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Living Home > Legislation > Management
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National Minimum Standards
Management & administration
Department of Health - Care Homes for Older People
National Minimum Standards - Management & administration
Day to Day Operations
STANDARD 31
31.1 The registered manager is qualified, competent and experienced to
run the home and meet its stated purpose, aims and objectives.
31.2 The registered manager: has at least 2 years’ experience in
a senior management capacity in the managing of a relevant care setting
within the past five years; and [by 2005], has a qualification, at level
4 NVQ, in management and care or equivalent;
or
where nursing care is provided by the home ( ie nursing home), is a first
level registered nurse and has a relevant management qualification [by
2005].
31.3 The registered manager is responsible for no more than one registered establishment.
31.4 The registered manager can demonstrate that he/she has undertaken periodic training to update his/her knowledge, skills and competence, whilst managing the home.
31.5 The manager and other senior staff are familiar with the conditions/diseases associated with old age.
31.6 The job description of the registered manager enables him/her to take responsibility for fulfilling his/her duties.
31.7 There are clear lines of accountability within the home and with any external management.
31.8 Where the registered provider is in day-to-day control of the home, he/she meets all standards applying to the registered manager.
OUTCOME
Service users live in a home which is run and managed by a person who
is fit to be
in charge, of good character and able to discharge his or her responsibilities
fully.
Ethos
STANDARD 32
32.1 The registered manager ensures that the management approach of the
home creates an open, positive and inclusive atmosphere.
32.2 The registered manager communicates a clear sense of direction and leadership which staff and service users understand and are able to relate to the aims and purpose of the home.
32.3 The registered manager has strategies for enabling staff, service users and other stakeholders to affect the way in which the service is delivered.
32.4 The processes of managing and running the home are open and transparent.
32.5 Management planning and practice encourage innovation, creativity and development.
32.6 A commitment is made to equal opportunities in the organisation.
32.7 The registered person complies with any Code of Practice published by the General Social Care Council, setting out standards expected of persons employing social care workers, insofar as the code is relevant to the management of a care home.
OUTCOME
Service users benefit from the ethos, leadership and management approach of the home.
Quality Assurance
STANDARD 33
33.1 Effective quality assurance and quality monitoring systems, based
on seeking the views of service users, are in place to measure success
in meeting the aims, objectives and statement of purpose of the home.
33.2 There is an annual development plan for the home, based on a systematic cycle of planning – action – review, reflecting aims and outcomes for service users.
33.3 There is continuous self-monitoring, using an objective, consistently obtained and reviewed and verifiable method (preferably a professionally recognised quality assurance system) and involving service users; and an internal audit takes place at least annually.
33.4 The results of service user surveys are published and made available to current and prospective users, their representatives and other interested parties, including the NCSC.
33.5 The registered manager and staff can demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and development for each service user, linked to implementation of his/her individual care plan.
33.6 Feedback is actively sought from service users about services provided through eg anonymous user satisfaction questionnaires and individual and group discussion, as well as evidence from records and life plans; and this informs all planning and reviews.
33.7 The views of family and friends and of stakeholders in the community (eg GPs, chiropodist, voluntary organisation staff) are sought on how the home is achieving goals for service users.
33.8 Service users are told about planned NCSC inspections and are given access to inspectors and the views of service users are made available to NCSC inspectors for inclusion in inspection reports.
33.9 Policies, procedures and practices are regularly reviewed in light of changing legislation and of good practice advice from the Department of Health, local / health authorities, and specialist / professional organisations.
33.10 Action is progressed within agreed timescales to implement requirements identified in NCSC inspection reports.
OUTCOME
The home is run in the best interests of service users.
Financial Procedures
STANDARD 34
34.1 Suitable accounting and financial procedures are adopted to demonstrate
current financial viability and to ensure there is effective and efficient
management of the business.
34.2 Insurance cover is put in place against loss or damage to the assets of the business. The level of cover should reflect the full replacement value of buildings, fixture, fittings and equipment.
34.3 Insurance cover is provided for business interruption costs (including loss of earnings), as well as costs to the operator of meeting its contract liabilities. The latter must be sufficient to cover the registered person’s legal liabilities to employees, service users and third party persons to a limit commensurate with the level and extent of activities undertaken or to a minimum of £5 million.
34.4 Records are kept of all transactions entered into by the registered person.
34.5 There is a business and financial plan for the establishment, open to inspection and reviewed annually.
OUTCOME
Service users are safeguarded by the accounting and financial procedures of the home.
Service Users’ Money
STANDARD 35
35.1 The registered manager ensures that service users control their own
money except where they state that they do not wish to or they lack capacity
and that safeguards are in place to protect the interests of the service
user.
35.2 Written records of all transactions are maintained.
35.3 Where the money of individual service users is handled, the manager ensures that the personal allowances of these service users are not pooled and appropriate records and receipts are kept.
35.4 The registered manager may be appointed as agent for a service user
only where no other individual is available. In this case, the manager
ensures that:
• the registration authority is notified on inspection;
• records are kept of all incoming and outgoing payments.
If the manager is to be an appointee for social security purposes, the
DSS is given appropriate notice.
35.5 Secure facilities are provided for the safe-keeping of money and valuables on behalf of the service user.
35.6 Records and receipts are kept of possessions handed over for safe keeping.
OUTCOME
Service users’ financial interests are safeguarded.
Record Keeping
STANDARD 37
37.1 Records required by regulation for the protection of service users
and for the effective and efficient running of the business are maintained,
up to date and accurate.
37.2 Service users have access to their records and information about them held by the home, as well as opportunities to help maintain their personal records.
37.3 Individual records and home records are secure, up to date and in good order; and are constructed, maintained and used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and other statutory requirements.
OUTCOME
Service users’ rights and best interests are safeguarded by the home’s record keeping policies and procedures.
Safe Working Practices
STANDARD 38
38.1 The registered manager ensures so far as is reasonably practicable
the health, safety and welfare of service users and staff.
38.2 The registered manager ensures safe working practices including:
• moving and handling: use of techniques for moving people and objects
that avoid injury to services users or staff;
• fire safety: understanding and implementation of appropriate fire
procedures;
• first aid: knowledge of how to deal with accidents and health
emergencies; provision of a first aid box and a qualified first aider
at all times; and recording of all cases;
• food hygiene: correct storage and preparation of food to avoid
food poisoning, including labelling and dating of stored food;
• infection control: understanding and practice of measures to prevent
spread of infection and communicable diseases.
38.3 The registered manager ensures the health and safety of service
users and staff including:
• safe storage and disposal of hazardous substances;
• regular servicing of boilers and central heating systems under
contract by competent persons (eg members of Council of Registered Gas
Installers (CORGI));
• maintenance of electrical systems and electrical equipment;
• regulation of water temperature, and design solutions to control:
• risk of Legionella,
• risks from hot water/surfaces (ie temperature close to 43°
C);
• provision and maintenance of window restrictors, based on assessment
of vulnerability of and risk to service users.
• maintenance of a safe environment including kitchen equipment
and laundry machinery; outdoor steps and pathways; gardening equipment;
• security of the premises;
• security of service users based on an assessment of their vulnerability.
38.4 The registered manager ensures compliance with relevant legislation
including:
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974;
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999;
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992;
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992;
• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989;
• Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981;
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH)
1988;
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992;
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
(RIDDOR)1985.
38.5 The registered manager provides a written statement of the policy, organisation and arrangements for maintaining safe working practices.
38.6 The registered manager ensures that risk assessments are carried out for all safe working practice topics and that significant findings of the risk assessment are recorded.
38.7 All accidents, injuries and incidents of illness or communicable disease are recorded and reported.
38.8 Safety procedures are posted, and explained, in formats that are easily understood and take account of service users’ special communication needs.
38.9 All staff receive induction and foundation training and updates to meet TOPSS specification on all safe working practice topics (see Standard (30) Training).
OUTCOME
The health, safety and welfare of service users and staff are promoted
and protected.
For more detailed information about legislation and standards, you can visit the Department of Health website, www.doh.gov.uk
