4.3.6 Care, Support and Quality Improvement – Central Bedfordshire APPP Hub

CQC Quality Statements

Theme 2 – Providing Support: Care Provision, integration and continuity

We statement

We understand the diverse health and care needs of people and our local communities, so care is joined-up, flexible and supports choice and continuity.

What people expect

I have care and support that is co-ordinated, and everyone works well together and with me.

1. Central Bedfordshire Council Adult Social Care Services
2. Care, Support and Quality Improvement
3. Reablement and Community Pathways
- 3.1 Community reablement
- 3.2 Urgent Homecare and Falls Response Service
4. Learning Disabilities and Day Services
- 4.1 Supported Living Service
- 4.2 Day centres
5. Older People and Step Up / Down
- 5.1 Care homes
- 5.2 Step Up / Step Down Units: Beech Close and Evergreen Units
6. Additional Information held on Central Bedfordshire Council Webpages
6. Further Reading
- 6.1 Relevant chapters

1. Central Bedfordshire Council Adult Social Care Services

The Adult Social Care Service is responsible for ensuring that those who are most vulnerable receive the right level of support they require to meet their needs and that they are safeguarded. Support is provided to people predominantly aged 18 and over to enable them to maintain their independence and dignity

Adult social care is a broad term which includes preventive services, assessment and care management, nursing and residential homes, community services (home care, day care, meals), reablement to prevent hospital admission or enable continued independence, intermediate care (after a spell in hospital), supported and other accommodation, personal budgets and direct payments to people who use services, safeguarding, and the provision of equipment.

There are three areas within Central Bedfordshire Council Adult Social Care:

Safeguarding and Deprivations of Liberties (DoLs);
Community Assessment;
Care, Support and Quality Improvement.

This chapter explains the role of the Care, Support and Quality Improvement Service.

2. Care, Support and Quality Improvement

This service provides care and support to people in residential settings (residential home, nursing home, supported living) and in the community (home care, day care, reablement):

3. Reablement and Community Pathways

3.1 Community reablement

Reablement provides short term (usually up to 6 weeks) community (in a person’s home) support to enable people to return to their homes following a stay in hospital.

The objectives of the service are:

to help adults regain, maintain or develop skills and capabilities in daily living in their own homes;
to maximise long term independence and wellbeing;
to remove or minimise the need for ongoing care and support.

3.2 Urgent Homecare and Falls Response Service

The Urgent Homecare and Falls Response Service (UHFRS) operates from 7:00am to 10:00pm, 7 days a week and responds to 999 calls for people that have fallen within their home, including residential care, but are medically stable. They undertake an assessment, provide equipment, and ensure the persons’ social care needs are met. If required, the team will refer clients to specialist services and support.

It provides support so people can remain independent at home, for example help with personal care, including washing, bathing and dressing. Urgent homecare can be provided for up to 72 hours whilst any ongoing care arrangements are put in place.

4. Learning Disabilities and Day Services

4.1 Supported Living Service

The Supported Living Service offers care and support to up to 22 vulnerable people with additional needs to live as independently as possible as a tenant in their own flat within their local community.

The service is provided within three key locations across Central Bedfordshire, those being High Street (Sandy), Walkers Close (Shefford), and Frogmore Road (Houghton Regis).

Linsell House, Residential Care Home

Based in Dunstable is a residential home for up to 12 people with profound and multiple disabilities. Linsell House also offers a four bedded respite service (short term solution to give carers a break).

4.2 Day centres

Learning Disabilities

There are three day centres to support people with learning disabilities, including those who have profound and multiple learning disabilities. One of the centres, Silsoe Horticultural Centre has a key focus of supporting individuals to acquire the necessary horticultural / catering skills and knowledge to prepare them to move on into paid employment.

Older People

There are four day centres that support older people, they offer a range of centre based activities for people including arts and crafts, culture and music sessions.

5. Older People and Step Up / Down

5.1 Care homes

Residential care home

Care homes provide accommodation and personal care for people who need extra support in their daily lives. Personal care might include help with eating, washing, dressing, going to the toilet or taking medication. Community nursing and other healthcare professionals may visit the home on a regular basis. Residential care is for older people whose needs are low.

A residential care home is generally run by managers with a certified management qualification, Staff members are available 24-hours a day, including a qualified team leaders and care assistant. All staff members complete the Care Certificate induction along with specialist training.

Our residential care homes provide a comfortable, secure, and happy home for each individual residing there. Dedicated, well-trained and hard-working staff provide residents with the highest quality of care, catering to personal preferences and capabilities.

Prior to admission, the manager will arrange for an assessment to be undertaken to ensure your needs are met. From this initial meeting our manager can get to know you and your loved one and start creating a person-centred care plan, tailored to your care needs, likes, and dislikes.

Residential care provides those struggling with daily life activities with the help and caring environment that they need. Residents are kept mentally and physically stimulated with activity programmes provided by the residential care teams. These are tailored to each individual’s residential care needs and capabilities. Residents regularly enjoy activities such as gardening, baking, outings, gentle exercise, and life skills work.

Our residential care homes ensure that every individual receives a nutritious and balanced diet. Meals are tailored to meet personal preferences and reflect individual dietary requirements.

Respite care:

Respite care is short term solution to give carers a break. This service is also available in care homes and is considered by referral.

5.2 Step Up / Step Down Units: Beech Close and Evergreen Units

The service is care led with a reablement focus, and has care staff on site, always. In addition to this occupational therapy and physiotherapy is delivered Monday to Friday. Rehab programmes are handed over to care staff to undertake with people in the evenings and weekends where appropriate and are regularly reviewed by the therapist in the unit.

The service is provided to those people who would benefit from a period of reablement / rehabilitation in a simulated independent living environment. The aim of this service is to prevent people being admitted to hospital or residential care, and to enable them to be discharged from hospital prior to going home.

The Step Up Service will provide rehabilitation and reablement support to people from the community who have an identified increase in care and support needs where a period in the step-up step-down service would enable them to increase their independence to enable them to return home independently or avoid hospital admissions.

The Step Down Service will provide rehabilitation / reablement support to people to maximise their independence allowing them to leave an acute hospital setting with a view to returning home.

The length of stay in the Step Up / Step Down Service will range from two days to a maximum of six weeks. Discharge planning will be completed during the person’s admission which includes home visits to assess the persons home environment and provide any required equipment and advice.

Discharge will take place when the multi-disciplinary team identify that the person’s needs can be safety met in an alternative setting.