Volunteers accompanying nursing home residents

pat127

Hi all,

anyone familiar with the rules and regs regarding protection of residents? I am considering whether to volunteer to work for a nursing home. My role would be to accompany residents, in a taxi, to hospital appointments, involving the use of a wheel-chair if needed, then waiting to bring them back. The problem is that I have learnt from friends that 2 other homes they are familiar with, never allow residents to leave the premises without being accompanied by an actual member of staff and in any case a volunteer is not allowed to push a wheel-chair without first being trained. Extra training is also required in Health and Safety, safe lifting etc.

I e-mailed HIQA to enquire if there were rules and regulations in this area. Their response seems to a straight lift from some document from which I understand that I need to 'blow the whistle' on the home and be ready if needed to appear in court if formal action is taken against the home.

All I need is simple information before deciding how to proceed, which would include contacting the home as to my concerns and advising whether I intend to take up the job.

Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks

TylerIE

pat127 wrote: »

Hi all,

anyone familiar with the rules and regs regarding protection of residents? I am considering whether to volunteer to work for a nursing home. My role would be to accompany residents, in a taxi, to hospital appointments, involving the use of a wheel-chair if needed, then waiting to bring them back. The problem is that I have learnt from friends that 2 other homes they are familiar with, never allow residents to leave the premises without being accompanied by an actual member of staff and in any case a volunteer is not allowed to push a wheel-chair without first being trained. Extra training is also required in Health and Safety, safe lifting etc.

I e-mailed HIQA to enquire if there were rules and regulations in this area. Their response seems to a straight lift from some document from which I understand that I need to 'blow the whistle' on the home and be ready if needed to appear in court if formal action is taken against the home.

All I need is simple information before deciding how to proceed, which would include contacting the home as to my concerns and advising whether I intend to take up the job.

Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks

Are you saying HIQA told you that you need to whistleblow?

As regards Health and Safety Training the only training that really is enforced in Nursing Homes among staff is Manual Handling (which can be called a variety of different things but is basically 3 hours on lifting boxes and about 2 hours on moving and handling patients). There is a push towards all staff having FETAC Healthcare Assistant Courses Completed.

With regard to bringing patients from Nursing Home to Hospital appointments, Id be reluctant to do so. The Nursing Home wont (as they cant) give you any medical information on the person your bringing, so the person could have a seizure in the taxi and your there saying "I dont know". As little training as some Nursing Home Care Assistants have they normally have experience of assisting nurses in these situations and will have some idea of a patients medical history and normal condition. You also will find yourself with patients who may be diabetic, and it can be very difficult balancing between getting into the appointment, getting fed, getting patient to toilet and safely back to nursing home...


Id hazard a guess that the nursing home is looking for volunteers for this as its very time and labour consuming for them to have staff accompany patients on hospital visits. If its a private nursing home its possible its just to avoid them having to pay someone to do it. If its something safe, and benefits the public sector or patients, It would be ok, but this sounds like the Nursing Home is trying to take advantage.

Iv did patient escorts often [in a professional capacity] and while I am all for Voluntary work, I dont think this is something that Nursing Homes should expect volunteers to do this unaccompanied and untrained [unless you have an existing Nursing or Pre-hospital qualification]. Off the cuff I can think of two occasions in clinics where care assistants had patients who took seriously Ill and I had to get involved in their care (while obviously ensuring the safety of my own patient), and numerous others where the accompanying care assistant was out of their depth.

If there are nursing home visitation schemes I'd suggest that instead. Some nursing homes even have where you go in one day a week and assist a nurse with basic duties. That may be equally rewarding.

So in summary... regardless of the regulations I wouldnt be doing it as its leaving you, and the patient, in quite an exposed position.

pat127

That's a fantastic reply. I couldn't have asked for better.

QUOTE=TylerIE;74319982]Are you saying HIQA told you that you need to whistleblow?[/QUOTE]


That's how I read the following. I made it clear that I just wanted information. I interpret from the following that my only option is to formally report the Home.

"The Chief Inspector welcomes information of concern in relation to designated centres in order that she can be satisfied that the centre is operating in compliance with the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centre for Older People) Regulations 2009, (as amended) and that systems are in place to ensure that residents are protected.

It is the policy of the Authority to hold your contact details in confidence. While the Authority treats all information it receives as sensitive, the Authority must satisfy itself that all residents and staff are protected and that systems are in place to ensure this. In the course of evaluating your concern, the Authority may be required to disclose relevant details pertaining to the concern to the provider or a statutory agency. This may be necessary when ensuring residents are safeguarded; that care is delivered to a high standard and that a full and accurate response can be provided by the nursing home or center’s manager. Furthermore, if the information results in legal action being taken, your details and those of the persons involved in the concern and the findings may become part of the evidence."

TylerIE wrote: »

As regards Health and Safety Training the only training that really is enforced in Nursing Homes among staff is Manual Handling (which can be called a variety of different things but is basically 3 hours on lifting boxes and about 2 hours on moving and handling patients). There is a push towards all staff having FETAC Healthcare Assistant Courses Completed.

No training of any sort was mentioned.

TylerIE wrote: »

With regard to bringing patients from Nursing Home to Hospital appointments, Id be reluctant to do so. The Nursing Home wont (as they cant) give you any medical information on the person your bringing, so the person could have a seizure in the taxi and your there saying "I dont know". As little training as some Nursing Home Care Assistants have they normally have experience of assisting nurses in these situations and will have some idea of a patients medical history and normal condition. You also will find yourself with patients who may be diabetic, and it can be very difficult balancing between getting into the appointment, getting fed, getting patient to toilet and safely back to nursing home...

My concerns exactly.

TylerIE wrote: »

Id hazard a guess that the nursing home is looking for volunteers for this as its very time and labour consuming for them to have staff accompany patients on hospital visits.

That's exactly what they told me.

TylerIE wrote: »

So in summary... regardless of the regulations I wouldnt be doing it as its leaving you, and the patient, in quite an exposed position.

I have to agree. I'm very obliged to you for taking the time to reply. Cheers.