Guest
18-02-2003, 11:46
Sheffield Council have re-allocated home care services in S W Sheffield following a re-tendering exercise: this means a change of carers with potentially disastrous effects:-
- having received personal and practical support from Leonard Cheshire Care at Home for some time I feel a sense of loyalty and trust for the organisation and its well-trained staff, who have demonstrated professional expertise in the disability care field both locally and nationally.
- a settled regime of personal care is essential, not only in practical terms but also for emotional support and well-being: all-important when one is in a dependent and possibly deteriorating condition.
- building a relationship with care staff is a two-way process which takes time and patience: to disrupt this is demoralising and emphasises the stresses created by increasing lack of choices in one`s life.
- the prospect of changeover difficulties and uncertainty regarding the new provider`s ability to match the quality of care is likely to cause dismay and anxiety each time the re-tendering process takes place: can cost-savings be justified in the context of an already poorly-paid and under-resourced service. My carers are very special people whose selfless efforts deserve greater recognition.
Senior management need to be made aware of the strong feelings aroused by the impending changes as well as the wider implications of using a regular re-tendering approach in such a sensitive area. There is likely to be a lack of incentive for agencies to invest in improved systems and training.
- having received personal and practical support from Leonard Cheshire Care at Home for some time I feel a sense of loyalty and trust for the organisation and its well-trained staff, who have demonstrated professional expertise in the disability care field both locally and nationally.
- a settled regime of personal care is essential, not only in practical terms but also for emotional support and well-being: all-important when one is in a dependent and possibly deteriorating condition.
- building a relationship with care staff is a two-way process which takes time and patience: to disrupt this is demoralising and emphasises the stresses created by increasing lack of choices in one`s life.
- the prospect of changeover difficulties and uncertainty regarding the new provider`s ability to match the quality of care is likely to cause dismay and anxiety each time the re-tendering process takes place: can cost-savings be justified in the context of an already poorly-paid and under-resourced service. My carers are very special people whose selfless efforts deserve greater recognition.
Senior management need to be made aware of the strong feelings aroused by the impending changes as well as the wider implications of using a regular re-tendering approach in such a sensitive area. There is likely to be a lack of incentive for agencies to invest in improved systems and training.