Avoiding placement breakdown for those with challenging behaviours

Our specialist care services ensure robust client placements

Finding a care service for clients with challenging behaviours can be difficult. Not all care services have the experience, facilities or staff to care for particularly high risk, challenging residents – though lots claim to – and this can often lead to placement breakdown. The impacts of a placement breakdown are far reaching, from distress to the individual to escalating cost of care.

If you are looking to find a service for a client who has complex care needs resulting in challenging behaviour, our guide can help reduce the risk of an inappropriate placement.

How to get the placement right first time

1. Be as transparent as you can

When providing information to a potential care service they need to know everything about the resident’s behaviours. Make them fully aware of their whole history, including any family complications. A care service will need all this information to make a decision on whether they are able to care for the individual and manage the associated risks.

Once they have all the facts, they may say that they cannot help, this may be frustrating but being honest will decrease the likelihood of the placement breaking down.

2. Listen to the family

Keep family members in the loop and encourage them to see the service that you are considering and involve them in the final decision. It’s important that the family likes the home as family members often contribute to placement breakdown, taking their views into account means you may have one less thing to worry about.

3. Look for a specialist provider

Challenging behaviour can present at various levels and risks, most providers say that they can care for people with challenging behaviour but this is not their core strength. Look for a service with a proven track record of caring for people with similar conditions and behaviours. Ask for case studies or recommendations.

4. Consider the 1:1 care strategy

If the person is currently on 1:1 care due to the suitability of their current environment or care, then it is always in everyone’s best interest to admit on 1:1 to maintain continuity and allow the person and service time to settle.

Make sure you look for services that have an evidence-based, pro-active process to manage and reduce the need for 1:1 care. This will not only reduce the cost of care but more importantly provide the person with a better quality of life, which is the ultimate goal.

5. Don’t choose the cheapest option

Think long-term and consider the individual’s prognosis and rate of progression with their illness. The impact of a placement breakdown will require extra time, effort and ultimately more money, but most importantly it causes distress and anguish to both the resident and their family.

When cost becomes the deciding factor we often lose sight of person centred care. A specialist home which exclusively focuses on caring for residents with challenging behaviours is more likely to lead to the best outcome for the resident.

6. Speak to Cornerstone Healthcare Group

We care for people with challenging behaviours associated with complex neurological, physical and mental health needs. We are one of the few specialist providers of this type of service and we are the only company in the South of England with this as our sole focus. We accept referrals from all over the UK.

Speak to our referrals team to find out how we can work together to make sure people are placed in the right environment for their needs.