hello,
1 does anyone know if there are any training programmes for social care staff in relation to cutting or filing finger nails of people in their care, where do they access the training and what does it consist of?
2 what can people do if care staff don’t cut fingernails of people in their care who cannot cut or file their own nails.
thank you.
Our daughter has recently gone into supported living. There are 10 residents, and the facility has a chiropodist who comes in every 6 weeks to do filing & cutting. I think one of the staff also had a qualification in beauty therapy who could also do nails.
As our daughter comes home most weeks both of us will cut & file nails if we think they need doing. Not an easy task though & I can see why staff are unable to do nails as have noticed they have cut skin on occasion.
hi Bergersil, we also have a visiting chiropodist who visits every few weeks but only deals with toe nails. Some of my son’s neighbour's never get their fingernails cut as it’s assumed relatives will do it. What happens when we’re no longer able to do so. I’ve suggested the procedure should be written in the person’s care plan if they are unable to carry out this task themselves. We’ve never been able to get a proper answer to the question of who is responsible for cutting fingernails when someone is in supported living or other residential facility and what training is available. Surely the care provider has a duty of care to provide the support where people are unable to carry out their own personal care tasks. Have any other relatives/care providers on this forum got any answers?
I know it is hard. and wish had the answer. The same seems to apply to teeth cleaning. We use an electric toothbrush but I know at times they say it is hard to do a good job. I ensure that it is done properly twice daily when home, with prescribed toothpaste and has 6 monthly check ups.
I would say that just like with the elderly where shaving & nail care can be neglected they would cite health & safety as why they can't do it.
We also find a foot spa helpful & encourage hand & foot massages with cream which is actually quite therapeutic & relaxing. Since she moved in SL 4 months ago her Reynauds has flared up, something we had under control for last few years.
thanks Bergersil400, there doesn’t appear to be a problem with staff cleaning his teeth, cutting his hair or giving him a shave but it depends who does it as to how successful it is. His key worker and two other staff manage really well. My son also has a foot spa and a visiting aromatherapist visits every week. It seems that some of his neighbours who have fewer hours per day are always at the back of the queue in these areas which I find unacceptable. Surely if the care provider accepted the contract and care plans for these other tenants then they are failing in their duty of care by not supporting people with these personal care tasks.
That's interesting that access to some services seems to be depending on funding.My daughter has only been in supported living 5 months, and although at times hasen't been what I expected, the care seems to be very good maybe more to do with my unrealistic expectations that certain aspects aren't.
Staff tend to be shared amongst most of 10 residents, and they seem to do a lot of shared activities, like a boxing day buffet at one of the empty flats , and regular bowling and disco activities.
My daughter unfortunately tested positive for covid when we took her back boxing day, and when we also had it and couldn't look after her at home, the staff put contingency plan in place 2x12 hour shifts instead of 3x8 hours, and daily testing of all staff & residents in over Christmas.
I still would prefer her at home, but needed to put plans in place now for when we retire.
my son has been in supported living for 18 years, a scheme set up by another parent and myself. It was the hardest journey we ever embarked on but the best thing we could have done for our sons and the other 8 people who live alongside them and have a diverse range of abilities. We’ve had the same care provider during that time and although it’s not been plain sailing by any stretch of the imagination we strive for good standards all the time. Most tenants have their own small staff team who work the majority of shifts with them while other tenants often have agency staff particularly if regular staff are off sick or on leave. We have some excellent members of staff and others who do the bare minimum. We have a strong relatives group and even though we don’t always see eye to eye we have a reasonably good relationship with the care provider. It’s a continuous ‘work in progress’ situation and wears us down at times but we live to fight another day. Our sons and daughters are reasonably happy which is a bonus and as aging relatives we’re relieved we set up our scheme so we could be part of the decision making process before we became too old, too ill or died. It’s never too early to make these kind of plans, the road to independence for our loved ones is often difficult for them and especially for us but one we must embark on while we have the energy to do so.
legislation.gov.uk/uksi/201...
This statutory instrument outlines at 1 para 3 (a) vi
Pursuant to the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Care Act 2014.
this is excellent information parental, why did I not know this !!! So much information out there, it’s overwhelming when you don’t know where to look or even know it exists. Thank you
Care home Covid rules
Experience of Supported Living
