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30/01/12 Checking Up On Care Standards - Bexley councillors
Bexley councillors completed their 10th visit to local care homes last month - the first phase of a planned series of visits to check for themselves on the provision for vulnerable people in the borough. "We have put in place a regular programme of visits to residential and nursing homes for older people and younger adults with physical or learning disabilities, because the care provided to our vulnerable residents is one of our priorities," explained Cllr Chris Taylor, Chairman of the Council's Adults' Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee. "Reports of our visits are discussed in public and published on the Council's website. We hope that they will be a useful addition to the range of information that is available for people who are looking at the options for residential care for members of their family." Cllr Taylor and his colleagues aim to visit 17 sites during the first year of the programme - a target he is confident they will meet by their self-imposed deadline of May 2012. Each visit takes up to two hours. The visits are arranged in advance and are designed to complement those that are made by Council staff and the Care Quality Commission. Relatives of residents living in the homes are informed about the visits, so that they can give their own comments to Cllr Taylor and his colleagues. Among the residential care homes councillors have visited so far are the three homes in the borough that used to be owned by Southern Cross, which went out of business last year. Councillors are taking a close interest in the standards of care and continuity of staff maintained by the new owners of the homes. This month will see the launch of a training programme designed to give councillors more detailed knowledge of residential care and to build on the work they have done so far. "We look at the homes as local people with a keen concern for how they care for the loved ones of the people we represent," said Cllr Taylor. "And because the Council also funds the care of many of the residents, we also ask questions to check that Council Taxpayers are getting the best possible value for money." Cllr David Hurt, the Council's Cabinet member for Adults' Services added: "I applaud the work of Cllr Taylor and the other Councillors involved in the visits. Because they live in the borough, local Councillors are perfectly placed to looked at provision for vulnerable people and give an independent view on the care they provide. This is more important than ever, given the financial pressures currently facing families, care providers and the local authority." The visits normally involve between one and three councillors, accompanied by an officer from social services. Among the issues they consider during their visits are -
Each visit starts with a short discussion with the home's owner or manager and includes a tour of the facilities and conversations with residents and staff. Reports on the visits are available on the Council's website at www.bexley.gov.uk/carereports
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