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Smaller nursing homes struggling to survive

Nursing homes run by small organisations are struggling to continue because they can’t recruit enough staff, a congress fringe meeting hears

Clare Jacobs called for better conditions to attract staff. Picture: David Gee

An increasing number of organisations are choosing to de-register as nursing homes because they are struggling to recruit enough registered nursing staff, an RCN congress fringe meeting heard.

Graham Woodham, programme head of Skills for Care, a workforce development body for adult social care, said the majority of nursing home care is delivered by small organisations and they were having difficulty continuing as nursing homes.

‘Many nursing homes are considering deregistering as nursing homes as they are finding recruiting registered nurses such a struggle. But some bigger organisations are developing new roles to fill the skills gap,’ he said.


Dawne Garrett: Students should be
shown the benefits of care home
nursing. Picture: John Houlihan

Mr Woodham added: ‘Meanwhile at Skills for Care we’re working on an innovative return to practice course in the Midlands to try and bring staff back.’ 

He said the key was to train the mentors before starting to recruit the returnees, otherwise the scheme would flounder.

Discussing the issues in recruiting staff, RCN national officer for independent sector employers Clare Jacobs said she wanted to see better working conditions to attract staff.

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‘I went to visit a group of care homes and I was astonished to see the room for staff to take their breaks. It was a mouse-infested hole. Staff would rather stand outside with smokers than use it.’

RCN professional lead for older people Dawne Garrett said students needed to be shown the benefits of care home nursing.

‘Unless we have good quality placements for students in care homes, so they have a brilliant experience, they are not going to want to work with us as they won’t understand the full potential of the role,’ she said.


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