If you have plenty of experience in business management, and a profound desire to help people, then you may be considering launching your own care home business in Lincolnshire.
While it’s not the right role for everyone, becoming a care home owner can be a lucrative career choice. A career that could give you the opportunity to provide high standards of care and attention to those in need. It’s also a sector in need of additional facilities to cope with the marked increase in the elderly population of the UK that is predicted over the coming decades.
If you are keen to help meet this growing demand and start your own care home in your local area in Lincolnshire, then read on for a clear and concise guide to discover the important factors you need to consider before entering the industry.
The Kind Of Facility You Will Choose
Before you go ahead with launching your care facility, you need a solid and detailed business plan in place. To help you prepare this crucial document, one of the first choices you need to make is what kind of care home facility you would like to manage. There are two main types: residential homes and nursing homes.
- Residential Homes – Residential care homes focus on offering accommodation and daily care for residents, which includes assistance with eating, washing, toileting, dressing, and taking medications. All meals are provided by the care home, as well as laundry services, cleaning, and the provision of daily activities and outings for those who are physically capable. While medical professionals may visit a residential home, and while such a facility is capable of providing both emergency and palliative care, this type of home is not a medical institution. This means they are not ideal for those who require round-the-clock medical attention.
- Nursing Homes – A nursing home is a facility that provides the same accommodation and services as a residential home but with additional medical capabilities. These range from being able to provide intravenous fusions to caring for patients who require oxygen, feeding tubes, or colostomy bags. Nursing homes will have medically qualified staff on site 24 hours a day. They are best suited for patients who require constant medical care due to serious mental or physical health conditions.
Understand Your Equipment Requirements
Once you have decided which type of care facility you want to open in Lincolnshire, you can then begin planning the various essential aspects of your home, such as the equipment you will need. While both types of care homes will require a lot of the same equipment, a nursing home will require additional services, such as a qualified nurse on-call 24 hours a day. As such, you need to factor these requirements into your plans and your budget. It’s vital that your care facility is fit for its particular purpose, in order for you to remain on the right side of the law and provide excellent standards of care.
Creating A Safe And Inviting Environment
As the new owner of a Lincolnshire care home, it’s essential that you do your best to create a facility that provides both high standards of safety and a warm and homely atmosphere for the benefit of your residents. To help you achieve this, you will need to put some care and thought into the design of your care home’s interiors. Seeking the assistance and support of an experienced supplier such as Nichol and Hill will make the process much easier. Their expertly made products and soft furnishings will help you to create a comfortable, hygienic, and pleasant environment for your residents. They can also offer advice on choosing the right furnishings, designs, and colour schemes to benefit residents with specialist needs. These include those suffering from dementia or mental health conditions.
Abiding By The Law
As care homes are specialist facilities catering to vulnerable residents, there are understandably very strict rules and regulations governing every aspect of their day-to-day running. In order to have a successful and competent care home business, it’s vital that you thoroughly research and understand all of the legislation concerning your facility. Similarly, every employee you hire should also have a thorough knowledge of the protocols and procedures they need to adhere to in order to provide the highest levels of care and safety for your residents.
As part of your legal requirements, you will need to register with your national authority (in this case, the CQC) and undergo regular inspections to ensure you meet the required standards. You will also hire a registered care home manager if you are not qualified yourself, and you will need to acquire the correct licensing and insurance. You will also need to hire certified staff and make sure they each have a clear DBS check before they start work.
Conclusion
As you can see, opening a new care home in Lincolnshire is a significant undertaking that requires a great deal of thought, research, start-up capital, and commitment. However, there are substantial benefits to launching this kind of venture – not least the fulfilling nature of the work. As long as you have the capability and the desire to stay the course, it’s highly possible that you will end up with a profitable and rewarding career.
