Just wondering really, I have just got a job in nursing home, I am so stressed after finishing a day on a floor I have hardly been on, the floor has 13 residents, and I was the only care assistant on this floor and apparently this is NORMAL for this home.  There are 3 bed bound residents the rest are a bit more able but in varying levels.

Sure there has got to be a law somewere stating how many care assistants for so many residents, as 1 to 13 has got to be wrong.  I was so stressed, and did not do half of what I was supposed to do,  I am worried incase she I into trouble tomorrow off the boss.

Anyone know, and could possible give me a link to any info.  Thanks.

I don't know the legal answer to your question I'm sure someone on here will though but the mother of one of my sister-in-laws used to work in a care home (she retired a couple of years ago) and she used to mainly do nights (sleep-overs) now I know that when she did that there was only her and one other carer and she was there to just sleep on the premesis and be awoken if there was an emergency i.e if a resident needed hospital, so there was only one on duty with approx the same number as you. I know nights are different to days, but even so most of the residents aparantly didn't sleep much.

We always used to laugh at her as she just went there to sleep and get paid for it. :-D

At present we are looking for a suitable home for my Great Aunt and there are some real I'll be polite yuky places, with staff ratio's like this no wonder though. :-(

Try not to panic, you can only do what you can do, every day will be different sometimes residents will need more of your time, other days not and you can do all the other jobs too, you will soon get into a routine.

Hi

Do you have a work schedule? If it is a properly registered care home each resident should have a careplan detailing each care task and the time allocated to it.  The staff should then have a corresponding work schedule that allows for them to carry out those tasks at the designated time (give or take a bit). Is this happening?

Andrea

I have been there 2 months and have never seen anything like this.

I am so worried I start at 4, and think I am in for a rollocking?  Could I refuse to go on this floor, or would I risk my job?

http://www.csci.org.uk/

try here :)

Lucy
xx

My granddaughters' friend has just left her job in a care home because of this practice, so it seems to be quite normal.   I wonder what the relatives of the patients would think if they knew their loved ones were being treated in this way,  What if there was an emergency, one person, surely cannot cope !!!! Just my thoughts

Completely agree, in situations like this,  its not fair to the residents and its not fair to the staff.  I did not even get time for my break.  When rushing round like this something very important could be forgot. 

Following from Lucy's link - I have used this to check the homes that my mother, FIL and aunt lived in

http://www.csci.org.uk/registeredservicesdirectory/rsquicksearch.asp

Check to see what was said about your home and when it was last inspected.

Daisy

I work in a care home but with a different client group - ours are severe learning difficulties and challenging behaviour.  Our staff to Client ratio is about 1.5 clients to 1 staff member (apart from nightstaff when we have two staff on from 8.30pm til 7am).  Care work is notoriously badly staffed so I'd check out all the links that've been given and try and get something sorted.  You are an advocate for your residents but so many people just leave rather than rock the boat with management.

Debs

There definately are rules for number of which staff to residents, as a freind is a dep Matron at a home, but I can't remember the numbers.

I work for a well known charity company who as part of their company structure have care homes and I work on a nursing ward within the company.
The unit has 16 client's. We have in the morning 4 carer's a nurse ,matron and DRP if required. Afternoon is 3 carers, nurse, matron and DRP again.
I can also go and ask the manager to help as well along with any other staff members on duty.
We work as a family and we support each other no matter what.
I can't talk about the law on how many cares to client's but I have heard from agency staff that some homes do operate with low staff numbers.

How do the clients feel about their level of care?
You must be hoisting as some stage and this really needs 2 people, are you hoisting alone?
Have you done any moving and handling training ?
Have the company given you any advise on training?
What are the conditions like inside the home?
What about infection control, do you wear protective clothing and are these replaced after each visit to a client?
Do you have a nurse on duty helping you?
What policy and procedures are in place for you?
Have you gone through induction?
Do you have care plans, body charts, food and fliud charts, body charts, bowl movement charts?
What level of record keeping is in place to protect and look after the wellfare of the clients?
Do you have regular group meetings, supervision meetings and can you speak freely to the management?

I could ask you many questions but if you feel stressed and I can bet you feel tired, rushed and under constant pressure then its not good for you and your clients.

My company puts the client first!!
The clients will decide who is employed and in some cases what training the staff should be offered. They even take part in who is appointed on the board of directors!!
Clients have rights, they have to be respected and shown dignity and be treated with equality.
If you feel that the home is not offering these and more then sadly I would move on.

By the way I get stressed and tired but our family ( staff members) support each other and its understanding that your client comes first.

All I can say is some homes forget the values that are owed to those who are looked after and include the staff as well.

Can I add if you do feel the need to complain you can also contact social services along with CSCI .

Thanks for all you relpies.

Minipeace.  I am so annoyed as I find this job SO rewarding and love looking after people. its just a shame the home does not seem to be very organized, the homes is a lovely clean enviroment, and I would say 95% of the care assistants there are amazing at their jobs, only 1 to 2 I feel should not be in this job.  I will try to answer your questions. 

How do the clients feel about their level of care?
Not sure, but I know a few feel for us carers as they know we struggle, they should not have to feel this way.
You must be hoisting as some stage and this really needs 2 people, are you hoisting alone?
Never, I refuse, as I know if anything went wrong, I would be accountable,  I always get someone to help me.
Have you done any moving and handling training ?
Not yet.
Have the company given you any advise on training? 
Not really just kind of let me to watch and learn. but then I get wrong is something is not right, but how am I supposed to know what to do, if not shown.
What are the conditions like inside the home? 
It seems a lovely home with an amazing reputation.
What about infection control, do you wear protective clothing and are these replaced after each visit to a client?
I always were protective clothing and change.  But not one obttle of alcohol gel in the place?
Do you have a nurse on duty helping you? 
Yes she is supposed to work the floor with you after doing pills, but I have been unlucky and put on with the laziest one.
What policy and procedures are in place for you?
I do not have a clue?
Have you gone through induction?
Yes.
Do you have care plans, body charts, food and fliud charts, body charts, bowl movement charts?
Diet sheets, but thats it, the other care home had a fiel for each resident.
What level of record keeping is in place to protect and look after the wellfare of the clients?
Dont know.
Do you have regular group meetings, supervision meetings and can you speak freely to the management?
Not that I know of.

I dont have my NVQ either.

The poor new girl got put on this floor this morning, she does not know residents of anything, I had been on this floor 3 times so had some idea of who was who, I tried to help her as much as I could even though I would not on that floor.

Been looking at the off duty, and some days next week there will only be 3 carers on, that 1 to eachy floor and 2 nurses.  Some of the nurses are great and help loads other are lazy. 

I jusy with employes would realise that by staff being stressed and over worked, that the service users are not getting what they need.

I am determind to get my NVQ level 4 and become a manageress and run a home the way it should be run.

I congratulate you on your dedication and concern for the residents/patients...however, by and large I think this is a common occurance in care homes! When I was doing my RGN training I did agency work as a care assistant in some homes...some of them I wouldn't even let them look after a dog, never mind a human being(now, some may say the dogs get better care than their families!!! :D) Myself and a friend, both mature students managed to get one home shut down in Leamington Spa as the conditions and care was abysmal, shockingly it was owned and run by a Doctor!!!

Now, for some advice, if you want it?? maybe you don't?? To undertake level 4 NVQ requires a lot of work and dedication! Not only from yourself, but also from your employers! They will need to payfor an assessor, or have a member of  staff capable of undertaking assessment of practical/adademic elements of the NVQs. Have you thought about doing your Nurse Training proper?? If you don't have the required qualifications there are several entry level courses you can take to gain entry to Uni?? If you are determined to make care homes a better place then I wish you all the good luck and blessings needed!!

All the best, Dawn(retired Senior Nurse)

Thank you for your answers and your honesty. I feel for you and your friends at work.

One thing that you should think about is your health and how the job will effect it. Stress can bring the bad part of you out and before you know it the service users catch the bad end of you even though you don't mean too. Pova/adult protective awareness training will give more idea on this subject.

My manager, area manager and the director of the company are great. You can talk to them, you can laugh with them and you can speak your mind if you wish.
Yesterday I went to their annual conference which was fantastic. Lots of staff from all over the country and a good number of service users and relatives who also helped to run the event. I was able to talk freely to the director, the chairman and the treasurer including a good joke or two. It was a wonderful day and my highlight was a group called Movable Feast who were great.

I know its not easy work and I know your heart is in the right place. What ever action you decide on I wish you all the best.