Double Handed Care Package Reviews
Worth A Second Look? A Review Of Double Handed Packages Of Care
Inclusion.Me is a leading provider of independent Occupational Therapy and moving & handling with dignity solutions. Led by a team of highly specialist Occupational Therapists & Physiotherapists. Inclusion.Me specialise in providing expert assessments & recommendations within the field of moving and handling with dignity.
Historically, there has been a belief regarding the requirement to use two people for specific manual handling tasks. A report investigating the prescription of double handed care concluded that there was a need to re-evaluate the need for double-handed care and to question current thinking in order to ultimately benefit carers, clients and cost (Phillips, Mellson, Richardson 2014). Research shows that equipment and correct techniques can have a positive impact on reducing functional decline, reducing the costs of care and can significantly increase quality of life. In many cases double handed care is not required when the right equipment is provided, or staff are trained in the right way. This brings benefits for service users, care providers and for the local authority (Robinson and Arnold, 2012). The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) (2019) recently published a report as part of the Improving Lives Saving Money series: ‘Relieving the pressure on social care the value of occupational therapy’. Their report outlines that the work of occupational therapists relieves pressure on the social care system.
A double handed package of care is where more than one carer is provided on each visit to someone to deliver personal care to the person in their home. Inclusion.mehave experience in being commissioned to undertake numerous double handed care package projects across the UK. The main aims of these types of review projects are often:
To improve the capacity of care providers to address the demand for care;
To improve quality of care and service user experience;
To reduce client waiting times for care provision within their homes;
To review current provision of equipment, to ensure the most appropriate and up-to date provision to meet client needs, within resources available;
To undertake risk assessments for each client to ensure safety of the client, the family and the carers;
To identify any cost saving benefits.
For More information regarding the outcomes from one of our more recent Double Handed Care Package Review projects in Thurrock download the Social Return On Investment Report as attached (both the full report with service user case studies and outcomes focused executive summary are available for download below).
For more information or to arrange a free consultation call Inclusion on 01892 320334 or email info@inclusion.me.uk.