BSA Today Issue 5

BSA

Today Blue Stream Academy's Healthcare & Lifestyle Magazine Spring 2020 • Issue 5

Giving Healthcare a Voice

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Dr Jeff Foster

GPs: WHY ARE WE

BURNING OUT? Esther Wiskerke

Samuel Barrington

BE OUTSTANDING: RAISING STANDARDS IN THE CARE QUALITY SECTOR

SUPERHERO SENIORS SPOTLIGHT ON

SPIRITUAL CARE MINDFULNESS & HOLISTIC THERAPY Keeping an Open Mind

Issue 5 Front Cover

BSA Today is the exciting Healthcare & Lifestyle magazine from Blue Stream Academy.

We are the UK’s leading provider of online training for GP Practices, Nursing & Care Homes, Hospices and Urgent Care Centres.

Our mission is to standardise healthcare training to ensure consistent delivery of quality care, through better staff education and development.

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www.bluestreamacademy.com The views and/or opinions expressed within this publication are that of the original author of the relevant content and do not necessarily reflect the official views and/or opinions of Blue Stream Academy Ltd. Copyright Blue Stream Academy 2020

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BSA Today | Issue 5

contents From the Editor's Desk...

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taying healthy and feeling your best is important at any age, but even more so as you get older. As Oscar Wilde once said, “Youth is wasted on the young”. This well-known saying is somewhat of a metaphor for this issue.

We recently updated our email signatures and we were asked a simple question: ‘As a child, what did you want to be when you got older?’

Ever since, I have been thinking more and more about getting older, this is not something I was hugely looking forward to if I’m totally honest. However, after researching content for this issue and working with so many inspiring subject matter experts, I am now pleased to say that I am feeling more upbeat and optimistic about the future than ever before.

In our BSA Today ideas meeting, our Nursing and Care Home Suite Manager, Abbie Scattergood, suggested that we focus much of our content on trying to dispel the common misconception that getting older is a bad thing. So, we decided to explore the wonders of age and help raise awareness about the exceptional standard of patient-centred

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Look Who’s Talking:

This issue’s author is Care Improvement Associates Director, Samuel Barrington, who talks to BSA Today about his mission to raise standards within the care quality sector.

care that is delivered by many nursing and care homes throughout the UK on a day-to-day basis. As always, we have plenty of excellent supporting articles with Dr Marie Anne Essam discussing the importance of link workers within social prescribing. Care Improvement Associates very own Samuel Barrington, shares his thoughts on raising standards in the care quality sector. Esther Wiskerke explores some of the amazing achievements of ‘superhero seniors’ and our regular GP trailblazer, Dr Jeff Foster, covers clinical burnout among healthcare professionals.

All this and more, alongside our ever-popular puzzles, recipes and wellbeing tips, as we continue to cover the latest hot topics and developments from across primary, social, urgent and emergency care.

I hope you enjoy reading the latest issue of BSA Today!

Brady Braddock Editor

22 A Day in the Life of a Hospice Corporate Fundraiser

Corporate Relationship Co-ordinator, Natalie Bingham, on the challenges and rewards of her job within Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw.

24 Gardens in Bloom!

We are proud to present our ‘Gardens in Bloom’ competition, open to all Hospices and Nursing and Care Homes, to celebrate our Spring edition.

26 Mindfulness and Holistic Therapy: Keeping an Open Mind Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust... Trust Me I Will Be a 04 The Doctor Founded in 2018, The Tom Donaldson Trust supports young people from low-income backgrounds in their applications to study Medicine.

06 History Happened in Colour

We take a unique look at reminiscence therapy, the process of restoring old photographs to reignite fond memories for people with dementia.

08 Take a Seat at The Wellbeing Café...

We celebrate the 1st birthday of the Wellbeing Café, set up by Treetops Hospice Care, and the creation of Mollie’s MND Support Group.

09 You’re Outstanding!

We congratulate Zoe George from Marden Medical Practice, for achieving an outstanding CQC rating in their recent inspections.

10 Superhero Seniors

Esther Wiskerke explores the amazing achievements accomplished by UK seniors, dispelling the myth that getting older can hold you back.

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Spotlight on Spiritual Care

We take a fascinating look at the importance of person-centred spiritual care for nursing and care home residents.

16 GPs: Why Are We Burning Out?

Regular contributor, Dr Jeff Foster, passionately discusses clinical burnout and the importance of a combined effort to improve standards.

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Trusted Training Delivered by the eLearning Experts

We look at the functions and features of Blue Stream Academy’s industry renowned Nursing and Care Home Suite. www.bluestreamacademy.com

For our lifestyle section we discuss holistic therapy and how mindfulness could help improve your overall mental wellbeing.

28 Social Prescribing: The Missing Link

Dr Marie Anne Essam is back by popular demand to review the important role that link workers play within social prescribing.

30 Aged to Perfection

We have a fascinating article for all of the wine connoisseurs, exploring the ageing process from grape to glass.

31 Wine and Dine

Our delicious recipes will get your taste buds tingling with a vegan spaghetti bolognese, and tasty gluten-free salted caramel cupcakes.

32 Ask Abi & #TeamBSA

BSA Today’s agony aunt answers a familiar workplace woe and #TeamBSA discusses fundraising and plans for the future.

33 @BlueStreamNews

Keep up to date with the latest Blue Stream Academy news, developments and module releases.

34 BSA Today’s Photography Competition Have you taken a fantastic photo recently?

Fancy winning £100 and a framed print? Enter our photography competition!

35 Puzzle Corner

Have you got a spare 10 minutes? Just for fun, see if you can solve this issue’s Sudoku or try our Word Fit puzzle.

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The Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust: Trust Me... I Will Be a Doctor

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rust me, I will be a Doctor’ was set up in 2018 in memory of Tom Donaldson, a newly qualified doctor from Derbyshire. Having completed his final exams at the University of Manchester, Tom was on his elective in New Zealand when he died in February 2009 following an accident that resulted in a head injury. Aged just 23, Tom would have helped hundreds of people as a doctor, but he did not have the chance to make that happen.

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In Tom’s memory, the Trust supports other young people to achieve their dream of becoming a doctor and help the people Tom dreamed of reaching. Specifically, we support young people from low-income backgrounds in their applications to study Medicine at university, and current students on Medicine with a Foundation Year degree programmes, by providing small grants and raising awareness of the work experience opportunities available.

BMA[2] and Newcastle University’s Faculty of Medical Sciences[3] research shows that students from a low-income background struggle to get into medical school for many reasons: their schools do not offer the required A Level subjects and might not know how to, or cannot afford to, support medical school applications; students themselves do not know what voluntary or work experience is needed nor how to obtain it; their parents do not have the contacts to secure work experience; and pupils lack the resources needed to participate in work experience (for example, travel costs, buying professional attire, daily subsistence whilst on placement).

Whilst work experience does not have to be in an NHS setting, students may still be unable to meet medical school expectations of speaking to a doctor to ensure their applications are based on an informed choice.

The Need UK-based research shows that young people from disadvantaged and low-income backgrounds face major barriers when pursuing a medical degree and career.

Social Mobility Commission research found that medicine is dominated by those from advantaged backgrounds: 73% of doctors are from a privileged background, where their parents have professional and managerial positions, and less than 6% are from working-class backgrounds[1].

Most medical students are privately educated and British Medical Association (BMA) research in 2015 found that 20% of secondary schools in the UK provided 80% of all applicants to medicine[2].

Many disadvantaged students are therefore being prevented from reaching their potential and the demographic of the UK’s medical profession does not mirror the population it serves.

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The Trust will support young people from low-income backgrounds in their applications to study medicine at university, by providing small grants and raising awareness of the work experience opportunities available.

Tom Donaldson

Photo credit: Afra Akmal

Module in Tropical Medicine at The University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus

Universities now have widening participation and outreach schemes in place to attempt to tackle these issues. While a 2009 report found that the socio-economic background of doctors between the 1980s and mid2000s[4] was unchanged, a 2018 article reported on the success of ’gateway‘ courses, medical degrees that start with a foundation year, designed to help students who may have faced additional barriers due to their backgrounds[5].

A 2015 ‘Selecting for Excellence’ report recommended that the NHS expanded the provision of work experience for students from disadvantaged backgrounds – for example, advertising work experience opportunities openly and prioritising applications from those eligible for free school meals, as well as providing reasonable travel expenses. The Trust aims to help meet this expansion on a local level and support more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to get into medical school.

What Does the Trust Do? In 2019, the Trust worked with the University of Nottingham’s Widening Access to Medical School (WAMS) team. WAMS is a group of University of Nottingham medical students who are passionate about helping pupils from diverse backgrounds who are interested in a career in medicine. With the Trust’s funding, WAMS’ Schools Officers visited 2-3 schools every month in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire – they aimed to reach those students most in need of information and practical experience to support their medical school applications. During these visits, the Schools Officers gave presentations on applying to medical school, including the UKCAT and BMAT admissions tests, helped students with personal statements and interview preparation, and delivered clinical skills sessions, giving students an insight into www.bluestreamacademy.com

the world of medicine and a talkingpoint for medical school interviews.

WAMS organises work experience for a week at the QMC and/or City Hospital in Nottingham every July for A Level students with widening participation backgrounds. This includes a mixture of classroom-based sessions, skills teaching, and practical exposure to wards and theatres. Derbyshire-based students are able to apply directly to the Trust for funding to cover travel and lunch expenses for the week by emailing thetomdonaldsontrust@gmail. com.

The Trust provided funding to WAMS for a ‘Doctor for The Day’ in November 2019, a 1-day event attended by 32 Year 12 students from widening participation schools. Students received an insight to the day-to-day life of a medical student and the responsibilities of a doctor from a current GP and second year medical student. The students were also given a detailed talk about the application process by the Nottingham Medical School Director of Admissions.

Furthermore, they received the opportunity to widen their skillset by engaging in a laparoscopy simulation, obstetric ultrasounds, first aid and CPR, and a surgical simulation. The students engaged in all the activities with a positive attitude and the verbal feedback received was excellent.

Alongside our work with WAMS, in 2019 the Trust supported a student from the University of Nottingham’s Medicine with a Foundation Year programme to travel to Malaysia to study a tropical medicine module.

Foundation Year programme students come from areas in the UK that are less advantaged in terms of income, education and other factors. The student we supported said “Studying this module has developed my medical and clinical knowledge. Being able to experience Medicine in a totally different healthcare setting has given me a global view of healthcare and how I can contribute positively to that.

All of these experiences will allow me to be a better medical student and a more informed, skilled and well-rounded doctor.”

We are currently working with WAMS and the University of Nottingham’s Medical School to make plans for 2020 and we hope to continue these partnerships and expand our support year on year

Supporting the Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust The Trust raises funds through a variety of activities and general donations.

A football tournament, The TD Cup, has been held annually since 2009 in Duffield, Derbyshire, where Tom grew up. In 2018, runners participated in the London and Edinburgh marathons on behalf of the Trust and in 2019 Emmyoga (www.emmyoga.com) donated the proceeds from her yoga classes for a week. In April 2020, Tom’s sister, Freya Donaldson, and family friend, Ali Farrell, will be running the Paris marathon, and family friend, Keith Anderson, is running the London marathon for the Trust. To sponsor our runners or make a donation to the Trust, please visit the our JustGiving page at the link below. If you will be in London or Paris for the marathons, please look out for our runners in their purple Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust vests, sponsored by Caldera London (calderalondon.com).

Lauren Donaldson The Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust Lauren Donaldson is Tom’s sister and a Trustee of the Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust. She graduated from Durham University with a degree in Geography in 2008 and worked in International Development for 8 years.

Lauren has since moved into the UK education sector, working in schools for 2 years and, most recently, as a Project Leader for the mentoring charity, ReachOut UK.

www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ tomdonaldsontrust 1. Friedman S, Laurison D and Macmillan L. (2017) Social Mobility, the Class Pay Gap and Intergenerational Worklessness: New Insights from The Labour Force Survey Report prepared for the Social Mobility Commission.

2. https://www.bma.org.uk/features/therightmix/.

3. Martin AJ, Beska BJ, Wood G et al. Widening interest, widening participation: factors influencing school students’ aspirations to study medicine. BMC Med Educ 18, 117 (2018).

4. Unleashing Aspiration: The Final Report of the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions (2009).

5. https://www.medschools.ac.uk/news/medical-schools-making-access-fairer.

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History Happened in Colour

When an individual lives with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia and memory loss, their memories are a vital link to who they are, who they love, and who influenced and affected their lives.

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s we get older, our past history, especially the fonder memories, can be replayed in our mind’s eye. However, the recollection of the reality of those events can be tainted by factors such as time or medical conditions. Unfortunately, conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia can not only damage past memories, but they can also affect the individual’s perception of current events or their environment.

friends or historical events can result in a limited recall of the person or event. If such photos are used to assist people with remembering their past, for example with reminiscence therapy, they will most likely not have the same impact as a realistically restored photo can provide.

Keeping the Past Real Photographs are arguably the most important visual link to our memories and can be vital in keeping our past alive. When our memories fail, a photo can repaint the reality, emotion and historical context of a life in the past – they can help a person retain a grasp of reality, even within their present environment. Badly damaged black and white photos of family members,

Highly realistic photo restoration is a new process which is available to help an individual remember key elements of a memory including textures and colours. Most importantly for those involved in the care and support of adults with conditions such as memory loss, it can provide an opportunity for improved reminiscence therapy and a tangible link between their past and present lives.

This is due to the fact that history happened in colour – a reality which carefully restored photos can deliver.

Photo Restoration You may have seen a poorly restored photo, where obviously ill-fitting or misaligned textured blocks of colour have been overlaid on top of the original black and white photo. Ideally, the goal of high-quality photo restoration is to add realistic elements back into a damaged or greyscale photo, restoring it to a place where it becomes real again and reminiscent of the actual event or person it captures.

featured in this article was restored, the original photo was damaged and no skin texture information was available. In order to incorporate this important element, skin textures can be scanned from an alternative source and digitally manipulated to make the subject’s skin texture look realistic.

For a high-quality restoration, digital painting skills are also required and, with close attention to detail, a good result can be achieved.

The extent to which the restoration work is unnoticeable – and the onlooker is unaware that the photo has in fact been restored – is potentially going to assist in productive therapy sessions. We can often notice if something visual is fake and it might mean that we are no longer interested in the item or situation. Think of a movie you might have been engrossed in watching and then a badly created special effect appears on the screen… Suddenly the viewer is disconnected from the world they were so invested in and they lose their connection with the story.

Correct use of lighting and transparency also increases realism within photo restoration. As an example, the restoration of the black and white photo of the bride and her sister included here was enhanced by adding transparency to the bride’s veil, so the light and green leaves can be seen behind the lace material. A person’s memory is a vital element of who they are, and anything hindering the realism of their memories can increase the sense of loss.

Reminiscence therapy can help carers and those working in the care industry to tap into a discussion with the person they are supporting, thus improving their understanding of who the person was and who they are now.

The Process Creating a realistic photo restoration is time-consuming.

Gone are the days of employing traditional painting techniques on top of a damaged photo, with software programs such as Adobe Photoshop now the norm for any colourisation or repair work. Any photo can be scanned or photographed and digitally opened in restoration software.

Internet research should be conducted into the colours that could have existed in the original scene. Is information about the clothing still available in order to confirm the colours? What about the textures? A photo may be so damaged that a ‘guestimate’ must be employed to create the missing elements, such as the dog’s head in the family portrait featured in this article. Skin textures have to be considered. When the portrait of the young woman www.bluestreamacademy.com

Restored photos can play a very productive and powerful part in this type of therapy and deliver benefits for the person with memory loss and those who are supporting and caring for them Article and all photo restorations by Craig Goodall Creative Services Manager

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Take a Seat at the Wellbeing Café...

Derbyshire-based hospice celebrates 1st birthday and the launch of a new support group!

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In January 2020, Treetops Hospice Care in Derbyshire, started their year with a bang as they celebrated the 1st birthday of their Wellbeing Café. The Wellbeing Café was opened in 2019, with the aim of encouraging people to maintain their quality of life and independence. The Café welcomes a range of people through its doors, including adults with life-limiting illnesses, their friends and family, and those who may have been bereaved.

Ali Jordan, senior staff nurse at Treetops, speaks very fondly of the café: “We’re thrilled to celebrate the Wellbeing Café birthday and welcome so many people in such a short space of time since we opened. The Café is a huge success with over 30 people coming along every week.

It’s an easy and informal way for people to come to the hospice, often for the first time, and find out more about the support and services available to them.”

As well as the Café, Treetops Hospice Care also works hard to ensure they are providing people with a range of activities, including a Get Moving exercise group, singing group, arts group and supportedbathing spa days. Whilst celebrating the Café, staff at Treetops also took the opportunity to announce the launch of a new support group for adults affected by motor neurone disease (MND) – Mollie’s MND Support Group. The group has been designed to offer both peer-to-peer and professional support to anyone who feels they would benefit from talking to those affected by MND and those who can provide medical advice and assistance.

The group has been named ‘Mollie’s’ in memory of Mollie Southway, who was introduced to Treetops by the MND team at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), Nottingham, following her MND diagnosis.

Mollie and her husband, John, were visitors to the Wellbeing Café and Mollie’s family and close friends were touched when the MND Support Group was named after their mother.

Mollie’s daughters have said: “She would’ve been extremely flattered to have such a worthwhile service named after her and it’s a wonderful tribute that will allow us as a family to honour her memory forever.

Thank you to Treetops for providing this opportunity to create hope amongst loss.”

of ed ‘Mollie’s’ in memory The group has been nam ced to Treetops odu intr was who ay, Mollie Southw QMC, Nottingham. by the MND team at the

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Mollie’s MND Support Group is a place where people can go and meet others who are going through a similar situation and receive support, information and perhaps a slice of cake too! The group drop-in sessions run on the first Friday of each month, 13.00–15.00, at Treetops, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire

Treetops Hospice Care Treetops Hospice Care have to raise over £4.3 million through donations, shops, events and lottery memberships so that they can continue to provide their vital services, free of charge.

These services include Support and Information, Hospice at Home, Therapeutic and Counselling Services, Wellbeing Services and much, much more. www.treetopshospice.org.uk 0115 949 1264 Treetops Hospice Care Derby Road Risley Derbyshire DE72 3SS Registered Charity Number 519540

You’re Outstanding!

Achieving an Outstanding CQC Rating is no mean feat and this is something that we feel should be celebrated!

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arden Medical Practice, Shropshire, have been users of Blue Stream Academy since 2013 and we would like to congratulate them on their recent CQC inspection, in which they achieved an outstanding CQC rating.

When speaking with Zoe George, the Practice Manager at Marden Medical Practice, she talked about how Blue Stream Academy helped during the inspection: “Blue Stream Academy has become an integral tool used to help us prepare and evidence training requirements for CQC. Staff are able to complete training in many different areas and have personal training profiles that can be used to demonstrate completed training.

I particularly like the practice training matrix which gives a good overview of completed and outstanding

training. Having the ability to add in external training is also a very important feature so that all training can be recorded on the same system.

Blue Stream Academy’s unique functions have proven to be very efficient and effective.”

We here at Blue Stream Academy understand the hard work, dedication and time that is required to attain this achievement, and our system is built with this in mind. The eLearning suite and Management of Information System (MIS) have been developed to ensure that training can be tracked, and evidence of compliance can be accessed easily and efficiently, making your reporting requirements that little bit easier.

Achieving an outstanding CQC rating takes tremendous effort from all involved, and, as a team, we are proud to be a part of this process Article by Katie Tennant Content Developer

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Superhero Seniors

very age comes with its own worries and aspirations. Before leaving school, we’re consumed with choosing the right career path.

In our twenties we might be obsessed with finding a partner. In our thirties we’re juggling everything: work, housing, children, a relationship, money, family and friends. At 40, we realise that we’re still living at home as it turned out that the property ladder was too high and the relationship you thought might last a lifetime came to an end whilst you were working hard to scramble together a deposit.

Come 50, men might experience a midlife crisis and women have the pleasure of going through the menopause. Reaching 60 you’re getting ready for retirement, it’s a shame though that the retirement age has been raised yet again. Never mind, there is always 70+: time to get your money’s worth out of your TV subscriptions, interspersed by a quarterly visit from your children.

Is this an accurate blueprint for life?

Fortunately, not.

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Some defy so-called ‘older age’ and live life for what it is and not according to the vintage label that’s been stuck on them. Those people are an inspiration to us all. Like those who continue to shine on stage, the ones who have had the privilege to serve their country in politics, ‘ordinary people’ who continue to share their expertise as volunteers, seniors to whom retirement is an alien concept, people with above average courage, and those with extraordinary sporting accomplishments, all putting the younger, couch potato gaming generation to shame.

For example, although Sir Mick Jagger (76) had to recover from a heart operation in 2019, the Rolling Stones are scheduled to go back on tour in 2020. Equally, Dame Judy Dench (85) acts as if age is just a number by continuing to perform, alongside other 70+ colleagues such as Dame Maggie Smith (85) and Dame Hellen Mirren (74). The list is endless for the show must go on.

Those concerned at 45 that they haven’t peaked professionally before retirement should take a closer look at, for instance, Glenda Jackson CBE (83) who, after many successful years in showbiz, became a politician. If that wasn’t enough, she recently returned to acting after being absent for 27 years.

Equally, although he lost his seat in the 2019 election, Dennis Skinner’s

(88) wit never faded in his nearly halfa-century long political career. Lastly, but certainly not least, our Queen, Elizabeth II, still dutifully performs her royal responsibilities at 93. Longevity is not granted exclusively to public figures. ‘Ordinary’ people challenge ageism too. They may live on your street and, if you observe carefully, you will see how they teach us that there’s no need to presume that it will soon all be over when you’re past the age of 60.

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Painting any group with a generic brush is foolish, this includes seniors, who can indeed be superheroes.

UK-wide there are countless seniors who haven’t opted for spending their days with a cat on their lap or relaxing on a cruise liner, instead they continue to work many hours, often unpaid.

With usually strong work ethics they are invaluable in many organisations, such as road stewards for residents’ associations, information clerks at hospitals, or giving tours and providing information in museums and historical buildings. A sound example of how extensive the contribution a senior person can make is Roger Allsopp OBE, who raised thousands of pounds to fund medical research by swimming in open water. By doing so, he also became the oldest man in the world to swim the English Channel.

That age truly is no barrier is also shown by Joan Hibberd who, at 97

years old, is believed to be Britain’s oldest foodbank volunteer. This doesn’t mean that all older people work for free. In April 2019 it was reported that Joan Ward (90) is Britain’s oldest market stall holder. She is still going strong by waking up early every day and working fulltime.

Equally, Professor in Social Gerontology, Anthea Tinker, who is in her mid-eighties, continues to contribute to academic research and university life. Bravery is another virtue not just reserved for ‘the young’. The 94-year-old veteran paratrooper, Harry Read, re-enacted his D-Day parachute jump to commemorate the 75th anniversary in 2019 and he is not the first veteran to do so.

Scoring the highest numbers is often important in sport, but don’t be fooled by the number of years older people are in the sporting arena either. Superhero centenarians such as Portsmouth’s Doris Long MBE (who died aged 104), entered the record books as the oldest abseiler, not once, but twice, and Fauja Singh BEM (108), nicknamed the ‘Sikh Superman’, is a British multiple marathon runner. Such achievements leave people in the double-

figures age group standing. Although Fauja Singh’s running performance is exceptional, every Saturday morning at 9am at a local park near you, there’s the weekly 5km parkrun. According to their blog: “In 2018 so far, more than 57,000 people aged over 60 have walked, run or volunteered at UK parkruns.”

Not all seniors’ stories feature in the media, yet many are local heroes within their communities. Painting any group with a generic brush is foolish, this includes seniors who can indeed be superheroes as a result of their achievements throughout life.

Honouring these achievements does not only do them justice but may also be a not-to-be-missed free lesson for the younger generation.

Luckily there are plenty of people, organisations and initiatives challenging ageism within the UK, based on the principles of The World Health Organization’s campaign to combat ageism and the AGE Platform Europe (the voice of older persons at EU level) which promotes the interests of older and retired people in the European Union. Age UK provides, for example, helpful legal advice on how to challenge ageism in the workplace.

On Twitter there are plenty of profiles such as: @_EverydayAgeism and @agenoretirement highlighting some of the amazing achievements of older people. Another progressive

platform is East London Radio’s weekly show AGE SPEAKS which is dedicated to issues relating to age and ageing, hosted by Mervyn Eastman (@MervChangeAGEnt). Likewise, publications such as the Mature Times® newspaper (www.maturetimes. co.uk), are freely available.

The Elders Voice charity (www. eldersvoice.org.uk) also chose a less conventional way in 2020 to challenge the public’s perceptions and stereotypes about age and nudity, by publishing their tasteful ‘In Rude Health’ charity calendar.

Not everyone’s life is a bed of roses or ends particularly well as they age.

Nonetheless, don’t allow the number of candles on your birthday cake to dictate what you can or cannot do

Esther Wiskerke @EstherWiskerke Esther Wiskerke is a Dementia Team Manager and an Independent Trainer & Consultant in Dementia Care

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Spotlight on Spiritual Care

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ihe care of older people, especially, but not exclusively, in palliative and end of life care, should focus on several essential aspects of what ‘being human’ is all about, alongside the perhaps more obvious consideration of their physical health.

Looking at the different aspects that should be assessed, one need which might not always be discussed, sometimes for important reasons such as lack of training, is ‘spiritual care’. While it might be assumed that perceptions of ‘spirituality’ tend to focus on faith and organised religion, spirituality itself is in fact a broad concept and has a wide variety of meanings for different individuals. We all have spiritual needs throughout our lives, and it’s widely acknowledged by key organisations involved in the care of older people – including the NHS and the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) – that spirituality relates to religious and to non-religious principles, beliefs and values. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) – which conducted its own survey of spirituality in 2010 – has developed a useful and comprehensive summary to

describe what spirituality is about and, crucially, what spiritual care is not about[1].

Thinking about these different elements of spirituality and how they can enrich and enhance human lives, it is clear that effective spiritual care and support are vital for older people in care settings and, if provided, can have huge benefits for those involved. Indeed, research has shown that there is a connection between meeting older people’s spiritual needs and positive health outcomes[2].

The RCN’s spiritual survey findings also showed that nurses acknowledged that if patients are supported in their spiritual needs, this can result in the possibility of improving the quality of nursing care overall[3]. If spiritual needs are not met, especially for people who are suffering with terminal illness, people can experience ‘spiritual distress’.

If someone is unable to gain a sense of essential feelings and emotions – such as hope, love, comfort and peace – due to the monumental changes in their lives that can result from ill health, their spiritual distress may cause them to question the meaning of life or turn away from their faith.

Spiritual distress can also increase stress and anxiety which can have a detrimental effect on the person’s ability to cope with their illness, so they will need ongoing assessment and support which recognises their specific spiritual needs. This reinforces an important consideration in spiritual care for older people which is that it should be individualised to reflect the person’s own set of values and beliefs.

www.bluestreamacademy.com

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Spirituality Encompasses[1]: People’s fundamental feelings and values such as hope and strength, trust and forgiveness, and a sense of morality Having a sense of meaning and purpose in life The value of love and relationships with other people A belief and faith in yourself and others which, for some people, will involve a belief in a deity or higher power Essential elements such as creativity and self-expression

Spiritual Care Doesn’t Mean[1]: A focus on religious beliefs and practices only Assuming that a chaplain is the only person responsible for people’s spiritual needs and care Forcing the beliefs and values that you hold on other people Utilising your position or role to convert another person

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who have contact with people in their care and their families[5]. To reinforce the initial need to recognise people’s spiritual needs, Level 1 requires staff and volunteers to appreciate that every person has a ‘spiritual dimension’ and also that, for some people, their spirituality will have a religious element.

All four competencies also highlight that those involved in providing care should be aware of their own “personal boundaries in spiritual care”[5].

This is also reflected in the RCN guide on spirituality which advises that those providing care should know their own strengths and limitations and also understand when it is appropriate to request help from their colleagues and the wider team, including chaplains, counsellors and psychologists[3]. individual concerns, and allow enough time for each person to express their feelings. Good communication skills, including an aptitude for active listening, are extremely important.

Continued from Page 13

How Can People’s Spiritual Needs Be Assessed?

Several important themes emerge when looking at how relevant organisations and care givers, such as the RCN and those involved in delivering care for those who are terminally ill or at the end of their life, approach the assessment of older people’s spiritual needs.

An essential starting point is to encourage older people in care to talk about their thoughts, needs and wishes. Staff and volunteers should listen carefully and sensitively, without passing judgement or dismissing

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Observation is also a key skill in terms of assessing and identifying unmet spiritual needs – for example, paying attention to the person in care’s personal possessions, such as objects or books that might relate to religion or a potentially spiritual activity such as meditation[3], or if someone being cared for is becoming more withdrawn, appears isolated, sad or worried, or is refusing care[3,4].

Looking at palliative care for the terminally ill specifically, Marie Curie Cancer Care has developed an instructive assessment tool for staff and volunteers. It outlines four levels of competency that should be reached by those working in all areas of care

Other recognised tools which can help to start a conversation about spiritual needs include the HOPE questionnaire which can assist in the discussion of the following key points: H: identifying sources of hope, meaning, peace, comfort, strength, love and connection O: finding out about the role organised religion plays in the person’s life P: examining personal spirituality and practices – including the aspects of these that the person finds most useful, for example prayer, meditation, music or getting involved with nature E: assessing the effects illness may have had on the person’s spirituality or how their own spirituality might affect their medical care and end-of- life care decisions[6].

These questions can enable those providing care to find out what spirituality means to those in their care – including factors that might bring them, for example, hope, strength, comfort and meaning[7].

Another tool that can aid effective and open conversations about spiritual care is the FICA Spiritual History Tool©. Within an environment where the person feels they can trust the healthcare professional, the F (Faith and belief) I (Importance) C (Community) A (Address in Care) tool can assist in creating a person-centred ‘spiritual history’ as part of an holistic approach to care[8].

Barriers to Providing Spiritual Care So, while it seems that there is an appreciation of the importance of assessing the spiritual needs of older people in care and several tools are available to assist those providing this care, it is also evident when researching this topic that potential barriers to the delivery of effective spiritual care exist.

Those working in health and social care may find it difficult to address spirituality with the people they are caring for. The following factors might contribute to this: • A lack of training which can lead to a lack of understanding and knowledge about the spiritual domain and related spiritual care •

Staff and volunteers might not know what to say to the person and this may lead to a sense of reluctance to discuss spirituality or spiritual care - this might also be coupled with a lack of time to have these discussions www.bluestreamacademy.com

• Concerns may be raised about the ‘sensitivity’ surrounding people’s spirituality, beliefs and principles and staff and volunteers may worry that they will say something unsuitable or they may be in a situation where they might force their own values on the people they are caring for.

be related to prayer or attending a religious ceremony or meeting; for others, it might involve spending time with friends and family, taking part in a hobby or interest, or spending time outdoors in nature. To meet these different needs, every older person in care should have access to pastoral, spiritual or religious support.

Organisations such as the RCN and NHS which acknowledge the need for, and subsequent positive effects of, spiritual care, have also recognised the need for training in this area. The results of the previously mentioned RCN Spiritual Survey showed that members thought nurses did not receive sufficient training on the provision of spiritual care and that the “professional boundaries” required when discussing the spiritual needs of those in their care needed to be fully explained[3].

Other interesting approaches to assessing and providing spiritual care include discussing and listening to music and, in particular for people with dementia, concepts such as reminiscence therapy (which is explored in more detail in this issue).

In its Chaplaincy Guidelines published in 2015, the NHS also highlighted a lack of training as having a negative effect on the ability to deliver the best spiritual care. Other issues mentioned in the guidelines include inadequate communication, not taking a sensitive approach, and a lack of insight into the different belief systems that people may have.

Delivering Spiritual Care As definitions of ‘spirituality’ have become broader and now encompass a diverse range of beliefs, values and principles, it has become important for those caring for older people to take a universal approach and provide access to person-centred spiritual care.

But people have different spiritual needs: for some, spirituality might

This brief look at the wide-ranging subject of spiritual care for older people has touched on several important issues. These include the fact that spiritual needs may be unmet or not assessed in some care settings, and staff and volunteers may also lack training in how to address these needs.

If spiritual needs are identified and the appropriate care is provided, those working with older people in care can gain a better understanding of the individual. This, in turn, has the potential to support a person’s wellbeing and assist with healing.

Spiritual care can also help people to examine their concerns about terminal illness and death, thus reducing the negative effects caused by ill health Article by Keely Jennings Content Developer 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

RCN. Spirituality in nursing care: a pocket guide. March 2011.

Erichsen N, Bussing A. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2013;2013:913247.

RCN. RCN spirituality survey 2010. June 2011.

Marie Curie – Providing Spiritual Care https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/professionals/ palliative-care-knowledge-zone/individual-needs/spirituality-end-life (accessed November 2019).

Marie Curie Cancer Care. Spiritual & Religious Care Competencies for Specialist Palliative Care.

Anandarajah G, Hight E. Am Fam Physician 2001;63:81-89.

Nursing Times 2019;115:24–27.

The FICA Spiritual History Tool© https://smhs.gwu.edu/gwish/clinical/fica/spiritualhistory-tool (Accessed November 2019).

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GPs: Why Are We Burning Out?

The term ’burnout‘ is not new, but it has been applied increasingly to NHS staff, and in particular to GPs, in an attempt to better define the growing feelings of pressure and stress within the service.

A

lthough it can be defined in many ways, burnout is essentially a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress. It occurs when we feel overwhelmed or emotionally drained, or when we lose autonomy, and are unable to meet the demands of our job.

With the increasing and persistent pressures on Primary Care over the last few years, through a combination of decreased funding and GP numbers, increased patient demand and poor cohesion as a profession, General Practice has become the latest burnout candidate. There are many websites and self-diagnosis tools available to help us test whether we might be at risk, and with up to 50% of General Practice consultations involving some kind of mental health element, GPs are only too well aware of the signs and symptoms of stress and anxiety.

I don’t want to dwell here on the familiar coping strategies – getting better sleep, eating healthily, taking exercise, scheduling work breaks, and so on.

Rather, I want to argue for a more pragmatic and focused approach to dealing with burnout in Primary Care.

First, there has been a gradual and subtle erosion of autonomy in Primary Care. When asked why we went into medicine, most doctors include the phrase “because I wanted to help people”.

“

...it is not surprising that GPs feel a loss in autonomy and respect.

Yet most of us spend less time than we used to on patient care and more on trying to achieve mandatory targets such as Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators, Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) prescribing incentives, CCG monitored referral rates, Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessments, as well as local Federation and Network projects, and our own revalidation.

Meeting these requirements is not only time-consuming but runs counter to the emphasis on decisionmaking and patient-centred care that doctors receive during training.

In addition, funding issues and attempts to streamline care now mean that many of the decisions made What is Burnout?

by GPs are then reThe World Health Organization refers evaluated before to burnout as a syndrome conceptualised they reach as resulting from chronic workplace stress, their intended defined by three symptoms: Secondary Care destination.

• Feelings of energy depletion or Screening exhaustion centres such as • Increased mental distance, or feeling the Improved negative towards your job or career Access to • Reduced professional productivity.

Psychological Therapies (IAPT), evaluate GP referrals to see if they meet the requirements set locally to see a psychiatrist.

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Physiotherapists vet referrals to orthopaedics, and even other GPs are employed to scrutinise the referrals of their colleagues to see if they meet a standard required for referral. Medical school teaches us that pathology ’X‘ requires investigation ’Y‘, but it does not take into account the local CCG/ hospital that has decided a GP is not qualified to order investigation ’Y‘, and instead, the GP must refer to an adjunct clinician, who will do the same assessment, and decide if the GP’s investigation request was worthy. Taken across multiple specialities, it is not surprising that GPs feel a loss in autonomy and respect.

Second, the perceived role of the GP is changing. The public and media have a superficial understanding of what the job involves and are, therefore, able to speculate on how they feel their patient journey should progress.

The public are able to google symptoms, can consult alternative therapists for similar conditions, and can discuss and compare with friends or family their individual experiences in General Practice. As a result, when there is a poor patient outcome, it is easy for the media or patients to protest that the GP failed to recognise their illness.

My colleague in anaesthetics has been pleasantly unaware of this pressure. The tabloids never scream “The Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) doctor never gave my mum enough noradrenaline” because the public cannot directly access intensivists or anaesthetists in the same way they can GPs. Furthermore, sub-specialities are one (or more) steps away from that initial presenting complaint of the patient, and it becomes harder to predict the treatment or outcome. In fact, except for General Practice (and Emergency Medicine), virtually all other medical specialities have an initial patient– doctor consultation before their appointment, thereby removing a significant element of pressure. Both the referred patient and Secondary www.bluestreamacademy.com

Care doctor already have some idea of what they can expect from the consultation, but by contrast with Primary Care, the patient is less likely to understand the specifics of the treatment process involved.

Third and last, there is the concept of unity and working towards a common goal of improved patient care. When primary, secondary, and community services all work closely together, there is obviously less pressure felt in each individual section.

But as expectations of the NHS have increased, Primary Care has become the effective dumping ground for unresolved issues. Examples include hospital discharge letters with a summary line of “scan requested and bloods, GP to chase and action”, as well as increased social care requests by carers for GP visits, or dentists and optometrists requesting GPs to resolve issues they are unsure of resolving themselves. More than ever, it seems that if in doubt, the advice is to “go ask your GP”.

So, how do we tackle burnout?

A small way to start is to be more united at a local level. By supporting each other even within our own practices, and working together to promote professional cohesion, our wellbeing and productivity will increase, at least in our workplace.

We can also encourage Local Medical Committees (LMCs) and CCGs to reduce inappropriate demands from other specialties. We can be firmer in returning inappropriate requests to clinicians.

But more aggressive action – not working past our allotted contract time or receiving extra calls or making extra visits – all affect patient care and run counter to the ethical standards we have as GPs and doctors.

The only way to really reduce the problem of burnout in General Practice is to change the way the job is perceived and valued by patients, the media, Secondary Care, and by those who fund and structure it.

This challenge needs to be tackled at a national level so that General Practice becomes a speciality that is once again valued and enjoyed, rather than a burden to be endured

This drift in expectations is unhappily understandable. Historically the GP was the centre of the medical community and had the knowledge and tools to address any problem to do with health or social need, and sometimes beyond.

As the pressures on Primary Care have surged, it has become increasingly difficult to accommodate this unidirectional traffic, and resistance by GPs is increasing. The British Medical Association now has a template letter advising clinicians who request tests to take responsibility for their execution.

Despite governmental promises to recruit thousands of new GPs, it is clear that numbers continue to drop and recruitment remains challenging.

There are programmes to invite GPs from abroad to work in the UK and incentives to delay GPs in post from retiring. All this, though, is superficial and fails to address the underlying issues leading to burnout.

Dr Jeff Foster www.drjefffoster.co.uk Dr Jeff Foster is a GP and Men's Health Specialist. If you have any questions on men's health, please contact Dr Foster at contact@drjefffoster.co.uk

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Look Who’s Talking Be Outstanding: Raising Standards in the Care Quality Sector Samuel Barrington www.theciagroup.co.uk With over 20 years in the care sector, Samuel has a strong passion to support care providers across the adult social care sector.

Starting his career as a care assistant in his hometown of Scarborough, Samuel soon moved on to nursing and care management, which included board level care quality Director roles across the country.

His mission now is to support care providers to deliver outstanding care to all individuals, every single day.

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Care Improvement Associates Ltd was founded in April 2017 after my role as Head of Operations for a well-established care quality consultancy based in Yorkshire was made redundant. I was in the process of buying our first family home when the bank contacted us to say they could no longer offer us a mortgage due to the change in circumstances. This motivated me and I was driven to set up my own care quality consultancy, Care Improvement Associates (CIA), with the aim of supporting care providers to not just aim for Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance, but to aim for outstanding care quality.

C

are Improvement Associates is a national network of over 40 care quality consultants, which includes current CQC inspectors, specialist advisers, former inspectors, experienced managers and directors, who all share the aim of supporting care providers to provide outstanding care quality.

The biggest asset to a consultancy, enabling us to provide high-quality services to our clients, has been ensuring we recruit only the best consultants for our CIA national network. From start-ups to leading providers, CIA offers a tailored solution, supporting you to deliver high-quality care and aim for the CQC rating of ‘Outstanding’. I began my career as a care assistant, before becoming a

nurse, a manager, a Director, and then a consultant. In addition, I had supported my own father at the end of his life, so I felt I could draw on this first-hand experience of being a family member of a ‘cared for person’ in a residential care home setting at the end of life, to support providers to aim higher.

Setting up a company in the care quality consultancy sector has been one of the most challenging, but also most rewarding, choices I have ever made.

Getting my head around the financial side of running a business, including tax, accounts and such like, was never my strong point, so I’ve experienced a steep learning curve in that respect.

Based on this, my advice would always be to get a credible accountant from

day one and manage your accounts very closely, especially if you are running a company that is VAT registered and paying corporation tax.

In terms of the services CIA provides, our clients tend to be care home/ nursing home providers, domiciliary/ home care providers or supported living providers. Although we are seeing a rise in requests for support from private health-related services and Primary Care services. We offer mock CQC inspections, interim care managers, project management and crisis management.

We also provide bespoke care quality masterclasses and mentoring to the home care sector, with the aim of achieving ‘Outstanding’, which are based on a full year of research into CQC outstanding-rated home care providers (‘What do the CQC Notice in Order to Rate a Service as Outstanding?’).

We have published a guide, ‘Be Outstanding – The Essential Home Care Quality Guide’, off the back of this research, which is available to purchase via our website (www.theciagroup. co.uk). This guide was co-developed with Louie Werth and his company, Care Research. We will soon be publishing our care home research and guide using the same methodology.

show the care sector and potential clients that you have met our high level of NCQPA quality assessment framework standards. We feel it will give extra confidence to the care and support provider sector, along with stakeholders, to show they are engaging with a competent, qualified, experienced professional. You will be entered onto our soon to be released searchable register and awarded a unique registration number and quality mark, along with NCQPA certification (www.ncqpa.org.uk).

You may be one of the many professionals out there with vast experience and expertise. We want to recognise this and help promote you to the right people who need your specialist support.

Not only that, being an NCQPA registered member shows you are part of the movement of people raising the standards of care for those individuals being supported by care services.Together, we believe the

NCQPA quality mark will fast become the industry standard mark for competent care quality professionals.

It’s not just members who benefit from NCQPA standards. From a care provider’s perspective, commissioning or employing a credible and competent care quality professional, consultancy organisation, trainer or training provider is paramount to the protection and reputation of your business, staff and team, and the service provided to potentially vulnerable people.

We all know that literally anybody can set up as a care consultant. It is not a legally protected title. Using and endorsing NCQPA registered members means you can be more confident while adding an extra layer of protection and a further safeguard for your business and service when commissioning or employing a care quality professional.

All our members have to agree to our code of ethics and professional conduct as well as meeting a high level

National Care Quality Professionals Association (NCQPA) We utilised these high standards and adopted them as a basis to develop and launch a membership association specifically for independent care quality professionals. The National Care Quality Professionals Association (NCQPA) is leading the way in setting and raising standards in the independent care quality sector.

Many independent care quality professionals, care quality consultancy organisations, trainers and training providers are signing up to our code of ethics and professional conduct. All are assessed against our tried and tested quality standards framework, with the aim of receiving our quality mark and NCQPA registration.

If you are successful in your application to become a registered member of the NCQPA, our quality mark and registration will www.bluestreamacademy.com

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Blue Stream Academy’s Nursing and Care Home Suite: Trusted Training Delivered by the eLearning Experts

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ere at Blue Stream Academy, we fully appreciate the needs of our eLearning users across the multiple sectors that we support throughout primary, social, urgent and emergency care.

To assist organisations in meeting their compliance and Continuing Professional Development needs, Blue Stream Academy’s industry-leading eLearning provides a cost-effective and time-efficient solution.

Utilising our knowledge of the nursing and care industry whilst working with field specialists, we are well-placed to deliver high-quality, tailored training to the thousands of trainees who currently use our system.

All of our eLearning modules are created in-house by our experienced content developers, graphic designers and software engineers – the content within each module is constantly evolving to meet our users’ specific and industry-focused needs. We understand that once you begin using one of our eLearning suites, friendly and knowledgeable ongoing customer support will be essential, therefore our team is on hand to help in any way that you may need.

Our Nursing and Care Home Suite features over 95 eLearning modules, covering all of your mandatory/nonmandatory and statutory/non-statutory training needs. Our eLearning suites are accompanied by our established Management of Information System and HR System to meet all your organisation’s needs in one place.

We work closely with many senior healthcare professionals to provide a wealth of knowledge and a clear insight to key issues that might affect the delivery of training within the nursing and care home environment.This also allows us to develop better training solutions to overcome the challenges faced by those in nursing and social care on a day-to-day basis. We know that those working within this sector have very busy working lives and may be faced with various workplace challenges.

“

The webinar was really helpful and I have found it easy to navigate around the different sections since you went through them step by step. My Staff are really enjoying the Blue Stream Academy training, they have commented that it’s addictive and they are learning from this.

Highly recommend the training.

Thank you for your support”.

Wendy Kaya

Manager, Belvoir House Care Home

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To ensure that you are making the most of our eLearning and management systems, we also provide complimentary training with one of our National Trainers, which you can book to suit your own busy schedule and working arrangements.

And please don’t forget – if you see us at any of the leading nursing and care shows, exhibitions and events being held across the UK this year, come and say hello – there’s always a very warm welcome at the Blue Stream Academy stand!

If you would like more information or would like to access a free trial of our Nursing and Care Home Suite, please email: nch@bluestreamacademy.com or call us on 01773 822549 and quote NCHSPRING20

“

The feedback we have had from our staff regarding Blue Stream Academy has been overwhelmingly positive. Achieving and maintaining a 95% compliance level has been of the utmost importance.

The information is on hand, which gives assurance that our training is state of the art and effective and that our Continued Development Plan is working for the welfare of our staff and therefore ultimately, and most importantly, our residents.”

Jane Ratcliffe

Training & Development Manager, Majesticare

Leading the Way for eLearning in Healthcare

Passionate to support trainee compliance across 5,000+ organisations

Each of our eLearning modules is created in-house and guided by industry-renowned subject matter experts. One or more new modules are released by a team of in-house specialists on a monthly basis.

Annual subscription is quoted on the number of trainees, and the single annual fee includes unlimited access to any existing and new modules added throughout the year.

Our in-house team of support specialists and system trainers offer friendly telephone, email and online chat support, alongside complimentary system training sessions available for any system managers or administrators.

Blue Stream Academy have developed an online suite of over 100+ eLearning modules certified by CPD, available to access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Blue Stream Academy have achieved ISO27001:2013 certification, so you can be sure that all your personal and organisational data is handled with the highest security. The certification and audit were undertaken by the British Standards Institution (BSI), the UK’s national standards body.

If you would like to find out more information please contact us on the below details, a member of the team will be happy to help!

Get in touch and quote ‘NCHSPRING20’ for your free trial on our eLearning suite, Management of Information and HR systems!

Contact Us:

www.bluestreamacademy.com

01773 822549

IS 704740

nch@bluestreamacademy.com

A Day in the Life of a Hospice Corporate Fundraiser We spoke with Natalie Bingham from Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw Children’s Hospice about Corporate Fundraising and what this entails.

Tell us a bit about yourself and why you joined Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw My name is Natalie and I am the Corporate Relationship Coordinator at Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw – I’ve been here for almost 5 years. Both my Mum and my Gran were looked after here and the care we received as a family was exceptional. This inspired me to apply for the job, ensuring others continue to receive the same level of care, and I’ve never looked back since!

What attracted you to the role?

Having witnessed first-hand the amazing care the hospice delivers day in and day out, I wanted to ensure that this level of care is available for future generations. It can be a challenging job at times but also the most rewarding.

Natalie Bingham fundraising@edenvalleyhospice.org Natalie Bingham is a Corporate Relationship Coordinator for Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw Children’s Hospice.

Eden Valley Hospice, Durdar Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 4SD

further if needed. Our partners quickly become friends of ours so making sure those relationships are maintained is a really big part of my job and probably one of the parts I enjoy the most.

How do you relax when you are not working?

When I’m not at work, I enjoy being outside either running (I’m currently training for my first half marathon, eek!) or taking my pup Woody out on long walks. We live so close to the Lake District that my 2020 new year’s resolution is to spend more time there exploring at weekends

What are your working hours?

My typical working day is from 9.00–17.00.

What kind of projects do you work on?

My job is to account manage our corporate relationships, from traditional charity partnerships to looking at ways we can work closer with the business community to create meaningful relationships that are mutually beneficial. I love catching up with our corporate partners to see how they are and to listen to some of the fabulous fundraising ideas that they come up with!

What does your average day entail?

I wake up at 6.00 and take my 6-month-old (very energetic) Cockapoo out for a walk. I then get home, feed us both then leave for work at 8.30. I start off by checking my emails and looking at my diary to see what the week looks like, if there are any events or meetings coming up that I need to prepare for. No two days are the same in the world of fundraising, so you can have a plan of action for the day and then you can receive a phone call which changes everything! My job is really varied which is one the reasons I love it so much – from helping the Clinical/ Family Support Teams to host a wedding to dealing with lots of new fundraising enquiries.

What are your key tasks?

Keeping in touch with our corporate partners to make sure they have everything they need to support them with their fundraising and to see what we can be doing to help

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T E R TO W I N

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Gardens in Bloom!

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pring is in the air, and to celebrate BSA Today magazine is proud to present our very own ‘Gardens in Bloom’ competition, open to all Hospices and Nursing and Care Homes nationwide.

For a chance to win a £250 National Garden gift voucher, plus have your garden photographed by us and printed in thousands of issues of BSA Today magazine, enter today!

We at Blue Stream Academy understand how invigorating and therapeutic a garden can be, especially to those seeking a source of solace and those with emotional and spiritual needs. There’s just something about not only having access to a beautiful outdoor space to spend time in, but also as a place to enrich the senses.

Please send your photographs plus the name of your Hospice/Nursing and Care home alongside your name, address and contact information to bsatoday@ bluestreamacademy.com or mail your entry to BSA Today, Blue Stream Academy, Suites 11, 12 & 16, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 0RN. The entry deadline for the competition is 31st May 2020.

We are looking for the most attractive, colourful and eyecatching Hospice or Care Home garden in the UK. We want pictures that capture the natural beauty, hard work and effort that make your garden so special.

Terms and Conditions apply. See website for details.

You may need to download a QR code reader app on your device.

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www.bluestreamacademy.com

Mindfulness and Holistic Therapy: Keeping an Open Mind

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Many people wonder, what is holistic therapy? The term ‘holistic’ has typically been associated with negative connotations as, for some, it’s linked to controversial treatments, such as homeopathy. However, widely accepted and accredited treatments, such as chiropractic and massage therapies, are forms of holistic therapies that are used by an estimated 9 million people in the UK[1].

olisitc therapy is treatment that considers all aspects of a person’s health, such as the physical, mental and spiritual, combined with an understanding of the complex nature of conditions including depression, stress, anxiety and addiction. Some people also see holistic therapy as a response to reactionary approaches to health, for example, treating only the symptoms, instead of finding and treating the root cause of a condition or addressing the multiple factors that contribute to a person’s wellbeing.

For example, those with anxiety might experience chronic pain in relation to their illness (usually in the form of headaches and migraines and muscle tension) and a therapist will then explore possible psychological sources of their suffering and, if an emotional issue is found to be the source, dealing with it could also help to alleviate or lessen the chronic pain.

It’s important to remember that holistic therapy doesn’t necessarily exclude conventional medicine – it can involve utilising these complementary techniques alongside treatments prescribed by GPs. While medication may be a big part of a person’s treatment (for example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs] and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs] for depression) a holistic approach may include other treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), to address unresolved issues and triggers, and help to learn relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and more.

Some examples of mindfulness and holistic therapy activities include: • • • • • •

acupuncture and acupressure aromatherapy art therapy breathing exercises ecotherapy guided meditation

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• • • • • •

hypnotherapy journalling meditation music therapy nature therapy yoga.

Whilst holistic therapy has been effectively used around the world for centuries, the scientific and medical communities today are now recognising the importance it can play in maintaining good mental health and overall wellbeing. A published study undertaken by the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey and Wellmind Health in early 2018, evaluated the effect of the Be Mindful course (the only clinically validated mindfulness-based cognitive therapy [MBCT] programme and listed on the NHS Apps Library) on depression, anxiety and perceived stress. Results showed that participants who completed the course reported a 63% decrease in depression, a 58% reduction in anxiety, and a 40% reduction in perceived stress, these effects were maintained at the 3- and 6-month follow-up[2].

These findings strongly support the effectiveness of holisticbased therapies and MBCT. The same study also looked at the effect of mindfulness related to work-associated rumination, chronic and acute fatigue, and sleep quality.

Again, the results showed significant changes. Participants reported a 25% decrease in rumination, a 26% reduction of chronic fatigue, and 33% improvement in sleep quality[3]. The findings not only show the positive benefits of mindfulness, but also strongly support the effectiveness of online mindfulness training.

Mindfulness Mindfulness is not only developed through online courses but is a technique you can learn which involves making an effort to notice what’s happening in the present moment, within your mind, body and surroundings.

Professor Mark Williams, former Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, defines mindfulness as “directly what is going on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment”[4]. Mindfulness aims to help you: • Become more self-aware • Feel calmer and less stressed • Feel more capable to choose how to respond to thoughts and feelings • Cope with difficult or unhelpful thoughts • Be kinder towards yourself.

Mindfulness and Holistic Therapy in the Nursing and Care Sector Mindfulness and holistic therapy aren’t just suited to mental health. In nursing and care homes and other long-term care facilities, loneliness is a big risk factor for residents, due to lack of mobility and increased isolation. Practising and taking part in mindfulness techniques can improve the quality of life and health of the elderly, particularly those who are living with dementia, as well as people with debilitating illnesses and challenging treatments.

Dementia destroys memory, disrupts mental functions, and can muddle a person’s emotions, but research has showed that a combination of medication and breathing exercises can help to slow down the development of dementiarelated diseases. Other research indicates that mindfulness aimed towards the elderly is an ‘encouraging intervention’ that is well-worth introducing to residents[5].

An important part of mindfulness is being aware of our thoughts and feelings and the way our bodies are feeling in the present moment. Practising mindfulness can be as simple as having a coffee. When you take a sip, pay attention to the taste and smell and, as you swallow, feel the warmth. By focusing on the coffee and how it makes you feel, you will find it easier to meditate and, with time, that can make you feel calm and relaxed.

The theory behind mindfulness is that by using various techniques to bring your attention to the present (by focusing on your body and your breathing), you can: • Notice how thoughts come and go in your mind You may learn that they don’t have to define who you are, or your experience of the world, and you can let go of them • Notice what your body is telling you For example, tension or anxiety can often be felt in your body, such as in a fast heartbeat, tense muscles or shallow breathing • Create space between you and your thoughts, so you can react more calmly.

Studies show that practising mindfulness can help to manage depression, some anxiety problems and feelings of stress. Structured mindfulness-based therapies have also been developed to treat these problems more formally and many of these treatments are recommended as evidencebased treatments by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Article by Courteney Barlow-Ferguson Graphic Designer Eaton R. Complementary Medicine Roundup December 2017. Available at: https://collegeofmedicine.org.uk/complementarymedicine-roundup-december-2017/. (Accessed January 2020).

Querstret D, Cropley M, Fife-Schaw C. Mindfulness (N Y) 2018;9:1825–36.

Querstret D, Cropley M, Fife-Schaw C. J Occup Health Psychol 2017;22:153–69.

NHS. Minfulness. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness/ (Accessed January 2020) Mind. Mindfulness: Can Mindfulness Treat Mental Health Problems? (2018). Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/ media/23908255/mindfulness-2018.pdf (Accessed January 2020).

6. White G. Complementary therapy groups to help the long-term sick in Nairn. Available at: https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/ news/complementary-therapy-groups-to-help-the-long-term-sick-189176/. (Accessed January 2020).

7. Highland Hospice. Nairn Healthcare Group to Offer Hospice Wellbeing Groups. Available at: https://highlandhospice.org/who-weare/news/2019/nairn-healthcare-group-to-offer-hospice-wellbeing-groups (Accessed January 2020).

8. TBupa. Complimentary Therapies. Available at” https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/complementary-therapies/ complementary-therapies (Accessed January 2020).

Together, with the Highland Hospice Complementary Therapy Service, Nairn Healthcare Group has launched a service to develop tai chi and wellbeing groups within their local area, with the aim to support the challenging patterns of chronic and life-limiting illnesses. The groups are offered on a drop-in basis and available to anyone affected by a lifelimiting or long-term health conditions, including families and carers[6].

Susan Fraser, a complementary therapist, was inspired to create these services by Professor Scott Murray of The University of Edinburgh, who spoke about how holistic care helps to empower patients and families to manage living with an illness. Speaking of the wellbeing groups, Susan said “Our Health and Wellbeing Programme is designed to help manage living with an illness, including topics such as fatigue, sleep, anxiety, nutrition, pain and medication. It changes a patient’s perspective, so they don’t feel they have moved into care designed for those who are dying.”[7] The acceptance of mindfulness and holistic therapy as treatments has been growing. In fact, around 16 out of 100 people in the UK will be treated by a holistic therapist and as many as half of us may use holistic therapy at some time in our lives.[8] A large number of medical and mental health professionals now recognise the potential benefits of complementary treatments.

Many people find practising mindfulness helps them to manage their day-to-day wellbeing, but it doesn’t always work for everyone, only you will be able to determine if a holistic approach is right for you

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Social Prescribing: The Missing Link

Hello BSA Today readers! It’s lovely to be back with you again to keep you up to speed with the progression of the whole-person approach to care we call ’social prescribing‘: the transformative, relational support increasingly available to individuals experiencing significant deficits in the psychosocial aspects of being well.

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ocial prescribing has existed and operated in many communities for decades. Throughout our history, in various ways, we have been mobilising local solutions and resources to motivate and help individuals and families, building bridges between voluntary organisations and statutory health and social care to address the non-medical needs.

In the last 5 years, however, there has been a steady acceleration towards this approach, as the NHS and the government have appreciated the need for a fresh, personalised approach to healthcare. This shift is accompanied by a new opportunity to improve our communities, to invest in good voluntary sector activities, and promote collaboration and innovation amongst pioneers of health and wellbeing bringing a kaleidoscope of goodness to their neighbourhoods.

The social prescribing link worker is key in connecting people with the help of which they can make the best use, and coaching them from a place of disempowerment and despair to a place of believing better things for their future, and taking steps towards confidence and security.

Dr Marie Anne Essam @MarieAnneDoc

Dr Marie Anne Essam is a GP and Social Prescribing Ambassador for the Herts and West Essex STP. If you have any questions or would like to develop social prescribing where you are, please get in touch. (And follow her on Twitter!)

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The government has committed funds to provide an extra 1000 link workers, who are entering primary care network (PCN) teams right now, all over England. They will work closely with the practice teams, and serve the most vulnerable patients. They will be a part of team discussions, helping the teams to think outside of the box for their patients, and understand how the non-medical needs play a huge part in health. The link workers will support those with long-term conditions and disabilities, too, who certainly have medical needs, but for whom a better quality of life is possible if the wider issues are recognised.

The PCN link workers will connect with the social prescribing work going on already in their areas, and will encourage community partnerships.

Within the next 4 years, it has been proposed that another 3–4 link workers per PCN will be funded by the government, so that increasingly it is the normal thing to offer people care and support which recognises them as individuals, and that there is the capacity required to give them the time they need to make transformative personal journeys to better and more hope-filled lives.

In many areas, the new link workers are simply slotting into the local social prescribing work, sponsored and trained within established schemes.

In other places, the GPs in the PCNs will be reaching out to contribute to the local partnerships around them which will enable everyone to build resource and resilience, and to access the right help at the right time. NHSE has recruited regional facilitators to assist with education of link workers.

Online learning modules and webinars are available to deliver training. Other organisations with experience in social prescribing are also providing training courses and online material. Blue Stream Academy itself is planning to contribute to the understanding and spread of authentic social prescribing

with a module for subscribers to be made available in 2020. To crown all of this, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, kept a promise he made to set up an independent National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), which was launched in November 2019, and which is chaired by Professor Helen StokesLampard, the outgoing Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

NASP is “dedicated to the advancement of social prescribing through promotion, collaboration and innovation”. They plan to do this by raising awareness, exploring funding for community assets and social prescribing, working across all sectors, building the evidence through research, and promoting accredited education and training. Read more about it on the website (www. socialprescribingacademy.org.uk) and follow their tweets (@NASPTweets): this development marks an acceleration in cross-sector commitment to advance the principles of personalised care, the practice of social prescribing, and the provision of resources to both patients and provider organisations to ensure sustainability.

This is a “health movement”, a “community culture change”. I sincerely hope wherever you are playing a part in the health of people and communities, you will get involved locally, and help carry the message that social prescribing is about a transformative initiative, which, via a trusted and trained social prescribing link worker, offers hope to people who the ’system‘ has let down so far.

The approach builds on strengths, finds solutions, and engenders vision, motivation and staying power in the individuals helped. It has the potential to positively inform the way we all see wellbeing, and to shift resource and opportunity into the communities in which vulnerable people live

Please mention the promo code BSATODAY1 within your email or phone call

www.bluestreamacademy.com

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Aged to Perfection

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Certain wines improve with age. And wine lovers can also develop a taste for the smoother and more complex flavours that the ageing process produces as they themselves mature.

The first varieties of wine you enjoyed might go on to be replaced with more carefully chosen, softer tasting and mellow choices as you gain a greater appreciation for flavours, textures and aromas.

he flavours and sensation of wine in the mouth – or ‘mouthfeel’ which can be described in terms of textures such as soft, smooth or sharp – can change over time as the wine ages. New flavours can be revealed – for example young wines can have ‘primary flavours’ which might change with ageing to become more muted or softer. Flavours that may have been masked by the bolder primary flavours can also be uncovered.

A good tip is to decant the wine beforehand or, with an older bottle of wine, keep the bottle upright for a couple of days before you plan to open it and also remember to pour it slowly and carefully so that the sediment stays in the bottle.

If you’re interested in which varieties of wine might have ‘ageing potential’, please find a few suggestions below. As the world of wine is complex and broad in its scope, this is a very basic summary of suggestions – but it might give you some food for thought when you are next browsing in the wine aisle of your local supermarket

Processes that cause the wine to change as it ages happen constantly and at various speeds. Several elements change as a wine ages and an intricate chemical reaction takes place involving sugars, acids and phenolic compounds. Red wine becomes lighter in colour while white wine will grow darker in colour as it gets older.

White Wine

Chardonnay Garganega Muscadet Pinot Gris Rioja Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon Trebbiano Viognier

The texture of the wine can alter too – as reds age they might feel ‘smoother’ while a white wine can become almost ‘thicker’ feeling with age. This change is due to the phenolic compounds, such as tannins. Tannins are present in red and white wine, although they are more prevalent in red wines.

Found in grape seeds and skins and wooden barrels, tannins assist in wine ageing and they start to soften and disperse with age. As the structure and size of the tannins change, the wine can develop a more gentle and pleasant taste and it will feel smoother on the drinker’s palate.

As the changes to the compounds in the wine occur, sediment can also be created alongside alterations in the flavour, texture and aroma. This sediment can be another visible sign of aging in wine and it is advisable to ensure that it is not poured into the glass to avoid its bitter taste.

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Red Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Merlot Nebbiolo Pinot Noir Sangiovese Syrah Tempranillo Zinfandel

Wine and Dine

If you enjoy wine, why not include it in your cooking too – it makes a great addition to a spaghetti bolognese! Or, if you prefer to relax with a cup of tea or coffee and a sweet treat, Ellie Stanton, one of Blue Stream Academy’s expert bakers, has created this delicious recipe for salted caramel cupcakes – enjoy!

Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese

Prep: 10min Cook: 1 hour Ready in: 1 hour 10min Serves: 4

1. In a large saucepan, heat 1tsp olive oil over a medium heat and

then add 1 finely chopped onion, 1 large diced carrot and 2 finely chopped celery sticks – stir regularly and cook for 10 minutes until they have softened. Add 160ml vegan red wine and allow it to reduce for around 2–3 mins. 2 finely chopped garlic cloves, 2tsp dried oregano, 1tbsp tomato purée and 1tbsp balsamic vinegar can then be added.

2. After cooking for 1 min, add 1 diced aubergine, 100g diced

closed cup mushrooms, 75g lentilles vertes, 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes, 1 vegetarian (vegan) stock cube and 200ml of water.

3. After bringing the sauce to the boil, reduce the heat so that it is

simmering gently. Place the lid of the saucepan loosely on the pan and cook for around 40–50 mins until the sauce has become thicker (you can cook it until it reaches the consistency you prefer for your pasta sauce). Keep checking the sauce and stir regularly, if necessary add a little more water.

4. Cook 300g spaghetti as per the pack instructions. Stir 1tbsp soy

sauce and 3tbsp almond milk into the sauce and then serve it with the cooked spaghetti. Fresh basil leaves make a great garnish for this dish.

A tasty vegan alternative to the! classic Italian dish

Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cupcakes

Prep: 25min Cook: 20min Ready in: 45min Makes: 12

1. Preheat your oven to 180◦C (fan). Put 12 muffin cases in the cupcake tin (Top tip: using muffin cases can make more impressive cupcakes as they are larger).

2. Mix 200g butter and 200g caster sugar together in a large mixing bowl

until well combined. Sieve in half of 200g gluten-free* self-raising flour and mix in 2 out of 4 eggs. Once combined, sieve in the remaining 100g flour and mix in the other 2 more eggs.

3. Fold in 50g fudge (cut into small chunks), half a 397g tin of caramel

(sweetened condensed milk caramel) and a pinch of salt, until equally distributed throughout the mixture. If the mixture is quite thick, add a splash of milk to loosen it.

4. Place the mixture into the cases and pop into the oven for 20 mins or until slightly golden. Whilst the cupcakes are baking, you can prepare the icing.

Place 150g butter in a large bowl and mix until soft and pale in colour. Mix in 400g icing sugar in stages until the butter and icing sugar are combined.

5. Add a pinch of salt and almost all of the remaining half a tin of caramel – fer, you can replace the *Please note, if you pre flour with standard selfgluten-free self-raising raising flour. www.bluestreamacademy.com

leave a little bit to one side for later. If the butter cream is too thick, you can add a little milk to make the icing easier to pipe. Mix a little bit of icing sugar into the leftover caramel. This will then become runny and you can drizzle it over the cupcakes after icing them.

6. Take the cupcakes out of the oven and leave to cool. Once cool, put the

icing into an icing bag with a star nozzle and pipe onto the cupcakes. Then drizzle the caramel sauce over the cupcakes to finish.

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Ask Abi...

Blue Stream Academy team member, Abi, is here to answer your questions and give advice to our readers. Feel free to contact Abi via email: bsatoday@bluestreamacademy.com!

Q

Dear Abi,

I work in a small office with three other colleagues, and we all get along fairly well. The office can get a little bit chilly if the weather is cold, and we tend to pop the air conditioning unit onto a warm setting to make the temperature more comfortable to work in.

One of my colleagues gets warm very quickly, and often switches the air conditioning to an ice-cold setting whilst leaving the room or without anyone noticing. I sit under the unit and as you can imagine, during the cooler months, the cold air hits me very quickly, making me shiver!

When we ask the individual why this has happened or if we can turn the heating back on, she snaps saying she is too hot and cannot bear to have the heating on for any longer, leaving us all tense with a frosty (pun intended) atmosphere.

How can we approach this subject without causing a dispute to ensure that we are all working comfortably?

Thanks in advance!

Anon

A

Dear Reader,

Thank you for getting in touch with this problem – this problem is a lot more common than you would have thought!

The first thing that I can suggest is having an office wide discussion to try and find a suitable compromise between both extremes, this may involve layering up with a cardigan and scarf, or your colleagues layering down to just their top/shirt. If this doesn’t work, a rota may be worth considering, balancing out the temperature by alternating it throughout the day.

It may be worth talking to your manager/employer regarding this, or if you have an upcoming DSE assessment bring it up then. Your manager may assist with reasonable adjustments, such as a fan for your colleague or a heater for next to your desk – it is worth remembering however there is no minimum or maximum office temperature, only a guidance.

I hope you can find a comfortable temperature and resolution!

Abi

#TeamBSA

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eam BSA was very happy to welcome Matthew Sheridan, Corporate Fundraiser at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, to our offices so that we could present a cheque for the money raised by our charity skydive – we raised an amazing £3148.53! We’re currently looking at new fundraising opportunities for 2020 and will keep you posted in BSA Today.

Since our last issue, the team has been busy getting stuck in with the New Year, planning ahead for 2020 and speaking to even more of our fantastic customers. Team BSA will be out on the road on the following dates, meeting hundreds of passionate healthcare professionals throughout the UK: • 23rd April - Management in Practice Bristol Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, Bristol, BS1 2EL

Left to right: Emily, Natalie, Matt Sheridan, Courteney, Lewis, and John (not pictured: Brady)

• 19th May - Care Roadshow Liverpool Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, L9 5AS

• 18th June - Management in Practice Manchester The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley St, Manchester, M2 3WS

• 19th May - Management in Practice Newcastle Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, Gateshead, NE8 2AR

• 24th & 25th June - The Residential and Home Care Show ExCel London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Docks, London, E16 1XL

• 11th June - CMM Insight: Leeds Care Conference Oulton Hall, Rothwell Ln, Oulton, Leeds, LS26 8HN • 11th June - NAHH Annual Conference Hilton Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Stratford Rd, Warwick, CV34 6RE

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Keep a look out on social media and the Blue Stream Academy website (www.bluestreamacademy.com) – along with the next issue of BSA Today – for more information on where we’ll be exhibiting as the year progresses!

@BlueStreamNews

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eveloping excellent and effective eLearning is at the heart of what we do at Blue Stream Academy. We’re passionate about creating the most engaging and useful eLearning for the health and social care sectors we support in the UK. Alongside the delivery of brand new modules, our existing modules are updated as required to reflect relevant changes to practice, regulations and guidance, and the use of the most accurate terminology and language.

All our eLearning modules are created in-house by our talented Blue Stream Academy content developers (who work with carefully selected subject matter experts), graphic designers, software developers and programmers.

This means that we can keep fully up to date with current eLearning and training needs for the sectors we work with and we can listen to our customers’ feedback and develop the resources they really want to use.

We’re also constantly reviewing the health and social care sectors we partner and keeping abreast of the news, current affairs and social media so that we can address ongoing issues in these sectors and remain ahead of the game within the eLearning environment.

We know that interactive, highly visual eLearning that’s developed specifically with the user and their requirements in mind, is extremely effective and cost-efficient and we’re very proud of Blue Stream Academy’s position as the UK’s leading provider of eLearning to GP practices, as well as nursing and care homes, hospices and out of hours services.

We’d like to keep you updated on the latest eLearning news from Blue Stream Academy and we’re also here to listen – we’d really welcome your thoughts and feedback on the eLearning and targeted training you’d like to see made available for the UK’s health and social care sectors. Please get in touch with us if you would like to discuss eLearning or talk to us about potential topics for module development.

We’ve released several important eLearning modules recently including our Mental Health Awareness modules covering the following key subjects which are relevant across the health and social care sectors: • • • • •

Anxiety Awareness Depression Awareness Eating Disorders Awareness Stress Awareness Suicide Awareness

We’ve also released a module on another important subject – Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) – which is useful across all the sectors we support.

If you would like to discuss these new modules – or any other Blue Stream Academy eLearning resource – please contact us either via email at info@bluestreamacademy. com, or call us on 01773 822549 and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @BlueStreamNews to get our updates and module announcements as soon as they happen!

Meet the Team!

Hello, my name is Abbie Scattergood! I joined Blue Stream Academy in July 2019 and I am now the Nursing and Care Home Suite Manager. I am a bubbly person who really loves my job and I enjoy the challenges and rewards of my role within the company.

I manage all the accounts for Nursing and Care across the UK as well as liaising with potential customers about our eLearning suites.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, especially my furry 4 legged friends, Millie and Willow! I am currently saving to buy my first house and I am one of the lucky few of the population who is a twin!

www.bluestreamacademy.com

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BSA Today's Photography Competition

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ie are excited to announce the featured photo as the winner of the Blue Stream Academy Winter Photography Competition.

Congratulations to Ben Miller from Colchester!

Ben submitted this stunning photograph, taken in Karnataka, India, that clearly represents the theme set in the last issue of ‘Wildlife’. Read Ben’s comments for more details on where this brilliant photograph was taken!

The theme for next issue’s photography competition is ‘In Bloom’. Submit your photo for your chance to win and get your entry printed in the next issue of BSA Today! You will also win a framed A4 print of your photo along with £100 in prize money.

To enter, simply email your entry to bsatoday@bluestreamacademy.com with the subject line ‘BSA Today Issue 6 Photography Competition’.

The deadline for this competition is 31st May 2020, and we’ll announce the winner in Issue 6 of BSA Today.

The successful photo chosen by our resident photographer will win the prizes! Terms & Conditions apply and can be found online at www.bluestreamacademy.com

Other Amazing Entries

Here are some of the other amazing entries we received. Remember to submit your photographs (with a description of the image) to be in with a chance of winning £100!

“

I was on a holiday to visit a friend in India when I took this picture. We were exploring one of the many ruins in Hampi, an ancient village, when we saw this guy perfectly posed. I had to take a picture. I was surprised how close I got to him before he ran off!"

- Ben Miller, winner.

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Puzzle Corner High Five!

This issue’s puzzle reflects the themes of BSA Today Issue 5, we hope you have enjoyed the varied articles and focus on older people and the care sector – key words from this issue are included in the Word Fit puzzle.

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Sudoku (Rating: Hard) 9

6 7 3

Word Fit

3 Letters

6 Letters

AGE BSA CQC NHS

DOCTOR MEMORY SENIOR SOCIAL

4 Letters

7 Letters

CARE HOPE LIFE

4

7

1 9

5

1

6

9

7

8

2

5

4

3

ELEARNING

11 Letters

OUTSTANDING PRESCRIBING

8 Letters

FAITH NURSE

3 2

9 Letters

BURNOUT HOSPICE

5 Letters

2

DEMENTIA TRAINING

3 2

1

9

6 3

3

2

5

Last Issue's Answers Sudoku Answer:

Wordsearch Answers:

1

6

9

3

2

5

4

7

8

4

8

2

1

7

6

3

9

5

5

3

7

9

8

4

1

2

6

9

5

4

6

3

7

8

1

2

2

7

6

8

9

1

5

4

3

3

1

8

5

4

2

7

6

9

7

9

5

2

1

8

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3

4

8

4

3

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9

2

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1

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1

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www.bluestreamacademy.com

1. COMPLIANCE 2. TRAINING 3. HOSPICES 4. RETENTION 5. PAYROLL 6. SECURITY 7. ACCREDITATION 8. EFFECTIVENESS 9. INTERACTIVE 10. COGNITIVE 11. CONSISTENT 12. STROKE

'In Bloom'...

is the subject of the new competition on Page 34.

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