Having the appropriate number of patients in relation to staff in your care home job is crucial. Although there is no regulated staff to patient ratio, the right number will be dependent on several factors. This blog will explore which variables contribute to how many patients you should be caring for at once. For managers, understanding this will allow you to ensure you’re providing safe staffing levels for everyone.
In the CQC Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulation 18, it states that:
“To meet the regulation, providers must provide sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using the service at all times and the other regulatory requirements set out in this part of the above regulations.”
This doesn’t specify a set ratio of staff to residents but does require an adequate number of sufficiently trained staff that meet the needs of the patients. In cases where patients have conditions that may require more care, for example, dementia patients, the number of required staff may increase. This number should take into account the frequency of accidents or incidents, feedback from residents themselves as well as other visiting professionals, family and staff members.
The same regulations apply to a night shift, with no set ratios being applied by the CQC. As long as the needs of patients are met, your care home remains compliant. The decision for the number of patients under your care will usually fall to the manager of the care home.
They will have to take into consideration the needs of their residents, for example if a patient requires a bed hoist, this will require the coordination of two carers. Factors like this should be taken into account when shifts are organised, so there is always the correct level of care available for residents.
There are some warning signs that the staffing ratio may be inadequate for the care required. A high staff turnover can indicate burnout and suggest that there aren’t enough hands to care for patients.
If your residents are facing long response times or there are high levels of serious incidents reported, this can lead to risks for everyone and signals that you should have a higher ratio of staff to patients. Additionally, if your staff are overworked and have no time for compassionate care alongside their other duties, this can also affect the wellbeing of your patients.
The right tools are crucial to helping staff provide high standards of service, efficiently and accurately. With Log my Care’s software, team management is made easy, giving you the ability to oversee care delivery from one place. Zoning features allow you to group residents by area and help your team navigate the layout, ideal for agency staff or new members.
Incident management contributes to creating a safe environment for your staff and patients. This technology means carers can precisely log incidents for simple review, so you have the visibility needed. With changing shift patterns, the digital handover feature means you can provide staff with clear and accurate handover reports so nothing is missed.
The right ratio of patients to staff will not only reduce risk and keep you compliant with CQC standards but also improve productivity and create a better company culture. Using the right digital tools can save your organisation time and money when it comes to finding the
Our care software aids carers and managers to ensure they provide the highest quality of care. Book a demo today to see how Log my Care can assist you in achieving your goals.