Care home residents and staff vote to keep CCTV cameras after successful trial

Czajka Care Group is introducing surveillance cameras into its five care homes, after successfully trialling them in one of its homes.

The care provider, which was recently awarded the Investors In People accreditation and Gold Standard Framework accreditation, trialled the cameras at its Staveley Birk Leas Nursing Home in Nab Wood near Shipley to enhance security at the home.

Following the trial, the home’s residents and staff all voted to keep the visible cameras which are located in communal areas and near external doors.

Acting registered manager, Val Davison from Staveley Birk Leas, said: “We look after 60 people aged between 18 and 64 who all have physical disabilities and are unable to look after themselves in their own homes. We provide mainly single en-suite rooms alongside plenty of communal space and our main aim is to ensure everyone can live their lives to the full in a safe and comfortable environment.

“We introduced the cameras after a full consultation with residents, their families and our staff to provide additional security around exits and in the communal spaces and they have worked very well.

“There is always an incredibly sensitive balance that needs to be applied to the use of this sort of technology, as our residents’ privacy is paramount, but by having the cameras in select areas, everyone has felt very reassured and happy with the additional level of security they provide.”

Earlier this year a survey about the use of CCTV in care homes showed that while 40 per cent of 2,000 HC-One care workers polled by the GMB were opposed to the routine use of CCTV cameras in communal areas, the remaining 60 per cent were 'reasonably relaxed' about the idea.

Seventy per cent said cameras could help to identify abuse, but 71 per cent were concerned they would be an invasion of residents’ privacy.

It was also found to impact on staff morale with 57 per cent saying cameras would make them feel that they weren’t trusted, and 41 per cent worried that managers might use the footage unfairly.

Konrad Czajka, managing director at Czajka Care Group said: “We are always trying to find new ways of providing the very best service to our residents and alongside investment in physiotherapy suites, disabled-friendly kitchens and information technology rooms for our residents, we are keen to ensure everyone feels safe and secure. As with all care homes, we are a very busy place with lots of visitors and deliveries everyday so the cameras provide an extra layer of security.”

Czajka Care Group owns and operates Currergate Nursing Home in Steeton and Beanlands Nursing Home in Cross Hills as well as Fairmount Nursing Home, Brookfield Care Home and Staveley Birk Leas Nursing Home, which are all in Nab Wood near Shipley.

Czajka also provides purpose built retirement homes and operates The Clubhouse at Fairmount Park, which is a members only club with a wide range of leisure facilities.

For tips on using surveillance cameras in care homes, go to www.carehome.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1570874/tips-surveillance-cameras-care-homes