Facilitating Transitions - Developing Best Practice

Theme: Facilitating Transitions

Cohort participants : 18 - 22 (2023/24)

Project Title

Facilitating Transitions - Developing best practice

Aim of the Project

To improve the experience of transitioning into a care home for residents and their families by developing and implementing best practice, relationship-centred admission.

Description of the Intervention

Improving the experience of moving into a care home was identified as a key area of focus for a large-scale Quality Improvement (QI) initiative involving forty care home leaders. Participants recognised that transitioning into a care home is not a single event but a complex process of adaptation for residents and their families. To support this work, leaders drew upon the research and expertise of Dr Marie O’Neill, whose work on transitions helped participants understand the factors that contribute to positive adjustment and wellbeing during this significant life change.

Through engagement with residents, relatives and staff, participants explored what was working well within existing admission and transition processes, what challenges people experienced, and how care settings could improve the overall experience. Feedback gathered through this discovery process highlighted the importance of emotional connection, relationship-building and psychological support during transitions. These themes emerged consistently across the perspectives of residents, relatives and staff.

To facilitate deeper exploration of these issues, participants formed three improvement groups focusing on resident, staff and family experiences respectively. Although each group approached the challenge from a different perspective, all identified the importance of creating welcoming, compassionate and relationship-centred approaches to support individuals and families before, during and after admission to the care home.

Who was involved?

Residents, families and staff.

Changes Implemented

As a result of the discovery work, participants developed and implemented a range of best practice approaches aimed at improving transitions into care homes. Leaders introduced initiatives that enhanced both practical preparation and emotional support for prospective residents and their families.

Several care homes collaborated with local pharmacies to develop Welcome Packs containing toiletries, personal care items and information about the care home. These packs were designed to provide reassurance and a warm welcome to new residents and their families during the admission process.

Other care settings introduced Care Passports and enhanced staff training to improve understanding of residents’ preferences, personal histories and individual needs. My Home Life tools and approaches were used to gather feedback from residents and staff, with insights recorded using a Boarding Pass format that captured experiences through direct quotations and reflections.

Participants also developed innovative resources to support pre-admission engagement, including videos showcasing the care home environment. These resources were particularly valuable for individuals and families unable to visit the care home before admission, helping to reduce uncertainty and build familiarity with the setting.

Evidence of Impact/Outcomes

The implementation of these improvements resulted in several positive outcomes across participating care homes:

  • Residents reported feeling more understood, valued and connected to staff, which helped ease their adjustment to their new home.
  • Staff described developing deeper emotional connections and stronger relationships with residents through the use of Care Passports and My Home Life approaches.
  • Families experienced greater reassurance and support throughout the transition process, contributing to improved communication and trust.
  • Care homes reported an increase in compliments and no complaints relating to transitions.
  • Improved relationships between relatives and staff were evidenced by more informal and personal interactions, creating a more welcoming and homely atmosphere.