Decision Support Tool (DST) and Documents - pt 2 Care Providers

To ensure that documents are suitable for a DST meeting regarding NHS Continuing Healthcare, care providers should follow these guidelines:

1. Accuracy and Completeness: Ensure all documents are up-to-date and accurately reflect the individual’s current health status and care needs. Include all relevant details without omissions.

   
   

2. Clarity and Readability: Use clear, concise language and avoid jargon. Documents should be easy to read and understand.

   
   

3. Consistency: Ensure that information is consistent across all documents. For example, care plans, medical records, and personal statements should all align in terms of the individual’s needs and the care provided.

   
   

4. Detailed Descriptions: Especially in care plans and risk assessements. Provide detailed descriptions of the individual’s needs, challenges, and the level of care required. Include specific examples and observations to support the information.

   
   

5. Regular Updates: Regularly update documents to reflect any changes in the individual’s condition or care needs. This is particularly important for care plans, risk assessments, and daily care logs.

   
   

6. Professional Input: Include reports and assessments from relevant healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. Their expert opinions are crucial for a comprehensive assessment.

   
   

Factual Daily Logs:

Check and ensure carers are recording WHAT they did, WHY they did it, HOW they did it, WHEN they did it. They should also include discussions and information from the individual and relatives

• Daily logs can significantly impact on the DST

When documenting daily care activities, it’s important to be specific and factual. Here are some examples:

• DON’T:

  • Client drank well today.

• DO:

  • Client required the assistance of 1 carer to drink from a beaker with a spout. This took a long time as the carer had to stop and return: drank 1 small glass of juice over a period of 2 hours. Fluid was thickened as prescribed.

    
    

• DON’T:

  • Assisted with personal care. Pads changed today.

• DO:

  • Client required the full support of 2 carers to change continence pads for bladder incontinence. Intervention was completed in best interests as Client lacked capacity to understand and was unable to follow instructions. Client was physically unable to assist and shouted out in distress and attempted to scratch carers during the intervention. Time taken was longer than usual as carers needed to take breaks.

    
    

By following these guidelines, care providers can ensure that their documents are thorough, accurate, and suitable for a DST meeting, ultimately aiding in a fair and comprehensive assessment for the individual’s they care for and their eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare.