As a care home manager, you will have a variety of responsibilities to think about, but one of the most important things to consider is finding the right care home supplier. Making the right choice will ensure that you will get to work with a reliable partner who will always be available to assist you with any issues. Consequently, this will allow you to keep things running as smoothly as possible in your care home facility. This will also have a massive impact on residents' quality of life and wellbeing. Below you will find a few key factors that you will need to look out for when you are trying to find a good care home supplier.
Great Customer Service
It's important to find a care home supplier who can provide you with excellent customer service at all times. Their team should be committed to helping you resolve any problems and ensuring you know what to expect. They should be able to give you more information about the types of services and products on offer so that you can make an informed decision. As every care home is different, a good care home supplier should tailor their approach to fit your specific needs and requirements. This means that going into partnership with them will make you feel confident that you have access to all the support that you need.
Nationwide Coverage
A reliable care home supplier should offer nationwide coverage, including Scotland and other parts of the country. For example, NHC Group provides standard delivery, as well as overnight delivery across the UK by using a network of established and trusted couriers. However, if you have any special delivery requirements, their friendly team will be on hand to assist you with any queries. Moreover, they can also include barcoding and RFID tags on equipment, if necessary. With a guaranteed fast quote time and a nationwide callout service, you can rely on NHC group, regardless of where you are based.
Quality Equipment Management
One of the most important tasks you will have is to ensure that equipment is well-maintained to reduce the risk of injury. Therefore, it's important to find a good care home supplier, who can offer specialised advice for all of your equipment needs. It's crucial to make sure you have control over your assets in all the locations that you manage. For example, you should have easy access to maintenance records, as well as guidance on future budget needs. This will provide you with full insight into each piece of equipment that you own, allowing you to take care of other responsibilities.
Routine Servicing
Routine servicing is crucial to confirm that everything is working properly and you can have peace of mind that your equipment complies with all local regulations, such as PUWER. It might be beneficial to look for a supplier with fully qualified engineers that you can contact if problems arise. Moreover, they should be able to offer guidance on anything that is not working as it should. As a result, this will reduce the number of times you need to call for assistance.
Experience In The Health care Sector
Ideally, you should try to find a supplier with plenty of experience working in the healthcare sector. This means that their team is likely to have a good understanding of the products and services that you will need to provide quality care. Therefore, you should choose a reputable supplier who is also aware of the latest innovations in the care home sector. They should be responsive to your needs and committed to continuous improvement. Before you start working with a care home supplier, make sure you do plenty of research to check that they can offer expert knowledge and advice.
A Wide Range Of Products
Make sure the care home supplier that you choose provides a variety of products so that you can get everything in one place instead of using multiple suppliers. This will make the process much easier, as you will only have to communicate with one supplier, reducing the time you need to spend researching. For example, you can check if they provide all types of care home furniture, as well as other equipment designed to support residents with limited mobility or dementia. A good supplier should also help you find the right products and models that you need.
Fair Pricing
Finally, you should maximise value for money when looking for the right equipment and furniture. However, it's advisable not to go for the cheapest options out there, as they might not last as long, which can result in losses over time. Instead, you should work with a supplier who offers fair pricing for high-quality equipment and furniture, which will stand the test of time. This will ensure that you don't need to replace anything every other month, and you can still save some money.