York residents less happy with care services

Suicide rates up

Social careIn York the most recent figures show that a total of 30 people died by suicide in York in 2013, decreasing to 16 in 2014 before increasing again to 28 in 2015.

A report published this week raised other concerns about care services in the City,

“Delayed transfers of care from hospital, and those which are attributable to adult social care of NHS care and those which are attributable to adult social care have risen slightly since last year and, although they have not returned to poor levels seen 2013/14, York remains above (worse than) the national, family and regional average for these indicators”.

The overall satisfaction level for people who use care and support services shows a decrease from last year (64% down from 67% in 2014/15) and a sustained fall since 2013/14, with York performance now slightly below the regional and national averages.

There were two indicators where York had significantly worse outcomes compared with the England average: hospital admissions for self-harm for people aged 10-24 and hospital admissions for tooth decay for children aged between 1 and 4 years.

Available local data on self-harm for this age range shows that 80% of admissions were females, the largest group were females aged 15-19 and there were a number of young people with multiple admissions in the year. A self-harm needs assessment has recently been carried out to enhance understanding of this issue within the City.

There were 117 admissions for tooth decay in York over a three-year period and based on the England average only 83 would have been expected.

The figures are being discussed at a Council Executive meeting later today

Record number of disabled people in York get grants to adapt property

163 people qualified for disabled facilities grants in York last year.

This is the largest number ever recorded.

On average the cost of adaptations was £5,315.

People with disabilities can get a grant of up to £30,00 from the Council..

The types of work that can be undertaken include:

  • widen doors and install ramps
  • improve access to rooms and facilities – e.g. stair lifts or a downstairs bathroom
  • provide a heating system suitable for your needs
  • adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

Applications are means tested so some applicants are required to pay for part of the costs. Applicants are required to continue living in the adapted property for at least 5 years.

The total bill for adaptations came to over £1 million last year. However, this is much less than the equivalent cost of institutional care. The modifications allow residents to remain in their own homes even after suffering a decline in health.

The York Council also improved the speed with which it dealt with applications and the time taken to make grants.

More details for applicants can be found by clicking here

Disabled Facilities Grants

Disabled Facilities Grants – Response to FOI request

Grove House on the market next month

May be demolished later in the year

Grove House

Grove House

Following our story yesterday, it has emerged that the former elderly persons home at Grove House could be placed on the open market for sale as soon as next month.

The property is currently empty.

Council officials are saying though, because planning permission will be needed if, as  expected, houses are to be built on the site, it could be the middle of 2017 before redevelopment work starts.

The Council may decide to demolish the buildings in the interim.

Majority of York’s Residential, Nursing and Homecare Services rated ‘Good’

Two thirds of York’s Residential, Nursing and Homecare Services are rated as ‘Good’ according to national inspectors, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Social careMembers of City of York Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee will receive a report about the performance of care services in the city at their meeting next week (26 April).

Almost half of registered services in York have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission – the national regulatory body for health and social care – under their new inspection model.

Of those inspected*, 65.9 per cent were rated as Good, compared to 47.6 per cent in 2015, and a national average of 59 per cent.

A total of 2.4 per cent were rated as Outstanding (the highest possible rating) compared to a national average of one per cent. 31.7 per cent were rated as Requiring Improvement, compared to a national average of 33 per cent. No homes were rated as Inadequate, compared to a national average of seven per cent.

York’s services scored particularly highly on how caring they were, how effective and how responsive to customers’ needs under City of York Council’s own monitoring process.

The report also includes details about the annual Home Care Survey. Of the 181 customers who responded, 93 per cent stated that they were satisfied with the quality of the services they received.

Customers’ social care views to shape local priorities

CQC report formAdults receiving care and support from City of York Council are being asked for their views and experiences of the services as part of a nationwide survey throughout January and February.

The Adults’ Social Care Survey, which will be sent out by every council in England and Wales, will be used by the authority to understand the experiences of people receiving its care and support services.
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York Adult Social Care: Local Account 2016’ published

Click to download

Click to download

Details of some of the achievements, improvements and continuing challenges in adult social care and support in York over the last year are now available in a single booklet.

‘Working together in Adult Social Care: Local Account 2016’ looks at a wide range of key services provided or commissioned by the council for customers, including older people, people with physical disabilities, those with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and dementia.

The report sets out key areas that the council will be focusing on for the year ahead as well as highlighting many of the challenges that York, along with other social care authorities across the country, faces.
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Rat attack in York – Inquiry ordered by government

PAY--Glen-Lodge-nursing-home-in-York-where-Pamela-Hudson-75-was-allegedly-bitten-by-a-ratFollowing our story on Tuesday, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has now ordered an investigation.

We had asked for the matter to be reported to the Councils Health Scrutiny Committee which is meeting on Tuesday, but the Council has not yet confirmed that the issue will be added to that agenda.

Patricia Hudson, 75, suffered injuries to her face, body and arms caused, her family believes, by a rodent at the council-run home Glen Lodge, in York.

Elderly care figures cause for concern in York

Independent checks reveal over 52% of care homes in York require improvement

Care home quality performance Nov 2015

 

The latest reports into the quality of elderly care being provided, in both Council and privately run homes in York, are being discussed next week. Copies of all CQC reports can be found at www.cqc.org.uk

York falls below the national average in having 9.5% of inspected homes rated as inadequate with a further 42.9% listed as “requiring improvement”.

Only 43% were rated as being “safe” – an assessment which covers such items as the management of medicines.

81% were however rated as “caring”.

So far only 21 (26%) of homes in the City have been inspected by the CQC

Of the two homes rated as inadequate an FOI response yesterday revealed what action the York Council had taken to resolve issues.

South Park – “An improvement plan has been created with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), City of York (CYC) Council and the home to address the issues in the CQC report. Regular monitoring visits from CYC are taking place with the home to ensure that the plan is being addressed”. (Next week’s report however comments “Unfortunately, these improvements have not been sustained of late, but the provider again has shared the plans they have in place for substantial investment in the facilities“).

Haisthorpe House – “An improvement plan was created with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), City of York (CYC) Council and the home to address the issues in the CQC report. Regular monitoring visits from CYC have taken place to monitor progress on this improvement plan and ensure suitability of placements for the residents involved.  The home has now been purchased by a new operator, and CYC will continue to monitor to ensure further improvements are made and sustained under the new provider”.

The Which (https://twitter.com/WhichUK) consumer magazine has recently published a report which may help users of care facilities, and their relatives, when making a choice of home.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

The Council pays for the residential care costs of over 500 elderly people at present. The amounts paid to care home owners varies:  

  • Residential (Ordinary) – £435.45 per week
  • Residential EMI – £460.30 per week
  • Nursing (Ordinary) – £549.85 per week
  • Nursing EMI – £571.45 per week
  • City of York Council Owned EPH – £542.99 per week
93% of customers said they were satisfied with the Council’s home care arrangements.

The Council’s report concludes saying,

“A number of the capacity and quality concerns identified of late are linked to the recruitment and retention of care staff across the city and the sector in general. Providers are facing difficulties in terms of recruiting suitable carers across home care, residential and nursing care services”.

According to another report being considered next week, York is performing relatively poorly on delays in transferring elderly people from hospital to community care. “Reablement” services also take longer to provide in York than elsewhere in the region. The full performance statistics can be viewed by clicking here

Performance elderly Nov 2015

Looking after someone? Know your rights: Carers Rights Day on Friday

Thousands of people looking after a disabled, older or seriously-ill loved one in the region may be missing out on vital benefits and support.

crd-no-date

It’s estimated that there are over 18,000 carers in York alone, with around 1,300 under the age of 18.

Carers Rights Day (Friday 20th November) brings together organisations across the UK to help carers in their local community find out about their rights and how to get the help and support they are entitled to.

It’s hoped that the Day will help reach out to the 6.5 million people in the UK who care for an older, seriously-ill or disabled loved one, informing them of the rights, benefits and the services they are entitled to; including benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, short breaks and access to equipment and technology which can help them in their caring role.

Carole Zagrovic, Chief Executive of York Carers Centre, said:

“It’s vital that we reach out to the thousands of carers in York and let them know about their rights and the support they could be entitled to. We will be able to provide carers with important advice and information to make sure they know how to get the financial and practical support they need, when they need it.”

Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“Every day, 6,000 people begin caring for a disabled, older or seriously-ill loved one. But when this caring journey starts, it can be hard to get the help and advice you need. Without this support, caring can take a serious toll on a carer’s health, finances and wellbeing. No one should have to care alone and Carers Rights Day events mean they don’t have to; carers can get the essential information and advice they need and connect with other local carers.”

Councillor Carol Runciman, Executive member for Adult Social Care and Health, City of York Council, said: “Carers are the unsung heroes of our communities. They provide care and support to friends and loved-ones, but are often unaware of the help and support they can get themselves. Often carers do not realise the importance or significance of the work they do. Carers Rights Day is an opportunity to celebrate the impact carers have in our society, while raising the profile of the rights they have and help available.”

Carers can download a copy of the Carers’ Rights’ Guide at www.carersuk.org/carersrightsguide or order a free copy by calling the Carers UK’s Adviceline on 0808 808 7777 or emailing advice@carersuk.org

For more information about York Carers Centre, please contact enquiries@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk or phone 01904 715490.

Case study: Leigh’s story  (more…)

Adult social care funding confusion

A similar fate has befallen plans to invest £75,000 in Adult Social Care support.

The latest forward programme shows the item as having been withdrawn.

Originally it had been intended to consider a report which would

“present information about the proposal to invest funding over the next 2 years in community initiatives which prevent or delay the need for Social care funding airportpeople to access statutory social care provision.

Use of £75,000 of this funding has already been agreed, as per the ‘Listening to Residents: Ward Committees’ paper presented to Executive on 30th July 2015 (whereby £75k will be devolved into ward budgets on a ‘per capita’ basis).

Therefore this report makes proposals for the remaining funding.

Officials say this item has now been “withdrawn to allow further work with public health”.

Litter and cleanliness

Consideration of initiatives to improve the cleanliness of the City have been put back until a meeting scheduled to take place on 25th January. Litter is the second most mentioned concern by residents returning our Focus surveys (after footpath surface condition)