Care Home www.chmonline.co.uk
March/April 2017
Management
Coffee Break
Could this be a way to involve the community? Social care Age UK adds to gloomy outlook
Getting Out Day trips initiative to stimulate residents
Care Home Awards All set for May ceremony
Issue 66
Are agency fees hurting your proďŹ ts? The Care Hub helps organisations like yours take back control of your recruitment
Save
Reduce
Improve
Agency fees
Time to hire
Candidate quality
Advertising spend
Administration time
Employee retention
Find out how The Care Hub can help at www.thecarehub.com
www.thecarehub.com 0330 335 8999
t
isi
, ce
n re e nf
o xC . e aid NEC N e e th t th t a 1 a rch 7 C a nd th M a t 0 n s th-3 o us 28
Editor’s Letter
Welcome to the March/April edition of Care Home Management
Care Home Management March/April 2017
T
Issue 66
he green shoots of Spring should soon be here but alas much of the doom and gloom surrounding the care home industry remains unchanged.
Annual Subscription £30.00 Where sold cover price of £4
In our last edition we highlighted the extra funding that had been made available for social care to local authorities. The general consensus was that it wasn’t enough and
Editor/Publisher Alan Rustad
was doing no more than putting a sticking plaster over the problem. Since then further reports have added to that impression. On page six we cover the
Design/Production Phil Cunningham www.creative-magazine-designer.co.uk
report from Age UK that states that social care is living on borrowed time. Alarmist?
Published by JNJ Media Ltd Croham Lodge, Croham Road, Crowborough East Sussex TN6 2RH
commonly known fact – that it is self-funders in care homes that are keeping the sector
You won’t find many in this business who think so. And the industry analysts, LaingBuisson, in their latest report highlight what is a afloat. The unfairness of the system is not perhaps widely known by the general public but it is there nonetheless. This is one area that the Competition and Markets Authority
Tel: 01892 663350 Email: editorial@jnjmedia.co.uk sales@jnjmedia.co.uk
will be examining in their current investigation into care homes. The report is due out later this year.
Advertising Space Marketing Tel: 01892 677721 Email: antoinettem@spacemarketing.co.uk www.spacemarketing.co.uk
The next chapter in the financial debate over social care funding is likely to be the Budget on 8 March soon after this magazine comes out. This will be the last Spring Budget as Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced that in future it will move to the autumn. Could the Spring Budget go out in a blaze of glory by announcing something special for social care? I am not holding my breath.
www.chmonline.co.uk
In spite of the financial headaches we should never lose sight of the really great
Copyright: Care Home Management Magazine 2017
work that is still going on day by day in care homes across the UK. And once again we have tried to bring that to you in Care Home Management. A multi million pounds initiative to widen the horizons of care home residents and offer them day trips to places of interest has just been announced. In many cases care
The Publisher holds all copyright and any items within may not be reproduced in any way, for any purpose, without the written permission of the Publisher. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy, the information contained within this publication is based on submissions to the Publishers who cannot be held responsible for errors and omissions. The publisher does not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors and cannot except responsibility for claims made by manufacturers and authors, nor do they accept any responsibility for any errors in the subject matter of this publication.
Care Home www.chmonline.co.uk
March/April 2017
homes can’t afford to do that themselves so social enterprise operator Oomph! have stepped in and we wish them well with it. And the first Care Home Awards have attracted a very healthy range of entries with judging soon getting underway. In this issue we bring you details of where and when the event will take place and details of how you can be a part of it. As always you can keep up to date with the latest care home news via our website – www.chmonline.co.uk and we are always interested to hear your views on any issues – contact us at editorial@jnjmedia.co.uk
Management
editorial@jnjmedia.co.uk
@Carehomemanage
Coffee Break
Could this be a way to involve the community? Social care Age UK adds to gloomy outlook
Getting Out Day trips initiative to stimulate residents
Care Home Awards All set for May ceremony
Issue 66
Alan Rustad Publisher/Editor
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 3
Contents
18
6 Social Care Living on borrowed time, says Age UK
22 Health Working with the NHS on kidney disease
8 Care Home Funding Self-payers keeping the sector afloat
24 Community Should care homes smell the coffee to bring the community in?
10 Business Candidate says run homes like John Lewis 12 Care Home Awards Ceremony set for May date 14 Care Forum Twenty years of bringing the industry together 16 Getting Out £4m initiative to open new horizons 18 Fitness Getting residents out of their chairs with book offer
6 4 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
26 Recruitment Hiring – and keeping – game changing employees 28 Employee Benefits Attracting the best care home talent 30 Apprenticeships Are you ready for the new levy? 32 Psychometric testing How to identify the best candidates 34 Spirituality What it can offer in end of life care
10
24
36 Dementia A new approach to help carers too 38 Funding Ensuring residents have the full picture 40 New Build Fresh demands to meet growing needs
42
42 Environment Is stale air affecting residents’ health? 44 Events and Appointments Where to go and latest movers 45 Chairs Make sure residents are sitting comfortably 46 Product Showcase Latest products news
Designed for possibilities. Made for people.
Transforming spaces in care homes Combining the best in contemporary style with the functionality required to improve the way you live and work.
Transform your interior spaces with Altro flooring and walling
www.altro.co.uk
1123_Care_Home_Management.indd 1
enquiries@altro.com
01462 707600
@Altroflooring
06/02/2017 09:09:41
News
Social care living on borrowed time says Age UK
A new report from Age UK has concluded that we are living on borrowed time to save the social care system for older people. • Statistics in the report highlight the immense challenges facing older people needing support, with one in eight over 65s now living with unmet care needs • Failing care system has created a major burden for hospitals and family members • Age UK demands that the government commits funds in the spring Budget to avoid ‘imminent danger’ The report, ‘The Health and Care of Older People in England 2017’ draws on new statistics as well as new Age UK analysis. It demonstrates the immense challenges facing older people who
need care, the numbers of whom increase every day, and the impact of the failure to provide it on their health and wellbeing, as well as the NHS. There are now nearly 1.2 million people aged over 65 who don’t receive the care and support they need with essential daily living activities. This represents one in eight older people in the entire population - a 17.9 per cent increase on last year and a 48 per cent increase since 2010. Worryingly, the report suggests that however tough things are now they threaten to get a lot worse over the next few years for a number of reasons which the report details. People are waiting longer to be discharged from hospital, putting more pressure on hospital resources and capacity and leading to increased spending. Waits for residential care have also increased. Caroline Abrahams (above), charity director at Age UK, said: “The government has tried to prop up older people’s social care in three ways: through financial transfers from the NHS, a social care precept in local areas, and by calling on families and friends to do more. Unfortunately our analysis shows there are problems with all three approaches, which in any
Briefing: He alth and Ca re of Older People in En gland 2017
February 201 7
1
event are not enough to make up for the chronic shortfall in public funds.” Age UK is calling for the government to: • Recognise the imminent danger which social care is now in and commit to an urgent injection of funds in the Budget. • Lead a process for developing a long term solution to the care crisis that incorporates the views of older and disabled people and all parts of the health and care sector. • This will engage the public in the important question of how we pay for a decent care system we can all rely on when we need it.
Combined Optimised Heat and Power... …for maximised CHP % share
www.sav-systems.com 6 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 7
News
LaingBuisson
Shortfall leaves self-funders filling £1.3 billion gap
Care home fund ing shortfall lea ves self-funder filling £1.3 bil s lion gap London, 25 Janu
ary 2017
Self-funding, or private-pay, care home resid from healthca ents are keep re market intel ing the sector ligence provider toolkit has foun afloat according LaingBuisson d that the aver to the latest figur . The latest upda age fee per resid provision by mor es te to its Care ent paid to care e than £100 Cost Benchma a week – a situa homes falls shor finances are fillin rks tion which mea t of the real cost g a funding gap ns that those s of service of £1.3 billion residents who a year. pay from their Headline figur own es from the toolk it show that resid average levels ential care hom of staff at aver es in England age pay rates in order to gene , currently need for older peop rate a reasonab le, which emp to charge fees le annual retur level appropria loy of between £64 n on capital (set te for a moderate 8 and £590 per at 11% in the ly risky business premises, while week Care Cost Benc ). The higher the lower is for hmarks model, figure reflects premises whic a the fee level h do no more required for new than pass basi Actual fees bein c regu latory standard g paid by coun s. cils, however, compare poor ly with thes e According to Lain levels. gBuisson anal ysis of NHS Digit of older peop al returns, the le in independ costs borne by ent sector care 2015/16. After English councils homes including stripping out thos for residential council overhead e overheads, and paid by English care s stood at just projecting forw councils for resid £534 per week ards, LaingBui ential care of below the ‘floo in sson estimates older people was r’ level of the that average fee just £486 per Care Cost Benc week in 2016/17 hmarks. - £104 per week Commenting on the figures, Lain gBuisson foun said that the adop der and creator of tion of the Nati the Care Cost onal Living Wag with increasin Benchmarks toolk e and requirem gly complex depe it William Lain ents to employ ndencies has g more carers to fuelled an ‘inex support residents orable rise’ in Mr Laing said care home cost : s. “Most councils responsible for supporting publ reasonable cost icly funded resid for care and desp ents do not ite councils’ freed the situation is have the budg unlikely to chan om to raise furth ets to pay a ge in 2017/18 er funds from .” the Social Care Precept, Addressing how care homes can continue tradi ng despite the shortfall, Mr Lain “The entire care g added: home sector for older people is care home resid being kept afloa ents who pay t through cros privately. We home fees at have conserva s subsidies from about £1.3 billio tively estimated the 40% of n a year in Engl pay in care hom the shortfall in and alone, bein e fees and wha council paid care g the differenc t they would pay mix of homes.” e between wha if Care Cost Benc t councils actu hmark rates were ally applied to the existing “The £1.3 billio n can equally be viewed as see private paye a hidden ‘care rs contributing tax’ that governme to keep mixed £8,000 a year nt and councils funding homes on average per are content to in business. This privately paying another step upw ‘care tax’ equa care home resid ards in April 201 tes to about ent. Moreover 7 as care hom , in all probabili e owners seek ty it will take to recover incre ased costs.”
Self-funding, or private pay, care home residents are keeping the sector afloat according to the latest figures from healthcare market intelligence provider LaingBuisson. The latest update to its Care Cost Benchmarks toolkit has found that the average fee per resident paid to care homes falls short of the real costs of service provision by more than £100 a week – a situation which means that those residents who pay from their own finances are filling a funding gap of £1.3 billion a year. Headline figures show that residential care homes in England for older people, which employ average levels of staff at average pay rates, currently need to charge fees of between £648 and £590 per week in order to generate a reasonable annual return on capital. The higher figure reflects the fee level required for new premises, while the lower is for premises which do no more than pass basic regulatory standards. Actual fees being paid by councils, however, compare poorly with these
levels. According to LaingBuisson analysis of NHS Digital returns, the costs borne by English councils for residential care of older people in independent sector care homes including council overheads stood at just £534 per week in 2015/16. LaingBuisson estimates that average fees paid by English councils for residential care of older people was just £486 per week in 2016/17 - £104 per week below the ‘floor’ level of the Care Cost Benchmarks. Commenting on the figures, LaingBuisson founder, William Laing (left) said that the adoption of the National Living Wage and requirements to employ more carers to support residents with increasingly complex dependencies has fuelled an ‘inexorable rise’ in care home costs. Mr Laing said: “Most councils responsible for supporting publicly funded residents do not have the budgets to pay a reasonable cost for care and despite councils’ freedom to raise further funds from the Social Care Precept, the situation is unlikely to change in 2017/18.” Addressing how care homes can continue trading despite the shortfall, Mr Laing added: “The entire care home sector for older people is being kept afloat through cross subsidies from the 40% of care home residents who pay privately. “We have conservatively estimated the shortfall in council paid care home fees at about £1.3 billion a year in
England alone, being the difference between what councils actually pay in care home fees and what they would pay if Care Cost Benchmark rates were applied to the existing mix of homes. “The £1.3 billion can equally be viewed as a hidden ‘care tax’ that government and councils are content to see private payers contributing to keep mixed funding homes in business. This ‘care tax’ equates to about £8,000 a year on average per privately paying care home resident. Moreover, in all probability it will take another step upwards in April 2017 as care home owners seek to recover increased costs.” This latest update to the wellrespected care cost toolkit, introduces two new features. For the first time, users can view all care cost benchmarks down to County and Unitary Authority level, and in the case of larger counties, even further down to District Council level; and users can see projected care cost benchmarks for the next financial year based on known National Living Wage rates and the application of official inflation indices for other care home costs.
For the latest care home industry news visit http://chmonline.co.uk/ 8 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
Taking care of my residents? I can handle that...
MY RESIDENTS MATTER TO ME. THEY’RE THE REASON I GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING. NOW, THANKS TO RoSPA, I NOT ONLY HAVE THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE I NEED TO MOVE THEM SAFELY, I’M ALSO ABLE TO TRAIN MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.
Helping you on your journey to a safer and healthier workplace. Our Moving and Handling People training course is a Level 3 qualification. This provides delegates with patient handling certification, enabling them to teach/mentor/coach induction and mandatory training that is based on current best practice.
accidents don’t have to happen
www.rospa.com 0121 248 2233 | enquiries@rospa.com
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 9
News
Care homes should be run like John Lewis
A former managing director of John Lewis says council owned care homes and other local services could be made into co-operatives similar to the famous store.
Andy Street (above), who is standing for the Conservatives in the first West Midlands mayoral election, wants a new generation of co-operatives partly owned by employees.
AKW releases stroke survivor care home design guide
A guide that aims to help care homes build the ideal personal space for stroke survivors has been released by AKW. Produced with expert knowledge from senior occupational therapy lecturer, Terri Grant from the University of Worcester, the guide called ‘Creating care homes that aid stroke rehabilitation’ outlines the best practice design principles for bathroom and bedroom suites, and offers comprehensive advice to both nursing and residential homes. With approximately 8,000 people being discharged from hospital to a care home after stroke every year in the UK, the guide highlights the importance
of creating suitable accommodation that puts stroke survivors on the road to rehabilitation. It has been developed as a reference point for care home staff, plumbers and builders, and, as half of all survivors have a disability, the guide aims to further improve the facilities available for those who have survived and subsequently live with the impact of stroke. Free to download, the guide gives an insight into the different types of stroke, the impact it can have on people’s lives and the challenges that survivors commonly face in the home environment. It then goes on to provide advice on designing areas that encourage rehabilitation and wellbeing, and offers specification guidance for essential equipment, such as showers, toilets and basins. The AKW guide to creating care homes that aid stroke rehabilitation can be downloaded at https://www.akw-ltd. co.uk/stroke-bathroom-guide/
Mr Street believes the John Lewis model could be equally applicable to improving local services such as care homes. “Given the challenges this sector faces, the increased service levels and enhanced efficiency of co-operatives could be invaluable,” he said. Nadra Ahmed, chairwoman of the National Care Association, described Mr Street’s proposal as “something worth looking at”. “We all know that the sector has recruitment and retention issues as well as a very significant funding shortfall,” she said. “Any solution that would help those kinds of problems would certainly be worth examining.”
Quarter of care homes rated poor or bad by independent guide One in four of care homes has been rated poor or bad for quality in the latest review by the independent Good Care Guide. The guide marks its fifth anniversary by comparing reviews from families over that period. In 2012, 11.8% of reviews of elderly care homes were rated poor but this has now increased to 25.9% of reviews. On value for money, care homes were rated as poor or bad by 12.4% of reviews in 2012 and this had more than doubled to 27.2% in 2016. Reviewers were even harsher on home care services, with 40% rating them as poor or bad for quality of service and value for money. Good Care Guide was launched in 2012 by My Family Care and United for All Ages and has had more than three million visitors. The site features over 65,000 registered providers of childcare (nurseries and other group childcare) and adult care (care homes and home care agencies).
For the latest care home industry news visit http://chmonline.co.uk/ 10 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
Freehold For Sale
ESTABLISHED UK MANUFACTURER WITH OVER 70 YEARS EXPERIENCE
On the Instructions of M Swiers & NCW Bestwick as Joint Fixed Charge Receivers
Former Residential Care Home
A range of professional cleaning products for care homes We have over 70 years experience manufacturing cleaning products. Our UK in-house production facilities allow us to create professional formulations at highly competitive prices**
The Evaglades Main Street, Low Bentham, Lancaster, LA2 7BX
455.9 Sq M (4,908 Sq Ft) • On-Site Parking. • Includes modern extensions and detached former coach house. • Suitable for a variety of uses, subject to statutory consents. Matthew Silas matt@atlasone.co.uk Mark Swiers mark.swiers@sw.co.uk
This DVD explains important topics such as: • • • • • • •
Chain of Infection Legislation and Guidance Systems to Manage and Monitor IPC Cleaning Equipment Adopting Good Practice Effective Hand Hygiene Use of Personal Protective Equipment
• Managing Individuals with an Infection • Handling & Storage of Specimens • Managing Laundry • Managing Waste (The National ColourCoding System, Sharps Disposal & Storage of Waste) • Staff Health
Duration: 33 Minute DVD The BVS Range Includes: Care Home Series, Domiciliary Care Series, Childcare Series, Dementia Care and Learning Disabilities.
BVS Training
Health and safety is a key training area. According to HSE, there are over 6000 reported injuries in a year to employees in social care. This new DVD explains health and safety procedures relating to all aspects of the topic within the care home, covering not only service users but also staff, contractors and visitors, making your home a safe place to work and live. Subjects include but not limited to: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL Duration: 27 minutes in 16 sections
IN THE CARE HOME
Legal Duties Competent Person Contractors Medication Fire Safety Security within the Home Who is at Risk? RIDDOR Dangerous Occurencies Diseases Missing Clients First Aid Infection Control COSHH Managing Waste The National Colour Coding System Sharps Disposal Clinical Waste
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Blood Borne Infections Water Temperatures Legionella Safe Handling of Food Manual Handling Lifting Techniques Floors and Stairs Lighting Windows and Ventilation Lifts Smoking Electrical Safety Kitchen Safety Laundry Safety Stress Management Challenging Behaviour Health and Safety Check List
CARE HOME - HEALTH & SAFETY
This care home based DVD aims to provide substantial support in making sure your staff fully understand and comply with legal obligations as well as significantly improving their skills/knowledge in the area of infection prevention and control.
INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL IN THE CARE HOME
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is a key element in social care and is vital to the well-being of people that we support and care for. Good IPC practices must be consistently applied by all staff to best prevent and control infection, and to ensure the safety of residents in a care home environment.
Training Pack Infection Prevention and Control in the Car
HANDOUT 5
CARE HOME HEALTH & SAFETY
Description
Waste requiring disposal by incineration in a suitably licensed facility.
Waste which may be ‘treated’ or ‘rendered’ safe in a suitably licensed facility. May also be disposed of by incineration.
Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste requiring disposal by incineration in a licensed fac
Offensive hygiene waste requiring disposal to a licensed landfill site. This waste should not be compacted.
The Lesson Plan outlines a suggested running order for the session which incorporates the use of this training DVD and also optional pause points where the trainer may wish to stop the DVD. This may be to facilitate a group discussion on a particular issue or carry out an exercise or activity to improve trainees’ understanding and retention of key learning points.
Domestic waste or municipal waste requiring disposal to a licensed landfill site. Recyclable components should be removed through segregation. Clear/opaque containers may also be used for domestic waste.
The supporting materials referred to in the Lesson Plan could include case studies, group and/or individual exercises and information handouts. Handouts that can be photocopied are listed in the Handouts folder on the CD-Rom.
Safe management of healthcare waste 7658:1.8: England (2011) http://www.spaceforhealth.nhs.uk/sites/www.spaceforhealth.nhs.uk/files/7658-England-7658%3A1.8%3AEngland.pdf
As you prepare for your session you may also wish to carry out your own independent research into the subject matter. Those that have limited training experience may also find it useful to refer to the Trainer’s Guide held on the CD-ROM. This aims to help develop an awareness of training issues and how to get the most benefit out of a training session.
Infection Control Training from Healthcare A2Z, www
Trainer Introduction Notes The supporting materials provide the trainer with a variety of activities including discussions, quizzes, case studies and practical demonstrations that help to emphasise the use of safe systems at work and the necessary guidelines to achieve best practice for infection prevention and control.
BVS Training
Telephone: 0845 644 2866 Email: info@bvs.co.uk Website: www.bvs.co.uk
Depending upon the number of individuals attending the training session, it is recommended that sufficient time is given to the session so that topics raised in the DVD can be discussed and subsequently reference made to local policies can be examined. Alternatively, trainers can conduct shorter sessions of 30 minutes and concentrate on one individual topic area at a time, e.g., hand hygiene.
Warning: All rights of the owner of this video material are reserved. Unauthorised copying, hiring, lending, public performance, radio or TV broadcasting of this material is prohibited.
© BVS Training Ltd
Quick reference guide to colour coding Colour
How to use this Training Pack Trainer Introduction Notes Bibliography and Websites Tools Aims and Objectives Compatibility with Induction and QCF Units CPD Accreditation Lesson Plan Training Evaluation
This Training Pack, containing a Lesson Plan and supporting material, has been designed to help you prepare and run an effective training session.
Duration: (Approx.) 45 Minute DVD in 38 sections.
Warning: All rights of the owner of this video material are reserved. Unauthorised copying, hiring, lending, public performance, radio or TV broadcasting of this material is prohibited.
Understanding segregation
Contents Page 1 Page 1 Pages 1-2 Page 2 Page 2 Page 3 Page 3 Pages 3-8 Page 8
How to use this Training Pack
The BVS Range Includes: Care Home Series, Domiciliary Care Series, Childcare Series, Dementia Care and Learning Disabilities.
Telephone: 0845 644 2866 Email: info@bvs.co.uk Website: www.bvs.co.uk
WASTe MANAGeMeNT - UNDerSTANDiNG SeGreGATiON Training Pack reFereNce GUiDe TO cOlOUr cODiNG Infection Prevention and Control in the CareQUicK Home WASTE MANAGEMENT
©BVS Training Ltd. Permission is given to photocopy for training purposes only when product is purchased.
Bibliography and Websites
©BVS Training Ltd
Bibliography DH (2009) Health and Social Care Act 2008 DH (2008) Health Care Act 2006: Code of Practice DH (2007) Essential Steps to safe, clean care NICE (2003) Infection control: prevention of healthcare-associated infection in primary and community care. Available on line at: http://www.nice.org.uk © BVS Training Ltd. Permission is given to photocopy for training purposes only when product is purchased.
Page 1
Social Care Training Videos £1.50
inc VAT
£1.50
inc VAT
BVS videos are used by over 33% of all Care Homes and Domiciliary Agencies • Online courses from only £2.20 • Accredited and Certificated • Available Online, on DVD or to Download • Also available to licence to stream on your own training portal
Deliver your training in-house • Cost effective • High quality Easy to manage and record • CPD accredited and certificated Over 70 courses available Full induction training online from only £60 per employee All DVDs and Downloads include access to: • • • • • •
Visit our website for more great deals:
Video Lesson Plan Handouts Care Certificate Workbook Certificates Assessment Quizzes
• • • • •
Care Certificate Assessor Document Care Certificate Guidance Document Care Certificate Mapping Document Care Certificate Framework Care Assistant Self-Assessment Tool
***Special offer *** Buy 3 get 4th video free Use Promo Code CH17 for extra 10% discount
www.starprodirect.co.uk **Some products are up to 55% cheaper than our competitors prices
www.bvs.co.uk
0345 644 2866
info@bvs.co.uk
News
Seventy eight finalists on the shortlist for the Care Home Awards 2017 (£1,665 + VAT). Space is limited for this lunchtime event, so finalists are asked to make sure they at least reserve their places as soon as they can to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be booked online at http://www.carehomeawards.com/ awards-ceremony or you can request a booking form by email for completion and return by post. All bookings will be confirmed by a VAT invoice and, nearer the date you will be asked for any additional information about dietary requirements and the names of any accompanying guests. In their first full year of operation, 78 entries from 54 organisations have made it to the final plenary sessions of the judging panels for the 2017 Care Home Awards. They range from the big groups to the small independents; and from the far-reaching impact of a simple idea harnessing the power of hens, to the complexities of modern architecture and interior design meeting the needs of today’s care homes. The celebration of the finalists and the category winners will take place on Thursday 25 May at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT. Dress code will be business attire and the reception will commence at 12 noon. There will be an excellent 3-course lunch – the Royal Garden Hotel is renowned for the quality of it menus, recipes and ingredients – with wine or soft drinks provided over lunch, as part of the ticket price. Tickets to the Care Home Awards lunch are on offer to early bookers at £185 + VAT for individual places, or at an even better £166.50 + VAT per person if booked as a table of 10
In alphabetical order, the short list of companies nominated are: 3663 Abacus Playgrounds Active Minds Adept Care Homes Amore Care / Priory Group Apex Medical Aqua Cert Auriens Barchester Berkley Care Group Berwick Care Equipment Brighterkind Canopies Care UK Caring Homes Group CFS Carpets Chilton House Compass Associates (recruitment) Devon Interiors with Anchor Trust Dine Contract Catering Echo Managed Services Equal Arts Exemplar Health Care Flex Maintenance Ganymede Care Gracewell Hallmark Care Homes
Hempsons Solicitors L&M Health Care Lilian Faithful Homes Maximum Maintenance Meadow House Nursing Home Mistley Manor Moore Factilities Management MOP Healthcare NABS Peterhouse Nescafe Nursing Hygiene Group (NHG) P&G Professional Pepe Garden Furniture PJ Care Redcrier Training SCF Healthcare Furniture Sheengate Publishing Signature Care Homes SkyVac Special2Us Swanton Care and Community Tanglewood Care Homes and Bungalows The Badby Park Group The Close Care Home Valerie Manor Willow Lodge Nursing Home
For the latest care home industry news visit http://chmonline.co.uk/ 12 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
Not enough people willing to work in the care sector? It’s just a myth! by Scott Sherriden, managing director, The Care Hub
In November, I attended the Northern Long Term Care conference in Leeds. It was a great event and I met some inspirational people working hard to improve care delivery in the UK. There was one challenge that everyone wanted to talk about - recruitment and staffing. Attracting and successfully managing the whole recruitment process efficiently is a real struggle for busy care home managers and owners. It is hard to write good job adverts, and then find
the time to research which channels will give them the best results. Recent information from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS) suggests that there are 85,000 open vacancies every single day. Great news if you run a staffing agency. High agency costs combined with the challenge of finding the right people to fill your open vacancies not only eat away your profits, they affect the CQC’s view of your ability to deliver continuity and quality of care. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Six weeks ago The Care Hub ran a pilot project with CareTech Community Services Ltd. Thirty six vacancies from various locations around the UK were advertised and managed via our online platform. Since then we’ve generated some amazing results. CareTech have received over a 1000 applicants with a third suitable
for the advertised role and another 13% for different roles across the business from, support worker to management positions. That’s 456 suitable candidates for just 36 jobs and I know we’re just scratching the surface. So, not enough people willing to work in care? A thousand applicants in just six weeks tells you that it’s just a myth. Our mission at The Care Hub is to help care home providers of all sizes, take control of their recruitment and cut their agency spend. Our system allows you to easily place ads, manage the recruitment process and generate better candidates, just in a few clicks. www.thecarehub.com
Commercial Laundry and Dishwashing Equipment Service • Repair • Sales • Rental • Detergents • Maintenance
Hughes Trade coverage area
Now in the Midlands, Anglia and Kent service@hughestrade.co.uk • hughestrade.co.uk March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 13
News
Advertorial
Connecting the care industry for 20 years
This year the Care Forum is celebrating 20 years as the leading event for the UK’s care industry. In that time, the Care Forum has connected over 45,000 senior healthcare professionals and leading industry suppliers with its unique faceto-face meeting format. Attendees are matched on the basis of mutual interest for a series of business meetings and collaborative networking sessions spread over two working days. Suppliers showcase an array of products and services with the aim of making delegate business decisions more informed, without the lengthy research process usually required beforehand. And there’s absolutely no hard sell in what is an open and collaborative environment. Delegates to the event are also invited to join their peers for a stream of seminars hosted by leaders of key associations and businesses; sharing their experiences and insights into the care industry. The Care Forum has been engineered to maximise ROI, with zero time wasted, the forging of longlasting business relationships and the development of new skills.
In this 20th anniversary year, the Care Forum promises to be even bigger and better, with some surprises in store for those in attendance. This considered, it’s no surprise that delegate places, which are entirely complimentary, have nearly run out.
Here’s what previous attendees have said:“The Care Forum has consistently offered an excellent programme, with plenty of facilitators to hand. The exhibitors are well prepared and therefore you are able to maximise your time with each person.” TwinGlobe Care “After attending Forum’s events for over 10 years they keep getting better and have a constant flow of new suppliers and great networking!” Primecare Developments
Current delegates include Care UK, Craegmoor Healthcare, Four Seasons Health Care, Quantum Care, Richmond Care Villages, St Philips Care, Gold Care Homes, Signature Senior Lifestyle and The White Horse Care Trust. If you are a care professional looking to meet with new service providers, network with industry peers and learn a variety of new skills, you can confirm one of the remaining invitations at http://thecareforum. co.uk/delegates-booking-form But be quick – these are expected to go extremely quickly. For more information on delegate places and what’s in store, please contact Clare Element on 01992 374068 or email c.element@ forumevents.co.uk There are also a small number of supplier places remaining – in areas including Kitchen Equipment & Catering Solutions, FM, Training, Flooring, Sensory Gardens, Furniture, Dementia Products and more. If you’d like more information on remaining supplier packages and the sectors these are available in, please contact Jennie Lane on 01992 374098 or email j.lane@forumevents.co.uk Follow the Forum online @ careforum for the latest event updates. The Care Forum is run by Forum Events, a respected B2B events organiser with over 20 years’ experience. For more information on the full portfolio of events, please visit the website at www.forumevents.co.uk
“The Care Forum gives the opportunity to resource what I need in the sector in 2 days, rather than many days of cold calls, emails and meetings.” Ranc Care Homes
For the latest care home industry news visit http://chmonline.co.uk/ 14 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
Embrace digital technology, says CQC inspector
Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission, has encouraged care providers to embrace innovative digital technologies that enhance care delivery, achieve effective care outcomes, and improve the independence of the people they support. Her comments came during an exclusive roundtable event called ‘How to achieve outstanding care - the
role of digitalisation’, which sought to share best practice from Denmark on utilising digital technologies in the care home environment, and addressed how UK care providers can achieve a CQC ‘Outstanding’ rating. It was arranged by Danish technology company Sekoia. During discussions, Ms Sutcliffe also commented on the potential of digital integration between the care sector and the NHS, saying: “There are huge benefits if we can seamlessly share medical information between health and care professionals, which will improve care outcomes for individuals and may help to reduce their length of stay in hospital.” Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, added that he was, “disappointed many of the sustainability and transformation
plans being produced completely ignore how transformational digital integration between health and care environments could be in improving care outcomes for older people.” The roundtable gave UK care providers the opportunity to learn from the Danish ambassador to the UK, Claus Grube, about the Danish care sector, and how care delivery has been transformed following the Danish Government’s decision to digitalise all government services, including in health and care. Mads Fischer Rasmussen, chief executive of Sekoia, said: “We were delighted to bring together figures from across the care sector for a vital discussion on the transformational role digital technologies can play in delivering outstanding quality care. “We know many UK providers are keen to utilise technology in their services, but need support to develop tailored digital solutions.”
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 15
News
Oomph! outings revolution starts with major care backers on board Oomph!’s founder Ben Allen said: “Care home owners have told me of their dismay for residents who’ve not been outside for months. We just can’t accept that so many vulnerable people are stuck indoors due to funding cuts and financial pressures. “The Out and About model takes the expense and hassle of excursion planning and transport purchase, leasing and away from care providers. We are effectively helping individual homes and groups in an area to club together to make day trips affordable for all whilst each still gets exclusive use of the service for their service users. Connecting with meaningful places, passions and communities must not become a luxury for a minority.” Social enterprise operation Oomph! is putting £4 million pounds into a radical excursions service for people in care. A roll out will start in five regions following a successful pilot. Leading care groups WCS Care, HICA and Cumbric Care Group are among those using the Out and About service from this month when minibuses will start hitting the roads to take residents to premium locations such as museums, music and sports events, botanic gardens and art galleries as well as outings to markets, pubs and farms. Oomph!’s concept offers expert day trip planning with minibus transport and on-board conductors in order to achieve economies of scale for travel and access to carefully researched destinations.
Oomph! will be rolling out half a million individual journeys per year. Oomph! already has a presence in care settings nationwide where 38 thousand Oomph! exercise classes are delivered each year. The rapid growth of the service has been made possible with £1.5 million equity investment from three sources - Barchester founder and care industry expert Mike Parsons, the Care and Wellbeing Fund and Nesta Impact Investments.
300 vehicles by 2020 Within three years the firm plans to operate excursions nationwide. Expansion will be rapid with a fleet of 100 within 12 months rising to 300 vehicles by 2020 by which time 16 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
Parsons makes personal investment Mike Parsons, founder of Barchester Homes, became chair of Oomph! in 2016 and has put over £1 million into the business. Investing £300,000 of his own money into this venture he said: “This is a no brainer for care services. Out and About excursions will significantly enhance the offering of providers currently unable to afford regular day trips and provide a much savvier option for those burdened with
News The service will provide up to 6 trips a month for a flat fee. Prices for care homes will start from around £160 per excursion, putting regular outings within reach of homes that don’t currently offer them.
the costs and logistical issues involved in running their own outings.” Deloitte research indicates that only 55% of for-profit homes serving older residents currently offer a regular minibus service and that figure is lower in non-profit homes.
opportunities should they wish – and staying connected to their local community plays an important part in that,” she said. “With support from Oomph!, we’re able to enhance our existing approach to activities and offer even more trips that are tailored to people’s individual needs.”
Back to Brooklands – at 94 Oomph! piloted their new service with several homes and care groups in Hampshire and Surrey, covering local authority owned and for-profit settings. Attending a recent trip to Brooklands Museum of motoring and aviation was 94 year old, ex Autocar journalist Martin, who first visited the venue as a child and then as a professional writer. Commenting on the trip Martin said: “Motoring and writing about cars has been my life and I think the highlight of my visit to Brooklands has to be the huge Napier racing car. It’s unlike anything you see today. It’s built like a locomotive. “It was a wonderful day. I haven’t actually written anything for a long time so when this opportunity came up to start again, it was wonderful.” Debbie Bailey, activities lead at Priory Court where Martin lives said: “Martin is absolutely passionate about cars. This trip re-ignited his passion for motoring and gave him the motivation to start writing again. I think that’s an amazing feat, I really do. This isn’t only about a change of scenery, but giving residents a renewed zest for life.”
CQC importance on social activities Many studies show the importance of getting people, old and young, out of their care homes. NICE’s Mental Wellbeing of Older People in Care Homes standard shows that social activities are now a factor the Care Quality Commission (CQC) considers when rating care homes. Christine Asbury is chief executive of WCS Care which runs 12 care homes across Warwickshire, including five rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. She was among the first to sign up to Out and About. “Residents should do what they’ve always done – as well as try new March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 17
Sod Sitting Two experts get together to keep your residents – and you - active Two experts in fitness, 74-year-old Professor Muir Gray and fitness legend Diana Moran, the Green Goddess, who does not mind admitting she is 77, have got together to produce a new book called Sod Sitting – Get Moving. Here in their own words they dispense some advice to help your residents get more active and stay healthier.
Professor Sir Muir Gray
Surveys have shown that people aged 70 to 74 report the best feelings about life. For people in their 80s life is tougher with health problems playing a bigger part. But the way we view the elderly (and those in their care) is dominated by disease, disability, dependency and dementia. So, we have written a book which is about giving residents the good news that life can get better without a windfall from the Lottery. Diana Moran and I are both in our 70s and we’ve spent our lives studying, preventing and even evangelising about the benefits of exercise and the good it can do for us. Whatever their age, their long-term conditions or if they have five or ten prescriptions, becoming more active
and taking more exercise will: • Help them feel better • Reduce their risk of many common health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, depression and, best news of all, dementia • Make the treatment for any condition or disease more effective, and can sometimes lead to the need for pills to disappear completely • Improve both their mood and their brain function, namely how they think and feel So, here are the new facts of life: • Ageing by itself is not a major cause of disability until the 90s
18 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
• Many of the problems that we have assumed are due to ageing are due to loss of fitness • Many of the problems that we have assumed are due to ageing are due to preventable disease • The risk of disease can still be reduced after the age of 70 • Fitness can be regained after the age of 70 • Physical activity is more important for people in their 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond than it is for those in their 20s and 30s • It is at least as important to try to increase fitness after the onset of disease as it is to try to prevent disease through increased activity
– Get Moving Diana Moran
So now we know why – let’s see how! For your residents – and you - being fit is a necessity, not just an option. Fitness is all about being able to do the things you want to do when you want to. You need to
encourage and help your residents to take the opportunity to be more active. When we exercise, the body releases chemicals called endorphins which gives a ‘feel-good’ factor as the circulation gets going, improving heart and lung efficiency.
Here are my tips for how you can help your residents live healthier lives: • Half an hour of moderate physical activity five times a week • Make exercise a natural part of everyday life and encourage more activity - anytime, anywhere • Teach deep breathing to encourage oxygen intake and lung elasticity • Encourage a brisk walk for at least half an hour each day Walking: • Increases heart rate • Lessens the risk of heart disease • Encourages more oxygen into the lungs and improves the cardiovascular system • Is ‘weight bearing’ (body weight is supported by spine, legs and feet) • Builds healthy bones • Builds strong leg muscles – vital for physical independence. • Can be both sociable and beneficial – especially if there is a partner to walk with. Residents will feel better, look better and younger and reduce their risk of disability and dementia. The book has been specifically designed for older adults. Help your residents get better and feel better tomorrow. If you want to get more advice on how to organise your residents to embrace activity, the book – Sod Sitting - Get Moving is available to Care Home Management readers with a 25% discount. Just visit www. bloomsbury.com/soditbooks and when ordering use code CHM01.
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 19
Advertorial
Digitalisation alongside CQC: The 5 key questions Looking at the immediate situation within care it is credible to believe that new ways of working are required. The care crisis has developed into a political bottleneck, and it is more than ever up to the single care group to innovate its way into an outstanding future. Digitalisation changes the workflow in care homes to be more efficient by assisting care staff in their primary tasks. Having access to the information needed when delivering care at the point-of-care itself allows a better quality of care and saves a great deal of time. With regards to CQC’s key lines of enquiry, digital solutions can be part of addressing the 5 key questions: Is the service Safe? Making sure that all information required by the carers to deliver person-centred care is available at the point-of-care. Detailed and tailored descriptions for all care tasks and access to individual care plans ensure that residents receive the right level of care, avoiding critical errors and making the service safe. Is the service Effective? Observations regarding a resident – whether health-related, behavioural or simply pertaining to day-to-day
functions – can be recorded and communicated to support the care planning. Making sure that accurate evidence is obtained and analysed over a period, so that patterns may be observed, changes not only the work practice but the overall mindset towards care, inculcating a more pro-active work ethic among staff and providing an effective service. Is the service Caring? Tailoring the care service around the resident’s routine as opposed to that of the staff makes a difference. Describing in first person from the perspective of the resident, draws a common thread between single care tasks and the resident’s plan and involvement based on capacity. Inconspicuous features will compel people to revisit the purpose of their role and go back to caring as a principle on which good care is achieved. Is the service Responsive? Digitalisation allows staff to obtain a bird’s eye view of not just the resident that they are attending to but also others, ensuring that all staff take collective responsibility for the work carried out and share the duty of care. Real time applications facilitate this practice to make sure that time is not
20 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
being spent in trying to identify where help may be found or how tasks are performed, saving considerable time in delegation of duties and allowing staff to manage their work efficiently. Is the service Well-Led? Providing the Senior Management access to Reports and Management Information that clearly outline the level of care being provided within their organisation, enables information sharing and insights that demarcates where a service is exceptional and more importantly where its key areas for improvement are. The ability to better observe work practices over time and categorise this information in flexible formats proves extremely beneficial at Staff Meetings, Oneto-One Supervisions and Staff Training days. The management is better equipped to ascertain that a competent staff is delivering the desired care to the resident at the time needed. Ultimately ensuring that a service is led well from the top, no doubt leads to outstanding outcomes. More of this at www.sekoia-care.co.uk.
www.sekoia-care.co.uk
Digital care planning
33% less office time 50% less critical errors 32% less sick leave More time for resident care
Sekoia is a digital tool for care homes. Using personal touchscreens with customized apps, we provide better workflow to improve efficiency and enhance time for resident care. �This system is so intelligent. It reduces the need for the staff to run back and forth between the residents and the office with paper based to-do-lists in their pockets and messages that should not be forgotten. The system has reduced our error rate to almost none. However, the most important benefit is that we have freed up time for care and personal contact with the individual resident.� Joan Hartvig, Care Home Manager
Sekoia 2 Eastbourne Terrace London W2 6LG United Kingdom Office DL: +44 7859 906 571 contact@sekoia-care.co.uk
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 21
Care homes and the NHS working together to improve awareness of acute kidney injury Think Kidneys is the NHS campaign to improve the care of people with, or at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Acute kidney injury is the sudden loss of kidney function over a period of hours or days and can occur often without symptoms. It is a global health care challenge; it is common, causes harm and suffering, and in many instances, it can be prevented. It is detected though a routine blood test. Of over 500,000 cases of AKI every year in England, approximately 65% of them start in the community. AKI is a contributing factor in the deaths of around 100,000 people each year in the UK. Older people are at increased risk, linked to a range of complex health conditions, including heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and dementia. The 400,000 people who live in care homes remain a very high risk group for AKI. They may not be able to take enough fluids due to physical frailty or may lose the ability to recognise they are thirsty due to dementia. Combined with underlying chronic medical issues, dehydration may precipitate AKI in this vulnerable group.
Care homes a priority Think Kidneys has developed resources and guidance for each sector of the NHS over the last three years. However, when it came to thinking about the community, care homes were identified as a priority. But the NHS doesn’t work often with the care home sector and as we wanted to get this right, and produce materials that were easy to access and use for care home staff, and that would help raise awareness and improve the prevention, detection, management and treatment of the condition. We decided the best way to do this was to ask them. We invited a cross section of people to a launch event – health
22 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
care assistants, nurses, managers, commissioners, improvement experts and academics, nutrition and hydration specialists, so that we could discuss and learn what was needed and in what form. 45 care homes in pilot From the 100 people who attended, volunteers formed a working group and developed the resources. They were piloted by 45 care homes, tested and refined, and are now available for anyone to access at www.thinkkidneys. nhs.uk/aki/resources/carehomes Recognising the challenges experienced in care homes such as high staff turnover, recruitment problems and difficulties in releasing staff to undergo training we knew that the resources had to be concise, effective and quick, providing appropriate training, some simple-tofollow tips, and signposting for more help. Paula Cashmore, clinical quality monitoring officer from NHS Birmingham Crosscity CCG, was a member of the project group.
“As a former nurse from a nursing home and a member of the in-house quality team at Birmingham Crosscity CCG, I was keen to be involved in the Think Kidneys initiative,” she said. “We have good links to nursing homes in our region and see the problems associated with dehydration and Acute Kidney Injury. Importance of proper hydration “It is really important for care homes to be aware of the importance of keeping residents properly hydrated. Dehydration carries with it the associated risks of confusion, UTIs, falls, and multiple organ failure as well as AKI. The CCG is responsible for carrying out quality audits at nursing homes in our region and we have now included a number of recommendations aimed at helping nursing homes to prevent, diagnose and manage AKI more effectively.” One of the care homes in Birmingham involved in the pilot was Boldmere Court. Operations director, Kerry Jackson (below) said: “Our staff received training from the Think Kidneys team in July 2016. As a result we introduced a range of improvements. We now have dedicated drinks champions whose role it is to encourage residents to drink at least two litres of fluid a day.
Jellies and yoghurts play their part “We have also introduced jellies, ice cream and yoghurts, which provide an alternative way of increasing the fluid intake for residents. We encourage our residents to make their own jellies and ice creams alongside the drinks champion and our activities officer. “Families, too, have been told about the benefits for residents of these foodstuffs and have begun to bring these in as an alternative to chocolates or other treats. We have stickers on each resident’s door showing what they like and don’t like in terms of fluids so that agency staff are aware. We now use the education resource pack to deliver our own inhouse training to staff.” Infections down – hospital admissions zero Since the training from Think Kidneys, Boldmere Court has seen the number of urinary tract infections on the dementia unit fall from 10 to one over a period of eight weeks. There were zero hospital admissions for AKI in that time. Paula Cashmore commented: “Each of the nursing homes that has been involved in this initiative has fed back to us the huge difference it has made to residents. There is a far greater awareness of the importance of hydration in these homes. The impact has been significant. Nursing homes report less confusion amongst residents and far fewer incidents of UTIs. This is likely to lead to fewer falls and less AKI. “Residents in nursing homes have a high level of dependency. They rely on
staff for many of their care needs and it is the responsibility of everyone in the nursing home to do whatever they can to keep residents well hydrated. This is an important initiative and we will be encouraging all nursing homes in our area to deliver the Think Kidneys training to their staff.” Inspirational staff and teams
Richard Fluck (above), chair of the Think Kidneys programme and consultant renal physician, said of the care homes work: “We have been delighted with the work taking place in care homes – the staff and teams have been inspirational in developing the ideas from Think Kidneys for the needs of their clients and staff. “We know the simple resources developed can have a significant impact. This isn’t just about stopping people from having to be admitted to hospital – it’s about taking simple steps to prevent suffering, pain and hardship for some of the most vulnerable and frail people in our society. “NHS Birmingham Crosscity CCG have shown the way forward for improving care in this important and expanding area. Carers in care homes can make a very big difference in reducing the burden of this lifethreatening condition.”
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 23
Open up and smell the coffee –
could this be the way to connect with the community?
In our last edition we examined how care homes are often their own worst enemies when it comes to public relations - phones often going unanswered and even when they are, no trained staff member giving out positive information or taking the details of potential residents. Many care homes need to become more ‘savvy’. Now, Debbie Harris, managing director of Chosen with Care, an independent company specialising in finding care homes for self-funding clients, takes things a stage further and, with some radical thinking, suggests one way of bringing the community into care homes. It’s hard to deny that care homes have an image problem. With radio and TV news constantly finding examples of neglect, and newspapers reporting similar horror stories, people are naturally worried about what is waiting for them – or their loved ones – when they can’t live alone any more. With any ‘bad news’, there’s usually some proof to support it, but it does not always paint a fair picture. Dangerously, it creates the ‘Panorama Effect’ – creating a far-reaching negative impression that’s hard to shift.
Changing the perception So how can the care home sector generally change that perception? More specifically, how can individual homes create a bright, positive identity for themselves? Bearing in mind that more and more of us will live in care homes, couldn’t’t each and every one of those homes position itself as a lively, accessible part of the local community? There are already great examples of homes opening their doors and giving a warm welcome to a broad mix of people on a daily basis. You can see two examples of that on the next page. Bring the outside in I believe passionately that every care home and its residents should be an integral part of life outside, rather than separated from it. And the way to do that has to be to bring the outside in.
24 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
The Post Office and village shop provided valuable hubs where people met and passed the time of day, and their loss is keenly felt. The school gate is still a hot spot for parents, just as the bus stop and park are valuable meeting places, attracting a vibrant mix of ages, backgrounds and points of view. And what about coffee shops… • How many are there on every high street? • How few are ever empty of customers? • Who are those customers?
Everybody. They are part of everyday life now. You can see where I am going with this. All care homes have a residents’ restaurant and most have grounds designed for enjoyment when the weather allows. So how difficult can it be to open up these areas to the public, providing quality refreshments throughout the day – every day? Add the trappings A free wi-fi facility and plenty of electrical sockets would add benefit to students and business people; a soft play area would encourage mums with prams; newspapers and magazines would appeal to those who just want a few minutes’ time to find out what’s happening, and residents’ relatives might feel encouraged to ‘bring a friend’ when visiting. From my knowledge of care homes, I believe the effect will be three-fold: Rising standards within the home
with direct benefit to residents A new social venue for the community Fantastic publicity for the care home – translating into income. Better still, the public will be better informed, and more comfortable with care homes and what they provide. In effect, you would be entertaining your future residents whilst encouraging advocacy beyond the cake and coffee. Championed from the top It will demand imagination and innovation from care home owners, and the recognition that it will take time to gather momentum. To work, it has to be championed and supported by those at the top, rather than bestowed upon the people dedicated to delivering care on a daily basis. And it will take ‘the power of a brand’ to provide the essential magnetic appeal that secures early success. Coffee shops are on every
high street – to work they must either differentiate – which can be prohibitively expensive – or align with a high street brand through a franchised business. Imagine the effect of a Starbucks, Costa or Caffe Nero sign at the end of your drive! It has to be worth serious thought. I know it needs a leap of faith – being on show to the world can be a frightening thought. But, having instigated care home reviews on carehome.co.uk, I am convinced it has the potential to change how people view care homes for ever, securing engagement and interest from those who would never normally give them a thought – until they have to. If you are a forward thinking care home and would like to explore this idea further, contact Debbie Harris at Chosen with Care. debbie@ chosenwithcare.co.uk 01892 546666. www.chosenwithcare.co.uk
Care homes to celebrate ‘Friendship’ on 16 June Once again care homes are planning to celebrate connections with their local communities. After a successful day of celebrating great care across the UK on Care Home Open Day 2016, when 4,300 care homes took part, the date for 2017 is confirmed as 16 June. As Care Home Open Day’s emphasis is on the importance of connecting with local communities, developing lasting relationships and
encouraging intergenerational rapport, the theme of ‘Friendship’ has led to Care Home Open Day being celebrated in conjunction with The Big Lunch. The Big Lunch, an annual event which is part of the Eden Project in Cornwall, aims to get as many people as possible to share lunch together in an act of friendship that will encourage communities to connect and help prevent isolation among those living alone.
Care homes are encouraged to celebrate friendships that have developed between residents, families, friends and staff, as well as with their neighbours, to reinforce how they should be an integral part of their local community.
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 25
How to hire – and keep - game changing employees by Danielle Moore, nursing recruitment manager at Clayton Recruitment
But how can you recruit and, crucially, retain professionals on a budget? Recruiting for your care or residential nursing home can be challenging, we all recognise that. Times are tight, finances are being squeezed and you’re probably facing strong competition from the NHS for your key employees and, unless you’re one of the few employers considering recruiting robots to work in your home, you’ll need to find a way to succeed and hire effectively. But how can you recruit and, crucially, retain professionals on a budget? Perhaps the most important factor to consider when recruiting for any care or residential nursing role is the message that you’re sending to the market about you as an employer. This message, or employer value proposition (EVP) needs to be as attractive but also as genuine as possible. A warm welcome? Nothing quite upsets a new starter like finding the wonderful, welcoming workplace they were promised was nothing but a lie. This message
needs to highlight what kind of employer you are, what sort of benefits people working for you will gain and whether their goals, personality and motivators are aligned to what you can offer. You may also need to tailor this proposition depending on the roles you’re looking to fill. The ‘millennial’ end of the market is motivated by different factors to its predecessors and a benefit that may motivate a senior professional, could have the complete opposite effect on a younger one. The EVP is essentially your best chance of outlining what you could offer potential employees, so it’s crucial to get it right. Plan well in advance Another important tip for care homes looking to recruit is to plan well in advance of when you’ll actually need your staff and ensure that you have robust talent pools and pipelines in place to cope with any immediate demand for talent. According to a report, staff costs in care homes account for an average of 55% of turnover, however much of that likely stems from the use of emergency or short term staffing cover. By planning ahead and developing talent pipelines into your organisation, you can ensure that
26 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
have a pool of professionals to call upon when needed, rather than hiring at the last minute at a potentially much greater cost. One approach could be to partner with local training colleges or to sign up to attend professional networking events in order to raise awareness of your employer brand to potential recruits. How to retain staff These factors will help you to recruit staff more effectively, but part of the challenge is retaining professionals once you’ve taken them on board. Particularly at a time when research suggests that it costs 1.5 times the salary of a departing employee to replace them and your new hire will take 32 weeks to reach optimum productivity. This is an aspect that far too few employers consider and it ultimately ends up costing them. The most important factor to keep in mind is the environment that you’re creating. In order to keep your best talent you want to create a supportive, welcoming and consultative workplace where all of your employees feel comfortable and able to do their job to the best of their ability. You don’t need me to tell you, but having a working culture where people are treading on eggshells and are afraid to speak up won’t help anyone and will just encourage your staff to look for their next job as soon as possible.
Consider revalidation You could also consider offering revalidation support to your employees. It may not seem like a huge factor to you, but helping out your team to ensure that they’re compliant can make a big difference to their lives, remove a significant amount of stress and give them more time to conduct their jobs to the highest level. As we all know, nurses and health professionals are now required to renew their professional registration every three years and, while it’s not a legal requirement, providing some assistance in this area is likely to go a long way with your key staff. There are also more obvious factors that can help you to improve your retention levels. Very few professionals want to work for an employer that doesn’t allow them to grow and progress as an individual, so outlining a specific pathway that your employees could progress their careers along could help encourage them to stay with you for longer than they may have
initially considered. The same applies with training opportunities. Showing that you’re happy to invest in their future by allowing staff to go on external training days highlights that you’re making a commitment to them, and it’s likely that this will ultimately be repaid. Become agile and understanding Finally, and it may sound straightforward, but being a bit more of an agile, understanding employer can aid both your recruitment and retention rates significantly. Offering flexible working policies, for example, may not sound like a huge commitment on your behalf, but it could essentially open up an entirely new area of the workforce to you to recruit from. By allowing staff to start at 9.30, rather than 9:00, you could attract parents of school-age children who have responsibilities they can’t cover. Yes, it could require a bit of reshuffling
from your end, but if it can save you a considerable amount of money and help you to recruit a potentially gamechanging employee, it’s a commitment worth making. While the outlook may seem challenging for care home managers looking to recruit when times are tight, it is possible to be successful and to hire the best and brightest out there, you just need to get creative. For more advice, visit www.claytonrecruitment.co.uk
Delivering In-House and Open Care and Clinical Courses across the UK Annual Mandatory Training Updates (NHS & Private) Moving and Handling (Half Day, Full Day, Two Day) Productive Activities in Dementia Care Dementia Awareness Administration of Medicines Epilepsy and Buccal Midazolam Administration First Aid (Half Day, Full Day, Three Day) - QCF Level 2 Infection Control Health & Safety (Level 2) Safeguarding Adults and Children (Level 2) Person Centred Planning Mental Health Awareness Learning Disabilities Awareness Fire Safety Food Hygiene Catheter and Stoma Care Parkinson’s Disease Awareness and Care Diabetes Awareness and Care ...and a wide range of other practical training!
www.keytrainingacademy.com
Tel: 0333 241 2626
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 27
Attracting the best care talent how employee benefits can help by Mark Fosh, divisional director, Howden Employee Benefits
The best ways to make your organisation an attractive place to work for prospective employees and current staff is an increasingly hot topic. In corporate offices it’s all boardrooms with slides and sleeping pods – but what practical steps can care homes take in order to attract the best talent? The care sector faces a shortfall of more than 700,000 staff by 2037 and there are a number of benefits that managers should consider offering to attract the best care talent. Employees joining a business expect to receive not just a salary but a series of tangible lifestyle benefits and increasingly the onus is on care providers to demonstrate these. With just 18% of millennials – those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s - expecting to stay in their current job for the longterm, employers need to adapt to retain talent. Make staff feel proud At the core of any successful business is a clear Employee Value Proposition which defines the essence of the company, what it stands for and how it is unique. It should give reasons to encourage staff to join the company, to feel proud of their workplace and compel them to want to remain there. Care providers have a responsibility to ensure staff feel valued and stay healthy as part of their duty of care obligations and also because it makes sound commercial sense. As part of an effective Employee Value Proposition, care providers should develop an appealing benefits programme as this will assist with retaining employees rather than risk losing them to a competitor. Whilst
it is logical that employees are more likely to stay with an employer who offers good benefits, it is important to understand what good benefits look like in the care industry. Commitment to staff Care is a tough, high-pressure industry where staff have to cope with difficult scenarios, such as residents passing away. By providing appropriate benefits companies can demonstrate a commitment to the mental health of their staff. For instance, by offering staff bereavement counselling - either when they have lost a loved one in their personal or professional life – employers can provide support in their hour of need. Another option to consider is providing staff with consumer-led technology. Wearable tech – such as Fitbit - is a pragmatic option which helps users improve their physical health, such as measuring fitness or heart rate and tracking exercise output. It provides genuine insight into issues such as sleep patterns and can consequently help staff perform better at work.
28 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
Remember risk management As well as employee benefits, risk management should not be overlooked. Often, potential employees will look at the latest CQC report of a care home before they look at anything else. Insurance brokers can recommend risk management consultancies to provide a care home audit. These will analyse how to improve areas such as staff training and health and safety which will have positive ramifications for CQC reports - thus improving the attractiveness of the business. Potential new recruits will receive reassurance that they are not only receiving great benefits but working within a caring, well run organisation. Attracting care staff is a challenging task in a competitive marketplace. As the boundaries of work and life continue to blur, employers need to evidence that they have a genuine interest in an individual’s general wellbeing. A well-designed employee benefits package could give care homes the edge they need. www.howdengroup.com/ careandmedical
The Apprenticeship Levy -
changing training across the care industry by Jill Whittaker, managing director of Conntect2Care, the training and apprenticeship provider in the care sector.
Next month sees the biggest shake up of apprenticeship funding in a generation across all industries in the UK, including the care sector. The implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy will impact businesses large and small and many of you will have started preparing for it. But just how will it change training and recruitment practices in our sector and how do you choose the best training provider for you? Firstly, let’s run through just what the Apprenticeship Levy is and which companies will be directly and indirectly financially impacted.
What the new levy means The Apprenticeship Levy means that businesses with an annual pay bill of over £3 million will automatically pay 0.5% of this into an account that they can draw on to fund apprenticeships. This amount will be topped up another 10% by the government, making every £1 put in effectively worth £1.10. Businesses below the £3m threshold (an estimated 98% of employers) will not have to pay into the fund but will still have access to government subsidies for training up to 90% of the cost, with the additional 10% co-paid by the employer. There is also additional funding available for apprentices from the most deprived areas of the country and younger intake aged 16-18 (or 19-24 yearolds who are care leavers or who have special educational needs). Companies that have fewer than 50 employees and who take on apprentices aged 16-18 (or the 19-24 year-old group) will be able to apply for 100% of funding.
30 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
Not just for school leavers Now, an important thing to remember about apprenticeships is that they aren’t just for school leavers or those with few other qualifications. It is true that they are an extremely helpful way of training new staff, some of which may be new to the industry as well as the job. However, apprenticeships form a big part of training and education programmes across care homes and with the introduction of the new funding structure, they are a really good way of up-skilling employees across the entire organisation from new starters to senior management. For care home operators who haven’t previously run an apprenticeship scheme and even for those who have, the prospect of setting up a formal process can be quite daunting. To help with this, we’ve put together the following tips on what you need to know when hiring an apprentice, or indeed enrolling an existing member of staff onto
an apprenticeship to further their development. Knowing the basics There are many types of apprenticeships and qualifications available across a number of roles. From care and support workers and care managers, to chefs and food handlers, and receptionist and administrator roles, there are intermediate, advanced, higher and degree-level training courses available, as well as NVQs, for all positions and ability levels. Apprenticeships take the form of on-the-job training and the learners will work with a mentor to study rolespecific skills. Typically, most businesses work with an external training provider, which will set the course structure, assess the apprentices’ development and carry out examinations – acting as a support network for both the employer and the apprentice. However, if the resource is available, care home operators can choose to run apprenticeship programmes internally. Benefits of apprenticeships Before deciding on your apprenticeship scheme, it’s important to be aware of the benefits it will provide, not just to the learners, but to your business. This will help to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your training programme and developing your team. The benefits of hiring an apprentice include: • A positive impact on the whole team, with 80% of employers stating a significant increase in employee retention. • 92% of companies find that having an apprenticeship programme has led to a more motivated and satisfied team. • 72% of businesses report an increase in productivity of £214 per week from employing an apprentice. • 90% of apprentices stay in employment after finishing their qualification, with 71% staying with the same employer.
Understanding the regulations When it comes to hiring or appointing an apprentice, there are a number of standards which need to be met. For example, an apprenticeship must be a minimum of 12 months duration, include 280 hours of guided learning and more than 16 working hours a week. Learners also have to receive training in Level 2 English and Maths if they do not already have these qualifications. Choosing the right training partner Finding the right training partner to suit the individual needs of your business is fundamental to the success of your apprenticeship programme, and there are a number of criteria to consider before making your final choice. Here are a few things that you should be looking at to provide a good starting point for your research: Look at a training provider’s completion rates for the subject that suits your needs – such as healthcare support services. This information can be found by searching for the National Achievement Rates Tables. Just like schools and colleges, all training providers with government contracts are subject to regular Ofsted inspections. These will provide an independent opinion on the effectiveness of leadership and management within the training provider and the quality of their teaching, learning and assessment. Market research company Ipsos Mori regularly compiles learner and employer satisfaction scores on behalf of the government. These capture the experiences of the training and are indicators of what you can expect from the provider.
It’s imperative to make sure your training provider is financially secure to minimise the risk of the company going out of business part-way through an apprenticeship. All training providers go through an accreditation process to join the approved register of apprenticeship providers and this includes a financial check. If your business has outlets across the UK, finding a training provider with the ability to deliver apprenticeships in each of these locations will help to deliver a consistent quality of training across your business. Multisite employers can make the whole process easier by working with just one specialist training provider and one point of contact. The levy puts the control of apprenticeships into the hands of the employer, and offers significant flexibility when it comes to how they are delivered. In the lead up to the funding changes, having an understanding of what to look for in a provider will ultimately help to determine the success of apprenticeships across your business. Training is essential to the lifeblood of any company. Ensuring that skills are up to date across the board leads to more satisfied customers, a better reputation and therefore increased profitability. The changes being ushered in by the Apprenticeship Levy can seem somewhat complex but will ultimately be a good thing for our industry, structuring programmes and making it easier to identify, retain and recruit talented staff across the sector. For more information on Connect2Care, visit: www.connect2care.net
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 31
Psychometric testing – can it identify the best candidates for care homes? by Alison King, director, Bespoke HR
Psychometric testing when recruiting and developing staff can have a huge impact on your workforce, and the wider business. Tests can assess the skills and aptitude that are critical for carers and care home staff measuring intelligence, verbal ability, numeric ability, accuracy and attention to detail. They can also provide you with an insight into how well your employees work with other people, how they handle stress, what motivates them, their resilience and how likely they are to cope with the demands of the job. Psychometric tests typically measure two things: • Typical performance: assessing personality, interests, motivation, beliefs and attitudes. It looks at how personality concerns the way people characteristically respond to other people and situations. These include how they relate to other people, how they tackle problems, their emotions and responsiveness to stress. • Maximum performance: looking at how well people can do things, how much they know and how great their potential is. Many of these tests measure general, rather than abstract, characteristics (such as literacy and numeracy).
Use recognised systems Good tests are always supported by a body of statistical evidence to demonstrate their validity and reliability. Most of these tests are designed and developed by psychologists and come with detailed manuals to help you understand the scores and results. Always make sure you are using recognised testing systems which are fully supported. Often used as part of a recruitment process, tests are also useful for understanding and progressing ongoing staff development. In turn, profiling your workforce and your top performing employees can also be useful in shaping your future recruitment practices. Identify the key attributes In 2012, The Good Care Group did just this by testing its employees identifying the key attributes from its highest performing care workers (such as tenacity, resolve, self-discipline and resilience). The company was then able to test future candidates, looking specifically for these attributes when recruiting. Not only did it help them recruit the best candidates, but they could develop team members according to their specific needs and support them appropriately. The result was a reduction in employee turnover of 20%. Only one part of the process However, a word of caution – whilst psychometric testing can be useful to help you choose between candidates, testing
32 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
should always be used as one part of the selection process together with other selection techniques (e.g. structured interview) to avoid bias and ensure the process is fair for all candidates. What should you consider if using psychometric testing? • Decide if it is appropriate to use a test at all. Will it give you the relevant information you need on potential candidates? • Ensure the test is relevant to the job or person specification. Make sure you have a qualified professional to administer and interpret the results. Your HR department should be able to advise you. • Consider how you will use the results – how big a part will they play in the overall decision to recruit or develop the employee? • Identify any equal opportunities issues to make sure you don’t disadvantage any groups. • Develop a process for giving feedback from the test. • Consider how you will store the results and who will have access to them. Bespoke HR provides outsourced HR solutions for small to medium sized businesses. www.bespokehr.com
HIGH FIVE! 78 entries from 54 organisations have made the final stages of judging. Find the full list of finalists at www.carehomeawards.com
LET’S CELEBRATE!
The winners will receive their applause on Thursday May 25 at the Royal Garden Hotel, London W8 4PT. Reception from 12 noon. Excellent 3-course lunch.
BOOK ONLINE NOW! Please book early for this great event
www.carehomeawards.com
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Questions? Please call 0330 635 5005 or email helen.burgin@carehomeawards.com SUPPORTED BY
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 33
The role of spirituality at the end of life After looking at spirituality at Christmas and for those residents with non-religious beliefs, Keith Albans, director of chaplaincy and spirituality at MHA, turns his attention to end of life care.
A chaplain in a care home is a bit like an accompanist at a concert – they might not be the sole focus of attention but their company supports the main players. And this supportive presence can go a long way when it comes to caring for the spiritual needs of residents, their families and staff. At MHA, we value spiritual care as a vital part of looking after our residents, as well as everyone who comes into our homes. Spirituality means different things to different people but broadly, it is what makes life meaningful and what helps people to feel connected to something larger than themselves. Prioritising spiritual care is an approach we can all adopt – chaplain or not.
Spirituality plays a particularly important role when a resident is nearing the end of life. For everyone – regardless of age, background, religion or lack thereof – dying, or being close to someone who is dying, is a profound experience. The process demands respect and often prompts big questions for everyone involved about why we’re here. Spiritual care can also help care staff to accept what is happening, as well as the person themselves and their families. Tailored care As with any kind of care, spiritual care towards the end of life needs to be tailored to the resident’s needs and wishes. Many people will have strong views on how they’d like things to be when they are dying. From who should or shouldn’t be called, to whether
34 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
they’d like to hear music in their final hours, asking questions while the person is still able to communicate can go a long way towards making sure they’re as comfortable as they can be. In the earlier stages of dying, for example after a terminal diagnosis, many people experience a variety of complex emotions which can be difficult to process alone. For some, the prospect of being reunited with loved ones who have died might make the end of their life feel like more of a positive step. Others might struggle with guilt about leaving relatives behind. Listening to how a resident feels about dying is central to caring for their spiritual needs, as is understanding their religious or spiritual beliefs. As people near the end of life, they often long to have
their sense of self affirmed. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways, but might include hearing a reading from the religious text they follow, burning a candle with a familiar scent or looking at photographs of happy times. A reassuring presence Although people’s wishes differ, one thing which is true for many people is that they don’t want to be alone when they die. This is where considering someone’s familial situation is important. For those with lots of family and friends around them, the chaplain’s role is likely to be more in the background; making themselves available for anyone who wants to talk without crowding the group. For other residents who might be without family and friends, it is important that someone from the home - perhaps a chaplain or the person’s key worker - makes being with them a priority. Just sitting by someone’s bed and letting them know that you’re there can be a great source of comfort. Talking to someone and holding their hand can be particularly reassuring if they are slipping in and out of consciousness. The senses of hearing and touch are often the last to ‘go’, so even when someone is unable to actively communicate, physical contact or speaking to them can reassure them that you’re there with them until the end.
respite for tired and worn-out families. Sitting with a resident whilst their loved ones get a meal or sleep can give families the peace of mind they need to rest and recharge. Spiritual care of those left behind After a person has died, a chaplain’s attention will turn to those who remain. Often other residents are unable to attend funerals which take place outside of the home, so the chaplaincy and care staff will hold a service of thanksgiving and remembrance on-site. Whilst there will of course be sadness, we strive to make these events a celebration of the person’s life because sharing happy memories can be cathartic as we share our grief. Properly remembering deceased residents can also help those who are worried about their own death to feel more secure in the knowledge that they will be properly remembered after they die. This can help to alleviate some of their own anxiety. Caring for staff It is also important to remember that staff can be deeply affected when a resident dies. The average stay in one of MHA’s care homes is two to three years and even those residents
who are with us for shorter periods form strong relationships with the staff who look after them. It is therefore difficult for staff when someone they see every day is no longer there. For carers who are new to the profession, a resident’s death might be particularly difficult as it could be the first time they have seen a person dead or dying, and their determination to remain professional and be strong for the family means that the impact on staff can be underestimated. Many of our chaplains find that simply sharing a cup of tea and a chat with a staff member who was particularly close to the deceased can give carers the space they need to grieve for their loss. Death isn’t something to shy away from Death can be something that we push to the back of our minds. Even for those who deal with it often at work, it can be scary. But some forward planning about spiritual care of the dying person and those around them can help the process to be as comfortable as possible. Spiritual care is there to support people through all stages of their life but is often most appreciated during the final one.
Supporting families The illness and death of a relative is a stressful time and this pressure can sometimes bring out familial fragilities which usually lie dormant. Sadly, it is not unusual for families to argue whilst a resident is dying. Speaking to a non-judgemental third party can help some people to come to terms with the imminent death of someone they love, which in turn can make it easier for them to focus on making their loved one comfortable, rather than on family stresses. Chaplains and other staff or volunteers can also provide some March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 35
Rolling back the years - a different concept for dealing with dementia
It was the anguish of visiting his mother living with dementia that gave Andy Tremlett the business idea of using traditional methods of reminiscence – but in a completely different way. ‘Rolling Back the Years’ uses advertisements and editorial from original national newspapers and magazines from various decades. Presented in different coloured plastic folders, and with over 40 unique volumes currently available covering the 1930s to the 1980s, they are designed not only to help people living with dementia but, just as importantly, help the people who are doing the caring, whether they are professional or not.
Helping carers too The robust and practical format means that carers benefit from an idea that is easily used for very short time spans or for much longer periods. The content is eclectic and relevant. It is easy to pick any provided topic to start a conversation and they are supposed to be left in a very open place wherever they are used – essentially a “pick up and put down” item which isn’t filed on a bookcase, stuck in a cupboard or stacked up with magazines. Andy, who runs Andrew Tremlett Associates, the organisation behind the idea, wanted to bring back some joy when visiting his mother. Like many others, he found seeing her a depressing experience and difficult to deal with because the lack of communication was profound or, at best, confusing. He needed something to wake her up and become his Mum again. Andy says: “If I had had one of my folders in the car every time I visited her, we would have had meaningful conversations about her past, with the added bonus of finding out about her early years.” “It would have been a sort of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ TV series moment. On reflection, I think I would
36 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
have visited her more often which would not have been a bad thing for me, her or indeed the carers who were looking after her. “It is too late now to find out more about Mum’s early life and it is something I regret. I think with our volumes, people are able not only to discover a lot about themselves but also help their loved ones through another confusing day.” Care industry support Andy went out to the care industry at large, seeking any thoughts or guidance people might be able to offer. He received many positive responses, including one from Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt. “There are many organisations who are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated in helping people living with dementia of which Care England is a leading light and I am grateful to Martin Green, its chief executive, for the support he has shown,” said Andy. “It is going to take quite a time before we find a cure for the disease, so I believe that anything we can do to take the fear out of the condition for carers, and also simultaneously change attitudes and behaviour towards those living with dementia, makes it a win-win situation for all concerned.” The volumes are available at £39.50 each ex vat with a special 6 box set priced at £175.00 ex vat. There are 40 pages to each volume with over 150 unique topics to chat about and there is also the flexibility for inserting personalised pages. The folders are easily cleaned and come in different coloured see through plastic covers for easy identification. For more information go to www.rollingbacktheyears.org for an overview.
NG
I
N TIO N FR
CARE
CA
R TE
AF
LE
A N U R SIN G C
ETE
&N
U T RITIO N
Where innovation meets inspiration RE
FUN DIN G
TE
GS CC
RATION G E INT RE A C E
HO M
CQ
C
ST
healthpluscare.co.uk
THE NATIONAL EVENT DEDICATED TO SECURING THE FUTURE OF CARE TAKE A DAY OR TWO TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF YOUR CARE BUSINESS AND COME AWAY WITH A WORLD OF INSPIRATION:
28–29 June 2017 | ExCeL London
Discover new innovations and technologies to enhance the services you provide. Hear how to plan for your next CQC inspection from those who have achieved an outstanding rating. Hear from ministerial speakers about developments in the regulation of adult social care that will directly affect your business. Meet experts who can demonstrate new ways of training and retaining your staff whilst managing the impacts of the National Living Wage. Participate in educational workshops where you’ll find solutions to safeguard the future of your business and your patients. Visit the brand new Care Home Live area at the conference, a real-life care home where you can test out the latest innovations. Use the new Catering & Nutritional Zone to discover new ways of providing the people you care for, with the best, at a more affordable rate.
CARE HOME MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS ARE ENTITLED TO FULLY SUBSIDISED CONFERENCE PASSES TO ATTEND HEALTH+CARE FOR FREE.
Supported by:
Organised by:
BOOK YOUR PASS ONLINE: WWW.HEALTHPLUSCARE.CO.UK/CAREHOMEMANAGEMENT SUBSIDISED PASSES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL 31ST MARCH, AFTER THIS DATE PASSES WILL BE CHARGED FROM £599+VAT.
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 37
Time to get serious on self-funding In recent editions, we have looked at how residents and their families can meet the costs of care home accommodation and care. We have suggested ways care homes can help their clients work their way through an often confusing minefield of working out what they are entitled to. Now Owain Wright, of Care Funding Guidance, highlights examples of where people go wrong and asks homes to help him help their residents.
So far this week the team and I have spoken with a family where mum has been entitled to Attendance Allowance for the past seven years but they haven’t claimed a penny. Because noone told them. We’ve also spoken to a retired public school headmaster who had £370,000 in a bank account that was paying interest of 0.02% because the account had closed to new business thirteen years ago. We worked out he’d probably lost a minimum of £50,000 over that period. We’ve also taken numerous calls from families who have gone through all of mum’s assets, are now at the means test limit and want to know what to do. In one case they’d been through £650,000 in nine years.
ongoing weekly payment we will ever face in our lives I struggle to come to terms with why that is. What else is there in our lives where we are paying £1,000 per week, every week? Care is a big cost and families need help to manage it properly. Filling the information gap After 27 years of being a commercial provider of care funding advice I have now pulled up stumps and, rather than stick myself on a cruise, I’ve decided to come up with a model which will hopefully help to fill the information gap. Care Funding Guidance is truly not for profit, we are a free service to families, we can’t give advice, only guidance, and we can’t sell our families a single thing. And all of this is possible only due to our very kind hearted supporters who meet our ongoing overheads. The model isn’t new, Citizen’s Advice do the same thing for example.
Poor decisions – no information The bottom line in each case was that families are making extremely poor decisions simply due to a lack of information. They generally shy away from speaking to financial advisers for fear of charges or reputation. Care homes are largely unable to offer any help with financial matters and the same is pretty much true of local authorities. A report by Oliver Wyman in 2009 estimated that only 10% of self-funders got any help with determining how to meet the care fees. Given that care fees are pretty much the largest 38 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to stick your hand in your pocket and become a supporter (though you’d be very welcome) but I am going to ask you to support the service. In January we took 572 calls. That’s 572 people we were able to help. But it’s still a drop in the ocean compared with the number of new self-funders each month. What care homes can do In early March we will be sending out copies of our guide (the only practical guide to paying for care in the UK) to 5,000 care homes. Please help us by putting them on display, putting them in your own information packs and generally handing them out to all selffunders. And if we don’t send them to you during March then please call us and ask us to do so. If we continue to work better together we can help self-funders and, vicariously, the care industry too. Owain Wright – www.carefc.co.uk
Are you ready for the GDPR? by Philippa Doyle, Associate at Hempsons.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on 25 May 2018 and is the largest overhaul of data protection since the 1998 Act. What does it mean for care home owners?
Under the new Act you will need to: • identify or recruit a data protection officer if you carry out regular and systematic monitoring of individuals on a large scale, or your core activities consist of processing special categories of data • review and update your policies and procedures and ensure all staff and volunteers are trained at least annually • review consent – the requirement for valid consent has been raised to requiring ‘clear affirmative action’, and for sensitive personal data consent must be ‘explicit’. • update and prepare for new timescales for compliance with subject access requests – the 40-day timescale is reducing to one month.
The purpose of the GDPR is to enact a single data protection law across Europe, to give enhanced rights for individuals, greater and more prescriptive obligations on those that process personal data, and serious consequences (fines of up to 4% of annual turnover) for noncompliance. Even though we are leaving the EU, because we won’t have left by 25 May 2018, the GDPR will be applicable to us. And even after we leave, we will still choose to follow it, as it will assist organisations that continue to operate in and trade with EU countries. If you have any questions about these new requirements, please call Philippa Doyle on 01423 724028 or the Care Home Management Legal Advice Line – 01423 724042.
Care Management Home Leading Health and Social Care Lawyers
Free Legal Advice Line 01423 724056 Care Home Management and specialist health and social care law firm, Hempsons, have launched a free advice line for Care Home Management readers. If you would like some free legal advice simply call 01423 724056 quoting ‘Care Home Management Advice Line’ or email socialcare@hempsons.co.uk Legal advice provided by Hempsons. The Legal Advice Line is open between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday and offers up to 20 minutes of valuable preliminary advice on a range of issues social care providers face. Charity law • Commercial property • Company law • Contracts • Corporate Law • CQC regulatory Data protection • Disputes and litigation • Employment law • Fundraising • Governance and Constitutional Reviews Health and safety • Information law • Inquests and coroners • Judicial review • Mental health law Primary care contracting & community law • Safeguarding • Tendering
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 39
New Build Case Study
The demand for new build Porthaven and Clugston meeting the growing expectations
As the changing needs of the UK’s elderly population evolve, so must the care homes in which they reside. Porthaven Care Homes – one of the UKs leading providers of care for the elderly, including residents living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia – has been leading the way in operating new build care homes that meet the care demands of residents. A key example can be seen with the construction of Farnham Care Home in Surrey. Paul Gouland, marketing director at Clugston Construction, explains.
The UK’s population is set to rise by 4.4 million in the next decade, driven in part by the growing older population. In fact, more than one in 12 people in the UK will be aged over 80 by 2039, according to ONS figures. There is an increasing push for government to incentivise the delivery of homes for older people and not
just for those wanting to get on the housing ladder for the first time. By older people moving out of family homes and into accommodation specifically designed for their needs they are freeing up homes for the next generation. The variety of homes available ranges from 55+ with no care offer through to supported living, care
40 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
and extra care facilities, but demand is still outstripping supply and will continue to do so at current levels of development. Demand for new build Projections of future demand indicate that more than double the current number of care home places will be required by 2043, in order
to continue to care for residents with health conditions such as dementia. This demand is having a direct impact on the construction industry. In fact, the ‘Care Homes Construction Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ found that in England and Wales, the requirement for care home operators to build new facilities is still strong, with many new care homes registered. This has been directly impacted by the fact that a considerable amount of existing care home stock is still classed as sub-standard, further increasing the demand for new build care facilities. Faced with these figures, and the subsequent impact on care requirements, care home providers nationwide are looking to upgrade and expand their facilities, not only to cater for the increase in demand but also to meet the changing level of care requirements and to integrate the latest technology available to the care sector. What residents expect today For Porthaven Care Homes, the importance of the health and wellbeing of its residents extends beyond providing a comfortable living environment. With a unique and award-winning leisure and wellness philosophy, the leading care home provider seeks to provide residents with facilities from private and secured landscaped gardens, to indoor cinema rooms and offer a well-structured activities programme. All facilities are tailored to ensure high standards of residential, nursing and dementia care in a respectful and empathetic environment. As part of this ongoing commitment the healthcare provider, which owns and operates 10 care homes located throughout England, is currently investing over £10 million to deliver two new build care homes in Kidlington and Farnham – the latest in its growing portfolio of beautifully designed homes. Delivered by Clugston Construction, the projects are due for completion this summer.
Farnham Care Home This scheme comprises a new build 64 bed care home at West Street in Farnham. The project includes the demolition of an existing building, as well as the design, construction and complete fit out of a new build two-storey building, spanning 3,258 square metres on the same site – within a programme period of 60 weeks. In order to achieve the excellent standards that Porthaven demand for their clients, Clugston Construction and project managers Chessman Consulting have been adopting a collaborative approach to reduce timescales, meet deadlines and achieve the desired quality. When the existing buildings were demolished to reveal contaminated land across the entire site, Clugston’s civil expertise came to the fore as they carried out extensive testing and, together with specialist advisors, provided a remediation strategy which ensured the contaminated materials were dealt with and the associated costs to the clients were minimised. Excellence in care Over the years Porthaven Care Homes has refined its care home specification to guarantee all of its specialist care facilities are built to consistently high standards, which are maintained across its entire portfolio. From the experience Clugston has gained on the numerous health and care projects we have been involved with we understand that there are some very specific design features associated with this particular field which need to be carefully considered during the design process in order to provide the very best environment for the end user. By working closely with the client, Chessman Consulting and an innovative design team, Clugston Construction are ensuring that all issues are considered to deliver a bespoke, fully compliant care home to provide modern, well-equipped facilities, offering the latest in
technology and medical related provision to support excellent care in a safe and secure environment. By electing for a new build, Porthaven were able to specify a selection of modern amenities throughout the care home. Farnham Care Home includes 64 ensuite bedrooms, with assisted bathrooms, communal lounges and dining facilities, private dining rooms, quiet lounges, a library, café, hair salon, and even a cinema. Externally, the care home includes private terraces, wander paths, high quality soft landscaped areas, a water feature, sensory gardens and an expanse for an allotment. Quality finishes Nestled in a picturesque historic market town close to the Surrey and Hampshire border, it was essential that the new facility was in-keeping with the local community. As such, clay plain roof tiled covering, clay tile hanging, oak feature beams and dual coloured powder coated aluminium windows and doors have been specified. Fully-tiled ensuite wet rooms using Porcelanosa tiles, luxury Tektura wallpaper, walnut joinery and Karndean floor finishes were specified throughout the project to maximise the luxuriousness of the building. The internal finishes have been chosen to continue the lavish theme, with occupants offered a wide choice of colour schemes, as well as fitted oak or walnut wardrobes, a chest of drawers, bedside tables, armchairs, flat screen TV’s, with full internet access. Clugston Construction has extensive experience in the health and care sector, having constructed a number of high-profile health and care projects during its 80-year history. For more information, visit www.clugston.co.uk
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 41
Let’s clear the air – for better care home living
Mike Booth, European marketing manager for air treatment at Fellowes, discusses how improving the indoor air quality of care home environments can improve the quality of life of residents - helping to create a healthier and more comfortable living environment. Within care home environments there is an intense focus on hygiene and cleaning standards to safeguard the welfare of the building’s occupants and mitigate the spread of bacteria, germs, viruses and infectious diseases. For example, it is common practice for care homes to implement infection prevention and control, enforcing such measures as stringent hand washing procedures using soap, sanitiser and alcohol solutions. Staff routinely wear disposable gloves and aprons and strict diligence is taken in every aspect of day-to-day tasks including the handling of waste and linen to ensure a near sterile environment for residents. Sickness still a major issue Despite these necessary measures, sickness, infection and the spread of viruses such as influenza is a persistent and major issue in the care home environment. Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reveal that a spike in deaths
in England and Wales in 2015 was driven by an increased mortality rate in people aged 75 or more. The vast majority of the extra deaths coincided with increased hospital admissions for flu and outbreaks of the virus in care homes. In fact, according to Claudia Wells, head of mortality analysis at ONS, ‘respiratory diseases, such as flu, were also mentioned in a third of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer’s’. The severity of the problem was further compounded by the widespread circulation of a particularly intense and resistant subtype of the flu virus, making older people especially vulnerable. This in turn decreased the effectiveness of the flu vaccination from its typical level of 50% to 34%. Due to the nature of care home facilities and the residents who occupy them, it is impossible to completely eradicate sickness and the spread of infections and viruses. But there is a factor that is often overlooked – indoor air quality.
42 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
The effects and dangers of pollution in the outdoor atmosphere are widely documented and relatively well known. Especially prominent in built-up urban areas where commerce, heavy industry and vast amounts of vehicles emit harmful particulate matter and toxic gases such as nitrogen dioxide, outdoor pollution can have adverse short and long terms effects on both health and the environment. Poor air affects cognition and health However, though it may be more difficult to visibly recognise, poor indoor air quality can also have severe and lasting effects on cognition and health. In fact, according to studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times higher than the levels of pollutants found outdoors. In care homes and other large facilities, this figure can rise to more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels.
The European Respiratory Journal has published a study that investigated the effects of poor indoor air quality on 600 residents across 50 different nursing homes. The study found that where residents were exposed to even moderate levels of indoor air pollution such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde, there was an association with breathlessness, coughing, wheezing and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Weaker immune systems In the UK, the average person spends nearly 92% of their time indoors. Due to restricted mobility or underlying medical conditions the average person within a care home setting may spend an even greater proportion of their time indoors. This level of continual exposure to indoor air of poor quality is particularly harmful to older people as their immune systems are weaker than they once were. The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by organisms such as bacteria, parasites and fungi that can cause infections. Infection control measures are based upon the principle of ‘the chain of infection’. In order for an infection to occur certain circumstances have to align. There has to be present an infectious organism that can cause a disease. Next, the conditions to allow the organism to thrive and multiply must exist. Then, the disease needs to find a method of spread. To control infection the idea is to break the chain to stop the spread of harmful organisms. Undoubtedly, traditional methods of preventing the spread of harmful bacteria such as ventilation, stringent cleaning processes and hygiene procedures are vital to create a clean, comfortable learning environment.
may think. They often ignore the airborne matter as a vital component in the chain of infection and can even inadvertently contribute to poor indoor air quality and the spread of harmful viruses such as flu. For example, ventilation air filters can become saturated causing microbial growth and odour concerns, whilst cleaning products may contain harmful chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Moreover, though hand washing and surface sanitisation are proficient at stopping the spread of some bacteria, viruses and germs present on one’s hands or physical spaces such as counter tops and desks, they do little to eradicate airborne risks. This is particularly pertinent as most people catch flu and the common cold through airborne exposure to droplets containing the viruses. Dangers from airborne particles One cough or sneeze can expel thousands of living microscopic germs into the surrounding area. Aerosol scientists and occupational health and safety professionals have found that there is a close-range infection threat through the large droplets produced by sneezes and coughs, as well as a longer-range danger because of smaller airborne particles.
Therefore, adding the complementary process of an air purification solution to the hygiene mix is a vital requirement for care homes in maintaining a healthy living space. One such solution is the AeraMax Professional air purifier, which utilises a unique four-stage filtering system to significantly enhance indoor air quality. It effectively removes harmful germs, eliminates odours, allergens and other irritants from the air, removing up to 99.9% of air contaminants. Care home facilities face a challenging task, attempting to create a homely and welcoming environment for their residents while implementing stringent hygiene practices that may leave a clinical and cold feel. However, the issue of poor indoor air quality in care homes cannot be ignored. By adhering to simple and cost effective methods of maintaining clean and healthy air, such as air purification, care homes can have a profoundly positive effect on the welfare of their residents and help create a comfortable care environment. To learn more about improving indoor air quality in the care home environment visit: http://aeramaxpro.com/uk/
Traditional measures not so effective However, these necessary processes are not as effective as some people March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 43
Events and Appointments
Events line-up 13-19 March 2017 Nutrition and Hydration Week
https://nutritionandhydrationweek. co.uk/ 14-16 March 2017 The Cleaning Show
ExCel, London http://cleaningshow.co.uk/london 28 March 2017 Care Roadshow Glasgow
Hampden Park http://www.careroadshows.co.uk/
Appointments Further executive appointment at New Care
Manchester-based care home operator, New Care, has appointed Cathryn Fairhurst as its chief operating officer. In her new role, Cath takes responsibility for the quality of care and commercial performance of the care homes that operate under the New Care banner. This includes the existing care centres and the recruitment and operating systems of the planned new builds.
McConville steps up
28-30 March 2017
A former care home manager from Glasgow, who started out as a part time nurse for a care service provider, is celebrating after being promoted to regional director. Lyn McConville, who used to work night shifts at Bupa’s Darnley Court care home in Glasgow, is now responsible for a team of care home managers across nine care homes, ensuring each one delivers the highest possible standard of customer care for residents and their relatives.
Naidex
NEC, Birmingham http://www.naidex.co.uk 9 May 2017 Care Roadshow Liverpool
Aintree Racecourse http://www.careroadshows.co.uk/ 12-13 June 2017 Care Forum
Wokefield Park, Berkshire www.careforum.co.uk 28-29 June 2017 Health + Care
ExCel, London www.healthpluscare.co.uk 4 July 2017 Care Roadshow Birmingham
Villa Park http://www.careroadshows.co.uk/ 10-11 October 2017 Care and Dementia Show
NEC Birmingham www.caredementiashow.com/ 17 October 2017 Care Roadshow Cardiff
Cardiff City Stadium http://www.careroadshows.co.uk/ 14 November 2017 Care Roadshow London
Epsom Downs Racecourse http://www.careroadshows.co.uk/
Oakdale Care Group appoints manager for first home Oakdale Care Group, the newly formed business backed by LNT’s Turn of Key “Plus” package has appointed a new manager for its first care home, Kingfisher Court at Sutton-in-Ashfield. Paul Quirk is an experienced care, hospitality and services manager with several awards and has previously worked with Avery Healthcare and Sunrise Senior Living. “I am delighted and excited to be working with this new innovative and growing care group” said Mr Quirk. “Commissioning a new home is the aspiration of many care home managers so I am looking forward to assembling my new team and opening Kingfisher Court at Easter”. Kingfisher Court is a luxury care home that will provide residential and dementia care services for the elderly.
44 Care Home Management | March/April 2017
The importance of correct seating in a care home by Lisa Wardley, managing director, Repose Furniture 2. Older people in care homes are enabled to maintain and develop their personal identity. However, for a resident to be engaged in activity when their mobility or standing is impaired, means that they are often restricted to completing all their activities in a seated position and this can be challenging. The chair they use then becomes critical, as it must meet their individual needs be this via a bespoke chair or perhaps through your care home having a suite of adaptable chairs that can be modified simply for any of the residents. As we age it is vital we continue to be involved in the activities we have been engaged with throughout our lives, be that reading, knitting, card games or even running or cycling. Research indicates that purposeful activity supports: • Reduced stress and agitation • Improved verbal and non-verbal communication • Improved physical function • Maintenance of personal identity Evidence also shows that reduced activity leads to occupational deprivation, resulting in residents being withdrawn and fatigued, agitated or violent. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE 2013) recognised the need for activity in their quality standards, which include: 1. Older people in care homes should be offered opportunities throughout their day to participate in meaningful activities that promotes their health and mental wellbeing.
When choosing seating for your residents, keep four key factors in mind: 1. Seat Depth – Our femurs need to be well supported and allow for pressure across the whole of the thigh. If the chair is too deep, it will lead the resident to sit on the edge of the chair to place their feet on the floor and therefore provide no back support. If the chair is too short, there will be excessive pressure on the midthigh causing discomfort and possible pressure sores. 2. Seat height – To be able to engage in activity we need to have our feet planted firmly on the floor or a stable footrest. This allows residents to have good balance and enables them to engage their core muscles to keep a straight upright position. • Seat height is too high, a resident is liable to slump in the chair to try and get their feet on the floor. This increases pressure on the bottom and requires the head to flex forward, thus reducing field of vision.
• Seat height is too low, the knees are pushed upwards causing significant pressure on the ischial tuberosity and making it uncomfortable to sit whilst carrying out activities. 3. Seat width – If the seat is too wide the resident may to slump to one side. Not only does this cause additional pressure to one hip, but it also locks in the arm on the slumped side reducing the ability to carry out a chosen activity bilaterally. 4. Reduced transfers – Hoisting residents with dementia can be a very traumatic experience as it is an alien activity and can cause agitation and challenging behaviour. Therefore, reducing the moves to a minimum may be essential, and a chair with the ability to porter from room to room could be considered. NICE (2008) recommends ‘older people should be offered regular group and/or individual sessions to identify, construct, rehearse and carry out daily routines and activities that can help to maintain or improve their health’. However, without appropriate seating this recommendation will not be achievable. For more information about Repose seating call 0844 7766001, email info@reposefurniture.co.uk or visit www.reposefurniture.co.uk
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 45
Product Showcase
Novus takes care of care home refurbishment Novus Property Solutions has carried out a series of refurbishment works for two Nazareth House residential care homes. Specialist industrial laundry equipment installer, Laundry Tec, was called in to install new industrial washers, dryers and laundry equipment at Nazareth House in Crosby and a new, better equipped kitchen in Birkenhead. The team of 13 from Novus carried out a series of enabling works to the back-of-house areas before the new equipment could be installed. This involved installing new ceilings and hygiene boards to the walls, new electrical and gas feeds to meet industrial specification, new flooring and painting, working around up to four other companies. For more information about Novus Property Solutions please visit www.novussolutions.co.uk
New Showerhead Cuts Hot Water Bills By 40% Jetstorm by Ecocamel provides the same powerful shower experience as a full flow shower, but uses significantly less water and energy. JetStorm is the most advanced eco showerhead on the market, and is set to save UK care homes and the hospitality trade hundreds of thousands of pounds on hot water bills while cutting water, energy and carbon use. By injecting air into the water flow through a small inlet at the base of the handle, water and air travels at high speed to increase the power of a conventional shower, but using 45% less water. Return on investment periods are typically just ten months! Available from Ecocamel: http://www. ecocamel.com/commercial Tel: 02082113666.
Garbage Guzzler helps care homes save money by reducing organic waste PKL, a kitchen infrastructure provider, is taking on the distribution of the Garbage Guzzler, a revolutionary waste digester that allows any care home to reduce its costs and waste disposal needs. The Garbage Guzzler, which is manufactured in the UK, uses bacteria to reduce organic waste, including food, cardboard and paper packaging, coffee cups, fats and oils, by 95 per cent. The process can take as little as 24 hours, and leaves an output that can be used as soil improver, as biomass fuel or can be put back through the machine to be reduced to virtually nothing. The Garbage Guzzler is available in two models, capable of digesting up to 200 kg or 400 kg of waste each day, although there is the capability to supply larger more bespoke units if required. More information can be found at www.garbageguzzler.com
Cut your operating cost instantly with our water-saving Jetstorm Shower Head Don’t just take our word for it. “After speaking with Ecocamel, we installed the shower heads throughout our estate of some 1750 bedrooms across our family group of 20 resort hotels.
CARE HOMES SPECIAL OFFER
% 50OFF
†
Call today for a personalised quote
I am delighted to confirm, the payback period on the initial investment has been under 9 months, which speaks for itself. Adding to this obvious commercial benefit is the showering experience which is provided by an Ecocamel shower head, which has been commented on by many of our customers.
LESS WATER. MORE POWER
My grateful thanks are conveyed to the team at Ecocamel. I highly recommend all hoteliers invest similarly.” Karen Sawbridge, Operations Director Alfa Leisureplex Holiday Group
90 DAY
RISK FREE
TRIAL
Save Water
Air
Air
The Ecocamel shower heads are engineered to use up to 40% less* water than an average shower head. They do this by using patented ‘AirCore’ technology, which infuses the water with minute air bubbles whilst improving the showers performance. Using less water means you’re using less energy to heat it – saving you money. We ask you to take advantage of our 90 day risk free trial and feel the benefits for yourself.
Water
Lower Bills
Save Energy
Cut Costs
We can discuss the potential savings you could make with a personalised quote. Contact us direct, we’re waiting for your call.
0208 211 3666 or visit ecocamel.com/commercial www.ecocamel.com
† Terms & conditions apply. *Independent testing at Liverpool John Moores University demonstrated average water savings of 40% compared to standard shower heads.
March/April 2017 | Care Home Management 47
48 Care Home Management | March/April 2017