Lapland makes four Ivalo care home posts permanent after death

Lapland Wellbeing Services County has made four staff posts permanent and added support staff at a care home in Ivalo after a resident was found dead in January, Yle reports. Another resident was found partly lying on top of the deceased person.

The death at Männikkö care home is being investigated by police and the Accident Investigation Board.

Following the incident, the Permit and Supervisory Agency, known as LVV, carried out an unannounced inspection. It found that Männikkö had too few staff and that care workers spent substantial time on indirect duties such as washing dishes and cleaning.

LVV ordered Lapland Wellbeing Services County to bring the care home’s services into compliance with the law by the end of the summer. The county was given an extension until September 15 to submit its response.

In July, the county said the shortcomings were not caused by staffing levels but by the organisation of work and record-keeping practices. During the summer, it began recording the time spent on indirect duties and prepared to reduce the amount of such work carried out by care staff when necessary.

In its response to LVV, the county said it had reviewed Männikkö’s staffing resources. Four permanent posts previously covered by temporary replacements have now been filled permanently, and support staffing has been increased by the equivalent of half a position.

Technical equipment is also being used to improve resident safety. Männikkö has 57 resident places.

Lapland’s regional board will consider the statement on Männikkö at its next meeting. Board chair Timo Peisa said by email that the county’s additional investigations had confirmed the care home’s operations were high-quality and its staff committed and professionally skilled.