Nurse researchers to try and identify ‘optimal’ staffing level for care home quality
ENRICHEnabling Research in Care Homes
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Nurse researchers to try and identify ‘optimal’ staffing level for care home quality
Nursing Times
Nurse academics are embarking on what is believed to be the first major UK study to look at the relationship between staffing and the quality of care in residential and nursing homes.
Nurse academics are embarking on what is believed to be the first major UK study to look at the relationship between staffing and the quality of care in residential and nursing homes.
The study will investigate the impact of the ratio of nurses to care staff and other variations in skills mix on key quality indicators such as pressure ulcers, falls and unplanned hospital admissions.The ultimate aim of the project will be to identify optimal staffing levels in both homes that employ nurses and those that do not and help shape workforce planning across the country. The multi-faceted study, which got under way in July, will involve a number of different research projects and techniques. It will draw on national data on quality and staffing, as well as gathering evidence from care home managers, frontline nursing and care staff, residents and their relatives, and visiting NHS staff.
Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the £100,000 study will be led by Karen Spilsbury, professor of nursing research at the University of Leeds.
Study synopsis – Relationship between care home staffing and quality of care: a mixed methods approach (Spilsbury)
The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the mix of staffing in the care home workforce and how this affects quality of care. Outcomes for residents, relatives and staff will be assessed. The research will examine how care is paid for and how this affects quality. It will involve a review of the literature and discussions with care home managers and staff. Information from key organisations (such as Skills for Care, Care Quality Commission and BUPA) will provide insight into UK-wide care homes. Six care homes will be selected to assess the relationship between staffing mix and levels and quality of care. Ultimately, the research aims to provide decision-makers, including care home managers and commissions, with important information about staffing and care quality. Due to publish 2020.