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Shared Accommodation in Care Homes (England) Policy

Policy Statement

This policy addresses the provision and use of any shared accommodation made by {{org_field_name}}. It is produced in line with the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to provide safe, person-centred care that always maintains people’s dignity and respect in accommodation, where applicable under Regulation 15: Premises and Equipment is clean, secure, suitable for the purpose, properly used, properly maintained, and appropriately located.

Note:

The policy should reflect the home’s overall provision as reflected in its Statement of Purpose and information for prospective people using services. The following statements provide examples of the range of purposes for which shared accommodation might be needed and from which a local policy can be adapted. A policy will only apply to a home that offers shared rooms or shared accommodation.

• The home has designed its premises to provide single accommodation for most people. This is done in the interests of maintaining privacy and dignity and the ensuring of person-centred care. It also takes into account that most applications for admission are from individuals. However the home will also receive applications from time to time from couples who seek to share the home’s accommodation.
• (Alternatively or additionally) the home has kept a certain amount of its accommodation for sharing to allow people who have become accustomed to sharing and who have expressed a wish to continue to share to do so.
• All shared accommodation meets the current standards as stated in Regulation 15: Premises of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 for their suitability, accessibility, facilities and equipment and are always kept clean, secure, properly used and maintained as is the case with all of the home’s accommodation.

Arrangements Involved in Sharing

• If a couple requests shared accommodation their request will be met in line with equality and non-discriminatory principles if at all possible in terms of availability and suitability of accommodation.
• To meet any needs for sharing the home can provide accommodation which is sufficiently spacious and equipped for this purpose. (This could be a double room or two single adjacent rooms for bedroom and private sitting space respectively).
• Where a couple elects to share from choice they will be free to arrange their accommodation as they both wish and agree in the same ways that individuals arrange their single accommodation. They will decide the best ways of ensuring their individual privacy and dignity and preferred means of receiving personal care.
• Any agreements that have to be negotiated or made about the sharing will be written down and made subject to review as part of the general reviewing of their care and treatment in the home.
• Alternative arrangements will always be considered if the circumstances or wellbeing of one and/or the other person sharing changes, for example, there is a breakdown in their relationship, one is being adversely affected by the other etc.
• In any shared arrangement that does not involve a partnership the room will be adapted and equipped to make sure that each individual’s privacy and dignity is maintained at all times in line with their needs and wishes, using for example screens and mobile curtains.
• People who lack mental capacity to decide on their accommodation will not be expected to share with anyone else unless it is with an established partner and for whom the sharing is decided to be in their best interests.
• No person will be expected to share a room with anyone who is seriously ill or with an infection or who is receiving end-of-life care and alternative temporary accommodation will always be offered together where relevant with appropriate infection control arrangements.
• The care and treatment of anyone in shared accommodation will be to the same standards as anyone in single accommodation and will achieve the Fundamental Standards: Regulations 9–20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Training

Care staff are given the appropriate training to make sure that they address fully the care and treatment needs of people who are sharing their accommodation in line with the home’s values and standards.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}

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