1.Purpose
- This document applies to the current Devon Community Equipment Service and its purpose is to provide clarity of responsibility, for providing and maintaining care equipment in Care Homes in the Devon County Council Footprint. The same principles will apply to privately owned and Devon County Council Homes.
2.Definitions
- Care Home: A care home is a place where personal care and accommodation are provided together. People may live in the service for short or long periods. For many people, it is their sole place of residence and so it becomes their home, although they do not legally own or rent it. Both the care that people receive, and the premises are regulated.
- Nursing Home: A care home, as above definition, but in addition, qualified nursing care is provided, to ensure that the full needs of the person using the service are met.
- NHS Continuing Health Care (CHC):A care home placement that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS, for residents who are not in hospital but have a primary health need
- Community Equipment Service (CES): The loan of a stock range of Equipment, minor adaptations and technology for people registered with a GP who is within the footprint of Devon County Council.
- Primary Contractor: The contractor providing the community equipment on behalf of the Commissioners.
- Commissioners: Devon County Council (DCC), One Devon Integrated Care Board (NHS Devon)
- Stock Equipment: Equipment within the Devon Community Equipment Catalogue that has been agreed between the Devon Community Equipment Operational Group and the Primary Contractor.
- Non-Stock Equipment: Equipment that is not within the Stock equipment range (appendix 1),but is required to meet an individual’s eligible needs.
- Bespoke Equipment: Equipment that is custom made or adapted to meet an individual’s specific needs. For example, a custom-made sling or custom moulded seat, to suit an individual resident’s needs only.
- Authorised prescriber: An employee of NHS, Devon County Council or allied services, who has been trained to prescribe equipment from the Community Equipment service
- Independent Living Centre: Devon Equipment and demonstration centre based in Newton Abbot offering free and impartial equipment advice and before you buy information for anyone in Devon: https://www.independentlivingcentre.org.uk/
3. Care & Nursing Home Responsibilities
- Care homes are ordinarily responsible for providing a range of equipment, including technology, suitable to meet the needs of their residents. This should be aimed at helping residents increase or maintain functional independence and promoting their wellbeing. See Appendix 1 for a list of items of equipment we would expect homes to provide. Homes must also risk assess and ensure the safety of residents and staff
- Care homes must meet the Care Quality Commission standards and National Minimum Standards under the Care Home Regulations 2001.
- They must ensure they have the necessary equipment to meet a resident’s needs before admitting them to the care home.
- Care staff must be trained in the use of any equipment. This is a mandatory requirement under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations PUWER 1998 and MDA DB 2006.
- They must ensure that residents have access to the equipment they need and that it is:
-safe
-available
-suitable for resident’s needs
-comfortable
-properly cleaned and maintained
4.Moving & Handling Equipment
- A moving and handling risk assessment should be carried out by a suitably trained member of staff within the care home as soon as a resident moves in. Assessments should be reviewed regularly, especially when a resident’s health or functional ability changes. A range of standard equipment should be provided by the care home as in Appendix 1.
5. Non Stock or Bespoke Equipment
- Where care home staff identify a possible need for equipment outside the range of equipment listed in Appendix 1 they should refer to a relevant specialist for an individual assessment and make arrangements for purchase. Advice on relevant specialists can be obtained from the Independent Living Centre.
- In exceptional circumstances where a person may have eligible needs for a non-stock or bespoke piece of equipment, care home staff should refer to a suitable professional within Health and Social Care. An assessment will be completed and eligibility criteria will be applied.
- If bespoke equipment is provided, the equipment will remain the property of the Commissioners and will be provided on loan to be used solely by the identified specific individual who has been assessed. The person could choose to have a direct payment to the value of the equipment, see related policy.
- Where equipment is loaned by the Primary Contractor, it will include instructions on how to use it and maintain it.
- Care staff must use the equipment within the manufacturer’s guidance, complete any daily checks and keep the item clean and in good condition. Any need for repair or maintenance of the bespoke equipment, will be the responsibility of the Primary Contractor.
- Equipment loaned for a specific individual must not subsequently be used with another resident. If equipment is needed for a different resident, they must be referred for an individual assessment from a relevant specialist.
- If the equipment provided for a specific individual is subsequently used with another resident and an incident or accident occurs, the care home will be liable. The liability does not transfer to the prescriber or CES. This may require a safeguarding referral.
- When the loaned equipment is no longer required for the assessed individual, the Home will be responsible for requesting collection of the equipment by the Primary Contractor.
Appendix 1:
Devon County Council’s expectations of the equipment to be sourced and provided by both residential and nursing care homes:
(Advice on equipment choice can be found on the ILC website).
Beds and Bed Equipment
- Single 4 part Profiling Bed (electrically operated backrest, knee break, bed height and full bed tilt) and accessories including side rails and bumpers, compatible bed grab handles, bed extensions with mattress infills
- Single 4 part Floor beds and accessories with weight limit up to 200kg
- Bed grab handles for standard divan or frame beds (if applicable)
- Bed rope ladder
- Bed safety rails and bumpers for standard divan or frame beds
- Bed blanket cradle for standard and profiling beds
Pressure Care
- Foam pressure relieving mattress
- Static and air mattress
- Airflow mattress
Seating
- Upright Armchairs- with adjustable width/depth/height OR variety of sizes available to suit different residents
- Chair raising equipment
- Rise and recline chairs- adjustable width/depth/height OR variety of sizes available to suit different residents
- Tilt in space posture support chair with angle and height adjustable footplate, head support, built in pressure relief, with seat width and depth adjustment to suit different residents.
- Attendant propelled wheelchairs for transit
Shower/bath equipment
- Tilt in space shower chairs with adjustable footrest height and head support
- Wheeled shower commode chair
- Shower stools
- Bath lifts
- Bath seats/boards
Toilet equipment
- Commodes/toilet frames
- Urine bottles/bed pans
- Raised toilet seats
- Toilet frames/rails
Help with eating and drinking
- Equipment, e.g. plate accessories, non-slip mats
- Range of feeding equipment e.g. large handled cutlery
Household equipment
- Helping hand
- Trolley
- Perching stool
Technology
- Technology (other than the systems provided by Bristol environmental controls service)
Moving and Handling
- Slide sheets
- Mobile Full (passive) Hoist (up to 200kg)
- Ceiling Track hoists
- Mobile Standing hoists
- Falls recovery equipment (Elk,Camel Raizer etc)
- Slings, including walking harnesses
- Transfer Board
- In situ satin repositioning system (or similar)
- Standing transfer aids (Rota stand, Return, Sara stedy etc)
- Manual leg lifters
- Handling belts
- Positioning Wedge