Heron Care About

OUR SERVICE

Heron Care has been open under its current management since August 2004. We offer a high quality standard of care and support to service users living within the community. Heron Care provides a tailored care plan for each service user, if they require personal care our staff will assist with bathing, toileting, getting dressed, helping them with their shopping, assisting to pay their bills and anything else they may need assistance with. All staff will be sufficiently trained to each service users needs, i.e. patient moving and transfer, communication skill training etc. They will also be required to attend a national standard requirement induction process/course before commencing their employment with Heron care and will have ongoing training throughout, including NVQ training.

OWNERSHIP

The company is a private limited company. The Directors of the company are Mr. Paul Bartley who has 20 years experience in working with service users with mental health issues and learning difficulties. His qualifications include NVQ 3 Health and Social Care and NVQ 4 Registered Managers Award. Also, Mrs. Tracey Bartley, Director of finance and invoicing, qualified book-keeper and trainee accountant. Mr. Paul Bartley is the registered manager at Heron care and is registered within Liverpool commission for Social care Inspectorate

SERVICE USER GROUP

Age group: People aged 18+ Clinical characteristics:Service users with mental illnesses, challenging behavior also those with a dual diagnosis. Progressive or early on set Dementia, Physical disabilities, Brain acquired injury or complex learning difficulties.

Philosophy of Care
First and foremost, it is the aim of Heron Care to provide an environment that all service users can regard as their home. We recognise that Heron Care must be run to meet the needs of our service users and their wishes are paramount.

At Heron Care we offer care that is of the highest standard, and is tailored to meet individuals, with specific wishes and choices. These choices will be respected and honoured at all times.

Care will be planned to meet the specifications of current research and guidelines on good practice. Where possible, the service user and their family will be involved in the planning of care.

Heron Care offers to its service users, a service that recognises and respects the dignity of everyone within it, and we seek to defend and uphold each individual’s human rights. Access to independent advocacy services will be facilitated and encouraged, where necessary.

At Heron Care we provide care that is non-discriminatory. Our service users will be treated with respect, regardless of age, sex, race or religious beliefs. Support staff at Heron Care will make themselves available to discuss any matter with the service user to their chosen representative. Input from relatives will be encouraged and valued.

Confidential information will always be treated as such, and the right of the service user to personal privacy is acknowledged. The right of privacy will extend to all personal space.

Above all, at Heron Care we will strive to create a service, where, in comfort safety and security, the service users can be the person, that he or she has always been.

POLICY ON VULNERABLE SERVICE USERS

All of the service users in this service are likely to be somewhat vulnerable through poor health or disability and may need protection from hazards which would present little problem to people in sound health and without disabilities. But a minority of our service users are especially vulnerable in ways, which need to be specifically identified and addressed; this vulnerability may be permanent or temporary, and it may involve all or only some of their activities. It is not possible or sensible to aim for a lifestyle for especially vulnerable service users, which is totally free from risk. Indeed many service users find the taking of risks an essential, and sometimes desirable, element in the way they live. We believe that service users, except for a small minority in whom the lack of capacity to take responsible decisions about their own welfare has been specifically identified and agreed, should retain the right to take decisions about risks for themselves and we aim to encourage that element in service users' continued independence. Some, but not all, may want a family member, friend or representative to be involved in decisions about situations in which they might be specially vulnerable.

Aim of the Policy

This document outlines Heron care policy in relation to the special arrangements for particularly vulnerable service users.

Assessment of Care Needs

Before we agree to accept a service user into the Heron cares service, we will always ensure that a thorough assessment of the prospective service user's needs has been undertaken, either by the referring agency or under our own procedures, as the basis for a service user plan of care. The assessment will include the identification of service users who are especially vulnerable in general (through, for example, a permanent physical disability) or who have specific areas or times of special vulnerability (such as a recurrent illness). The vulnerability of a service users will be re-assessed when the service user's care of plan is reviewed or more frequently if circumstances alter. We will respect the right to the greatest possible degree of independence, which especially vulnerable service users retain.

Risk Assessment

For any situation, which might carry a significant risk, a formal risk assessment will be undertaken by a trained and qualified person at the time of the drawing up or revision of the care plan. Each risk assessment will list the possible benefits of taking the risk against the possible adverse outcomes, the precautions, which should be taken, and the arrangements for reconsidering the matter when appropriate. These factors and the conclusion of the risk assessment will be recorded in the care plan, and the responsibility of Heron cares staff in relation to any risk likely to be faced by the service user will be clarified. Risk assessments will be reviewed at regular intervals or whenever circumstances change significantly or a new risk arises.

Sources of Danger for Vulnerable Service Users

The assessment of need will take into account all sources of possible danger. These include the service user's own behaviour, illnesses or disabilities, the living environment, specifically dangerous items including medicines, the actions of other people regularly or occasionally present in the service, and situations arising if and when a service user leaves the premises. The services limited capacity to react to some of these sources of risk will be recognised and taken into account in the care plan, but it may, with the service user's permission, be possible to alert other people or agencies who can provide advice or take appropriate action to minimise the danger.

Changes to Agreed Action Following a Risk Assessment

If a vulnerable service user does not follow the action agreed in relation to the assessment of any risk and therefore puts themselves in unacceptable danger, Heron cares staff will consider with the service user whether any further action is required, for example, discussion with family members or other professionals, revision of the risk assessment and care plan, or in extreme circumstances the Service users moving from the service or area. Any discussion and the action taken will be fully recorded.
Involving Others in Decisions about Vulnerable Service Users
Except for the small minority for whom the lack of capacity to take responsible decisions about their own welfare has been specifically identified and agreed, our service users retain the right to take decisions about the risks they choose to take. In decisions about care or risk-taking we will only involve others – family members, friends, representatives or other professionals – with the specific permission of the service user.

Staff

We will ensure that all staff having contact with vulnerable service users are adequately trained and appropriately experienced to provide the best possible service. Where a service user presents an area of vulnerability outside the experience of the staff allocated to their care, the staff will be given specific briefing or training. Care workers are supported and monitored by qualified and experienced senior staff, and have access at all times when on duty to a responsible and competent person for advice and support.

Charging for Services

If the fact that a service user is especially vulnerable significantly effects the way in which our service needs to be provided or calls for special training or preparation of the responsible staff, this may be reflected in the agreed fees.

Training

All staff members will be given a copy of this policy and encouraged to read it during induction.

Kevin McIntyre, Operations Manager is responsible for organising and co-ordinating training.