Services for Residential Care Homes

Working together to deliver the best care for your residents 

Rose Therapy Centre offers support to nursing homes and care homes to provide the highest level of care for residents. Our experienced speech and language therapists work with staff to implement best practice in the identification and management of dysphagia (swallowing problems). 

Research suggests that around half of all residents within nursing homes suffer with some degree of swallowing problems. If a swallowing disorder is not recognised or managed effectively, this can lead to aspiration pneumonia, choking, dehydration and malnutrition as well as the negative impact on wellbeing. This can have a devastating effect on residents, their families and staff working within the care home. 

Early identification of swallowing disorders can prevent further health complications associated with feeding and swallowing difficulties. Rose Therapy Centre speech and language therapists can assess residents and help care staff to learn more about dysphagia so they can recognise when to request further assessment and support. 

Care Quality Commission 

In January 2016 the Care Quality Commission published the ‘Fundamental Standards’ which provides a list of standards below which your care must never fall.
http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/fundamental-standards 

These standards include the minimum level of treatment residents can expect as well as issues such as personal safety and competence of staff. The standards apply to all health and social care services in England including all nursing homes and care homes. 

Inspection teams use these standards along with 'Five Key Questions' to drive CQC inspections and these determine the overall rating your care home will achieve: 

  • Are they safe?
  • Are they effective? 
  • Are they caring?
  • Are they responsive to people's needs?
  • Are they well-led?

You can find out more about this criteria at the following link: 
http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/five-key-questions-we-ask

How can we help you demonstrate your good practice? 

Here at Rose Therapy Centre, we have a wealth of experience in both the NHS and private sector of working with clients with communication and swallowing difficulties. We base all of the work we do on the latest evidence and incorporate national policies and standards to ensure that you are meeting your residents' needs. 

Resident safety 

Unfortunately we have seen a number of cases where care homes have fallen below the level of expected care. There have been several reports of deaths from choking in the recent press. 

You may recall headlines such as:

  • Nursing home patient choked to death on her roast dinner
  • Nursing home stroke victim choked to death on a sandwich
  • Care home faces court over choking death
  • Care home staff put man to bed after he choked to death on a sandwich
  • Family condemn nursing home over choking death
  • Woman, 87, choked to death due to failings at care home 

In many cases, care homes are not able to demonstrate sufficient training in dysphagia and they most likely lack the policies and procedures related to swallowing disorders. Criminal prosecutions may follow such unfortunate events. 

Residential care homes are responsible for training and knowledge of staff in relation to feeding and swallowing safety. CQC inspections will investigate staff training and knowledge. 

Rose Therapy Centre Services

We can offer support in the following forms:

  • Individual communication and swallowing assessments for residents (person centred care) 
  • Training for care home staff at all levels 

Training includes:

  • Communication awareness and good practice 
  • Texture modifications 
  • Awareness training and screening for any signs of dysphagia using the ‘dysphagia framework’ definitions of competence 

Additional support: 

  • We can assist in writing policy documents and procedures in relation to residents with feeding and swallowing difficulties 
  • We can work together to make your home accessible to residents with communication difficulties, such as those resulting from stroke or dementia

Credentials

Rose Therapy Centre therapists have extensive experience working within the NHS and privately. Our therapists assess and treat speech and language problems in adults to support their ability to communicate. They also support people with eating, drinking and swallowing problems (dysphagia). They work closely with patients, carers and other professionals, such as care home staff, to improve a patients’ ability to communicate and maximise their quality of life.

Our Therapists are registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

We are also members of The Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP.)

Please contact us if you would like to know more about the services Rose Therapy Centre can offer you and your care home.