Case study:

22 February 2012

A new end of life care programme for Barchester’s care homes

Key points

Barchester Healthcare is currently implementing a wide-ranging end of life care programme in more than 200 of its care homes. The aim of the project is to bring all homes up to the standard of the best.

Current initiatives include an e-learning package for end of life and DNACPR. All homes have also received a hospice directory of useful local support services as well as the NEoLCP’s Finding the Words workbook and DVD and PPC documentation.

This is to be followed by a Barchester Healthcare end of life care pathway and an end of life care strategy that is being developed.

A central strand in this approach is e-learning. All homes now have access to the Palliative and End of Life Care in the East of England e-learning programme and are able to call on the same IT support that is available to East of England NHS staff.

The scheme was launched in October 2011 but uptake has already been encouraging. Once staff have completed the training, their details will be placed on an internal database so that their progress can be monitored and reviewed regularly. It is expected that by the middle of 2012 all homes will be registered with the programme and all nurses, home trainers and their deputies will have been through the course.

Most homes have accepted the initiatives enthusiastically. Residents and relatives have also reacted positively. Many residents, for instance, appreciate being informed that someone is dying and receiving an invitation to commemorate their death. Memorial days for those who have died in the last two to three years have also proved popular.