Quantum Care take part in National Dementia Care Audit trial

Fourfields in Cheshunt are working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to participate in a trial of a new national Dementia Care Audit Tool, which is being developed to provide a measure of the care provided to people with dementia living in a care home setting. The tool will be for all homes of all kinds, that is residential, nursing, specialist, non-specialist, large organisations, stand-alone operators and in all sectors: not for profit, for profit, charity and local authority. Initially, the tool will look into some of the organisational factors necessary for the provision of good quality care.  This will include looking at the openness of the home and ways that are used to involve residents with dementia and carers in discussion and feedback about their care. The tool will also look at the information held about the resident and how that is used – not only the care plan, but information about the resident’s choices and needs and how that is made available to the staff. The audit measurements will relate to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Quality Standard for ‘Supporting People to Live Well with Dementia’ so that participating homes will have evidence about their achievement against statements of quality. The team at Fourfields have been asked to discuss together their procedures and how they are implemented, as well as to look at a sample of the notes/ daily records of residents, and provide answers to questions about these online. Testing of the tool is currently taking place. All participating homes will be encouraged to provide feedback on all aspects, including content, guidance provided, the way questions are asked, how easy it is to understand and obstacles to providing the information. Testers will therefore be directly involved in the further development of the tool and have a voice in what needs to happen to make it work before it is implemented nationally.