"Nobody ever looks back"

This was a quote from someone in a care home. But not for the reason you might think.

This came up from a recent conversation with a colleague who was recalling a conversation she had with someone being cared for in a care home. The resident mentioned it in passing. She then elaborated: when she rings the call bell for staff's help, they come and attend to the issue at hand, but rarely do staff check further:

"They don't look back and ask if i need anything else."

It was a sad reflection and made me think of the kind of cuts that care organisations will be forced to make following extra costs coming after April this year as a result of the Budget. These cuts ultimately mean that staff are hard pressed for time to do anything more than the most immediate. These, undoubtedly will include:

• redundancies
• reduction in staff
• reduction in staff progression
• reduction in services

It also makes me think of the restrictive practice of 15 minute calls. Do care staff have time to 'look back' and check if there is anything else that person needs? It feels like care will see the depersonalisation of the people who are being supported, where providers are forced to reduce their provision, return to task-based care and councils are forced to return to task-based commissioning. 😔

It's important to put the voice of those supported at the centre of our concerns about the sector and I was really touched by the reflections of that resident.

What Providers Unite Katrina Hall 💚 Nadra Ahmed CBE DL 💚 National Care Association and others are doing to plan for this month's Day of Action to platform the concerns about the care sector is vital. Sign up here to find out how you can support the day.... and turn up!

Let's all argue for all care workers to have the time to 'look back'... 🙏