County council home care service in Starbeck ‘requires improvement’

A home care service provided by North Yorkshire County Council in Harrogate has been rated as ‘requires improvement’ by the industry regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Harrogate Home Support only met the standards for a ‘good’ rating in one of the five areas of judgement during its inspection in June.

The report, published this month, said the service – based at NYCC’s premises at 68a High Street – did not always give people enough choice over their lives and that record-keeping was not always thorough enough.

The report said:

“We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

“Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

“The service was not able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

“Records were not always up to date and decisions made on behalf of people under the Mental Health Act 2005 were inconsistently applied or reviewed to ensure they continued to be the least restrictive option and in the persons [sic] best interest.

“The registered manager was responsive to our feedback and acted immediately. Associated health professionals were contacted to review all outstanding decision making and review records to ensure they included up to date person centred information.”

The report said staff followed infection control procedures with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). It said they also issued medication safely, which was acknowledged by service users and their families.

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However, the assessments of whether the service was well-led, effective, responsive and safe all concluded it ‘requires improvement’. The report highlighted areas of concern such as:

“Information including risk assessments had not been completed to keep people and staff safe when navigating in and around people’s homes.

“An incident was recorded where staff had been attacked by a domestic animal owned by a person in receipt of a service. There was no evidence to demonstrate the actions taken to ensure everyone was aware of the risks and to keep others safe as part of lessons learnt.”

Inspectors found service users were encouraged in their hobbies and supported to take part in activities relating to these.

They were also given help to keep in touch with friends and family, such as learning to use video calling.

The service supports 15 people, of whom 11 receive care which is regulated by the CQC, and employs 32 staff.

‘Very happy’

Assessing whether the service was caring, the CQC report rated this area ‘good’ and said:

“People and their relatives told us they were actively involved in the planning of their care and were supported to express their views.

“One person said, “I have a care plan and I had a review a few weeks back. I was very happy. Everything went smoothly so I feel very happy.'”

The CQC said it had highlighted the areas of concern to North Yorkshire County Council and requested a report back about the action to be taken.

Those areas will then be checked by the CQC to ensure progress has been made.

Cllr Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for health and adult services, said:

“We accept the findings of the Care Quality Commission inspection and although we are disappointed with the performance of Harrogate Home Support in some areas we are pleased the service was recognised as caring.

“Work has already started to address issues raised in the report and we believe those measures will help Harrogate Home Support receive a good CQC rating in future.

“In addition, we have also been in contact with families to make them aware of the outcome of this inspection and to invite any questions or concerns they may have about relatives in the care of Harrogate Home Support.”

Business Breakfast: Care provider adds 120 staff to Harrogate team

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A pay rise of 30% has helped a specialist care provider recruit 120 new members of staff.

Vida Healthcare is deploying the new team members across its three care homes in Harrogate in roles including care assistants, registered nurses and wellbeing staff.

The pay increase has seen qualified care assistants increase their hourly rates from £9.61 to £12.32, while nurses have gone from £18.50 to £22.50.

James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, said:

“Recent Skills for Care data found that filled posts in adult social care dropped for the first time ever and the number of vacant posts had increased by over 50%.

“It’s really important to us that we demonstrate to our team how much we appreciate and value them so that we can continue combating this crisis.

“Establishing various benefits including the pay increase and our bespoke training platform ‘Vida Academy’ also supports our colleagues in providing the best care to our residents. A role in social care isn’t just a job, but can be a very successful career.”

Vida Healthcare employs more than 470 staff to care for more than 200 residents living with dementia.

Its third care home, Vida Court on Beckwith Head Road, launched last year and features a cinema, sweet shop and hair salon.

Newly-employed team leader Jayne Christie said:

“It’s been a challenge to find a role in the sector which can provide the support that I need both in my job and out of work.

“Joining Vida was a no brainer thanks to the amazing things that are available to support myself and my colleagues like the pay increase and the amazing surroundings in the care homes.

“Social care is a really rewarding career, but it can be incredibly demanding both mentally and physically. Knowing that my employer cares about me and my wellbeing means a lot.”

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New director for Harrogate-based Eye Airports

A new director has been appointed to the head of an airport advertising firm in Harrogate.

Rachel Davies joins Eye Airports as one of three new appointments for parent company CP Media.

The outdoor advertising specialist has also added Ed Armstrong and Richard Eccles to its board as head of marketing and group chief operating officer respectively.

It follows a year of growth for the firm, with a 40% increase in group revenues to £6.8m in the last financial year.

Mike Brennan, CEO at CP Media, said:

“Rachel is the most experienced and successful regional airport advertising manager in the UK. Her promotion to the main board will strengthen both the company and the management.

“Ed has been with us for many years and now runs one of the most successful marketing departments in our industry.

“Richard has done outstanding work for the entire group over the last 10 years and thoroughly deserves this promotion.

“He has been my successful number two almost since the beginning and we wouldn’t be here without him. He is a vital part of our future growth.”

CP Media was named one of the 50 fastest growing Yorkshire companies by Ward Hadaway and number 78 in the UK in the top founder-led private businesses of 2022, awarded by FEBE Growth 100.

It has offices in Halifax as well as six of its 40-strong team being based in Harrogate, where Eye Airport is based. CP Media acquired the brand in 2019, taking advantage of its advertising rights for 19 regional airports.

Ripon man left alone in bed for 12 hours a night due to care staff crisis

Acute staff shortages in the care sector are forcing a disabled Ripon man to miss meals and stay in bed for up to 12 hours a day.

Daniel Abel, 37, has cerebral palsy and requires full-time care to live independently.

Mr Abel was discharged by a private sector care provider recently due to staff shortages, which brought him under the care of North Yorkshire County Council‘s emergency reablement service.

Mr Abel said the county council told him he would be under its care for up to three weeks but almost four weeks have passed and there is still no sign of being moved to a new provider.

Under his current care plan, he has a carer for one hour in the morning, 45 minutes at lunch time and another hour at bed time. By contrast, he received four hours of care in the morning and four hours at night with his previous provider.

Because Mr Abel no longer receives care at teatime he goes without an evening meal because he is too scared he may hurt himself.

Can’t eat, drink or go to toilet

His final carer arrives at 8pm to put him to bed, where he remains for almost 12 hours unable to eat, drink or go to the toilet.

He said being in bed for this much time also contributed to skin problems. Mr Abel added:

“I am someone who wishes I didn’t need care but unfortunately I do. I feel like with my current care I can’t have a life.

“The bigger care crisis is not my problem. I have to rely on my dad, who is 60-odd, to come and change the bed at night. When I’m having to get friends and dad to come over to me it’s uncomfortable for them and for me.

“I just want care to get me up, washed and dressed and then left to get on with my life.”

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He said he has spoken with another Harrogate care provider, which said it can offer him care but it may take three more weeks because of recruitment problems.

1,000 job vacancies

Richard Webb, corporate director for health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Adult social care is vitally important and we are pulling out all the stops to support the sector in every way possible during current challenges.

“On any given day across the county there are at least 1,000 jobs available. Never has the need for people to work in care been so great yet we are receiving 70% less applications for care jobs now then we were only a few months ago.

“These acute staffing shortages mean providers are handing back packages of care to us and our staff are going above and beyond to meet people’s needs.

“Reablement is a service we provide which is free of charge at the point of need and can last for up to six weeks and is aimed at supporting people to maximise their independence.

“In some circumstances our reablement service can continue to provide care at home until a new provider can be found and new care arrangements are put in place – where this happens, it becomes a charged-for service.”