Japanese Government delegation visits Penrose Care

Penrose Care, an ethical provider of home care services for adults and older people living with disabilities and dementia, received a five-person research delegation visit from the Japanese Government.

Representatives from the delegation visited the provider to learn about the ways in which they deliver unique care, using an innovative ethical approach as outlined in Citizens UK’s Social Care Charter. The document includes suggestions for paying staff the Living Wage, payment for travel time, occupational sick pay scheme and no unduly short visits.

The visit was hosted in Belsize, Penrose Care’s London based branch, by managing director, Robert Stephenson-Padron, Belsize ward Councillor Claire-Louise Leyland and several Penrose care workers.

Mr Stephenson-Padron, said: “All of us at Penrose Care were extremely honoured to be visited by the esteemed delegation from the Japanese Government, which is a testament to Penrose Care’s innovative ethical approach to care.

“The challenges associated with ageing populations is an international one, and Penrose Care is thankful for the opportunity to assist the Japanese Government in any way we can. High-quality, dignified social care, should be available to all people who need it, in any country.”

Councillor Leyland, added: “Penrose Care is a valued local business with an inspiring model of ethical care that is challenging the homecare industry to re-think their models of service provision. As someone who worked as a carer for five years, I'm so proud to support their work. I hope that their approach will help the Japanese Government to develop new ways of working that allow the elderly to live out their lives with dignity.”

One of the delegation members, Tomoko Yoden of Itami City Council (Japan), had the opportunity to discuss social care practice with Mr Stephenson-Padron and Councillor Leyland on a municipal-level. He said: “I found the information very valuable and useful, my city’s adult care will be improved by meeting Penrose Care.”

A number of subjects were covered in the discussion including; the broad issues facing health and social care in the UK, care worker pay and terms and conditions, care worker training in the UK, Japan and California, care manager training.

In addition, the group discussed the public and private markets, social care and GP coordination, characteristics and challenges in health and social care in Japan, and ways in which Penrose Care has achieved excellence in care by operating as an ethical enterprise.

A representative of the Japanese Government who visited Penrose care, Dr Mayumi Hayashi, an expert on UK and Japanese ageing issues, commented: “We were privileged to observe excellence in action. Clearly a person-centred, quality driven model of care provision. The quality of the care staff is guaranteed by the quality of their terms and conditions and this quality becomes the benchmark of the excellent care experienced by the clients.”

Mr Kosuke Wada, first secretary (Health, Labour and Welfare), Embassy of Japan in the UK, added: “We found that Penrose Care’s vision is very clear and innovative. In Japan, home care is also very important and we also have a lot to do to improve our system.”

Penrose Care operates upon a fundamental belief that to promote a caring workforce, the organisation itself must be caring. Penrose Care in 2012 became one of the first four providers in the country to become an Accredited Living Wage Employer and in 2013 the first independent sector provider to be compliant with Citizens UK’s landmark Social Care Charter.