Louise Allen
12 Jul 2022 · Coroner Nadia Persuad · East London
The coroner's concerns
1. inadequate care plan for high-risk self-harm
“[the deceased] did not receive a care plan that was adequate to address the high-risk of harm to herself”
2. insufficient care co-ordinators causing poor continuity of care
“There is a need within the Trust for better continuity of care. There are not enough care co-ordinators to ensure that continuity of care is provided. There are high turnovers of staff”
3. low pay for care co-ordinator roles
“Efforts need to be made to make the post of care co-ordinator more attractive. The evidence heard that the pay within North East London Foundation Trust is not comparable to other Trusts”
4. excessive caseloads for care co-ordinators
“Care Co-ordinators within the Trust are currently carrying excessive caseloads”
5. rising referrals without proportional staff increase
“There has been an increase in the number of referrals coming into the service. There has been no commensurate increase in the number of care co-ordinators”
6. under-recruitment of care co-ordinators despite budget surplus
“Whilst the Trust has over recruited in terms of the financial budgets, it is still under recruited in terms of the clinical need for care co-ordinators”