Caring is a call beyond a Job
Caring is not just another job in the community, it is a momentous call to serve and bring hope to those in need. A carer is an agent for the realisation of a better quality of life for those in need of care. Those for whom care is provided are often vulnerable, frail or have mental challenges. Circumstances for those in need of care are sometimes near impossible to withstand for some carers and necessitate resilience, patience, tolerance, humility and many more qualities which largely demand humility on the part of the care professional. The sad part of care dynamics is the lack of knowledge on the part of most stakeholders (family, care professionals, lawyers, friends, neighbours, etc). In this blog we aim to inspire our audiences to gain knowledge and insights into healthcare in order to prepare them for the eventuality when situations arise to get care for self or for a loved one. While we do not have every answer on caring for those in need, we believe the insights we share written in simple language instil a good mindset on the challenges and requirements for good care.
In healthcare, caring is not simply the presence of one person looking after another. The professional training required is not mere tick box play. The notion of care and caring is not a simplistic matter, but life enhancement in what may be trying circumstances. Caring is also not merely a standard one-jacket-fits-all scenario, care has to be personalised because those in need have different requirements, hence different service users have different needs which MUST be incorporated into their care plan. The care plan is the daily schedule of care activities which is developed through mutual co-production with the service user, their family, other agencies and the care provider. In this instance the primary focus is the needs of the service user as everything should mirror what is best for the person receiving care.
The regulator for care in England (UK) is the Care Quality Commission (CQC), essentially, they are the custodian of safe care for adults especially where personal care is involved. To the extent that there is a regulatory body, that does not eliminate abuse and neglect that is often reported widely in the press. Ultimately the call for safe care is to all stakeholders and hence families and care service providers should put in place robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure safeguarding for those being cared for. Where care is needed, whether it is your own care or for a loved one it is therefore paramount that you give consideration to the elements that really matter for quality care. CQC has five parameters referred to as key lines of enquiry being, Safe, Caring, Reliable, Effective and Well-led (SCREW). Are these factors key lines of enquiry a consideration for you in determining a provider for care for you or your loved one? If you do not consider these elements as you select a provider for care you are not far from disappointment.
In our next article we unpack each of these five areas — Safe, Caring, Reliable, Effective and Well-led — so families know what good care looks like in practice.