Health And Social Care Provider Welcomes Social Care Bill

Linc Care, the health and social division of Linc-Cymru Housing Association, has welcomed the introduction of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill.

Anne Thomas, executive director of Linc Care, commented: “We have been involved in the development of this Bill through the Care Forum Wales, and its introduction marks a positive step for the care sector in Wales. While there are clearly challenges within the sector, this new Bill aims to encourage care homes to provide the very best level of care, promote good practice and praise success.

“One of the biggest challenges for care providers will be the reforms to the inspection process that will be introduced. I am pleased that there will be a move away from settling for minimum standards which are set for a care home towards focusing on the needs of the people who use the services.

“Local authorities and health boards need to ensure that their contacts with care providers reflect the same standards that CSSIW are looking for. Partnership working is essential to the delivery of good person-centred care.”

“At Linc, we are already committed to delivering person-centred care. We follow a principle, known as the Eden Alternative, which focuses on providing residents with a choice in their daily lives, striving to combat loneliness, helplessness and boredom and promote companionship, wellbeing, dignity and choice. These principles are at the heart of Linc Care.”

As part of the launch of the Bill, staff at Linc Cymru-run Penylan House Nursing Home, which completed a £4.7m redevelopment last year, welcomed Health and Social Services Minister, Mark Drakeford, and Chief Inspector of Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), Imelda Richardson, to view the facilities and find out more about Linc’s approach to care.

Mrs Thomas added: “We are extremely proud of the facilities at Penylan House and are delighted to have hosted the Minister and Ms Richardson which has given us the opportunity to showcase the facilities and examples of best practice which go on day in, day out at Penylan House.

“We provide high quality care in a safe, relaxed and homely environment that is sensitive to an individual’s needs, and a big factor in enabling us to do this is the quality of our staff. We have designed our own innovative way of recruiting to ensure we employ the best possible staff and run a comprehensive induction programme to make sure all new recruits receive specialist training, for example, in looking after people with dementia. We also have a programme of regular training sessions to ensure staff are aware of the latest care practice.”

Health and Social Services Minister, Mark Drakeford said: “I was delighted to meet the residents and staff at Penylan House Care Home.

“I know that this home is one that is successful and is valued by those living there. I want other homes and services to learn from this success story, and others, so that everyone in Wales enjoys the kind of life in later years that they deserve. The Bill I’ve unveiled today will help to ensure that happens.”

Chief Inspector of Care and Social Services Inspectorate, Imelda Richardson, said: “We were delighted to attend the launch of the Bill today at Penylan House and meet the people who live and work there. We put people at the heart of our work and it is clear from our inspection reports this home is an example of best practice in the way it delivers care to everyone as an individual.”