Award-winning training scheme for carers could go nationwide

Award-winning training scheme for carers could go nationwide

Devon NHS Trust's project to train care home support staff acclaimed after halving avoidable hospital admissions

Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of NHS England, is keen to see a national roll out of the training scheme developed by nurses in north Devon, who have been boosting the clinical skills of care home support staff.

At the Guardian Public Services Awards 2013, Northern Devon Healthcare NHS trust won the partnership excellence category.

Chris Thomas, health and social care cluster manager at the trust says: "Sir David singled us out at the awards night and said 'This has to go out across the NHS'. That was quite something."

Nicholson's interest in the scheme, run by nurses Becky Young and Jan Hearnden, is not surprising given that, since it was launched, avoidable hospital admissions have fallen from 109 in April last year to 54 in June 2013. There is also anecdotal evidence that cases of adult safeguarding in the care homes where the scheme has been running have also gone down.

Northern Devon Healthcare NHS trust has now received funding from Devon county council – which joint funds Thomas's post – to develop and grow the scheme in 20 nursing care homes in four market towns in North Devon. The care home training team is also being increased to include occupational therapists and the trust's safeguarding adult nurse to provide additional expertise to care home support staff. The range of clinical skills being taught is also being increased to include hydration care and the tell-tale signs of pneumonia.

Discussions are continuing with local agencies that provide care support to people in their own homes. Thomas says: "The domiciliary agencies are hugely keen and are talking not only about what they need to provide for their clients but what they can do for their own staff to make their jobs more interesting."

Young and Hearnden are keen to develop the project not only to help reduce avoidable hospital admissions from care homes but also to support nursing colleagues working in care homes who often feel professionally isolated. Hearnden says: "This isn't just about hospital admissions – it's also about raising the profile of care home staff and making them feel valued and supported."  Guardian