Ensuring that a potential resident is a good fit for our service – and that we can meet their needs to a high standard – is of paramount importance. Before any admission, we conduct a thorough care needs assessment for suitability. This process is done in close collaboration with the referring local authority’s care team and the individual (and their family, where appropriate):
Review of Existing Assessments
First, we carefully review the care needs assessment provided by the social worker, along with any care plan or medical reports available. This gives us a detailed picture of the person’s health, daily living needs, mental capacity (if relevant), and personal preferences. We look at areas such as mobility, personal care requirements, medication, dietary needs, communication abilities, social interests, and any behaviours that need special attention or support.
Karuna Care London’s Assessment
Next, our team carries out its own assessment to complement the council’s information. A senior staff member (such as our care manager) will arrange to meet the prospective resident. This could be a home visit (if the person is living in the community or in a hospital) or an invitation for the individual to visit our facility. During this meeting, we speak with the person in a respectful and friendly manner about their needs and expectations. We may also speak with family members or current caregivers (with consent) to gather additional insights. Our assessment evaluates whether our home can safely accommodate the person’s needs. This includes checking that our staffing, equipment, and environment are suitable – for example, if someone has mobility issues, we ensure we have necessary accessibility features in place.
Risk Assessment and Compatibility
Part of determining suitability is assessing any risks and how we would manage them. We consider factors like medical stability, potential emergency needs, or any challenging behaviours. We also consider the compatibility of the individual with our current resident group. For instance, we look at whether the person might settle in well socially and whether their needs can be met alongside the needs of others (ensuring one resident’s requirements won’t unintentionally compromise another’s care). If any specific training or adaptation would be required to support the individual (for example, staff training in a particular medical procedure or obtaining specialized equipment), we identify that during this stage and confirm we can have it in place.
Collaboration with Local Authority Care Managers
Throughout the assessment, we maintain open communication with the local authority care manager or social worker overseeing the case. If our assessment raises any questions or notes any discrepancies (for example, if we observe an additional need that wasn’t documented), we discuss these with the care manager. The goal is to ensure everyone has a consistent understanding of the person’s support requirements. We only proceed with a placement if both Karuna Care London and the local authority are confident that our service matches the level of support required. Should there be any concern – for instance, if the individual’s needs are too complex for our current registration or if they might actually require a nursing home or different setting – we will communicate this clearly. The decision to accept a new resident is made collectively, considering the professional assessments and, importantly, the wishes of the individual themselves.
Individualised Care Plans
Once a potential resident is deemed suitable and all parties agree to move forward, we develop an individualised care plan prior to or immediately upon admission. This care plan is person-centred and based on the comprehensive assessment of needs. We take into account the local authority’s care/support plan and any guidance provided by specialists (such as doctors, occupational therapists, or mental health professionals). The care plan will detail the support the new resident requires day-to-day, including: personal care routines (like morning/evening routines, bathing preferences), medication schedules, dietary requirements and meal preferences, mobility assistance (e.g. use of walking aids or wheelchairs), social and recreational activities they enjoy, communication methods (especially if the person has dementia or a communication difficulty), and any cultural or religious needs. Families and the residents themselves are invited to contribute to this plan – they often provide personal insights (favourite activities, life history, what comforts or calms the person) that help us tailor our care approach. The final care plan is agreed upon with the involvement of the resident (to whatever extent possible) and their representatives. This plan will guide our staff in delivering consistent, respectful, and effective care from the very first day of the placement. We also set up an initial review date (usually a few weeks after admission) to revisit the care plan and make any adjustments once the person has settled in (see the Onboarding Process section for more on reviews).