Page 32 - QNIS_eBook

Kate
Kate
McConville has overall responsibility for maintaining and improving services in in in in in in all all of Bupa’s Scottish care homes as clinical service service manager She takes a a a a a a a a a very hands-on approach “I spend a a a a a a a a a lot of time watching how how care is is is delivered and and listening to to how how it it is is is received ” ” she says “It has to to be be be the very best it it can be be be and and I I take a a a a a lot of pride in that ” ” Kate
is the the the only nurse working working in in in in the the the private sector and working working in in in in in in care homes to to to to be enrolled on on the the the the Queen’s Nursing programme She intends to to to to use the the title to to to to encourage more people to to to to consider aged care care as a a a a a a a a a career choice “For many working in in in A&E seems to to be more exciting ” she says “But in in care homes you get the opportunity to take a a a a a a a a a a holistic approach when caring for people and deal with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a range of different clinical needs You also need need to take a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a person- centred approach and and see the the bene ts this has on on on the the person’s wellbeing and and quality of life It’s very rewarding ” The The units units for for which Kate
has responsibility provide provide care for for older people over the the age of of 65 The The units units provide provide palliative care care and and and end-of-life care care when needed and and and the the nurses liaise closely with NHS community nursing teams and and and local hospices to meet residents’ health needs Based in in in in Barrhead Kate
travels the the country visiting homes She She oversees all the the the local clinical managers undertaking the the induction and training of of new team members She’s responsible for keeping abreast of of of relevant Government policy and and ensuring implementation of of gold-standard care she also works with staff to identify where improvements can be made “It helps that I I have done the the job they are doing ” she says “I’m not afraid to to put an an an an apron and and a a a a a a a a a a a pair of gloves on on and I I I can cover a a a a a a a a shift if if I I I need to to ” Kate
visits care homes to to talk to to the chef about about ideas for for transforming residents’ mealtime experiences “Food is is about about so much more than just nutrition we want to make meal-times an an an an an enjoyable and pleasant experience for our residents* she says Around 80% of the the 68 residents are are living with dementia others are are frail elderly and many need assistance to eat 30 QNIS Meet the New Queen’s Nurses