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Community Links and Social Inclusion of People Living in Care Homes (Wales) Policy

Policy Statement

This policy sets out the values, principles and key procedures underpinning {{org_field_name}}’s approach to the social and community life of the people living in the home and their need to develop and maintain community links.

It is in line with the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, and the recommendations of A Place to Call Home? (2014), a review carried out by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.

People should expect their quality of life to be enhanced by living at {{org_field_name}} and by the provision of a safe, manageable and comfortable environment which provides the stimulation and encouragement to pursue their lives to the maximum chosen physical, intellectual, emotional and social capacity and supports their friendships and family relationships both inside and outside of the home.

Policy on Community Links and Social Inclusion

{{org_field_name}} considers that people living in the home should be able to maintain contacts with their families, friends, representatives and local community groups and volunteers as they wish, with, as a rule, no restrictions placed on visits to and from the home, with appropriate support from the home and with appropriate arrangements made for privacy.

The home considers that having social contacts outside of the home is a crucial part of living a fulfilled and healthy life. The home will do its best to provide ample opportunities for people living in the home to mix, and seek friendship and pleasure in social contacts and in the company of their friends and relatives.

It is the policy of the home that the following applies.

1. Staff will support people living in the home to become part of, and participate in, the local community in line with their assessed needs and their individual support plans.
2. Every new person who comes to live in the home will receive a resource pack containing leaflets and information about all local community resources open to them. This pack will be provided in a format that the person can understand and should be fully explored with a member of staff. The pack should include knowledge about services, facilities and activities in the local community including shops, clubs, libraries, cinemas, pubs, leisure centres, places of worship, cultural centres and day centres.
3. The home will maintain a neighbourly and friendly relationship with the community around it.
4. People living in the home should be enabled to be politically active and to vote.
5. Time for staff to be with, and provide support for, residents outside the home will be provided on a flexible basis as a recognised part of staff duties, including evenings and weekends.
6. The home should value, and seeks to reflect, the racial and cultural diversity of people living in the home and of the community in which it is located.

Note:

The home acknowledges that it had to modify its approach during the Covid-19 pandemic and has developed its policy on out of home visiting and outings in line with Wales government guidance.

The Role of the Home in the Community

The management team of a home will make a positive effort to fostering good working relationships with the local community. {{org_field_name}} believes that taking an active and high-profile role in the local community is the best way to serve the people living in the home.

To this end, the home will:

1. continue to work with its community contacts to strengthen the position of the home in the local community
2. with the involvement and support of people living in the home, put on birthday parties for people who want one, celebrate all major festivals, hold an annual open day and other culturally appropriate celebrations
3. encourage involvement in the home by local community groups and/or volunteers according to the wishes of residents
4. continually review its policy according to resident’s wishes as expressed by individual or groups of residents or as expressed in regular meetings or surveys of residents’ opinions.

Training

Staff training begins with induction in which issues about leisure interests are included in line with the All Wales Induction Framework for Health and Social Care.

All staff are trained in person-centred care planning principles and methods. Staff on escort duty when away from the home are trained in aspects of safety including risk assessment and management.

All staff are trained to:

• be aware of the rights of the of people living in the home to have access to public facilities under disability anti-discrimination and equality legislation
• have knowledge about, and support for, people living in the home to make use of services, facilities and activities in the local community (eg shops, library, cinema, pubs, leisure centres, places of worship, cultural centres).

Staff also receive training in line with the Declaration of Rights for Older People in Wales, which stresses the importance of all older people having the opportunities to follow their interests and aspirations and to take a full part in community life.

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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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