Providing Nursing Support Within Residential Care Homes

The National Service Framework for Older People (Department of Health, 2001) formed the basis of successive policy for the reconfiguration of services in the care sector as a whole. Policy has indicated particular interest in the provision of intermediate care and the promotion of partnership working, including multi-agency assessment. Within the care home sector in particular, it is recognised that there are differences in the management of homes and access to NHS nursing and other expertise. The involvement of care homes in rehabilitation is also acknowledged to be variable. The training and education of care home staff is seen as crucial in addressing the complexity and dependency of older residents’ needs and ensuring a good quality of care. This study reports on an evaluation of an initiative in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) involving the Local Authority and the Primary Care Trust. In this area, a dedicated team provided nursing and physiotherapy to support up to 131 residents in three local authority residential care homes. The team members also supported enhanced health and nursing training for designated care staff within the homes.