Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Commissioning social care for older people: influencing the quality of direct care
- Authors:
- CHESTER Helen, HUGHES Jane, CHALLIS David
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 34(6), 2014, pp.930-950.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The delivery of personalised support to vulnerable older people is largely contingent on those staff who provide direct care. These care workers play an invaluable role in supporting vulnerable older people that may have increasingly complex needs either at home or in care homes. Internationally, concern has been raised both about the recruitment and retention of care workers; and their skills and competencies because of their importance in the delivery of quality care services. Using both primary and secondary data, this paper explores commissioning and contracting arrangements for domiciliary care and care home provision in England and their influence on the recruitment and retention of staff in these services. The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of two factors which influence continuity of care, a proxy for quality services for older people: training opportunities for staff and factors affecting the supply of labour from which direct carers are traditionally recruited. It is suggested that some of the drivers of quality in the provision of care may not be susceptible to the influence of commissioners and providers. Nevertheless, training may aid the recruitment and retention of care workers and provide one way in which they can promote a higher standard of care for older people. (Publisher abstract)
Recruitment and retention of a social care workforce for older people
- Authors:
- HUGHES Jane, CHESTER Helen, CHALLIS David
- Publisher:
- Personal Social Services Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 165p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This report describes the findings from the first of a three phase research project to identify factors within local authority commissioning, contracting and care management arrangements which influence the recruitment and retention of staff in domiciliary services and care homes. The first chapter outlines the policy context shaping commissioning and contracting arrangements and presents the findings of a selective literature review. Following chapters describe the methodology of the study, which included a postal survey was sent to local authorities with social services responsibilities. Ninety two of a total of 149 were returned. The findings describe the current arrangements and present the findings from the national survey. A typology of local authority and commissioning arrangements for older peoples services are then presented. Includes extensive tables and figures. The study was funded by the Department of Health under the Social Care Workforce Research Initiative.