Improving safeguarding in the care homes we work with is central to our ethos, and we’re thrilled to be backing a new initiative that protects vulnerable people in care homes and makes reporting workplace concerns easier. An independent contact point for staff to raise concerns is central to ensuring that care homes across England are nurturing and caring places, and we’re thrilled to be part of the solution.
Reporting issues in care homes
We’re proud to be backing Say So, an initiative aimed at enabling staff across various sectors to have the support to raise a concern about work practices. Say So have experience in whistleblowing, witness statements and conducting lawful investigations, so they’re well placed to help workplaces become more transparent.
Although Say So’s work is not specifically aimed at the care sector, reporting concerns are especially relevant as the risks of not having a safe space to voice any worries are even starker than in other industries. In fact, the CQC actively calls on carers to report any concerns that they might have. It also requires all care homes to have whistleblowing procedures. Currently, however, many employees feel too scared to come forward with concerns, and this is exactly what Say So is hoping to change.
By offering a trusted and secure way that protects equality, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace is of critical importance when it comes to attracting and retaining new care staff. Listening more to women and minorities is at the front and centre of all public services and this is especially true of the social care workforce, which contains a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences across care staff.
Offering an independent reporting service to our care home clients
In backing Say So, we can offer a good, trusted, independent, reporting service to the care homes we work with. Our Managing Director, Tony Thiru, said: “This is a project close to our heart: providing an independent contact point for staff to raise concerns. Running to the CQC or local authority safeguarding team is not always the solution. The service operates for staff only, not families.”
Say So are offering their leading concern reporting services to all of our clients free for up to one year or until their next CQC inspection, helping to ensure that the care homes we are involved with have fair, open and clear procedures for reporting concerns.”
Say So’s expertise at improving reporting procedures
Say So was co-founded by Shaun Keep and Paul Adams, who previously served as detectives in the Metropolitan Police for over 30 years, giving them the experience necessary for improving transparency within organisations. Shaun also has personal experience with the care sector, after his mother received 10 years of good care within various care facilities. He shares our belief that all care home residents should receive this same level of care that his mother had.
Shaun said: “I felt that Tony understood our ethos, that all businesses need to be more transparent and more open, ethical and have more integrity around what they’re doing. Listening to their staff, is a basic need for any business. I think the new whistleblower bill that’s been proposed before Parliament, and the new EU directive around whistleblowing shows there is the right climate for change. It’s almost like a sea of change around businesses listening to their staff.
“We’re going to be able to offer our services to Fulcrum’s clients and enable carers to speak up because, after all, staff are the most important asset to any business. Why wouldn’t you listen to trained experienced staff if they have any concerns?”
Watch the full video interview on YouTube
If you want to improve the reporting procedures at your care home, or other enhancements to the running of your care home, please get in touch.