T H E P U B L I C A T 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 W W W. T H E C A R E R U K . C O M THECARERUK THECARERUK Issue 116 THECARER UK Care Sector Mourns and Pays Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II The care sector has paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II following the sad news of her death at Balmoral on September 8 The Queen described as Elizabeth the Great has drawn a wave of reflection and remembrance amongst representatives in the care sector charities providers, organisations and Britain’s elderly generation, to express their deep sorrow and share their own stories about the country s longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II remains the only female member of the royal family to have served in the Army When the then Princess Elizabeth turned 18 in 1944 she insisted upon joining the Army, where she trained as a truck driver and mechanic Five months later she was promoted to Junior Commander which was the equivalent of Captain Her younger sister Princess Margaret was a Girl Guide and later joined the Sea Rangers Royal Star & Garter a provider of care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia and was established in 1916 to care for severely dis abled young men returning from WWI battlegrounds paid tribute to its Patron, Queen Elizabeth II who became the charity s Patron in 1953 following the death of her grandmother Queen Mary and made several visits to the Richmond Home (CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 )
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The fact that Prime Minister Liz Truss has now abandoned Boris Johnson s National Insurance increase to fund social care has not come as a surprise since it was, of course, part of her pledge when she was campaigning to become Prime Minister
PUBLISHED BY RBC Publishing Ltd Roddis House, Old Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 1LG TELEPHONE: 01202 552333 (6 lines) Fax: 01202 552666 Email: sales@thecareruk com WEBSITE: www thecareruk com EDITOR Peter Adams SALES EXECUTIVES Sylvia Mawson David Bar tlett Guy Stephenson PRODUCTION & DESIGN Matthew Noades PRODUCTION & WEB ADMIN Charlene Fox
I think for me and possi bly other observers as well the issue is that dur ing the leadership cam paign Ms Truss said she wanted to divert the addi tional funding allocated to the NHS this year raised through the 1 25 percent age point increase in National Insurance contri butions to adult social care in order to tackle delayed discharges At the same time she vowed to reverse the NI rise, which she has now done, stating that funds will be raised through general taxation
As discussed last week there is no detail in her plans on how social care would be funded other than our new Health Secretary s comments that it will come out of “general taxation
However, with the current cost of living crisis and the government having to subsidise rises in energy costs it seems implausible that taxes will be raised to fund adult social care
We publish another publication for the hospitality and pub trade This sector is taxed almost to oblivion as is the wider public! No country can tax itself out of recession or borrow its way out of debt
And sooner or later I suspect that the models that we see in Germany Japan and South Korea will have to be considered here in the UK
Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer
Sector leaders have repeatedly warned that tackling healthcare pres sures requires investment in social care particularly by raising wages for the workforce This is because the mounting vacancy rate in adult social care is a key driver of delayed dis charges from hospital reducing capacity to admit new patients
Unpalatable though it is we have to be encouraged to contribute to our own adult social care costs
Adult social care has repeatedly asked succes sive governments for a definitive policy and how the sector can be funded
Her words of support to the care sector in April 2020 which we are delighted to reproduce in our lead story, were hugely inspirational
It was as heart breaking as it was heart warming Stories of sadness and grief at the loss of residents in some cases residents’ families also in some cases staff plus the heartache of families being banned from entering and visiting loved ones to the other end of the scale stories of inspirational leadership dedication and commitment from the sector as a whole
That can often be taken for granted and it was wonderful that her Majesty not only appreciated the dedication and hard work of the sector but shared that appreciation with the nation
We are on the presses this weekend for our latest print issue which may be a day or so delayed landing on your desks since Monday September 19 is a bank holiday for The Queen s funeral
Editor Peter
Should you wish to make any comments or have any stories to tell regarding Her Majesty please do share them with us and we will be delighted to publish them to our readership, but we would need them by 11 am on Friday, September 16!
That was at a time when the sector was experienc ing its most difficult time in history I have said before that in October 2021 I sat in on a seminar where care providers were invited to share their experiences of life in their homes at the height of the pandemic and how they coped
Please do keep your stories and comments coming to editor@thecareruk com Adams
EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT
Her Majesty was a patron of many health and care organisations and is being remembered as an ardent supporter for charitable causes including an unre served commitment to care
We are very honoured, and indeed humbled, to lead with heartfelt tributes from care sector providers rep resentatives and residents following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday
Published by
TIRELESS SUPPORTER OF THE CHARITY SECTOR
Professor Vic Rayner OBE CEO of the National Care Forum said: We mourn with the nation in our loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who has been a model of dedicated service for over 70 years As the patron of many of our member organisations she has demonstrated unreserved commitment to care charity and community through her ongoing patronage and her previous patronage of members
across England and Wales I d like to express our sin cere condolences to the whole Royal Family on the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II I have written to His Majesty the King following the news
“Her Majesty’s dedication to every one of us alongside her continuous hard work and loyalty to her United Kingdom, was clear to see throughout her life Her high regard for local government was also truly reflective in her focus and appreciation of coun cils work and determination in her annual Queen s Speeches
He explained that The Queen’s visits to Royal Star & Garter demonstrated genuine support and enthusiasm for the veteran community and our important work ”
Cllr James Jamieson Chairman of the Local Government Association said On behalf of all councils
COUNCILS EXPRESS THEIR SADNESS
Expressing his deepest sympathies to the entire Royal Family Major General Tyler said: “Her Majesty The Queen’s role as our Patron was just one aspect of a reign charac terised by support for good causes and devotion to public service
“Our thoughts are with her family during what is an exceptionally difficult time for them With the country in a period of national mourning now CCN s member councils will be paying their own individual tributes and ensuring that local residents are able to share their condolences ”
He continued: As a veteran herself Her Majesty had a natural affinity with our residents Always a proud advocate of the Armed Forces community The Queen’s support for Royal Star & Garter never wavered It was an honour and privilege to have had Her Majesty’s patronage ”
WHOLE MILITARY COMMUNITY IN MOURNING
At The Royal Hospital Chelsea the home of the Chelsea Pensioners the governor at the hospital Sir Adrian Bradshaw said: “The whole military community will be in mourning, for the passing of Her Majesty The Queen
Our thoughts are with her family and King Charles III as he takes to his new responsibility as monarch and King ”
Mike Padgham Managing Director of the Independent Care Group said: We are saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II She was our beloved head of state our patriarch our Queen and the mother of our nation
As someone who resolutely and devoutly fulfilled her public duties through her 70s 80s and 90s she was a fantastic inspiration for many older people who admired for her stoicism selflessness and commit ment The Queen constantly challenged the ill considered stereotype that later life means inactivity loss of purpose and disengagement with society
Her Majesty was a towering figure in the life of our nation throughout her long reign and was loved respected and admired For Age UK and for many older people she was simply inspirational We will miss her hugely ”
QUEEN’S TRIBUTE TO THE CARE SECTOR
(CONTINUED ON FRONT COVER)
Care Sector Mourns and Pays Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
Carole Easton Chief Executive of the Centre for Ageing Better said: We are deeply saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II and offer our condolences to the Royal Family at this difficult time
Our thoughts are with His Majesty King Charles III and the rest of the Royal Family We are thankful for the extraordinary life and work of The Queen ’ Queen Elizabeth II s funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19th September
Cllr Tim Oliver Chairman of the County Councils Network said: On behalf of councils in the County Councils Network (CCN) we would like to offer our condolences to the Royal Family after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sadly passed away today She was the longest ever reigning British monarch and we pay tribute to her decades of public service
“Her first investiture as Monarch was with Korean War hero Bill Speakman VC who later became a Chelsea Pensioner and they remained acquaintances through out his life until he passed away in 2018 ”
“Her irreplaceable and invaluable contribution to the UK will be sorely missed ” Caroline Abrahams Charity Director at Age UK said: Age UK would like to share its deepest condolences with the entire Royal Family after the very sad news that Her Majesty The Queen has died
In April 2020 during the first Covid lockdown the Queen paid special tribute to care staff and other key workers for their service during the pandemic in a televised address She said they had “selflessly contin ued their day to day duties outside the home in support of us all adding: “I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times ”
“Councils have been proud to serve Her Majesty throughout her reign and will continue to do so by now putting into place local arrangements to support the public in expressing their own sympathies These arrangements will include the opening of both public and virtual books of condolence ensuring flags are flown at half mast, and overseeing arrangements for the laying of flowers in public areas
“The Queen was a tireless and hugely impactful supporter of the charity sector helping to raise aware ness and promote understanding of hundreds of important causes through her decades of public service In particular she supported a number of good causes supporting older people and for the betterment of socie ty more generally Her contribution to the sector and to our nation s history over the past century will be remembered and felt for many years after her passing
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 3
Queen Elizabeth was part of the fabric of our lives and our older residents in particular shared so much history and life experience with her For them especially her loss with be deeply felt and mourned ”
“Many of the people in care will be thinking about her and remembering the huge part she has been in all of their lives and how key chapters in their lives have been shaped influenced and in harmony with key ele ments of her reign from her wedding coronation, jubilees, children, annual Queen speeches and many more Care settings have always marked these moments with love and gratitude for her dedication and service and will be deeply saddened by the news of her death at this time
"The pensioners held their Queen in the very highest regard and were all immensely proud to serve and protect their country under her 70 year long reign
II
SOURCE OF HOPE AND STABILITY
Chief Executive of The King s Fund Richard Murray said It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Her Majesty the Queen ‘The Queen had been Patron of The King’s Fund since the start of her reign In that time the UK has seen great gains in life expectancy medical innovations have saved the lives of mil lions and most recently The Queen was a source of hope and stability as Covid 19 spread across the UK and the wider world
Katy Smith, owner of K & L Pony Therapy, led Taz all around the Home so that residents could pet and stroke him They even stopped off at some residents rooms so that they could be introduced
How to Improve Confidence in the Care Sector
The benefits of spending time with animals for older people are immense Research has shown that having something to pet or touch
By providing innovative projects and systems that are simple to use P&G Professional can help to max imise the efficiency of cleaning regimes and the ease of use also helps to make cleaning as efficient and streamlined as possible Energy costs are soaring in the UK and this is having a massive effect on the care sector P&G Professional projects are formulated to provide an outstanding clean, even in one wash, on a short cycle or indeed when the temperature of the wash has been reduced This enables care providers to be as efficient as possible with their energy, but also have the assurance that the projects they are using will leave things as clean as possible
can result in lower blood pressure, normal heart rate and reduced stress Pets provide emotional stability during stressful situations helping to reduce anxiety and depression
This has not only had an impact on the numbers of people living in care homes, but it is also an impact on how people view care homes and many people are now opting to stay at home and receive home care services Whilst this may be a satisfactory solution for some peo ple there are many who would benefit from the constant support that you get within the care home setting and there is a need for our sector to reconnect with the public and to showcase the benefits of residential care
that the home is clean and safe People often say that if they see familiar products and recognise familiar smells when they go into a care home this gives them confidence in the cleaning regime and also a sense of homeliness
The visit also proved to be wonderful for residents at Connaught Court who have dementia as it helped to spark conversation and reminiscence Stephanie Taylor one of the Home s Activities Coordinators said: Taz was so patient and placid standing still for everyone to pet and stroke him Our residents loved meeting him and hearing all about him from Katy It was a lovely morning which certainly lifted everyone s spir its!
P&G Professional is well known and respected and has a range of notably superior cleaning and sanitising products for the health and care sector With a portfolio of recognised brands that are not only scientifically proven to overcome the toughest of professional cleaning challenges but are also familiar to cleaning staff residents and families and this gives people confidence that their environment is as clean and safe as pos sible
The effects of Covid 19 are still being felt across the care sector In recent months we have seen significant increases in the levels of Covid infection, and despite the fact that the rest of society seems to have moved on social care services are still on the front line of a global pan demic
The rise in Covid 19 cases over the last few months has further undermined people s confidence in the sector and care homes now have to do even more to reconnect with the public and improve confidence in our services Covid 19 also put a very clear focus on the issue of hygiene and infection control and people who are considering residential care, are starting to ask more questions about cleaning and hygiene regimes and are very conscious of this issue when they are considering which home to choose
Miniature Therapy Horse Brings Joy to Connaught Court Residents
There are many challenges facing the care sector and to rebuild confidence after a global pandemic we have to ensure that we do things efficiently but above all we have to make sure that our services are hygienic and free from infection One place where care providers can make an easy start is to choose the right cleaning products that will give them the best outcome as well as the best value for money
In addition to the cost of living crisis one of the biggest challenges facing care homes is how to recruit and retain staff We have seen severe shortages of care staff at all levels but we are also having great difficulty recruiting our much valued and essential ancillary and support teams Covid 19 really underlined the importance of the cleaning teams and their value and contribution to care have been brought into sharp focus by the challenges of the pandemic What cleaning teams need is good quality products that enable them to be confident that they are eradicating germs but they also want products that are familiar and easy and quick to use
PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Professor Martin Green OBE is an Expert Advisory Council member for P&G Professional and the Chief Executive of Care England
In recent years the focus has been on Covid 19 but we must not forget there is a range of other viruses which are known to be prevalent in care settings Norovirus and the flu virus have all been significant chal lenges for care homes but products such as Flash Professional Disinfecting Multi Surface Cleaner when used to according to label instructions, have been proven to kill these viruses as well as SARS CoV 2 the virus that causes COVID 19
The cost of living crisis is also having a big impact on care services and it is important that care homes look at their cleaning regimes and establish what products deliver the best outcomes whilst at the same time are the best value for money It is really important to differentiate value from cost with the cheapest options not always delivering on value, because when choosing a care home people want the confidence
Recent data suggests that the care home population has reduced by about 8% and this is due to many factors but the consequence is reduced occupancy and reduced income In light of this it is vital that the care sector starts to think strategically about how it builds confi dence to re establish positive relationships with the public and the people who will be future residents
The tragic loss of so many residents in the first stages of the Covid 19 pandemic has been exacerbated by the quarantine requirements of the Government and the lack of referrals from both the public and the local authorities
Residents at Connaught Court, in Fulford York were delighted when a little therapy horse came to visit Residents were all smiles when Taz a beautiful, dappled brown and black American miniature horse arrived at the Home
chatting and see the residents faces light up when the children come to visit ”
There are a week long schedule of webinars panels and chats from some of the leading voices in the sector
For the small groups of children aged 3 to 4 years old the interaction helps to improve their confidence and develop their communication skills by building those connections with the residents and staff at Four Acres care home
It’s Professional Care Workers’ Week!
To round off Professional Care Workers’ Week in style The Care Workers’ Charity is organising a stunning 25km trek in the Peak District Event page here
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 5
PCWW are asking Care Providers to use this week to show appreciation for their teams by giving little tokens of thanks such as cards, cakes, parties, certifi cates or any other way of thanking them and please tag on social media and use the hashtag #pcww22
For more info and schedule of events check out main PCWW page at https //www thecareworkerscharity org uk/professional care workers week 2022/
When we were presented with the opportunity to work with Bright Kids Nursery we automatically said yes as we know how important it is for the residents It’s great to see them
The Care Workers’ Charity (CWC)is hosting The Professional Care Workers Week (PCWW) in September 2022 week commencing 12th September 2022 marks the weeks fifth anniversary to help keep things as accessible as possible we have decided to keep this year s event online PCWW will be also hosting a trek in the Peak District to round of the week on 16th September The PCWW is a fantastic focus for our colleagues in the social care sector to come together and discuss the key challenges faced because of the pandemic and to take stock of the incredible work of the workforce looking at the ways we can best support them to maximise quality of care given to those who use the sectors services
At Runwood Homes facilitating the connections between young and old makes a huge difference to residents The opportunity to engage with the younger generation is beneficial for the residents, boosting morale and offering a great social occasion for all to enjoy Diane Wood, Wellbeing Lead at Four Acres, said
Lisa Hulse Manager at Bright Kids Nursery said:
The fortnightly visits at the Studley care home offers residents the opportunity to interact with the children and join in a variety of fun games and nursery rhymes
Visiting Four Acres every fortnight is such a lovely opportunity for us here at Bright Kids as the children can meet new people and have the social experience of being out and about in the community COVID has had a massive impact on us all, but especially the children as they were not able to interact or meet others during this time and for some this has been their whole life So, getting to visit Four Acres gives the children the chance to explore the world around them by being able to get out of nurs ery but also has really developed their relationship making and social skills The children all love getting to play catch with the residents share their experiences with them and are always willing to show off their singing during song time As a company we really enjoy the visits too as we can see the difference it makes to both our children and the residents and we all always leave with a heartwarming feeling and a great big smile on our face
care and we look forward to hearing directly from care workers and care man agers as it is important to us to have their voices central in our discussions Collaboration is at the heart of PCWW which provides a platform for people to share best practice, experiences and to have discussions about topics such as the future of social care how to retain and build the workforce and the rise of tech nology Such collaboration is key to uniting the sector, and is always a key aim of our event
Residents at Four Acres care home in Studley are thrilled to be receiv ing two weekly visits from Four Acres care home is operated by Runwood Homes with a ‘Good’ CQC rating
Nurser y Children Build Intergenerational Connections with Runwood Homes Residents
This year, Professional Care Workers’ Week will shine a light on the work hap pening in the social care sector; exploring some of the issues faced by the work force as well as those faced by the sector as a whole Our aims this year include to highlight and increase wider understanding of what it means to work in social
Repeated chest infections or those that require multiple treatments to clear
• Dehydration E g Constipation strong urine UTI’s Reporting difficulties with swallowing medication
Dysphagia is the medical name for difficulties in swallowing Dyshagia puts a person at risk negative health consequences such as aspiration asphyxiation and/or choking malnutrition and dehydration which can all be life threatening If these risks are not managed appropriately people are at high risk of poor health hospital admissions and reduced quality of life
PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 For 10% discount on all woven and niron-on ametapes, add CARE2022 at the checkout! Valid to 31/10/2022
There are also lots of things you can do to create an environment that is safer for eating and drinking
Dysphagia is secondary to a primary condition such as neurological disorders e g stroke, Parkinson’s Disease Motor Neurone Disease Wilson s Disease head injury; head and neck cancer e g laryngeal cancer; disorders associated with the elderly; disorders associated with trauma e g smoke inhalation; tracheostomy; ventilator dependent individuals; and learning disability to name a few Dysphagia can also be drug induced e g side effects of medication and arise as a result from the treatment of diseases e g radiotherapy
• Anxiety around mealtimes food drink or when eating and drinking
Swallowing may become difficult because the muscles and nerves used for chewing and swallowing become weak or uncoordinated Food or drink can go down the wrong way into the lungs instead of the stomach This could lead to serious conditions such as recurrent chest infections and aspiration pneumonia
Simple strategies like sitting upright creating a calm environment switching off the radio or TV and limiting conversation can make the difference for many individuals who require support
However in the adult population dysphagia affects:
Imagine that every time you are invited out for a meal you have to think about whether you will be able to chew and safely swallow the food on the menu Imagine that you are told it is not safe for you to eat your favourite food anymore as it is considered “high risk” for choking
• 50% of people with Parkinson’s Disease
is a link between dysphagia and side effects of medication 4. Top 10 Safe Swallowing Tips: 1 Sit upright when eating and drinking 2 Reduce distractions whilst eating and drinking 3 Avoid talking with food in your mouth 4 Eat slowly 5 Take small mouthfuls of food and fluid 6 Pause between mouthfuls of food and fluid 7 Avoid high risk foods 8 Swallow twice on every mouthful 9 Have small more regular meals 10 Stay upright for at least 30mins after eating and drinking 5 High Risk Foods
There are certain food textures which can be harder to if you have dysphagia
manage
By Carla Bartlett, Director of Speech and Language Therapy (Social Care) at Cygnet Health Care And Dominique St Clair Miller Director of Speech and Language Therapy (Health Care) at Cygnet Health Care
Imagine that every time you are faced with eating food you feel tense and fearful you are terrified you might choke You barely have an appetite anymore and over time you lose weight when you don’t mean to Imagine that every time you take a drink you cough and splutter so you avoid drinking to the extent that you become dehydrat ed and experience frequent urine infections This can be the reality for people living with dysphagia This is the reality for 560 million people worldwide At Cygnet Health Care Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) assess diagnose and formulate management plans to support individuals with different aspects of eating drinking feeding and/or swallow ing difficulties The ultimate aim is to ensure safer swallowing whilst balancing quality of life with individuals preferences and beliefs Our SLTs will seek support from other health care professionals where necessary They will also make recommendations based upon the difficulties an individual is experiencing Sometimes this will include positioning advice adaptive equipment specific oral motor / sensory exercises or swallow techniques and food and fluid texture modification However, for others, simply managing the speed at which they eat or prompting them to take smaller mouthfuls and chewing for longer can be enough
1. What is Dysphagia?
The majority of us enjoy snacks meals and drinks without much thought or effort for some people living with dysphagia this can be a difficult and frightening experience with potentially significant conse quences on health and quality of life
2 Signs, Symptoms and Characteristics
15% of people with a learning disability
avoid:
Hard and
Stringy, Fibrous
Fruit Skins: Orange segments grapes tomatoes apple peppers potatoes beans potato skins Mixed Consistency Foods Cereals that do not blend with milk mince with thin gravy soup with lumps soaked bread
• 95% of people with Motor Neurone Disease
Refusal of food and drink
Up to 19% of people with mental health illness where there to
Malnutrition e g losing weight weak skin hair loss
3 Statistics
As part of the assessment process, Speech and Language Therapists will provide specific guidance on how to make eat ing and drinking enjoyable but safe experiences They will advise of any foods that may carry greater risks these may include: • Crunchy Foods: Crunchy Toast Flaky pastry Dry biscuits Crisps Crumbly Items: Bread crusts Pie crusts Crumble Dry or flaky biscuits
Dysphagia is a Difficult Diagnosis to Swallow
FIVE FACT BOXES
Dysphagia is associated with an increased morbidity increased mortality and a reduced quality of life People may experience the following signs symptoms and characteristics which carry serious conse quences:
65% of people who have had a stroke
Dysphagia can occur in all age groups Swallowing difficulties can occur as a result of a wide range of conditions
Texture: Raw vegetables and salad items, onions raw hard fruit, melted cheese Pickled vegetables Bacon fat sausages
Difficulty managing specific foods textures or drinks e g excessive chewing, spitting food out, losing food from the mouth, food and drink remaining in the mouth after attempted swallows
Bread: Sweetcorn Bread crusts Granary bread Baguettes
Foods: Boiled or chewy sweets, toffees nuts, seeds, large pieces of tough/chewy meat Husks
It is important that we raise awareness of this life altering condition and are alert to its signs and symp toms to ensure those diagnosed with dysphagia are able to continue living a full and fulfilling life
Vegetable and
68% of people with dementia living in care homes
Coughing throat clearing and/or choking when eating or drinking
Adding to the special nature of the occasion was the 80th Bar Mitzvah anniversary of resident Harold Franks who read the Va etchanan haftorah portion of the service A beautiful Kiddush, provided by the Feinmann Social Committee followed in the on site Bistro for customers and their families to enjoy Angela Luckett religious and cultural coordinator at Belong Morris Feinmann said: “A lot of effort has gone into creating this book and our cus tomers have been expressing how much more they are enjoying the servic es with our personalised Siddur making it easier for them to participate We are very grateful to The Feinmann Trust and all those involved for their gen erosity and their thoughtfulness
Abbeyfield Awarded Menopause Friendly Employer Accreditation
Gail Manley Abbeyfield HR Director said
The panel was appointed by Henpicked which champions the accreditation through its Menopause in the Workplace campaign
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 7
Bespoke Prayer Book Created for Care Village
Panel member Suzanne Banks CBE said
Abbeyfield are keen to encourage open conversations about menopause, hosting regular ‘sofa sessions where staff come together with a cuppa to talk about menopause either face to face or virtually The ses sions are friendly and relaxed and open to everyone, from those experiencing menopause themselves, to those who want to find out more perhaps to support a family member
The book is dedicated to the late Tom Einstein funder of the prayer book and son of a co founder of the original Morris Feinmann Home, set up during World War II to support Jewish refugees settling in Manchester Today it is run by not for profit dementia specialist, Belong, having opened the state of the art care village on the former Palatine Road site to continue caring primarily for the Jewish community
As a sheltered housing and care provider upwards of 80% of our workforce are female and over 40% of our female employees are over the age of 50 Alongside this our residents can be as young as 55 so we see the wider benefit of promoting menopause awareness in terms of customer service provision We recognise that menopause affects women in a variety of ways and providing support around these issues is an ongoing priority for Abbeyfield ”
The Rt Hon Caroline Noakes MP Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee added:
“We are delighted to see The Abbeyfield Society achieve Menopause Friendly Accreditation Theirs was a really excellent application They set clear objectives to create a culture where menopause is easy to talk about and support is available to anyone who needs it They have demonstrated excellent menopause awareness cam paigns and involved everyone in the conversation, supported by excel lent training and support Well done to everyone involved Abbeyfield set up a cross functional menopause taskforce and put a number of initiatives in place to demonstrate its commitment to being menopause friendly These included creating a menopause policy and a dedicated section on the company intranet with a host of resources to tap into It also ran online quizzes in all staff meetings and conducted surveys with staff to gauge levels of awareness
most importantly we are proud to be helping our staff through what can be a very difficult part of their lives Supporting our female employees through the menopause is an integral part of our wellbeing strategy and we are passionate about continuing to ensure we are a menopause friendly employer
The new version distils hundreds of pages of a traditional prayer book into a focused large print version making it easier for Belong’s customers including those living with dementia to follow and take part in the month ly services Countless hours of meticulous translation transliteration and proof reading has brought the prayer book to fruition, thanks to generous support of Belong Morris Feinmann chaplain Rabbi Perez and community volunteers, Alex Crawford and Elaine Newman
Employers have a crucial role to play in supporting women working through menopause and I applaud those organisations making that extra effort to achieve Menopause Friendly Accreditation To be truly menopause friendly employers must put in place policies alongside training and awareness protocols for all colleagues address both physical and mental wellbeing considerations and be prepared to make practical changes to the workplace environment
Paul Tennant, Abbeyfield CEO, said,
A bespoke Siddur (prayer book) designed to meet the needs of older Jewish people residing at Belong Morris Feinmann has been unveiled at a special Sabbath service marking the culmination of years of collaboration between the Didsbury care village’s chaplain and community volunteers
The Abbeyfield Society has officially achieved accreditation as a menopause friendly employer The process involved a very detailed submission to an external assessment panel from which the charity received extremely positive feedback
I consider the Menopause Friendly Accreditation as a kitemark of excellence for menopause in the work place
The project was the brainchild of Helen Lister Trustee of The Feinmann Trust which works closely with the Belong village to provide a Jewish cul tural and religious input She said: “The goal was to produce a prayer book that was easier for Belong s customers to handle and find their way around We are delighted that we can finally share the finished version with everyone and we are happy that it has been so well received
Employers who achieve this should display this badge with pride as it shows employees stakeholders customers business associates and industry at large that they have gone above and beyond to change the lived experience of those working through menopause ”
“We have worked hard to achieve this accreditation and are absolutely delighted with the accolade but
Word of mouth recommendations have always been highly regarded People are far more likely to trust an opinion from another person rather than a suggestion from an advert or a company
WHY REAL TIME FEEDBACK IS SO IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES
“Follow your dreams” the words of advice from a Wren House resident who recently celebrated her 104th Birthday
Muriel said: I m delighted that after all these years I still get to have a birthday party!
Warminster Care Home Resident Celebrates 104th Birthday
Find out more about why online reviews are becoming so important for care homes at https //thecareruk com/why online reviews are becoming so important for care homes/
Families are unlikely to trust a facility that only has a few reviews from back in 2015 and for good reason Why would they encourage their loved ones to live in a setting with so many unknown factors?
Reading these testimonies helps families make up their minds and feel secure in their choices as they should not have to leave their loved one s future up to chance Reviews can equip them with the knowledge they need to make the best choices and empower your care home to provide the best care possible HOW REVIEWS CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR CARE HOME
It was great to see so many residents celebrating my birthday with me and I hope that everyone at Wren House enjoyed it as much as I have”
Wren House Manager Tracey Atkins said Muriel is loved by everyone here at Wren House, she is a great character and makes us all laugh
Many care homes do not encourage residents and their guests to shout about the facilities and staff that make a residence special The average number of reviews on Google for 400 care homes in the UK was only four, and often these reviews are several years old Fewer than 15 percent of care home residents or their families leave a single review in a year This is a missed opportunity that can have a huge impact on your care home and the residents staying there
How Reviews Can Help Build Confidence in Your Care Home
On September 3 Manchester born Muriel Whitworth celebrated her 104th birthday alongside friends and members of the Wren House communi ty
PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 Can't wait for the next edition? Read all the latest stories online at: www.TheCarerUK.com Sign up to get the latest stor ies and our WEEKLY DIGITAL EDITION delivered directly to your email at: www.thecareruk.com/signup
hoosing a care home is understandably diffi cult both for individuals entering the care setting and their families
Now word of mouth recommendations are taking place online Individuals share their experiences and tips on the internet, in a bid to inform others and help them make good choices Care homes should embrace this trend and use this as an opportunity to get the word out about their unique strengths
After the struggles of the Second World War, Muriel moved to Scotland with her husband Eric where he worked for Scottish Airlines Eric’s job
• Proof that the care home can provide the kind of care their loved one requires These needs could include care for dementia respite old age challenging behaviour stroke epilepsy speech impairment and more Reassurance that their loved one will be safe in their new home
WHY ONLINE REVIEWS ARE CRUCIAL TO FAMILIES
Reviews can even help to reduce the risk of a low CQC rating as you can identify areas for improvement before inspectors come in Achieving a good CQC rating is another way to reassure families that your care home is an excellent choice
So how do you make it easier for families to trust your care home and be confident that you provide the best care? One way you can build confidence in your care home is by collecting and publishing reviews from current residents and their visitors
Presents and decorations were in abundance at the Warminster care home as residents tucked into birthday cake all afternoon
Evidence of high quality of care for residents
A strong online presence achieved through reviews can make it easier to recruit great staff who want to work at an excellent facility Positive reviews also boost team morale letting current staff know that their hard work has been noticed and encouraging them to keep it up
Whilst travelling Muriel met some incredible people over the years One memory that sticks with her was during her honey moon when Clark Gable sat himself next to Muriel and her hus band When he got off the train, he wished them a happy life together with Muriel thinking he was a very handsome and kind man
SEARCHING FOR SOCIAL CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES
Kind welcoming staff who can fulfil residents needs
• Relatable stories from people in similar situations including residents and their families to help them understand what life in the care home is really like
Families look for several different things in care home reviews including:
Research shows that at least 40 reviews are needed for a person to trust a care home and 85 percent of people consider reviews that are more than three months old totally irrelevant Real time feedback gives residents a voice allowing them to talk about their own experiences
A consistent stream of reviews can enhance your brand presence online and increase conversion for potential customers Forget expensive and ineffective SEO tactics Google simply loves new informative content The search engine is more likely to reward brands that display up to date content that is always being expanded on
Muriel a lifelong Manchester City fan is an expe rienced traveller and has been fortunate enough to follow her dreams by travelling around the world alongside her husband Eric
CARE
By Suman Saha, Co founder and Medical Director at Doctify (https://www.doctify.com/uk)
There are countless options out there, meaning it s easy to feel overwhelmed or worried about making the right choice Add the emotional toll of these decisions and it s not hard to see why peo ple find it hard to pick a care home
WHAT FAMILIES LOOK FOR IN HOME REVIEWS
allowed Muriel to travel to some amazing places with the Seychelles being her favourite place to visit
Clear, informative online reviews for your care home are an invaluable way to promote transparency They increase your credibility as you prove that your institution is open and honest This in turn helps families to feel confident that their loved one is in safe hands The more information that is available, and the more pos itive testimonials they read the more likely a family is to trust your care home
Lists of different activities that keep residents busy and entertained helping them to feel at home
The letter also explains that reconsidering the recent pay award and tackling punitive pension taxa tion is crucial to boosting staff morale and retaining talented healthcare professionals especially as the country faces a crippling cost of living crisis
Professor Banfield adds:
“We acknowledged your commitment to ‘sort out’ the problems with NHS pensions which are driving senior doctors from the NHS in their droves when we need them most The scale of this problem cannot be underestimated
Professor Banfield argues that even in such diffi cult financial times the NHS must be prioritised” and that that means putting staff first
He concludes: The NHS will be one of if not the leading issue at the next general election and not to act on the issues I have outlined above will have a lasting impact for years to come ”
The recent pay award was in reality nothing more than another pay cut it reads
However suspending “retire and return” restric tions is just one small part of the problem and will have minimal impact on the overall numbers of doc tors leaving as it will only help a small minority of doctors who hold mental health officer status It will not address the problems faced by GPs or the majority of consultants To suggest otherwise and that this is the solution would be disingenuous ”
In a letter1 to Liz Truss Professor Philip Banfield the Association s chair of council sets out the extreme pressures facing the health service record waiting times overwhelmed community based serv ices and plummeting staff numbers and why it’s more important than ever for Government to tackle them
The new Prime Minister must put the NHS at the very top of her priority list to avoid a once in a gen eration crisis snowballing out of control this winter, says the BMA
He says: “This is a workforce that stood up to the challenge of the pandemic that went above and beyond to continue caring for patients and to deliver the lifesaving vaccination programme but is now being taken entirely for granted by the Government He tells Ms Truss, “You have an opportunity to right that wrong ”
Professor Banfield warns of the pressure in pri mary care warning that “GPs and their teams are bearing the brunt of excessive waiting times while many are themselves overwhelmed with demand ”
quarter clearly demonstrating the effect that NHS pressures are having on staff retention Since September 2015 we now have the equivalent of 1,857 fewer fully qualified full time GPs
“Junior doctors, GP partners and a significant pro portion of staff and associate specialist (SAS) doctors have all been held to multi year deals agreed in good faith prior to the pandemic The impact of the decision to exclude them from pay awards given to their colleagues hardly needs explaining To hold junior doctors for the second year running to a pay deal agreed before the pandemic and before spi ralling inflation hit is simply callous
BMA Urges new PM to Tackle NHS Pressures, or Face an Uncontrollable Crisis this Winter
Professor Banfield encourages the new Prime Minister not to see this problem from Whitehall or through sanitised visits but through the eyes of NHS staff who because of the pressures are taking the unenviable decisions over which patient to pri oritise and which to leave waiting in distress ”
In fact as of June 2022 more than 130 000 posts in secondary care in England were vacant the largest number of unfilled vacancies since June 2018 This is an increase of nearly 25% over one
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David Sinclair Chief Executive of specialist think tank the International Longevity Centre said: Our failure to plan for demographic change has led to skills shortages in essential services a struggling health and care system and low productivity
The Government’s plans for 5 extra healthy years are ambitious but unachievable without adequate focus on preventing ill health across all ages
Young people are under saving and pensioner poverty is about to increase We haven’t adequately invested in energy efficiency or home improvements so too many people live in homes which are inappro priate and expensive to heat
A generation of younger people have had significant disruptions to their learning while few adults have access to learning to support them to work longer and adapt to a changing world
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 11
Prime minister Liz truss has been urged to plan for the long term to avoid repeated long term seasons of suffering
The Government’s plans for 5 extra healthy years are ambitious but unachievable without adequate focus on preventing ill health across all ages
Older workers haven’t returned to the labour market in adequate numbers, yet our economy needs their skills expertise and their spending power
Older people are, for example, responsible for over half of all consumer spending so supporting people to
The National Care Awareness Sur vey Returns!
In November 2021 the National Care Awareness Survey was launched by the UK Care Week team with input from hundreds of care professionals across the UK After an overwhelming response the findings of this survey were put to the care sector to address the issues The 2021 survey identified recruitment retention funding recognition and wellbeing as the biggest challenges facing the care industry
Our failure to plan for demographic change has led to skills short ages in essential services a struggling health and care system and low productivity
We aren t building housing for younger or older people and we haven t fixed social care for young or old
Fast forward to 2022 and social care remains under intense pressure Many of the challenges identified in the 2021 survey are still prevalent across the UK Moreover new challenges including the cost of living crisis new policies and regulations have further shaken up the industry highlighting the importance of a platform for care professionals to speak up and represent
The UK Could Face “Seasons of Suffering” Unless the New PM Plans for Demographic Change
It s time to reset public policy and plan for the longer term If we don t the winter of discontent could go on for years, if not decades
Older workers haven’t returned to the labour market in adequate numbers yet our economy needs their skills expertise and their spending power
Now an annual report the National Care Awareness Survey highlights the pressures and concerns in the social care industry year on year by provid ing care professionals a platform to raise their voices, raise the profile of social care and drive positive change In collaboration with Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, National Care Forum, National Care Association The Care Workers Charity Institute of Health and Social Care Management and Sona the UK Care Week team is delighted to introduce the National Care Awareness Survey 2022
It s time to reset public policy and plan for the longer term If we don t the winter of discontent could go on for years, if not decades Prime minister Liz truss has been urged to plan for the long term to avoid repeated long term seasons of suffering
their industry
If you re part of the social care industry and wish to have your say follow the link below to take part in the survey https://bit ly/3RIyF3D
Young people are under saving and pensioner poverty is about to increase We haven t adequately invested in energy efficiency or home improvements so too many people live in homes which are inappropriate and expensive to heat
be healthier for longer, allows for longer working lives and increased consumer spending
We face a shortage of 2 6 million workers over next decade due to population ageing and low migration
We aren’t building housing for younger or older people and we haven t fixed social care for young or old
A generation of younger people have had significant disruptions to their learning while few adults have access to learning to support them to work longer and adapt to a changing world
These challenges are huge And with the immediate pressure of the cost of living crisis, we could see a difficult winter followed by seasons of suffering if the new Prime Minister doesn t act fast But it s not a hopeless situation We know what the challenges are and we know that there are economic and social ben efits of addressing them
David Sinclair, Chief Executive of specialist think tank the International Longevity Centre said
Older people are for example responsible for over half of all consumer spending so supporting people to be healthier for longer, allows for longer working lives and increased consumer spending
We face a shortage of 2 6 million workers over next decade due to population ageing and low migration
These challenges are huge And with the immediate pressure of the cost of living crisis we could see a difficult winter followed by seasons of suffering if the new Prime Minister doesn’t act fast But it’s not a hopeless situation We know what the challenges are and we know that there are economic and social ben efits of addressing them
Says Peter Wingrave AAT Director:
The globalisation of food production has increased food availability all year round however seasonal foods are best eaten when they are naturally in harvest or ripening such as UK butternut squash and black berries in October Seasonal ingredients taste better and can be more sustainable and less expensive BRAND VERSUS OWN LABEL
A Nottinghamshire based care home raised more than £500 from their summer fayre MHA The Herons, in Calverton invited family and friends as well as members of the local community to the fayre The day was packed full of activities to keep all guests enter tained and there was also some live entertainment in the form of Barbershop singers There was a cake and sweet stall as well as a games and book sale which helped to contribute towards the final figure of £500 05 The funds raised will go towards the home’s amenity fund which will help organise events and activities for residents Claire Belshaw, admin manager said: It was a great day and we were supported really well by family and friends of residents as well as the general public
A starting point is an accurate costing model that provides a com prehensive understanding of all the contributing costs across the catering operation Full visibility of the fixed and especially variable (controllable) costs is essential The commercial, profit driven catering model focusing on percentage margins is a mindset that an increasing number of consumption based, in house institutional caterers are turn ing to Keeping track of this data and nimbly controlling variable costs whilst also battling increasing food prices can protect the foodservice operation from excessive spending on ingredients labour and energy costs
“Aqua Liberty is a game changer for supported bathing At a fraction of the cost and with none of the delay and disruption of replacing a standard bath for a specialist design, Aqua Liberty provides a safe, supported, stable answer for client and carer alike
Utilising a catering control platform to store recipes and calculate ingredient data to track and manage every penny of spend will enable caterers to forecast accurately and have tighter control over profit margins This technology supports nimble and flexible menu changes as pricing is uploaded live from suppliers Also ingredients can be sub stituted across all dishes very simply
It
Whilst caterers continue to face cascading challenges expert sup port has never been so important There is a harsh spotlight on caterers who don t have good procurement practices in place Without these practices the impact of chefs working tirelessly to cost recipes source the most cost effective ingredients, manage portion and waste control, is diluted
Caterers need information about which products are stable and which are volatile when it comes to price movement Using a greater proportion of stable products in menus will make it easier to manage and predict the impact of rising prices Typically stable products are negotiated annually (e g solid pack apples) Whereas volatile products fluctuate more frequently (e g butter bacon etc) With so much uncer tainty regarding food prices now may be the time to ensure a good stock of stable products to offset any further price rises or product shortages
Find out more about Aqua Liberty and book your free, no obligation assessment here:
Having the flexibility to review and adapt menus quickly utilising a range of alternative ingredients will help alleviate the rising prices and ensure the production of cost viable dishes whilst still producing high quality and nutritional menus A review of every ingredient in a recipe, to establish the total cost and yield of each dish will allow strategic
“Aqua Liberty has been the ideal answer for us as a care team The resident who needs it is now relaxed in the bath It is quick and easy to fit and remove It stows away compactly too That is really helpful in a bathroom that is used by other people, and already includes a raft of assistive equipment We still have room to move
Hassle -and Stress- Free Bath Adaptations - Without Delay
INCREASE IN HOUSE PRODUCTION
The higher cost of branded label products is often influenced by the manufacturers’ marketing costs, not necessarily the quality, flavour, or yield It is worth sampling own label products especially if they are only being used back of house decanted or as secondary ingredient to
residents got involved and did what they could to ensure we were organised
FOLLOW THE SEASONS
How catering teams demonstrated agility and creativity when it came to food service delivery during the pandemic was truly com mendable However catering operations continue to face a staffing cri sis leaving many teams struggling to find enough chefs and expertise to make low cost flexible menus This is in addition to the food infla tion crisis with the cost of food undeniably increasing and likely to con tinue As foodservice operators look for solutions to handle these issues, Katrina Lane, Senior Relationship Manager at allmanhall offers advice through the management of food offerings
purchasing with the resulting financial benefits As an example will the yield of a fish pie be affected if the salmon content is reduced for more haddock or swapped to frozen fish or less cream is used and more milk?
Aqua Liberty provides a safe supportive pressure free option It forms perfectly and exactly round the bather, to hold and support them safely There is no need for the carer to try and support them to suspend them safely during the execution of intimate hygiene care
DRAINED WEIGHT OF TINNED GOODS
Tinned fruits can often be a convenient and sustainable option as they last much longer there is less waste and by removing the need to wash and prepare the fruit savings can be made on labour costs
If consuming both the food and the liquid such as tinned tomatoes then this won t likely be an issue but tinned tuna that is packed in brine or water results in the liquid being drained and discarded For example, a 1880g tin of tuna when drained might hold 1320g of useable tuna compared to a 1 7kg can (distributed by other wholesalers) having a drained useable weight of 1260g
other dishes One significant example is rice, around 50% saving can be made by chang ing to own brand
Bath time it should be relaxing but if a client needs care support it is fraught with risk unless a major adaptation is undertaken
PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Tinned goods often state the net weight, which is the com bined weight of the solid and the liquid contents Measuring the drained weight of tinned items such as fruits, corn, chick peas and tuna will help estab lish their true cost and yield
members who were not working came with their family and that was nice to see The credit for organising such a great day goes to Mandy Burkey our activity coordinator who did a lot of the planning “In terms of what we are planning to do with the funds we will discuss ideas with the residents and see what they want to do “We got some good feedback from residents and their family members so it was nice to see everyone having a good time Nottinghamshire Based Care Home Raises More Than £500 From Summer Fayre
was a good turnout more than 70 guests came and it was a very busy day
The
It is evident that price surges have caused even staple meat prod ucts such as minced beef to rise in price significantly causing some caterers to completely remove beef from their menus substituting with less expensive cuts of meat such as lamb neck and chicken thighs But even these are being served less often Switches are being made to plant based recipes with the benefits being lower cost health and environmental With a longer shelf life this shift also helps with food waste reduction vital to ensure food spend is efficient
Countering Rising Food Costs Through Management of Food Offerings
Costing menus
Adds Jane Turton Mencap home manager:
base to provide correct postural support stabilisation and abduction wherever else required for daily life The Aqua Liberty system stows compactly away freeing up often restricted space in the bathroom for other users
AAT GB has developed a unique solution that can eliminate the need for that major adaptation of replacing the bath and all the cost delay and disruption that entails It can be in place within 10 working days (subject to T&Cs)
Staff
Purchasing ready prepared chopped fruit and vegetables stocks and readymade sauces clearly costs more Savings will be made by increasing the level of in house preparation However a cost benefit analysis is still recommended as it is important to factor in additional costs of doing this, such as energy, labour, and equipment deprecia tion Batch cooking is a good way of saving time and increasing pro duction output for the same labour input
Software that can build and cost recipes quickly whilst simultane ously analysing nutritional and allergen data, streamlining stock control and reducing administration can save catering operations valuable time and resources
https://www aatgb com/aqua liberty/
The core Aqua Liberty system uses suction technology to firmly attach to ANY bath Waterproof infinitely mouldable vacuum posture cushions are attached to provide shaped support abduction and stabilisation exactly where needed head, torso, hips, seat In this way the carer s hands are freed to safely concentrate on intimate care whilst minimising risk from stretching and weight bearing over the bath
TECHNOLOGY
Importantly the Aqua Liberty system is easily removed from the bath to allow its use by everyone else in the household The cushions themselves can be removed from the
The acquisition is a key part of Anchor’s Business Plan to provide more and better homes where peo ple love living in later life
The two homes will join the Anchor care home portfolio on their individual completion
Anchor has exchanged contracts to expand fur ther its care home business with the acquisition from Hadrian Healthcare of two new freehold resi dential care homes in Yorkshire
The two exceptionally high quality purpose built homes in Skipton and Roundhay Leeds are current ly under construction and are due to become opera tional in April 2023 and June 2024 respectively
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL AT WWW.THECARERUK.COM/SIGNUP
Along with the announcement in July, this announcement means Anchor the fourth largest operator of residential care homes in England will see its care home portfolio grow from 114 to 127 homes
Anchor Announces Further Expansion of its Care Home Portfolio
“I m also delighted that Anchor will continue to set high standards in terms of operating sustainable and energy efficient homes with these new additions being built to an Energy Performance Certificate A rating standard including energy efficient measures to retain and recover heat while maintaining high levels of internal air quality and generating renew able energy onsite through solar photovoltaic pan els”
Substantial attention has gone into planning the layout décor and furnishings of the two buildings so that on completion, they ll offer a highly individu alised style of living which will put them firmly in the top tier of care home design
In July 2022 Anchor announced contracts had been exchanged to acquire the entire share capital of Halcyon Care Homes Topco Limited: 11 purpose
The Stair Climbing Company offers an excellent range of compact, easy to use, powered Stair Climbers that are ideal for use in both home and commercial settings
“We’ve set out a clear strategy for growth in our Business Plan and this latest announcement shows how we’re realising those aspirations to provide more homes where people love living in later life and to create more opportunities for people to find a fulfilling career working in the social care sector
Ian Watson Chairman of Hadrian Healthcare Group commented: “We are delighted to have agreed this sale of two of our newest Care Home schemes to Anchor Hanover Group
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 13 +44 (0) 1787 379160 info@thestairclimbingcompany.com www.thestairclimbingcompany.com
Offering innovative designs, all of the company’s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces, for safe storage and are easily transported and charged In addition, all of its Stair Climber’s come with a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
Sarah Jones, Anchor Chief Executive, said Hadrian Healthcare is a well known name in the sector for the development and construction of high quality purpose built residential care homes and these two homes will add to the five homes we acquired from them in 2019
Both The Mill House in Skipton and The Manor House in Roundhay include state of the art en suite rooms, with The Mill House also including eight resi dential care apartments in the adjoining historic Mill Lodge The Mill House is set in pleasant surround ings adjoining the tranquil Leeds and Liverpool Canal whilst The Manor House Roundhay is situated on Park Avenue within the Roundhay conservation area
Hadrian Healthcare continues to raise the stan dards of care and accommodation for older people and we know our friends at Anchor Hanover share this commitment and focus
Raising the standard of stair climbing solutions
built residential care homes in the East Midlands and the South of England
Figures also show the busiest summer ever for ambulance staff dealing with the most serious callouts between June and August paramedics dealt with more than 237 000 category one incidents up a third on pre pandemic levels (177,190 in 2019)
From this month the NHS is also rolling out this year s flu vaccine with eligible people able to get their flu and COVID jab at the same time depending on local system arrangements
New figures show that there were 1 521 711 patients waiting for diagnostic tests in July fewer than the same figures for May and June and the lowest number since February when the plan was published (1 507 483)
Sight loss can be very isolating and for those already struggling with memory problems or dementia any confusion and disorientation is exacerbated by impaired vision This can lead to a loss of engage ment in social activities and sometimes increased risk of falls
The number of people receiving cancer care and treatment remains very high with the data showing that 26 263 people started treatment in July and more people were checked for cancer following a GP urgent referral than in any other July with over 238 000 checks (238 771)
From Monday 12 September, frontline health and care workers, immunosuppressed people and those aged over 75 are now able to receive the first ever variant targeted vaccine
Dozens of hospital hubs will also join the latest booster drive deliver ing the jab to members of the public as well as their own staff and admin istering the flu vaccine where possible
PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
At Specsavers Home Visits our aim is to improve the lives of those who can t leave home unac companied through better sight and hearing We serve many different types of care centre from com munity houses to residential homes to dementia specialist nursing homes and everywhere in between We provide routine sight tests using equipment similar to that in a high street store but specifically designed to be portable and for use in the home; we supply NHS and privately funded spectacles; we deliver and fit them in person and provide aftercare for all our spectacles
On average, there were 8 479 patients in hospital with Covid 19 each day this summer compared to 3,313 in 2021 and 2 032 in 2020
Over 65s Can Now Book Autumn COVID Booster
Those eligible for an autumn booster over the comings weeks, include over 50s those with a weakened immune system and housebound people and pregnant women in line with guidance set out by the JCVI
Q. How af fordable is this ser vice, par ticularly in the current cost of living crisis?
Q Why is it impor tant for care home residents to maintain good vision and eye health?
This week NHS staff launched the latest phase of the Covid 19 vaccination programme visiting 1 000 care homes and it is vital that those who are eligible book in without delay for appointments next week along side continuing to use NHS services in the usual way calling 999 in an emergency and otherwise using NHS 111 online for other health conditions
Q Can you provide a bit of a summar y of the ser vices provided to care homes?
We take our responsibility as healthcare professionals seriously and we are conscious that Optometrists have to get very close to patients when examining their eyes We continue to wear PPE, we’re maintain ing Infection Prevention and Control measures and we still take a Lateral Flow Test before each care home visit Our Infection Prevention and Control policy is continually updated in line with guid ance from the NHS and the College of Optometrists to ensure that we are always providing care in the safest and most appropriate way Care homes can be confident that we are still operating at a standard exceeding that recommended by the profession in order to protect them and their residents
Jason Scaife, Specsavers Home Visits director and optometrist, based in Cardiff speaks to The Carer about the services Specsavers can offer to care homes
are left lying around the home
Despite the significant pressure on urgent and emergency care, both A&E performance and ambulance response times were better in August than the previous month
People aged 65 and over will be able to book their autumn COVID booster through the national booking system from today, meaning five million more people can now top up their protection ahead of winter
Q In care homes some patients have more complex needs and may str uggle to communicate, including those who suf fer with dementia How do you deliver your eye health ser vices in these circumstances while also keeping the patient feeling comfor table?
NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: “There is no room for complacency in
People aged 75 and over, the severely immunosuppressed and frontline health and care workers have been able to book their latest booster dose since last Wednesday with appointments starting from today
Maintaining good vision is a key part of any person s quality of life but perhaps more so for care home residents because they often have limited mobility and so most of their hobbies and pastimes will involve visual tasks
Q We know hygiene and safety is a top priority, par ticularly since the pandemic What precautions do you take to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the patients you visit in care homes?
And staff are already looking ahead for a winter that is likely to be as challenging with more 999 and 111 call handlers being recruited alongside the equivalent of 7,000 more beds being made available
Providing regular eye care can minimise or even eliminate these issues for people living in care homes allowing them to enjoy being able to do the things they want to do
The NHS is aiming to eliminate 18 month waits by April 2023 except where the patient choses to wait longer or for very complex cases requiring specialist treatment
Hardworking NHS staff are progressing these ambitions despite seeing more people with covid 19 in hos pital this summer than the last two summers combined
Professor Sir Stephen Powis NHS national medical director said: This month s figures show that despite another significant wave of covid infection this summer we are making significant progress on reducing backlogs with waits of more than 18 months down and the lowest number of patients waiting for tests and checks since we published our elective recovery plan
The booking service opened on Wednesday for millions eligible of people to book in for their top up dose next week with England s top doctor today urging people to get vaccinated ahead of winter
of 13 388 beds a day taken up by patients who no longer need to be there
Why Maintaining Good Vision and Eye Health is Important for Your Residents
The NHS has already announced measures to boost capacity ahead of winter with the aim of delivering thousands more beds extra staff to answer 999 and 111 calls, and plans to help ensure patients are discharged on time
Staff kickstarted the latest phase of the NHS Covid 19 vaccination pro gramme on Monday and are on track to visit 1 000 care homes this week
Our team of Optometrists and Optical Assistants are a wonderful group of people dedicated to looking after the eye care needs of some of the most vulnerable and isolated individuals in society It s not only the clinical training that enables them to gather the results they need, but it’s their kindness, patience, experience and skill that leaves patients with a smile Using objective assessment techniques which don’t rely on responses from the person being examined are a key part of providing eye care to those with communication or cognitive difficulties and these techniques allow us to provide suitable specta cles and an assessment of the health of the eyes for everyone regardless of their ability to communicate We provide training for our staff on dementia and how to successfully communicate with those living with cognitive impairment and we always take our lead from carers who know the individuals best
See the advert on the facing page for details
The NHS Covid vaccine service is also now offering appointments to carers and pregnant women with bookings able to be made online or over the phone
We tailor our service to best suit each care home, some prefer us to come and see two or three residents who are new to the home or have reported vision problems; others prefer us to come for a whole day and provide routine sight tests to every resident who would like one as long as they re due We will of course attend to see just one individual who is having problems When we supply glasses to care homes we engrave each frame with the patient s name which can really help busy care staff to know who the glasses belong to if they
The main service we provide for care home residents is an NHS fund ed sight test free for those people over 60 or on state benefit who are unable to attend their opticians unaccompanied, due to their mental or physical health We carry a broad range of spectacle frames to suit most shapes, styles, sizes and budgets, from £19 and we share the same promotions and discounts that you see at Specsavers on the high street
“We also saw improvements in A&E performance and ambulance response times across all measures this month despite responding to a record numbers of the most serious ambulance callouts across summer up a third on pre pandemic levels and continued challenges discharging into the community and social care
As with previous campaigns those most at risk will be called for ward first with people able to book in online or through 119 as long as it has been three months since their last dose
Around 26 million people across England will be eligible for an autumn booster over the comings weeks
The number of patients waiting for tests and checks has fallen for the third month in a row and is at the lowest level since the NHS launched its elec tive recovery plan the biggest most ambitious catch up programme in health history
NHS Delivers on Elective Recover y Plan with Progress on Treatment and Tests
keeping Covid 19 on the backfoot and this autumn booster will help pro tect those most at risk From today those aged 65 and over, pregnant women and carers are now able to get their jab If you are one of those eli gible it is as important as ever to get your next dose so please do come forward as soon as possible ”
Those with weakened immune systems are already able to self declare and attend walk ins to make getting the extra protection as easy as possi ble Health and care workers can also book through national booking services
Delays discharging into the community and social care continue to apply additional pressure on bed capacity in hospitals with only 45% of patients discharged when they were ready in August and an average
Further progress has been made on the longest waits with the number of people waiting more than 18 months down by almost a third compared to January at 51,838
Aver y Healthcare Group Launches “Step Up and Stay Up” Campaign To Raise Awareness And Prevent Falling
A very special birthday celebration took place at Care UK’s Rush Hill Mews on Clarks Way when resident Margery Crocker turned 107 years ‘young’ Reflecting on her many happy years she revealed the secret to a long life is to have fun be kind and just enjoy it!’
It was fantastic to help her celebrate this incredible age with her family and friends here at Rush Hill Mews with a surprise afternoon tea party, and to raise a glass to her fantastic milestone We could all learn a lot from Margery s advice for living a long life cheers to Margery!
International experiences suggest that measures must be designed and implemented together rather than introduced in isolation Unless reforms are designed in tandem they are likely to have limited effective ness and could even risk exacerbating workforce recruitment and retention challenges The evidence base on the impact of the different measures is still emerging and should be closely followed While there are many examples of positive impact there have been a number of notable unintended consequences which can be learned from For example mandatory training may introduce unnecessary rigidity, making it more difficult to retain specific groups of staff Pay increases may further minimise the difference in pay for more senior staff, and attempts to introduce guaranteed hours at a national level may not benefit all staff consis tently
107-year-old Bath Care Home Resident Shares the Secret to a Long Life
Passionate about the arts, Margery continues to nurture her creative nature by regu larly enjoying tapestry and drawing classes at the home with flower arranging her favourite pastime
Evidence demonstrates that increasing pay to competitive wages would reduce staff turnover, particu larly for staff paid at lower wage levels Countries around the world have used a number of different routes
Well being teams are supporting residents with meeting their targets with an idea a day to help you on your way (to 500 miles)’ This included activities like World Letter Writing Day on 1st September where care homes hosted a letter writing activity in the morning, and in the afternoon were accompanied to their nearest letter box to post their letters
In total 59 care homes are lacing up their shoes and taking part across the coun try Stay up to date with their progress across social media and the hashtag: more information Avery Healthcare s website:
to improve pay: Scotland and Wales are taking steps to standardise pay and increase it beyond the National Living Wage, and pay bonuses have been awarded in all three devolved countries Germany has introduced a sector minimum wage and policymakers are seeking to implement col lective wage agreements to increase and standardise wages across the country The national pay and progression framework introduced in New Zealand has helped improve retention, and this more attractive pay scale has also attracted new starters who are male younger or with graduate degrees
Julie Spencer Avery’s Care and Quality Director explains further; "Falling as peo ple get older is quite common and can have a detrimental effect on the well being of those who fall, both physically and psychologically This can lead to people los ing confidence and a reluctance to participate in everyday activities
Care workers are a diverse staff group One in four are from Black Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds and these groups are less well represented in senior positions Professionalising the workforce and provid ing consistent opportunities to access training and development opportunities could help to address inequalities in progression and earnings, and could also help attract underrepresented groups into the work force
Caroline Carter General Manager at Rush Hill Mews said:
Perceptions of care work as low skilled continue to persist despite the pandemic highlighting just how vital care workers are Their dedication and capability has also been recognised in Baroness Cavendish s report In recent years there has been increased debate around the ‘professionalisation’ of this staff group This generally refers to the creation of a statutory register of staff and their professional regulation and can involve improvements to pay training and career development and terms and conditions
It was absolutely wonderful to see the big smile on Margery s face when we sur prised her with an afternoon tea party Here at Rush Hill Mews, we always like to throw a party for special milestones and Margery s 107th birthday certainly called for a big cel ebration!
REPORT
Vitamin D is to get outside in the sunshine Vitamin D is good for your bone health, as well as your immune system
KEY MESSAGES
September sees the Avery Healthcare team bring “Step Up and Stay Up” to the forefront a campaign designed to promote Avery s falls prevention pro gramme, which provides helpful information to staff, residents, and families about taking positive actions to prevent falling
It is vital that we work proactively within our teams to minimise the risks and pre vent falling within our homes "
At Avery, we promote people to live as independently as possible and look at the person as an individual taking into how they want to live their life encouraging them to stay active eating well and staying hydrated Staff also ensure residents are supported to wear appropriate footwear considering medical conditions as well as medications they take which may increase falls risk These are aspects that can be multifactorial factors in leading to falling Staying active, of which walking is one aspect helps people s muscle strength and balance to be maintained which naturally lends itself to staying on one’s feet
https //www averyhealthcare co uk/company news/step up and stay up/
The report reviews what the evidence shows about the professionalisation of care workers in other coun tries It draws on the experiences of those other countries to inform policy reforms that England may wish to consider as part of a longer term strategy for the adult social care workforce in this country
Falling is not an inevitable part of getting older and steps can be taken to pre vent it A fall can affect both physical and psychological well being with the fear of falling often resulting in avoiding activities leading to social isolation and increasing frailty
What Can England Learn From the Professionalisation of Care Workers in Other Countries?
PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Care workers are first on the front line, delivering care in precarious conditions, but last to see meaningful acknowledgement of their perseverance Protecting the health and safety of these staff should be a long standing priority for employers and the DHSC and not just during a pandemic Ensuring that pay training and terms and conditions better reflect the value of care work to wider society is in the public interest A number of workforce initiatives have recently been introduced however and there is now an opportunity for policy makers to go further to reverse the deepening workforce recruitment and retention crisis in England As governments across the world are taking increasingly bold and creative action to embed workforce reforms, there is much for England to learn as it pushes forward with planned reforms while considering fur ther action as part of a longer term adult social care workforce strategy
The review found that:
Care workers who receive relevant high quality training are more likely to stay in their role and be equipped with the skills and confidence to deliver better care Mandatory minimum training or the right to receive training are approaches used internationally to good effect Benefits to these approaches include improved outcomes for people drawing on services, improved confidence and status among workers, improved person centred care and reduced turnover Programmes tend to be most effective when training is relevant to the role, equitable in terms of access, and sits alongside alternative routes for workers to demonstrate their skills
Walking gives you energy It boosts your circulation and increases the oxygen supply around your body which in turn will keep you feeling alert and awake Increase your Vitamin D intake the best way to increase your levels of
To support the campaign and to raise awareness Avery residents are chal lenging themselves to walk a total of 500 miles alongside staff, relatives, visiting professionals and community supporters who are also able to donate their miles to the challenge They will be sharing their progress across their social media channels during the month
Walking makes you happy A brisk walk releases endorphins that stimulate hap piness This is a great remedy for those with depression anxiety or stress
#StepUpStayUp For
• Evidence from the other UK countries shows that registration and professional regulation can reduce risk to the public improve outcomes for people drawing on social care services improve confidence in the workforce, and can drive up workforce standards through mandatory minimum training England is the only country in the UK that has not introduced registration and professional regulation of care workers But the experience in Scotland and Wales also warns that it could introduce unnecessary barriers to recruitment and retention and such a system could be costly
• The day to day working terms and conditions of care workers in England need urgent attention Countries around the world have sought to address precarious employment and improve conditions in a variety of ways New Zealand funds home care workers travel time and travel costs, while Germany has introduced childcare grants and additional days of annual leave Scotland is distinct in the UK for requiring providers to take staff wellbeing into account in their staffing decisions Other countries such as Norway and Germany offer much more generous sick pay provision
To celebrate the care home team hosted a surprise afternoon tea party for Margery with her family and friends, complete with balloons and banners and a special birth day cake baked specially by the home s talented head chef Margery was born on 31 August 1915 in Norton St Phillip After finishing school, Margery worked as a maid while also maintaining a busy household with her husband Ronald who she married in 1960 and their son Mervyn
There is growing public recognition that care workers have long faced a formidable number of challenges These include low pay poor terms and conditions hugely variable access to training and limited opportunities for career development These have been exacerbated in recent years by increased rates of sickness and burnout during the pandemic and changes to immigration rules following Brexit which have led to intensified recruit ment and retention challenges
Perceptions of care work as low skilled continue to persist despite the pandemic highlighting just how vital care workers are In recent years there has been increased debate around the professionalisation of this staff group which generally refers to the creation of a statutory register of staff and their professional regulation This new Nuffield Trust report reviews what the evidence shows about the professionalisation of care workers in other countries
Walking is good for your heart Walking not only strengthens your heart but reduces the risk of heart disease and strokes In fact a brisk walk for 30 minutes every day is said to reduce your risk of a stroke by 27%
please see
A 107 year old Bath care home resident has revealed the secret to living a long and happy life
Most people understand that vegans will exclude all animal products from their diet However, often people overlook that vegetari anism and veganism is a lifestyle not just a diet
Boosting staff morale
Bearing this in mind the patient safety and compliance experts at Radar Healthcare have compiled a list of some of the different yet vital ways those working in the healthcare sector can look to combat loneliness within themselves and their peers
In addition storing this information in a single system ensures that your workforce is well informed reduces and duplication, and encourages better communication com/product/workforce compliance/
Supermarkets online stores and most catering suppliers are now havens for plant based foods and both the ingredients and cooking possibilities are endless
NEW GUIDANCE DEMYSTIFIES HOSPITALI TY FOR VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS
“Luckily, there are many vegan friendly alternatives available as VfL’s new guide shows ” Key statistics
“Small Changes Can Make A Big Difference with Vegan Menus” Says Charity Chief Executive
PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Long term loneliness can have a huge impact on physical and mental health with some studies suggesting it can increase the likelihood of early death by as much as 26%
Offering healthcare workers a larger space for enhanced communication will allow those working unso ciable and long hours together the space to communicate and unwind while having breaks from work
It is also beneficial if break rooms have access to windows that can be opened in order to let fresh air and sunlight in during long and overnight shifts
Around 10% of the total UK population may have special requirements because of the beliefs that they hold
SUPPORTIVE AND COMFORTABLE SPACES
errors
OUTSIDE EATING AREAS
The Hilton Hotel in London famously launched the world s first completely vegan hotel suite in 2019 Here materials such as feathers and leather have been replaced with innovative new vegan alternatives, with the hotel even providing cruelty free toiletries and a vegan minibar
• Older people (65 to 79 years) are leading the way They are twice as likely to have reduced their meat con sumption as 18 to 24 year olds
You re sure to have seen positive news about the rise of meat free diets Google reports that searches for vegan food near me rose by more than 5 000 percent in 2021
workers
It is important that healthcare professionals make the most of their breaks away from work in order to recharge and relax before continuing on in a stress ful environment One way healthcare workers can combat loneliness and
wellbeing
Karen Casey, one of Zetland Court s Activities Coordinators said:
Since February 2020 the number of vegans in the UK has grown by 40%
an
We suggested donations and they were very generous! The residents joined us and were very happy to meet the neighbours and wave to peo ple on the open topped buses passing by ”
The residents and staff set up tables on the end of the Home’s drive and served tea, coffee and cakes to passers by neighbours ambulance staff postmen and refuse collectors
Residents and staff at RMBI Care Co Home
Loneliness can occur when someone is feeling socially isolated, excluded, or misunderstood Unfortunately loneliness is a huge public health challenge and is something that many people experience daily including NHS staff healthcare workers and their patients
Vegans and often vegetarians avoid any products that are derived from animals or tested on animals in the production process This includes cosmetics clothing cleaning products and even medication
improve their social interactions whilst in a working environment is to spend more time socialising outdoors Eating a meal or having a picnic outside with co workers is a beneficial way to take in the much needed fresh air and also remove themselves from the normal work setting
MANAGE COMPLIMENTS, NOT JUST COMPLAINTS
As well as providing larger break rooms it is also important for healthcare workers to have additional spaces that contain access to comfortable furniture relaxing lighting or views of the outside world
These comfortable environments will provide more of a relaxing zone for healthcare workers to unwind and where healthcare professionals can provide emotional support to one another PLANTS
Fewer than half (44%) of NHS staff in England report that their employer takes positive action on health and Maintaining and tracking records of workers training appraisals and compliance require ments actively show that organisation and supports its
Amanda Woodvine CEO of care charity Vegetarian for Life (VfL) said: With National Vegetarian Month World Vegan Month and even Veganuary just around the corner now is a chance to reflect on how well prepared your organisation would be for an influx of vegans or vegetarians Consider items such as liquid soap for example Many heads of hospitality wouldn t give a second thought to an item like this being a milk & honey variety But this may render it unsuitable for a growing number of guests with religious or ethical objections
It is therefore vital that healthcare workers and nurses across all settings can recognise the telltale signs of loneliness both in their patients and co workers and that they are suitably skilled with the knowledge and resources to offer the best support and treatment possible
The guide will help readers identify hidden animal products explaining what to consider when providing hospitality for a veg n ensuring that they can provide exceptional customer service for all Download your free copy via the Vegetarian for Life website (https://vegetarianforlife org uk) or call the charity on 0161 257 0887
An estimated 14% of vegans and vegetarians in Great Britain are aged 65 or over
LARGER BREAK ROOMS FOR ENHANCED COMMUNICATION
is essential for building a solid and happy workforce Radar Healthcare’s software allows healthcare organisations to log or track all types of events including compliments and positive feed back, to see the measurable impact an individual has on your team
values
https://radarhealthcare
Zetland Court in Bournemouth have joined forces to raise money for Breast Cancer Now, a charity that provides research and life changing care for people affected by breast cancer
Although originally written for those with caring responsibilities, Veg*nism: More than just a diet is useful for all hospitality workers The guide covers little often discussed issues such as how to find vegan products from toiletries through to cleaning products alcohol and even furniture and bedding
WORKFORCE COMPLIANCE: INVEST IN YOUR EMPLOYEES
Studies have indicated that biophilic design (the presence of indoor plants) can improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15%) reduce stress levels and boost your mood This is why healthcare professionals should implement lots of greenery into their social spaces whilst at work in order to enhance their mood and reduce stress whilst taking a break from their busy and often long working hours
How to Combat Loneliness in the Healthcare Sector
• 1 in 3 Brits have stopped or reduced their meat consumption
Bournemouth Care Home Residents and Staff Go ‘Full Pink’ to Help Combat Cancer
The staff used pink ornaments to decorate the Home, including its extensive gardens, and organ ised a series of afternoon tea parties Even rela tives gave a hand by making wonderful cakes for everyone to enjoy In total the care home has managed to raise around £500 from raffles and donations
Health leaders also want to see this coupled with extra investment in social care which is now desper ately needed However this should not come at the expense of funding that has been already committed for the NHS
"David Knight and his team have extensively tested the Vayyar Care solution on all their nurse call offer ings It's been a pleasure working with people who always have a solution focused mindset "
A new, independent survey commissioned by eProcurement technolo gy firm Zupa has raised several concerns from care home professionals across the UK with 86% admitting that vital aspects of care provision are suffering at the hands of outdated and time consuming procedures with many staff struggling to fulfil their day to day roles The new data also highlights several care management challenges that need to be addressed to improve staff retention morale and the overall quality of residential care
PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Ollie Brand, CEO at Zupa explained: “Caring for the vulnera ble and elderly is time consuming and demanding It requires special ist skills and knowledge This study highlights that care home staff are having to deal with multiple chal lenges with little resource and only so many hours in the day There is also a direct correlation between what worries care home staff day to day and the quality of care they are physically able to deliver Patchy reporting outdated processes and a heavily reliance on manual updates simply adds to the frustration and puts greater pressure on already stretched staff
Specifically 40% of care home workers felt they couldn’t provide the quality of care that they would like to due to the time they spend on admin Over half (52%) of respondents agreed that care home inspections simply add further pressure to their role and would welcome a way to improve this process More than a third of care home managers (32%) also said that keeping up with time intensive processes like day to day menu planning, allergens management, and recording resident data around nutrition and hydration worries them A further 41% were understandably concerned about the rising costs of food energy and inflation, while 30% of care home workers identified supplier issues, food shortages and run ning out of supplies as a growing concern
Importantly 63% of care home managers link much of their day to day concerns to the wear and tear stresses placed upon their teams Lack of staffing and resource also continues to be a worry for the sector with 67% of care workers citing this as a key challenge Only 6% of care home pro fessionals said there is nothing that worries them in the day to day run ning of their care home
Brand added “Lack of staffing and resource is still a key concern for care homes It’s clear that in many cases, that the adoption of automated, fit for purpose technology could help alleviate many of these day to day pressures and interestingly those care professionals who said they would
See www zupa com for further information
A spokesperson from the NHS Confederation said:
ayyar Care, a global leader in automatic fall detection and remote monitoring has established a new partnership with Southern Care Maintenance Ltd (SCM), a premium maintenance and service provider for nurse call systems and home care equipment A first in class service provider SCM offers innovative solutions that leverage the most reliable technologies at the most competitive prices
With 27 nurse call and platform integrations and dozens of deployments across the UK Vayyar Care and its installation partners are changing the face of the sector
Two Thirds of UK Care Home Staff Admit Resident Quality of Care and Nutritional Needs are Being Overlooked Due to Outdated Procedures
implement new technology if they had more time are most likely to say that staff happiness productivity of staff and quality of care are being side lined ”
Figures Show Amazing Effort of NHS staff, but Government Must Adequately Fund NHS and Social Care
The government must not rob Peter to pay Paul; if they do NHS leaders will then face impossible choic es on what to prioritise for their patients ”
Vayyar Care s touchless 4D imaging radar gathers the essential data caregivers need to protect resi dents as well as their dignity privacy and independence The solution delivers instant fall detection and 24/7 visibility on room presence mobility time at rest bathroom visits and more It overcomes the limita tions and drawbacks of standard reactive technologies such as hard to reach buttons and cords unreli able mats embarrassing wearables and intrusive cameras Vayyar Care is fully interoperable with any nurse call system and care platform enabling care providers to deliver person centred predictive care that enhances outcomes across the board
The NHS needs an immediate support package but with over 130 000 vacancies and a real terms fund ing cut that could stretch to £9 4bn this year there is no quick fix
Joins Forces with Vayyar Care to Deliver Best-In-Class Fall Detection Solution Together With Quality Installation And Support
Despite the fact that demand for health care is at an all time high these figures once again highlight the amazing effort health leaders and their teams across the country have made to drive down waiting times
https://vayyar com/care/b2b/
"It's a privilege to welcome SCM to our expanding partnership program that will deliver quality installa tions of Vayyar Care throughout the UK," said Stuart Barclay, Vayyar Care UK Sales Director
This latest research highlights a clear relationship between what aspects of care are being overlooked and what staff would prioritise if they had more time in their day Almost three quarters (73%) of care home professionals who said they would improve staff satisfaction if they had more time also said staff happiness is side lined A further 55% of those who would like to improve the quality of resident care with more time also said care quality is overlooked due to time wasted on outdated processes
About Vayyar Care
Lack of time available to improve day to day quality of care is a clear issue When asked what aspects of their working day they would spend more time on if they could reduce the amount of paperwork more than half (56%) of care workers say they would like to improve the standard of resident care if they had more time in their day Likewise almost half (49%) of care professionals said they would improve staff satisfaction sug gesting that reducing admin would free up more time to focus on staff morale and happiness A further 49% would like extra time in their day to be more creative with resident social events and 42% of care home pro fessionals said they would be keen to spend more time on individual care planning
The latest NHS monthly performance statistics published reveal that:
“However, there is no hiding from the fact that both the NHS and social care are in the most challenged state they’ve been for decades, and the coming months are set to be some of busiest on record
The collaboration will strengthen Vayyar Care s installation across southern England and forms part of a unique ecosystem that includes leading industry providers such as Panacea Healthcare Group Vayyar Care s principal UK distributor SCM s quality installations and post sales service will play a key role in delivering Vayyar's touchless solution to care homes and social care providers We are delighted to partner with Vayyar Care and are excited to work with people who have so much enthusiasm and passion for their product said David Knight Founder and Commercial Director of SCM
"The best solution in fall detection dovetails perfectly with our mission to provide our customers with the very best service Thanks to Vayyar Care long lies and severe complications that can occur when a resident suffers a fall but doesn't receive prompt assistance will soon be a thing of the past This is sure to be a product that will continue to go from strength to strength in the marketplace
Vayyar Care's instant fall detection and activity data enables personalised, proactive care management Interoperable and integration ready with any nurse call system, Vayyar Care and its wide network of nurse call and platform partners are leading the way towards a new, accessible future of digital care
Premium UK Ser vice Provider Southern Care Maintenance Ltd (SCM)
Cancer treatment diagnostic tests and GP appointments are well above pre pandemic numbers and the people waiting longest for their operations have now received treatment
The study which polled hundreds of care home professionals across the country found that two thirds of care home staff (66%) admitted the quality of resident care and the ability to cater properly for dietary and nutritional needs are some of the key areas being side lined as a result of obsolete practices The study also revealed that more than half (54%) of care home workers felt staff happiness was overlooked and 44% of work ers attribute the high turnover of staff in the care industry to low levels of pay
The number of people waiting more than 18 months for treatment has gone down by almost a third com pared to January at 51 838
Busiest summer (June August) ever for ambulance staff dealing with the most serious ‘category one’ callouts (237 000) up a third on pre pandemic levels (177 190 in 2019)
“The NHS is reeling from a decade of austerity and two years of the pandemic, something which the new government must now urgently address
Lowest number of patients waiting for diagnostic tests (1,521,711) since February (1,507,483)
Care Home Staff Experience First-Hand What It Feels Like To Be A Resident
activities that resonate with who we are and meet our needs for love, attachment, belonging, agency, occupation, comfort and attachment makes life meaning ful Individual ill being occurs when these relationships are undermined and life lacks meaning and pur pose 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 there fore key to sustaining individual well being and developing an emotionally resilient culture of care Collaboratively; we can achieve improved care cultures which are meaningful without compromising compliance and best practice A culture where people are Free to be Me Do you dare to be different? We do www meaningfulcarematters com Email : admin@meaningfulcarematters com Phone: 01273 242 335 See the advert below for further details Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising. lease mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.
To mark Alzheimer s Day on 21 September staff at RMBI Care Co Homes recently took part in an innova tive training programme called Experiential Learning Through this training staff have the opportunity to experience first hand what it might feel like to be a resident in a care home
MCM recognises that individual well being is not an individual matter Our relationships with the peo ple, places and things that have shaped our life journey make us who we are and sustain our sense of per sonhood Engaging in moments experiences and
• Being left on their own in an empty room whilst unable to move from their chair
Person centred care is the ‘buzz’ word of the social and care sectors Everyone knows about it; every one supports it and apparently everyone does it But if that’s the case , then why is it not the everyday lived experience in our care culture?
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 21
Diane Connor, Activities Coordinator and one of the trainees said: “This train ing emphasises the importance of being in someone else s shoes and treating others the way you want them to treat you ”
Dare to be Different
One of the sessions took place at Prince George Duke of Kent Court in Chislehurst Staff members were presented with different challenges such as wearing a wet incontinence pad throughout the train ing session doing a crossword while wearing goggles that simulate impaired vision and wearing gloves to simulate arthritis The aim was to help give them a better understanding of how residents should be cared for and develop a greater sense of empathy in their roles
Learning through experi ence can be very power ful; this programme has become a vital tool in supporting new staff members to empathise with residents and to care with compassion We want to ensure that we recruit individuals not solely upon their technical skills or abilities, but on the basis of their values and attitudes to care
RMBI Care Co is part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation For more infor mation please visit www rmbi org uk
• Being pushed in a wheelchair with artificially impaired vision
As part of the training session staff members also took part in a variety of scenarios such as:
The programme was first launched in 2014 and has been refined and expanded with different scenarios in recent years Louise Bateman, Group Human Resources Director at RMBI Care Co says:
Maisie Bourne the Home s Training Manager said: All staff at our Home at every level, have to go through this training It’s important that we all under stand the challenges faced by our residents whether they have a mobility need, require support at mealtimes or need additional one to one support ”
Being supported to eat a meal by another trainee Having their face and neck washed by another trainee
Sustainability comes with a cost Whether in the form of new build proj ects or and far more likely the refurbishment of existing yet ageing facili ties understanding the necessary capital investment operational savings and payback periods is going to be key
Save time with automatic reordering another load of time is easily wasted doing the same things week
PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Request a quote as they say if you don t ask you don t get With Wippet s RFQ (Request for Quote) func tion you can contact any of our suppliers and ask if they can do a better price for you If you need help using it see our bonus track below!
just pick and choose what works for you: Compare prices many suppliers will rely on their customers not looking around for the best prices But if you always do what you’ve always done you always get what you always got On Wippet we have a price comparison function Once you’ve registered and logged in at wippet com you can select a number of items to compare clearly on a page making sure you get the best available value
When it comes to inflation and the rising costs of providing care the summer of dis content will all too soon become the win ter of despair Plus with 10% vacancies in the care workforce we all have to do more with much less time
Our Customer Success Managers can help over the phone online may even be able to come to your home to show you first hand how to make the most of Wippet to from you
So here are five tips from wippet com for fighting inflation and beating the clock
Sustainable & Cost-Effective Hot Water For Care Homes
Buy bigger and less frequently Often buying larger amounts of the regular products you need but buy ing them less frequently means you can either get a better price or save on delivery costs or both! There are minimum order values for free delivery on most products on Wippet and if you don’t track find somebody to help you Wippet’s chat function is on site to help It usually has a real person answering your queries, but if nobody is available it’ll store your question until the earliest moment we can answer it We have a dedicated team of Customer Success Managers eager to help you get the best out of Wippet So if you’re buying for a residential home and you want to see how Wippet can help you fight inflation and save valuable time just get in touch
Care facilities typically exhibit significant but varied, hot water and heat ing usage patterns, which contributes to the current 40% tally of UK greenhouse gas emissions generated by the built environment
Hope
hear
To help achieve climate neutral building stock by 2050 the industry is being challenged to reduce operational energy use over all other meas ures By increasing the use of renewable energy supply and prioritising on site renewable energy sources the hope it to reduce both carbon and bills
Addressing the efficiency of domestic hot water (DHW) systems whether through the implementation of heat pumps, solar thermal, direct electric water heating or even simple modernisation of existing gas appliances helps care facilities meet sustainability goals in a practical and cost effective manner It also delivers improved year round conditions for staff and clients in care, providing access to spaces better
Adveco can help achieve emission reduction targets With more than 50 years of specialised expertise in designing supplying and servicing hot water systems to the nursing and care industry Adveco is the single resource you need for independent expert technical guidance on choosing and developing bespoke sustainable applications today to get you on the right path towards net zero operation https://adveco co/sectors/healthcare/
For buildings already on gas and that rely on large amounts of DHW a large proportion of current UK care and nursing home properties solar pre heat is the preferable option For new build properties the expectation is for specification to default to a mixture of heat pumps and direct electric after heat New system approaches including prefabricated packaged plant rooms also provide for better use of the spaces that already exist without the need to undertake expensive and disruptive building projects This is especially valid as demands for beds continue to increase placing new demands on care facil ities
Consolidate your buying to save time countless hours are spent dealing with many different suppliers to buy everything a care home needs phoning one meeting another online and offline Wippet has more than 30 suppliers and 50 000 products all in one website Each order only needs 1 basket one login and you get one invoice saving you tine that could be spent better elsewhere
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Five Tips to Fight Inflation and Beat the Clock
FOR ALL THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR VISIT WWW.THECARERUK.COM
Joanne Balmer BEM Chief Operating Officer of Oakland Care said “We re extremely excited to launch the next stage of our sustainability journey this September Following the success of our previous Green Week’s, we are eager to go one step further this year and build on the incredible progress we have made on our sustainability journey This will see everyone across Oakland Care work as one as we look to demonstrate how our sector can be a positive force in the fight against climate change
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 23 Freephone: 0800 917 7943 w w w.euroser vice-uk.com sales@euroser vice uk.com Visit the website at w w w.euros er vice uk.com to see the full range. Manufac tured in the UK Euroser vice trolleys are an attrac tive and prac tical alternative to clinical aluminium trolleys given that antibacterial spray can be used freely to sanitise them. Get in touch with our friendly, experienced sales team PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND ST YLISH TROLLEYS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives! Euroser vice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care produc ts to residents How about a delicious snack/pastr y trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple? Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents! AS the PMA widens its provision for training and education in the care sector including the Excellence in Personalised Care Certificate and Senior Adult Care Worker Level 3 it has also called for a significant increase in pay for care workers across the country Although the PMA welcomes the government announcement to invest £500 million to develop the adult social care workforce (to train and retain talent as well as attract new staff) it believes a pay rise would make a huge difference to the whole sector
He added: The weight of these roles cannot be underestimated Being on the front line and having to make decisions about important health related issues often these are the people who notice small changes and are vital in reporting the changes to other health professionals for investigation
PMA Calls for Better Pay for Care Workers
Homes will also be hosting guest speakers and events, with speak ers from the Essex Forestry Initiative Epping Forest Heritage Trust and the RSPCA Elsyng House Care Home in Enfield will also be cele brating their Wildlife Day with the local Mayor in attendance
As part of their strategy to encourage positive environmental change in social care Oakland Care will be going one step further this
Many staff aged 23 and over are paid an hourly rate of just £9 50 which drops to £9 18 for those aged 21 and 22 and a mere £6 83 for staff aged 18 to 20
Minister of State for Care and Mental Health Gillian Keegan has previously said that as we recover from Covid, we must look to the future and to reform
But she added The type of genuinely transformational change cannot be accomplished overnight We know staff will need continued support ”
The launch of the next stage of their journey comes as Oakland Care continue to push the boundaries of sustainability in social care; aiming to achieve a Level 3 certificate by Green Mark the highest grade awarded by the sustainability specialists and bolster their cre dentials with BREEAM the world’s leading assessment method for sustainable buildings and an accreditation the care provider has already made great strides with, achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating at their with Elmbrook Court Care Home and Very Good ratings for Elsyng House and Woodland Grove
Launching in September, Oakland Care will be participating in a range of green initiatives across their eight care homes located across London and the South East
year with even more events planned stretching across the whole of September This includes joining millions around the globe to cele brate Recycling Week between the 19th 25th September, where homes will be focusing on improving their established recycling initia tives even further
ing to raise awareness of their leading strategy on sustainability in the care sector
“As the UK’s only carbon neutral care group for a second year in a row we want to continue encouraging other care home providers to push ahead with their own journey to improve sustainability
Oakland Care the greener choice of Care Homes in the UK embarks on the next stage of its sustainability journey in September with the launch of its new strategy
Together our industry can drive real change to alleviate the cli mate emergency, while empowering our residents and team mem bers to make their mark on this crucial issue
The amount of responsibility placed on care workers is not recognised as much as it should be They’ll also be amongst those most affected by the cost of living crisis ”
Residents and team members will be enjoying numerous activities during the provider s renowned annual ‘Green Week’ This will include litter picking beach cleans tree planting and the creation of butterfly and bee gardens to improve biodiversity
A pay increase would help enormously in the ongoing challenge of retaining good staff said Ian Jones PMA Operations Director “There needs to be a much more realistic pay scale for non clinical roles across
the industry ”
Oakland Care Steps Up Sustainability Strategy And Goes Even Greener From September
To mark this pivotal achievement for the pioneering care group Oakland Care will also be launching their new greener choice brand
Older people are adopting tech rapidly closing the gap with younger generations who had previously been much more advanced in terms of their digital understanding and usage However, there are still mil lions of people over the age of 55 who are not online and we must work to make sure they are not being excluded digitally For those of us in the caring community, our role is to support people to set up and use these platforms We must provide access to the technology they need like fast Wi Fi or dongles and help ing them reach other individuals who share their likes and interests
It shouldn t be that once we reach a certain age our interests and social life dramatically stop We should be using all the tools at our disposal to combat loneliness among the elderly and digital tools are an impor tant part of that work
Those of us who work with older people have been aware of this issue for many years but due to changing societal structures and increasing public sector budgetary restraints proposed solutions have often been forced to take a back seat
By Grzegorz Wrzosek, Country Manager for Promedica24 (https://promedica24 co uk/)
However the adversity of the pandemic has also bred innovation and a number of new digital platforms are now being set up to combat loneliness among older people While many people become less physical ly active as they age and illness or disability might constrain people’s mobility that doesn t mean they have
Vicky has taken part in 11 Memory Walks so far and 2022 will be her 12th event
PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
We also know that older people are particularly vulnerable to loneli ness and social isolation As people age they might leave the workplace become less active or mobile, live further away from their relatives, and family and friends might pass away In fact according to Age UK around 2 million people over the age of 75 live alone and around 1 4 million peo ple say they are often lonely This was also hugely compounded by the pandemic with many older people forced to isolate because of the increased risks to their health
‘Memory walk holds a special place in my heart and I always look for ward to the uplifting atmosphere on the day and seeing lots of adorable dogs!
Loneliness is now thought to present as great a risk to our health as obesity or smoking with social isolation being linked by research to seri ous medical conditions such as high blood pressure heart disease a weakened immune system anxiety depression cognitive decline and Alzheimer s disease
The Line of Duty star will be taking on the 2km stroll rambling round Wollaton Hall s tranquil lake
its Dementia Connect support line helping people affected by dementia through some of the hardest and most frightening times
Vicky, who is an Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, will be one of many walking to take a stand against dementia Money raised will go towards Alzheimer’s Society s vital services, including
Bafta winning actor Vicky McClure will join hundreds of people going the extra mile to support people affected by dementia at Alzheimer s Society s Nottingham Memory Walk on Saturday 10 September 2022
It’s so inspiring to walk alongside people from all ages and different backgrounds striving to stop dementia in its tracks
The loneliness epidemic can be ignored no longer and digital platforms provide an opportunity for con nection and engagement which can have an invaluable impact on someone’s life The key advantage of platforms like these for older people particularly those with mobility issues is the ease of access You can join a class, community or event from the comfort of your own home We’ve seen the success of online communities and forums like Silversurfers or Gransnet and at ProMedica24 we work with the digital events platform Mirthy
British Actor Vicky McClure Walking in Memor y of Her Beloved Grandmother
Combatting Loneliness In The Elderly With Digital Connection
‘I’ve seen first hand the challenges families go through when their loved one has dementia but there is help out there This is why events like Memory Walk are crucial to help charities like Alzheimer s Society continue supporting as many people as possible ’
In preparation for her Memory Walk, Vicky McClure said:
2022 will be Vicky s 12th year taking part in Memory Walk in remembrance of her beloved grandmother Iris, who lived with dementia before she died in 2015
less desire to be socially active or enthusiastic about joining activities
Many leaders in social care already use technology to assist clients from watches which can monitor falls to medication management products Supporting emotional and social wellbeing is as important and the care industry must invest in this area to enable the older people we work with to continue living life to the fullest
Lee,
The results show that there is no cumulative effect of cleaning from the ClO2 based disinfectant as the counts at the end of the day were no different from before or after the clean The ClO2 based disinfec tant showed approximately no efficacy overall In comparison Peracide™ showed good efficacy to begin with and an overall reduc tion prior to the next clean
Introduction of Peracide™ from Sky Chemicals to Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust
DATA CHANGES LIVES
Y , Burgess, G , Rubino, M and Auras, R , 2015 React on and diffus on of chlorine d oxide gas under dark and light cond tions at d fferent temperatures Journal of Food Eng neering 144 pp 20 28 For further information see page 40
With only 6 weeks to go our excitement for The Care Show is at an all time high and we want to make your Care Show 2022 experi ence even better As the conference programme is now live we wanted to help you in selecting the programme that may be most interesting to you Register for free today you ll discover these and many other exciting and insightful sessions to help you develop your business and plan for the future on 12 13 October at the NEC Birmingham
Victor told guests:
Overall, it was found that the ClO2 based disinfectant was almost entirely ineffective and was not suitable for use There are many possi ble reasons for this It could be a case of error in preparation as the for mulation can be difficult to use correctly or that the solution was no longer efficacious as there is no indicative mechanism for the user It may also be an issue with the ClO2 based disinfectant in solution ClO2 exists as a gas which readily diffuses out of liquid solution with a diffu sion coefficient of 0 145cm2s 1 at room temperature (Lee, Burgess, Rubino and Auras 2015)
Cedars Care Home Throws 10th Birthday Party
Visit www careshow co uk for further information
Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust (DBTH) used a chlorine dioxide (ClO2) based product as their universal one application quick kill rate disinfection solu tion When the supplier announced it was to cease pro duction they had to find a replacement solution Whilst scoping the market it was found that most trusts were using chlorine based disinfectants or a different brand of ClO2 based disin fectants Most other solutions were complicated in their mechanism or required a cleaning and disinfecting clean (two stage), which would be time consuming Information was sort from the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) to see what products were commonly used throughout the country and this is where DBTH were informed about Peracide™ an in situ peracetic acid (ISPAA) based disinfectant After further discus sion with the company, it was agreed that a trial should take place to confirm the claims of the product The product was introduced to the microbiologist and Director Infection Prevention & Control (DIPC) our Facilities management team and Health and Safety advisor The process of using the product needed to meet the needs of facilities and Health and Safety and the approval of the DIPC that the product had a successful kill rate to reduce HCAIs DBTH did plate assays to ensure its efficacy and when satisfied, trialled Peracide™ on two wards to test its efficacy and ease in use
wide range of healthcare associated pathogens including spore form ing Clostridium difficile, MRSA, Norovirus, Legionella, E Coli, Pseudomonas etc and will work to destroy established biofilms Peracide™ is both safe to use and environmentally friendly and is suit able for high level sanitising and disinfecting on porous and non porous surfaces Unlike other disinfectants Peracide™ is minimally affected by organic matter Upon breakdown Peracide™ is completely biodegradable producing carbon dioxide water and oxygen
MATERIALS AND METHODS
As
The sun shone brightly as everyone enjoyed a tasty BBQ in the Cedars garden and toasted the home s big day with birthday cake after home manager Victor Zingoni led a quiet moment of remem brance for all those who have passed through the home during the last decade Guests enjoyed some rousing live entertainment cour tesy of local Elvis tribute act Paul Davidson whose energetic and characterful little daughter Chloe also proved highly diverting!
Carl Roberts Care Home Open Week Championing Social Care, Vishal Shah, Banyan Care and Palvi Dodhia, COO/ Co founder Serene Care explore how care facilities may build communities and capitalise on these relationships
In the transfer of an NHS Trust from one disinfectant to another there are many factors to con sider from ease of use to effica cy against healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) For many years
The Southend based home actually opened its doors on 14th February 2012 but given the uncertain winter weather and the remaining pandemic restrictions August was agreed as the best time to hold the party Since February the home has been marking its tenth anniversary in a variety of ways Staff presented residents with a montage of photos collected between 2012 and 2022 while resi dents, their families and staff have all been encouraged to provide
their thoughts about Cedars and what it means to them for a time capsule to be buried soon and opened in August 2032
In recent years, the need for rapidly efficacious, high level disinfec tants has increased as HCAIs have become a significant issue HCAIs negatively impact the patient recovery, turnover and average cost by increasing the length of patient stays increasing costs associated with care increasing pathogenic effects and increasing the risk of spread to another patient
I can t believe it s been ten years since Cedars first opened in February 2012 Over the years we have cared for so many residents who have left a lasting impression on us Let me take this opportunity to pay my respects to all those we have lost over the years ”
INTRODUCTION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS trial and to the laboratory team who performed the necessary assays
This emphasises the absolute importance of regular routine cleaning and shows that Peracide™ is effective both in short and long term use DISCUSSION
RESULTS
Cleaning had not been performed on either side room with Peracide™ prior to this test The results show that the ClO2 based disin fectant showed no effect at the intervals measured
On the other hand, Peracide™ was considerably more effective and had lasting effect in a high traffic environment Peracide™ coming in a simple tablet form is easy to use is indicative of efficacy and is sta bilised in solution This accumulates to an easy to use visibly effica cious disinfectant with cumulative effect that supports long term infection control
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Sanghamitra Chakravarty Founder and CEO of InvicctlQ Daniel Casson MD of Casson Consulting (London) Katie Thorn Project Lead of Digital Social Care and Adam Purnell Caring View Host and Director of Social Care IHSCM analyses data migration to prepare social care for the future by correctly utilising these treasure troves
SPEAK OUT! HOW TO MAKE AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION IN COMMUNICATION
As an alternative to a ClO2 based disinfectant Peracide™ was selected Peracide™ is a broad spectrum biocide, reacting to produce peracetic acid in situ which is a high level disinfectant that boasts strong oxidizing properties Peracide™ is extremely effective against a
Two side rooms on the same ward were selected The occupants were of similar admissions reasons and neither of which had any alert organisms so did not occupy the room for isolation purposes
From this data routine cleaning CFU counts with Peracide™ can be predicted Since there were slightly fewer CFUs than the pre clean it can be predicted that Peracide™ will lead to a cumulative effect over time as shown in Figure 2 Predicted cumulative effect of daily cleaning with Peracide
Thank you to the participants at DBTH for engaging in this
PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Residents staff families friends and the relatives of former resi dents gathered at Cedars Care Home recently to celebrate the home s tenth birthday
REFERENCES
Carol Scholey (RGN, BSc (hons)) Liam Grimshaw (BSc (hons) MSc by Research)
“Through their dedication and commitment our staff were resilient working through the pandemic It was a difficult time for families as they could not visit their loved ones in the home The staff at Cedars became their extended family For that I would like to say thank you to all our staff As a care home we always strive to deliver good quality care to our residents, and this has been demonstrated by rec ommendations from members of the community and families Here’s to another ten years of good quality care!”
Duncan Lewis, Eaglei's Communication Trainer, shares how to build your confidence to speak out and be your authentic self we count down the weeks before the Care Show, we hope you are as excited as we are for two days of insight networking and fun
Offering his own tribute to Cedars staff he added:
The Care Show - Don't Miss Out
Nor is it a problem that is limited to the elderly dysphagia can affect people of all ages However it doesn t have to spoil mealtimes which can still be a pleasure as well as safe as long as meals are prepared and pre sented in the right way Just pureeing meals can reduce their nutritional content and the dish may end up being less appetising to the eye This is where specialist ranges of texture modified dishes can help for example Simply Puree which is available through Bidfood This range is created especially for people living with dysphagia and each dish is consistent in the nutritional content it provides, and compliant with IDDSI textures
Many of those living with dysphagia find it difficult to consume enough calories throughout the day so you may need to fortify recipes to max imise the calorific value of each spoonful An easy way to achieve this is to switch water for full fat milk or cream, melted butter or oil sauces gravy, honey or juice for dilution It s important to ensure that dishes are visually appealing too so it helps to make up modified consistency foods sepa rately and then pipe them onto the plate while still hot so that you can serve them immediately If you are diluting or pureeing food it’s also important to use stronger flavours so that the food is still flavoursome As with any dish do a taste check before you serve to make sure it meets the same high standards you aim for with the rest of your menu
When it comes to caring for those living with dysphagia its key to regu
uk
You can find more information about it here: https://www bidfood co uk/caterers campus/ Bidfood have developed the programme exclusively for their cus tomers to help their teams learn in bite sized modules in a way which works for them anytime anywhere on any device Knowledge is checked on completion of each module, and each person taking a mod ule gets a certificate of achievement for their records but if it s not a pass it s not a problem you can take it again! There are also no sign up fees for the programme
www allmanhall
els for chefs who are already knowledgeable about dysphagia, but it’s also a great learning tool for those with less experience who may be new to the industry It takes you through the journey of how to adapt a range of different dishes to meet all levels within IDDSI the cooking blending and serving processes that ensure a dish is safe for residents with differ ent needs This makes dining a fun and sociable experience for those liv ing with dysphagia covering all their needs from nutritional to hydration It means they can get involved with all meal occasions which is good for their wellbeing and presenting really appetising dishes will of course encourage them to eat more
As winter approaches care homes are faced not only with the spiralling cost of food but also extraordi nary energy price increases Heating and eating will be very real challenges faced by many allmanhall are able to ease some of the pressure faced by care homes
The International IDDSI Diet Standardisation tool is a global standard providing terminology and definitions that describe the texture of modi fied food and thickened liquids used for individuals with dysphagia of all ages in all care settings and for all cultures The Simply Puree IDDSI guide is a free easy to use tool to help you understand and cater for the different IDDSI textures You can find it here https://tinyurl com/bdz2kktx
larly monitor their intake very closely with a nutritional assessment and weekly weight check to ensure they are not losing weight and are getting enough nutrition and fluids Make sure those who are preparing food are fully trained and aware of the risks associated with dysphagia as well as the correct way to prepare modified consistency foods, and to thicken flu ids for patients who need this
St Martins Care
To help with this Bidfood have put together a new e learning platform called Caterers Campus which is a fun and interactive training resource that takes the hard work out of supporting your team The modules are aimed at helping them consistently create nutritious and delicious meals that are tailored to residents individual requirements There are seven modules available which include one on Dysphagia and IDDSI as well as Fortification Hydration Dementia and Cost Control amongst others
The support goes further than that allmanhall provide advice on how to maximise catering budgets It’s so important for care caterers to have informa tion regarding which products are stable and which are volatile when it comes to price movement allmanhall do exactly this For example having a greater proportion of stable products making up your residents menus will make it easier to manage the impact of rising prices
This is a great online tool which not only gives a refresher on IDDSI lev
Why not visit the allmanhall team on stand 8 at the NACC TDF to find out more? co
Through negotiations tendering and supplier management on behalf of care caterers allmanhall are delivering value and support allmanhall s bench marks on food costs give average savings of 12% What’s more, additional cat egories such as janitorial and medical supplies recently showed savings of over 15%
DYSPHAGIA PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Don't Let Dysphagia Ruin Your Resident's Mealtimes
Meals are often the highlight of the day in a care home, but when you have dysphagia and struggle to swallow the risk of choking and food or fluid entering your lungs can present a real challenge and even make the meal itself a danger In fact dysphagia is a common reason for hospital admission
There s currently a harsh spotlight on homes without strong procurement practices Despite chefs working tirelessly to cost recipes, source the best value ingredients manage portion control and waste some will continue to struggle to produce food at a low cost without the experience of a procure ment team to manage and negotiate price increases for them allmanhall also reduce the pressure on finance resources by consolidating billing and providing admin efficiencies and further savings
Can Your Homes Afford Not To Work with Allmanhall To Mitigate Rising Food Prices?
“The mobilisation of the new catering suppliers and the transfer of existing ones to allmanhall was smoothly managed and supported expertly allmanhall’s approach provides my team with reassurance and peace of mind
Research has found that elevating the legs one of the main features of a rise and recline chair or adjustable bed reduces swelling of stiff and painful joints and enhances healing of injuries and wounds In fact experts have found that failure to elevate a limb can actually delay healing
All of these features reduce the workload for busy staff and improve the comfort of residents
Dr Rob Hicks popular celebrity media doctor acts as medical expert for Mobility Furniture Company
AN UPBEAT APPROACH
Managing Director of Mobility Furniture Company
Call free today on 0800 810 8726 for a free brochure or visit us at www mobilityfurniturecompany co uk/sale Fire Doors are an imperative part of fire safety and are consider ations of the design and maintenance of any building but especially residential Article 17 RRFSO states fire safety provisions (includes fire doors) must be main tained in a suitable con dition and working order If you are the Responsible imperative you appoint a competent person to assist in meeting your duties under the fire safety order to ensure fire safety measures including fire doors are kept in working order Yeoman Shield’s Fire Door Services can help to take the guess work out of fire door maintenance by providing fire door inspections condition reports remedial work and fire door installation all carried out by FDIS and/or FIRAS accredited team members Having a good maintenance routine will dispel some needs of fire door replacement therefore being more cost effective ation of Yeoman Shield Fire ction products can also be nancially beneficial by halt ing impact damage from the start eliminating many repairs in the future and again will extend door lifecycles Installing Yeoman Shield door protection products such as door protection panels, door edge protectors and PVCu glazing bead units will not affect the integrity of the fire door as all products have been tested in situ, to the current standard required Vulnerable frames and architraves can also be protected from impact with Yeoman Shield to pre vent dangerous splintering and splitting as well as abolishing the time consuming repetitive need for repainting For a complete repair and protect service contact the team today frdp@yeomanshield com or visit www yeomanshield com
furniture or a full room installation and fitting service we have the experience and resources to handle your contract
Forbes Professional advises care homes on all rele vant WRAS and industry requirements and helps clients ensure complete compliance with the latest regulations Many care homes would need to recon figure their entire laundry room to enable the newly requisite two metre distancing between gas appli ances and doors When such issues are coupled with safety concerns and the increasing costs of running
We manufacture and assemble our products in our own purpose built factories in Cheshire and Europe to British Standards Hence we are able to ensure your furniture is produced to the highest quality, working with you to plan and meet your projects time sched ule and budget
We understand you are purchasing furniture that is fit for purpose stylish and will continue to perform well into the future, which is why we design and build our furniture with you in mind
gas appliances Forbes would generally recommend that electrical appliances should be the product of choice
HOME RESIDENTS?
the Standard
Mobility furniture can make life that little bit easier for people particularly those who struggle to do things that we often take for granted like sitting down and standing up Dr Hicks says It is great to be working with a forward thinking company that celebrates improving quality of life for older individuals
Raising of
last for years and are better
When choosing dryers it is notable that care homes are increasingly turning away from gas appliances due regulation changes and safety concerns Changes to industry requirements can necessitate considerable investment in order for gas appliances to meet the current standards
all ages including the elderly and disabled peo ple BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels work as stand alone therapeutic modalities or alongside other interventions (i e drugs physiotherapy massage etc ) providing affordable and long term cost effec tive solution to pain and discomfort BIOFROST® Relief Cold Gel contains only natural ingredients (i e ethanol, menthol, eucalyptus pep permint MSM) for instant pain relief and to activate body s own healing Benefits are better joint move ments, lasting pain relief, comfortable sleep, fewer cramps calmed nerve pain reduced joint and mus cular discomfort less muscle fatigue puffiness and swelling BIOFROST® Active is a fast acting dual action cold gel with heat sensation for relief of muscular and joint aches (i e upper and lower back pain) Enriched with 10 herbal extracts BIOFROST® Active stimulates local blood flow releases muscle tension and joint stiffness and combats chronic pain Benefits include improved joint movements, greater mobility pain relief in treated areas (i e back neck shoulders knees) discomfort free sleep less cramps and stiffness CE marked Class 1 Medical Devices the BIOFROST® gels are made in Finland by Viking Lab Oy Distributed in the UK by Win Health Medical Ltd Win Health Medical Ltd / T: 01835 864866 / E: biofrost@win health com / W: www win health com See the advert on page 5 for details
especially when they are made to measure giving that perfect fit
and maintenance response www forbespro co uk Telephone 0345 0702335 info@forbes professional co uk See the advert on page 19
Most residents need to avoid pressure sores and again mobility furniture helps by pressing a button on the chair or bed to gently ease people into different positions The alternative is a member of staff shifting the resident to a new position at risk to their own health
Some adjustable beds and rise and recline chairs
Mobility furni ture has come on leaps and strides over the last few years Gone are the dreary semi functional chairs and beds of the past Today’s generation of rise and recline chairs and adjustable beds look smart, designed and more com fortable than ever before Even people without mobili ty problems are buying them
Forbes Professional provides a range of options for commercial laundry equipment, including the PT 8337 and the Little Giant PT 7137 heat pump dryers All of their Miele commercial laundry is available on a pur chase rental or lease basis with access to a compre hensive service that includes installation, commissioning, training, and a first class repair
Miele s new heat pump commercial dryers are par ticularly highly rated for their safety functionality and energy efficiency They do not require any make up air which enables the laundry function to be installed in the basement or in a central location within the care home and saves on costly vent ducting Miele s Ecoplus technology guarantees that both energy con sumption and drying times are kept consistently low Due to the effective interaction of the Miele filter sys tem and the maintenance free heat exchanger fluff cannot clog the heat exchanger or adversely affect the exceptional drying efficiency Miele’s heat pump tumble dryers’ employ a highly efficient and economi cal filter system and heat exchanger to keep run times low and enable an energy saving of up to 60% when compared to vented dryers
user
even come with wheels a thoughtful touch for when residents struggle to walk between rooms And many come with wipe clean upholstery in case of unfortu nate spills
Renray Healthcare
Mobility Furniture Company is one of the biggest mobility furniture companies in the UK Its wide geo graphical spread of representatives takes furniture to care homes for managers staff and residents to assess
BIOFROST® Relief and the BIOFROST® Active are natural topical gels that effectively relieve pain reduce inflammation and diminish swelling without drugs and drug related side effects Safe for people of
Another advantage of mobility furniture is that it helps care home residents sleep deeply and for longer stints which we all know is crucial to quality of life both physical and emotional Why? Because it allows people access to a range of sitting and lying positions that traditional chairs and beds simply do not have
Care home managers owners and staff know what their residents need says James Mitton
“When we visit care homes we always gain valuable insights about real life situations for which our company can make a differ ence Working with these key members of staff we find solutions for residents and care home employ ees that make life more comfortable for everybody involved ”
Renray Healthcare has been producing high quality furniture for over 50 years and is one of the UK s largest and leading suppliers to the healthcare sector Whether you require a fast efficient delivery of quality
How Efficient and Compliant Is Your Laundr y Operation?
Stair Climbing Solutions Furniture That Improves Health For Residents… And Staff PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 Yeoman Shield Fire Door Ser vices Taking the Guess Work out of Fire Doors
The Stair Climbing Company is one of the leading providers of powered Stair Climber solu tions which have been specifi cally designed to assist those struggling with mobility and independence issues facing people with disabilities The Stair Climbing Company offers an excellent range of compact, easy to use, powered Stair Climbers that are ideal for use in both home and commer cial settings Offering innovative designs all of the company s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces for safe storage and are easily transported and charged In addition all of its Stair Climber s come with a two year manu facturer s warranty The Stair Climbing Company maintains one main mission; to improve quality of life through its range of high quality and custom devices with built in seats The safety and comfort of its customers is of the utmost importance to the company and it ensures that each wheelchair car rier model is designed to cater to individual customers specific needs, and works with all stair types Furthermore, the company provides Stair Climbers for all ages making them suitable for everyone and offers a free assessment for customers If you would like to find out any more information please see the details below T 01787 379160 www thestairclimbingcompany com See the advert on page 13 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Mobility furniture improves health of care home employees because it results in less lifting/weight bearing Press a button on the rise and recline chair and it supports the user to their feet Some adjustable beds have the same feature
Telephone +44 (0)1606 593456, Email info@renrayhealthcare com, www renrayhealthcare com or see the advert on page 3 for details
WHAT ABOUT CARE HOME STAFF?
WORKING WITH EXPERTS
BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels for Drug-Free Pain Relief
HOW DOES MOBILITY FURNITURE BENEFIT CARE
eCommerce system is designed to reduce cost improve efficiency and streamline supply chain management and will fully protect the integrity and accu racy of critical business data The order entry process is very simple meaning suppliers and vendors can spend their valuable time on tasks other than ordering apparel labelling and acces sories Visit www cashslabels com or see the advert on page 6
each
you
today to get more information and receive your information pack;
We catalogue every
Jolly Trolley Brings Therapeutic Activity and Entertainment
completed you will receive a detailed report of each and every item repaired accompanied with a certificate of confor mance UK Passive
assisting to combat counterfeit ing and grey market activity
recent Care Industry Conferences it was interesting to hear
info@ukpassivefiresolutions co uk or call: 01262 469872 or see the advert on page 9 At Cash s, we aim to capture, reinforce and communicate our clients brand equity through qual ity and innovation from design to distribution Our product range fully caters for the needs of both small and large retailers and brand owners alike comprising of woven and printed labels woven badges care labels, branded and promo tional swing tags garment accessories packaging and barcoding Our ground breaking labelling and security technologies are also able to provide an unrivalled level of protection to our customers' brand
(Passive) report but in appointing a contractor they failed to ask vital questions When we inspected the work, it was clear to see the work was poor quality, had been incorrectly installed and large areas of work had been left incomplete Unfortunately, the owner didn t ask for a scope of works detailing what was going to be done and how It should have asked how the work was going to be recorded so that they could demonstrate if required to local authorities or assessors at future assess ments/surveys that the work had been correctly installed Also they failed to check if the contractor was UKAS third party accredited Care must be
the
a contractor
by
2022 marks the celebration of 50 years for Skopos fabrics! As a tribute to this milestone throughout this year we will be looking back at some of our favourite designs over this half century The 50th Anniversary Collection will see some of these authentic landmark designs reborn using contemporary design production techniques The evolved designs will be developed in line with current trends for use within contract interi ors today Each month these ‘new’ designs will be brought to life as prints perfect for Care Interiors available on a wide choice of Skopos base cloths As with all Skopos prints, customers will be able to order the Anniversary’ designs across base cloths for upholstery, curtains and bedding Qualities include waterproof upholsteries, velvets, drapery linen effect qualities and blackout/dimout fabrics Many of our fabrics are antimicrobial com ing under the umbrella of Skopos ProtectPlus Skopos offer a full range of fabrics including uphol steries plus made to measure curtains bedding and cushions for Care Interiors To request a quote for new curtains bed throws and cushions for Care please contact our sales team 01924 436666 For free samples of our Anniversary Designs please log onto our website: www skoposfabrics com Skopos Fabrics Ltd are dedicated to design service and best performance Our full service or fabric only option provides choice for our customers with expert ise in design, make up (curtains, cushions and bed ding) fitting and installation 50 Years of Design Excellence. 50 Years of Skopos Opeque can assist in reducing energy bills comply ing with legislation managing health and safety and achieving a sustainable operation Over years Opeque has worked with various indus try sectors from tyre manufacturing to laundries schools to hotels and hospitals to care homes optimis ing their manufacturing procedures and facilities man agement Applying industrial engineering principles we address productivity, resource efficiency quality con trol health and safety and asset management bringing people utilities equipment and buildings together to realise product excellence We have worked with many care homes to provide laundry services and water hygiene and it is from these close relationships that we believe we can further assist your CARE HOME to reduce operating costs Call or Email NOW: 07831 873355, email admin@opeque com or visit www opeque com See the advert on page 23 for details Reduce Your Operating Costs!! Hi, where are you from? Asking where someone is from is such a common opening question for a stranger and universal small talk Where we live and where we come from is fundamental to most people s sense of self identity and history and perhaps that s why it s a powerful topic in reminiscence therapy Reminiscence therapy involves simple techniques to help those with memory loss or dementia to recall their memories This can improve self esteem and provide a sense of fulfillment improve mood and reduce agita tion all of which are so valuable in the care of those living with a condition which doesn’t have positive out comes It’s where the founders of Memory Lane Games started when they decided to make games for their elderly Mums to enjoy using their favourite old photographs After quickly realising they were onto something, the Memory Lane Games app now delivers profession ally curated reminiscence and speech and language activity games across a range of topics such as music, film food, hobbies and pets All of our games are designed to be frustration free and encourage com munication and socialisation not to test SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL Beneath its simplicity the Memory Lane Games app is a powerful tool Carers, families and friends are able to enjoy inter actions generated by playing the games with those in their care and can even create personalised quizzes using old family photos and create questions such as Mum where did you go on your first holi day? or Where did you get mar ried? In addition to our popular free app (available in the usual app stores) we serve international care home groups with a SaaS platform enabling alerts based on their resi dents' game play: highlighting changes in 7 clinical data sets which are all game play related and have been established in our RCT Clinical Trial (underway) This data can be used to alert early interventions needed to address potential health issues like mini strokes or urinary tract infections for example The benefits to users and care homes are immedi ately evident Improved resident and staff wellbeing, improved quality of family visits and a differentiated care home business If you would like to create a Memory Lane Game for your residents or to find out more about us please get in touch or download the app for FREE from the usual app stores Helpforcarehomes@memorylanegames com See the advert on page 4 Memor y Lane Games - Reminiscence Games To Trigger Positive Memories For Those Living With Dementia PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Know What You Are Asking From Contractors Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising. lease mention THE CARER when responding to advertising. THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 33
we understand your requirements and that understand the service we are going to provide repair and images of stage The details and how it was implemented/installed will When works are Fire from to email email
Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name”
product
should be asking and
also be recorded
is required and what
start
finish Call or
After attending some how of what they expecting from
Solutions work with you
installation, taking multi ple
some of delegates are confident and have an understanding of the importance of Passive Fire Protection However many are still unsure
Our industry leading
Care homes are crucial for our society so it s important to ensure they’re a safe setting to help staff carry out the best possible care With many family members and friends visiting their loved ones daily, InVentry is essential to track who’s entering and leaving your care home Visitors are met with a simple signing in process and their information is stored directly in the system This not only allows you to track who is onsite at any given time but it ensures an even faster sign in during repeat visits You can also ensure that the contractors you have onsite have the skills to do the job safely by asking custom questions before they sign in with options to include documents they may need to read upon arrival, ensuring health & safety and the security of your site is always maintained InVentry can even help you become CQC and Care Inspectorate Compliant as our software allows you to receive star rated feedback from those who have vis ited your care home You can store this feedback within your system and note any actions taken to improve your processes and procedures! Head to our website www inventry co uk or see the advert on page 6 Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentr y The Jolly Trolley® is an essential for any care establishment as it pro motes social interaction between the serv ce users and their carers This innovative system is fully mobile and battery operated allowing residents who may be unable to leave their rooms to also be included with ease The Jolly Trolley® comes complete with its own videos quizzes karaoke and other content but personal music photos and films can then be added from a USB stick to really bring out the magic! Don t just take our word for it here are just some testimonials from our very happy Health and Social Care cl ents: Chester Park Megan Allan, Activities The fact that we can upload what is relevant to the spec fic Individual is so mean ngful for that person and I can assure you we have shed some tears be ng able to be part of that res dents memory ourney It has been an amaz ng addition to our care home from staff and residents thank you Pennine NHS Trust Beech Ward we have been able to provide thera peut c act v ty & entertainment with ease to patients that are isolating To see what the Jolly Trolley® can do for you call us for a free demonstration on 0800 093 8499 See the advert on page 1
We recently attended a care home; the owner had commissioned a very detailed Fire Compartmentation taken when appointing a contractor to complete these specialised works As a UKAS third party accredited company we will always make sure
Since 1976 Manfred Sauer have provided a range of innovative urology products to help suffer ers of urinary incontinence But unlike other providers our products are often designed and tested by both end users and healthcare professionals to ensure effective and user friendly so lutions that work This means your incontinence issues can be managed independently without worrying about frequent emptying or toilet access and do not impinge on your ability to live life to the full Read about four of our most popular product ranges, which are all available on prescription
The Children s Bag with smaller capacity and proportions comes with a discreet and secure twist tap that will not open accidentally while moving, or out and about 3 IQ CATHETER
SMOKING
There are a number of health risks associated with smoking A ‘smokers cough’ can place extra pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor increasing your chances of experiencing stress incontinence
Limiting fluid intake may actually increase the frequency of incontinence Drinking a total of 6 to 8 glasses of water throughout the day is recommended Unless advised to do so by your health professional never restrict fluids to control incontinence
Urinary incontinence affects millions of people in the UK
people who have had a Nephrostomy and tubes are already in place our NephSys system can drastically improve their lives As well as providing a secure and sterile solution which consists of an adjustable elasticated belt; drainage bags and suspenders to secure the bag to the belt in the chosen position, the system is also comfortable and discreet For help support and advice call 01604 595696 email helpline@manfred
area
CONTINENCE CARE
people from talking about it let alone feeling able to access products and services that can help them So without the correct help and support, the problem often remains unsolved, which has a negative impact on people s lives
The Comfort Leg Bag range comes in variety of materials from velvet smooth, real cotton and flock backing
DEHYDRATION
Note the activity you were performing at the time the types of beverages and the quantity you consumed beforehand, as well as the extent of the leakage
1 SHEATHS
The
FLUID INTAKE Drinking sufficient fluids each day is essential for maintaining a healthy bladder If you don’t drink enough your bladder will become overly sensitive You should try to consume at least 1 5 2 litres (or 6 8 glasses) of fluids each day
Thousands of people across the country must perform Intermittent Self Catheterisation (ISC) to effectively empty their bladder and having some thing that is simple to use soft flexible and easy to lubricate is essential
The shape of our Discreet Thigh Bag allows for it to be worn high up on the thigh and can even be hidden under shorts skirts and even swimwear Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult
Although a widespread problem in continence remains a taboo topic Embarrassment often stops
If you don t drink enough your bladder will become more sensitive to smaller amounts of urine which means you will go to the toilet more frequently INFORM YOUR GP
That s where our IQ Cath shines plus, new for 2022 are male/paediatric and female single use hydrophilic catheters which are immersed in saline and ready for immediate use 4 NEPHSYS
HEALTHY EATING
Top tips for Managing Incontinence
It is advisable to avoid certain types of drinks such as tea coffee cola and chocolate as they contain caf feine which can irritate the bladder An irritated bladder becomes overactive which makes you feel as though you need to empty your bladder when it is not full
Maintain a record of every time you experience bladder weakness
We offer 5 types of urinary sheath to facilitate the drainage of urine away from the body into a drainage bag They are made from either latex or synthetic materials and available in a range of sizes We also offer skin friendly tapes straps and adhesives hair guards measuring tape as well as Preventox which cleans and protects the skin so you are always comfortable and have the best fit possible
We supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities Perfect for being outdoors and packed full of unique features and benefits you now have a choice when it comes to managing your incontinence
PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Help To Manage Your Incontinence Issues Independently
DRINKS TO AVOID
Your diet should be balanced not too high in fat with plenty of fibre and contain at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day Healthy eating is also important because being overweight can make bladder problems worse
It is a good idea to notify your GP if you are experiencing bladder weakness for the first time or if you already have blad der weakness and it has become worse RECOMMENDATION: Keep a Bladder Diar y
COMFORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE
issues
2 LEGBAGS
The iD range of products is available to buy from www id direct com or www ontex com
For sauer co uk or visit www manfred sauer co uk for more information about each product, or to order a free sample
A prominent novel feature is its built in colour indicating system that alerts the user with a change of colour of the solution when it can be used and alerts them again with a second change of colour when it cannot be used and should be discarded features and benefits include the following: difficile spores in 30 hours non pungent odour
027
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 www.percacide.co.uk info@peracide.co.uk 0114 278 0222 Win the battle on Infection Control With a new generation of disinfection technology 10 reasons to change to Peracide Kills all known microorganisma including C difficile spores, E coli, MRSA, Legionella, Norovirus, Klebsiella, Influenza and many more 2 Innovative Colour Activation System Greater oxidiser than Chlorine and Hydrogen Peroxide Clean, disinfects and deodourises in one operation Works in the presence of organic salt Environmentally friendly, biodegradable, non toxic and non corrosive Safe for use on patient mobilitiy and shared equipment Non sticky and leaves minimal residue Full microbiology test report Long lasting solution 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VAPOURISED HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (VHP) & UVC Available via NHS Supply Chain Product Code Peracide 3g: MFB1002 Peracide 6g: MFB1005 Peracide is an effective and rapidly stable sporicidal disin fectant tablet that tackles the transmission of C difficile and other HAI Peracide is the result of many years continuous development, testing and col laboration with Prof Peter Wilson and Dr Shanom Ali of UCHL microbiological laborato ry department
Other
Angloplas
Fragrant
PERACIDE, ward trial and Laboratory testing was performed by Environmental Laboratory at University College London Hospitals NHS foundation trust
Peracide is benign; it does not present any adverse risk to the environment or the user It can be used on porous and non pours material; and suitable for use in trigger sprays buckets microfiber cloths and mops for safe disinfect ing of beds washrooms and floors surfaces & medical equipment computers & office equipment
Dispensers Help Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry Angloplas range of dispensers are pro duced 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 infec tion by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the prod uct 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 click ing Hospital Health and Hygiene or by using the Quick Response code
Destroys C
Superior cleaning property
Unaffected by organic soil Biodegradable, non corrosive, non toxic
Colour Activated Disinfectant Tablets
The development cycle has testing to validate effectiveness and user acceptability Peracide has been tested against C difficile spores 027 modified BSEN 13704, MRSA, Klebsiella Pneumoniae Modified BSEN 1276 and Norovirus EN 14675 among others
• Higher efficacy than comparable chlorine based solutions
seconds Remains active over 24
Available via NHS Supply Chain Product Code: Peracide 3g: MFB1002 or Peracide 6g MFB1005 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PERACIDE INCLUDING TRIALS, TRAINING AND DEMONSTRA TIONS CALL US NOW www percacide co uk info@peracide co uk 0114 278 0222
included laboratory and on ward
The XP range of upright vacuum cleaners from SEBO are ideal for these health conscious times They feature independently proven filtration, hygienic dirt disposal using sealable bags and are exceptionally quiet and light to use
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 37
Many professionally cleaned facilities operate 24/7
Of course once dirt is picked up it is essential that it is retained in the vacuum cleaner and not released back into the air The Health and Safety Executive states that we never assume that any dust is safe and that all uncontrolled dusts are potentially hazardous Virtually all the dust and dirt which is picked up by an XP vacuum cleaner is safely trapped in the high filtra tion bag, which can be sealed and hygienically dis posed of The filtration of the XP has been independently tested by the DMT Test Institute in Germany to filter 99 97% of particles of 0 3 micron
Last but not least at SEBO we believe that vacuum cleaners should be built to last and should be easily repairable Our vacuum cleaners are built to be durable and reliable; to have a long service life using few replacement parts Component parts are identified with the material they are made from so that they can be recycled more easily when their service life is over more details contact commercial@sebo co uk
For
Clearly a vacuum cleaner s number one task is to clean The XP range harnesses the power of an on board computer to measure performance on the floor and continuously adjust the floor head to the optimum cleaning height completely automatically The power ful brush action pulls the vacuum cleaner forward so that the pushing force required to manoeuvre it is close to zero helping to make it light and easy to use for extended periods but also giving deep cleaning performance
The integrated wand and hose mean that cleaning above the floor and reaching into awk ward places is easy The computer can also advise when the bag needs changing or when there is a blockage and the multiple access points and cassette style brush roller make the XP easy to maintain
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL
Above this particle size the filtration level is very close to 100%
It is therefore not always possible to vacuum when no one is around In these cases low noise levels are imperative Although there are regulations limiting the sound power level that a vacuum cleaner can reach subjectively the sound generated can still be unpleas ant, even where the vacuum cleaner meets the regula tions SEBO sound engineers have successfully muted the harsh frequencies to which the human ear is sensi tive This has the result that with any form of back ground noise, the sound from the XP virtually disappears, making it suitable in many cases for day time cleaning Indeed in any situation where low noise levels are important the XP range is ideal
• Hot & Cold domestic water services • Pipework flushing & disinfection • Tank cleaning & maintenance • Legionella risk, sampling, lab testing • Attention to individual apartments • Communal areas / toilets / showers • Restaurants / Cafés • And Heating System flushing Water Treatment & Legionella Specialists 01925 758995 enquiries@msbhygiene.com www.msbhygiene.com M.S.B. Hygiene M S B Hygiene Ltd has over 25 years experience in Water Treatment and operate throughout the UK Our Engineers have the skills & expertise to carry out water systems risk assessment sampling cleaning and disinfection Our samples are taken to UKAS accredited laboratories for testing Certificates of disinfection and sam pling are provided upon completion We are members of the Legionella Control Association and are CHAS (Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme) accredited We provide a highly professional but friendly serv ice together with comprehensive & straightforward advice we aim to be easy to do business with We’d also like to think we are “the 4th emergency service” for your water treatment & legionella control needs 01925 758995 enquiries@msbhygiene com www msbhygiene com Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising. lease mention THE CARER when responding to advertising. SEBO XP – Power with Responsibility
THE PROBLEM: There are many issues with using WET or gel sanitisers and upon entry to many build ings, you are met with various sanitising options, usual ly a gel or liquid dispenser paper towels and a bin this often gets “messy” and needs regular topping up cleaning and tidying This can also be a slip hazard
EZISAN CAN ELIMINATE THE USE OF EXPENSIVE, MESSY AND MOSTLY IRRATATING GEL HAND SANI TIZERS
Aqua Air products to respond to the specific cleaning challenges and needs of their clients with the result that each product offers added performance rela tive to the competition Each one of their Xtra range of cleaning solutions is designed manufac tured and bottled in the UK contains biodegradable compo nents and packaging and avoids harsh chemicals which can dam age skin and surfaces
For further information visit www biobax co uk or call 01484 868 970
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL
PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
The Solution: EZISAN uses a semi dry sanitizing spray mist” to help solve many of the problems, you simply place your hands into the mist rub them together and turn them over this will effectively sani tize the majority of bacteria, viruses and other germs EZISAN converts approved and certified water based sanitizers fluids into “semi dry spray mist” and there is no waste These fluids are also known to be gentle to
Environmentally friendly fluids and big savings on single use plastic bottles, we estimate Ezisan saves 85% single use bottles over Alcohol Gel and 69% in cost or £624 per year
The acquisition follows a peri od of growth for BioBax with increased demand from cus tomers looking to buy more eco friendly products including Zybax microbiological products and Meleco the magic eraser
Most Alcohol gel sanitizers are also known to irritate the skin especially for regular users like NHS staff care workers Sufferers of eczema and other sensitive skin conditions are also well documented The real financial cost to business and public venues are sub stantial we also have to factor in the fact that staff have to maintain and replenish the current method the man hours wasted are a genuine cost
BioBax of Skelmanthorpe West Yorkshire has acquired Cheshire based Aqua Air as part of a strategic move to expand its range of environment friendly cleaning products and solutions
Designed and Manufactured in the UK with supply chain localised wherever possible this will reduce our carbon footprint by minimising transportation We intend to be carbon neutral by 2025 Recyclable materials are used as much as possible we also try to minimise plastic packaging and be envi ronmentally aware of every aspect of the manufactur ing process See the advert below for further details
Kate Pawson and Dominic Barnes started BioBax in 2019 to develop and grow the Zybax and Meleco brands which are now 22 years old BioBax products are manufactured in house at their state of the art facil ity in a rural setting in Huddersfield
Cleaning Specialists BioBax Acquire Aqua Air
EZISAN have invented a “NO TOUCH” sanitizer sys tem in response the worldwide coronavirus pandemic to improve hygiene and assist the prevention from cross contamination EZISAN will help to improve the process and convenience of hand sanitizing it also reduces contamination on mobile phones keys, credit cards and other small household items that can be passed through the sanitizing mist
Barry Bladon said: “It has been key for us to join forces with a company who share our philosophy and passion for solving our customers cleaning BioBax already have a strong reputation for the supply of environment friendly cleaning products and expanding the Aqua Air portfolio with a range of kitchen, hospitality and janitorial solutions and cleaning machines will mean that BioBax and Aqua Air customers will now benefit from the expanded range of world class products and service
A Revolutionar y Hand & Small Object Sanitizing System For Care Homes
FOR ALL THE LATEST HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR VISIT WWW.THECARERUK.COM
the skin The key solution is that it is truly “NO TOUCH” unlike most other systems
“Aqua Air is the perfect partner for BioBax”, said Kate Pawson, Sales and Marketing Director, “they have very similar values to BioBax’s I am looking forward to meeting Aqua Air s customers and work ing with them over the years to come Aqua Air Ltd was founded in 1994 by Barry Bladon and latterly co owned with his son Simon Barry has obsessively developed each one of the
co
Nurse Alert Mats
Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil environment for residents Pagers have been around for many years are a relatively simple and cost effective measure in reducing the levels of noise and can be added to most Nurse Call sys tems Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps for care planning e medication etc Many Courtney Thorne clients are now utilising the “Go” app with their Nurse Call system With the “Go” app nurse call alarms are delivered immediately and silently straight to the handsets alerting the individual carers to all Nurse call alarms without creating any general alarm sound and rarely dis turbing the rest of the residents in the home
In Pressure Mat heavy non slip backing,
connected to a
addition The Floor
has a
When Nurse Call system or the mobile Floor Sentry Monitor it will then alert staff, of pressure
MONITORING THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 39 • Nurse Call Systems • Fire Alarm Systems • Door Access • Staff Attack • CCTV • Infection Control • Dementia Care • Electrical Contracting w w w. L C T U K . c o m 0 8 0 0 8 4 9 9 1 2 1 s a l e s @ l c t u k . c o m Designed to combat the problem of residents who are inclined to walk undetected, the Nurse Alert Mat can help protect residents especially at night that are at risk of falls and accidents
Quiet and calm care homes ensure that residents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment Similarly carers and staff find that they too benefit from reduced stress when working in a home where noise levels are kept to a minimum There are many environmental factors that can affect those sensitive to their surroundings particularly those suffering from dementia these can be fluctuations in ambient temperature light and of course noise Repetitive and high levels of noise can originate from a number of internal and external sources for example telephones ringing loud conversations in corridors and call bells sounding often one of the largest contributors to increasing the levels of stress and discomfort in residents
thus enabling staff to investigate INCLUDES A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE
A published study by the University of Stirling stated that unanswered Nurse Call (Call Bell) alarms can be one of the most common causes of stress in dementia sufferers The University recom mends “fitting call alarms which alert nurses but do not resonate throughout the whole building Alarms can be particularly disconcerting as they may encourage the person with dementia to respond or investigate what the matter is At the very least the loss of sleep will compromise a person s ability to
It comes professionally sealed so can easily be cleaned for liquid spills and is fully serviceable
Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a num ber of methods to reduce their impact in a care home These include zoning whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call In these circumstances, demen tia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one zone whist less vulnerable resi dents live in an alternative zone Each zone can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required
-
NURSE CALL
concentrate It can affect their attention levels and capacity to cope, as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers
Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less stressed also this creates a happier workplace where morale is greatly improved, staff are retained and CQC ratings improve Clearly the positive rami fications of a quiet Care Home run deep Get in touch today to find out how we can help your home become a quieter, calmer, and more tranquil environment
For more information email us at: info@c t uk
sounding the alarm with a small amount
Silent Running Tranquility in Care Homes AND FALLS
www.nursecallsystems.co.uk
Pager
FOR ALL THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR VISIT WWW.THECARERUK.COM
A variety of options
Floor sensor mat Wireless door/window exit alerts
ncluding Call button
maintaining Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is dif ferent and has different needs They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into considera tion the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier Visit www lctuk com for details
There are for example simple bed alarms, chair alarms, or multiple use products for combining bed and chair monitoring to allow the per son to move from their bed to their chair There are systems that use a cabled pressure mat sensor connected to an alarm controller or pressure mat sensors with a self con tained alarm transmitter to signal a radio pager Carer alarm notifications can be by a single or multiple user pager or alarm receiver or an external alarm device
Medpage Falls Management Products
Anti sl p mesh for hard surface floors
Lotus Care Technology
WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE
Medpage T/A Easylink UK have manufactured and dis tributed fall prevention and detection products for over 25 years We specialise in prod ucts for one to one care, or small groups in a Care Home or Hospital Our systems are robust easy to set up and use and have a proven track record in helping to reduce falls in domestic and professional care establishments
Features include:
See the advert on this page for further details or visit www fallsavers co uk
PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Connects directly to most nurse call systems
Benefits include:
Bed and chair pads ava l able
Having many years of experience in fitting and
Caregivers typically place the sensor pad at the bed side in a doorway or other locations to monitor per sons at risk for falls or wandering An optional anti slip mesh reduces the potential for slippage on hard surface floors
FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR
High Quality ant bacterial Floor Sensor Pad
Many falls occur when a person at risk from falls leaves their bed or chair particularly during the night By detecting an exit from the bed or chair early a carer or guardian gains time to attend and help the person, usually preventing the fall
The TreadNought® Floor Sensor Pad is built to last with a durable construction that far out lasts the competition Our anti bacterial floor sensor pad is compatible with most nurse call systems or can be used with a portable pager to sound an alert when a person steps on to the sensor pad
Upgrade your falls programme with the latest technology from Fall Savers® The NEW Fall Savers® Wireless eliminates the cord between the monitor and sensor pad This results in less work for nursing staff improved safety for patients and reduced wear and tear on sensor pads Wireless advantages include the ability to use one monitor with two sensor pads simultaneously and support for many new wireless devices
TREADNOUGHT
Large Size Pad Measures (L) 91cm x (H) 61cm
How can they help reduce falls?
Fall Savers® are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years
One monitor works w th two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems
Medpage supply a diverse range of equipment for detecting bed and chair exit
Safer for patients; less work for staff
Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!
Options (sold separately):
®FLOOR SENSOR PAD
NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING
Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions
You can find out more on the advert on page 13 or at www easylinkuk co uk/product/ product fall detection
The NurseAlert pres sure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for this at risk of falls
How is technology and equipment used to enhance effective care and treatment delivery and support people s independence?
While the delivery of person centred care is paramount care providers must also provide evidence of the care they deliver and regulatory bodies
AutumnCare contains a customis able Dashboard to provide Managers with a snapshot of what is occurring across the care service at any point in time
Improved visibility
If you re unsure of how to get started in your digital transformation, AutumnCare can help!
VISIBILITY
Reduced risk
The most considerable cost saving that going digital can provide is time While the amount of time saved will vary between service types and roles this alone makes going digital worthwhile
There are so many time consuming tasks such as writing care notes completing paper assessments filling in charts preparing handovers and countless other administrative tasks
Morale is a crucial factor in retaining staff Using electronic care sys tems to change the focus from the administration to the delivery of care helps stage engage more with service users
QUALITY
AutumnCare has a number of tools that assist in maintaining security and confidentiality, including this lock screen func tionality for use in medication administration rounds!
AutumnCare provides specialist digital care planning and eMAR soft ware, enabling providers to migrate to a digital system and providing the foundations for outstanding care We can walk you through what is required step by step as well as provide training and support every step of the way
On an electronic care system, it is much easier to see what is going on if you are contacted out of hours or on the go A digital system allows you to log in remotely to see what has been happening across the entire care service at a glance
Digital care systems are safe and accessible maintaining the security and confidentiality of your data This is difficult to achieve with paper because sensitive information must be locked away when not in use per GDPR
RETENTION
Controlling paper based systems can be an onerous job It generates reams of paper that can easily be lost copied and potentially fall into the wrong hands
Better Control
actively encourage the use of technology
Going digital can automate many of these tasks and enable recording care interactions in real time ensuring nothing is left undocumented and saving time that can be better spent providing care CONTROL
Happier ser vice users
Going digital makes it easy and efficient to evidence the quality of care you provide In addition as a digital system has a complete audit trail you can be assured the information you are providing is accurate and com plete COSTS
EVIDENCE
But it s not just health; other characteristics such as emotion likes/dis likes and how they correspond to a wide range of activities can be record ed
Contact Chris Sharman
10 Reasons To Go Digital With Electronic Care Planning and Medication (eMAR) Systems TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE
Additional cost benefits include savings on printing paper stationary
Because any changes can be affected at the point of care updates become a true reflection of the care (rather than a delayed update at the end of a long shift)
Digital systems enable you to spend more time caring and less time on administration
AutumnCare Mobile allows staff to perform clinical assessments and capture notes at the point of care for increased accuracy and care recipient involvement
Staff recruitment and retention remain long standing challenges for the care sector and many factors contribute to the successful retention of staff
Using inbuilt alerts ensures that nothing is missed whether that’s a care plan change or a fall report Using an eMAR will help reduce medication errors and ensure that the 6 Rs are always met
Digital care plans are the best way to achieve this!
Furthermore going digital reduces paper use and the carbon footprint of regular deliveries Therefore going digital can help you become more environmentally friendly RISK
This information is then easily accessible by other system users sup porting a personalised care experience
With pre built assessments covering all aspects of health you can get to know your service users intimately
For example the CQC states that the care provider should look to embrace technology that helps monitor care delivery During an inspec tion under the Effective key line of enquiry (KLOE) question E1 3 asks
TIME
PROTECTION
Social care is a highly regulated industry and going digital can help you safeguard your business With multiple regulatory bodies such as the CQC CIW Care Inspectorate RQIW Local Authorities and Safeguarding Teams not to mention families and the justice system Any of whom can make enquiries or perform inspections at any time and without notice
Additionally providing smart tools like care planning and eMAR soft ware to reduce the administrative burden will decrease staff stress
More time to care
Improved quality of care
Electronic care systems ensure that managers have real time access to notes and information to instantly understand the care provided and help identify changes that need to be made to improve the quality of care
Email c sharman@autumn care
Protect your business
There are benefits to happy service users including positive reviews from family and friends which may help grow your service
Last and by no means least going digital can make your service users happier
To realise all of the benefits above plus many more get in touch with us today
Improve staf f retention
Carers never have enough time to care but going digital can provide more
Demonstrate quality of care deliver y
and confidential waste bin collection These costs all add up very quickly and are enhanced by the savings in the administrative overhead
WONDERING HOW TO GO DIGITAL?
USERS
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 41
Call 0800 009 2121 Website uk autumn care
Manual systems carry many risks It is challenging to manage analyse and keep data and there is a lack of security Going digital with your care planning and eMAR can significantly reduce your risk
Going digital also allows the collection of data at the point of care, which can be analysed to identify trends and risks, and demonstrate corrective action
Costs and environment
Furthermore digital allows you to determine who can access and what via permission controls Staff only see what they need to see based on their role
’ www radarhealthcare com SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL AT WWW.THECARERUK.COM/SIGNUP
Useful technology like Radar Healthcare can assist staff turnover issues by increasing efficiency and boosting morale
satisfaction
The care industry is extremely valuable to our economy contributing over £50 bn to the UK economy and equating to 5% of all employment It is vital for the wellbeing of our ever growing and ageing population that the high turnover rate is minimised
challenging
Staff retention is a significant challenge in the care sector making it even harder for the existing workforce to keep up with the ever growing demand
High staff turnover can be incremental to an organisation s service and reputation It can lead to lower levels of patient increase the number of risks to both employees and service users and make meeting more
In addition a high staff turnover means there needs to be a larger invest ment in recruiting training and retaining quality employees But how can tech nology help take some of the pressures off both providers and employees? HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY ASSIST?
CQC (Care Quality Commission) and Care Inspectorate standards even
Intelligent Care Software (ICS)
This prominent level of shift indicates that organisations within the care sector are struggling to find and retain suitable candidates Working in care comes with many challenges and an insufficient number of workers within the industry creates problems for both service users workers and organisations
y TECHNOLOGY
Radar Healthcare partner ECL said: By streamlining the compliments log ging process the number of compliments logged rose from 9 per year to 1 500 per year! Being able to communi cate this level of engagement from our service users has had a hugely positive effect on morale and encouraged our team to always strive for better performance
THE IMPACT OF STAFF TURNOVER
If you are looking for a care management system which answers all of your quality monitoring and compliance needs then looks no further than Care is Care is provides the intelligent software solution for care home and domiciliary care managers and owners looking to roll all of their care and management functions into one electronic plat form We know this to be true because unlike some other CMS’s Care is was conceived designed built and is managed by nurses regis tered managers and care home owners The CARE is suite includes care and support care planning platform our policy app with over 200 high quality policies which are updated regularly and which also includes our supervision, appraisals and train ing record apps and our audit app which templates all the essential audits and includes a record of inspection visits At Care is we can get you started on your journey from paper or another care management system with minimum fuss plenty of support and all for what we believe to be good value for money With eMAR mandatory training and a complementary care cer tificate coming in 2022, there has never been a better time to get on board https://careis net
Skills for Care predicted that by 2035 the care workforce will need to increase by a minimum of a third to keep up with the ageing population and demand for new carers In the same report it was estimated that staff turnover within social care is 30 4% To put this into perspective approximately 23% of independent sector workers have a turnover rate of less than 10%
SOFTWARE PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Ongoing issues within the sector have meant that care providers have needed to adopt a range of new strategies to support and retain their employees Technology especially over the COVID 19 outbreak has proven to be extremely successful within the healthcare industry It has shown how embracing paperless methods can improve organisation boost work ethics and morals encourage communica tion and reduce the number of hours completing admin
Maintaining and tracking records of employees training appraisals supervisions and compliance require ments shows that an organisation values their individual workers and is invested in supporting and retaining them Technology can also significantly alleviate the daily administrative pressures faced by those working in the care sector as one partner of Radar Healthcare said: Our evolution of health and safety and quality wouldn t have happened without Radar Healthcare We haven’t grown our team yet we’re doing about 60% more than we’ve ever done before thanks to the software
Staff Retention in the Care Industr AND
The business which employs 43 people many at its HQ in Leven Fife is marking its 30thyear in busi ness by releasing a major upgrade to its security technology The advancements will provide even greater protection for healthcare staff working in a variety of high risk settings including hospitals men tal health facilities and correctional facilities
Minimise the risk of older people sustaining sec ondary injuries such as pressure sores as carers are alerted immediately when a fall occurs so help is sent sooner For families this adds another layer of reassurance
“Vayyar Care is thrilled to partner with Anthropos a company that aligns perfectly with our vision and ability to support connected data driven care ”
Paul Berney CMO at Anthropos says
The Pager has multiple alarms push button rip cord tilt and is waterproof Once an alarm is initiated, within a few seconds a message can be discretely delivered to colleagues so that they can respond The message will contain the exact location of where assistance is required All alarm activity is logged for audit purposes
KAM Systems have developed a range of solutions that can be easily adapted to suit GP Surgeries, Health Centres, A&E, Rehab Clinics and other Care Settings These can be quickly and easily implemented from a simple push button on the wall to a Pager with built in attack alarm & location
The launch of P2 comes at a critical time for the healthcare sector A 2022 YouGov survey found that 67% of healthcare workers experienced physical abuse in the last 12 months while 20% reported being subject to violence once a week Hospital staff need advanced reliable and effective security solutions to meet their complex needs
Managing falls is a high priority fo p technology focuses on both fall detection and analysing potential risks of this common scenario
care staff are being threatened and in some cases attacked The solution we provide is completely wire less and can be installed quickly with minimum of dis ruption Staff using the system are reassured and have peace of mind that help is always on hand ”
Daniel Waring CEO of Pinpoint said:
Harpal Momi Managing Director of KAM Systems says It is a sad reflection of the current times that
More information about the new collection can be found on Pinpoint s website at www pinpointlimited com
Anthropos has announced it will be partnering with Vayyar Care the global leader in 4D imaging to strengthen Anthropos s capabilities in pas sive fall detection
PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Fife Firm Unveil New Staff Safety Alarms As Violence In Healthcare Settings Surges
Reduction in fall risk as more information can be collected on a person s behaviour Vayyar Care sen sors gather data not only on falls but also on behav ioural risk factors such as decreasing mobility enabling true fall prevention
“Market research proves there is a strong demand for passive falls detection It is often the case that people don t want to wear a device or just forget to put it on or charge it up The Vayyar Care solution provides rapid fall detection with zero involvement from the older person After completing extensive testing with Vayyar we re satisfied that together we will provide everyone with a reliable and accurate solution
Every year there are over 22 000 emergency hospital admissions resulting from falls among people over the age of 65 according to Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF)
Anthropos Partners With Vayyar Care To Boost Fall Detection Capabilities
Anthropos takes pride in its constant innovations to deliver the best connected care including partner ships with companies such as Vayyar Our aim has always been to help older people to stay well inde pendent and happy in their own homes for longer the integration of Vayyar Care only strengthens this Vayyar Care is available to all future Anthropos customers For more information please visit: https://anthropos io/our technology/
A family owned business in Fife has announced significant upgrades to its award winning staff safety systems which can be found in all NHS healthcare Trusts across the UK as well as Ireland and the US
Anthropos s Connected Care Platform uses a set of discreet passive sensors to monitor a range of daily activities of older people in their homes giving care providers the intelligence to make better informed decisions The new Vayyar Care partnership integrates touchless radio frequency sensing tech nology enabling Anthropos customers to provide fall detection without requiring older people to put on wearable devices
Pinpoint the leading provider of staff safety sys tems, was initially set up to address increasing rates of violence toward hospital workers which had an impact on staff morale absenteeism and retention
In these challenging times threats to care workers / healthcare professionals has increased Fuelled by frustration of not being able to have in person appointments or having to wait an eternity for a consultation attacks on staff are sadly becoming more frequent
As with all Anthropos packages customers will be
Call today on 0330 321 1040, visit www kamsys tems co uk email sales@kamsystems co uk or see the advert on page 11
Anti Vandal / Anti Ligature Call Points make them suitable for mental health environments
• Additional intelligence to equip carers with detailed insights This means carers can better advise on how to create a safe home environment and build more effective personalised care plans
Peace of Mind is One Thing - Security is Another TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE
“Over the last 30 years, we have continued to develop and enhance our systems to ensure we deliver the very best results for the workers who need it most I am incredibly proud to be able to launch the P2 System on our 30th anniversary”
Connected Care Platform
able to define the version of the rm that they need based on the care outcomes that they want to achieve However as a minimum end users are advised to have at least two Vayyar sensors deployed around their homes
The benefits of the new partnership include:
In these situations urgent assistance is critical and the systems used have to be quick secure and reli able
rowing older population is vy and expects best in class systems to support their health well being and lifestyles Person centred care must have technology at its core including new solutions that deliver round the clock passive fall detection while maintaining dignity privacy and independence
Stuart Barclay UK Sales Director at Vayyar Care says:
CAREAUDITS SYSTEM The CAREAudits app and Web Portal Auditing Tool is now being used throughout the UK and Ireland by all care service providers in numerous locations There are thousands of carers checking everything from CQC Compliance and Safety to Medication Audits Training and Maintenance as well as service users quality and wellbeing and now Corona Virus Steve Smith regional manager at Care Homes UK says We were able to implement the system ourselves and
Natalie Lawrence at Yorkare Homes says It s a paperless sys tem that runs alongside our existing client records system helping to make our whole operation paperless ” CAREAudits ensures management and staff are aware at all times of what needs check ing that it s been checked, actions required by whom, by when including full resolution management Each CAREAudit also scores the answers so management can monitor improvement Steven Tegart from Talbot Group likes reporting and says “I wish all my other systems were as easy to extract data for management reports as the CAREAudits’ Excel links ”
The system has over 120 example audits to select from CAREAudits apps are extremely easy to use and care providers can easily add or edit their own audits in minutes ensuring simple management of ever changing requirements App auditors can use CAREAudits with virtually no training it s that simple The Care Auditor s Hands Free Operation guides the user through each audit each question and answer with it s own help text standard answers and standard actions required ensuring that the least skilled operative becomes the care provider s expert Users can download the app for a free trial and be up and running with the full system in
THE
min utes CAREAudits apps are a part of the Care Plus Innovation Group Priory Park Hull HU4 7DY Info: visit www careaudits co uk email apps@careaudits co uk or call Ken Newlove operations director on 01482 238887 Care Hires was founded to help Care Providers solve their staffing problems by making it easier to work with Staffing Agencies Now the Care Hires platform is in use all over the UK helping Care Providers to reach: Complete control over agency spend 100% Shift fulfilment 100% Staff compliance Reduced administration costs And much more The Care Hires system is a neutral vendor platform where we source and manage agen cies on your behalf to make sure whenever you need you can find fully qualified profes sionals with just a few clicks No more calling multiple agencies sending out a flurry of emails and having to coordinate the responses Just post your vacancy and your bespoke selection of agencies put forward pre vetted workers meeting your requirements The hours saved on hiring are matched by significant reductions in admin time including Consolidated invoices instead of pay ng dozens of agency invoices covering each service or shift make one payment to Care Hires • More accessible communications by providing agency staff with our free mobile app they can easily access their work rota and be updated in real time about changes to their hours • Easier timesheet management using the Care Hires app staff can clock in and out and send their timesheets for approval without the delays and bureaucracy of paper based solu tions Better cash flow for agencies because of the easier and faster timesheet management, hours worked can be processed and billed to the client more quickly helping your cash flow We make finding staff and running your business more straightforward but what else? Although we focus on delivering quality rather than solely looking for direct savings because we help streamline the rates your agencies charge and save your office team so much time we can still deliver huge returns: An average of over £8 000 saved per site on adm nistration Over £1 2 million saved so far on agency spend For just one customer we identified over £500 000 of annual agency savings on top of efficiency improvements Can you afford to miss out on this amount of money? Contact Care Hires for a free demo and in as little as 12 weeks from contract you could eliminate all the headaches that come from being under staffed Visit www carehires com or see the advert on the facing page Fill 100% of Your Staffing Needs with Care Hires TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Working in the Care Sector the team recognised in 2014 the sector was becoming overwhelmed with adminis tration driven by ever increasing legislative compliance requirements and controls and pressurised by ever increasing costs
The CAREAudits System
The CAREAudits apps evolved from their desire to give something back to the Care Sector; to develop systems that genuinely reduce costs and increase efficiency as well as improving accountability and quality And above all a system that would be easy to install and use by everyone
CAREAudits apps and systems evolved via an associated company Kern Systems were Ken Newlove director and founding member had been developing and deploy ing paperless systems for EPoS and Finance in the private and public sectors since 1999
The system allows care providers to audit or check just about everything and manage areas requiring actions (or non compli ances) in it s Web Portal Encrypted date and time stamped evi dence including photos is seamlessly auto attached and recorded in the system
are now benefitting from management having all the information we need at our fingertips in real time wherever we are”
Back in 2014 the team had more than 50 years experience in IT and software devel opment as well as having been heavily involved in the third sector with a trustee of three charities, a director of a business directly involved in the care market and a con sultant in a £10 million turnover charity and interim CEO and Chair at an adult hospice
Upskilling and staying on top of best practice and techniques is essential in the Care sector as it directly impacts on safety and standards When you invest in CPD you’re ensuring care workers have the skills knowledge and confidence to carry out their role safely and provide the best possible care Having gained qualifications and landed a job in the care industry should be the start of the learning journey rather than the end of it
Online learning is now the expectation for learning
Looking for Supported living Policies with NO Personal Care?
It can be tempting to think that once the Care Certificate has been achieved it s the end of training
Why Train Beyond the Care Certificate?
RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME POLICIES
CLINICAL PROCEDURES FOR NURSING HOMES
When you’re looking for online resources, it’s advisable to seek out a reputable provider with endorsements from leading organisations in the sector
DOMILICIARY
Policies and Procedures are updated every 4 months or immediately if there is a critical change to regulation good practice guidance case law outcomes or just feedback from customers
So if you think the Care Certificate completes all the training it might be time to think again So why choose Step Up Training and Care?
supply comprehensive sets of CQC care policies and procedures that are personalised to your business Whether it’s Residential Care Homes, Domiciliary Homecare, Nursing Homes, Learning Disabilities or Supported Living We cover it all
Laser Learning is a Skills for Care endorsed provider of online CPD short courses and The Care Certificate course Our course materials are written by industry experts (including care home managers) and cover the knowledge needed for every standard in the Care Certificate and a wide range of CPD top ics such as Infection control and prevention Dementia and communication and Supporting adults with learning disabilities
E
Importance
W&P Training
and development at work and an affordable and accessible alterna tive to in person training
Visit https://www wandptraining co uk/policies and proce dures/non registered care policies/ W&P’s policy and compliance team are constantly scanning and reviewing all the statutory websites and regulatory publications to track the very latest developments in the Health & Social Care Sector
To find out more about what we offer go to www wandptraining co uk or see the advert on page 2
There is a strong link between CPD and staff retention and motivation CPD is mentioned in the NHS Long Term Plan as a strategy to motivate staff to stay in role and equip them with the skills to advance their professional practice Skills for Care found that 94% of employers with a low staff turnover cited ‘investing in learning and development as one of the main activities contributing to workforce retention
Professional
Whether you are an owner, manager, or independ ent learner, please don t hesitate to get in touch for a free demo of the Care Certificate course and our CPD short courses The Laser Learning team can be con tacted on info@lasersys co uk or +44 (0)1753 584 112
There have been
However it is the clients who will benefit from the improvement that additional training will bring Whilst these may include advances in the treatment of dementia or changes to the legislative framework there will undoubtedly be any number of other issues that will create new and complex problems that need to be dealt with
Training to Level 2 and beyond will therefore improve abilities to cope with the challenges pre sented by working in a difficult sector Obviously one of the most significant challenges was dealing with Covid but there will be new and different challenges ahead
Zoom Boom is here to stay and we can accommo date teaching and learning through blended learning such as classroom remote assessor based one to one training sessions Our trainers have personal experiences of working in the health and social care sector hence our flexible approach We empower people to learn Training beyond the Care Certificate Can you afford not to?
W
CQC compliance for new and established Nursing Homes
The Care Certificate can demonstrate that staff have the minimum level of required training
HOMECARE POLICIES Over 130 comprehensive Domiciliary Care Policies and Procedures for Homecare / Domiciliary Based Services that are researched and written to meet all the CQC regulatory legislative and good practice guidance within the Health and Social Care sector
At Step Up Training and Care we know people are busy work long hours and that a set 9 5 timetable will not work for most care homes and providers We can tailor our learning programmes to meet individ ual needs time our training to meet business com mitments, working shift patterns and around family life
The of Continuing Development (CPD) in the Care Sector Training
W&P
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
many recent changes to employment law vaccinations covid 19 guidance plus the CQC’s new strategy and regulatory approach W&P s team track these changes for you to ensure customers receive up to date CQC compliant documents
Are Your Current Policies Up To Date?
Designed for Supported Living and Domiciliary providers that deliver CQC regulated activities to adults with Learning Disabilities and/ or Autism W&P’s Policies and Procedures for Supported Living Services will assist with your CQC compliance
PAGE 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
SUPORTED LIVING / LEARNING DISABILITIES POLICIES
W&P s clinical procedures include 70 comprehensive and up to date documents for your nursing home These clinical proce dures complement our full set of Care Home Policies and Procedures
We provide training services that will build implicit trust leading to confidence by clients looking to use your services
T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 : www stepuptrainingandcare co uk : info@stepuptrainingandcare co uk
When demand for services increase it follows that viability improves
–
With a positive culture a motivated and dedicated workforce It fol lows that positive innovation becomes more possible sustainable and continuous
It is however effective You can try without obligation
It is designed to support recruitment and retention
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Workforce Challenge - The Eden Alternative A Modern, Proven Model of Care for Staff and Resident Wellbeing
As a programme that empowers staff and focuses on their wellbe ing It follows that staff retention improves
Geoffrey Cox Eden 01626 868192
Connect2Care has released a toolkit answering common questions about apprenticeships with advice on how businesses can maximise them through flexible training options
Commenting on the research Jill Whittaker Managing Director at Connect2Care said: Since the pandemic began staff shortages have been rife across a wide range of sectors, culminating in the ‘Great Resignation of 2021 And the care sector is among the hardest hit
Yet while almost 90% believe that further training investment would help with recruitment and retention, less than 40% of care businesses offer apprenticeships to staff at all levels Over a third have been deterred from offering training opportunities for new and existing employees due to the time investment needed
Visit https://connect2care net/resources/see the opportunity/ Staff-Short Care Firms Have No Time For Training Connect2Care’s latest research shows how misconceptions around apprenticeships could be impacting their potential to fix industry wide staff retention problems At Step Up Training and Care we offer: • Tailored learning journeys and programmes • A flexible blended approach of one to one, in house, classroom, practical assignments and online assessment methods • Training that will lead to higher quality of care delivery • Training led by tutors and assessors who are specialists in health and social care • Level 3 diplomas that are accredited to Highfield Qualifications T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk STEP UP Training and Care An
WHY DO THIS?
It is designed to make business sense to providers
A further 37 5% of care managers are put off by the risk that an employee would leave after completing their training even though more than 90% of people working in the sector have said they would be more likely to stay in a role if their employer invested in their train ing from the outset
benefit
care As experienced Care Home practitioners we provide training to care home teams in sustainable innovation and positive leadership that empowers people to embed companionship, partnership working and vibrancy to build enriched quality of life into care homes Develop a culture of care with wellbeing and positive
It is designed to motivate Care teams and is open to any individual to add their CV WHAT IS IT
The study showed that most care operators are interested in flexible training options with 75% of employers in the sector saying they would consider front loaded training to help speed up the process Over 90% of employees in the field would be more willing to start an apprentice ship or training course if they could condense learning into a shorter period
or visit www eden alternative co uk
The Eden model is built on what people say they want in a Home or a workplace which therefore attracts residents and team members alike
Yet while most care operators see the value in training when it comes to attracting and retaining staff, too many believe they don’t have the time to invest in this But with the sector continuing to strug
The 6 weekly sessions are run online with a workbook with links for further optional reading or viewing and should not be a burden to busy Homes teams and managers
Following the Great Resignation of 2021 when employees around the UK left their jobs in record numbers a new survey has revealed that 100% of care managers continue to find it hard to retain staff
It is designed to enhance viability
Find out which apprenticeship pathway will work best for your busi ness with Connect2Care’s See the Opportunity toolkit which can be downloaded for free inspiring approach to relationships at its heart, with our 6 week online training programme Discover how to replace loneliness, helplessness and boredom with wellbeing, companionship, and meaningful activities, in just one hour of training a week can from continuing support from our expert team
It is a training programme which leads to accreditation and focuses in detail on 7 domains of wellbeing 10 principles and is particularly designed to address instances of loneliness, helplessness and bore dom
Alternative Call today on
As an Eden Home builds its reputation upon the quality of life it offers to the people that reside there it follows that occupancy improves
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 49
As a cohesive cultural progression programme it follows that inno vation, modernisation and positivity increase
The model is efficient cost effective and the training is delivered by experienced practitioners in Care Homes
Sign up today and join the care evolution Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www.eden alternative.co.uk Validated Eden Alternative associates
gle with staff shortages they can t afford not to “As well as playing a role in attracting and retaining valuable team members apprenticeships have always been one of the best ways to
The
Homes are very busy places and the programme is therefore run on line for 1 hour per week for 6 weeks and people can do this at work or at home
unlock skills quickly and fast track staff into positions where they can make a real impact New flexible training models under consideration by the Government are set to make this process even quicker For example, front loaded training will be invaluable in helping apprentices to hit the ground running and operate efficiently for their employers from the very beginning
The size of the skills gap in the care sector is startling Skills Development Scotland estimates that 17,100 roles will need to be filled by 2024, while Skills for Care’s latest figures reveal that there are an average of 105,000 job vacancies on any given day in England Filling that gap means the care sector needs to cast its net far and wide to find recruits
Care Control - All-in-One Recruitment System
PAGE 50 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
Never lose track of a candidate again! Seamlessly track candidate interaction as well as request references and complete full DBS checks all stored within your candidate’s profile
Just like young people who enter college care courses straight from school adults returning to education want to give something back to their communities The pandemic has shone an even brighter spotlight on why it s important to have a strong care sector
Adults returning to education can bring a wealth of skills and experience to roles within the care sector Often they’re motivated by their own experiences of care whether it s having been cared for themselves or having seen the high quality support that relatives or friends have received
Fill roles faster by streamlining the hiring process of all your talent pools Become more efficient as processes are automated Gain greater visibility of available talent across all vacancies with our simple scoring system
However it is essential that the care sector taps into the pool of adults who are either considering or are in the process of returning to education They include people who may have left the workforce to start a family people who have been sick or injured but have now recovered or simply people who did not get the chance to study at college earlier in their lives and now want to gain the knowl edge skills and experience they need to start a new career
If you’d like to learn more about how our recruitment module could benefit your business, please call us on 01822 738100 to speak with a member of the Care Control team
To help address the skills gap Scotland s further education colleges with the help of Scotland s national college skills agency the College Development Network (CDN) recently developed and launched the Introduction to a Career in Social Care course which can now be studied at 18 of Scotland s 24 colleges
Why Equipping Returning Adult Learners With The Skills They Need To Enter The Social Care Sector Is The Best Solution To The Recruitment Crisis
LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER
By Jonny Rees, Head of Professional Development at the College Development Network (www cdn ac uk)
Recruiting adults isn t about simply filling the void in entry level jobs Instead adults will often bring with them experience from supervisory or management roles within their previous careers helping to fill skills gaps at all levels throughout the care sector
Save time and build your own job application with Care Control s custom form builder and store templates ready for the next vacancy
CANDIDATE AUTOMATION
Here at Care Control we are empowering customers to execute a more structured hiring process to improve efficiencies and overcome the challenges that recruitment presents
DEVELOPING LIFE LONG LEARNING
Being anchor institutions within their communities means that colleges are ideally placed to help fill the skills gap within the care sector And adults returning to education are a key part of that mission
By using our all in one recruitment module organisations will be able to clearly evidence to regulatory bodies their full recruitment process
JOB APPLICATION BUILDER
EASY SHARING
TALENT POOLS
PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT
Colleges work hard to tailor their courses to fit employers’ needs Today courses include plenty of case stud ies site visits and extended work experience placements so that students understand the roles within the care sector which will help to reduce turnover and increase retention in the long run helping to address the skills gap
Having a mix of adults and young people in classrooms can change the dynamics of a course in very positive ways too You can t teach life experience and so adults regularly act as mentors to school leavers often in an ad hoc informal manner while young people without falling into stereotypes here will often help their older classmates with the digital skills that have become so important in so many roles within care homes and clients houses
MIXING THEORY AND PRACTICE
SMART SCREENING
MOTIVATED BY COMPASSION
Attracting the attention and interest of school leavers, and ensuring their par ents are informed about the rewarding and potentially life long career that can be forged in caring is indeed a valuable use of resources Young people are a recognised and important stream of talent and skills for the sector
Automate the entire hiring journey Easy to use tools such as interview sched ules and onboarding workflows enable you to improve processes reduce time to hire and greatly enhance the candidate experience There s more! Your new employees profile will automatically be created on your Care Control hub!
College lecturers can walk the walk and talk the talk because they’ve usually worked within the care sector That means they have the knowledge skills and experience necessary to help to develop the courses that care providers need to train their staff at all levels throughout their careers helping businesses to “grow their own” recruits
Increase your job exposure and attract the best candidates With one click post your job on our very own integrated careers website FindMeACareJob co uk You can even share your application form on multiple job boards, social media channels and your website No more copy/pasting job specs!
JJ Recruitment has the large database of well qualified applicants with experience in the health care industry such as health care assistants senior carers and nurses from overseas We also have an expert team of solicitors for the necessary legal pro ceedings and advices WHY JJ? We have very minimal processing fees • We assist you to get a sponsorship license Qualified and experienced candidates from over seas Tel: 01704 808227 www jjcarerecruitment co uk admin@jjrecruitment co uk In Dire Need Of Experienced Health Care Assistant, Senior Carer Or A Nurse? THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116 | PAGE 51 PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT Global assists clients throughout the U K who specialise in the healthcare sector to achieve their objectives of purchase development and refi nance We have organised over £1 8bn for clients in the past 30 years providing clients with competitively priced funding to refinance existing debt, ease cashflow and develop businesses further From helping clients make their first purchase through to allowing groups to grow significantly in size we assist at every stage of your business expansion Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements Call us on 01242 227172 or e mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance net Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising. lease mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.
Under this licence you can also recruit carers and nurses from abroad
2 years ago a relative of my friend with care homes in Lincolnshire came to see me He knew I was an immigration lawyer He was distraught and on the verge of packing it all in The issues?
While employers are able to agree an opt out from the 48 hour working week if a worker is regularly working over 48 hours per week then it could cause concerns that the worker is not receiving adequate rest breaks under the WTR
The NMW regulations are com plex so you should and always take professional advice if you are unsure about how to calculate the NMW
PAGE 52 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 116
If you urgently need staff then you should definitely consider applying for a UKVI sponsor licence in order to employ qualified foreign workers and help your business grow No business should be turning away / down work due to a staffing problem which has a solu tion
For those aged 23 & over NMW now sits at £9 50 per hour This means that the NMW does not only cause concern for employers in relation to hourly paid workers now anyone engaged on a salary of around £20 000 £24 000 who is regularly working extra hours could now pose an NMW risk
’We can’t find the workers nobody wants to work full time as they will lose their tax credits’ the British workforce are just not interested nobody wants to relocate to the sticks to work for us
Buckle in for a whistle stop tour of some of the current employ ment law considerations business es in the care sector are grappling with including some tips on how to avoid an HMRC National Minimum Wage investigation and your obli gations to your workers in respect of their working hours
Identify workers whose salaries are close to NMW; keep a record of hours worked for all employees, this is a legal obligation and would need to be provided if HMRC ever come calling; each pay period whether that be weekly or monthly consider the hours worked by the workers in question
• at least 20 minutes when working more than six hours a day
His plea “Harjap help me” my solution? ‘have you thought about recruiting foreign workers? Or students already in the UK who are already working part time in the sector? he did it and today his staffing problems have been solved
Workers need to receive the NMW for each pay period they work meaning that if they are paid week ly they need to receive at least NMW for all the hours they work each week All hours worked in addition to a worker s contracted hours will be considered when calculating if NMW has been paid so it only takes a few additional hours to cause problems
Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR): Unhelpfully there is a dif ferent legal definition or time worked” under the NMW regula tion and working time under the WTR
Harjap Singh Bhangal is a Director at Immigration Specialist firm GLS Solicitors (Global Legal Solutions) and is often seen on Sky News BBC News and is referred to as the Immigration Guru
Many potential employees are already within the UK on various types of visas however and may already be
The UK Immigration system can be complex but with the right guidance can be navigated to benefit the care sector
Employers must also take all reasonable steps to ensure average working time does not exceed 48 hours per week (judged over a 17 week reference period) and there are heightened obligations for night workers
National Minimum Wage and Working Time: The Legal Issues
By Tom Draper, Employment Partner at Freeths (www freeths co uk)
and calculate whether it sits above NMW include deductions made from salaries for things like un form or training as these can inadvertently reduce a worker s salary below NMW
With workers often being asked to work longer hours due to the current labour shortage in the sector it is sensible for employers to have renewed focus on these issues
Are You A Care Home Owner with Staff Vacancies?
STEPS TO MITIGATE RISK
With ongoing staffing shortages in care homes there is a height ened risk that workers will be working extra hours to ensure that residents and vulnerable service users cared for properly This cre ates legal risks for employers regarding payment of the national minimum wage and under the Working Time Regulations
• 11 hours uninterrupted rest per day; and 24 hours uninterrupted rest per week (or 48 hours uninterrupted rest per fortn ght)
In order to recruit foreign skilled workers whether they are already within the UK or directly abroad your company needs to be regulated by the UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration) This involves being licenced by the UKVI so that your business can successfully recruit for eign workers without fear of being fined or breaching any immigration rules set by the UK governments stringent policies
Under the WTR employers must ensure that their workers are provided with the following rest breaks:
So how do we go about doing it?
As recently highlighted in the media there are currently over 100 000 vacant roles in the care sector Some 78% of providers who responded to the exclu sive survey carried out by the ITV News in conjunction with the UK Homecare Association said recruiting carers is the hardest it has ever been Many describe being at a breaking point Out of the respondents 95% said they are unable to take on all the new clients in need of their help
CONTACT US: 020 8571 6889 0121 525 8899 info@glssolicitors co uk www glssolicitors
working part time (20 hours a week) for you in order to work for you they would need to be successfully sponsored by your company through your sponsor licence This would involve making a complex application to the UKVI and in essence ask ing them for permission for you to employ the worker full time Once permission is granted you then have the benefit of a full time employee tied down exclusively to your com pany for at least a 5 year period This is often referred to as a ‘Work Permit If you wish to employee multiple foreign workers then we would need to convince the Home Office to grant you an appropriate allocation under the terms of your licence
National Minimum Wage (NMW): One glance at the current news headlines is enough to see the ongoing issue of the disparity between wages and the cost of liv ing However little attention has been given to the substantial rise in the NMW which came in April or the cost and risks this may cause employers
The solution to current staffing crisis is clearly to recruit foreign workers and it is not as daunting as peo ple often make out There are many specialist firms of lawyers who can do the whole process for you and you can also save on hefty recruitment fees of employ ment agencies
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PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT
A R E Y O U A C A R E H O M E O W N E R W I T H S T A F F V A C A N C I E S ? G E T I N T O U C H N O W ! Apply for a sponsor licence allowing you to employ foreign workers Fill your staff vacancies with skilled foreign workers Switch your part time foreign student employees into full time work permit holders Let us help you to navigate your recruitment and immigration needs We have access to skilled workers already in the UK ready to be employed by you CONTACT US : 020 8571 6889 0121 525 8899 I N F O @ G L S S O L I C I T O R S . C O . U K W W W G L S S O L I C I T O R S C O U K
The key difference is that the definition of working time for WTR purposes is wider Working time for WTR includes time where the employee is at the employer s dis posal such as where a worker is on call if the worker must be at a set location such as the workplace
