Awareness of Elder Abuse Among Community Health and Social Care Staff in Northern Ireland: An Exploratory Study

Background Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health and social care workers have faced unprecedented professional demands, all of which are likely to have placed considerable strain on their psychological well-being. Aims To measure the national prevalence of mental health symptoms within healthcare staff, and identify individual and organisational predictors of well-being. Method The COVID-19 Staff Wellbeing Survey is a longitudinal online survey of psychological well-being among health and social care staff in Northern Ireland. The survey included four time points separated by 3-month intervals; time 1 (November 2020; n = 3834) and time 2 (February 2021; n = 2898) results are presented here. At time 2, 84% of respondents had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The survey included four validated psychological well-being questionnaires (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and insomnia), as well as demographic and organisational measures. Results At time 1 and 2, a high proportion of staff reported moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression (30–36%), anxiety (26–27%), post-traumatic stress (30–32%) and insomnia (27–28%); overall, significance tests and effect size data suggested psychological well-being was generally stable between November 2020 and February 2021 for health and social care staff. Multiple linear regression models indicated that perceptions of less effective communication within their organisation predicted greater levels of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and insomnia. Conclusions This study highlights the need to offer psychological support to all health and social care staff, and to communicate with staff regularly, frequently and clearly regarding COVID-19 to help protect staff psychological well-being.

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More that unites us than divides us? A qualitative study of integration of community health and social care services

10.21203/rs.2.15186/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Claire Mitchell ◽

Abigail Tazzyman ◽

Susan J. Howard ◽

Damian Hodgson

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Social Care ◽

National Policy ◽

Shared Vision ◽

Relationship Building ◽

Care Staff ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Care Services ◽

Effective Discharge ◽

Health And Social Care

Abstract Background The integration of community health and social care services has been widely promoted nationally as a vital step to improve patient centred care, reduce costs, reduce admissions to hospital and facilitate timely and effective discharge from hospital. The complexities of integration raise questions about the practical challenges of integrating health and care given embedded professional and organisational boundaries in both sectors. We describe how an English city created a single, integrated care partnership organisation, to fully integrate community health and social care services. This led to the development of twelve integrated neighbourhood teams, combining and co-locating professionals across three separate localities. The aim of this research is to identify the context and the factors enabling and hindering integration from a qualitative process evaluation. Methods Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted with equal numbers of health and social care staff at strategic and operational level. The data was subjected to thematic analysis. Results We describe three key themes: 1) shared vision and leadership; 2) organisational factors; 3) professional workforce factors. We found a clarity of vision and purpose of integration throughout the partnership organisation, but there were challenges related to the introduction of devolved leadership. There were widespread concerns that the specified outcome measures did not capture the complexities of integration. Organisational challenges included a lack of detail around clinical and service delivery planning, tensions around variable human resource practices and barriers to data sharing. A lack of understanding and trust meant professional workforce integration remained a key challenge, although integration was also seen as a potential solution to engender relationship building. Conclusions Given the long-term national policy focus on integration this ambitious approach to fully integrate community health and social care has highlighted implications for leadership, organisational design and inter-professional working. Given the ethos of valuing the local assets of individuals and networks within the new partnership organisation we found the integrated neighbourhood teams could all learn from each other. Many of the challenges of integration could benefit from embracing the inherent capabilities across the integrated neighbourhood teams and localities of this city.

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More that unites us than divides us? A qualitative study of integration of community health and social care services

10.21203/rs.2.15186/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Claire Mitchell ◽

Abigail Tazzyman ◽

Susan J. Howard ◽

Damian Hodgson

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Social Care ◽

National Policy ◽

Shared Vision ◽

Relationship Building ◽

Care Staff ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Care Services ◽

Effective Discharge ◽

Health And Social Care

Abstract Background: The integration of community health and social care services has been widely promoted nationally as a vital step to improve patient centred care, reduce costs, reduce admissions to hospital and facilitate timely and effective discharge from hospital. The complexities of integration raise questions about the practical challenges of integrating health and care given embedded professional and organisational boundaries in both sectors. We describe how an English city created a single, integrated care partnership, to integrate community health and social care services. This led to the development of twelve integrated neighbourhood teams, combining and co-locating professionals across three separate localities. The aim of this research is to identify the context and the factors enabling and hindering integration from a qualitative process evaluation.Methods: Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted with equal numbers of health and social care staff at strategic and operational level. The data was subjected to thematic analysis. Results: We describe three key themes: 1) shared vision and leadership; 2) organisational factors; 3) professional workforce factors. We found a clarity of vision and purpose of integration throughout the partnership, but there were challenges related to the introduction of devolved leadership. There were widespread concerns that the specified outcome measures did not capture the complexities of integration. Organisational challenges included a lack of detail around clinical and service delivery planning, tensions around variable human resource practices and barriers to data sharing. A lack of understanding and trust meant professional workforce integration remained a key challenge, although integration was also seen as a potential solution to engender relationship building. Conclusions: Given the long-term national policy focus on integration this ambitious approach to integrate community health and social care has highlighted implications for leadership, organisational design and inter-professional working. Given the ethos of valuing the local assets of individuals and networks within the new partnership we found the integrated neighbourhood teams could all learn from each other. Many of the challenges of integration could benefit from embracing the inherent capabilities across the integrated neighbourhood teams and localities of this city.

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More that unites us than divides us? A qualitative study of integration of community health and social care services

10.21203/rs.2.15186/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Claire Mitchell ◽

Abigail Tazzyman ◽

Susan J. Howard ◽

Damian Hodgson

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Social Care ◽

National Policy ◽

Shared Vision ◽

Care Staff ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Care Services ◽

Effective Discharge ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Delivery Planning

Abstract Background The integration of community health and social care services has been widely promoted nationally as a vital step to improve patient centred care, reduce costs, reduce admissions to hospital and facilitate timely and effective discharge from hospital. The complexities of integration raise questions about the practical challenges of integrating health and care given embedded professional and organisational boundaries in both sectors. We describe how an English city created a single, integrated care partnership organisation, to fully integrate community health and social care services. This led to the development of twelve integrated neighbourhood teams, combining and co-locating professionals across three separate localities. The aim of this research is to identify the context and the factors enabling and hindering integration from a qualitative process evaluation.Methods Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted with equal numbers of health and social care staff at strategic and operational level. The data was subjected to thematic analysis.Results We describe three key themes: 1) shared vision and leadership; 2) organisational factors; 3) professional workforce factors. We found a clarity of vision and purpose of integration throughout the partnership organisation, but there were challenges related to the introduction of devolved leadership. There were widespread concerns that the specified outcome measures did not capture the complexities of integration. Organisational challenges included a lack of detail around clinical and service delivery planning, tensions around variable human resource practices and barriers to data sharing. A lack of understanding and trust meant professional workforce integration remained a key challenge, although integration was also seen as a potential solution to engender relationship building.Conclusions Given the long-term national policy focus on integration this ambitious approach to fully integrate community health and social care has highlighted implications for leadership, organisational design and inter-professional working. Given the ethos of valuing the local assets of individuals and networks within the new partnership organisation we found the integrated neighbourhood teams could all learn from each other. Many of the challenges of integration could benefit from embracing the inherent capabilities across the integrated neighbourhood teams and localities of this city.

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Impact of dementia education and training on health and social care staff knowledge, attitudes and confidence: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039939 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e039939

Author(s):

Sahdia Parveen ◽

Sarah Jane Smith ◽

Cara Sass ◽

Jan R Oyebode ◽

Andrea Capstick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Social Care ◽

Education And Training ◽

Care Staff ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Training Content ◽

The Impact ◽

And Training ◽

Dementia Education

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to establish the impact of dementia education and training on the knowledge, attitudes and confidence of health and social care staff. The study also aimed to identify the most effective features (content and pedagogical) of dementia education and training.DesignCross-sectional survey study. Data collection occurred in 2017.SettingsHealth and social care staff in the UK including acute care, mental health community care trusts, primary care and care homes.ParticipantsAll health and social care staff who had completed dementia education and training meeting the minimal standards as set by Health Education England, within the past 5 years were invited to participate in an online survey. A total of 668 health and social care staff provided informed consent and completed an online survey, and responses from 553 participants were included in this study. The majority of the respondents were of white British ethnicity (94.4%) and identified as women (88.4%).OutcomesKnowledge, attitude and confidence of health and social care staff.ResultsHierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted. Staff characteristics, education and training content variables and pedagogical factors were found to account for 29% of variance in staff confidence (F=4.13, p<0.001), 22% of variance in attitude (knowledge) (F=3.80, p<001), 18% of the variance in staff knowledge (F=2.77, p<0.01) and 14% of variance in staff comfort (attitude) (F=2.11, p<0.01).ConclusionThe results suggest that dementia education and training has limited impact on health and social care staff learning outcomes. While training content variables were important when attempting to improve staff knowledge, more consideration should be given to pedagogical factors when training is aiming to improve staff attitude and confidence.

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The COVID-19 vaccine: a programme of protection

British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjnn.2021.17.2.57 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 57-58

Author(s):

Linda Nazarko

Keyword(s):

Social Care ◽

Care Staff ◽

Frontline Staff ◽

Health And Social Care

Frontline health and social care staff are routinely exposed to the COVID-19 virus during their work. NHS staff were among the first to be offered vaccination and 93% of frontline staff have now been vaccinated. London and Wales have much lower levels of vaccination. Linda Nazarko examines the reasons and outlines the benefits of vaccination

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UK-wide health policy under the Coalition

Dismantling the NHS? ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447330226.003.0007 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

David Hughes

Keyword(s):

Health Policy ◽

Northern Ireland ◽

Health Services ◽

Policy Making ◽

Social Care ◽

The Other ◽

Executive Orders ◽

Health Reforms ◽

Policy Responses ◽

Health And Social Care

A volume on health reforms under the Coalition must necessarily expand its focus beyond Westminster to consider the larger UK policy context. Legislation enacted in 1998 established devolved assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with power to make law or issue executive orders in certain specified areas, including health services. This meant that an English NHS overseen by the Westminster Parliament now existed alongside separate NHS systems accountable to devolved governments in the other UK countries. Thus, the major Coalition health reforms heralded by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 applied in the main to England only. However, devolved administrations needed to formulate appropriate policy responses that either maintained differences or moved closer to the English policies. This chapter describes the divergent approaches between the four UK NHS systems, but also sheds light on the nature of coalition policy making.

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The factors influencing access to health and social care in the farming communities of County Down, Northern Ireland

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x06004697 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 373-391 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

DEIRDRE HEENAN

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Northern Ireland ◽

Older People ◽

Social Care ◽

Service Providers ◽

Farming Communities ◽

Access To Health ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

County Down ◽

Farming Families

Against a background of limited previous research, this paper examines the access to health and social care among older people in the farming communities of County Down, Northern Ireland. In-depth interviews were conducted with 45 people aged 60 or more years living on family farms to collect information about health care needs and service use and adequacy. In addition, interviews with service providers provided information on their perceptions of the farming communities' needs. The findings indicate that there are specific rural dimensions of access to services and that among the respondents there was substantial unmet need. For many farming families, using services is determined by much more than being able to reach them physically. The lack of reliable information, the culture of stoicism and the absence of appropriate services impeded obtaining effective support. Recent health care policies and strategies have stressed the importance of developing local services that are responsive to need in consultation with service users, but there is worryingly little evidence that this has occurred. It is concluded that if effective outcomes are to be achieved, policies must recognise the specific characteristics of rural populations and be sensitive to the needs, attitudes and expectations of farming families. The current lack of understanding about the distinct needs of these communities at present exacerbates the isolation and marginalisation of already vulnerable older people.

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Introducing the Care Certificate Evaluation: Innovative practice

Dementia ◽

10.1177/1471301217723498 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 512-517

Author(s):

Elaine Argyle ◽

Louise Thomson ◽

Antony Arthur ◽

Jill Maben ◽

Justine Schneider ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staff Development ◽

Social Care ◽

Policy Research ◽

Research Programme ◽

Direct Care ◽

Care Staff ◽

Care Provision ◽

Front Line ◽

Department Of Health ◽

Health And Social Care

Although investment in staff development is a prerequisite for high-quality and innovative care, the training needs of front line care staff involved in direct care have often been neglected, particularly within dementia care provision. The Care Certificate, which was fully launched in England in April 2015, has aimed to redress this neglect by providing a consistent and transferable approach to the training of the front line health and social care workforce. This article describes the early stages of an 18-month evaluation of the Care Certificate and its implementation funded by the Department of Health Policy Research Programme.

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A Systematic Review of UK Educational and Training Materials Aimed at Health and Social Care Staff about Providing Appropriate Services for LGBT+ People

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16244976 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (24) ◽

pp. 4976 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ros Hunt ◽

Christopher Bates ◽

Susan Walker ◽

Jeffrey Grierson ◽

Sarah Redsell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Professionals ◽

Social Care ◽

Care Staff ◽

Behaviour Change Techniques ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Educational Materials ◽

Lgbt Issues ◽

Training Materials ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Lgbt People

Background: There is greater dissatisfaction with health services by LGBT people compared to heterosexual and cisgender people and some of this is from lack of equality and diversity training for health professionals. Core training standards in sexual orientation for health professionals have been available since 2006. The purpose of this project is to systematically review educational materials for health and social care professionals in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues. Methods: A protocol was developed and searches conducted in six databases. Selection criteria: any studies reporting delivery or evaluation of UK education of health and/or social care professionals in LGBT issues, with no language or setting restrictions. Inclusions and data extraction were conducted in duplicate. Narrative synthesis of educational evaluations was used. Educational materials were assessed using thematic synthesis. Results: From the searches, 165 full papers were evaluated and 19 studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Three were successful action-research projects in cancer services and in residential care. Sixteen sets of educational/training materials have been available since 2010. These varied in length, scope, target audience, and extent of development as classroom-ready materials. Conclusions: Despite the availability of appropriate training programmes for post-qualifying staff, recommendations to undertake training, best practice examples, and statements of good intent, LGBT people continue to report that they are experiencing discrimination or direct prejudice from health and/or social care services. Better training strategies using behaviour change techniques are needed.

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