Blog

Read more about the diverse ecosystems of support in the health and social care sector through our blog posts. To provide deeper insight, we have established a dedicated platform where our multidisciplinary team of specialists share their first-hand experiences working with the people they support. As part of this initiative, the ‘In the Heart of Care’ blog series serves as a primary resource, offering a closer look at their proactive approach and personalised tools designed to encourage people’s journeys forward.

Speech Therapy and Its Impact

Speech therapy is a dynamic and evolving field that provides essential support to people with communication, eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. With a broad scope of practice, speech therapists work in various settings and utilise advanced technologies to enhance their support. It requires rigorous training and provides life-changing benefits to people of all ages....

Care After Hospital Discharge

Navigating life after a hospital discharge can be both relieving and challenging. Transitioning from hospital to home care is a critical phase in a person's recovery journey, often requiring careful planning, support, and understanding. In this blog post, we will explore the essential aspects of care after hospital discharge, from post-discharge to the importance of ongoing support, aiming to shed light on this often overlooked but crucial part of healing....

Why Integrated Care?

At its core, integrated care is about breaking down the silos that traditionally separate different aspects of health and social care, ensuring that people's social and emotional needs are addressed. It's all about coming together to improve care, local health, and well-being. While there are challenges, the focus remains on improving outcomes, tackling inequalities, and delivering integrated services that meet the specific needs of local populations....

How to Enhance Role Satisfaction Among Support Workers in Social Care

Have you ever considered how much a support worker's sense of recognition influences their role satisfaction? Their care and skills are invaluable, often serving as a lifeline. But do they feel that their efforts are adequately acknowledged and appreciated? The feeling of being recognised for your work can significantly boost morale and motivation, leading to increased role satisfaction. ...

What Case Commissioners Look for in Social Care Providers

Choosing the right social care provider involves defining care needs, researching providers, and assessing their qualifications and experience. Key considerations for case commissioners include the quality of care, range of services, accessibility, collaboration, inclusivity, and cost-effectiveness. The aim is to help people live a life that truly matters to them, providing better outcomes and improved well-being....

Why Delayed Hospital Discharge is a Harm Event

Delayed hospital discharge is a significant issue that has far-reaching implications for care recipients, health and social care providers, and the healthcare system as a whole. There is no doubt that delayed discharge negatively impacts people's health and well-being. However, it's also a financial burden on the healthcare system and contributes to hospital overcrowding, further compromising the quality of care for all care recipients....

The Future of Home Care: Innovations and Opportunities for Case Commissioners

The future of home care is being shaped by various factors, including technological innovations, policy shifts, and changing societal attitudes. The demand for home and community-based care is expected to continue growing, providing opportunities for care professionals and home care providers to expand their services and meet the evolving needs of the ageing population....

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) plays a crucial role in addressing people's unique needs, including children, older adults, autistic people, people living with a learning disability and people with mental health needs. By promoting health and social well-being and supporting people's personal goals, occupational therapy can help people live more fulfilled lives. ...

Embracing Inclusion: Social Model of Disability

The care sector has progressed significantly over the last 60 years, and language is ever-evolving for the better. By adopting the Social Model of Disability instead of the Medical Model of Disability, we believe that people are disabled by societal barriers and not by people's differences. ...

Challenges in Healthcare Service Provision

Case commissioners, who work alongside healthcare providers to deliver tailored health and care services within local communities, must navigate systemic challenges while striving to meet their shared goal of improving health outcomes. They face the task of ensuring person-centred care, managing efficient and cost-effective services, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards....

The Role of Speech Therapy in Reducing Challenging Behaviour

Through personalised interventions, collaboration with health professionals, and ongoing support, speech therapy empowers people and their support network to manage and reduce behaviours that challenge, ultimately improving their quality of life....

Specialised Support From Our Expert Therapy Team

Our therapists understand the challenges that people who require complex care face. That's why they undergo extensive training focused on health and well-being. Our therapy team is dedicated to helping people decide how to navigate their feelings and manage their own behaviours, leading to a more fulfilled life....

Key Factors in Adequately Assessing and Evaluating Autistic People

With varied experiences across different spheres and career paths, Ophelia was introduced to the field of occupational therapy by another occupational therapist. With her intuitive nature and a deep desire to support others, she found opportunities to volunteer in various occupational therapy services, gaining insight into the field's vast scope. She realised that this was her true vocation, enabling her to build a career aligning with her skillset while supporting people when they need it most. Join us as we explore Ophelia’s role and approach to therapy, grounded in evidence and driven by compassion....

How Intensive Interaction Helps Build Connections

Jodee’s career beginnings were in teaching and education, but her path shifted toward care when her passion for speech and language therapy was sparked by her eldest son, who is autistic. Jodee, who also is also autistic, found that her mental health needs made her previous work challenging, as the support she required was often lacking. Joining Catalyst Care Group became the turning point she needed—a place where people are truly recognised and valued for who they are. In the opening article, Jodee shares valuable insights into reframing how we communicate with the neurodivergent people we support, explaining how she brings this approach to life....

The Holistic Model of Occupational Therapy

Building Better Care: The Journey Towards Least-Restrictive Practices

George has built an impressive career as a specialist clinical practitioner, practice lead and trainer, focusing on managing and reducing high-risk behaviours of concern -including self-injury, self-harm and aggression to others. Through collaborative efforts with the therapy team, services, and across the organisation, Georgina has developed her role at Catalyst, finding ways to promote best practices in reducing restrictions and positive approaches to risk-taking. She shares real-life examples of how reducing restrictive practices is recognised as essential for improving well-being and quality of life and as an evidence-based approach to reducing behaviour of concern....

Getting the Right Support in Place: Communication Care Plans That Work

Jodee leads the Communication Care Planning training for all care coordinators within our organisation. The training is aimed primarily at care coordinators because many are responsible for developing people’s care plans and ensuring their implementation by the support workers. Care coordinators play an essential role in maintaining the smooth running of the services, acting as mediators between the people we support and their care team. Their role involves ensuring that everyone feels supported in their responsibilities for meeting the needs of the people in our care....