Since 2010, huge reductions in social care budgets have impacted on the quality of homecare for the elderly and disabled in the UK.
This report details the findings of the research and states that many carers are expected to provide care with little or no training and this care includes the sort of tasks that were previously carried out by district nurses.
https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2015/04/TowebUNISONs-Homecare-Training-Survey-Report.pdf
An article in the Guardian ‘finds ‘endemic’ abuse of minimum wage laws. One of the areas the article discusses is the often common practice of not paying carers for their travel time. Read more here:
In the Guardian online Carolyn Downs comments on the Helpcare project research results to date. Research has shown that many staff have a negative view of their work, but giving them the opportunity to gain skills and qualifications would make the job more attractive. Problems of recruitment and retention have been explored and the first stage of the research is now complete. Carolyn comments “we hope to develop innovative education practices for the qualification and professionalisation of health and social care workers”
read more here:
Here you can read some of our research into the current state of provision and training alongside some best practice examples from the UK and the Netherlands.