Care home training guides launch
Published on 17 January 2012 11:30 AM
Wales's first set of training guides for care home staff that have been written with the help of care home residents, their relatives and staff are being launched today.
The My Home Life Cymru programme from Age Cymru has published the eight ‘Good practice guides' to help improve the lives of people who are involved with care homes.
Programme Manager John Moore explains:
"My Home Life Cymru is a programme that exists to make life better for people living in, visiting or working in care homes in Wales.
"Over the last three years, we've worked closely with 38 care homes across Wales to identify the little things that make a big difference in the day-to-day lives of residents, relatives and staff at those homes.
"We've spoken to a lot of people about a lot of different issues and in the process we've learnt a lot about the good work that goes on in care homes across Wales, and we've put all this information into the eight ‘Good practice guides' that we're launching today."
The ‘Good practice guides' have been written to inspire staff discussions on issues from including everyone involved when making decisions that affect residents' lives; developing a sense of community within care homes, to death and dying and more.
Imelda Richardson, Chief Inspector of Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) is launching the ‘Good practice guides' during the My Home Life Cymru National Networking Day at the Media Resource Centre in Llandrindod Wells today (Tuesday 17 January).
Says Imelda Richardson:
"CSSIW's role is to encourage the improvement of social care and social services by regulating, inspecting and reviewing services, that includes adult care homes. We are committed to involving people who use services and those with an interest in services to make sure that our inspections and reviews are truly designed in partnership, working with and not 'doing to'.
"The strength of the My Home Life Cymru programme is that it proactively engages with people who are involved with care homes by visiting them, speaking to them and listening to them.
"With the launch of these new ‘Good practice guides' the My Home Life Cymru programme continues this innovative and evidence-based approach to promoting the quality of life in care homes.
"I am confident that these new training guides will keep continue this legacy and make a real difference to care home residents, their relatives and staff across Wales."