated and excited by the proposal of having a real influence on the transformation of homecare services locally.