Following the recent publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commisions inquiry into home care, Guilford & Woking office owner Maureen Ruddock felt compelled to write to the local press. Her letter, published in full, is shown below:
"Dear Editor,
Following the publication today of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s year-long inquiry into home care, I feel compelled to write to you to say that as the owner of a company specialising in care of the elderly in Woking (and the surrounding areas) I wholeheartedly support the findings of the review.
Home Instead Senior Care’s stated aim is to change the way care is delivered to the elderly in the UK. Indeed, one of the company’s offices was audited as part of the Commission’s review and, owing to their unique approach to care of the elderly, was praised by the EHRC.
We have believed for some time that the current system of care is broken. There is absolutely no excuse for individual neglect, but the current system constrains many providers to such a point that compromises in delivering care, for traditional home care providers, are almost inevitable.
This is the reason why we won’t enter into block contracts which force providers into delivering ‘care’ in fifteen minute slots and why, for us, the minimum care visit is one hour.
Home Instead now has 100 offices across the UK, demonstrating that there is a demand for a more tailored service which focuses absolutely on the needs of the individual.
As well as our minimum one-hour call, we also offer continuity of care, whereby clients are visited by the same carers, ensuring that real relationships are built. Our care givers do not wear uniforms as client feedback has shown that they create a barrier and also a stigma, particularly when a carer takes a client out into the community.
Quality care cannot be delivered in short-duration home visits. The ‘one size fits all’ approach might be commercially convenient but the reality is that quality care begins with an individual and that’s where Home Instead starts.
I hope that the EHRC’s review leads to change and I am proud to be helping to lead the way.
Maureen Ruddock
Home Instead Senior Care, Guildford & Woking"
