NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) could win a Nursing Times award later this year thanks to their work with care homes and domiciliary providers, which has helped reduce avoidable harm and improved the deterioration of residents within our community.

A partnership was formed with the CCG and Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Collaborative to achieve this work, after a rise in residents being admitted to hospital in an emergency. The aim of this initiative was to reduce these unplanned admissions, and increase the staff confidence in recognising the signs for deterioration.

To achieve the increase in confidence, sessions were held face to face within the care homes prior to COVID. However since social distancing guidelines, a handbook was developed for care homes to work through themselves.

The team also organised and hosted a conference in Recognising and Responding to Deterioration, which focused on the ‘STOP’ and ‘WATCH’ tool. To read more about this tool, click here.

Michelle Carrington, the Executive Director of Quality and Nursing said: “To be nominated for another Nursing Times award is an excellent achievement for the CCG, but also amazing news for the dedicated team who delivered this support across the Vale of York.

“Residents within care homes and those who need the support of domiciliary providers are usually fragile, and therefore are at higher risk of needing hospital admissions. However, since the Quality and Nursing team worked collaboratively with our brilliant care home staff supporting them to introduce the tools to support residents, the care for those residents has improved and staff now feel more confident when identifying the signs of deterioration.”

Victoria Cockram, Care Service Manager at Riccall Care said: “The training for Stop & Watch was innovative and received by our staff as quite a revelation. This Stop & Watch training has been extremely positive and staff feel it is another way of them increasing knowledge and skill and supports them in their role.

“The training lead to much discussion and enabled the staff both in the community and the office to approach things in a different way. It improved communication between our staff and encouraged community staff to think differently. 

“The training enabled a more thought about and timely response to concerns with health and well-being and enabled a quick response and improved partnership working with our health colleagues.”

Diane Moughan, Registered Manager at Riccall House Care home said: “I have always been able to contact the CCG team if I felt uncertain about anything - they are always at the end of the phone or email to help and advise me. The training and support has given me more confidence in my work role.”

For more information on the CCGs work with care homes, please visit their website: https://www.valeofyorkccg.nhs.uk/about-us/partners-in-care1/

The winners for the award will be announced at the Nursing Award ceremony on 14^th October 2020.

To view all shortlisted entries for the NT Awards visit: https://awards.nursingtimes.net/2020-shortlist

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