Researchers at the University of West England have called for changes such as clinical training for domiciliary care jobs to ensure that older people have a 'home for life' at residential homes.

A report funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has offered recommendations for reform of the country's residential home care system to offer better care for elderly people. Among these are significant changes to the way domiciliary care jobs and other social care jobs linked to the system are regulated.

They recommend that funds be set aside to support clinical training for staff in residential homes, as well as the introduction of a new registration system which will provide formal qualifications for staff in the care sector.

Deirdre Wild from the University of West England said that it was vital that changes to the system helped to make the carer workforce a recognised, professional occupation.

"The research findings support the view that good basic health/nursing care can be delivered in a residential home, provided there is a sound practice driven relationship with community nurses and that care staff know when to seek nurse led support," said Dr Wild. "Those responsible for development of the new role carer workforce should recognise that without incentives and recognition for the delivery of improved health and social care, these roles will become difficult to sustain beyond a honeymoon period."

"Clarification of the nursing activities suitable to new role carers, how competencies are maintained and the interface of the carer's new role with that of registered nurses also need agreement at a national level."

Currently in England alone there are more than 18,000 care homes that provide places for more than 453,000 residents. Three quarters of these residential homes are privately owned, with the entire sector providing for some 230,000 social care jobs.