SAFETY & SECURITY GOOD CARE


Investing in staff alarm systems not only helps keep care workers safe but contributes to enhanced treatment outcomes and life satisfaction, explains Allan Aikman at Pinpoint.


July is Good Care Month, a national campaign that recognises the vital contributions of care professionals, raises awareness for the sector and inspires people to consider a career in care. However, unless you work within – or adjacent to – the sector, it’s likely Good Care Month will have previously passed you by.


The reality is our care workers often go overlooked and undervalued. New figures from the HSE reveal over 12,000 violent attacks have taken place toward residential care staff in the last 10 years, with minimal year-by-year variation. For a sector where 85% of staff report being the subject of violent behaviour at work, it is clear that more must be done to protect our care workers.


If we really want to celebrate care workers and build a strong UK care workforce, we must first invest in the safety of staff, creating a secure working environment that enables employees to carry out their duties without the risk of abuse.


PART OF THE JOB?


While oſten unintentional, the nature of their conditions and various medications can cause some care home residents to present volatile and aggressive behaviour. Carers are frequently exposed to kicking, biting, hitting and spitting, alongside verbal abuse and threats, with data indicating an average of two assaults on staff in England every day. The frequency and consistency of these incidents have contributed to a general apathy toward violence, where professional carers have become accustomed to hostile behaviour from patients, accepting it as “part of the job”.


As a result, we are seeing poor job satisfaction, high rates of absenteeism and increasing staff turnover in the care workforce. Far from attracting new talent, the sector is facing a recruitment crisis, struggling to fill the ever-growing vacancies and putting further strain on existing staff.


DESIGNING FOR SAFETY


Staff safety must be a priority for every health and social care environment. And, while de-escalation training and no-violence policies certainly have their place, in the oſten-unpredictable nature of a care residence, advanced staff safety systems are a vital asset to protect both care staff and residents.


Staff alarm systems, like those provided by Pinpoint, enable employees to swiſtly summon assistance when needed. With the simple press of a button on their personal alarm, care workers alert colleagues to the exact location and severity of an incident, eliciting an immediate response to intervene and offer support.


The speed and precision of these systems are essential. Taking mere milliseconds from alarm activation to information display, Pinpoint’s staff alarm system enables the response team to quickly de-escalate hostile behaviour and disrupt violent attacks on staff. What’s more, the knowledge that staff can easily call for help can deter aggressive outbursts from taking place to begin with.


In non-violent incidents, such as a resident choking or taking a fall, staff are quickly alerted to attend the scene and provide the appropriate help, thereby enhancing the safety of all on-site.


CARING WITH CARE


“Over 12,000violent attacks have taken place toward residential care staff in the last 10 years.”


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The presence of staff safety alarms gives care workers peace of mind and assurance that their wellbeing is a priority. This was certainly the case in St Brigid’s Hospital’s Creagh Suite, which offers long-stay, continuing care for residents living with the most severe symptoms of dementia. The addition of Pinpoint’s P2 System reassured staff of their safety, strengthened their relationship with patients and enhanced the quality of care delivered. Without the threat of violence or repeated abusive incidents interrupting their day, care workers can focus on completing their responsibilities to the highest standard. Consequently, care residents receive greater levels of care, contributing to enhanced treatment outcomes and life satisfaction.


This Good Care Month let’s honour the incredible work that carers do by investing in systems that will protect them from the threat of abuse and maximise their safety while at work. Doing so is crucial for the longevity of the care workforce and long-term treatment outcomes of those who need it most.


www.pinpoint.ltd.uk www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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