Staff shortages leave vulnerable adults waiting for care
Dorset's care sector is said to be just about coping with the impact of covid
Doret's care sector is just about coping in the face of Covid – although there are people still waiting for the care they are entitled to, but unable to get it because of staff shortages.
Almost half of the county’s care homes are, effectively, currently closed to new residents because of Covid outbreaks or incidents, or a lack of staff.
Of 118 care homes on January 26th, 63 had covid outbreaks. Between them those establishments provide 3,724 beds, 16 per cent of which are currently not occupied, a figure roughly in line with “normal” times.
Four care homes in the rural county have permanently closed since the start of Covid.
Across the county it is estimated that there is a deficit of 15% in the amount of care hours needed which cannot currently be provided.
Current figures, on one day, showed 340 Dorset residents unable to get the full package of care they have been assessed for, although almost all were getting most of the care needed. Councillors were told the figure changed day by day.
One of the biggest areas for increase in demand is mental health support which has risen by 43 per cent which, in turn, puts additional stress on a workforce trying to meet that shortfall.
In many areas volunteers, community groups and family members have stepped in to do more.
The authorities have also opened 18 beds in a Dorset hotel as a short-term measure to take people being discharged from hospital for up to two-weeks while return home packages are put in place. Re-opening wards in closed community hospitals, such as St Leonards, and in minor injuries units to provide more beds has also been considered but has been ruled out because of staffing pressures.
Dorset councillors at Monday’s people and health scrutiny committee were told that every option was being considered to bolster the care sector and to attract more staff.
Dorchester councillor David Taylor said that while he welcomed the measures being considered he questioned whether enough was being done to recruit people who were registered as unemployed.
The meeting heard that other problems facing the sector was that, since Covid, the level of care needs for many people in their own homes had increased – rising from an average of 13.6 hours per week, to around 20 hours.
Councillors were told that short-term finance had often not been the key issue – with the Government giving the county more than £3m to help the care sector, money which needed to be spent by the end of March.
A share of this money is currently being used to help recruit and retain care staff, with some being offered bonus payments, although the sector itself is divided about ‘golden hello’ payments, arguing that it encourages some staff to switch from one provide to another.
Cllr Robin Legg said he was worried that the county could be left having to hand back substantial sums – but was told that there was confidence that it could all be put to use.
Council deputy leader Peter Wharf told the meeting that community groups, town and parish councils should be asked by local councillors what more they could do to help their residents.
The committee is also to set up a working group to look at longer term issues around the local care sector.