Karuna Care London is being developed on the understanding that good care depends on joined up working. No single service can meet every need on its own. We intend to work closely with local health and social care professionals so that, once the home is operational, residents experience support that is coordinated, safe and consistent rather than fragmented.
Our approach is to build clear, practical links with GPs, community health teams, therapists, mental health services and local authority practitioners, and to integrate their input into everyday care and support planning.
Working with GPs and primary care
We expect most residents to remain registered with a local GP, either their existing practice or a nearby surgery agreed at the point of admission. Staff will help residents to:
- Arrange and attend routine and urgent GP appointments
- Access regular health checks and medication reviews
- Share relevant information about changes in health or wellbeing
Where appropriate, and subject to practice policies, we will support home visits or remote consultations. Our role is to keep GPs informed, follow their clinical advice and ensure that medicines and treatment plans are implemented safely within the home.
Community nursing and other health services
Some residents will require clinical input that sits outside the remit of our own staff. In those cases we will work with community nurses and other NHS services, for example:
- District nursing for wound care, injections or catheter support
- Specialist clinics such as diabetes, continence or falls services
- Podiatry and other allied health professionals
Staff will help to coordinate referrals, share relevant information and support residents to attend clinics where needed. We see this as part of making sure that physical health needs are not overlooked and that problems are picked up early.
Therapists and rehabilitation input
Where individuals would benefit from therapy, we will seek involvement from physiotherapists, occupational therapists and, where appropriate, speech and language therapists. Their assessments and recommendations will be reflected in support plans, so that:
- Mobility, balance and strength work can be built into daily routines
- Equipment and environmental adaptations are used correctly
- Communication or swallowing needs are understood and supported
The aim is that therapy advice is not treated as occasional input, but as part of day to day life in the home.
Mental health and emotional support
For residents who have mental health needs, dementia or are experiencing emotional distress, we intend to work alongside community mental health teams, psychologists, counsellors and other relevant specialists. This may include:
- Participating in case reviews and care programme approach meetings
- Implementing agreed crisis or relapse prevention plans
- Supporting access to talking therapies where appropriate
Internally, staff will be trained to recognise changes in mood, behaviour or presentation and to escalate concerns promptly. External professionals will be involved where a more detailed assessment or intervention is needed.
Information sharing and joint planning
Collaboration relies on accurate, lawful information sharing. With appropriate consent, we will share relevant information with GPs, local authority teams and other professionals so that they have a clear picture of each resident’s needs and how they are being met.
We will:
- Take part in multi agency meetings and reviews
- Provide timely updates about significant changes in need
- Follow local safeguarding and information sharing procedures
All information will be managed in line with data protection law and residents’ rights to privacy and confidentiality.
Working with professionals before and after opening
During this development and registration phase we welcome early contact from local professionals who wish to understand our model or discuss potential future pathways. Once the service is operational, our intention is to maintain open, constructive communication with those involved in each resident’s care, including social workers, community nurses, therapists and GPs.
Regulatory status
Karuna Care London is currently progressing through registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and is not yet open to residents. The collaborative working arrangements described on this page reflect our intended practice and will be implemented once CQC registration and all necessary approvals have been granted.