There appears to be no system in place whereby the managers of a residential home are required to seek advice from Social Services before discharging resident (2) There is therefore a serious risk that there are no appropriate arrangements in place to ensure the safety and welfare of the resident after discharge
3) The system for seeking advice from Social Services should apply irrespective of whether Social Services had placed the resident at the home or whether the placement had been a private one. In the latter case it is likely that a social worker will have been aware of, or had some involvement in, the placement ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN: Cumbria County Council Social Services should provide general guidance to residential homes in which it is required that if a residential home is considering discharging a resident then before do so should seek advice from Social Services so that Social Services can be satisfied that there are appropriate arrangements in place for the safety and wellbeing of the resident after discharge, and the appropriate time for that discharge. This would apply if Social Services had been responsible for placing the resident within the residential home, and also if they had been placed privately without any Social Services direct involvement; Green Lane House That you should provide to Cumbria Social Services confirmation that your procedures have been changed so that you follow the guidance set out above You should send me a copy of the confirmation that you send to Cumbria Social Services