Spoof starring Claire Sweeney highlights 'absurdity' of 15-minute home care visits

Former Brookside actress and 60 Minute Makeover presenter Claire Sweeney, features in a spoof film which highlights the indignity suffered by thousands of older people because of 15-minute care visits.

The two-minute video, commissioned by Unison, shows how Government cutbacks are leaving vulnerable older people "short-changed" because staff do not have enough time to offer them proper care during home visits.

Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis, said: "This film highlights the human indignity suffered by thousands of vulnerable and elderly people across Britain.

"A care worker is often the only friendly face people see. The film sends a powerful message of the absurdity of giving care workers just a quarter of an hour to look after people.”

He added: "A 15-minute visit is not enough time to get people showered, dressed and fed. However, Government cuts to council care budgets mean this is the reality for many.

"Care workers just want to care, but they’re forced to rush visits. Ministers must act now and invest properly in social care."

The "15-minute care makeover" film features a care worker facing a gruelling challenge, in which she has just a quarter of an hour to take care of an older man, including washing him, making him breakfast and organising his medication.

The video has been launched as nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of councils in England and Wales are currently commissioning 15-minute care visits, according to Unison’s latest research.

Findings are based on responses from more than 170 local authorities and include visits for handing out medication and for welfare checks.

In May 2015, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued guidance stating that home care visits should last at least 30-minutes.

The draft guidance states that home care visits shorter than half an hour should only be made if the home care worker is known to the person and the visit is part of a wider package of support, and the purpose of the visit can be properly undertaken in that time.

Visits shorter than half an hour can be used to check someone is safe and well, or to complete a specific, short time-limited task.

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care at the Care Quality Commission (CQC), previously said: "People who receive care at home have every right to expect services that are safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led. The draft guidance from NICE gives clear signals about how this can be achieved.

"I welcome the clarity about the length of time for visits. If people have to choose between a bath or breakfast in the morning because staff do not have enough time, that is certainly not safe, caring, effective or responsive and no well-led organisation would allow it to happen."

As part of their ongoing campaigning, Unison has launched a petition calling on the Government to provide more funding for care and to end 15-minute visits.

For more information on the petition visit: https://action.unison.org.uk/page/7454/petition/1