Q3   How many staff do you have?

Q4   Can residents use the telephone?

Q5   Is smoking allowed?

Q6   What are the visiting hours?

Q7   Are the staff trained?

Q8   Can residents have a television in their room?

Q9   What happens when a resident has a medical appointment?

Q10 Do you charge for laundry?

Q11 Do you have hairdressers and chiropodists visit the home?

Q12 What happens if there is a fire?

Q13 Can residents or family members make a complaint?

Q14 Can I have a special diet?

Q15 Can I have my pet with me?

Answers:

What will I have to pay?

A1 Fees are dependant upon a variety of conditions.

If Social Services have arranged for you to go into a home they will work out how much you will have to pay. Your contribution towards the fees of the home will be calculated using standard rules based on your income, savings, investments and the value of any property you own. You will be allowed to keep a personal allowance of about £14 per week for personal expenses.

Social Services will calculate your weekly income including pensions and other benefits you are entitled to. They will not take into account any capital you have up to a value of £12,500.

If you have between £12,500 and £20,500 in capital you will have to pay extra towards your fees. For every £250 you have over £12,500 you will have to pay an extra £1 per week towards your fees. If for example you have £14,500 then you will have to pay an extra £8 per week towards your fees.

If you have capital valued over £20,500 (this figure correct at April 2005) then you will have to pay the full cost of your fees in the home.

If you are only going into a home temporarily (for up to eight weeks) then Social Services will ask you to contribute an amount based on your income and will allow for expenses at your own home such as council tax, rent, gas and electricity.

Enquiries regarding fees may be made by any of the contact methods found on the contact page.

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Is the home inspected?

A2 The home is inspected on a regular basis by CSCI.

Under the current rules all residential and nursing homes are inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. You can see their latest report on Bethel-Bethesda by clicking here.
Or you can visit their website for an independant report from here.

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How many staff do you have?

A3 The total number of staff personnel varies from time to time.

Regulations lay down strict rules about the number of staff required in residential homes. Bethel-Bethesda takes great care to ensure that we are always staffed at least to these levels, and we often exceed them.

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Can residents use the telephone?

A4 Use of a telephone is available at all times.

There is a payphone for residents' use and residents may install a private line to their room if they wish.

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Is smoking allowed?

A5 Smoking is allowed in designated areas.

Supervised smoking by residents is allowed only in specific areas reserved for that purpose. Staff are only permitted to smoke on breaks and then only in the staff rest rooms.

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What are the visiting hours?

A6 We do not have formal visiting hours.

But we do ask that visitors avoid early morning, meal times and late evening. We actively encourage residents to go out with their families and will provide any assistance we can.

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Are the staff trained?

A7 Yes, all staff members receive specific training.

Staff at Bethel-Bethesda have the opportunity to attend regular company training sessions and are required to attend certain lectures on manual handling, food hygiene and fire safety. Our qualified staff regularly attend training days to keep up to date on current practice.

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Can residents have a television in their room?

A8 Yes.

All rooms have a television aerial point, and there are a number of communal televisions in the lounges.

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What happens when a resident has a medical appointment?

A9 Arrangements for medical appointments are dealt with on an individual basis.

We invariably arrange the transport to take our residents to their appointments and ensure that a member of staff accompanies them.

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Do you charge for laundry?

A10 No, our fees are fully inclusive.

The laundry staff take care of all necessary arrangements. However, arrangements may be made for residents' family members who prefer to deal with laundry requirements personally.

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Do you have hairdressers and chiropodists visit the home?

A11 Yes.

We have practitioners who visit Bethel-Bethesda on a regular basis.

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What happens if there is a fire?

A12 All staff are fully trained in procedures to deal with emergencies.

We have sophisticated smoke and fire detection systems installed which are tested and maintained on a regular basis. The local fire authority inspect our fire fighting equipment and emergency procedures. Our staff receive regular training on how to prevent fire and on what to do should a fire occur. Fire drills (staff only) are held regularly to test fire safety procedures.

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Can residents or family members make a complaint?

A13 Yes there is a complaints procedure at Bethel-Bethesda.

The receptionist will arrange for initiation of the complaints procedure. You can view or print out a copy of our complaints policy from here.

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Can I have a special diet?

A14 Yes. A wide variety of special dietary needs are catered for.

Special diets can be arranged for - vegetarian, diabetic, gluten free.....

The chef and specialist cooks have attended courses on 'Healthy Eating', 'Food Hygiene' and 'Nutritional Diets'.

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Can I have my pet with me?

A15 Under certain circumstances.

The Management's discretion must be sought before the admittance of any pets.

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