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Personhood, identity and care in advanced old age
- Authors:
- HIGGS Paul, GILLEARD Chris
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 208
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
Pushing forward new sociological theory, this book explores the theoretical and practical issues raised by age and infirmity. It begins with a theoretical examination of the fourth age, interrogating notions of agency, identity and personhood, as well as the impact of frailty, abjection and ‘othering’. It then applies this analysis to issues of care. Key topics covered in this book include: advanced old and the fourth age paradigm; defining personhood and identity; understanding frailty; understanding abjection; cognitive, emotional and social aspects of caring for frail old people; organisational and policy aspects of caring for frail old people; care work and bodywork; and care and the limits of personhood. (Edited publisher abstract)
Does age matter in the social care workforce?
- Authors:
- LIPMAN Valerie, MANTHORPE Jill, HARRIS Jess
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Long-Term Care, September 2018, pp.1-11. Online only
- Publisher:
- King's College London
- Place of publication:
- London
Context: With the population in England ageing, more people are living with complex physical and mental health needs and need care and support. As a result demand for care workers is increasing. Objective: This paper presents findings from qualitative research in England that aimed to explore the perspectives of frontline care workers, their managers and service users about what difference the age of the care workforce potentially makes at an individual, organisational or workforce level. Method: Interviews, semi-structured and face to face, in four local authority sites in England. Findings: Age plays a role in the perceived character of the care workforce. A commonly-held view is that life experience is one of the most valuable qualities a care worker brings to their role. While experience is generally valued, it may be framed as experience in care work, or more generally as life experience. Younger care workers may be often seen by older colleagues and service users as less reliable until they prove themselves. However, managers often identify enthusiasm and ability to accommodate change among younger care staff. Managers are interested in having an ‘age mix’ of staff beyond retention and sustainability issues. Limitations: The authors acknowledge the risk that the interview data may not be generalisable or totally representative of staff or care users; the study did not include directly employed care workers nor collect health-related information or personal narratives. Those employers who agreed to participate may be more committed to workforce development and value their staff. Nonetheless data are sector-wide and there are sizeable numbers of participants. Moreover, the views of users of social care and family carers are also included. Implications: The article provides views from a range of stakeholders in social care on whether age matters in this workforce. Instances of age discrimination or stereotypes affecting different ages were reported but also the opportunities in social care work for people to work in later life and to move to this work after other work or family experiences. The age of the social care workforce needs to be considered as part of workforce planning, tailoring skills development and value-based work commitment among all age groups, reducing physical demands, and providing flexible working conditions. (Edited publisher abstract)
Professionalized through audit? Care workers and the new audit regime in Sweden
- Authors:
- MOBERG Linda, BLOMQVIST Paula, WINBLAD Ulrika
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Administration, 52(3), 2018, pp.631-645.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The professionalisation of social care workers is a policy goal in many welfare states. At the same time, professionalisation risks being undermined by enhanced audit. The objective of this article is to analyse whether the audit processes adopted in Swedish eldercare and childcare support or undermine the professionalisation of the occupations working there, i.e., nurses, nursing assistants, preschool teachers, and preschool assistants. In particular, we investigate whether the three main forms of audit—standard‐setting, inspections, and quality measurements—support or undermine the occupations’ ability to achieve professional closure and enhance their external and internal autonomy. The findings suggest that audit processes in eldercare risk undermining professionalisation, while in childcare the pattern is reversed: audit appears supportive of professionalisation, at least for preschool teachers. This finding suggests that audit processes do not have to be detrimental to professionalisation. (Edited publisher abstract)
Improving skills and care standards in the support workforce for older people: a realist synthesis of workforce development interventions
- Authors:
- RYCROFT-MALONE J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care Delivery Research, 4(12), 2016, Online only
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health Research
- Place of publication:
- London
Objective: This review aimed to examine how workforce development interventions can improve the skills and the care standards of support workers within older people’s health and social care services. It looks at what might work, how, why and in what contexts. Workforce development includes the support required to equip those providing care to older people with the right skills, knowledge and behaviours to deliver safe and high-quality services. Design: A realist synthesis was conducted. In realist synthesis, contingent relationships are expressed as context–mechanism–outcomes (CMOs), to show how particular contexts or conditions trigger mechanisms to generate outcomes. Participants: Twelve stakeholders were involved in workshops to inform programme theory development, and 10 managers, directors for training/development and experienced support workers were interviewed in phase 4 of the study to evaluate the findings and inform knowledge mobilisation. Results: Eight CMO configurations emerged from the review process, which provide a programme theory about ‘what works’ in developing the older person’s support workforce. These included tapping into support workers' motivations, co-design, and taking a planned approach in workforce development. The findings indicate that the design and delivery of workforce development should consider and include a number of starting points. These include personal factors about the support worker, the specific requirements of workforce development and the fit with broader organisational strategy and goals. Conclusions and recommendations: The review has resulted in an explanatory account of how the design and delivery of workforce development interventions work to improve the skills and care standards of support workers in older people’s health and social care services. Implications for the practice of designing and delivering older person’s support workforce development interventions are directly related to the eight CMO configuration of the programme theory. Recommendations include that successful planning of staff development should pay attention to personal factors about the support worker, such as their existing skills and experience; the specific workforce development needs, for example clinical or organisational; and the fit of workforce development with the strategy and goals of the organisation more generally. (Edited publisher abstract)
Social care issues affecting older gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the UK: a policy brief
- Author:
- MUSINGARIMI Primrose
- Publisher:
- International Longevity Centre UK
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 5p.
- Place of publication:
- London
As people get older they increasingly need social care support to assist them with activities of daily living. Older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people are less likely than heterosexuals to live with a partner or to have children who can provide care for them. For older LGB people there may also be anxiety about letting into their home individuals who may potentially be homophobic to care for them. Direct payments have been seen to be potential solution but caution must be taken as older LGB may not have the same capacity and confidence to be ‘employers’.
A long-term approach to social care
- Author:
- GOSLING Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Local Government Chronicle, 12.3.09, 2009, pp.22-23.
- Publisher:
- Emap Business
The costs of social care have risen substantially in recent years. This article looks at strategies that can both improve quality of life and cut costs. The use of 'reablement' or 'enablement' in reducing hospital readmission and the use of extra-care accommodation in Coventry are two of the approaches discussed.
Hard truths: the journey to putting patients first: Volume one of the Government response to the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry; presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- TSO
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 137
- Place of publication:
- London
The Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry chaired by Robert Francis QC (February 2013) called for a ‘fundamental culture change’ across the health and social care system to put patients first at all times. This is one of four documents which build on the Government’s initial response, ‘Patients first and foremost’ (published March 2013). This response begins with a statement of common purpose signed by the Chairs or Chief Executives of key health and care organisations, in which they renew and reaffirm their personal commitment and their organisations’ commitment to the values of the NHS and its Constitution. It sets out how the whole health and care system will prioritise and build on recommendations made in six further reports (including the 'Cavendish review: an independent review into healthcare assistants and support workers in the NHS and social care settings) commissioned by the Government that considered key issues identified by the Inquiry (findings and recommendations summarised in Annexes A-F). These include “major new action on the following vital areas”: transparent reporting on ward-by-ward staffing levels; how patients and their families can raise concerns or complain; a statutory duty of candour; legislation on wilful neglect; a fit and proper person’s test which will act as a barring scheme; and a new Care Certificate for Healthcare Assistants and Social Care Support Workers. The Care Bill will introduce a new criminal offence applicable to care providers who supply or publish certain types of information which is false or misleading, where that information is required to comply with a statutory or other legal obligation. Chapters cover: preventing problems; detecting problems quickly; taking action promptly; ensuring robust accountability; and ensuring staff are trained and motivated. Each chapter sets out themes and issues raised in the Inquiry report. Case studies illustrate instances of failings in patient care, examples of hospitals which have adopted procedures that are patient focused, and innovations of benefit to service users. (Original abstract)
Hard truths: the journey to putting patients first: Volume two of the Government response to the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry: response to the Inquiry’s recommendations: presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- TSO
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 248
- Place of publication:
- London
The Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry chaired by Robert Francis QC (February 2013) called for a ‘fundamental culture change’ across the health and social care system to put patients first at all times. This document provides responses to each of the 290 recommendations made by the Public Inquiry, in respect of accountability, roles and responsibilities in patient care. It also addresses the recommendations made in six related independent reviews, including 'Cavendish review: an independent review into healthcare assistants and support workers in the NHS and social care settings'. (Original abstract)
Health and social care services for older people: summary of workforce strategies with recommendations for the future
- Author:
- CARE COUNCIL FOR WALES
- Publisher:
- Care Council for Wales
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 45p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
The Older People’s Workforce Development Network for Health and Social Care was set up by the Care Council for Wales to develop a workforce strategy for those working with older people in the health and social care sectors in Wales. This summary document is a guide to the workforce issues identified in 19 existing strategies and plans that have a bearing on the health and social care of older people. Part A provides background contextual information and identifies the key themes for workforce development. Five key themes identified were: workforce plans; recruitment and retention of staff; qualifications, training and staff development; service development issues; and working together. Information is also provided on implementing these strategies, the main challenges for the future and how to take work forward the full strategy. Part B looks at what each of the 19 plans and strategies reviewed for this document had to say about those who work with older people in health and social care settings.
Health care, social care or both?: a qualitative explorative study of different focuses in long-term care of older people in France, Portugal and Sweden
- Author:
- EMILSSON Ulla Melin
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 12(4), December 2009, pp.419-334.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of this article is to describe, analyse and compare different approaches on care of older people with dementia, using examples from France, Portugal and Sweden. The questions are principally focused on the participants' attitudes to their tasks, the organisation of work, the professional role and cooperation with other professions. Daily care was studied through observations and participant observations and the staff's opinion was explored by means of interviews. Twenty-two care settings for older people were included. The findings showed that France provided mainly 'health care', Sweden 'social care' and Portugal an integrated 'health care and social care'. From a comparative perspective the Portuguese general care of older people, which focuses on integration of health care, social care and social work, also seems to provide care for older people suffering from dementia which best corresponds to the previously developed group living model.