The Carer Digital - Issue #24

T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S

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The Carer Digital

THECARERUK

Issue 24

THECARERUK

Boost Social Care Pay says Migration Committee

A Home Office immigration committee has advised the government to boost social care pay to avoid a post-Brexit jobs shortfall when freedom of movement ends.

Senior care workers and nursing assistants are also among the occupations that should be added to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) to relieve pressure when freedom of movements ends, say the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

The committee warned of the stark consequences of low wages in social care, with most frontline occupations in the sector ineligible for the skilled worker route and the SOL. It has reiterated the need to make jobs more attractive to UK workers by increasing salaries rather than relying on migrants, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The MAC has also recommended additions to separate lists for all of the devolved nations, allowing additional flexibility and reflecting the different needs of each. It is proposed that a minor review of all lists takes place annually, with a major review taking place every three years.

The SOL allows workers in certain sectors to leapfrog Britain’s new pointsbased immigration system in order to fill shortages in the labour market. The new immigration system will come into force on 1 January 2021 when Britain officially leaves the EU transition period, and will require foreign workers to earn a minimum salary of £25,600, which many working in social care would not qualify for.

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PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

“There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.”

ROSALYN CARTER A month that has become “close to my heart” is World Alzheimer’s Month. I am sure readers do not need me to remind them, nevertheless World Alzheimer’s Month is the international campaign every September to raise awareness and challenge sometimes stigma that surrounds dementia. September 2020 will mark the 9th World Alzheimer’s Month.

According to an article I read 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little or no understanding of dementia in their countries.

Thankfully in the United Kingdom we have come a very long way into understanding Alzheimer's/dementia, its impact on those who suffer, their families and the wider society.

I know this through personal experience, and we get lots of Alzheimer’s/dementia-related stories from care homes around the United Kingdom, so I thought as World Alzheimer’s Month draws to a close I would share my experience.

My experience in the mid-1980s was vastly different from anyone experiencing a family member with dementia now. My mother at the relatively young age 65 entered a care home following several years battling the disease, and died 2 years later.

This was at a time when Alzheimer’s disease not very well known to the wider public and certainly not to me.

My mother in the early 1980s had become increasingly forgetful, causing considerable frustration to her, family and friends, which we dismiissed as part and parcel of growing old. At the time I lived about 500 miles away and it was only on visits that I began to see a rapid decline. Particularly one time when I took her on a shopping trip to the city centre, where we had self-service lunch in a department store.

I asked my dear old mum to go and find a table, and the minute she left me she forgot she was with me, walked out of the department store got on a bus and went home. After frantically searching and getting the police involved, I was advised by the police to return home since in their experience “forgetful people are like homing pigeons”.

My mum was at home and she had completely forgotten the entire events of the day.

My worst fears were confirmed. My mother was quickly assessed and it was clear to those assessing her that she was no longer able to look after itself and entered a care home. During that period I saw news article in a magazine about a Hollywood actress named “Angie Dickinson”, who was a Hollywood star of the 50s, 60s and 70s and whose younger sister was suffering from Alzheimer’s. Ms Dickinson was patron of an American

Editor

Peter Adams

Alzheimer's charity.

I think that article taught me more about Alzheimer's than anything that was available at the time regarding my mother’s condition.

Thankfully, as I say, that has now changed, with information readily available, and the condition is no longer seen as a stigma.

It is a massive challenge for society, but no longer swept under the carpet!

I have, over the years, sat in on many seminars at national and regional care events and listen some of the world’s leading experts on dementia, and we here at THE CARER regularly publish articles surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia.

And with the current Covid crisis consuming the public’s attention at the moment I didn’t want to let World Alzheimer’s Month slip by without a mention.

A devastating heartbreaking condition leaving a trail of sadness in its wake.

So we are delighted here THE CARER to help raise awareness.

We are also delighted to bring back our “Unsung Hero” Award (see page 17). A small gesture on our part, but one we are delighted to say has always been really well received and appreciated within the sector. We are always overwhelmed with the uplifting nominations we receive for various people in various sectors of the industry, from manager, supervisor, care assistant, activities coordinator, chef, maintenance man, gardener, truly heartwarming nominations for people who have gone above and beyond their normal duties, which can sometimes go unnoticed, and we are delighted to occasionally step in with a “luxury 2 night break” in a choice of over 300 hotels!

So please do get your nominations in, we will be drawing a winner on Saturday October 21st.

Previous Unsung Hero winner, I always finish with a thank you to the many Helen Miller, activities coordinator homes and their PR agencies providing us with at Beechwood care home in some wonderful stories of anniversaries, fundraisWishaw, Scotland ing, in-house care home initiatives keeping the spir-

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 3

Boost Social Care Pay says Migration Committee (...CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) Responding to the recommendations, Danny Mortimer, co-convenor of the Cavendish Coalition, said: “The review sets out some steps in the right direction – but these are baby steps, when people need giant leaps.

“We welcome the spotlight the MAC has shone on the important role of social care in UK society and our economy. However, we have said time and again that social care workers in less senior roles must also be taken into consideration in any new immigration system, as their role is just as important in caring for some of our most vulnerable people.

Lower pay does not equate to lower skill.

“Over the last four years, the Cavendish Coalition has been clear in its message to Government that both social care and health have staffing shortages, and these cannot be resolved by recruiting from within the UK labour market alone.

“We acknowledge and agree that the issues within social care are multi-faceted – but while the sector still awaits the promised long-term plan and associated funding to support a vital increase in pay, it is essential that the new UK immigration system can enable health and social care employers to recruit much-needed and valued staff from outside the UK, at all levels, especially in the face of the twin pressures of winter and a second wave of COVID-19.

MAC Chair, Professor Brian Bell said: The number of migrants coming to work in the UK has already decreased and we are likely to see an increase in unemployment over the next year as the economic impact of the pandemic continues, so this has been a very challenging time to look at the Shortage

Occupation Lists.

It has made us more willing to recommend some roles for inclusion simply because it is the sensible thing to do, but we have been clear that migration is not always the solution.

We remain particularly concerned about the social care sector, which is so central to the frontline response to this health pandemic, as it will struggle to recruit the necessary staff if wages do not increase as a matter of urgency.

The MAC, which provides independent, evidence-based advice on migration issues to the Government, was commissioned to consider what medium-skill occupations should be included ahead of the introduction of a points-based immigration system on 1 January 2021.

The SOL shows which occupations, amongst those eligible for the skilled worker route, are facing a shortage of suitable labour and where it is sensible to fill those shortages with migrant workers.

A spokesperson for the prime minister Boris Johnson said the government would be “looking at the recommendations closely and responding in due course,” adding that companies should “focus on investing in the domestic workforce.”

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age, added: “Professional care workers provide a vital service that has been pushed to the limit during the COVID-19 pandemic. But even in more normal times, professional carers receive poor pay and limited recognition for the important and skilled work they do. People in later life have shared with us that the shortage of workers in the care sector can have a severe impact on them, with some seeing a different carer on each visit, who is then expected to perform intimate tasks like helping wash and dress.

“We welcome the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendation that senior care workers are placed on the Shortage Occupation List, to enable overseas workers to fulfil some of these roles once freedom of movement ends.

“However, we know that providing an immigration route for senior care workers will do little to tackle workforce pressures in adult social care. Latest figures from Skills for Care show that there are nearly ten times as many care workers (865,000) than senior care workers (87,000), yet there is still no planned migratory route for this much larger proportion of the workforce.

“Independent Age continues to call on the Government to establish pathways for care workers to come to the UK to ensure we do not see further workforce shortages. We also welcome and echo the Committee’s urgent call today for additional funding to enable higher wages to be paid to boost domestic recruitment. Action on both of these fronts is essential if the social care workforce is to be equipped to meet the significant challenges ahead.” , Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, commented: “We welcome the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendation that senior care workers are added to Shortage Occupation List. This provides long-overdue recognition of the immense public value of social care roles. However, no one should pretend that these limited changes will resolve the long-standing issues with recruitment in social care. As the Committee recognises, poor pay remains a major issue in the sector.

We need a well-funded social care system that recognises the value of care workers with fair pay and conditions.”

Four-Month Stockpile of PPE for Care Sector Government Announces Health and social care workers treating COVID-19 patients have access to an uninterrupted supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the government has confirmed.

Four-month stockpiles of items such as face masks, visors and gowns will be in place from November to provide a continuous flow to the frontline, helping to ensure staff always have the equipment they need.

Overall, 32 billion items have now been purchased.

Thanks to the unprecedented domestic production of PPE, for items such gowns and FFP3 facemasks, 70 per cent of the expected demand for PPE will be met by UK manufacturers from December. Businesses have been supporting the national effort by creating hundreds of new jobs and reducing reliance on overseas companies. Before the pandemic, just 1 per cent of PPE was produced in the UK. Health and Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “At the start of the pandemic, meeting the huge demands for PPE was a massive challenge.”

“That’s why we have worked every day since to ensure we have an uninterrupted supply to meet the challenges in the coming months and protect those who are protecting us.”

“We have built robust and resilient supply chains from scratch and thanks to an absolutely phenomenal effort from UK businesses, almost three quarters of demand for PPE will soon be met by UK manufacturers.”

“As we take every step to combat this virus we are setting out this plan to reassure our health and social care workers that they will have the PPE they need to carry out their tireless work.”

Since February 2020, over 3.5 billion PPE items have been distributed to the frontline, including GPs, social care providers, community pharmacists, dentists and hospices.

Amid unparalleled demand, the average number of items of PPE distributed increased considerably. For example: • during the peak of the pandemic from 20 April to 26 April, 102 million items of PPE were delivered. 121 million items were delivered between 14 and 20 September now we have more resilient supply chains • the normal supply chain for PPE was designed to accommodate delivery to 226 NHS Trusts, but essential supplies are now being sent to 58,000 different settings after a new distribution network was built from scratch • we have rapidly processed over 23,000 cases from over 15,000 suppliers to ensure they meet the safety and quality standards that our NHS staff need, as well as prioritising offers of larger volumes. We have actively engaged with over 99% of the companies that have offered PPE. We now have sufficient contracted supplies for our foreseeable demand in all product areas • we announced free PPE to support care homes as part of our new Adult Social Care Winter Plan

PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

Music and Self-Identity in Dementia Care

By Rosie Mead, CEO – Musica Music and Wellbeing CIC (www.musicamusicandwellbeing.thinkific.com) During this current period, it’s even more imperative that we consider relationship-centred care and explore ways that we can connect more with the individual(s) we care for in order to reduce loneliness and isolation. I’m asking us to consider music as a tool to do this; as I’ll explain it’s a fantastic way to connect, and gain a deeper understanding of those you care for.

Music is often seen as an integral part of our self identity, and this continues into later life. Music is closely linked with personal memories, and it is thought that we remember most the music from our teenage years and early twenties; this is seen as our reminiscence ‘peak’. As we grow older it is important for us to maintain our identity and personhood; in this respect music can ‘be understood as a transformer and metaphor in people’s lives that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life.’ (Hays & Minichello, 2005: 263).

Within a care environment many people feel that they have lost the opportunity to be an individual. Their daily routine may be decided for them, when they eat, what they eat, when they have a bath etc. This can lead to a loss of identity. Moving to a care home may mean that friendships outside of it are broken, and the relationships in a person’s life may change. The relationships we sustain are part of our identities, and the breaking down of these can contribute to a loss of identity.

Music is a way of presenting our identities. Everyone has favourite songs and songs that have been meaningful throughout their lives, such as wedding song, songs you listened to in teenage years, and songs that remind you of certain people. Music is powerful in this way, it can jog memories, and ignite a sense of selfworth. It is part of who we are and our life experience.

Music is a huge part of my own life, not just as a professional musician, but as a music listener, and as a teenager it feels it played an even bigger role for me. I used music as a vehicle for self-expression, constructing my identity through the bands I listened to. Even now when I hear the songs I used to listen to back then I’m reminded of the feelings that this music listening afforded for me.

The feeling that came about from this music listening is something that is important to consider when using music in dementia care. Often we see people living with dementia remembering long lost memories due to listening to particular pieces of familiar music; however, even if the person is unable to communicate this memory, we may find that the feeling of this memory still remains. For example, listening to the piece of music played at our first wedding dance might still bring back the same feelings feeling of love, excitement, joy even if the person is unable to explain that they are feeling this way because the piece was played at their wedding, I’m a huge fan of David Sheard’s, and his ethos that feelings matter most. I truly believe this too, and by using meaningful music delivered at an individual level connecting with the individual’s life history, we can help to connect people living with dementia with their emotions, with their feelings, with themselves.

To find out more about the ways that music can provide benefit in dementia care visit our free introduction to music in dementia care https://musicamusicandwellbeing.thinkific.com/courses/free-music-in-dementiacare-course

Learning Disability Service Manager Takes Leap of Faith for Charity A charity worker from Bishop’s Stortford took to the skies last week to raise money for local adults with learning disabilities.

Charlie Strube has been working for national learning disability charity Hft for fifteen years and manages three supported living and residential services locally. The 39 year old was inspired to take on the challenge by her staff team, who provided invaluable support when Charlie’s husband passed away last year after a three year battle with cancer. Aiming to recognise the achievements of Hft support workers and raise money for people supported at the services she manages, the thrill seeker completed her challenge on Sunday 20 September.

After travelling to Peterborough, Charlie was flown by plane to a height of 12,500 feet, after which she took the plunge and experienced up to 50 seconds of free-fall at 120 miles per hour before opening up their parachutes.

The charity worker has raised over £600, with all funds raised set to go towards local services in Hertfordshire and Essex, which support over 50 adults with learning disabilities and employ over 100 members of staff.

Charlie said: “I love my job, my team and the people I support. I was inspired to take on this challenge after a really hard time last year. I lost

my husband and was faced with raising two young children alone. The support I received from my team at the time was amazing and they helped me get myself back together during the most difficult time of my life so I wanted to do something to recognise how incredible they are. Life is short and I want to grab every opportunity that comes my way. Taking part in the skydive was brilliant and such a thrill, and I’m so excited to put the money raised towards supporting people at my services to live the best life possible.”

Emma Macdonald, Hft’s Sporting and Challenge Events Manager, said: “We’re delighted that Charlie went the extra mile to take on the Jump for Hft Heroes challenge. Her efforts will make a huge difference to the lives of adults supported in Hertfordshire and Essex.

“With the support of generous people raising money for Hft across the country, we’ve been able to provide care for some of the most vulnerable people in society during the Coronavirus pandemic. A £10 donation could purchase shop vouchers for supplies such as food and hand gels, while £50 could help us be there for even more families through our Family Carer Support Service. We’re so grateful for all support sent our way.”

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 5

Social Care Leaders Launch New CrossSector Initiative “Championing Social Care” Pioneered by a volunteer-led group of passionate leaders from across the care sector, Championing Social Care is a new initiative dedicated to recognising the work and value of the social care sector.

Supported by four Founding Patrons - the CareTech Foundation, Hallmark Foundation, Sekoia and Majesticare Luxury Care Homes - the movement will act as an umbrella organisation to the notable Care Sector Fundraising Ball and recent social media campaign #SparkleforSocialCare.

It will also encompass the Care Home Open Day which is set to relaunch in 2021 and, excitingly, in January 2021 a brilliant new virtual event, “Care Sector’s got Talent!” which is dedicated to showcasing the amazing talents of the social care sector.

The new charitable initiative, which will be hosted by the CareTech Foundation, has attracted significant support from across the sector, with 26 social care leaders already having agreed to become Ambassadors to promote its work. Notable Ambassadors include Professor Martin Green OBE of Care England, Henry Elphick of Laing Buisson, Karolina Gerlich of The Care Workers Charity and Haroon and Farouq Sheikh of CareTech plc.

Chairman Avnish Goyal, CEO of Hallmark Care Homes, talked of the ambitions of the initiative: “This year has seen the UK’s social care workforce give more personally and professionally than we, as a nation, could ever have imagined. It’s what’s driven us to provide fellow leaders and operators with a powerful

vehicle to shine a light on the incredible value social care is to our society.”

“Core to the work of the initiative is continuing to fundraise for sector-relevant charitable causes and to build on the achievements of our Care Sector Fundraising Ball which has raised some £350,000 in the first two years alone.”

At the heart of this new initiative is their vision to “Shine a light on the incredible value of the social care sector to society and those who live and work within it.”

Vice-Chairman Jonathan Freeman, CEO of the CareTech Foundation, commented “Throughout the pandemic and beyond, we want to ensure a wider public understanding, appreciation and respect continues for the 1.6 million people across the social care sector. I am proud to be part of what feels an important new development for the sector and one which I hope will gain huge support from fellow operators and the nation” There are several ways organisations can support Championing for Social Care from displaying a “Proud to Support” digital badge to engaging via social media, using #ChampioningSocialCare and #SparkleforSocialCare For more information on ways to be involved and to learn more about their work visit www.championingsocialcare.org.uk

Hero Care Worker Saves Maghull Man’s Life Lisa Russell a Registered Mental Nurse at Parkhaven Trust’s The Beeches Centre in Maghull, went ‘above and beyond’ to raise the alarm when a resident’s 88 year old husband Ted Birch sounded ‘not quite himself’ when phoning to check on his wife.

Lisa said: “Ted used to visit Maud daily before the pandemic began. He was a real regular at The Beeches. Since the start of the pandemic we have been unable to allow indoor visiting – so we can keep all our residents safe.

Ted has since been doing garden visits and calling regularly to speak to his wife. When he called

last week he didn’t sound his usual self, he sounded like he was being sick and complained of feeling dizzy.

We were worried about him so I called his daughter and also decided to pop round and see if there was anything I could do. When I arrived, he was shivering and had been sick. I immediately called the paramedics and they took him to hospital. Whilst in hospital he went into cardiac arrest and was brought back by the doctors.

I am so glad I went over when I did and was able to help Ted.” Ted’s daughter Nicky Taylor added: “I had spoken to dad just 15 minutes before Lisa called me, we were on our way to Wales for the weekend and he had sounded happy and well. When Lisa called I was distraught, he had taken ill so quickly and we were three hours away stuck in traffic on the motorway.

I simply can’t thank Lisa enough. It’s thanks to her my dad is still alive.

If Lisa hadn’t noticed dad sounded unwell and hadn’t gone over to check on him he wouldn’t have had the help around him when he went into cardiac arrest and he wouldn’t be here today.

Lisa is amazing - her help has been truly life saving.

Lisa and the team at The Beeches have been taking such great care of my mum (Maud), we didn’t expect that care to extend to my dad too – but that is what the staff there are like! it feels like one big family and

they really do care – which means so much to us.”

Ted and Maud Birch are well known faces around Maghull, as they ran successful businesses here before their well-earned retirement.

Ted and Maud have been married for 67 years and together for 70. Ted is now back ‘out and about’ in and around Maghull on his bright orange mobility scooter.

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

New Legal Duty To Self-Isolate Now in Force People across England are now required by law to self-isolate if they test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

Those on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result will also be eligible for a new £500 Test and Trace Support Payment.

Local Authorities will be working quickly to set up Test and Trace Support Payment schemes and we expect them to be in place by 12 October. Those who are told to self-isolate from today will receive backdated payments, if they are eligible, once the scheme is set up in their Local Authority.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Anyone can catch coronavirus and anyone can spread it. We all have a crucial part to play in keeping the number of new infections down and protecting our loved ones.

“As cases rise it is imperative we take action, and we are introducing a legal duty to self-isolate when told to do so, with fines for breaches and a new £500 support payment for those on lower incomes who can’t work from home while they are self-isolating.

“These simple steps can make a huge difference to reduce the spread of the virus, but we will not hesitate to put in place further measures if cases continue to rise.”

As the infection is now spreading rapidly again, these new measures will help ensure compliance and reduce the spread of Covid-19.

A number of steps will also be taken to make sure that people are complying with the rules. These include: • NHS Test and Trace call handlers increasing contact with those self-isolating;

• Using police resources to check compliance in highest incidence areas and in high-risk groups, based on local intelligence; • Investigating and prosecuting high-profile and egregious cases of noncompliance; and • Acting on instances where third parties have identified others who have tested positive, but are not self-isolating.

Recognising that self-isolation is one of the most powerful tools for controlling the transmission of Covid-19, this new Test and Trace Support payment of £500 will ensure that those on low incomes are able to self-isolate without worry about their finances.

Just under 4 million people who are in receipt of benefits in England will be eligible for this payment, which will be available to those who have been notified that they must self-isolate from today Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “These new measures are about saving lives. Everyone must take personal responsibility and self-isolate if they test positive or if told to do so by NHS Test and Trace.

“For those who fail to do so, the police will enforce the law.

“These new fines are a clear sign that we will not allow those who break the rules to reverse the hard-won progress made by the lawabiding majority.”

Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “Councils across the country are working at pace to set up new selfisolation support payment schemes and ensure people in their communities have the information and advice they need to stay safe and reduce the spread of the virus.

“Since the start of the pandemic councils have played a crucial role in

supporting businesses and their communities, and I want to thank them for their hard work as they roll out this new support for those who need to self-isolate.”

Fines will also be introduced from today for those breaching self-isolation rules, starting at £1,000, in line with the existing penalty for breaking quarantine after international travel. This could increase to up to £10,000 for repeat offences and the most serious breaches, including for those preventing others from self-isolating.

This could include employers who force or allow staff to come to work when they should be self-isolating, sending a clear message that this will not be tolerated.

If someone or another member of their household has symptoms of coronavirus, they should, as now, isolate immediately. If someone receives a positive test result, they are now required by law to self-isolate for the period ending 10 days after displaying symptoms or after the date of the test, if they did not have symptoms. Other members of their household must self-isolate for the period ending 14 days after symptom onset, or after the date of the initial person’s positive test.

If someone is instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, because they have had close contact with someone outside their household who has tested positive, they are legally required to self-isolate for the period notified by NHS Test and Trace. Both household and non-household contacts must self-isolate for the full period, regardless of whether they have symptoms and, if they develop symptoms and take a test, regardless of whether any test taken gives a negative result.

Care Village Models Re-Imagine Iconic Portraits Octogenarian ‘life models’ from a Crewe dementia care village have recreated some of the world’s most iconic portraits to celebrate National Day of Arts in Care Homes 2020. Captured on camera, the portraits are to be used in a fundraising calendar, for which donations will go towards purchasing a telescope for residents to enjoy.

Among the paintings captured include works from some of history’s most renowned artists including Picasso, Van Gogh and Grant Wood spanning from 15th century Northern Renaissance to 1930s Modernism.

Natalie Ravenscroft, experience coordinator at Belong Crewe, who led the project, explains: “Many of our residents love art, and keeping everyone active with creative projects is a key part of what we do at Belong. Due to the ongoing lockdown restrictions, we wanted to do something extra special for Arts in Care Homes day, this year.”

Belong colleagues stepped outside their usual roles to become stylists, make-up artists and photogra-

phers, working with residents and using recycled materials, props and face paints, to bring their characters to life. The subsequent photoshoot, which took eight hours over the course of two days, saw staff capturing their model’s alter egos for the project.

Natalie Ravenscroft continues: “There’s been a real buzz around the village – everyone has been excited to see the final result. Our models really enjoyed getting dressed up, contributing their ideas, and many reminisced about old times from childhood when they used to play dress up or were involved in school plays. It’s been a great success.”

For one of the more ambitious photos, Picasso’s ‘Portrait of Dora Marr’, Jean, 85, commented: “The makeup tickled my face and felt so relaxing. I can’t remember having my face painted – it looks bright and joyful.” Another resident, Gillian, 80, spoke of taking on the role of Frida Kahlo and her distinct facial features: “Look at my eyebrows! They are marvellous!”.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 7

RPS and RCGP Urge Collaboration On Flu Vaccinations This winter more than ever, with COVID-19 cases rising, ensuring a high uptake of flu vaccination is critical to keeping people well and reducing pressure on the health service.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) are urging pharmacists and GPs to work together to maximise the number of people who will receive a flu jab and help achieve the Government ambition of delivering the “biggest flu vaccination programme in history”.

A collaborative approach to flu vaccination is crucial across primary care, putting patients first and ensuring possible competition between health care providers does not impact negatively on GP or pharmacy practice or lead to unnecessary tensions between the professions.

We have agreed a number of principles and recommendations, including on collaboration, using the skill mix of healthcare professions to support vaccinations, and ensuring staff safety.

RPS President Sandra Gidley: “With winter pressures and COVID-19, this year it’s more important than ever that pharmacists and GPs work together so everyone who needs a flu vaccination can get one. This needs to be supported by adequate resources, the right information systems, and ensuring

staff can work safely.”

RCGP Joint Honorary Secretary, Dr Jonathan Leach said: “Seasonal flu can be a serious illness, which poses a real risk to people’s health. As we continue to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, its vital that we protect as many people as possible from the flu, particularly those in at risk groups, such as older people, pregnant women and patients with long-term conditions and learning difficulties, and reduce the pressures on the health system.

Veterans’ Charity Celebrates the Power of Music in World Alzheimer’s Month Royal Star & Garter is celebrating the power of music and song to mark World Alzheimer’s Month in September, National Day of Arts in Care Homes on Thursday 24 September, and to support the Music for Dementia UK campaign.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. It has put together a video showing the importance of music in care, and the impact it has on residents, especially those living with dementia.

Music plays a vital role in the care provided by the charity. For people living with dementia, music helps to lessen anxiety and depression and can become a communication lifeline when a resident’s speech fails. It prompts an individual’s recall and stimulates breathing. Above all, it brings emotional release and joy to residents.

Music in the Homes is carefully chosen and wide-ranging to reflect residents’ choices. These vary from Beethoven and Mozart, to wartime classics and modern masters. The range of activities

which involve music, such as Music Club, the Star & Garter Singers choir and Movement to Music, also reflect its significance.

High Wycombe resident Harold said: “Music brings back a lot of happy memories. It makes you feel good. When you sing it releases something inside that makes you feel better than before you sang. And that’s how it should be!”

Pauline Shaw, Director of Care at Royal Star & Garter, said: “It’s wonderful to see the impact music has in our Homes. The positive effects it has on our residents, and especially those living with dementia, are well known.”

Care Village Residents’ Dating Advice Reaches One Million People Dating advice from residents of the state-of-the-art Belong care village in Newcastle-under-Lyme has proved a surprise social media sensation.

With decades of courtship behind them, the octogenarians decided it was time to pass on a few tips from their experience to young people embarking on the search for love. With messages penned, support workers created a series of photographs showing residents holding up their words of wisdom.

The photographs, which have been posted on the care village’s Facebook page, have since been viewed by over a million people and received over 22,000 reactions, comments and shares.

Among those offering the benefit of their experience was Winnie Barnes, 89, who advised people going on a date to be mindful of their appearance: ‘make sure you look nice.’

Going to the cinema was the most popular recommendation for what to do on a first date from residents, including Brian Pugh, 84, who said: ‘Take them to watch a nice picture.’

Another resident, Ken Rawlinson, 93, advocated for leaving love to

chance, counselling that finding the right person was about: ‘The right day, time and person.’

Concerned entirely with more practical matters, Elsie Price, aged 95, encouraged people to ask of prospective partners: ‘Have they got plenty of money?’

Emma Palin, experience coordinator at Newcastle-under-Lyme, said: “It was fascinating, and often humorous, to learn about love and dating from people with such life experience. I never thought it would attract such attention. With all the restrictions currently in place, we’ve had to be resourceful with finding new ways of keeping residents entertained and stimulated to be creative themselves. This was huge fun and led to hours of reminiscence – mostly of happy times, though not always!”

Not everyone at the care village was so enthusiastic about the prospect of achieving happiness through love. When asked for her thoughts on dating, Mary Booth, 86, dismissed romantic notions altogether and said: ‘Don’t bother.’

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 9

Care Home Relatives Need To Be Given Key Worker Status says the R&RA Following the launch of last week’s Relatives & Residents Association (R&RA) #EndIsolationInCare campaign, we welcome the Winter Plan’s recognition that it is “important to allow care home residents to safely meet their loved ones, especially for those at the end of life” and its encouragement to “providers to find innovative ways of allowing safe contact between residents and their family members”.

R&RA Chair Judy Downey points out this statement is contradicted by then informing providers that this should be limited ‘to a single constant visitor, with an absolute maximum of two per resident”.

“The R&RA Helpline continues to hear residents ongoing heartbreaking experiences of separation from partners or children as the direct result of banned or restricted visits. Of course, safety is important but residents also need the love and support they rely on for a decent quality of life and the relationships which

make their lives worth living. We need the Government to better support homes to ensure that decisions are made on a humane and individual basis as required by law, so that visits can go ahead as safely as possible.”

SUPERVISION OF VISITS IGNORES RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS Judy Downey goes on to say that the requirement for all visitors to be supervised at all times is demeaning and unacceptable and breaches the Mental Capacity, the Human Rights Act and the Equality Act, as well as other legislation.

“Regardless of age or disability, people must have a right to the dignity of being with family and friends in private. It seems an extraordinary measure and speaks volumes about how families and residents are viewed.

We fervently hope that the Government will realise this and amend their guidance accordingly.”

CALL FOR CARE HOME VISITORS TO BE CLASSED AS KEY WORKERS In order to limit the risk of disease transmission and ensure high levels of safety for older people in care, their carers and visitors, and with winter coming on, the R&RA calls for visitors to care homes to be treated as key workers and given the same access to testing, PPE and other infection control procedures.

Judy Downey says: “We are delighted that our call for free PPE in July has been answered in the Winter Plan guidance and hope that the distribution mechanism will be effective to ensure that workers in care homes and in the community will finally be fully protected. Now we call for essential visitors to care homes to be given the same status as key workers to ensure safety remains at the highest levels inside homes.”

Residents at Gracewell of Church Crookham Raise Money with Virtual Bike Ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats Residents at Gracewell of Church Crookham will ride 1000 kilometres using the care home’s virtual bike from Lands’ End to John O’Groats. They are aiming to complete their bike ride by Christmas to raise £500 for local charity, Step by Step.

Step by Step is a Hampshire based charity that supports young people going through hard times, including homelessness. They provide accommodation, personal development opportunities, and specialist support services to empower young people and prevent homelessness.

Residents at Gracewell of Church Crookham said: "We were all young once, it’s not fair that we don't all get the best start in life, but it’s great that Step by Step are there to help"

Residents at the home have called themselves ‘Team GW’, and will be taking it in turns to complete parts of the bike ride.

Steven Wylie, Home Admissions Advisor at Gracewell of Church Crookham said: “This virtual bike ride will be such a great achievement for our residents. They have had lots of fun getting involved, especially as they are able to see on screen what villages they are riding the virtual bike through.

“Step by Step is such a great local charity to support. We are hoping we can raise lots of money to help them make a real difference to young people in Hampshire. Go Team GW!

PAGE 10 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 11

NHS Covid-19 App Has Been Downloaded Over 10 Million Times People in England and Wales have given an overwhelming response to calls for them to download the new NHS COVID-19 app, with over 10 million people downloading it so far, 6 million of whom did so on its first day (Thursday 24 September).

The app forms a central part of the NHS Test and Trace service in England and the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect programme – identifying contacts of those who have tested positive for coronavirus.

On Sunday 27 September at 12pm, there had been over 10 million downloads across compatible Google and Apple devices in England and Wales.

In addition, the app has received a warm reception from those downloading it with reviewers on the Apple app store giving it a 4.5 star review (out of 5) and the Google Play Store giving it 4.1 stars (out of 5).

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The enthusiastic response of over 10m people downloading the app in just three days has been absolutely fantastic.

“This is a strong start but we want even more people and businesses getting behind the app because the more of us who download it the more effective it will be.

“If you haven’t downloaded it yet I recommend you join the growing numbers who have, to protect yourself and your loved ones The app has already been put to use over the weekend with more than 1.5 million venue check-ins recorded on Saturday 26 September. More than 460,000 businesses have embraced the new app by downloading and printing QR code posters that can be scanned by the app to check-in to premises.

The QR codes are an important way for NHS Test and Trace in England and NHS Test, Trace, Protect in Wales to contact multiple people if coronavirus outbreaks are identified in venues.Businesses are expected to make sure their customers are aware of the rules around QR codes by displaying posters and speaking to customers directly or record and maintain contact details logs for customers, visitors and staff.

Dido Harding, Executive Chair of England’s NHS Test and Trace Programme, said:“The level of support for the NHS COVID-19 app is yet another example of how the public and businesses across England and Wales are pulling together to tackle coronavirus.

“The integration of contact tracing and venue check-in is a key feature of the NHS

COVID-19 app, giving us a easy and straightforward way for us all to help protect one another. I urge any businesses yet to print and display the posts to join this effort and download them now.”

A major campaign encouraging downloads of the app launched over the weekend with a new advertisements launching on primetime TV, radio, and billboards across the length and breadth of England and Wales, featuring the strapline ‘Protect your loved ones. Get the app.’

Simon Thompson, Managing Director of the NHS COVID-19 App, said:“With 1.5 million venue check-ins recorded on Saturday, the public have already put the NHS COVID-19 app to great use.

“Everyone who downloads the app will be helping to protect themselves and their loved ones and I really encourage everyone who can to get it.

“The more people who use it, the better it works.”

The app launched on Thursday 24 September after positive trials and rigorous testing and is an important new tool to work alongside traditional contact tracing to help reduce the spread of the virus. It is available to those aged 16 and over in multiple languages. The contact tracing element of the app works by using lowenergy Bluetooth to log the amount of time you spend near other app users, and the distance between you, so it can alert you if someone you have been close to later tests positive for COVID-19 – even if you don’t know each other.The app will advise you to self-isolate if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case. It will also enable you to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get your test results.

Everyone who receives a positive test result can now log their result on the app. If you get a test in a NHS hospital, through a PHE lab – which carry out tests for NHS hospitals – or in a surveillance study, you can request a code from NHS Test and Trace to log a positive result.

The app has been designed with user privacy in mind, so it tracks the virus, not people and uses the latest in data security technology to protect privacy. The system generates a random ID for an individual’s device, which can be exchanged between devices via Bluetooth (not GPS). These unique random IDs regenerate frequently to add an extra layer of security and preserve anonymity.

The app does not hold personal information such as your name, address or date of birth, and only requires the first half of your postcode to ensure local outbreaks can be managed. No personal data is shared with the government or the NHS.

COVID-19 Taskforce Report – An Opportunity To Build Resilience As the country braces itself for what is anticipated to be a second wave of COVID-19, social care providers throughout the country are deeply aware of the challenges ahead and the pressures that winter will bring on care services.

The launch of the Adult Social Care Winter Plan and COVID-19 Taskforce Report has been welcomed by leaders from across the sector, including the Care Provider Alliance (CPA) – the collective national voice of adult social care providers in England.

Kathy Roberts, Chair of the CPA says, “We welcome the Covid-19 Social Care Taskforce Report and the comprehensive recommendations from the advisory groups, which focused on areas such as mental health and wellbeing, learning disabilities and autism, BAME communities, and the workforce.

As the CPA, we have played an instrumental role in contributing to the Taskforce and helping to shape the recommendations and are delighted that our input has been acknowledged and included in the Report.

“We have worked closely with the government, in good faith that these recommendations will be carried out in a timely way to make sure that social

care providers are supported to manage many of the challenges they will face in the coming months. Now that the Report is published, there is a real need for clarification of the next steps, and how the recommendations in the Report will be prioritised, funded, and implemented.

“As an Alliance of the main trade associations working across the adult social care sector, we look forward to the opportunity to continue our work with the government and other strategic partners, and play our part in the implementation of the Report. Now more than ever we would like to see a greater focus on people of all ages receiving care and support, particularly for people with mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism, their families and carers, and for people in all care settings including in their own homes and in the community.

“The social care workforce has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide care and support to those most in need in our society, in what has been challenging circumstances. It is essential that adequate measures and resources are put in place to safeguard and protect the mental and physical health and wellbeing of the workforce, so that we can support our colleagues in social care deliver services safely.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 13

Call For Better Support For Local Authorities The Government must provide more support to local authorities to strengthen the fight against the second wave of coronavirus, campaigners said today.

The Independent Care Group (ICG) says councils need support so that they can in turn help care providers protect older and vulnerable people against the virus.

The ICG, which represents care providers, says support for local authorities and social care is the missing link in the Government’s defences against the second wave.

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “We have to find a way to get support to the front line in the fight against Covid-19 as the second wave arrives. Older and vulnerable adults are going to be the most at risk, as we saw during the first wave.

“Staffing is the biggest issue. We already have a huge shortage – with 100,000 vacancies on any one day – and across the sector staff becoming ill and self-isolating is further exacerbating that crisis. Tests are taking longer and longer to come back so, again, this is impacting on the staff we have available. We are restricting the use of agency staff, so we are facing a real issue and need help.”

The ICG has warned that providers are bracing themselves to deal with: • a potential staffing crisis • mental health issues if home visits are banned • increased strain on already patchy testing It says the Government must urgently get more funding to local authorities and to social care, in particular to support homecare.

Research for ADASS and the LGA found that providers could face an extra bill of £5.9bn between April and September of this year from dealing with Covid-19.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of Covid-19 deaths in care and nursing home across England and Wales at 27 for the week ending 11th September, up from 17 and 23 for previous weeks. From 28 December to 11th September, 15,529 people died from Covid-19 in care and nursing homes in England and Wales.

Mr Padgham added: “Unless local authorities and social care are properly supported to deal with the second wave, especially to look after people in their own homes, we will face the same kind of crisis that has cost many, many lives in care and nursing homes already.

“If visits have to be suspended how are we going to cope with residents and families who are suffering mental health issues because they are facing a sepa-

ration which looks like going on for a year? If we have supervised visits, where are we going to get the extra staff to manage those at this critical time?

“Unless we can get more staff into the sector, by getting it the recognition it deserves, we are going to face a staffing crisis again anyway, because of the numbers we are having to test and those who selfisolate.”

Measures so far announced by the Government include free PPE for care workers until March, no movement of staff between care homes, a dashboard to monitor care home infections, the appointment of a new chief nurse for adult social care, and an extra £546m in Infection Control Fund money.

The ICG says the Government must solve the delays in testing which have seen staff taking a test and then waiting more than a week for the results.

“We must avoid heading blindly into a repeat of the first phases of coronavirus over again,” Mr Padgham added. “Yes, in many respects we will be better prepared, but the fundamental issue of a social care sector which has been neglected and under-funded still remains. We are still short of staff, we are still struggling to get manageable testing in place and if the virus takes a hold again, it won’t be long before homes will again be asked to take in Covid-19 patients to ease pressure on hospitals.

“We have to look at ways that we can keep enabling visits, we have to support local authorities to help them put more resources into care, including homecare, and we have to address the issue of discharging Covid-19 patients into care and nursing homes.

“If providers are to accept people with Covid-19 into their homes they will certainly need more support and more guidance.”

The ICG last week welcomed an injection of money into infection control, free PPE until March and the appointment of a Chief Nurse as welcome moves.

But Mr Padgham added: “Whilst these are positive, I fear we have to go further if we are to get through the coming months without seeing Covid-19 take a hold again.

“We have to get more people into the sector to address the staffing crisis. The only way to do that is to pay social care staff better for the amazing job they do, not just during coronavirus but all the time.”

“Before coronavirus we knew there were at least 1.5m people living in this country without the care they need. With coronavirus, heaven knows what that figure is now.

“It is now more than a year since Boris Johnson promised to end the social care crisis once and for all and the only thing we have seen is the situation getting worse.

“Under-funded and neglected by government after government, coronavirus exposed a social care system that was already in crisis and plunged it into further despair.

“We need to see, immediately, as a matter of urgency, a full, root and branch overhaul of the social care system.”

The ICG wants to see: • A root and branch overhaul of the way social care is planned and funded • NHS care and social care to be merged and managed either locally or nationally • Extra funding for social care, funded by taxation or National Insurance • A guarantee that people receiving publicly-funded care can receive it in their own home or close to where they live • A commissioner for older people and those with Learning Disabilities in England • A properly-costed national rate for care fees linked to a national career pathway and salary framework for care staff • Dementia treated like other high priority illnesses, like cancer and heart disease • A fixed percentage of GDP to be spent on social care • A cap on social care costs, including ‘hotel’ charges • Local Enterprise Partnerships to prioritise social care • A national scheme to ensure people save for their

own care, as they do for a pension • A new model of social care delivery based on catchment areas – like GPs • Social care businesses to be zero-rated for VAT • CQC to have much greater powers to oversee all commissioning practises such as per minute billing and 15-minute visits • Less duplication of inspection between CQC and local authorities/CCGs • Greater recognition of the role of the independent sector and utilisation of its expertise in the commissioning and delivery of social care • Guaranteed equal partnership working through seats on Health and Well Being Boards, CCGs and NHS • Giving providers and CQC greater flexibility in delivering services • Providing telemedicine incentives • Allowing nurses and social care staff from overseas to work in the U.K. including lowering the salary cap • Training and bursaries to encourage recruitment/end the shortage of nurses • Long term measures to integrate older and younger people in care settings and change the perception of the generations • Investment in research and development into new models of social care delivery • Funding to help upgrade older care homes to maintain a range of choice for the public and investment in domiciliary care • Funding for leadership training.

PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

How Do We Best Protect Whistleblowers?

By Philippa Shirtcliffe is QCS’s Head of Care Quality (www.qcs.co.uk)

Those who stand up for what is right have always been integral to the moral wellbeing of our society. They are moral barometers. Our attitude towards them is a key indicator of the society that we live in. Sadly, these brave men and women, who often risk their careers to bring misconduct to light, are increasingly being demonised for doing so. Many, therefore, feel they have no choice to bypass their bosses and become whistleblowers.

As a former deputy safeguarding lead and head of whistleblowing for a large primary and social care provider, I can tell you that whistleblowing in the care sector is on the increase.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), for instance, has reported a 55 percent increase in concerns during the Pandemic.

Another study commissioned by The Daily Express lists a lack of PPE, social distancing and issues around infection prevention and control as the three top concerns.*

STATISTICS RAISE AS MANY QUESTIONS AS ANSWERS There are several questions that immediately spring to mind.

Why do so many staff feel they cannot raise the issue with their Registered Manager? Are they frightened that they might be shunned, vilified or even fired by the provider? Or perhaps they reported their concerns only for their complaint to fall on deaf ears? Finally, when whistleblowers did alert the CQC, what Philippa Shirtcliffe, QCS action did it take to put things right?

Let me tackle the last question first. In the absence of face-to-face inspections, the CQC decided to apply a risk-based approach to regulation using the Emergency Support Framework (ESF). In doing so, it focused on care providers with a poor regulatory record, and those it perceived from ESF phone interviews were not coping well. However, a recent article published by Care Home Professional says that “50% of CQC’s physical inspections during COVID-19 were informed by whistleblowers and information from the public”.** If this is correct, it shows those providers in a poor light. But Debbie Harris, the founder of Autumna, an organisation which aims to help families find better later-life care options, says “the CQC could have been more transparent in its approach during the lockdown”. When the CQC failed to publish Emergency Support Framework reports, Debbie and her team published them.

Debbie says, “For the last ten years we have been supporting self-funding families to make an informed choice about care options. It is impossible to do this, however, without transparency from the regulator. That’s why, with the provider’s permission, we took the decision to publish ESF reports. If we hadn’t have done so, it would have prevented the consumer from making an informed Debbie Harris, founder of Autumna choice.”

But returning to care providers, who were reported to the CQC by whistleblowers and the public, why haven’t these providers put effective whistleblowing policies in place? And, more to the point, how do you go about doing so?

WHERE TO ACCESS WHISTLEBLOWING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES At Quality Compliance Systems, our content writers have created a whistleblowing policy, which tens of thousands of customers utilise. Not only is the guidance we provide easily-digestible and clear, it is supplemented by constant policy updates. We also work closely with a number of partners, one of which is Royds Withy King (RWK), who share best practice with us.

Take James Sage for example. Mr Sage, a partner in RWK’s Health and Social care team, has written extensively on whistleblowing disclosure policy. He says that it is not only “vital that managers are alert to the increased risk of whistleblowing disclosures” during Covid-19, but have “sufficient training to spot them” too.

From a compliance perspective, it is essential that as a second step, services have a clear set of policies and procedures in place to safeguard staff and those they look after. What should those protocols look like?

Well, they should be easy to understand and provide staff wishing to raise concerns with clear a roadmap detailing the steps they need to take to submit their concerns correctly and safely.

explains that any culture of reassurance needs to extend to staff “knowing that any disclosure will not adversely affect their position at work”. Secondly, he adds that staff need to be confident that they will be protected from “any repercussions that emerge from colleagues who they may have complained about”.

Autumna’s Debbie Harris adds, “Transparency is incredibly important too.

Without it, not only are consumers running the risk of choosing a care home, where issues have been flagged, but regulators also risk losing public trust, when the problems that have been hidden from view are exposed by investigative journalists.”

ANONYMOUS REPORTING

James Sage of Royds Withy King

I agree with this, but where I disagree with some whistleblowing experts is around the subject of creating a system for anonymous reporting. While I understand the rationale of advocates who champion it – their belief is that it may persuade staff to disclose their concerns to a manager rather than going straight to the CQC – my view is that in an open culture staff should feel safe to raise concerns. On the contrary, a culture of anonymous reporting, can make it difficult to investigate a grievance fully as the whistleblower cannot revert back to the whistleblower lead and check if action has been taken, nor can the whistleblower lead gather additional information, which might provide crucial in concluding a case. What is vital, therefore, is that the culture within a service is free from bullying or intimidation.

A MEASURED AND CONSISTENT APPROACH IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD In terms of making and receiving a complaint, it is really important that a measured and consistent approach is taken by the care provider. Effective whistleblowing needs support from senior management. In larger organisations it is often the inertia on the part of the Registered Manager and the culture within the service that leads to a whistleblower’s complaint. It is important, therefore, that the provider has a well-communicated escalation plan in place so that staff know who to whistleblow to.

On this note, the decision to appoint a Registered Manager as the provider’s whistleblowing lead needs careful consideration. What do I mean by this? Well, take for example if the Registered Manager is both the whistleblower's line manager and the whistleblowing lead. Now let's imagine that a safeguarding issue has been escalated, but the manager has failed to act. The staff member, who has made the initial complaint, may be reluctant to challenge their manager for fear of reprisal. Therefore, the role of safeguarding lead may sit better with someone else who is impartial, but at the same time has the authority to take action.

THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION As the complaint is being progressed, regular communication is paramount, as is monitoring the whistleblower’s wellbeing. It may be that making a complaint against a colleague has caused them great stress and anxiety. Therefore, if the member of staff is willing, a Registered Manager (if they are the whistleblowing lead) might recommend additional supervision where he or she can give advice, or arrange professional counselling on their behalf if required.

When a complaint is concluded, providing the staff member with a sense of closure is equally important.

Therefore, Registered Managers need to be able to not only show that the matter has been dealt with, but also that lessons have been learned and that steps have been put in place to stop the incident of malpractice from reoccurring.

AUDITING TOOLS HAVE A KEY ROLE TO PLAY Finally, having access to effective auditing tools can make a huge difference, as in James Sage’s words this allows Registered Managers “to record the number and nature of whistleblowing disclosures and to regularly audit them to spot any patterns”.

Whatever statistics, trends and patterns emerge, however, what really counts is that those who are courageous enough to put their necks on the line to reveal what are often uncomfortable and painful truths are not penalised for doing so. Adopting a clear set of policies and procedures like the ones in this article is the first step in protecting them, their colleagues, the service users – and their futures.

Want to find out more about QCS? Then why not contact them on 0333 405 33 33 or email sales@qcs.co.uk

‘OPENNESS’ THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD I think if there’s one key word that should be woven deeply in into the fabric of any whistleblowing policy, it’s ‘openness’. By this I mean, that Registered Managers must create safe space within their service, where staff feel that they can raise concerns - safe in the knowledge that if they do – positive action will be taken. As part of this open and transparent culture, managers should encourage staff to raise concerns, as this is a good indicator of how well a service is performing. If there are no complaints or concerns raised, it is actually a bad sign because it indicates that people aren’t being listened to and action is not being taken.

In addition to openness, Mr Sage says that providing reassurance to staff is incredibly important too. He

* Royds Withy King Survey highlights the importance of robust Covid-19 whistleblowing policy

By James Sage August, 25th, 2020

* Care Home Professional Legal view: The future of CQC inspections

By Lee Peart September, 16th, 2020

The Care Forum – A Hybrid Event For The Care Industry

Discover new care solutions at the Care Forum. This unique event takes place on October 5th & 6th 2020 at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire and brings together senior care professionals with suppliers to the sector for business relationship building.

The two-day Forum is hybrid which allows you to attend either in-

person at the live event or via our virtual platform. It is completely flexible – you can join for the whole event or for just half a day.

As our guest, you will be able meet 1-2-1 with suppliers to the sector, based on your requirements and upcoming projects. Meetings are pre-arranged and there’s no time wasted, no hard sell.

Plus, live event attendance allows you to also enjoy; overnight accommodation, all meals and refreshments throughout, as well as topical webinars and networking with peers.

Delegates are invited from the following sectors: Care Homes Dementia Care Hospitals Housing Groups Mental Health NHS Nursing Homes Supported Living Suppliers in attendance will cover the whole spectrum of care solutions, including Catering/Food Supply, Compliance Services, Equipment, Fixtures & Fittings, Interiors/Furnishings, Gardens & Exterior, Hygiene Services, Resident Hygiene/Care, Security, Technology and much more.

Senior care professionals are invited to attend the Forum for free.

Confirmed buyers include: Abbeyfield Society, Sanctuary Care, Tricuro, Central & Cecil Housing Trust, Achieve Together, Golden Care, Origin Housing, Canford Healthcare, CHS Group, St Matthews Healthcare, CasiCare Hazel Court and many more!

Here’s what some of them have to say about previous Care Forums: “The Care Forum is a great opportunity to revaluate the innovation, technology and competitive edge of your business viability for now and the future.”- Chilton House “The Care Forum was well organised with a good balance of constructive supplier meetings, seminars and informal networking opportunities.” - Cinnamon Retirement Living “A well organised event with a good range of suppliers. Dedicated time to discuss requirements was very valuable.” - Solden Hill House “Well organised, very enjoyable and a good opportunity to network and meet suppliers.” - Avante Care & Support Ltd You can register for your free place at https://thecareforum.co.uk/delegates-booking-form/ – Flexible virtual and live event attendance options are available.

Alternatively, contact Angelina Holden on 01992 374075 / a.holden@forumevents.co.uk If you’re a supplier to the sector, contact Leslie de Hoog on 01992 666723 / l.dehoog@forumevents.co.uk to find out about the range of event partner packages (Virtual packages are also available).

HYBRID EVENT FOR THE CARE INDUSTRY Join us at the Care Forum, a unique event for senior care professionals and the suppliers who service them.

5th & 6th October 2020 Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire Unlike a traditional expo or conference, the Forum features: • • • • • •

A series of pre-arranged, 1-2-1 meetings curated for you based on your requirements Access to a live insightful seminar session led by an industry thought leader A wealth of pre-recorded webinars Overnight accommodation, meals & refreshments Unrivalled networking with other senior care professionals FREE for care professionals to attend

FLEXIBLE VIRTUAL AND LIVE EVENT ATTENDANCE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE Contact Leslie de Hoog on 01992 376723 or l.dehoog@forumevents.co.uk

thecareforum.co.uk

PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

Communications: Lessons from the Pandemic?

By Daniel Casson, Adviser on Digital Transformation at Care England A fascinating report has just been released by Future Care Capital (FCC) and Ipsos MORI on the use of social media analysis by frontline workers during the first wave of the pandemic (search #CovidConversations). It reveals their challenges and concerns and set me thinking about how communications have developed over Covid times.

The report analysed over 3.5 million online comments and posts between 1st Feb and 31st June. What they revealed says so much about what care workers and care organisations were going through.

Almost one in three posts focussed on the importance of key workers in health and social care; 9% were related to people’s concerns about exposing their family to the virus or being separated from them; and 4% were related to children and schooling.

People expressed the whole gamut of emotions. Uppermost in carers’ minds was anger, fear and mental strain, whilst there were also feelings of hope. The mixture of professional and personal concerns offers an insight into the extent to which these challenges intersect. Annemarie Naylor, FCC’s Director of Policy and Strategy pointed out that the language used was human and did not stray into the heroic or even militaristic voice used by politicians. Here, laid bare, was the daily struggle to balance the personal with the professional, the despair with the optimism, and the reality with the hopes for the future.

Many care organisations have employed tools such as Hospify to keep in touch with clinicians and family. Facebook and Google Nests have been mobilised to keep people up to date. Mutual aid WhatsApp groups such a Care Home Care have been far more effective in spreading the messages, sharing the learning and seeking advice, guidance and reassurance in a time when the official media and official announcements have often sowed confusion. This is truly the age of mutual support and people power.

The move by the NHS to equip social care with NHSmail on a mass scale means that social care organisations now have the chance to communicate easily and securely with the statutory authorities in health and local government. This has saved countless hours of wasted phone calls and unanswered emails. In the same package social care organisations have gained access to Microsoft Teams as a tool to help them with internal communications and external conferencing.

There is still work to be done on connecting health and care systems formally, but the opportunity is there, and the current work being done

by NHSX and NHS Digital to join up care and health in a joint, mutual conversation is vital. The groundwork put into these organisations before the pandemic is bearing fruit, as we in social care are now starting to see the benefit of this joined up, digital connectivity and this joined up way of thinking.

My blogs on the digital transformation always come down to one thing; digital transformation and use of digital tools must create value.

These new communication tools and media create immense value for carers (both professional and family & friend carers), for the people being cared for, for organisations and for the health and care system as a whole.

The optimism comes with some caveats. The communication media

and strategies which struggle to gain momentum are those which are imposed and not developed either spontaneously by people, or by coproduction with the people using them. This is a call for coproduction and listening to all parties involved.

I am currently part of the Digital Social Care team running the helpline for social care providers on any digital enquiries they have. A message reached us this morning from a parent despairing that she cannot visit their child in a rehab unit and detailing the damage that not being able to visit is doing to both of them. The only crumb of comfort I can offer is that at least there are ways to see each other now over communication channels, but ultimately there is no substitute for touching and feeling, which are the parts social media and communications media cannot reach. It reminded me that our social media and digital communications cannot cover all bases at all times and only gain their true power when combined with real human touch.

The Future Care Capital and Ipsos MORI report is a clear reminder that in communications it is people power which is important. The informal communication modes will grow, and we in social care must become even more skilled in understanding what the messages are telling us. By developing this understanding, we can design an even better care ecosystem: our care, our workspaces and our future must reflect what these social media and communication channels are telling us.

Daniel Casson Adviser on digital transformation to Care England www.careengland.org.uk/digitalblog Executive of Digital Social Care - www.digitalsocialcare.co.uk

Care Homes to Receive 11,000 IPads to Help Residents Keep in Touch with Loved Ones Care homes will be given iPads to help residents keep in touch with their loved ones and reduce the risk of loneliness as part of plans to ensure the social care sector is supported throughout winter.

Up to 11,000 iPad tablets, worth £7.5 million, will be distributed to thousands of care homes across England to support residents and staff and reduce the risk of infection from people going into homes as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

The iPads will also mean care home staff can easily access digital health services, including virtual appointments for residents when appropriate, to further reduce the risk of transmission from visitors.

Earlier this month the Government launched its Adult Social Care Winter Plan backed by a £546 million Infection Control Fund and the offer of free PPE for providers until March.

Each tablet device will be ready to use straight out of the box and include a 12-month support package and also, for care homes without full access to wifi, a data-enabled SIM card.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock said: “With coronavirus cases rising the need for infection control measures and social distancing is more important than ever for those living and working in care homes. However I know how challenging the current situation is staff, residents and families, particularly when loved ones can’t visit.

“These tablets will be the gateway for so many residents to connect with loved ones, and allow staff to quickly access digital NHS services and information, to help stop Covid-19 outbreaks in their tracks.”

The iPads will make it possible for care homes to: • Connect residents with loved ones remotely • Hold video consultations with medical professionals, and easily organise face to face appointments.

• Enable care home staff to reorder medications on behalf of their residents and update information in their GP records • Enable care home staff to reorder medications on behalf of their residents and to access info in their GP records.

• Use NHSmail (a secure NHS internal email service) • Use any other applications and tools that they feel support the care of their residents Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: “We’ve set out our plan to make sure social care has what it needs throughout winter to keep coronavirus at bay and provide the care so many rely on. But we know one of the hardest things during the pandemic has been the restrictions on visiting, keeping families away from their

loved ones.

“I have heard from many people about the pain of not being able to visit, not being able to hug or even hold the hand of their husband or wife, father or mother. I know iPads won’t solve this problem and connecting via a device doesn’t work for everyone, but it will help some families stay in touch.

“Some care homes have also found remote consultations with GPs really valuable during the pandemic, so for those who don’t have the devices to do so, these iPads will make a difference.

“This is one more step in our strategy to support social care to look after those most at risk from Covid during this winter.”

The Adult Social Care Winter Plan set out tightened infection prevention and control measures to enable visits to continue safely where possible. Any area listed as an ‘area of intervention’ must immediately restrict visiting to exceptional circumstances only - such as for the end of someone’s life.

They will be prioritised for care homes that don’t have enough modern devices, or struggle with their internet connection. The iPads comes with a data enabled SIM card.

Staff across social care are already embracing new ways of working including increasing use of digital solutions to help them support those in their care. NHSX is working with local authorities, social care providers, and NHS regions to ensure that ahead of winter care providers in England can access healthcare information and have the technology and digital tools they need to support their residents.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said: “Communicating with families and with other professionals is vital during this difficult period and we welcome the distribution of iPads, which should enable care providers to have better access to NHS support, and also enable people to keep in contact with their relatives.”

IPads, selected because they are the only tablet device that will enable care home staff to access their residents' summary care records, will be prioritised and allocated to eligible care homes according to need and based on information provided by care homes when they apply.

The rollout of the IPads will be supported by new guidance to enable authorised and trained care staff to order regular medications on behalf of their care home residents online, reducing the administrative burden on staff across social care, general practice and pharmacy.

This is on top of discounted broadband deals being offered to care providers to help improve their connectivity.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils are already working closely with their care providers to help keep people who use and work in social care connected and informed, such as helping with remote assessments and staying in touch with loved ones.

“These iPads will make a difference to those care homes which may not have access to this technology or have less reliable internet connections, to make sure their residents and staff can fully get the care and support they need, particularly as we head into winter and face the risk of rising infections.”

Demand From Care Sector Firms Rewarding Staff In Lockdown Drives Surge In Recognition Products Care sector employers looking to reward hard working staff for their efforts during lockdown have helped double new business at one of the UK’s leading gifting and engagement companies.

Appreciate Group saw the sharp rise in demand from new clients between April and August as firms looked to thank employee efforts during the pandemic.

The year-on-year increase was particularly high in the care sector – where many employees remained in the workplace throughout lockdown.

Appreciate Group’s business products include Love2shop gift cards, e-gift cards and vouchers all of which companies can use to reward their employees and customers.

Love2shop can be redeemed with many of the nation’s leading retailers and leisure providers.

Frank Creighton, Director of Business Development at Appreciate Group said: “Employees up and down the country have needed to adapt to new and different ways

of working during these challenging times, be that working from home or abiding by social distancing rules in the workplace.

“These challenges have also led to an increasing number of employers finding new ways to say thank you to colleagues for their efforts during lockdown, including digital rewards.”

“Recognition gestures such as gift cards can go a long way in making staff feel that their employer values their commitment. Many companies will need these hard-working employees as they continue to deal with, and emerge from, the challenges of COVID-19.”

Employers are able to use the tax-free Trivial Benefits Allowance to reward staff with gift cards up to the value of £50.

For more information on tax-free gifting for employees, visit: https://www.appreciate.co.uk/tax-free-gifts-for-employees/ or email Alex Speed, Head of Business Development, at Appreciate Group alex.speed@appreciategroup.co.uk.

DO YOU KNOW THE CARER’S NEXT UNSUNG HERO? Regular readers will know we here at the Carer have been awarding an Unsung Hero each Summer and Christmas since 2016!

Now, in these unprecedented and testing times we are looking for another Unsung Hero! (How we wish we could reward you all!)

Say hello to some previous ers!

A two night luxury break for winn

Care Home urst of Cloverfield Marion Brockleh

Debbie Day of Cedars Care Home

two people in a choice of over 300 UK-wide hotels is the prize! £50 Marks & Spencer vouchers for two runners-up! e Boynes Care Centr Sam Buckley of The

Tina Higginson of Sam brook care home

A no-frills, no glitz or glamour competition - all we ask is for you to send us a paragraph or two nominating your Unsung Hero from any department with a brief description of how they've gone that extra mile and deserve to be recognised.

✓ Do you know our next Unsung Hero?

Email your nomination to us today at nominate@thecareruk.com CLOSING DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2020

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

New Recruitment Drive to Help 10,000 People with Serious Mental Illness More than 10,000 people living with serious mental illness will receive support from 480 new mental health social workers, thanks to a £27 million funding boost for the charity Think Ahead.

The new funding – which has been welcomed by mental health charity Mind – will help recruit and train a new wave of mental health social workers, who will form part a vital part of the response to coronavirus.

Applications for the graduate places have opened today.

The recruits are trained to provide psychological and practical support to help people with serious mental illness, such as severe depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, address issues such as relationships, housing, and employment – which can have a huge bearing on mental wellbeing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health – and recent research suggests that those with pre-existing mental health conditions are at greater risk of significant, long-term, negative effects.[i] This new funding will give the most vulnerable the support they need by expanding the Think Ahead programme by 60% – from 100 trainees each year to 160 – training up to 480 new mental health social workers across England over the next three years.

Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Nadine Dorries said: “The impact of the pandemic on those with pre-existing mental health conditions could be significant and long lasting.

“The NHS, local services and charities have done an excellent job in being there to support those who have needed help throughout the pandemic, but it is vital that we ensure our services are fit to meet ongoing demand.

“By expanding the mental health workforce this new funding will boost support for the most vulnerable at a time when they need it most.”

Think Ahead Chief Executive, Ella Joseph, said: “We are delighted to be able to train hundreds more social workers, who will play a key part in the nation’s mental health recovery from coronavirus. The pandemic has shown us more than ever that social factors like

isolation, relationships, finances and living arrangements have profound impacts on mental health – social workers are uniquely placed to help people with severe mental health problems to address issues like these.”

The Think Ahead programme offers talented graduates and those looking to change career a paid route into frontline mental health services, run by the NHS and Local Authorities, with training delivered on-the-job in partnership with Middlesex University.

The programme, which began in 2016, has been a huge success, and so far has recruited over 500 mental health social workers. It is recognised in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list as one of the top 40 graduate schemes in the country, and receives more than 30 applications for each place.

Applications for the 2021 intake have opened today, with the selection process focusing on the motivation and skills to make a difference to vulnerable people.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “It’s great to see further funding for Think Ahead. The programme is supporting people who want to become mental health social workers and change the lives of people who experience serious mental health problems.

“People’s social circumstances – such as their finances, living arrangements and relationships – are crucial to good mental health. That has become even more clear this year as the coronavirus has had a deep impact on many people’s lives.”

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s National Director of Mental Health Director, said: “Expanding mental health care for patients, including by boosting our workforce, is an important priority for the NHS so it’s absolutely good news that the Think Ahead programme is being enhanced, recognising that its trainees have already supported thousands of people across dozens of NHS mental health trusts in England.

“Mental health social workers have a vital role to play in helping to ensure that people receive the mental health and care support they need, as the NHS continues to deliver care to people who need it, as we have done throughout the pandemic.”

Worship During Lockdown - An “Online” Solution The Rest Homes team from Brighton and Hove City Mission has been visiting care and nursing homes across the city for 14 years. Staff and volunteers visit homes to hold short, interactive services in the communal lounge that include singing hymns and saying prayers, to enable those who can no longer go to church to worship to engage with their faith.

Many residents simply remember hymns from Sunday school; it is amazing to see people, who are mostly non-communicative, singing along and enjoying themselves!

Of course, with lockdown, this is no longer possible, so, the team have moved the service online! There are many churches who are streaming online services, but they are too long and wordy for those with cognitive impairment. The team have designed services to fill the gap; no longer

than 15 minutes, with mostly traditional hymns, prayers, a Bible verse, and a short encouraging comment on the verse. The team have received very positive feedback from homes. It helps the staff to meet the spiritual needs of their residents and the residents benefit from the experience.

Services are produced twice a month and are totally free to use in care homes or private dwellings.

Here is a link to our meet the team video which explains a bit about what we do. https://youtu.be/C671Sc7p-BY This is a link to the first service we have put on Youtube, we hope to be able to produce a new service every two weeks! https://youtu.be/MtsweHtutwg

PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

Causes and Prevention: Rethinking Alzheimer's and Dementia in 2020 and Beyond

By Thomas Owens, senior copywriter at Webster Wheelchairs (https://websterwheelchairs.co.uk) of how the disease operates is clearer than ever. Based on our current knowledge, we are now fairly confident that we can at least prevent it — even if we cannot cure it.

TREATING ALZHEIMER’S LIKE HEART DISEASE

If there is one disease more dreadful than cancer diagnosis, then Alzheimer’s might be it. There are few illnesses that are more draining, emotionally, financially, and from a scientific standpoint. The toll on family members is considerable. Every year, an estimated 18 billion hours of unpaid work are carried out caring for sufferers, who often won’t even know about it.

But it isn’t like the medical community is trying. There are few diseases that are studied as thoroughly as Alzheimer’s. Over the past 20 years alone, the scientific community has published more than 73,000 papers on it, which averages to around 200 papers per day.

The damage that Alzheimer’s wrecks, however, is so profound that a cure still seems a long way off. Though importantly, our understanding

Heart disease is one of the great killers of the modern age. It is mostly a result of eating a poor diet that allows cholesterol to build up in the blood vessels, which can obstruct the flow to the heart. Well, thanks to the accumulation of knowledge over the past few decades, scientists are now beginning to look at Alzheimer’s as a vascular disease, too.

With a considerable amount of literature linking Alzheimer’s to the build-up of plaques and cholesterol in the blood vessels of the brain.

The theory is backed up by practical research. Mainly by autopsies on the victims who have died with Alzheimer’s. Research has shown that most sufferers seemed to have significant blockages caused by cholesterol in the parts of the brain that are associated with memory function.

It therefore stands to reason that by switching up the way we eat, and by moving away from a high-cholesterol diet, we can not only avoid heart disease, but Alzheimer’s too. This is no longer just speculation, but scientific fact. A diet that is high in cholesterol plays a huge role in whether a person develops Alzheimer’s or not.

Cholesterol also encourages the development and distribution of what are known as “amyloid plaques” throughout the brain. These plaques are crucial to the development of Alzheimer’s.

PREVENTING ALZHEIMER'S WITH THE RIGHT FOOD We may not be able to cure Alzheimer’s at present. But we can slow it’s advance and — crucially — prevent it with the right foods.

Researchers have unambiguously proposed a diet that consists almost entirely of vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes. With little room at all for meat or dairy products.

Visioncall Eyes Growth Following Restructure

Eye care specialist Visioncall is focussing on growing its operations across the UK following a restructuring process designed to improve its clinical service.

Visioncall is one of the UK’s leading providers of eye health services to care homes and has had to adapt its operating model to facilitate growth in a market heavily impacted by Covid-19.

The restructure consolidated managerial, administrative, bookings, and HR roles to the company’s Cambuslang base. Head office will act as the nexus of the hub and spoke model of operations with lead optometrists and dispensing opticians focussing on the delivery and standard of care.

Three new regional lead optometrist roles and three lead dispensing optician positions have been created to provide deeper and broader coverage south of the border.

Michelle Le Prevost, Managing Director at Visioncall, led the restructuring programme. She said: “Covid-19 has had an immeasurable impact on businesses across the country and around the world, and few have been as hard as our

partners and patients in the care home sector. It became clear very quickly that we would have to adapt our operations significantly to be able to continue our personfocused eye care, which – while difficult – gave us the capacity to look at our broader business operations and adapt for the future.

“Our clinical teams are the experts in the fields and specialise in the looking after our elderly and vulnerable patients, including those with dementia and communication issues. Because of the nature of our core patient base, it’s essential that those clinical teams can focus on the implementing the highest standards of care rather than roles like processing bookings which can be done remotely.

“The new operating model also allows us to be more flexible to changing markets. Care homes remain our central and core audience although as the way we each live our lives is changed, perhaps irrevocably, by Covid-19, there are opportunities to expand and innovate with new routes to market for eye health businesses like ours.

“The future of the care home sector and the wider economy is uncertain, but by taking these brave steps now, we’re securing the future of our business and protecting our patients’ eye care and the improvements in quality of life that accompany clear vision.”

Visioncall has been delivering person-centred eye care to the UK care home sector since 1994. Its services include home sight tests, optical dispensing and dementia-friendly eye exams.

More than 50% of UK care home residents suffer with sight loss, which can increase anxiety and frustration, having knock-on effects on other aspects of an individual’s physical and mental health.

To find out more about Visioncall, please visit: www.vision-call.co.uk

Scientists are confident that diet plays the most significant role in whether a person develops Alzheimer’s or not. They know this by studying regional populations and patterns in immigration. Alzheimer’s is almost non-existent in countries that live off almost entirely plant-based foods, such as in Uganda and Japan. But as people from those countries migrate to the West and take up a Western diet, their susceptibility to Alzheimer's soars.

In fact, the evidence suggests that if you cut meat from your diet entirely, then your chances of developing the disease will drop by more than half. And this chance will further diminish the longer you keep off the meat.

THE POWER OF OUR BEST MEDICINE In many cases, the best medicine that we have is food. This makes sense because most pharmaceuticals are simply synthetic arrangements of the healing powers of food that already exist in nature. But even if a pill will one day exist that can treat Alzheimer’s — why wait? By eating the right foods today, we don’t have to sit around and wait.

The research suggests that the best foods are the dark-green leafy types and colourful berries. The polyphenols, which are a type of micronutrient that are found in berries in particular, actually stop amyloid plaques from forming, and may even remove them from the brain.

In addition to this, a massive study that involved over 2,000 people found that drinking fruit and vegetable juices also had benefits.

Including reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by a massive 76 per cent, even in people who seemed most likely to develop the disease.

Armed with all of this knowledge, the data seems clear. Eat the right away, and the inevitable doesn’t have to be inevitable. We can cure Alzheimer’s. But the cure comes in the form of a lifestyle change, not in some magic pill.

Husband And Wife Reunited In Time To Celebrate Their 62nd Wedding Anniversary We all love a good love story, and George and Jessie Willis’ story is exactly that!

George has been a resident at Brentwood Care Centre since the beginning of 2020, and during that time, George’s wife, Jessie, and their family have become part of Brentwood’s Family.

Since the COVID-19 lockdown and the resulting visitor restrictions at the Residential Dementia and Nursing home in Pilgrims Hatch, George, Jessie and their family have enjoyed frequent Facetime sessions to share all of their news and spend time together.

Newsletters and social media posts have also helped, but the family have sorely missed each other.

When the Brentwood team discovered that George and Jessie’s 62nd Wedding Anniversary was coming up, they sprung in to action to make their day as special as they could.

A romance which has lasted over 65 years, George is the youngest of 11 children and was doing National Service when, aged 18, he first met Jessie at a National Services Dance in Darlington. However, the fateful meeting of this love-struck duo almost didn’t happen when Jessie’s mum almost put a stop to her going until her Aunt promised to escort her to and from the dance on the bus.

After that moment, they were inseparable, George visiting every weekend when on

leave.

This isn’t the first time that George and Jessie have enjoyed a special anniversary surprise: on their 60th Wedding Anniversary they received a wonderful card from Her Majesty the Queen in celebration of the occasion.

With new Government and Public Health England Guidance issued on 22nd July 2020 and RCH Care Homes new Visitor Guidance policy in place, it now meant that the team at Brentwood Care Centre could start planning not only their 62nd Wedding Anniversary but also a magical reunion.

When asked what the secret to a long and happy marriage was Jessie remarked, “Thinking about the other person and always looking after my George”. However, when asked himself, George laughed “My best advice is to always do as you’re told!”

New Scale for Mobility-Impaired Residents Could Reduce ‘Risk of Injury to Staff and Residents’ and ‘Costs to Healthcare’ A new chair scale with a lifting seat, believed to be the first of its kind, will ‘reduce risk of injury to residents’ and ‘support the musculoskeletal health of staff’ when weighing individuals with limited mobility.

By making the weighing process easier, the new device could also ‘reduce costs to healthcare’’ according to the manufacturer.

The M-250, available now from scale manufacturer Marsden, is a chair scale that features a seat that rises and lowers to help a resident get into, and out of, a sitting position. Marsden says it has been introduced in response to requests from customers for easier ways to weigh residents who cannot stand unaided.

The tilting seat base, operated by a handheld remote control, rises to the resident and then gently lowers them into the seat. Once weighing is complete, it rises slowly to assist them from sitting to a near-standing position.

The new weighing scale is Class III Approved, meaning it is legally suitable for weighing individuals for medical purposes. It provides an accurate weight reading to the nearest 100g, and has a capacity of 250kg. The seat is slightly wider than standard chair scales, meaning it can accommodate larger residents.

Development of the new weighing scale began in 2017, with input provided by care homes, back care specialists and other industry experts, including medical device design house PD-M. The scale was developed alongside the Patient Transfer Scale, Marsden’s transfer board with built-in weighing scale that was launched in late 2018.

“The M-250 is designed to make weighing residents with limited mobility more comfortable, less stressful, and potentially even reduce the time and number of staff it typically takes to weigh these individuals,” said Dave Smith, Marketing Director at Marsden. “We want to see it reducing costs to healthcare too, through quicker, easier weighing processes and less risk of injury to care staff.”

Mark Coates, Operations Director at Marsden, said: “The biggest challenge of weighing residents with limited mobility is the time it takes, the stress on the individual and the amount of effort required by staff.

“When developing the scale we had to consider the benefit to the resident and the member of staff. What’s safest and easiest for the healthcare professional without compromising comfort for the resident?

“Our finished product has been tested by individuals with varying levels of mobility, and with both one and two members of staff. Through this testing we found that effort required by staff to help the resident out of the seat was greatly reduced compared to a standard chair scale or wheelchair.

“Plus, we’ve focused on reducing risk of injury to residents as well as supporting the musculoskeletal health of healthcare staff when weighing those with limited mobility.”

“We’re looking forward to seeing the M-250 make a real difference in care homes in the UK, and around the world.”

The M-250 Chair Scale with Stand Assist is available to order now on the Marsden website. www.marsden-weighing.co.uk or email sales@marsdengroup.co.uk

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

Many Health Care Professionals Lack Awareness Of Nutritional Guidelines For Supporting Cancer Patients, Research Finds Many health care professionals lack awareness of nutritional guidelines for supporting cancer patients, the largest national survey of its kind has found.

The survey of 610 health care professionals working with cancer patients found that only 39% were aware of nutritional guidelines and just 20% felt completely confident in providing nutritional advice, despite 94% of respondents stating that they discuss nutrition with their patients.

Nutrition plays an important role in wellbeing, response to therapy and secondary recurrence of cancer, and people living with and beyond cancer often experience nutrition-related issues, which includes the risk of malnutrition.

Diagnosis of cancer can also be an important ‘teachable moment’ to change undesirable diet-related behaviours, adopt risk-reducing strategies and manage symptoms.

International guidelines recommend that cancer patients receive tailored nutrition advice from trained health care professionals.

However, the UK national survey, produced by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cancer and Nutrition Collaboration, found that – while health care professionals provide information on nutrition – awareness of guidelines and confidence in providing nutritional advice were variable.

Health care professionals who had received training had a greater awareness of guidelines and were more likely to report complete confidence in providing nutritional advice.

Among those that responded, only 21% of oncology nurses and 15% of doctors had received nutrition training.

First author and Professor of Nutrition at Bournemouth University, Jane

Murphy said: ‘Appropriate nutrition is a key factor to support wellbeing for people living with and beyond cancer, affecting treatment and development of secondary cancers. Thus, it is crucial that people receive robust evidence informed advice from health care professionals.

“Our research showed many professionals provide information but many are not confident and lack an awareness of guidelines. This points to the need for high quality education and training for healthcare professionals that is accessible and flexible.”

Professor Emeritus Sam Ahmedzai, chair of the NIHR Cancer & Nutrition Collaboration, said: “The UK has world-class cancer services, but we know supportive care for cancer patients at all stages of their illness could still be improved. This unique research conducted by Prof Murphy and her team shows how much more progress is needed on educating cancer doctors and nurses specifically on providing good nutritional care. The Collaboration continues to develop new research to fill this gap.”

Melissa Mogor, Collaboration member World Cancer Research Fund’s Public Health Adviser, said: “We know that diet and nutrition impact not just cancer prevention, but also survival and quality of life for people living with and beyond cancer. These findings highlight how necessary it is that Health Professionals are able to access training and support in order to provide nutritional advice to cancer patients. Providing this support is a key focus of our work at WCRF, and we have been responsive to Health professionals’ needs by moving our workshops and webinars online in the face of COVID19.”

The research has been published open access in Supportive Care in Cancer, and the full research paper is available at https://bit.ly/35wfMvW

Tribute to Blackburn Rovers Superfan Dolly and Her Day Out HC-One’s Old Gates care home resident, Doris Houghton, more commonly known as “Dolly” has been a resident at the home since 2010 and everyone at the home loves her. As a special treat, she went to be a VIP for the day and watch Blackburn Rovers.

Prior to the day out, which took place in September 2019, colleagues at the home had contacted Blackburn Rovers to let them know they had a very special guest.

Dolly, who is blind, would be escorted by Jessica Logan, her Nursing Assistant, and Joanna Walsh, Registered Nurse.

Jessica commented, “Blackburn Rovers absolutely did a credit to her. Every member of staff was kind and generous to her, she was treated like a VIP for the day, she had her picture taken with the premier trophy and had access to the Director's lounge, which was described to Dolly, she giggled and said it sounds posh! It was! She was given headphones to listen to BRFC radio.”

Before the game, Dolly was escorted into the trophy room where she had her picture taken and the club had organised for Dolly to meet the players! They asked Dolly who she would like her picture taken with and Dolly said, “Colin Hendry”, who hasn’t played for Rovers for more than two decades! They all had a great laugh about it. Dolly got her picture taken with Midfielders

New Tredegar Resident Celebrates 105th Birthday A resident at White Rose care home in New Tredegar has celebrated her 105th birthday with her son, friends and staff due to lockdown restrictions.

Nellie Dando enjoyed a socially distanced party with fellow residents and staff, which included a cake and a card from the Queen.

Nellie is a New Tredegar native, who moved to London as a teenager and returned home when she was older to care for her grandmother.

She has two sons, Ivor who lives in Australia and Kenneth who moved into White Rose in March this year.

Nellie loves knitting and spends most of her day stitching and purling. She also loves singing along to music during activity afternoon sessions.

She has lived at the home since December 2019 and enjoyed a birthday celebration with a buffet and a tipple.

Staff worked hard to make the day special, because the rest of Nellie’s family were unable to visit due to the current restrictions in place in Wales.

Nellie said: “I had a lovely time celebrating my birthday at White Rose with the lovely staff and my friends.

Although I’m no spring chicken, I’m always up for a party and some cake. It was fantastic!”

Jayne Coburn, home manager at White Rose, said: “Nellie is a remarkable lady of 105. To have all your faculties and able to walk around is amazing at this age. It is lovely that Nellie and Kenneth can be together.

“We know it’s not ideal to have a birthday during the lockdown, but we tried to make it as special as possible for her. I hope she enjoyed celebrating at the home as much as we did.”

Nellie’s son, Kenneth, 83, said: “It was a very nice day. Mum really enjoyed it. It’s very good here and we’d like to thank the staff for being so kind to us.”

Bradley Dack and Joe Rothwell.

Dolly, whose room at Old Gates is full of Blackburn Rovers memorabilia, was taken to the Directors Lounge as well as the club shop where she got a scarf, a t-shirt “pink to make the boys wink”, a Rover’s mascot teddy and a banner. She then had her picture taken with Jack Walker tribute statue and was singing, “There’s only one Jack Walker”!

While enjoying her favourite Southern Comfort and lemonade, Dolly was giggling during the match as she listened to the BRFC radio commentator, waving her fists up, and making all sorts of comments at the Ref. When a player was injured she say “oh dear”.

Rovers won by two goals that day.

Dolly sadly passed away on the 8th of September in her sleep at the hospital and she will always be remembered and never forgotten.

Home Manager, Helen Holden, commented, “Ten years colleagues at our home have known Doris, she was funny, witty, loved Lancashire radio, loved Rovers, loved a good gossip, she was such a joy to care for, she loved us all and told us each day. She wasn’t just a resident but a friend to all.”

The Social Interest Group The Social Interest Group (SIG) is made up of subsidiary charities that collectively believe that everyone has the right to live a positive and healthy life.

We work in partnership to deliver quality support, health and social care through prevention, early intervention, recovery and rehabilitation.

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Penrose has been helping vulnerable adults make a change to their lives for over 50 years with support interventions that have a positive and lasting impact. Penrose was founded in 1969 and since then we have supported thousands of people with their own personal journey and empower them to reach their own aspirational goals.

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SIG Investments buys or leases property on behalf of the Group, and then leases it to Group members at an affordable rent.

For further information please contact: communications@socialinterestgroup.org.uk

Minimising Contact with Door Handles Reduces the Risk of Germs and Viruses Spreading Around 80% of infections are spread by touch, including touching contaminated surfaces such as door handles. In care homes ensuring residents adhere to strict sanitising guidelines can be very difficult and can cause stress and anxiety for them too. Removing the need to open doors as residents and staff walk from room to room is an easy solution to eliminate the need to touch door handles and hand plates.

The elderly are one of the most vulnerable group of people with regards to infections like flu and COVID-19, finding ways to reduce the spread of these diseases is therefore paramount. Dorgard offers a solution to legally hold fire doors open so staff and residents can move around the building ‘contact free’, reducing the risk of cross-infection with germs and viruses. These battery-powered door

holders are easily fitted to a fire door by a handyman. The device ‘listens’ for the sound of your fire alarm and when the alarm goes off the Dorgard automatically releases the door and allows it to close, preventing the spread of fire and toxic smoke. Hence, not only is the risk of cross infection reduced, the fire safety of the building is also maintained.

With a range of Dorgards to choose from you will find a solution that is ideal for your setting. The original Dorgard is perfect for small to medium settings with normal or low noise levels. For noisier environments, where enhanced sound recognition is beneficial, Dorgard SmartSound offers a great solution.

If you would like to discuss your needs further with our knowledgeable customer care team please call 0800 978 8746 or visit

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

14,199 More NHS Nurses and Nursing Student Acceptances Rise By 23% The number of nurses in the NHS in England increased by 14,199 compared to last year, and the number of doctors has risen by 9,283,figures published today up until the end of June show.

All professionally qualified clinical staff, paramedics and support to clinical staff are now at record levels.

Alongside this, the latest UCAS figures out today show there are record numbers of people accepting a place to study nursing in England, with a 23% increase on the same time last year, or 5,000 more student nurses.

Responding to today’s NHS workforce statistics, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The NHS is there for us all in our hour of need, and the safety of our health and social care staff that support us day in, day out is my top priority. It is fantastic to see over 14,100 more nurses and over 9,200 more doctors working in the NHS, putting it in the best possible position to continue tackling this global health emergency.

“With the latest UCAS figures out today showing a record 23% rise in people accepting places on nursing courses in England, we are also well on our way to delivering 50,000 more nurses by the end of this Parliament.”

In July the NHS People Plan set out how the NHS will put staff wellbeing at its heart with a new recruitment, retention and support package. It sets out practical support for wellbeing such as safe spaces to rest and recuperate, wellbeing guardians and support to keep staff physically safe and healthy.

The figures for June include some former healthcare professionals who bravely volunteered to return to the frontline during the pandemic. June figures also show that 649 returners were identified, of which, there are 102 doctors and 165 nurses and health visitors. Not all returners are reflected in the monthly workforce stats as they could have been employed on Fixed Term, Honorary or Bank contracts, or via NHS Professionals.

Care Support Worker of 20 Years Dedicates Paintings to Home Residents A support worker who has dedicated 20 years of care to individuals at Rosewarne residential care home in Camborne, Cornwall, has spent a year painting a series of canvas pictures to be installed in the sensory gardens of the home.

Debbie Dyer, 58, plays a vital role in taking care of disabled adults with complex care needs, including giving them medication, assisting them to eat and their daily activities at the home on Tehidy Road.

After dedicating a tropical underwater mural to the care home previously, the budding artist was keen to devote more of her work to the home.

Debbie said: “Sketching and drawing has always been a passion of mine since I was a child but it wasn’t until 12-years-ago, when I went on a painting course, that I tried my hand at the discipline. I’ve been painting ever since.

“It’s lovely to see the smile it brings to the residents’ faces and I’m really

thrilled with how they’ve been received.”

The five paintings, including an image of bees in sunflowers, sleepy foxes and badgers and a fairy balancing on a mushroom, were decided on by the residents who completed a questionnaire on the pictures they wanted Debbie to paint.

Jasmine Sutherland, deputy manager at Rosewarne said: “Debbie’s such a talented artist and a committed carer. We’re lucky to have her amongst our ranks and are grateful for the time she’s spent on the beautiful paintings. They really brighten up the place and will look stunning when installed in our sensory garden.”

Glynis Williams, a resident at Rosewarne, added: “Debbie is a lovely lady, who pays great care and attention to all that she does. Even her artwork as you can see.”

Digitally Enabled-Supporting Residents & Staff Through Technology UK adults are now spending 4 hours a day online – this is the highest on record according to Ofcom’s annual Online Nation report. COVID-19 has significantly changed the way we communicate and people are now looking for new ways to keep connected, informed, entertained and well – both physically and mentally - in the pandemic.

However, in an increasingly digital world, anyone not engaging with the internet is at risk of being left behind. The latest UK Consumer Digital Index 2020 report states that an estimated 7% of the UK population are still offline and 9 million people struggle to get online by themselves. Age and vulnerability are significant factors with the data showing that 77% of over 70s have very low digital engagement and 44% of those offline are under the age of 60. Furthermore, the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, or people with an impairment, are also less likely to have the skills they need to access the internet or use digital devices to get themselves online.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic members of the National Care Forum (NCF) have seen inspiring and creative ways professional care teams have found to keep those receiving care and support connected to their loved ones and to life. Care providers are using more digital forms of connectivity to create vibrant and stimulating activities to

enable residents to stay in contact with friends and family beyond the doors of the care home.

Care providers have highlighted the increasing importance of their staff being digitally enabled and digitally confident, and the current COVID-19 crisis has made this even more vital.

Essential digital skills can be a lifeline for people and turn isolation from lack of connectivity into inclusion. The NCF has responded to this challenge by developing a series of simple practical resources (15 Crib sheets) to help care providers - big and small - make the best use of digital technology for their staff and residents in a COVID-19 world.

The Crib sheets are designed to equip both staff and residents, or anyone using care and support services, with the basic skills they need to get online and to enjoy the experience of using technology. The Crib sheets are simple to use, bright and written in plain English to ensure the guidelines are straightforward to understand and accessible to all.

The Crib sheets can be printed and laminated and are useful to help anyone in a care setting, in their own homes, or carers, families and friends benefit from learning new digital skills.

The Crib sheets are grouped into three key themes, starting with basic skills on how to get started and connected to the internet, to pro-

viding helpful tips on using search engines to look for information, finding a website, using social networks, video calling and messaging.

Vic Rayner, Executive Director at the NCF said: “Digital skills are becoming increasingly important, but as research shows, many older people and people with impairment and vulnerabilities are not always confident to get online by themselves. The changing demands as a result of the pandemic means that digital skills now play an important part in connecting people with others, helping people access important information and services, and maintain their health and wellbeing. It is absolutely essential that people are not excluded from the benefits that the internet and digital technologies can have in their lives, simply because they lack the skills to get online by themselves. This is the reason why we’ve developed the Crib sheets, to help care providers support their staff and residents with essential digital skills, to make sure that everyone who wants to has the opportunity to be connected, included and supported in using technology.”

The Crib sheets can be downloaded and printed from the NCF website at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk

Comprehensive Spending For Adult Social Care Care England has submitted evidence to HMT’s latest Comprehensive Spending Review.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “During these unprecedented times, it is of paramount importance to keep on alerting the Government of the plethora of issues affecting the adult social care sector. Care England’s submission seeks to highlight the immediate COVID-19 related issues, but also, those longer-term structural issues which afflict the sustainability of the sector. In light of the sector’s contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, Government

must support and be responsive to the needs of the sector. For too long, Governments of all stripes have merely pushed social care reform into the long grass.”

With COVID-19 cases rising again, the submission makes the case for renewed support for the sector, to ensure that it is safeguarded from the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, issues cited, include: • COVID-19 related costs e.g. Declining occupancy levels • Long term funding gaps e.g. Inadequate local authority fee rates • Health related issues e.g. Testing issues

• Workforce issues e.g. Staff wellbeing and resilience • Data infrastructure and funding in the adult social care sector.

The submission also makes the case for longer term reform for the sector and the need for a more sustainable system to be put in place.

Professor Green continues: “Care England hopes that the Government heeds the calls of the sector. This is fundamental not only for those who receive support or care, but also for the future development of England’s economy and society.”

HC-One Builds Infection Control Army to Defend its Care Homes Against Coronavirus HC-One has established an Infection Control Army as it defends its care homes against coronavirus, prevents transmission of the virus and protects Residents, Colleagues and visitors alike.

In response to tackling the coronavirus pandemic, HC-One has taken special measures to increase and enhance our infection control standards and procedures in its care homes. A key measure is the recruitment of an Infection Control Army consisting of over 800 Colleagues from across our care home network to play a pivotal role in the fight against and beat coronavirus.

Every Colleague receives infection control training as part of their induction when they join HC-One, and new modules have been added throughout the pandemic to reflect changes to government guidance.

All members of the Infection Control Army have gone on to complete further training so they are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to coach, train and mentor all Colleagues on infection control measures on an ongoing basis, and uphold the highest possible cleaning standards to keep Residents, Colleagues and visitors safe.

Emma Charlton, Director of Business Development and Brand, com-

mented: “Being part of the infection control army is something to be really proud of.”

Every care home has a Housekeeping Champion and a Care and Clinical Champion who are members of the Infection Control Army. Their responsibilities include ensuring all Colleagues remain confident in the infection control measures in place, including the effective use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), regular handwashing and social distancing as well as enhanced cleaning and decontamination procedures. They are also supporting Colleagues with ongoing training and competency assessments supporting the network of champions with any queries they may have.

Liz Whyte, Director of Standards and COVID-19 Lead, said: “We would like to say a special thank you to all of our Colleagues who have put themselves forward to be part of the HC-One Infection Control Army and who are leading the way in protecting our Residents and Colleagues against the virus. Your hard work and commitment to protecting lives and fighting the virus is outstanding.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 27

FURNITURE AND FITTINGS Interiors Company Working To Provide A ‘Healthier Solution’ SOMMER Rose Interiors is working with upholstery manufacturers to provide a ‘healthier solution’ to care home furniture.

Sarah Thompson and her team would like to introduce Sileather™.

Sileather™ silicone fabrics are highly durable and abrasion resistant, thanks to our unique silicone, and Sileather™ upholstery fabrics are all over 200,000+ Wyzenbeek double rubs, over 130,000 Martindale and 3000+ Taber cycles (rotating “cement discs”).

We take a long term approach when considering our production of silicone leather and want to do our part to be environmentally friendly.

With our non-solvent production technique and with the lack of PVC or PU elements, we are much safer and healthier than traditional fabrics.

Unlike PVC fabrics, we do not need to use chlorine in any of the production process, and our fabrics do not leak VOC emissions throughout its life.

There’s no need to clog up landfills – silicone leather is recyclable!

We have passed the most common environmental standards so you can breathe

Sileather™ fabrics have ultralow VOCs, so it is among the healthiest fabrics, making it perfect for use around children, hospitals, ALL HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTS, hotels, boat cabins, trains, and any number of enclosed spaces.

EVERYTHING ESSENTIAL

comfortably knowing that you are using a fabric that’s safe for you and the environment.

We take pride that our fabrics are environmentally friendly and safe to use by anyone, Sileather™ silicone fabrics are made with the same material as baby bottle nipples, so they are gentle enough even for babies’ skin.

High Quality Soft Furnishings Manufactures Tailored For All Your Window Needs WL Interiors are a family run company with over 20 years experience in manufacturing high quality soft furnishings for the healthcare industry based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

WL are suppliers of flame retardant curtains, blinds & soft furnishings. We offer high-quality fire resistant fabrics that are perfect for care homes, including any dementia specific requirements where needed.

Working on your care home refurbishment, new build or general replacements, WL Interiors Ltd can do site surveys and check measures, offer free samples and quotations.

• UK Wide Fitting & Installation Available

• UK Manufactured • Highest Quality British Manufactured • FREE QUOTES Contact details – Lorraine Firth Telephone- 01924 298953 Email- Lorraine@wl-interiors.com

It’s our mission to bring you a healthy fabric that’s safe, hygienic and meets high standards that help to ensure your well-being.

Thanks to the unique advantages of our proprietary silicone, Sileather™ fabrics are inherently: • Flame resistant.

• Does not promote growth of mildew or mould.

• Superior in hydrolysis resistance compared to vinyl and polyurethane fabrics.

• Superior in UV and colour fading resistance.

• Stain resistant to many substances found in healthcare facilities, including biro, iodine, betadine, blood and urine.

• Resistant to liquids and fluids.

• Easy to clean – common stains need only water, including biro.

• Medical grade skin friendly and allergen free.

• Highly abrasion resistant and durable with recovery ability to reduce sagging and wrinkling.

• Luxurious soft touch.

For free samples of this upholstery or to view sample furniture, please contact Sarah Thompson on 07495 471038 or email: sarah@sommer-rose.com

Euroservice Trolley Manufacturers celebrating 40 years of experience in the sale and manufacture of wooden trolleys for the catering trade, Euroservice trolley manufacturers have now acquired a worldwide reputation and still offer an extensive /comprehensive range of top quality wooden trolleys manufactured in the UK. Top quality is a priority in the production of all of our products and Euroservice are specialists in the manufacture of sturdy and beautiful looking trolleys which will grace any environment from the small privately owned restaurant to

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PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Ontex Healthcare Re-Launches Incontinence Pants Range In years to come, the majority of the population across Western Europe will shift towards the 55+ age group , people will live longer and stay in their own homes for longer. With this in mind, Ontex Healthcare has re-launched its iD incontinence pants collection this September.

The new look range will offer key benefits including triple skin protection through fast absorption and 100% breathability. The improved top sheet with a mix of camomile, known for its soothing and calming properties, Vitamin E with antioxidant properties and zinc oxide, a natural purifying mineral component, helps to protect the skin.

In addition, the pants contain super absorbent particles which feature an

anti-odour system that provide extra confidence and comfort. The pants are made with non-woven materials, which make them by definition “breathable”, leaving the use feeling soft and safe.

For those looking for overnight dryness, there is the Maxi absorption range. Performance tests show that they can be used for up to 10 hours without any leakages or feelings of wetness.

What’s more the range has been approved by dermatologists so customers can fully trust iD Pants and count on our expertise. The range comprises Normal, Plus, Super and Maxi absorbencies.

Prices start from £10.49 per pack For more information call 0800 389 6185 or visit www.id-direct.com

Calibre Audio - Unleash the Power of Your Imagination Audiobooks offer a gateway to the world of independence when print is inaccessible.

Reading books has many health benefits; from reducing anxiety and helping to combat memory loss, to boosting mental health. Books provide us with companionship, adventure, empathy and enjoyment, and listening to audiobooks extends all of this to people who cannot read printed books.

A restricting disability can bring with it the sting of isolation, and being locked out of activities that were once enjoyed can create frustration and loneliness.

However, research has shown that listening to audiobooks can boost mental health (ref. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), helping to counteract depression and other mental health issues. Escaping to audiobooks provides comfort and companionship as well as being a coping strategy in hard times.

Calibre Audio is a charity, providing free audiobooks to anyone who struggles to read print, through sight loss, dyslexia or a physical disability. Our collection of

over 11,500 audiobooks includes books from all genres, both fiction and non-fiction, from the classics to the latest blockbusters; from crime to autobiographies. Our books are available online for members or delivered to your door via a free postal service.

It is free and easy to join. Visit www.calibreaudio.org.uk for more information or to join.

Why Specify a Yeoman Shield Fire Rated Door Edge Protector?

When specifying for a structure, it’s important to be aware of the level of wear and tear a door can be exposed to in a public building.

Door edges, in particular, can be easily damaged or worn down by regular use – which can then render them non-compliant for fire safety regulations. To ensure that a project remains compliant, an architect can specify durable door edge protectors to add durability and longevity to doors.

Not only will specifying edge protectors increase the longevity of doors, they will enhance the cost efficiency of a project by reducing maintenance demands and the possibility of having to replace unsafe fire doors.

Yeoman Shield fire rated Door Edge Protectors are unique with a 2.0 mm Vinylac outer and a specially formulated 9mm PVCu reinforced core. They are FD30 (1/2 hour) and FD60 (1 hour) rated

with intumescent seals that are in accordance to the fire door’s specification. Fire rated Door Edge Protectors are suitable for commercial applications such as residential blocks, schools and hospitals etc.

Door Edge Protectors can also be specified with different fire seals, from a plain intumescent fire seal to a brush, fire and smoke variant.

Of course, for doors that are non-fire rated in an architect’s project Yeoman Shield also provide quality edge protectors without seals to enhance durability and reduce wear.

Source a full range of door protection panels and kick plates from a single supplier by choosing Yeoman Shield.

Our door protection panels and kick plates offer the same lasting durability and quality as our door edge protectors.

See page 12 or visit www.yeomanshield.com for details.

Adaptawear Clothing To Help Healthcare & Care Home Workers: Independent & Assisted Dressing If you are a healthcare or care home worker or Occupational Therapist and struggling to dress your patients during this Covid-19 pandemic; then take a look at our range of Adaptawear adapted clothing for both men and women. Adaptawear comfort clothing has been designed to help independent living and assisted dressing with the aim to make getting dressed easier and less painful for both the wearer and carer.

Adaptawear designs and manufacturers a range of ladies and men’s open back and drop front trousers, magnetic & open back shirts and blouses, dresses, skirts, open back nighties and front fastening bras. We also sell a selection of everyday essentials aimed at making people comfortable day and night.

Adaptawear clothes are ideal for

arthritis, stroke, Parkinson, incontinence and dementia sufferers as well as people of all ages who struggle with buttons and zips. The easy fit clothes are made from quality and natural fabrics to provide maximum comfort.

Adaptawear Offers: • Discreetly Adapted Clothes • Independent & Assisted Dressing • Ladies & Men's Daywear and Nightwear • UK Nationwide and Overseas Deliveries • No Quibble 14 Day Returns • VAT Exemption where relevant • FREE Delivery on orders over £100 For more information on Adaptawear’s Product Range please visit www.adaptawear.com. Carer readers please quote TC141 for 10% discount off your first order.

New Pressure Relief Options from Airospring Medical Airospring Medical manufactures a range of pressure relieving devices.

Our flagship products are a range of lightweight and breathable pressure relief cushions and mattress overlays made from high-tech 3D Knitted Spacer Fabrics. Airospring has been awarded a full patent in August 2014 approving this ground breaking technology. Our pressure relief cushions distribute weight and allow maximum airflow. The cushions have been tested for the dissipation of perspiration, a key factor in the fight against pressure ulcers. Welcome to a new standard in healthy seating.

Call: 0115 9322403 Email: sales@airospring.com Visit: www.airospring.com

In-House Practical Engagement Workshop Scripts Now Available for Care Homes & Services As training sessions and venues may be difficult to facilitate for some time, Happy Days Dementia Workshop has acted quickly, re-writing their ‘Practical Engagement Workshop’ into a series of easy to follow presentation and training guides.

Enriching social care is at the heart of Happy Days, ‘It’s amazing to see how care teams are heartened and invigorated once they see how easy it is to engage more meaningfully with residents on a daily basis’ says Gillian Hesketh, MD of Dementia Workshop.

Training in-house can support the safety of your care teams, reduce travel, time and cut costs.

Demonstration and nostalgic materials can be included in packages with options to add an activity manual, reminiscence baskets and memory prompts. The workshops are ideal for building carer confidence, boosting morale and uplifting everyone’s mood.

Packages can be created to suit your care team requirements and resident interests. See The Carer front page or find starter practical workshop packs online at www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk / Phone direct on 07971953620 or see the advert on page 1.

CareZips Dignity Trousers ™

CareZips™ preserve dignity and privacy of people receiving care during diaper changes.

CareZips™ make diaper changes easier and faster, reducing workload, saving efforts, and saving time!

CareZips™ help to deliver better standards of care!

Fitted with unique 3-zip fastening system, the CareZips™ make changing of incontinence diapers more dignified and comfortable for the patients and easier and faster for the carers.

CareZips™ feature 3 strategically positioned zips, 2 of which run from the waist to the knees on both sides of the body. The 3rd zip goes from the inside of one knee up to the crotch and down to the second knee on the inside of the other leg. This zip facilitates total opening of the trousers at the crotch during diaper changes. The 3-zip system ensures fast and easy access to the abdomen and crotch without having to undress the patients or pull their trousers down.

CareZips™ are suitable for men and women. They are available in 7 sizes for perfect fit. CareZips™ are soft and wrinkle resistant with stretch and give for extra comfort.

Practical, durable, washable and non-iron, the CareZips™ trousers are the perfect choice for daily use.

Contact Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 www.win-health.com or see the advert on page 7.

iMEDicare Pelvic Health Naturally When it comes to women’s intimate health, many of us are reluctant and embarrassed to talk frankly about it, which often leads to women suffering in silence. A lot of the problems we worry about, however, are surprisingly common, such as stress urinary incontinence (SUI) – a frequent effect of the menopause experienced by as many as one in three women.

Stylish, effective and washable, iMEDicare’s Wearever washable and re-useable incontinence underwear is a great alternative to incontinence pads, better for the environment (washable over 200 times) with absorbencies ranging from 100ml all the way up to 650ml: • 3-layer Hydrex™ (patented)

system for total protection by containing the urine and preventing it from penetrating through the garment • Unique-Dri™ System that traps liquid and controls odour with its Silver ion anti-microbial treated fibres.

Wearever underwear is seamless – so that possible pressure points that could be cause for pressure sores are minimized.

If you buy a 3 pack, we guarantee the first pair for another size or style or absorbency, or refund all three, provided 2 of the 3 pairs are unused within 30 days of initial trial.

Choose life - not leaks. Be confident again and visit www.

MyPelvicHealth.co.uk or call 01923237795.

C & S Seating Postural Management C & S Seating has been providing postural control equipment to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and medical equipment services nationwide since 1991.

With 9 different sizes of T-Rolls and Log Rolls in a removable and machine washable, waterproof Titex or Soft Knit material. These rolls are used to control posture and position of the body in either supine or side lying. Our Knee & Leg support wedges are available in 2 sizes.

C & S Seating is the sole manufacturer of the Alternative Positioning Support (APS) system. Ideal when more control of the abducted lower limb is required (See photo) which

has removable side cushions and middle pommel; this is available in small or large.

Our popular range of Soft Knit covers in a choice of 5 vibrant colours provide a softer alternative that fit easily over our standard waterproof rolls.

It is recommended you seek professional advice to select the correct product depending on your needs.

Contact us on 01424 853331 or visit us at www.cands-seating.co.uk to request or download a brochure, pricelist or order form, request an individualised quotation, speak to an advisor or to place an order.

See the advert on page 10.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 29

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

How to Effectively Provide a Clean and Safe Environment in Care Homes

Written by Shaun Doak, CEO at REACT Specialist Cleaning (www.reactsc.co.uk)

With recent government guidance indicating a rising number of cases of the Coronavirus, it’s clear that safety and hygiene is of paramount importance, especially in care homes where residents and staff are some of the most vulnerable in society. It’s imperative that care homes be given clear advice on providing clean and safe environments for staff and residents.

In addition to signage, social distancing measures and correct use of PPE, a focus on cleaning and infection control is critical. There should be an increase in frequency as well as a thoroughness of the regular cleaning routine, with an initial deep clean of the building to provide protection for staff and residents, specifically focusing on high-touch surfaces such as tables, handles, door buttons, arm rests and toilets as the virus can last up to three hours in the air and up to 72 hours on hard surfaces. This should be done following a three-step methodology: clean, disinfect and test.

Outsourcing the initial deep cleaning process to a professional company is advisable as they will have the products and training required to conduct a meticulous deep clean in addition to regular routines.

When completing a deep clean, the standard disinfecting process should be followed by ULV (Ultra Low Volume) fogging of the building.

ULV foggers deliver the disinfectant product at droplet sizes ranging from 10-120 microns. For this reason, ULV foggers should only be used with products that are safe for use in the presence of people when adjusted to levels below 80 microns.

When deploying ULV fogging, it is important to follow manufacturers’ recommendations and take care to isolate areas which may be sensitive to the process, such as electrical equipment. Fogging is a beneficial extra step to take as the disinfectant treats entire areas and has greater surface contact time to destroy all present threats.

For small, enclosed areas, the use of UV (ultraviolet) lights can also be beneficial. UVC works at a high energy to destroy the genetic material inside viruses, and so can be used for disinfection. UVC has not been clinically tested against the virus which causes COVID-19, although it is proven to destroy related coronaviruses. Caution is required when using UVC, however, as it can cause damage to eyes and skin.

In the regular cleaning routine in care homes staff should first wash

AtmoSan Supports Safety at Avery Care Homes In a further step to ensure that its care homes continue to be some of the safest places to live, Avery Healthcare has deployed AtmoSan systems to all of its services. As a part of its comprehensive approach to hygiene and sanitisation, supported by extensive staff training, it is now using AtmoSan Fogging machines, a ULV ultra-fine droplet cold fogging system, to provide complete room decontamination, prior to a new resident moving in and for regular cleaning and virus prevention.

AtmoSan is a specialist manufacturer of decontamination solutions against surface

and airborne pathogens, and its advanced Biocide is completely natural, 100% safe and non-toxic to humans, animals and plants. Accredited and approved to multiple European and British Standards sanitisation standards, it kills 99.999% of all known pathogens, including viruses such as norovirus, MS2 and the coronavirus, bacteria such as Campylobacter, fungi, spores and moulds.

Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with an appropriate disinfectant product. Biocide Regulatory Agencies such as the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) employ a ‘hierarchy-

down surfaces using a PH-neutral detergent first, such as soap and hot water to remove ‘hidden’ bacteria and viruses in lingering dirt and dust.

Follow this with a disinfectant which has been certified to be effective in disabling similar coronaviruses. Virucidal disinfectants are stronger than their antibacterial counterparts but, in many cases, their effectiveness against coronaviruses is unproven, and so choosing the right disinfectant is crucial. As some virucidal disinfectants may contain potentially harmful ingredients, it’s important to follow manufacturer’s guidance on the correct ‘contact period’ and when to reapply the product.

Surgical spirits can also be used as an alternative to virucidal disinfectants as they can destroy the protein and RNA of viruses in as little as 30 seconds. To use surgical spirits, rub the liquid over the surface using a cloth. The spirit will then evaporate and does not need to be wiped away.

To verify that the rooms have been disinfected effectively, you should test surfaces for the presence of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), an indicator molecule for the presence of biological residues. This test works by wiping a swab across surfaces, inserting it into an active substance and then measuring the output on a hand-held device called a ‘luminator’, which will indicate how much residue is on the surface depending on light output.

ATP testing is strongly recommended to ensure the effectiveness of decontamination and to provide confidence that the cleaning regime is effective and should be extended to high touch areas throughout the care home.

It’s crucial that care home owners ensure that rigorous cleaning methods are included in daily cleaning routines with strong and effective disinfectants. Although a deep clean doesn’t need to be implemented every day, it should be done initially to provide a more thorough protection for staff and residents as we continue to aim for a safe return to ‘normal’ life.

based’ approach for new virus strains, meaning a product such as Biocide that is found to be effective against harder-to-kill viruses is likely to kill a virus such as COVID-19.

Tony Devenish from AtmoSan was thrilled at the agreement; “We are delighted to partner with Avery Healthcare in providing an effective aerial and surface disinfection solution for their 56 care homes nationwide. It is a privilege to work with such a proactive care group and to be able to contribute towards increased resident safety and providing peace of mind for their families in these difficult times.”

Director of Care and Quality for the Avery Group, Julie Spencer, was similarly enthusiastic with the project roll-out: “After testing and a pilot phase, we are confidently deploying the AtmoSan systems to all our homes as part of the fight against the coronavirus and other health risks. It’s a great addition to our other protocols and will help keep our residents, staff and their respective families safe when in an Avery environment.”

Find out more at www.atmosan.co.uk

Unigloves Expands Its PPE Range with Hand Gel and Facemask Launches Hand protection specialist Unigloves is expanding its product portfolio with the launch of a range of sanitising hand gels and facemasks.

Added to its range to help in the fight against Covid-19, the new products complement Unigloves’ range of disposable gloves designed for use across a wide range of industrial sectors including healthcare and care homes.

Available in 480ml and 200ml pump dispenser and 50ml flip top sizes, the new 70% alcohol hand gel with added Vitamin E kills 99.9% of all bacteria. Fast-drying, leaving the hands feeling soft and smooth, the new gel also moisturises the hands, making it ideal for the healthcare sector and high use environments.

Joining the hand gels is Unigloves’ Profil facemasks.

Available in boxes of 50, the 3 ply, pleated Type II facemasks have a Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of 98%.

Tested to EN14683 the facemasks are manufactured

from soft, non-woven fabric with integrated noseband and soft ear loops for a comfortable, secure fit.

“Our hand gels and facemasks are part of our global response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which has seen us manufacturing for the NHS and a wide range of healthcare-associated settings both in the UK and internationally.

“In tandem with our extensive gloves range, the combination of hand protection and respiratory protection, provides companies with an effective solution to the increased focus on hygiene protocols,” said Unigloves’ Marketing Director, Donald Gillespie.

For more information on the range of hand gels and facemasks from Unigloves, visit https://unigloves.co.uk/products-bycategory/disinfectants/hand-gel-with-vitamin-e and https://unigloves.co.uk/products-by-category/facemasks/profilface-mask .

Antimicrobial Contract Fabrics for Added Reassurance Skopos has recently launched a new sub-brand, Skopos Pro-tect Plus, as a marker for all Skopos products offered with an antimicrobial finish. Skopos has been offering antimicrobial fabrics for over 15 years, however the new sub-brand helps to clearly identify this offer to our customers, at a time where extra reassurance within contract interiors has never been more relevant. Within Pro-tect Plus Skopos customers have a choice of fabrics for different end uses; Antimicrobial drapery fabrics,

Antimicrobial woven upholstery fabrics, Antimicrobial faux leather and vinyls. The upholstery fabrics offer includes luxury velvet, printed fabrics, vinyls and a large range of woven collections, mostly waterproof, soil and stain resist, perfect for caring interiors. Many of our drapery and bedding fabrics can be finished with an antimicrobial treatment, so please ask. Choices include print basecloths, plain and woven designs. All antimicrobial fabrics are flame retardant and tested to the high stan-

dards required for contract interiors.

Skopos antimicrobial fabrics have bacteriostatic, viralreducing and anti-fungal properties. Fabrics are not seen as a beneficial host for Sars Cov-2 even without antimicrobial treatment, however including this extra benefit viruses and bacteria are greatly reduced.

Free samples of our fabrics are available online or via our customer services team: sales@skopos.co.uk. www.skoposfabrics.com

SAFE | EASY | ACCURATE

• Immediately detects elevated skin temperature • Maintains social distancing • Easy to use – works straight out of the box

Ideal for installation in: CARE & NURSING HOMES ASSISTED LIVING PROPERTIES RETIREMENT RESIDENCES MEDICAL FACILITIES

HUMAN BODY TEMPERATURE SCREENING SYSTEM

Find out more at LANDVIRALERT.COM

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 31

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Electrox Sterilising Water Electrox Sterilising Water is an ecological disinfectant that kills viruses, bacteria, spores and fungi significantly faster than bleach and other traditional disinfectants. It is 80 x more effective than bleach, no alcohol, non corrosive, pH neutral and hypoallergenic. The active substance in Electrox is hypochlorous acid, which has been successfully tested for full virucidal activity as defined in EN14476:2013, and has activity against all viruses. This includes all coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2.

When used with fogging machines, Electrox can sanitise care

homes rapidly, with minimal disruption and without the harsh chemicals found in traditional disinfectants.

Electrox customer Eddy Pyatt, Director of Platinum Care Homes says “We’re using Electrox Sterilising Water and the fogging machine in four of our Care Homes and have found it provides real peace of mind and assurance to our residents and their visitors. We are fogging communal areas, outdoor visiting areas in between visits and resident’s rooms within our care homes to make sure we’re providing a sanitised environment for our staff, residents and their visitors alike. We wanted a sanitising product that didn’t involve large amounts of chemicals and found Electrox to be the most cost effective of all the solutions we looked at.”

Contact Electrox today: www.electroxwater.co.uk 0117 318 0830 sales@electroxwater.co.uk

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Sanozone. The Easy Way To Sanitise Your Indoor Spaces SANOZONE, which delivers the most efficient sanitisation performance in indoor spaces, is now available from Barbel.

Manufactured by Vitaeco S.r.l., the world famous manufacturer of the highly regarded HotmixPro thermal blender range, SANOZONE sanitises rooms of many sizes in enclosed HRC sites, hotels, restaurants, bars, conference rooms and similar establishments where totally reliable and regular sanitisation is needed.

SANOZONE is particularly suitable for hospitals and care home areas, where absolute cleanliness is mandatory, and in areas where it is difficult or impossible to deliver effective sanitisation throughout.

The SANOZONE range of

machines use Ozone (O3) technology, a gaseous form of Ozone that fills the room, reaching every corner of the space, santising surfaces and critical hard-toreach corners homogenously, consistently and safely.

The SANOZONE range of sanitisation machines are all equipped with the latest technology and customised disinfection programmes to suit your specific requirements.

The running costs are considerably lower than any traditional disinfecting programmes and most importantly, there is no manual labour involved.

For further information about the SANOZONE range, please contact Barbel on 01629 705110, email info@barbel.net, or visit the website at www.barbel.net

Care and Protect

Options available include a blue nitrile examination glove which has strong barrier properties and high resistance to oils, fats, and chemicals; synthetic examination gloves; and vinyl general purpose gloves.

The gloves are packed in a way that they are dispensed ‘cuff first’ which has clear hygienic advantages.

All of the gloves are tested to BS EN 455 and conform to a number of other standards.

The Wave® range also includes water-soluble strip laundry bags for the safe containment of soiled linen, with a watersoluble seal and a tie string for securing the bags. The strip and tie part of the bag dissolve in water allowing the contents to discharge into the wash. We also supply other forms of PPE such as aprons; face masks and protective plastic sheeting for receptions and other areas of work. www.cromwellpolythene.co.uk

Cromwell Polythene is a major supplier of waste management solutions to the healthcare sector and an active member of the Sanitary Medical Disposal Services Association. We offer a full range of sacks for clinical waste management, from ultra-strong sacks with very high tear resistance to economically priced sacks with a high recycled content.

It is essential that care staff, who work so hard to protect us, have the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to help prevent the spread of infection. Our Wave® range of disposable gloves are both latex and powder free, for comfort and performance.

New VIRALERT 3 Human Body Temperature Screening System Delivers COVID-19 Protection for the Care Sector Care facilities have been severely affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 across the world. Protecting the safety and wellbeing of people in these facilities including patients, staff and visitors, is a key priority for managers of care organisations in this current pandemic.

AMETEK Land, a global leader in temperature measurement technologies based in the UK, has used the expertise and knowledge of its workforce to support this vital sector by develop a new human skin temperature screening system, VIRALERT 3.

Designed to screen visitors at an entry point without slowing the flow of people, VIRALERT 3 scans temperatures without any person-to-person contact, keeping all parties safe. VIRALERT 3 is easy to use, and can be left to operate automatically, with audible and visual alarms alerting when high temperatures are discovered.

VIRALERT 3 is the first of its kind, providing a camera and a temperature-controlled reference source on a single mounting. This makes for a compact system that won’t get in the way of queueing people and can be easily wall-mounted.

Using automatic face detection, it locates the best areas for temperature detection, taking a reading that is accurate to within 0.5°C, then calculates core body temperature through a rapid test procedure in less than two seconds.

The system has recently been installed at the Dronfield Medical Practice, where it has brought extra confidence to staff and patients visiting the site.

“At Dronfield Medical Practice we wanted to see

how we could all work together to “Stay Alert” by ensuring patients are seen appropriately, and by keeping all staff secure with the knowledge they are being looked after,” said Kathryn Wileman, Practice Manager, Dronfield Medical Practice.

She continued, “The installation of VIRALERT 3 has been a very effective way to achieve this. If a visitor’s temperature is high, we can ask them to leave the premises, then arrange to see them safely without putting anyone at risk.”

Division Vice President Justin Smith at AMETEK Land said: ““VIRALERT 3 is a major global technology in keeping people safe in the fight against COVID-19.

Highly accurate readings mean that anyone with an elevated temperature will be identified before fully entering the building, thereby reducing the spread of infection”.

In addition to the care sector, the roll-out of VIRALERT 3 has attracted interest across a variety of sectors including hospitals and healthcare, commercial areas, education facilities, and public spaces, transportation entry points, offices and manufacturing locations, and sports and leisure sites.

Visit www.landviralert.com for further details.

t: 01977 686868

e: info@cromwellpolythene.co.uk

www.cromwellpolythene.co.uk

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Staysafe Visor - CE-Certified PPE Manufactured in the UK Staysafe Visor is a subsidiary of 1st Packaging Ltd, a leading specialist UK plastics manufacturer founded in 2002. Used in a wide range of health and commercial settings, our high-quality recyclable CE-certified face shields offer protection against liquid droplets, sprays and splashes. Our visors are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, are anti-fog and easy to assemble.

As a long-established UK company, we have been able to step up our manufacture of PPE to meet high demand

during the current unprecedented circumstances. Our facilities enable us to produce well in excess of 200,000 items per week.

At Staysafe Visor our experienced team takes very seriously its role in supporting the health of the community by helping to maintain a safer environment. Availability and affordability are the cornerstones of our operation.

Because we sell directly to businesses, organisations and the general public, we are able to remove the need for

intermediaries and keep costs low. We believe that we offer the most competitive rates on the market for this type of CE-certified PPE. Our high-quality products are helping to better protect employees in the NHS, care homes, education, transport, manufacturing and a host of other workplace settings. For further details about our range of visors please do not hesitate to contact our friendly expert team.

See page 4 for details or visit www.staysafevisor.co.uk

Haigh Engineering Callero Shield for Care Homes and Clinics Resident and patient waste is a day to day practical matter that simply cannot become a problem for frontline carers and nursing staff. With the raised awareness of cross infection risks, the proven reliable waste disposal systems from Haigh are recognised more than ever as being a key part of the toolkit for ensuring that human waste is effectively and efficiently removed as a source of risk, day in day out, without the risks and complications of either washing pots or manual bagging waste for collection.

The team from Haigh have been working hard to support this beyond just the manufacture of the Incomaster and Quattro waste disposers here in the UK, but also developing innovative and safe methods to enhance the servicing provisions that are available to customers. The recently launched all-inclusive rental proposition has proven particularly effective and popular with new and existing customers alike, not least as it reduces the operational, maintenance and financing headaches from sites which have more critical matters to address.

For more information about incontinence and bedpan waste disposal please feel free to contact the Haigh team on 01989 763131 or info@haigh.co.uk

For over 40 years, Gratnells Medical products have been widely used for hospital storage. From trolleys and frames, to trays and accessories, the wide range of products makes up the ideal storage solution for any medical environment. Designed with a multitude of settings in mind, the Gratnells Medical range would fit suitably into care homes, dental practices and other surgeries.

The Gratnells Callero Shield range is a complete collection of products designed to offer ample storage that is easily moveable and fits neatly into any environment. Treated with BioCote® antimicrobial additive, the trays and trolleys in the range protect against the spread of various viruses, bacteria and germs.

Callero Shield trolleys are available in double and treble column width and with multiple tray combinations. Suitable for the safe storage of PPE, medical files and equipment, uniform and beyond, the trolleys are easily movable between locations and can be set in place with lockable castors. They’re also popularly used as sanitation and cleaning stations due to the ample storage space and the antimicrobial metal worksurface.

The antimicrobial Gratnells Rover allows the movement of heavier loads with ease. Robust, hygienic and practical, safely carry medical equipment over any terrain and up and down stairs. With a safety strap to secure antimicrobial trays in place and the option to add antimicrobial lids to trays, contents will be safe on

their journey from place to place.

Recently added to the Gratnells antimicrobial range are the new SortED inserts. SortED is a new range of removable, modular inserts designed to fit and create separate sections in shallow and deep Gratnells trays.

Also treated with BioCote® additive, the dishwasher safe inserts offer a safe and hygienic solution for the storage and distribution of smaller medical equipment or PPE. Browse the full Gratnells Medical range: www.gratnellsmedical.com

Airdri Launches Air Purifier To Flush Away Washroom Bacteria Airdri, a leading designer and manufacturer of hand dryers, has added a new air purifier unit to its portfolio, to tackle washroom bacteria and eliminate odours.

Complementing its range of hand drying solutions, the Airdri Air Purifier uses custom thermal convection technology to kill airborne and surface bacteria and viruses, eliminating the bad odours they cause, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Offering both odour and infection control, the unit is ideal for use in busy washrooms. Its compact profile means it can sit discretely in the top corner of a washroom, yet can service the entire space, covering a floor area of up to 30m2. With minimal maintenance and low energy consumption of 10w, the Airdri Air Purifier is a green solution for providing constant sanitised washroom air.

Trudi Osborne, Marketing Manager at Airdri, says “Washrooms are the primary source of infections, with many housing bacteria and viruses that are unseen to the eye. Given

that in just eight hours a single bacterium can multiply into over eight million cells, it is vital to ensure washrooms are kept clean and hygienic at all times. Cleaning and disinfecting alone are only a partial solution – they do not stop ongoing surface contamination or tackle airborne bacteria. Equally, fragrances or fresheners simply mask the associated odours, doing nothing towards hygiene.

“The Airdri Air Purifier kills both surface and airborne bacteria, removing the unpleasant odours that they bring with them.

The unit processes contaminated air in the purifying chamber, emitting an efficient cleaning agent. Other solutions, which may feature a HEPA filter or have an antibacterial coating, only clean the area immediately surrounding the dryer. The Airdri Air Purifier provides a complete hygiene solution for the whole washroom ensuring that the whole environment is clean, hygienic and odour free.”

For more information visit www.airdri.com

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 35

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Show How Much You Care with DispenserONE ®

In a world where building and operations managers in every sector fight to make their premises COVID secure and prevent the spread of coronavirus, nowhere is the importance of safe, effective hand hygiene starker than in care homes.

With around 30% of all nursing and residential care home deaths attributable to coronavirus and operators striving to control its spread, conventional sanitizer dispensers are a common sight.

However, such systems, with their limited capacity, reliance on batteries and fragile dosing mechanisms, can only be considered a short-term fix. For a permanent solution, professionals choose SEKO’s DispenserONE® hand sanitizer system.

Designed specifically to handle the high demand for hand sanitizer during and post-COVID19, DispenserONE® features robust, revolutionary pump technology – unprecedented in hand sanitizer dispensers – that automatically delivers the same pre-defined dosage every time.

That’s without the spillages typical of manual systems as their dosing mechanism wears out, meaning that as well as removing a potential slip hazard, operators can minimize product wastage.

The DispenserONE® series boasts a broad capacity range that enables between 3,000 and 25,000 doses to be delivered between refills, compared to 1,000 when using traditional 1-litre systems. This allows operators to select a system ideally suited to their facility and guarantee residents, visitors and staff alike access to sanitizer 24/7 while avoiding the common problem of

dispensers running dry as busy maintenance staff struggle to keep them topped up.

Meanwhile, DispenserONE®’s built-in Wi-Fi hotspot enables operators to access the unit wherever they are via smartphone, PC or laptop by logging into their personal online dashboard.

This allows managers to view the live status of all their DispenserONE® units across multiple sites, using key information such as product level to ensure maintenance staff refill only when necessary. As a failsafe, operators also receive notifications when product quantity falls below a pre-set level to help guarantee sanitizer on demand.

DispenserONE® helps operators to prevent virus transmission with its automatic sensoractivated delivery, using touch-free technology to ensure users do not need to contact the unit with their hands. Encapsulating the attention to detail in the system’s design is the delivery nozzle position, set at a height that makes it accessible for wheelchair users.

Finally, DispenserONE®’s mains power connection frees operators of their reliance on batteries, guaranteeing continuous use and removing the environmental impact of battery disposal.

Helping nursing home managers to properly protect residents, visitors and staff alike, nothing says “we care” better than DispenserONE®.

Find out more – visit the dedicated DispenserONE® website today: www.dispenserone.com or see the advert opposite.

New Mobile Hands-Free Wash Basins from Hygiene Does Not Stop At The Washroom says Kimberly-Clark Professional Mechline Have the X Factor Mechline Developments has extended its line-up of BaSix hand wash stations with an all new range of space-saving, mobile, hands-free basins. The range facilitates hygienic handwashing in any location—even where water, waste and electric utilities are not available—and the completely portable ‘X’ model provides double the washes per litre of any comparable product on the market.

As Nick Falco, Product and Technical Director at Mechline, explains: “As Coronavirus lockdown measures are eased and many businesses reopen their sites, hand washing remains key to mitigating against the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Every business needs to encourage customers and visitors to wash their hands, especially when first entering venues, and the new BaSix mobile hands-free basin range makes this very easy to do.

Models in the range are slimline, easy to manoeuvre thanks to removable castors and a splashback grab handle, and the ‘X’ model can be used in locations without any utilities at all—as it all comes integrated. This means it

can be wheeled out daily if necessary, to sit outside an establishment, and with a compact footprint of just 384 x 360mm it is an ideal and reassuring addition to entrances and other small spaces.

We have also used our experience to incorporate water-saving technology into the range, adding value to the basins by providing unique water saving benefits for the end-user.

Using the ultra water-saving diffuser supplied, the ‘X’ model can provide up to an impressive 304 hand washes per water container, so users can rest assured it will last a long time between refills!

Furthermore, with its hands-free design, the new mobile basin maximises user hygiene. Unlike traditional taps, where the lever or handle must be touched with dirty hands, and then revisited with clean hands to turn it off, our mobile BaSix range removes the need for manual contact—reducing the risk of cross-contamination.”

BaSix mobile hands-free basins are operated via a foot pump or time flow foot valve, depending on which model is required. All models can be fitted with an optional hanging bin, soap/sanitiser dispenser, and towel dispenser, to provide a complete hygiene station in any location. The ‘X’ range stores water and waste containers within the unit, which can be easily accessed via a hinged door with a ¼ turn thumb latch.

For further information please contact Mechline at info@mechline.com or call +44 (0)1908 261511

Now more than ever we all want to know that we are doing everything we can to keep ourselves, our colleagues and visitors safe and well. To do this requires understanding the science behind surface wiping and cleaning, says Kimberly-Clark Professional.

We want to know that people have washed their hands properly and that places are as clean and as hygienic as possible. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends prioritising the daily cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces.

Cleaning vs. Disinfecting Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and other impurities

from surfaces or objects by using detergent (or soap and water) to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects by using chemicals1. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

The CDC recommends a two-step daily routine to clean frequently touched surfaces. For Step 1 clean surface with a detergent or soap and water. With Step 2 disinfect the surface using an EN-registered disinfectant. Surfaces considered hot spots for germs include computer keyboards, phones and light switches. Science indicates why these surfaces need daily hygiene protocols in addition to hand hygiene standards in facilities For more information about how to make your facility truly exceptional – a place where everyone feels equipped and empowered to contribute to a more hygienic environment – visit our hand and surface cleaning page. https://youtu.be/WHNYNtVeymM https://home.kcprofessional.com/UK_Healthy_ Workplace_Cleaning_0520

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Angloplas Dispensers Help Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry. Although these are designed to keep the workplace tidy and uncluttered they are, more importantly, built knowing the control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a priority for healthcare providers, and who are employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies, including hand hygiene, cleaning, training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem.

As a result, a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market, including antimicrobial technology. Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is

exclusive to Angloplas. This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product, reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA, E Coli, Legionella, Salmonella and mould by up to 99.99%.

For non-clinical environments Angloplas has recently launched its new Budget Range of products which are made to the same exacting standards as the antimicrobial protected ones but with lower price tags.

You can order Angloplas products directly from its website by going to www.angloplas.co.uk and clicking Hospital, Health and Hygiene or by using the Quick Response code.

Environmental Science Limited (ESL) Restructures its Business to Launch Unique and Effective Palm Tree Foaming Hand Sanitisers

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

Environmental Science Ltd based in March, Cambridgeshire was originally set up in 1994 and has focused primarily on the authoring of Safety ata and Workplace Activity Safety Protection (WASP) Sheets, identifying chemical hazards and providing on-site COSHH monitoring, LEV testing and risk assessment services.

This core activity will continue, however due partly to the changed circumstances brought about by Covid-19, the company has made the decision to significantly expand and restructure the business. ESL has built and established trusted relationships within the UK chemical industry over the last 25 years, therefore it is a natural progression for the business to move into the development, manufacture, and distribution of hygiene products. These will include hand sanitisers, sprays, medicated soaps, surface and floor wipes and disinfectants.

To facilitate these new product lines, a new business entity is being created with the name “Environmental Science Hygiene Ltd”, and the existing company is renamed as “Environmental Science Group”. Their new website is: www.envsciencegroup.com One factor behind the change of direction for the business is that some products are being very hastily marketed during this pandemic; therefore they do not perform as efficiently as may be implied. By contrast, the team at Environmental Science are committed to pro-

ducing high quality products that are both safe and effective. They also feel it is important to provide complete transparency by supplying the relevant GHS Safety Data Sheets, Product Labels, Product Information Sheets, etc.

Our Palm Tree Foaming Hand Sanitiser is unique and different from other current products for the following reasons: • The alcohol is naturally sourced and distilled from the sap of palm trees.

• The palm trees are not damaged in the extraction process, so the product is both sustainable and eco-friendly.

• Unlike most other sources of Ethanol, by tapping into an existing resource it means that valuable agricultural land can be used for food production instead.

• The foaming action is preferred by the healthcare sector over gelbased products.

• The alcohol content is in excess of 60% as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

• Conforms to the European Standard EN1276.

For further information, please contact: Tel: +44 (0) 1354 653 222 Email: sales@envsciencegroup.com Web: www.envsciencegroup.com

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 37

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL CTU Services' Thermal Access System With the introduction of various measures to constrain and manage the emergency of COVID-19 in the UK, CTU Services Thermal Access System presents the ideal solution. To address the challenge of social distancing many public places are implementing restrictions on customer flow. This includes locations such as the hospitality industry and the retail sector.

CTU Services perfectly resolves the problem of "how to accurately and efficiently control customer flow in a premises" Their system detects how many people are present in the targeted area and display the figure in real-time. If the capacity is reached the system's display immediately indicates no more people should enter.

The two systems that CTU Services supply can be merged together to give you more security and social distancing. The Thermal camera can be wall mounted or comes on a sleek stand. It will also notify

any number of members of staff of any issues with potential clients entering the premisses via text or email.

• Facial recognition is fully integrated with body temperature monitoring. This means no additional staff are required.

• The solution is contactless, reducing the risk of cross infection.

• Extensive storage of facial images and temperature information enabling easy historical access.

• Fast facial recognition and temperature monitoring reducing access congestion. In Scotland will detect if you are or are not wearing a mask / face covering.

• Integration with third party products such as turnstiles and VMS. See a demonstration of the system at https://youtu.be/lcQllOytA7Y For further information, see the advert this page, call 01257 477060 or visit www.ctuservices.com

Airox Face Masks - Protection. Quality. Comfort.

Airox face masks are made from advanced textile technology from Baltex one of the UK's leading textile companies. They provide you comfort and security.

The Airox AX100 and Airox AX110 are textile face covering masks produced with stretchy 3XD Spacer fabric - developed for medical textiles by our parent company Baltex in the UK. It provides: • Snug fit and comfort • Good coverage of face and mouth

• Anti-bacterial • Machine washable - 40oC • Breathable • Reusable • Treated with Viral Off treatment* The fabric is made from Polyester and Lycra and is treated with a durable water repellent finish to avoid the absorption of droplets. They are also anti-bacterial reducing odour and providing superior comfort compared to basic textile masks.

Many masks are made from Cotton and will absorb moisture and water droplets.

For further information and to order, please visit www.airox.co.uk

www.airox.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 39

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS A Reliable Service Partner is Key to an Efficient Laundry Function - FORBES PROFESSIONAL A laundry function is a central service in any care home and commercial laundry equipment is an important procurement area in terms of hygiene adherence, day-to-day logistical operations and financial projections. As such, it is vital to source the right service partner, who will support the smooth running of your operation and offer the relevant industry, planning and technical advice. You need to ensure the reliability and stability of any supplier, and to feel confident that they are capable of delivering a service that you can depend upon.

Forbes Professional has been providing an awarding winning first class customer service since 1926 and has a solid understanding of the specific requirements of the healthcare sector. With depots across The South East, The Midlands, The South West, The North East and Scotland, we deliver a local service on a nationwide basis. We have flexible finance options and can provide commercial washers, dryers, rotary ironers and dishwashers on a rental, lease or purchase basis. We can also provide chemical detergents and auto-dosing equipment for a complete solution.

From the initial site survey, we assume a consultative and advisory approach to business, with all clients being assigned a dedicated account manager who remains their contact for all on-going account management or service requirements. We advise upon all plumbing, electrical and regulation requirements, and ensure that the right product decisions are made for the

specific project. Our team of manufacturer and City and Guilds trained field engineers fully install and commission all equipment, as well as providing any necessary user training to enable the products to be fully optimised.

Forbes runs a centralised administrative and customer support operation from our head office in Surrey, which enables us to deliver a streamlined and efficient response to our clients. If a service requirement arises, we provide a same/next day engineer response. Our clients have total peace of mind in that they know that they will receive the on-going service that their organisation requires.

For more information contact Forbes Professional info@forbes-professional.co.uk or 0345 0702335.

Please go on our website to see the new range of Dishwasher proof ID labels which can also be stuck onto textiles.

5 Reasons Why You Should Choose LaundryTec Chester based LaundryTec since its foundation in early 2016 has become one of Alliance Internationals major UK distributers. Founded by Jeremy Hartigan, the team of industry professionals with the backing of the Alliance Lavamac brand and supported by its service partner PDS Laundry based in Nuneaton. They supply a significant number of the UK’s leading health care operators with equipment, installation and after sale support.

The LaundryTec designs offer not only washing, drying and ironing equipment but a full range of handling, distribution, folding and identification systems, to create a fully functioning laundry complete with all items necessary for efficient operation. Every LaundryTec machine includes full installation options, including the removal and disposal of an existing machine. A training program and a minimum of 24

months part and labour warranty.

The environment is at the forefront of every operator’s mind. Standard specification on a Lavamac machine includes functions that automatically weigh and control the energy input into the machine and store the data in the machines memory. Our LS range of electric heat pump dryers require no ventilation or gas services and operates at 3kw per hour.

5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE LAUNDRYTEC 1. Cost 2. Efficiency 3. Service 4. Design 5. Innovation Telephone 0151 317 3127 Web www..laundrytec.com

Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.

0151 317 3127

www.laundrytec.com

info@laundrytec.com

5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE LAUNDRYTEC 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Washer Extractors

Tumble Dryers

Cost Quality Service Design Innovation

Flatwork Ironers

Other Equipment

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

CATERING FOR CARE

Five Ways to Futureproof Your Veg*n Diet From Dementia September 2020 is World Alzheimer’s Month and a chance to reflect on two things that most of us don’t like to think about at all: Where will I be in older age? What will happen to me should I develop cognitive impairment?

Some of our most cherished beliefs can be threatened by dementia, including our dietary choices.

Individuals choose veganism and vegetarianism for a number of reasons, whether it is ethical, environmental or even religious. In fact, being vegan or vegetarian can often be the most powerful conviction that people hold, guiding their everyday lives, careers and relationships.

However charity Vegetarian for Life is only aware of two fully vegetarian care homes in the UK, offering Indian/Gujarati food. So if you are a vegan or vegetarian, it’s very likely that you would be a minority group in a care setting.

Some years ago, an older woman, who had been a dedicated animal rights campaigner, entered care after developing dementia. While in care, she was given foods containing meat products – a practice considered acceptable by staff because she ‘wouldn't know any different’. Yet in spite of this she still identified herself as vegan.

Recently, care providers have highlighted instances where a vegan/vegetarian with dementia has demanded meat, or tried to take it from someone else's plate.

In such circumstances, those who care for them are faced with a difficult ethical dilemma.

Here are Vegetarian for Life’s top tips on measures to take now, to help to avoid this happening to you in the future:

1. HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUR WISHES Discuss your wishes with your care provider beforehand, preferably with friends or loved ones with you, or someone else to bear witness. Make it clear what you will and won’t accept as part of your diet and lifestyle. Having this conversation ahead of time lets the carer know clearly and in no uncertain circumstances that you wish your diet to be adhered to at all times.

2. PUT IT IN WRITING To make your wishes absolutely clear, it’s recommended that you make an advance statement ahead of time. This is a written statement that sets down your preferences, wishes, beliefs and values regarding your care.

Having everything written in a statement gives all parties interested in your care a clear idea of what things are important to you, even if the day comes that you can no longer express those wishes yourself.

It can include everything from how you want your beliefs to be reflected in your care, what sort of things you enjoy and don’t enjoy, and concerns about

practical issues, such as care for your pets. Visit Vegetarian for Life’s website for a free template.

3. MAKE A LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY A Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, is a legal document that enables you to nominate people you trust to make decisions for you. Your nominated advocates will then be able to make decisions regarding your care and health, if you choose for them to do so.

The document gives people you trust the authority to speak up for you and enforce your choices, even when you are no longer able to do so yourself. If there were any confusion about what foods you should eat, the LPA would give your advocates the power to set things straight.

4. CAREFULLY CRAFT THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU USE Straight-talking, simple language can make all the difference in times of confusion or worry. If you make your choices clear for all to see, not only does it provide unquestionable guidelines for your care providers to follow, but it also gives your advocates confidence in what they are supporting you on.

For example: “In the future, if my decision-making capacity is questionable and I appear to want meat, please consider providing me with mock meat products in their place.”

Not only does this make it clear that you don’t wish to eat meat, but it affirms your commitment to that choice – even if it appears that you have changed your mind.

5. CHOOSE YOUR CARE PROVIDERS AHEAD OF TIME We could find ourselves in many types of care setting in later life, from care homes and sheltered accommodation to staying at home with a visiting carer.

In cases where your shopping is done, or your meals are prepared for you, it’s comforting to know that you can trust those providers. One way to make sure is by checking the Vegetarian for Life UK List – a list of care establishments that have agreed to make a special effort to cater well for vegans and vegetarians.

An increasing number of care establishments in the UK are joining the UK List – and this can give you a good indication of whether an organisation that you have in mind is committed to catering to someone like you.

Additionally, some have also signed the Vegetarian for Life Memory Care Pledge – a specific commitment to respecting the veg*n wishes of those who are experiencing issues with capacity or cognition.

If there is a care establishment that you like that isn’t on the List, or hasn’t signed the VfL Memory Care Pledge, just ask them to get in touch.

Please contact Vegetarian for Life for any further information, or any of our publications aimed at older vegans and vegetarians.

Research Investigates Potential Benefits Of Eggs In The Diet Of Older People A new paper, published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, discusses how eggs could offer an ideal ‘food first’ opportunity to increase protein intake and help prevent muscle decline in older people, as investigated in research by a team at Bournemouth University, part-funded by the British Egg Industry Council.

Protein is essential for the growth and repair of body cells and tissues; as people age, loss in muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia) can increase protein requirements. Eggs provide high quality protein which could help to prevent the degeneration of skeletal muscle.

Despite eggs being a beneficial food for older people – rich in valuable nutrients and a high quality source of protein; as well as being easy to cook and eat – UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) data show that current intake of eggs and egg dishes in older adults is only 2% of daily total energy intake, and only 3% of average daily protein intake.

The research considered a number of potential strategies which may help increase egg consumption in older age groups, including offering recipes and herb/spice packets, to improve flavour and acceptability.

The paper, published online in September in the journal Public Health Nutrition, entitled The provision of recipes and single-use herb/spice packets to increase egg and protein intake in communitydwelling older adults: a randomised controlled trial, studied 100 adults over the age of 55 years, and their egg eating habits.

Eggs have a soft texture, are easy to cook, are of low cost and have a long shelf life – so teamed with their nutritional value, they could be an impor-

tant protein source for older people. The study provided high-protein egg-based recipes and singleuse herb/spice packets to participants for 12 weeks in a randomised controlled trial, which led to higher egg intake in those receiving the intervention, which was sustained for up to 12 weeks after the end of the trial.

One of the authors of the paper, Katherine Appleton, said: “Our results suggest that by providing simple egg recipe inspiration and helping to make eggs more appetising to eat, their consumption could be increased. By focussing on a foodfirst approach, rather than fortified foods or supplements, we think that a positive behaviour change could be sustained, as the minimum expense and high acceptability of eggs for this audience are beneficial factors. A practical benefit could be in changing the healthy eating habits of people who could benefit greatly from increased protein intake.”

The researchers concluded that more studies evaluating the best strategies for increasing protein intake in this age group would be of significant value.

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

CATERING FOR CARE

Are You in Need of Dysphagia Training ? *

*This training is intended for healthcare professionals only.

Did you know that between 50-75% of nursing home residents suffer from dysphagia1?

Nutricia has a training solution for you, a FREE e-learning covering the fundamentals of dysphagia management using Nutilis Clear.

The training is divided into 4 sections and has been specially designed for busy health and social care staff caring for people living with dysphagia. It takes 60 minutes in total to complete, however you can complete one section at a time.

HOW CAN THIS TRAINING HELP YOU? • Easy & convenient online solution to dysphagia training • Visibility to track progress in your care home • Raise the quality standard of dysphagia care in a consistent way The quality standards aim is for all new health and social care staff members caring for patients with Dysphagia to complete the modules as part of their induction programme. Existing health and

social care staff members should also complete the learning to support their continuing professional development.

There is a certificate that can be downloaded once the training has been successfully completed.

Use the camera on your phone to scan the QR code to access the e-learning and get started!

For any questions contact your local Nutricia sales representative or our Resource Centre at resourcecentre@nutricia.com.

Nutilis Clear is a Food for Special Medical Purposes for the dietary management of dysphagia and must be used under medical supervision.

Reference: 1. O’Loughlin G, Shanley C. Swallowing problems in the nursing home: a novel training response. Dysphagia 1998; 13, 172183.( https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/clinical-information/dysphagia) See the advert on page 37 for further information.

Renowned Care Home Chef Launches A Series Of Cracking Lion Egg Dishes NACC Care Chef of the Year, Martin McKee, has created a series of new videos showing how Lion eggs can bring inspiration to care home menus across the country. The recipes have been developed to reflect the growing trend for menu simplification that has been seen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The five easy-to-make recipes have been tailored to meet various nutritional requirements of residents, ranging from undernourishment, to dementia, or dysphagia. The dishes, designed to serve 10 or more people, include: an egg and bacon breakfast muffin; salmon and broccoli stuffed pepper with baked egg; smoked bacon, scrambled egg and potato waffles; spinach, ricotta and cherry tomato frittata; chocolate fondant with vanilla bean ice cream; and Mediterranean vegetable scotch eggs.

The latest Food Standards Agency advice means that vulnerable groups, including care home residents, can eat runny, or even raw, eggs, as long as they are produced to British Lion standards. Eggs meeting the Lion standard will carry a red

Lion and best before date on every egg. Previously, care homes had to restrict the way they served eggs, but they can now make the most of this nutritious, versatile, and cost-effective food.

Martin said: ‘’Eggs are an essential ingredient in every kitchen, and it is brilliant that we can now serve them runny as long as they meet Lion standards. The recipes I’ve created are easy to replicate and have been designed to make the most of the nutritional benefits of eggs, including key vitamins and minerals, as well as providing an abundance of protein which is vital for care home residents’ diets. ‘’I always use British Lion eggs and I would strongly urge any other care home chef to follow suit when sourcing and cooking with eggs, to guarantee highquality, safe dishes.’’

The video recipes are available to view on British Lion eggs YouTube channel and can also be found on www.eggrecipes.co.uk See the advert on page 19 for further information.

Microwave Specialist Launches Its Biggest Ever Giveaway Regale Microwave Ovens is offering a free Panasonic rice cooker with every purchase of some of the brand’s microwave ovens.

Users can now benefit from a free Panasonic rice cooker when they certain Panasonic microwaves via specialist supplier, Regale Microwave Ovens.

Panasonic Rice Cookers are Ideal for cooking porridge at breakfast and keeps it hot for late risers when on standby without it drying out!

One of the models where the giveaway applies is the Panasonic NE-1878, a 1,800W inverter-powered microwave designed to feature the benefits of an all metal door. With each purchase, companies can receive a free model SRGA421 rice cooker, worth over £120, which will also come with 2kg of FOC Tilda rice inside.

All enquiries received by Regale will be passed to the nearest geographical dealer, and both units will be dispatched by Regale to the operators on the UK mainland with next day delivery, free of charge.

There are three other Panasonic ovens included in the promotion, but these

qualifying for a FOC 7.2L Panasonic rice cooker. The ovens are the:• Panasonic NE-C1275 13A plug-in combination microwave oven with ‘five-way’ cooking methods.

• Panasonic NE-1880 & NE-3280. The extra-large and very powerful microwave ovens can take 2 x full size (1:1) Gastronorm pans.

• Each of these ovens comes with a 7.2litre Panasonic (model SRGA721) rice cooker, Free Of Charge. Each rice cooker comes with a complimentary 5kg of Tilda Basmati rice. Furthermore, Regale will deliver the equipment free to any UK mainland operator on the next working day.

Regale deputy MD Iain Phillips said: “Of course there are a few terms and conditions with this fantastic giveaway, the main one being that it is restricted to ‘whilst stocks last’, however we are hoping that we can run it from now to somewhere towards the end of August.”

See the advert on page 10 for details or call 01329 285518..

EF Group Launches CaterCloud - The Secret Ingredient for Menu Management Success Manchester-based, EF Group has announced it is offering free for life access to its new cloud-based, menu management platform, CaterCloud, which launched this week.

The easy-to-use, next generation allergen, nutrition, menu planning and costing system offers a wealth of enhanced functionality to help caterers gain significant efficiencies in their operations, to control costs and increase profits.

CaterCloud helps businesses ensure food safety remains a key focus.

With food labelling regulations set to change in October 2021, as a result of Natasha’s Law, all England-based businesses working in the food industry will be required to clearly label all foods produced and packed on their premises with a full list of ingredients detailing the full allergen profile.

Designed to help businesses prepare for this upcoming regulation, CaterCloud provides sub-allergen information and tagging; QR Code scanning for live allergen and nutritional information, along with the ability to print Natasha’s Law compliant food labels. CaterCloud also offers customers access to a range of accredited training for allergen awareness and food safety.

CaterCloud’s innovative functionality also boasts many other benefits to enable simple menu management for caterers across the hospitality, healthcare, education and retail sectors. It offers effective menu planning with dish and menu costings; access to a nutritional database with 1,000s of ingredients and customisable dashboards to record KPIs.

Users of CaterCloud can also join the e-foods’ Buyers’ Club and benefit from its substantial buying power. The Buyers’ Club is made up of a network of trusted accredited suppliers across the UK. Users can purchase food and non-food goods from these suppliers with savings of between 5 to 10%.

Paul Mizen, Chief Executive, EF Group said: “The service industries are moving at pace towards technology to help meet their stock ordering,

menu planning and compliance challenges. Our experience shows that there is increasing demand for more advanced dish and menu costing tools, as well as detailed, easy to use product data.

“Catering managers require their menu management software to seamlessly integrate with their ordering systems and demand best value from their food suppliers. With CaterCloud, we will remain at the forefront of delivering the innovative features the industry needs.

“The entire catering industry has been heavily impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic and as businesses work hard to recover, we are providing CaterCloud for free to help maximise efficiencies and reduce costs. This is our way of giving something back to the industry upon which our business is founded.”

CaterCloud is a web-based menu planning, nutrition, allergen and costing system which is part of the E-F Group. CaterCloud helps hundreds of hospitality businesses deliver performance and control costs while reducing food safety risks. CaterCloud is committed to innovation in food management, its leading-edge platform helps to manage food offerings from front desk to kitchens, with the aim of improving efficiency in catering operations. Live menu costings help businesses to see how their business is performing every day, enabling them to focus on producing quality food and increasing profitability. CaterCloud’s clients are mainly in the following sectors: healthcare, education, hospitality and retail.

For more information, see the advert on the facing page.

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

NURSE CALL AND FALL PREVENTION Call Aid UK - Cost Effective NURSE CALL Nurse Call Systems IT’S NOT OBSOLETE UNTIL THE OPERA LADY SINGS

EDISON TELECOM LTD (IN BUSINESS SINCE 1984)

have spares, enhancements and expertise for wired and wireless systems abandoned by the original manufacturer, whoever they are.

Call us on 01252-330220 We can give most systems a new lease of life and maintain them into the future.

www.edisontelecom.co.uk Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.

At Call Aid UK we like to let our clients speak for us! “We were introduced to the PAM system a year ago and are delighted with the difference it has made since its introduction. The system is very reliable and offers a couple of sound options for day and night mode, ensuring that residents are not disturbed during quiet hours. The system notifies you as soon as movement is detected which in many cases decreases the risk of falls. Call Aid are also helpful and offer a personalised service. We have a single point of contact that ensures actions are taken quickly if required and also contact us to see how

we are getting on. I cannot fault the system nor the services “ West Lodge Nursing Home Call Aid UK is an electronics design and manufacturing company specialising in providing electronic solutions to the healthcare market. We are committed to delivering innovative solutions with easy to use systems and we recognise the importance of listening to our customers’ needs.

We produce systems that use the latest technology, compliment the decor and are competitively priced.

Visit www.callaiduk.com or see the advert on this page for details.

TumbleCare from Easylink Medpage Limited T/A Easylink UK was established in 1984 after the invention of an alarm clock to wake deaf people. The “Shake Awake” set a new precedent in quality standards for products designed for sensory care, notoriously at the time – rubbish. The company invented a new device for the detection of nocturnal epileptic seizures in 1994, which also set a new precedent for quality, especially after the company achieved certified medical accreditation.

We could boast and say we have supplied more seizure detection monitors than any other company in UK. You could say we are innovators; we are and very proud of it. To constantly adapt to changes in demands for care technologies, remain competitive and continue to develop new care solutions it takes more than intelligence, it takes passion.

Despite the COVID-19 lockdown, failing economy, factories closing and international shipping facing the worst crisis

ever known, we have battled through. At the start of the lockdown we supplied the NHS and Local Authorities with over 2000 bed occupancy detection alarm systems, many of them used to enable long term patients to be discharged from hospital to free up beds for COVID victims. Independent living support was and is essential during this pandemic.

Now we launch our new brand. TumbleCare. The TumbleCare brand is a range of fall detection and prevention products focussing on affordable quality and product performance. The products are tough, easy to set, use and provide carers with reliable advance warning notification of potential falls. Visit our website.

Firstly, you’ll be amazed at the variety of care solutions we offer, then blown away by our realistically fair pricing.

Visit www.easylinkuk.co.uk or see the advert on page 2 for details.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 45

NURSE CALL AND FALL PREVENTION

Wireless Fall Prevention A Digital Future of Care in a Post COVID-19 Era

By Ben Kilbey – Business Development Manager, Spearhead Healthcare

The last thing any care home wants to have to deal with is an elderly resident falling in their home.

However, with over 255,000 hospital admissions in England a year relating to the elderly suffering injury after a fall, being alert and aware as soon as a fall happens is critically important in the administration of aid; as well as helping reduce emotional distress.

For years, the care industry has used a tremendous range of call alert solutions to help care home staff respond to these falls quickly and easily. The most popular and regularly used of these are systems which plug in to nurse call systems.

Nonetheless, these come with their own issues and can often create their own risks in regard to falling; largely in the use of trailing cables that need to be plugged in to make them work. These potential trip hazards can cause the exact issues they are trying to prevent.

But with new innovations come new solutions, and we are increasingly seeing a range of wireless solutions that provide a variety of benefits. Below we list things to look out for when selecting these systems:

NO LOOSE WIRES When looking at a wireless solution, make sure it truly is wireless and that any receivers, or sending features on the items are contained and are not left loose where someone can catch a foot on it, or accidently rip it out.

WIRELESS CALL BUTTONS Care home staff cannot be chained to their desk and need to be checking on residents and conducting all the

Edison Telecom We here at Edison Telecom Ltd have been providing specialist solutions to your call system requirements tailor-made to each customers needs for over 25 years, says director Bob Johnson.

Is your current Nurse Call “legacy”, obsolete, so full of software bugs or commercially not viable for your current supplier/maintainer to maintain?

We may have just the part and expertise that you are looking for to give your nurse call a further exten-

duties that are required to create a smooth-running home, filled with happy residents. A wireless alert that can be carried in a pocket allows the user to respond as swiftly as possible to potential falls, helping homes provide the highest level of care.

A centralized alert system is an option that also presents many benefits, as homes can ensure that the right person in the right place is alerted in a timely manner. Making sure that a system works both centrally and on the move, giving you the best range of options to help provide a high level of care.

PLUGS While this might very well be viewed as a smaller issue, nurse call systems come with a huge variety of plug types; and ensuring that your receivers have the correct plugs for your call system is key.

LOOK AND FEEL Make sure the system you choose is as unobtrusive as possible. Often fall prevention equipment is designed to be as hidden as possible. Should the item be particularly obvious make sure you are happy it fits as well as possible into the decor of the room it sits in and think about choosing a floormat that corresponds with the flooring in the room e.g. wood effect vinyl or carpet.

Spearhead are proud to distribute the entire Alerta wireless range that has been launched this year.

For further information visit www.www.spearheadhealthcare.com sion to life, adds Bob, “Edison will treat your nurse call with the same compassion that you give to those in your care. There will come a time when your equipment is beyond repair but Edison are experts in extending the life of obsolete systems.” www.edisontelecom.co.uk

After 50 years being at the forefront of advances in Nurse Call solutions, Courtney Thorne continue to develop solutions which now seem more relevant and important than at any time before.

The introduction of digital care planning and medication solutions has enabled forward thinking care homeowners to go paperless, giving more accurate, timely and readily available information on those in their care. These same digital devices, tablets and smart mobiles can now be used to view calls and emergencies generated by a Courtney Thorne nurse call system. Both new installations and many existing Courtney Thorne systems can benefit with calls being delivered straight to the carer.

Monitoring of resident’s care planning and medications are just two areas that reduces the amount of paperwork and administration, freeing up carers to spend more time actually caring. The monitoring of the caring staff themselves can become arduous and time consuming for management, not with a Courtney Thorne nurse call solution.

The introduction of Staff ID tags of fobs is nothing new, there are so called systems on the market which use simple magnets which carers need to remember to press onto a room sensor when they attend, and again when they leave a resident’s room. With Courtney Thorne’s Altra Tag the process of logging who attended, what time they attended and how long they remained in the resident’s room is all logged automatically and seamlessly. No longer are there management and staff disputes about forgetting to “fob in/fob out”.

The volume and detail of the data captured automatically by a Courtney Thorne nurse call system is vast. All the data is available to management using the reporting function built into the main touch screen server. However, where visiting the home is difficult due to COVID-19 restrictions or time and distance problems, owners and managers may find retrieving data difficult, resulting in a lack of monitoring and possible reduction in quality of care delivered. Courtney Thorne’s CT-Cloud service provides ready complied, detailed reports daily, coupled with a “live” view of all data contained in the server from any location with an internet connection.

Carrying out regular checks on sleeping residents is

time consuming and often counter-productive as residents often wake, have poor sleep and can even fall after attempting to use the toilet once awake. Acoustic monitoring means that only those who actually need assistance get it, those who are sound asleep do not get disturbed and carers can concentrate on more productive tasks.

So, in this new COVID-19 and Digital world what other new solutions are on the horizon? Nurse call devices around a care home become intelligent enough to identify a resident in need. Already we can measure changes in levels of noise, but monitoring light, temperature coupled with wearable devices monitoring vital signs, now a deterioration in a resident’s wellbeing can raise an alert or be recorded. A resident ‘connected’ with a wearable device can have their movement, location, heart rate, sleep, blood pressure etc., monitored automatically. Instead of intrusive, often unsocial physical monitoring, at-risk residents have vital signs checked and recorded continuously. If an emergency occurs, the nurse call system will still summon help, only now one of its key functions will be to record, store and make available critical data. Thereby reducing the touch points, minimising transmission of disease, freeing up carers time and providing a safer and healthier life for both residents and staff.

For further information visit www.nursecallsystems.co.uk or see the advert below.

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Putting the ‘Home’ Back into Care Homes: How Innovative Technologies Can Help Carers Give Residents a Better Quality of Life

By Phillip Moorcraft, UK Director, CLB (global.clb.nl) When a person moves into a residential care home, the quality of their medical and social care is hugely important to that individual and their loved ones.

However, they also want a place that feels genuinely welcoming and homely, and which allows its residents to enjoy appropriate levels of privacy and independence.

Striking that delicate balance, between providing a ‘home from home’ and ensuring that residents’ medical and social care needs are met, can be hard for residents, families and care home staff alike. And it is a widespread problem – with about 21,556 care homes in the UK alone, there is lots of pressure on care staff to make residents feel ‘at home’, while also meeting each person’s (often complex) needs. This pressure has greatly intensified with the challenges of the pandemic.

Technologies can ease the pressure of regular and unnecessary ad-hoc welfare checks on top of providing personal quality care, while giving residents more privacy and independence.

For example, acoustic monitoring technology, which has been used in many countries worldwide for more than 25 years, can monitor for adverse events and reduce their potential to cause life-changing effects.

What is more, residents with acoustic monitoring can establish better sleep patterns because they are less frequently disturbed by staff visits, and better sleep conveys multiple health and wellbeing benefits.

Meanwhile, the technology alerts staff as soon as an event occurs, which also improves quality of life and can make a crucial – even life-saving – difference to medical outcomes in the case of health emergencies.

Furthermore, acoustic monitoring gives greater privacy and autonomy for each resident. For example, those who prefer to go to bed later/earlier than their peers are no longer restricted by the facility’s monitoring schedule and can enjoy more flexibility, and those with particular concerns about privacy can be left in peace without having to compromise their safety.

What do good care homes provide?

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told service users and those who care for them what they should expect of a good care home. The expectation that residents will be treated with respect and able to exercise their rights (to privacy, to self-determination, to care of high quality, to dignity) is woven like a golden thread through that document.

No reasonable care professional would argue with those values, but they can be tough to achieve simultaneously.

The need to monitor residents is a prime example.

Many homes carry out periodic checks on residents – often, every two hours or so – and this is a critical element of providing good social/clinical care. However, it is also highly disruptive for patients, who may be disturbed several times during the night, and it takes carers away from other duties.

Residents who are disturbed during the night (even for the best of reasons) may suffer chronic or recurrent sleep deprivation, which has a serious impact on their quality of life. Sleep deprivation causes grogginess, mood changes (in some cases, aggression, anxiety or

depression) and increases vulnerability to illness. So, an action that is intended to protect a resident can also make them ill.

Meanwhile, carers may become frustrated with the constant need to interrupt whatever they are doing to carry out welfare checks, particularly if this takes them away from providing personalised care for individuals, and their morale, along with the broader functionality and productivity of the care home, can suffer as a result.

Acoustic technology meets the needs of care home staff and residents Unsurprisingly, some care homes have tried to solve this problem with technology. And the CQC agrees that care homes’ use of innovative technology is key to maximising their performance. The challenge lies in knowing which type of technology to use.

For example, some care homes have used voice and video baby monitors, or alarmed mats that detect movement. However, these are primarily for domestic use and often cannot cope with the demands of a care home. They can be hard to maintain and may not have an appropriate radio frequency; all are intrusive but video monitors in particular compromise residents’ privacy. And they can lead to a delayed response by care staff, which has significant implications in time-critical events like a heart attack or stroke.

Acoustic technology, in contrast, is not intrusive and has been designed for care home settings.

Acoustic technology allows individual sensitivity settings for each resident and will alert staff when the thresholds are exceeded. It is highly accurate, so will sound if a resident falls, for example, or if a resident (e.g. with mobility problems) tries to get out of bed.

When acoustic technology is used in an intelligent nurse alert system, it monitors resident welfare with a high level of accuracy. When triggered, an alert is sent to a professional operator who can assess the situation and forward the alarm directly to a carer’s device if applicable. That allows an immediate response, giving the resident the best outcome, including in cases of medical emergency.

Acoustic technology also reduces adverse events, thanks to the quality and consistency of its monitoring that allows swift and preventive action. For example, it reduced resident falls by 35% in one facility.

Meanwhile, carers can reduce the number of in-person visits and can maintain their focus on other work, such as meeting the needs of individual residents, which increases morale and productivity.

For the residents, acoustic monitoring delivers the privacy, dignity, self-determination and appropriate independence that good care homes provide for their residents. It gives them a more relaxing and homely environment and allows healthy sleep cycles that enhance their quality of life. Above all, it keeps them safe.

It is time for care homes to make technologies work for them The pandemic has caused much anxiety for care home providers, residents and their families. It has also focused national attention, perhaps more than ever before, on the most vulnerable members of our society and the people who dedicate their lives to caring for them. It has been an incredibly hard and draining time.

Innovative technologies in care homes, such as acoustic monitoring, provide an exciting opportunity to move the emphasis from intrusive and unnecessary checks to discreet, yet continuous, monitoring that gives both residents and carers the comfort and security that a home should have. By putting the right technology to work in care homes, we can relieve that burden and grow a care sector that genuinely provides the relaxing and homely environment that all residents, families and staff desire, along with the top-quality care and working conditions they deserve.

Workforce Scheduling Solutions Workforce Scheduling Solutions deliver Electronic Time & Attendance systems worldwide, using the latest Face Recognition technology.

Why should care homes move from paper to electronic time sheets

The industry is under considerable financial pressures. An efficient electronic booking on/off system that will schedule, provide budgets, calculate hours worked, overtime and absence such as sickness and holiday entitlement will save Time and Money.

How is time and money saved by doing things electronically?

Collecting payroll information from paper timesheets can be slow, prone to errors, and very labour intensive.

Staff rosters can be produced as far in advance as practical and accurate within budgeted hours. Staff book on and off-duty electronically, thus eliminating any time errors.

Wage queries are virtually eliminated and immediate checks can be made without wading through reams of paper which invariably are inaccurate, misfiled or even 'lost".

There are many systems on the market - Why facial recognition is important and how it works

Some systems use tokens, which can be lost or left at home, requiring management involvement in the booking on/off procedure. Fingerprint systems can be beaten and Social media is awash with ways to copy fingerprints. Face recognition combined with a staff PIN is simple to use and manage using touch screen technology and web cams. Staff see their image displayed immediately when booking on or off and confirms their identity visually. It provides the best deterrent available as it builds a greater 'image knowledge’ of each employee, a picture is worth a thousand words. Eliminates 'buddy punching' where employees can book colleagues on/off duty using someone’s tokens, swipe card or even fingerprint.

How is data protected?

With the correct security setup computer systems provide more data protection than paper-based records which can be easily removed or stolen. GDPR covers all data including paper records and therefore the chances of infringing the rules and incurring fines is greater with paper.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24 | PAGE 47

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Technology in a Post-Covid World Let’s not beat around the bush: It’s been a terrible year so far. Healthcare around the world has been pushed to the limits. Here in the UK our amazing NHS pulled out all the stops, despite being hugely underfunded even before the pandemic. The unsung heroes were the Social Care sector. We heard many appalling stories of both staff and residents falling victim to this indiscriminatory virus and but also stories of people’s love and determination to help the more vulnerable amongst us. As we move towards a new post lockdown phase, we ask ourselves: How have we survived so far and what does the future have in store?

Since the prime minister announced in March that we were to stay at home, we have clung on to two factors to help our mental health manage the dramatic change to our lives: long walks and video conferencing and sometimes, but not being too over indulgent, both at the same time. As many of us prepare to work from home, the discovery of “Zoom”, mainly known as a colourful ice lolly to many before March, transformed the way we began to communicate. Zoom saw its number of users explode from 10 million a day to 200 million over lockdown. Video conferencing isn’t just for business though.

It allowed families and friends to remain connected throughout. Crowd funding appeals began to help raise money to pay for tablets. These were given to residents in care homes to ensure they too weren’t missing out on the digital party.

It’s not just the video conferencing either. We’ve exercised with Joe Wicks and we’ve written

or partaken in online quizzes. Most of us have had more time to interact with friends and family because other distractions have been taken away. Now we’ve been able to move away from lockdown thanks to government initiatives such as Test and Trace. So, we must ask ourselves, where would we have been without technology?

Amazingly, despite most of us having access to computers, tablets and smart phones, almost three quarters of our sector are still operating paper-based systems within their homes? We have fully embraced technology for our personal use, but why not our business?

We’ve relied on it for months, it’s enriched our lives, imagine what it could do in our places of work.

Will changing to a computer-based care system, like Ablyss CMS, change our lives? No. But, will it make a positive impact to the way we operate and run our businesses? Yes. We need to learn from the lessons of 2020. We don’t know what’s around the corner, so it’s impossible to be ready for the next challenge. But we can do our best to be prepared. The future is not written on a piece of paper, it is changeable, it will adapt and will, occasionally, throw us a Covid-shaped curve ball! We need adaptive systems in place to help us navigate the road ahead. We need to fully embrace and invest in the technology and advances that are available to us. Put faith in technology. We’ve tested it to its limits and now we know, we DO need it.

See the advert on this page for more information about Ablyss.

Mainteno Facilities Maintenance and Management Software Whether it’s managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs, Mainteno simplifies the day-to-day maintenance of almost any organisation.

Mainteno also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking.

Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process, saving your organisation time and money.

USABILITY MADE AFFORDABLE Mainteno was designed with practicality in mind.

The interface is so intuitive that basic operation can be learned in minutes, and you can be a power user in one afternoon.

Elegant usability usually means a hefty price tag.

However, our pricing structure means that for small organisations, Mainteno can cost as little as two cups

of coffee a month. No set-up fees, no lengthy contracts and a free trial, all mean that the system starts paying for itself straight away.

Dr Asif Raja, Bsc MBBS Summercare Managing Director says “Facing significant challenges of ever increasing quality and compliance demands upon time and resources as well considerable economic pressures, Summercare, an award winning provider of residential care and housing related support, sought to upgrade their systems for managing the property and environmental aspects of its service delivery. After an extensive period of investigation and research Mainteno was selected as the platform of choice for the entire organization based on its ease of use, very short-term contract, quick set up and ongoing support.”

Visit www.mainteno.com, Tel: 020 8798 3713 or email sales@redro.co.uk

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sales@redro.co.uk

Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.

PAGE 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Covid19: Accelerating the Use of Digital Technology in Healthcare As this crisis impacts every part of the health sector, significant vulnerabilities are being exposed. The NHS ‘digital revolution’ has long been touted as the key to futureproofing both Social Care and our health service in the face of increasing patient demand.

That demand has now reached unprecedented levels and seems unlikely ever to revert to previous trends; against that background; there is an urgent requirement to move quickly to realise the opportunities which are available from digital technology. It is no longer an interesting speculation; it is an essential requirement to support staff and save lives. (Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell)

when invoicing?

How many industries with shift workers rely on manual payroll processing outside the care sector?

Repeatable systems should harness the power of technology to cut back the massive waste of man hours spent processing and checking manual tasks.

In order to work out the best technology for your needs, you should assess your current systems against your requirements. Think about what inefficiencies exist in your homes and how you could: 1. Capture relevant information, such as resident/staff details, in a simple, time-efficient way.

2. Manage your documents to ensure that information is dealt with logically.

3. Avoid duplication at all costs; completing handwritten timesheets which then need to be manually inputted into payroll is a massive, unnecessary waste of time & manpower.

4. Address technological obstacles. The perception that your staffs are not IT literate is out of date; most people own a smart phone so yes they are!

See www.fusion4care.com for details or see the advert on page 17.

USING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY Poor efficiencies in many areas of the sector are caused by the lack of investment in technology.

Technology will improve the way your staff carry out tasks by either speed up existing processes or allowing new, more flexible and accurate ways of carrying out a job or process which will in turn enables live real time management information.

Would you expect to check out of a hotel with an invoice and extras raised in Word or Excel so why do many operators still use this method

WristPIT from Pinpoint The WristPIT from Pinpoint,is a bespoke patient call transmitter designed to be worn on the wrist.

This wrist-worn personal infrared transmitter (WristPIT) is easily accessible and allows patients to activate a call for even if they are away from their bed or a fixed call-point.

Pinpoint’s renowned PIT technology (usually worn by staff for personal safety) has, for the first time, been designed around patient use. The WristPIT can withstand showering and brief submersion in water and also incorporates antimicrobial product protection, reducing the ability for bacteria to grow.

According to figures published by the National Reporting and Learning System, around 250,000 incidents where patients required assistance in hospital were reported in 2015/16. In many cases, nursing staff remained unaware that a patient had had a fall for quite some time.

Pressing the clearly labelled call button on the WristPIT notifies the personnel on duty that a patient is requesting help and informs staff exactly where the patient is. The call button is recessed and surrounded by a bump guard to prevent false alarms.

Pinpoint Alarm Systems are installed in thousands of medical facilities throughout the UK and USA. The new WristPIT is backward compatible and easily integrated into existing Pinpoint Systems.

A green LED indicates the WristPIT is ‘activated’ with good battery level. When the battery requires changing, the LED flashes red until the battery is changed and the device has been retested.

In addition to being water-resistant, the WristPIT has been designed to withstand harsh environments and user tampering, meaning suitability for facilities where service users may be at risk of self-harm.

For more information: www.pinpointlimited.com or see the advert on this page.

CARE VISION – Outstanding Care is at the Heart of Everything We Do At Carevision, outstanding care truly is at the heart of everything they do. They have combined over 40 years of hands on experience running care homes and working with some of the smartest mind in tech, they have created Care Vision - An all-inone, cloud-based system that incorporates all your care and admin in to one easy to use system. Carers can compile resident notes, health observations and EMAR. Care home managers can manage rotas, accounts, HR and house-keeping tasks and log visitors using the digital visitor book.

Residents can use the system to make personal choices on meals and activities and use the app to keep in touch with family and friends.

Rishi Jawaheer, director at Care Vision says “The 100+ care homes

PINPOINT WRISTPIT The WristPIT is a wrist worn Personal Infrared Transmitter designed exclusively for patient use.

The latest call button is recessed and surrounded by a bump guard to prevent false alarms. It is also backward compatible, allowing seamless integration into existing Pinpoint Systems.

DID YOU KNOW? Biomaster Technology is incorporated into all surface areas of the product during manufacture, inhibiting the growth of contaminating bacteria 24/7 for the lifetime of the product.

www.pinpointlimited.com

that use our system have seen its benefits – They are saving 2-4 hours of staff hours per resident, per week and they are achieving outstanding CQC results. Carers love it, residents and relatives love it, and care home managers can’t remember how challenging managing a care home was before it.”

Of course, taking on a whole new system can seem daunting, that’s why Care Vision offer minimal investment, all round support and flexible hardware options. They don’t feel the need for long-term contracts, Rishi says “We have total confidence, once you use Care Vision, you will love it as much as we do.”

The Care Vision team would love to talk to you about what the system can do for you. Contact at info@care-vision.co.uk or call 0208 768 9809.

See the advert on page 45 for details.

PAGE 50 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 24

PROFESSIONAL AND TRAINING

Take Care When Supplying Insolvent Customers

By Lindsay Ellis, partner and head of the Commercial Law team at Wright Hassall (www.wrighthassall.co.uk) WHEN CAN A SUPPLIER TERMINATE A CONTRACT

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has presented the care sector with perhaps the greatest challenge it has faced and despite the Government’s promise of enhanced support, it may come too late, with dwindling occupancy rates driving many care homes to the edge of insolvency.

The Government is trying to kick-start the economy and has introduced a number of legislation changes it hopes will improve the economic performance of the UK, or at least prevent it from becoming even worse.

One such change comes in Section 233B of the Insolvency Act 1986 (introduced by the recent Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act), which now prevents a business from terminating supply to a customer on the grounds the customer has become insolvent.

The legislation applies to all contracts for the supply of goods and (non-financial) services, but only applies to suppliers; customers can terminate a contract if a supplier becomes insolvent. There is also an interim exemption (until the end of September) for “small suppliers”.

A supplier can terminate a contract in the period leading up to the insolvency proceedings, or terminate after the insolvency proceeding began, for a reason not triggered by that proceeding.

They can also terminate a supply contract with the consent of the insolvency administrator or with the permission of the Court, arguing that continuing to supply would cause the supplier hardship.

If a customer enters a formal insolvency procedure, a supplier can wait for a new reason to end the contract, like non-payment for supplies made after the commencement of the insolvency.

They may also be able to exercise other contractual rights, like contractual set-off and netting rights. If the contract permits, a supplier may be able to terminate for convenience, as long as supplies continue to be made during the notice period.

If the contract in place is a single-purchase order, suppliers can refuse new orders, particularly if the contract is structured as a framework agreement, when each new order constitutes a separate contract.

Suppliers can also refuse to renew an existing contract once it has expired.

STRUCTURE NEW CONTRACTS CAREFULLY Future supply contracts will be very different having been shaped by the new legislation and suppliers should consider the following: • Reducing the contract term to ensure they are not tied into supplying the customer for a considerable period in any insolvency procedure – which must be balanced with commercial objective of securing long-term customers.

• Structuring contracts as framework agreements, with each supply treated as a separate contract, which allows the supplier to accept or refuse new orders.

• Tightening the payment structure to provide an early warning of customers experiencing financial problems, before insolvency is triggered.

• Requiring regular financial information from customers to assess continued solvency.

• Falling short of termination, a supplier might include a provision allowing it to suspend further supplies under the contract, for repeated or lengthy

periods of non-payment.

• Allowing termination for convenience, including as short a notice period as makes commercial sense.

WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER Many suppliers will feel the impact of the legislation changes and will need to be more selective when agreeing supply contracts, as they attempt to protect themselves from the potential consequences of continuing to supply customers trading insolvently.

It will be advisable to undertake deeper due diligence on a customer’s financial position before agreeing contracts and keeping a close eye on payment performance to get an earlier warning of any likely difficulties.

Suppliers should train account managers to spot the warning signs, including ensuring invoices are paid on time and possibly tightening debt collection procedures.

Every supplier must understand its contractual rights and be ready to promptly exercise them to stop supply or terminate the contract promptly should a customer show signs of financial distress.

It also makes sense to review standard terms and conditions to ensure they still protect the supplier against a customer’s insolvency, as far as possible. And it makes sense to seek expert legal advice as small changes now, could save a lot of trouble in the future.

About the author: Lindsay Ellis is a partner and heads the Commercial Law team at Wright Hassall. He advises on outsourcing, procurement and commercial contracts, across a diverse number of sectors including: technology, transport/logistics, public, automotive, engineering (including aviation) and retail.

About the firm: Wright Hassall is a top-ranked firm of solicitors based in Warwickshire, providing legal services including: corporate law; commercial law; litigation and dispute resolution; employment law and property law. The firm also advises on contentious probate, business immigration, debt recovery, employee incentives, information governance, professional negligence and private client matters.

Employee Engagement: Employee Retention Are you spending too much time on recruitment and not enough time engaging with your current employees?

This is not an uncommon situation to find yourself in and is magnified by the current COVID-19 crisis where you may have to be making difficult decisions with redundancies or unable to meet your demand for care worker.

It’s important to note, these are not just a couple of buzz words used by HR managers; engaging with your employees can have a significant, positive impact on your business and its performance.

This handy checklist will help create a more employee focused organisation and help towards retaining your valued employees: Selection – Be open and honest about the role and

responsibilities at the initial recruitment stage Development and progression – Offer opportunities for employees to gain skills and build on their career Engage employees – ensure you’re having regular performance conversations and reviews, conduct surveys and have in place a grievance procedure Be flexible - Wherever possible, accommodate individual preferences on working hours and times Manage work load - Monitor workload and ensure it is manageable within working hours Employee well-being - Support employees with issues such as workplace stress For further information, contact The Policy Library.

See the advert on the facing page for details.

Meaningful Care Matters Established in 2019, Meaningful Care Matters (MCM) focuses on the development of resilient relationship-centred cultures of care shaped by the people living and working within them. MCM believe that when cultures of care express the personhood of people within them, caregiving is meaningful for everyone involved. In these person-centred services both “caregivers” and recipients of care can flourish.

Meaningful Care Matters recognises that individual well-being is not an ‘individual’ matter. Our relationships with the people, places and things that have shaped our life journey make us who we are and sustain our sense of personhood. Engaging in moments, experiences and activities that resonate with who we are and meet our needs for love, attachment, belonging, agency, occupation, comfort and attachment makes life meaningful. Individual ill-being occurs when these relationships are undermined and life lacks meaning and purpose when such connections are absent in our daily lives.

Meaningful relationships make us feel secure, free and able and help us to feel at home in ourselves.

Having a diagnosis, disease, cognitive or physical impairments does not take these feelings away from

us, it just makes these relationships matter even more. Nurturing these person-centred relationships is therefore key to sustaining individual well-being and developing an emotionally resilient culture of care.

MCM believe that care is most meaningful when it is informed by carers' lived experience as well as an empathic understanding of what matters most to each recipient of care. This means that every personcentred practice and relationship is unique, reflecting the individuality of the people giving and receiving care and the specificity of the context in which it occurs. This stance establishes self-awareness, emotional intelligence and spontaneity as a key competency for carers. Person-centred care is therefore enhanced when carers have the confidence to be themselves, the insight to know what makes each encounter meaningful and the freedom to be guided by their empathy and practiced wisdom.

MCM helps care providers optimise healthcare outcomes and realize their full potential by transforming the features of their service that undermine relationships and developing the features of care that help person-centred relationships to flourish.

Meaningful Care Matters facilitates transformation of care cultures and works across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and Australia with an approach to support people to be ‘free to be me’.

See the advert on age 52 for details.

PROFESSIONAL AND TRAINING

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