Rytebridge Healthcare

Is adult social care in England on the brink? Recent analysis by a leading think tank reveals that some parts of the adult social care market in England are at risk of collapse. The primary concerns mentioned by the Nuffield Trust include: - chronic underfunding - escalating demand due to an aging population - systemic inefficiencies that threaten the sustainability of care services These issues make it more difficult to attract and retain skilled workers, which further strains the system. Analysis from the Nuffield Trust has additionally highlighted a looming crisis in England's adult social care sector due to impending budget changes. With an expected additional cost burden of £2.8 billion from tax and wage increases starting next April, care providers are facing severe financial difficulties. These changes, which include adjustments to national insurance contributions and increases in the national living wage, could force many care providers into making drastic decisions—ranging from staff reductions to potential closures. The government’s current budget allocation of an extra £600 million to care seems insufficient against these new financial demands. This gap indicates a risk of widespread service collapse, which could disrupt care for the most vulnerable. It is important for policymakers to reconsider the financial structures supporting social care to prevent these potential disasters. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5vWj-q6

Sending a loved one to a care home is a difficult and emotional family decision. At that point, they need all the reassurance they can get to instil the confidence that their family member will be looked after. As a care home, here are three easy things you can do. 1. Open communication Maintain transparent and regular communication with the families. Give them updates on their loved one’s well-being without prompting. Similarly, raise challenges and any updates to the care plan. Something as simple as keeping families in the loop is massively reassuring. 2. Family involvement Close family members (such as those formerly living with the resident) are great sources of input when devising a care plan. Family involvement makes them feel at ease and helps the care plan become hyper-personalised to the resident. Another way to keep family involved is by inviting them to join their loved ones for regular activities or social events. 3. Open feedback channels Provide families with easy ways to give feedback–both good and constructive. The feedback will help you and your team improve care delivery and address any concerns. At the same time, you can double down on all the positive feedback. These three simple tweaks will instantly improve the level of trust and assurance families feel towards the care their loved ones receive.

If you’re a care home eager to add value to your residents in 2025, read the ‘Thriving in Residential Care’ report, which is a report detailing residential experiences and challenges across 16 care homes in the UK. The report stipulates that an older person’s greatest challenge at a care home is the transition, specifically: - Reduced mobility - The loss of independence - Navigating new relationships - Conforming to a new routine - Not being around their usual possessions The report also asked residents to define ‘good care’. Among the things they said included: - Feeling ‘at home’ - Engaging in meaningful activities - Retaining connections to family and friends - Having one’s own physical and mental health needs met The report is a goldmine for all care homes looking to increase the quality of care. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/e2f4nbyv

On this holiday season, we’d like to wish a happy holiday to all our care home partners and dedicated staff. It’s been a tough year for adult social care but, as always, your dedication to care has meant millions around the country have lived life safely, securely and as independently as possible. And we thank you for allowing Rytebridge to be a part of your journey. We hope the holidays offer you a chance to rest and rejuvenate. Have a happy and joyful New Year! Rytebridge Team

Intermediate care is the bridge between hospital discharge and home recovery. The quality of intermediate care is important. If intermediate care is good, it reduces the need for an unplanned or emergency hospital admission. Care managers have the responsibility of optimising intermediate care services to ensure the service fulfils its intended role in a person’s care plan. Here are three ways care managers can do this. 1) Smooth coordination Care managers must try to strengthen collaborations among primary care providers, hospital discharge teams, and intermediate care facilities. This is because it makes a patient's transition smoother and minimises any gaps in care. 2) Personalised care plans Focus on creating tailored care plans that address the individual needs of each person. This promotes quicker recovery and greater independence for patients. 3) Use data-driven improvements Implement ways to collect and analyse feedback from residents and staff. This data will help you asses and improve service quality, ensuring that intermediate care continuously adapts to meet patient needs effectively. Optimising intermediate care isn't only about reducing a hospital stay. It’s role extends to delivering high-quality, continuous care that meets the complex needs of patients during critical recovery periods.

The UK government has recently updated their international recruitment toolkit. The toolkit offers practical advice for social care organisations considering recruiting care workers from overseas including: 1. Ethical recruitment 2. Sponsorship compliance 3. Visa regulations 4. How to plan recruitment resources 5. Understanding employment checks 6. Adhering to international recruitment's code of practice And if you’re considering using adult social care companies to aid your recruitment, you’ll learn how to identify ethical agencies. Take a look: https://lnkd.in/eTUcukKR

Sometimes, you have to think outside of the box to deliver good quality care. (Especially given the economic circumstances we find ourselves in.) Residents of The Wingfield Care Home recently enjoyed a heartwarming visit from Charlie. Charlie is a 24 year old donkey, dressed in festive attire. Such visits aren’t a gimmick. Sure, they bring smile to resident faces, but they also offer therapeutic benefits. According to studies, interacting with animals can lower blood pressure and improve overall wellbeing. https://lnkd.in/etSHFm_i

Insights from the Care Quality Commission's latest report highlight concerning levels of modern slavery and labour exploitation in health and social care. Addressing these issues is imperative for ethical care delivery. The report uncovers instances of modern slavery and exploitative practices in various care settings. This is happening due to a lack of awareness, inadequate worker protection and regulatory oversight. Modern slavery elimination is everyone’s responsibility. Here’s how your care home can reduce instances of modern slavery. 1) Better training Providing comprehensive training for all staff on recognising signs of exploitation and understanding the proper channels for reporting concerns. 2) Rigorous vetting Strengthening recruitment processes to include thorough background checks and vetting to ensure that workers are hired through legitimate and ethical practices. 3) Regular audits Conducting regular audits of employment practices within care settings to ensure compliance with labour laws and ethical standards. 4) Partnership and collaboration Collaborating with law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and human rights organisations to develop and implement strategies that protect workers from exploitation. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/e4uEPm69

What are implications of the recent Budget on adult social care? The recent UK budget has allocated an additional £1.3 billion to local authorities, with £600 million specifically ring-fenced for social care. Despite this increase, experts from a think tank called the Health Foundation suggest that the funding may not fully meet the escalating demands in adult social care, with more than £1 billion needed just to maintain current service levels. Additionally, changes in National Insurance contributions could increase costs for social care providers, potentially offsetting any financial gains from the budget. The sector also faces ongoing challenges with staffing shortages and high reliance on unpaid carers. The conclusion? The UK government’s recent budget provides much-needed attention to social care funding but falls short of the comprehensive financial overhaul needed. https://lnkd.in/e7x_MFne

Are the challenges associated with adult social care today the result of a decision made four decades ago? Recent research conducted by University of Oxford, published in The British Medical Journal examines the long-term effects of privatising adult social care in England. The study argues that the shift towards private provision since the 1980s has led to lower care quality and greater inequity in service accessibility. The study’s key findings include a marked reduction in public sector care provision, with for-profit care homes often delivering substandard services compared to their public counterparts. The research advocates for a reevaluation of profit-driven motives within care services and suggests that enhancing public or not-for-profit involvement could improve both the quality and fairness of care. Thoughts? Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eKevztgw