The Carer Digital - Issue #146

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

I am almost speechless!

Over the past couple of weeks we here at THE CARER invited care homes around the country to share with us their celebrations for the coronation of King Charles III

We invited you to send in photographs and tell us of your plans activities menus dishes costumes and once again we were delightfully overwhelmed So much so that we couldn t fit them all into one supplement Not only would it have been too big we simply didn’t have the time since we are still getting multiple contributions every hour!

Editor Peter Adams

So this week s is the first of two - so do watch out for next week’s digital issue Anyone who isn’t appearing in today’s will definitely be appearing in next week s!

King Charles III Coronation was a celebration for the whole country, but it is also a “Celebration of Tradition” and Monarchy's Enduring Support for the UK s Adult Social Care Sector

One only has to look at the contributions we received to see that while the coronation of King Charles III held national significance, its impact especially extended to the country s adult social care sector particularly care homes It brought to the forefront the deep-rooted sense of tradition and love for the monarchy within care homes as well as the long-standing interaction and support from the royal family towards care residents

We are delighted and humbled to show the country that within care homes across the UK there exists a profound reverence for tradition and an enduring love for the monarchy Many residents have lived through significant royal events and milestones, fostering a deep connection with the institution The coronation of King Charles III was met with immense enthusiasm as it symbolized the continuation of a time-honoured heritage, and the submissions we received tell a wonderful story of how care home residents eagerly followed and took part in the preparations and festivities cherishing the moment as a testament to the enduring strength and unity of the nation

And it’s not all one way, the monarchy's interaction and support for the adult social care sector have been invaluable over the years Members of the royal family have frequently visited care homes engaging with residents in meaningful conversations and offering a comforting presence These interactions bring immeasurable joy to care home residents brightening their days and fostering a sense of community The royal family s involvement in charitable initiatives related to social care further showcases their commitment to improving the lives of those in need Their unwavering dedication

has created a lasting bond between the monarchy and the care home community

For care home residents, the coronation of King Charles III held tremendous significance It symbolized continuity stability and the preservation of cherished traditions

The event reinforced their sense of belonging and brought them closer to the heart of the nation The care home community eagerly anticipated this momentous occasion, rejoicing in the rich tapestry of history and the monarchy s ongoing support

And to sum up, the coronation of King Charles III stood as a beacon of tradition and unity resonating with the UK s adult social care sector in particular Care homes and their residents deep-rooted love for the monarchy were celebrated while the longstanding support and interaction from the royal family shone brightly The coronation exemplified the monarchy s enduring commitment to fostering a sense of community and well-being among care home residents, and we are delighted not only to be part of this unique celebration but we are even more delighted to be able to share it so widely

A big thank you to you all and do watch out for next week’s supplement we just didn t have the time to fit them all into today s!

One more thing, we want more Twitter followers! So please do follow us we are delighted to say we have over 10 000 followers now and we are hoping to get that up to 15,000 by the end of the year!

I can always be contacted at editor@thecareruk com

Structural Weaknesses Left Social Care “Struggling” with Covid Pandemic

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KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:

• The government, NHS England and Public Health England missed opportunities to prepare the sector for a pandemic or other crises in the years immediately before Covid-19 They excluded social care from pandemic-planning exercises such as Exercise Alice After exercises that did include the sector, such as Operation Cygnus action was not taken to address the problems that were identified Once infections took hold in England the government did not sufficiently apply pre-existing knowledge of infection spread in care settings

There had been no dedicated director general for social care in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) since 2016 No adult social care representatives sat on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) in the opening weeks of the pandemic This meant social care leaders felt largely invisible, despite the critical role of the sector

The wider Covid-19 response which was perceived to be hospital-focused at the outset caused many issues for social care staff because the structure of the workforce and what their jobs involved were not well understood For example a lack of access to Covid testing and sick pay had far-reaching consequences for staff when self-isolation policies were in place especially for those on zero hours contracts

• The long-term tendency of governments to allocate funding to social care in the form of sporadic injections of cash limited the scope for strategic investment and had implications for how robust the sector and its infrastructure, were when entering the pandemic Many providers of care, which are often small businesses entered the pandemic with little or no cash reserves

During the pandemic, the succession of emergency funding pots offered to social care initially took a long time to reach the front line and their short-term nature prevented strategic planning While seen as a lifeline for care providers extensions to the funding were frequently announced with only weeks days or in one case hours before the end of the scheme and did not allow those on the front line to spend it to meet the needs they could see

• There was a lack of data and information about who uses and provides adult social care services and how to communicate with them Covid-19 has accelerated efforts to collect data and this is helping to lay the foundations of a robust source of standard data

The government did not adequately consider the fragile state and the complexity of the adult social care infrastructure, in particular residential care buildings and equipment Small organisations that make up much of the sector lacked the back office capacity to interpret continually updated guidance and outdated care home buildings struggled to isolate or group together infected residents and to accommodate wider infection control measures

POSITIVE PROGRESS

There has been some positive progress in learning from these problems the report adds with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) bolstering its social care capacity and expertise and the signalling of it as a priority area with the appointment not only of a specific director general but also a chief social care nurse Following the first four months of the Covid-19 response progress was made to plan for ongoing outbreaks in the short to medium term for instance with the establishment of the social care taskforce in June 2020 and the decision to continue to provide PPE purchased centrally The smoother subsequent rollout of vaccinations in social care settings pointed to improved collaboration between the government and social care partners and the prioritisation of carers in the vaccination rollout was widely regarded as a positive step forward

CONSTANT CRISIS

Natasha Curry Deputy Director of Policy at the Nuffield Trust said: What happened to social care at the start of the pandemic represents the consequences of letting one of our most important public services languish in constant crisis for years Those early months exposed an array of weaknesses within social care that

impacted the shape, speed and effectiveness of the response Many of these difficult challenges could have been eased had warnings been heeded

“Governments of all hues have failed to make social care and those who need it a priority Despite the pain endured during the pandemic we now have the ominous sight of reforms being yet again delayed As the Covid-19 Public Inquiry begins to reflect on the tragedies we saw I hope one positive legacy might be that we will realise how much we need strong healthy social care services and act accordingly ”

SOME COUNTRIES COPED BETTER

Adelina Comas-Herrera report co-author from the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: “The pandemic has had a tragic impact on people who use social care and those who provide care unpaid and paid This has been a shared experience internationally but the evidence suggests that some countries were able to cope better than others As part of the same project we are looking at the experiences of Denmark France Japan and the Netherlands We now have an opportunity to learn from this international experience to strengthen the English social care system to address long-standing structural problems We are seeing how countries such as Ireland Finland and Spain are using lessons from the pandemic to reform their care systems Our research shows that social care in England needs a system-wide reform to be able to respond not just to emergencies, but to the implications of longevity and competition for workforce with other sectors

Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said "In order to deliver more personalised wraparound care we need a properly supported funded and sustainable social care sector working alongside the NHS

It is vital that the government and national policymakers learn from the impact that the initial response to the Covid-19 crisis had on social care providers and service users

"Just like the NHS social care needs a long-term workforce plan to ensure enough staff – with better pay terms and conditions and valued for the work they do – to meet growing demand

"To be able to withstand future challenges, the social care sector urgently needs long-term, sustainable funding and reform to address severe workforce shortages unmet need quality of care innovation and digital and data improvements

Integrated care systems are well placed to forge strong local partnerships between health and social care providers which help people to keep well and stay independent CARE WORKERS AMONG LOWEST PAID

As reported in THE CARER digital last week (May 3rd) social care minister Helen Whately was questioned an evidence session with the Commons Health and Social Care Committee over the level of pay within social care

Ms Whately was asked if she was comfortable that social care staff are the lowest paid workers in the country however she pointed to the recent 10% increase in the national living wage and highlighted plans to create more of a career path within social are but conceded that ‘I do not want people to think of social care as being a national living wage job I think that people should be rewarded for what they do and I want there to be an opportunity for career progression in social care,’ she said ‘When people gain more skills, that should be recognised

She said the government was not in a position to put social care staff on agenda for change terms and conditions But she said the issue and funding mechanisms were not straight forward The government provides grants to local authorities to support the provision of social care Local government pays fee rates to providers which in turn enables providers to reward staff

We want the funding that is going into local authorities the grants and extra support for discharge for instance to allow there to be an increase in the provision of social care over and above the baseline ’ she said For instance I want us to be in a much better position over the coming months particularly as we go into winter, to make sure there is social care for people who need to be discharged from hospital That is dependent on the workforce being there to provide that social care which has a relationship with pay

Buying And Selling In The Care Sector: What Do You Need To Know?

By Lisa Botterill, partner and corporate finance expert at law firm, Shakespeare Martineau (www shma co uk)

The market for the buying and selling of care homes is always relatively busy with a continuous stream of new entrants to the market, bulk disposals from larger corporates and sales where owners are struggling with the market conditions However there is still some way to go before the market gets back to pre-pandemic levels and there are many challenges that potential buyers need to be aware of

For example the push towards care for the elderly in their own homes is proving to have a detrimental effect on maintaining occupancy rates and profitability; something that newcomers to the industry must consider as they seek to enter the market There is also the cost of business crisis to contend with, including rising costs in terms of wages food and energy With increased interest rates additionally making borrowing much more expensive prospective buyers should make sure they understand these challenges before entering the market

Whilst the outlook might appear stormy there is still an appetite from finance providers to lend money to ‘safe’ markets such as the care sector, with an increasing number of second-tier lenders showing interest The nature of these financiers however, means that each lender comes with its own lending requirements so it is important to conduct thorough research beforehand to avoid any surprises

Other considerations to take into account when looking to purchase a care home can depend on the type of property that a buyer selects For example, unless buying a recently built purpose-built home full specialist surveys should be completed alongside the lender s own valuation of the home

The lender’s assessment will analyse the benefits of the facility for the lender alone unlike specialist surveys that will assess the building as a whole and ensure there will be no significant repair bill once the sale has been completed As a result parties that choose to rely solely on a bank valuation often end up facing significant unforeseen costs

Another key step to get right when buying

or selling a care home is to use a reputable agent that understands the market and can complete the deal confidentially should this be required Many care home owners have designed their business to replicate a caring family environment and the uncertainty around a full marketing process that can take many months can be unsettling to residents and staff

A good agent will also help sellers to be realistic in their expectations of what their business might be worth To get a good understanding, owners are advised to read press releases from the sales of other homes of a similar size and value to manage expectations and set the sale up for success Having overly optimistic expectations of a sale price might not only lead to disappointment but also delay the sale in the long term

When buying the trade and assets of the care home business rather than the company itself buyers are required to pay stamp duty land tax at the correct rate which can be quite high as the rate increases with the value of the property However, when a buyer opts to purchase shares in the company that owns the care home stamp duty will need to be paid, but only at half a percent of the value that is paid for the whole business and property Currently business asset disposal relief is available to be claimed on to the first one million pounds of gain on any sale but with the upcoming potential change in government there is no guarantee that this relief will continue Purchasers of care home companies that have been held within a group should be wary of any VAT liability on management charges that have historically been charged between group companies

When buying or selling a care home, a good lawyer can make the process much more efficient and it is important to choose one with plenty of experience in the care sector For new entrants to the market a consultant with specialist sector knowledge can also be invaluable to guide buyers through the process For those buying a care home research should be conducted into the local area that considers the labour market and staffing requirements as local labour shortages might mean that the buyer should consider registering for a licence to bring in workers from overseas to help with staff shortages For sellers, being honest and open about any issues that have arisen within the home relating to accidents and safeguarding incidents in particular at the beginning of the process may well ensure a quicker and smoother process overall The last thing s buyer wants is unexpected surprises late on in the process

Whilst the sector may appear to be making a gradual post covid the appetite for growth and flurry of activity within the care sector are all signs of an industry that is on its way to recovery

Care Team’s Fundraising Walk to Celebrate 60 Years Caring for Older People at Boultham Park House

Alzheimer’s Drug,donanemab, Succeeds in Phase 3 Trial

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has announced that their Alzheimer s drug donanemab has successfully slowed memory and thinking decline in a rigorous phase 3 trial The TRAILBLAZER ALZ-2 trial tested the drug in nearly 1 200 people with early-stage Alzheimer s disease

Early trial results appear to suggest that the drug slows the progression of Alzheimer s symptoms by 36%

The announcement makes this the second drug to show positive results in the last six months

According to Lilly s press release the trial showed that participants who took donanemab had a slower rate of decline in memory and thinking skills compared to people who did not receive the drug However it also caused serious side effects for some participants

As with other drugs that have emerged recently donanemab works by removing build-up of a protein called amyloid – a hallmark of Alzheimer’s – from the brain

The trial results are yet to be published in a peer reviewed journal

Dr Susan Kohlhaas Executive Director of Research & Partnerships, commented on the results

This is incredibly encouraging and another hugely significant moment for dementia research A second

drug for Alzheimer s has been shown to slow people s cognitive decline in a rigorous phase 3 trial We’re now on the cusp of a first generation of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease something that many thought impossible only a decade ago

“The treatment effect is modest, as is the case for many first-generation drugs and there are risks of serious side effects that need to be fully scrutinised before donanemab can be marketed and used However, this news underlines the urgency of preparing the NHS to make these treatments available should regulators deem them safe and effective People should be really encouraged by this news which is yet more proof that research can take us ever closer towards a cure

Dr Richard Oakley Associate Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Society said: After 20 years with no new Alzheimer s drugs we now have two potential new drugs in just twelve months – and for the first time, drugs that seem to slow the progression of disease This could be the beginning of the end of Alzheimer s disease

“Based on today’s early results donanemab appears to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms by 36 % (as compared with 27% of last year s breakthrough drug lecanemab)

Local Resident Shares War & VE Day Memories

Reigate Beaumont Care Home in Reigate marked the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with a range of activities

The home was decorated in red white and blue Posters reflected the iconic quotes of Winston Churchill and soldier silhouettes stood tall

Residents observed the national two minute silence and listened as Churchill s iconic speech accepting Germany s surrender was read to them They reminisced about their memories of VE Day and what they were doing at that time

But one particular resident brought with her a letter and shared her letter and memories with everyone in the room June a resident at Reigate Beaumont said: We lived in Croydon with my mother’s best friend, away from Kenley as it was an airbase I remember the area we lived in had buzz bombs nightly and my mother used to look out to see if they were coming You could hear them coming and she used to

run inside and tell us to hide in the cupboard under the stairs Then the war ended and all the children in the area were given a street party I don t recall the date though About a month later all the children in the school were given a letter from the King when we came out of school at the end of the day After that I remember my dad coming home and saying that we were on the list to go to Australia but mother said no because we would live in corrugated iron huts So we didn’t go and here I am now

Pramojil Kurian General Manager at Reigate Beaumont said: Many of our residents can remember the end of the war and most of them were older It was really special for June to show us her letter and photo as the other residents didn t know that letters were handed out to the school children It is really great that June shared this with all the residents staff and with the students from Reigate Grammar School that visited with us”

Bridging the Intergenerational Gap

A music project between residents at a Surrey-based nursing home and a local school was named a finalist in the National Children and Young People Awards Now staff are encouraging other care homes to pursue joint projects after witnessing the benefits it brings to both the young and the old

The Move and Groove project is a partnership between Intergenerational Music Making and the Youth Sport Trust The aim of the Move and Groove project is to accelerate the growth and impact of intergenerational practice and maximise the health and social benefits of young and old alike plus the wider community through an innovative and inspirational intergenerational music and movement programme

The initial six week pilot engaged with 10 care homes and 10 schools around the UK Tupwood Gate Nursing Home, run by leading health and social care company Cygnet Health Care were linked with Clifton Hill School a Special School in Caterham for children and young people aged 11-19 with severe and profound multiple learning difficulties

The young people and their teachers visited Tupwood every Friday morning and participated in a music and movement facilitated session with a group of residents

Paula Deadman was Tupwood Gate Nursing Home’s Service Manager at the time of the partnership She said It was a fabulous project and our Friday mornings were full of singing and laughter It was an absolute joy to see the bonds formed between these amazing

young people and our residents

Dr Richard Wright is the Lead GP at Tupwood Gate Nursing Home

He added: “One of the best parts was the vibrancy and seeing the impact on the students who would leave at the end of the sessions skipping out the door In terms of our residents it wasn’t just seeing the anecdotal improvements, we were receiving direct reports about the benefit it was bringing It was a joy to behold

Sue Clark is the Activity Co-ordinator at the care home and she offered advice for any organisation or service considering embarking on an intergenerational project

She said: “It was an amazing privilege to be part of Move and Groove and witness the young and older generation together

For anyone considering the same I would recommend getting in touch with youth groups such as the Brownies, schools dance schools as well as approaching others that are relatively local in the community

There is never any harm in approaching and asking and the benefits for both the young and the old can be huge It had such a massive impact on the residents at Tupwood Gate

“If you plan the event together ensuring there is support from both sides, it really can be the start of something special ”

Care Home Starts Next Chapter With New Activity Launch

BOOK-LOVING pensioners at an Edinburgh care home are keeping their minds young and agile with the latest social activity introduction

The new weekly club at Cramond Residence gives the home’s book worms the chance to engage in open conversation about a host of genres – some of which cover stories from their childhoods and gripping new novels that exercise the brain

Elaine Vallance newly promoted Lifestyle Team Leader said Not only does reading help increase our residents cognitive skills, but it can also reduce stress and help improve sleep

“It s a fantastic form of entertainment and a great exercise for stimulating the brain which can be particularly beneficial for our residents with dementia

“Our weekly book club encourages independent reading as well as the articulation of thoughts and sharing of opinions with a group of similarly minded people

The club is a great way of encouraging our residents to stay social and we have experienced that even some of our less talkative residents have been willing to engage in a common topic of conversation

“We take the time to read to those residents who can’t do so and you can tell by the big smiles on their faces how much they appreciate the simple art of storytelling ”

Cramond s book club takes place in the home’s luxurious and comfortable lounge facilities offering views of the expansive gardens yearround

In addition to the weekly clubs Cramond Residence has a private library that is well-stocked with books of different genres that residents are free to borrow and return at their leisure

Client Liaison Manager Christian Daraio said: Cramond has the unique advantage of having five-star facilities that aren t usually synonymous with a care home

“Our residents love making use of the library and our weekly book clubs have proved to be very popular

We even have plans to invite authors along to the club in the near future to engage in conversations with the residents We aim to make the club highly educational and a great knowledge builder

“The mental and physical benefits you can experience from reading last a lifetime and can keep an elderly brain active and engaged possibly even delaying the onset of dementia through the strengthening of memory retention

“Not only that but these group activities that we pride ourselves on here at Cramond are an excellent tool in fighting loneliness and social isolation ”

HC-One to Sell a Further 19 Care Homes

HC-One has put 19 care homes up for sale to complete a restructuring programme announced in 2021

The news comes in the same week that Methodist Homes announced it was shedding 10 of its 88 care homes as part of a long-term sustainability programme

Currently the UK s largest care home operator HC-One has already sold several homes in recent months after putting 52 of its properties on the market back in March 2021 HC-One owns and operates some 275 homes specialising in dementia, nursing, and residential care

A spokesperson for HC-One said: At HC-One our purpose as The Kind Care Company’ is to serve at the heart of each of our communities, and to support those in our care to lead their best lives As a responsible provider we acknowledge that there are some instances where it may be more appropriate for homes to be supported by alternative providers

“In 2021 we announced a programme of selling homes that we felt would benefit from a different approach from a different operator We are now completing that process with a group of homes for which we are looking for the right providers who can continue to provide quality care, along with the time and

resource investment needed to support the homes to have a bright future over the long-term

This will also support us to focus on where we can have the biggest impact as we seek to meet the changing and increasing complex care needs in communities across the UK through the delivery of high-quality kind care and continued investments in our homes and our high-quality workforce – including our recent £32 5 million investment in colleague pay ”

The news of a further nineteen HC-One care homes being sold off has left hundreds of HC-One’s care workers unsure about the future of their roles HC-One s announcement has also been met with alarm and dismay by trade union GMB, many of whose 460,000 members work in social care

Natalie Grayson GMB s National Care Officer said Care workers do a vital role looking after our most vulnerable They deserve decent pay and job security

“The company needs to look at all possible options before selling off these homes – putting at risk resident and care worker security alike

“HC-One has to ensure they’re not putting profit ahead of key workers and vulnerable people

Care Home Residents Learn the Ropes at Bell Ringing Challenge

A 50-day marathon bell ringing challenge concluded with residents from Care South s Sussexdown residential care home in Storrington learning the ropes at Storrington Church on 30th April Starting with basic ringing patterns, 10 residents from Sussexdown were given a lesson on how the skill is performed After some practice and careful instruction the team were chiming bells together in harmony and performing short methods – memorised ringing patterns that create a melodic tune This bell ringing activity was part of a challenge organised by the Activities Coordinator at Sussexdown care home Vicky Chase who wished to celebrate her 50th birthday on 27th April by ringing 50 Sussex bell towers in 50 days in the run up to and on the weekend of her birthday

Vicky wants to encourage more people to train as bell ringers as the pandemic has left a shortage of those with the skill, whilst also recruiting ringers to ensure that all bells in West Sussex can be rung for the King’s Coronation

Vicky, Activities Coordinator at Sussexdown, said: “Many ringers stopped during the pandemic but I hope I’ve inspired others to pick up the skill Residents at Sussexdown were very enthusiastic about joining in on the challenge and they certainly have a natural talent for it With the Coronation of King Charles III, now is the perfect time to ring for The King

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this challenge Bell ringing a big passion of mine and although it’s required a lot of work I m so pleased to involve so many new people in bell ringing Bringing the challenge to a close with residents – people I already have lots of fond memories with – was a special way to end

One of the participating residents said: “I love getting the chance to be involved in new experiences I ve never tried bell ringing before Vicky is a great teacher and I’m very thankful we got to make new memories as part of her challenge Happy birthday, Vicky ”

The Heart of Caring: How One Mental Health Nurse Inspired Change

Throughout history nurses have been the backbone of healthcare providing comfort and support to those in need The theme of this year’s International Nurses Day is Our Nurses Our Future, and we want to pay tribute to the incredible nurses who fought to transform the way nursing is delivered by advocating for new approaches to care that evolved best practice and look at how the past actions of passionate souls paved the way for the future of nursing today

Today at Sundial Care Home in Tipton St John (www sundialcarehome com), we’re taking the opportunity to celebrate Moya Finch a family member here and a remarkable human being who has spent her equally remarkable life as a mental health nurse fighting for people’s rights being a voice for the voiceless and being a role model for her daughter Nina who grew up watching her mum become a creator of hope This is a story of a mental health nurse who left people s lives better than when she found them

GROWING UP IN A DECADE OF CHANGE

Moya s life story begins in the cathedral city of St Albans in Hertfordshire during the spring of 1947 A precocious child Moya discovered a love for words at school winning several medals and cups for her poetry and reading recitals She left secondary school with several qualifications however the swinging 60 s had arrived and music dance and having fun as a teenager took hold “Mum always said that was a magical time her daughter Nina tells me She was a huge Beatles fan and Paul McCartney was her favourite Beatle ”

Caught up in the changing times the sixties brought along Moya wasn t keen to continue learning at this time preferring to train as a hairdresser at a local salon This later led her to working within the salon at the local Psychiatric hospital where her mum Vera who would remain a great influence to Moya throughout her life, was working as a Nurse

THE ROAD TO LOVE & BECOMING A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE

In the meantime at the age of 17 a man came into Moya s life sweeping her off her feet as they began what Moya called “a courtship It was her future husband Derek Moya was still working at the hairdressers within the hospital when they married and discovering her skills and empathy for people living with specialist needs she began her training as a Psychiatric Nurse

However her training was put on hold when she became pregnant with her daughter Nina Wanting to be close to her during that first special stage of life, Moya spent 6 years getting to know her new pride and joy before returning to her studies I remember as a young child seeing mum sitting on the sofa with piles of books and papers surrounding her studying and reading until late soaking up everything and enjoying what she was discovering ” Moya excelled in her studies and qualified as a Staff Nurse in the early 70s She worked on various wards gaining valuable knowledge making friends and enjoying her new career “This was a great time for us as a family, particularly me, as my grandmother and mother worked at the same hospital on opposite shifts so that I could be looked after When I was about 6, I remember dancing around a large sunlit dining room with a big red carpet for all the older ladies on the ward whilst I waited for my mum to finish her shift ”

FROM STAFF NURSE TO LEADER: A PROGRESSIVE PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

Moya was very quickly promoted from Staff Nurse to Sister before becoming a Senior Nurse Manager managing wards that specialised in forensic psychiatry and often taking responsibility when the need arose for the whole hospital Keen to develop best practice on her wards

Moya completed further courses and exams “I remember Mum going away for several months to work at Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire She would return at weekends and although tired at times she relished her experiences ” Moya was a pivotal member of her team to recognise new and progressive approaches and nursing practices and would apply what she had learned to establish them within the confides of an inpatient setting – a very challenging area of psychiatry

Some of these progressive approaches can be recognised in Sundial

today such as the decision to not wear uniforms as this denoted a hierarchy of power Nina explained that it was all about ‘working in partnership with people who were enduring mental health problems and not promoting disempowerment ’ Sundial Care Home where Moya now lives is one of the first care homes to remove a uniform policy to help diminish the feeling of an institution and break down barriers between the team and residents, who they refer to as family members

this gent in the most exemplary way

With the amount of passion Moya felt for people’s rights and the progress she was making in her field it isn’t surprising she was invited to be interviewed on TV about her work I can t recall exactly what programme it was” Nina said, “but I remember it was a national news item and avidly waiting by the TV for my mum to appear I watched her speak so eloquently about the need to change attitudes and demystifying misconceptions I was again, so proud of her I had an amazing role model to look up to ”

A LEGACY OF COMPASSION AND CARE: A NOTE FROM NINA

Moya worked for over 25 years as a Psychiatric Nurse and Nina explains she has offered us only the smallest glimpse of the memories she has as a small child watching her mum shine light on her small corner of the world I know there is so much more to say about my mum and her love for the art and science of nursing Some people are just endowed with an innate ability to reach people - my mum was one of them I am so amazed at what she did for people both professionally and personally She was a wonderful mum with such kindness and compassion for others She seemed to have endless empathy brilliant wit and faultless integrity This world was made slightly better by you mum I love you, and I thank you so much for all you did for all those people throughout your career

A BEACON OF CHANGE: TRANSFORMING THE LANDSCAPE OF NURSING

Nina recently found an article from Caring Today magazine written in the mid 80’s when Moya was still a Sister exploring a new model of care her team had launched that adopted advanced approaches for supporting people with enduring mental health issues The article was titled ‘No Jailer’ Syndrome in their Philosophy of Care: Napsbury’s New Approach with the Senior Nurse Manager explaining we are not jailers, we are carers ”

The article describes how Moya had supported the teams Manager to deliver behavioural and psychological programmes that had been tailor made to suit the needs of the individual There is even a quote from Moya herself saying Although you might say we are as yet only 20 percent off the ground the new approach has already led to dramatic improvements in standards of care and staff motivation and morale ’

A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER

Moya went above and beyond what was expected of her role in that time to meet the emotional needs of the people in her care which led to some truly exceptional accomplishments in her field The Caring Magazine article introduces her as Sister Finch who gives generously of her own time to raise money to finance extra activities to enhance the quality of residents lives and their potential for rehabilitation Thanks to her and Charge Nurse Groves some of the most disturbed people have been able to enjoy a series of holidays ’ Napsbury’s Operational Manager Jan Bergman said She s very modest but she does a tremendous amount of dedicated work in many areas” which included the organisation of holidays

The first holiday was to Butlins in Somerset and Nina and her Dad, Derek even joined the group Mum and several nurses a social worker plus a consultant psychiatrist were all there throughout the week Of course robust risk assessment was completed prior but the holiday was a great success with lots of fun laughing and good times My Dad even drove the bus! It highlights to me how different things were back then I don t think this would happen today However before community care came into force, my mum and her colleagues were promoting community integration with the most marginalised people in society

A FORCE FOR GOOD: ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE’S RIGHTS

It wasn t just Moya s professional life that made her family proud of her Nina shared a touching story about a memorable outing with her mum to a local café where Moya was treating her to pancakes A young man came in and the staff refused to serve him They were goading this gent about his facial disfigurement and trying to get him out of the café My mother immediately stood up from her table, recognising the gent as a patient she had known in the past and voiced her concern as to how this man was being treated She invited him to sit with us for a meal and needless to say there were a few red faces from the proprietors and apologies expressed I was slightly embarrassed as a child but secretly very proud of my mum for advocating for

This compassion for others echoes in Nina who has followed in her mum s footsteps and trained as a mental health nurse before completing a degree in occupational therapy which she says was Moya s influence “I remember stepping into an OT department at mums hospital at the age of 9yrs and thinking how great it was! I relate to the values and philosophies of OT whole heartedly and mum was the same She was a big advocate for it and for enabling people to do the things they need to do to be themselves So much of this can be lost with dementia if we are not careful Despite managing four wards Moya would still often give her free time to sit around with her patients, trying to empower them to do activities that meant a lot to them and reinforced their identity

LIFE AT SUNDIAL CARE HOME

And now, it s time for us to do the same Sadly, Moya now lives with Dementia and it s time for her to be given the care and compassion that she gave to others her whole life by the loving team at Sundial Care Home The home, which has a CQC rating of Outstanding, has gained its high rating by implementing a model of care that advocates the same approaches to care that Moya believed in

Although Moya is on a different journey now, Sundial, along with Nina and her family are supporting her to live a continuation of life that is true to herself Just as she did in the swinging sixties Moya s love for music from that era has stayed with her and her world continues to the soundtrack of the Bee Gees The Beach Boys and her absolute favourite the Carpenters She loves her pamper sessions where the team gets the ladies together to do their hair and paint their nails, strolls around Sundial s gardens and observing everything and everyone around her When life becomes overwhelming comfort can be found in her family, her friends at Sundial, and in her hug doll that plays her favourite song and has a heartbeat which soothes her

Nina says Sundial have encouraged and supported her mums need to nurture and be nurtured “The team have reported that mum will often hold the other family members hands put shawls around their shoulders or just sit with them in their rooms if they’re okay with mum being there ” Dementia can take a lot of a person’s identity but people s true nature still shines through OUR

PLEDGE TO MOYA

We honour Moya s life and service by pledging to continue to lead by her example and never stop advocating for improving standards for both our nurses and our family members who we trust in their care We will provide ongoing training through our Evolve Care Academy to our team to empower them to deliver the quality of compassionate care that Moya advocated for her whole life both on the wards professionally and hopefully, like Moya, when we’re off shift in café’s and we have the chance to speak up and be kind to someone who needs it

Nina is the third generation of her family and belongs to a legacy of nurses who have come before her and will come after her Moya carried and passed on the baton of care compassion and excellence to her and we truly hope the future of nursing is filled with nurses like the Finch s who continue to inspire those around them

We need more Moya s in the world We re grateful to have one in ours

Iris Care Group Launches as Major New Care Organisation

centre

Additionally the group has strengthened its operational structure to support its ambitious plans by making some key appointments including appointing Peter Kinsey as group Chair and Chief Executive Peter is a well-known and respected senior figure in the sector and has more than 37 years experience in health and social care He has been a local authority strategic commissioner a Director of Mental Health Services in the NHS and spent 13 years as Chief Executive of CMG and more recently, Achieve together

PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND ST YLISH TROLLEYS TO

Ludlow Street Healthcare and Holmleigh Care have relaunched under the new group brand name Iris Care Group The announcement follows the merger of the two thriving health and social care businesses in England and Wales in 2021

Ludlow Street Healthcare has supported and cared for over 800 people for nearly 20 years It has worked in partnership with the NHS developing services and investing in the necessary health infrastructure and staff training to support patients through their range of specialist services

With an expanded range of complementary services Iris Care Group will be able to offer the people it supports more comprehensive care and rehabilitation solutions The group s new service will offer individuals a seamless journey back into the community along with greater opportunities to improve their quality of life and regain their independence

Drawing on the experience and past successes of both organisations, Iris Care Group will continue to focus on delivering high quality personalised and safe care that treats everyone with dignity; supporting individuals to lead happy healthy lives

The combined group will have a total of nearly 1 600 staff supporting almost 450 individuals across more than 50 sites The group s central support services will be split between its Cardiff Head Office and its existing Gloucester administration

Peter Kinsey Chair and Chief Executive Iris Care Group, commented: “Iris Care Group has been created to help us better deliver on our mission to put the people we support at the heart of everything we do Providing the highest standard of care is the most important consideration for us in the merged group We are also committed to ensuring the people we care for and our staff feel valued and respected

We are already one of the leading specialist care providers in England and Wales As Iris Care Group we will look to grow further to support even more people with complex needs who urgently need the specialist care we can offer We are also looking forward to welcoming more colleagues to our business to help us on our journey ”

Investigation into Supported Housing Reveals Detrimental Impact on Lives

Gaps in data and regulation are – in some areas – allowing increasing numbers of landlords to profit by providing costly, sub-standard housing with little or no support, supervision or care, according to a new National Audit Office report

Supported housing is accommodation provided alongside support, supervision or care to help people with specific needs to live as independently as possible in the community This includes for example those who are elderly; living with disabilities; or have experienced homelessness or substance misuse

There are three categories of supported housing; short-term (e g hostels); specialised (e g long-term housing for people needing a high level of care) and sheltered housing (e g long-term housing for older people with minimal or extra care needs)

Current gaps in regulation means some supported housing providers are receiving less scrutiny And there is no direct regulation of the quality of support offered

One local authority reported to the Committee for Levelling Up Housing and Communities that in the 345 supported housing units it inspected between April 2019 and January 2022 it found 323 hazards classed as a serious and immediate risk to a person’s health and safety A lack of national central government data on exempt accommodation makes it difficult to assess the scale of the problem

DLUHC is aware of the limits of available data and has commissioned research to provide an up-to-date understanding of the supported housing sector In 2022 DLUHC also allocated £20 million over three years to 26 local authorities to help them improve the quality and value for money of supported housing together with enhancing local authorities knowledge of local supply and demand

Responsibilities for supported housing are spread across central government The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is responsible for the supply and quality of supported

housing

In addition, DLUHC sets housing policy and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for Housing Benefit policy while the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) develops policies that aim to give more people the choice to live independently and healthily in their own homes for longer DLUHC with DWP and DHSC created the Support Housing Programme Board to help coordinate work across the departments

A new private members’ Bill aimed at improving supported housing is due to come into force by this summer with government backing The Bill introduced by Bob Blackman MP will develop national standards, require local authorities to review supported housing in their areas and enable them to create licensing schemes for exempt accommodation DLUHC has yet to establish how it will support local authorities to implement these new duties, although it has committed to a full consultation

Gareth Davies head of the NAO said: Better data and regulation can be driving forces behind muchneeded improvements in supported housing Assisting local authorities to ably scrutinise landlords can help raise housing standards for some of the most vulnerable people in our society who deserve far better ”

Cllr Darren Rodwell Housing Spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: We share councils concern about the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit the supported housing system for financial gain leaving people living in poor quality accommodation with inadequate support It has a detrimental impact on people s lives and adds cost to the public purse

We will continue to support the development of the Government s new Supported Housing Bill to ensure concerns around potential capacity and financial challenges for councils during implementation are addressed

Bring Joy and Connection to the Lives of Older People

Alive Activities have been engaging Care Home residents, training carers and connecting communities for over 13 years With person-centred care at the heart of everything they do all their offerings are tailored to the people that they work with Alive are experts in bringing meaningful engagement to older people From training to activity audits gardening to intergenerational links find out how Alive can support you and your residents TRAINING.

Alive offer a range of inspiring training courses on topics that they know to be essential in providing person-centred care Training from Alive will give your staff the confidence and ideas to cater for individual needs and interests They also offer bespoke courses including coaching programmes which will be uniquely built with you, to cater for your home’s specific requirements In person or remotely a common theme throughout all of Alive s training is encouraging the whole-home approach to activities; giving all staff

the skills to engage ALIVE ON DEMAND.

Alive s newest service, Alive on Demand, is designed to assist Care Home Staff in providing meaningful engagements both in group and 1-2-1 activities It is a dementia-friendly video streaming platform with supporting materials, including quizzes and crafts that easily transforms each topic into well-rounded activity Designed to spark conversation and evoke memories, you can easily search for topics of interest or use the filter options to select videos by level of dementia and duration For those living with more advanced dementia Alive offer calming videos” designed to immerse in relaxation and calm

It is like having an activities expert in your back pocket!

For more information, to book in a demo or discuss training options please call 0117 377 4756 or email info@aliveactivities org Visit www aliveactivities org to find out more

Enhancing Standard of Care in Wound With Innovative Medical Technology

By Bernard Ross, CEO of Sky Medical Technology (www skymedtech com)

flow of blood to the heart This triggers a build-up of blood in the lower leg causing oedema and ulceration

Burdening patients and healthcare systems

Wounds such as venous leg ulcers (VLUs) disproportionately impact older generations, so as the population ages, so does the burden of caring for wound patients On a macro level the cost to the NHS annually is a staggering £8 3 billion of which £5 6 billion is management of wounds that fail to heal 1 VLUs represent more than £2 billion of this annual cost and affect one in 500 people 2

Behind these figures however are tens of thousands of personal tragedies: wound patients living in discomfort and constant pain; people unable to work thanks to their wounds; individuals having to lead less active lives due to the burden of the condition and feelings of shame and embarrassment

A growing need for ongoing care

Around 3 8 million people in the UK alone suffer from wounds according to research from 2017-18 Following the lockdowns and closure of healthcare services during COVID which left many patients to self-manage their wounds without regular support from healthcare professionals this number is likely to be higher now This is not helped by the nature of some wounds which can be very hard to heal with some patients suffering with their wounds for decades with little or no signs of healing

Leg ulcers are among the most common form of chronic wound Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) in particular are the most prevalent type of leg ulcer, making up approximately 80 percent of all cases VLUs are chronic skin ulcers that affect the gaiter area They are caused by damaged or blocked veins in the leg either due to trauma deep vein thrombosis varicose veins or oedema limiting and preventing back-

Treatment of wounds is labour intensive and complicated It relies on a mixture of visits to hospitals or clinics or home visits from nurses, adding to the complexity in the delivery of wound care Venous leg ulcer patients will be prescribed compression therapy as standard of care to increase microcirculatory blood flow This typically involves medically prescribed compression bandaging or stockings

Compression therapy comes in various forms including four-layer two-layer hosiery kits and wraps depending on the level of compression required for optimal VLU healing as well as the patients’ preferences However compression treatment can be extremely uncomfortable impacting their ability to adequately adhere - and for some due to the nature of their pain they are unable to initially be prescribed compression therapy at all receiving only light bandaging

Innovation driving life changing solutions

Innovations in medical technology (MedTech) are enhancing the delivery of treatment in all areas of healthcare MedTech has the capability to transform how common but debilitating conditions are addressed, helping drive a healthier and more productive population The deployment of MedTech solutions such as neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) devices has significant benefits Patients are able to increase blood flow and when used in combination with multilayer compression the rate of healing for VLU increases significantly MedTech also has the capability to accelerate the rate of healing of hard-to-heal VLUs, and as a result people need treatment for a shorter time and faster healing wounds – in theory – reduce the opportunity for infection Combined this means nurses and wound clinics can heal more people over a shorter period and – best of all – patients spend less time immobile uncomfortable and unwell – which is better for their physical and mental health This also has the added benefit of contributing to saved healthcare costs

Investing in a healthier future

With the number of people not working due to sickness at a record high of 2 5 million , more innovation in addressing complex but nonlife-threatening medical issues needs to be adopted to help drive additional economic productivity and to ensure that healthcare systems can address medical issues in meaningful and cost-effective ways

Thanks to the time and dedication of clinical champions more innovation is being adopted into healthcare systems that transform patient outcomes for the better and enhance healthcare delivery usually with cost-saving benefits Utilising MedTech such as NMES devices is a great example of how successful innovation can take place

Singing Farmer Helps to Welcome the Community Back to The Oaks Open Day

Farmer John Hughes famously known as The Singing Farmer welcomed the community back to The Oaks Care Home in Newtown Powys during a special

Open Day

John who combines a large repertoire of songs with stories of life on the farm performed to residents and visitors

Open Day guests also included a number of local town and county councillors Police Community Support Officers and members of the Canolfan Gwaith Y Drenewydd Jobcentre in Newtown

Chefs at The Oaks Care Home in Newtown made a selection of home-made cakes for the event including chocolate brownies and marble cake

The Oaks Care Home Manager Jen Roberts said It was such a lovely day and we all enjoyed welcoming our local neighbours, Police Community Support Officers councillors and colleagues from the JobCentre back into the home after such a long time

Newtown is a very close-knit community and when we opened the home just over three years ago the community support was really amazing, and we have very much missed seeing our friends dropping in for a chat and a coffee

It was also great to be able to open our doors to the public to allow them to see how we do things at the home All of our staff work tirelessly every day towards achieving our five core values of Pride Determination Positivity Diligence and Empathy

Councillor Pete Lewington said: “The Oaks Open day was a lovely opportunity to visit and view the facilities in person It was great to have conversations with staff view the resident s home including their spa-

cious en-suite rooms and communal dining areas and see how the home operates in general I was very impressed

“It was also lovely to see town councillors county councillors the local job centre and the Police engaging with The Oaks Community today – the day was a huge success

We are looking forward to creating future connections with Sandstone Care starting by inviting them to do a presentation to all the town s councillors ”

Councillor Joyce Jones said: The Open Day at the Oaks was very important for the community It gave anyone in the area an opportunity to pop in for some tea and cake have a look around and discuss their needs with openness People were able to see what services The Oaks provide and what an amazing job their staff are doing to look after the elderly of this community

It was great to see the residents are so happy here Every floor of the home we visited we were met with smiling faces You could see straight away that the residents are being treated and respected in the correct way It was nice to see the place fully operational exceptionally clean and the care was at a very high standard

We look forward to being able to use The Oaks Care Home s facilities as outside bodies – we have no community hall on this estate and Sandstone Care have confirmed it will be a dedicated community hub for all of Newtown including community groups and regular coffee mornings ”

Councillor Mags Lewighton said: The home has been very welcoming I had no idea how a care home operated before I came to The Oaks open day It was a pleasant eye opener and a wonderful experience I especially enjoyed the home-made cakes from the home s kitchen staff

G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution

Genee is a UK leading manufacturer of innovative affordable interactive technological solutions Genee plays an integral role across all major industries including health care to support patients residents and staff

Having supported Care Homes through the pandemic The G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution is one of Genee’s most impactful solutions yet The solution includes; the G-Touch Interactive Screen, Electric Mobile Trolley and a Wireless Battery Pack It s portability specially designed and simple to use interface as well as its multitude of applications are specifically built for residents and staff in mind

Don t just take our word for it The Dove Haven Care Grouphave said the following

We have recently implemented the Genee Interactive touch tables into our homes with great results!

Our residents really enjoy playing on the touch table, singing karaoke as well as solving puzzles and completing quizzes individually or in a group environment We find the table really improves the mood of our residents and helps them work and play together around the touch table at the same time They are great in aiding our residents living with sensory impairment and encourages their general rehabilitation and independence We have been able to increase activity time and availability without increasing our staff’s workload

The difference that these tables have made is amazing! Residents have embraced the technology and every day we find new ways to use it The benefits of the Interactive tablehavebeen shown to improve residents' mood and greater physical social and cognitive activity and positively impacts on relationships with care staff friends and family With the table being portable it does not restrict where it can be used The service users are attracted to it due to the size of the screen and the portable aspect of it When service users are having 1 1 time with our activities co-ordinator other service users are watching and

wanting to get involved The table is easy to use and can be used by all ’

The G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution comes with 5 years’ on-site warranty as standard with no additional costs Our dedicated team will bring the equipment to the care home assemble, and install the solution and test everything on site We will also support you with free online training to ensure your Care Home gets maximum use of this incredible solution

Interested to find out how affordable we are? Get in touch today and reference the code ‘#TheCarer’

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Solving the GP Workforce Crisis Must be a Top Priority for NHS Recover y says BMA

Responding to a new plan by the NHS and Government to support GPs and primary care, which is to be announced in full later this week Dr Kieran Sharrock acting chair of the BMA England GP committee said:

“General practice is almost on its knees facing a crisis as patient demand continues to rise and the workforce continues to dwindle So whilst we welcome the planned investment and innovative new ways that will support our profession in delivering care, there doesn’t seem to be much in the plan about how we stop GPs leaving the profession, or how we retain the staff that we already have Managing the strain on services to help primary care recover will happen only when and if there is a commitment from the government to increase the actual numbers of GPs and while new technology has been urgently needed to help replace the many archaic IT systems that many practices still use we need more details on how this will address the

growing exodus of doctors who are leaving the profession

The BMA has also made it clear that the current GP contract needs to be urgently rectified in order to secure the future of patient safety and we need to see actual investment in practices to help them stay open

More community services are needed to relieve pressures on GPs but what these measures don’t consider are the continuing cuts to public health funding and that more community pharmacies are closing across England

These ambitions to help GPs are in fact just set up to fail, with the growing problems in workforce numbers and infrastructure that we have acting as barriers that will prevent effective change from happening

The health of the nation is firmly in the hands of this Government If it doesn’t invest in general practice properly as a population we will simply continue to get sicker ”

Egham Care Home Residents & Pre-Schoolers Bond in Nature

Windsor Flower Show with some of the flowers and vegetables we have grown ”

Rivermede Court in Egham has teamed up with Little Muddy Boots to provide intergenerational gardening and nature classes to its residents and under four year olds in the local community

The launch session which took place on 20

March was a huge success involving almost 30 residents and 11 children – some who were great grandchildren of the residents Participants planted radishes in Rivermede Court’s garden and enjoyed outdoor nature-inspired arts and craft activities

The hour long classes will run fortnightly on a Monday morning from 17 April to 22 May They are aimed at residents and their family members as well as local toddlers and pre-schoolers with their parents and carers There will also be some additional sessions with Rivermede Court residents at Jealotts Hill Community Landshare in Warfield

Hanka Vlhova Activities Co-Ordinator at Rivermede Court said

“This is a wonderful initiative and from the outset we could see how engaging it was for participants of all ages It is a great way for young children to learn more about nature and for our residents to share their love of gardening and enjoy outdoor activities As part of this programme the young children and their parents or carers are paired with a resident for the whole term so they really get to build a special bond at the same time as learning about gardening, nature enjoying crafting and much more

“We are very proud to be able to open our doors up to the local community in this way – and we hope people will get in touch if they have young children and would like to join us for our intergenerational gardening and nature classes

We are planning to enter some categories at the

The sessions are created by Hannah Brewer Founder of Little Muddy Boots who set up her company to offer gardening, nature and forest school classes for 1-6 year olds and to teach families about the importance and wonder of nature and the outdoors In partnership with Rivermede Court she has expanded these sessions to the elderly community enabling care home residents and young children and their parents and carers to share thoughts and experiences about the joy of the outdoors Hannah Brewer explains, “It is well documented that getting out in nature has a positive effect on mental and physical health, but research has also shown that intergenerational classes help older and younger generations These classes help the older generation with social interaction helping them to feel connected to the wider community For the younger generation, they help with listening skills education motivation and self-esteem

“Working with Rivermede Court part of the Cinnamon Care Collection is a great collaboration between two companies who are passionate about mental wellbeing I set up Little Muddy Boots to create opportunities for children to spend quality time with their families outdoors This collaboration with Rivermede Court is a fantastic opportunity to spread these benefits across generations and build wonderful connections within the community Research has shown that the majority of children play outside for less than an hour a day less than a third of the time enjoyed by their grandparents generation Little

Muddy Boots is determined to change this figure and this partnership gives us even greater scope to achieve this goal ”

New Plan to Make it Easier for Patients to See Their GP

Patients will be able to contact their general practice more easily and quickly – and find out exactly how their request will be handled on the day they call – as part of a major multi-million pound overhaul of primary care the government and NHS will announce this week

Practices across England will also be given £240 million this year to embrace the latest technology replacing old analogue phones with modern systems so patients never get engaged tones and easy-to-use online tools to ensure patients get the care they need as soon as possible This will mean that when patients contact their practice online or over the phone they will know on the day they make contact how their query will be managed rather than being told to call back later If their need is urgent they will be assessed and given appointments on the same day If it is not urgent appointments should be offered within 2 weeks, or patients will be referred to NHS 111 or a local pharmacy

Primary care is the way most people access the NHS and the government is committed to modernising the way patients contact their GP surgeries – improving satisfaction and delivering on the Prime Minister s promise to cut waiting lists

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay will announce a major expansion of the role of receptionists to become expert care navigators whose job it is to gather information to make sure patients are directed to the most suitable healthcare professional and to simplify and streamline the process

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: We are already making real progress with 10% more GP appointments happening every month compared to before the pandemic ”

I want to make sure people receive the right support when they contact their general practice and bring an end to the 8am scramble for appointments ”

To do this we are improving technology and reducing bureaucracy increasing staffing and changing the way primary care services are provided which are all helping to deliver on the government’s promise to cut

waiting lists

Minister for Health, Neil O’Brien, said: “Where GPs have already moved over to these new technologies we see they free up the phones making it much easier for people to get through to their general practice team ”

As well as being more convenient for patients these really easy to use digital tools allow a lot of patients to get the help they need without ever needing to go in for an appointment which will help cut waiting lists ”

Investing £240 million in these modern tools and the help GPs need to move onto them will make things more convenient for patients but also make the workload more manageable for general practice teams ”

An average sized practice of 10 000 patients often receives more than 100 calls in the first hour every Monday

As well as helping patients to make contact the government is supporting staff in dealing with the calls Working with NHS England the government will fund 6 500 care navigator training places – that is one member of staff per practice who can then pass on the training to colleagues Care navigators will help assess prioritise respond and assist They can help make sure those who want to see a named GP or preferred member of staff can do so while those who are happy to see a duty doctor can also do so Care navigators will direct patients to other professionals within the general practice or other medical professionals such as community pharmacists who can best meet the needs of the patients Successful care navigation can help direct 40% of requests more effectively and speeds up appointments for those who need them

The government will provide primary care networks and GP practices with the funding and support required to make the changes including through integrated care boards

103rd Birthday Celebrations for Local Care Home Resident

Celebrations have been in full swing at Cheverton Lodge Care Home in Islington, as one of its residents celebrates her 103rdbirthday in style

Joan has been a part of the Cheverton Lodge family since July 2018 and has celebrated her 99 100 101 102 and now 103rd birthday there This year the team asked Joan how she would like to spend her birthday Joan s wish was to go on a tour of her old stomping ground around Islington where she grew up ending in Primrose hill to see the London sky line

Maria life style coordinator decorated the Barchester Minibus Csaba maintenance manager plotted the route and drove the bus and Care assistant Gerry was Joans very own tour guide for the day Cheverton Lodge contacted their neighbours to let them know their plans for Sunday 30th April and they came out and lined the street to wave Joan on her way The birthday party toured Central London the Kings Cross

area – where Joan was born Tufnell Park where she went to school and Primrose hill so she could see the tower of London

Joan was spotted on her travels and the fantastic people of London clapped cheered and sang Happy Birthday Taxi drivers bus drivers stopped and people in traffic slowed down to give Joan a wave

The day ended with a lovely afternoon tea held at the home and Joan was joined by staff relatives, friends and other residents who toasted her good health

Earl Elliott General Manager of Barchester Cheverton Lodge added: We re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable lady It was our pleasure to make her birthday wish come true and we really enjoyed Joan s stories as she reminisced about her life growing up in and around Islington

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

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

Mental Health In Older Adults: The Importance of Recognising Anxiety and Depression and How To Address It

By Valerie Freestone, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the world’s population over 60 will double globally from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 20501 About 6% of this group will face mental health illness and neurological conditions Older people have extra stressors and are more prone to mental illnesses due to factors including reduced mobility chronic pain long term conditions and increased frailty However, as mental health problems are not part of normal ageing it is important to ensure that older adults are diagnosed and treated so that they can enjoy and engage in all activities of daily life2 This is further reaffirmed by research that suggests that older people have lower mental health literacy and are unlikely to seek help themselves3 As a result there are ways to recognise the two most common mental health problems affecting older people, anxiety and depression and how to address this

Firstly Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterised as excessive worrying and anxiety where worrying is difficult to control4 About 1 in 5 older adults may have an anxiety disorder often triggered by life events such as falls bereavement sudden loss and admission to hospital If an older person finds communication difficult, the outward signs of these symptoms may include restlessness fidgeting and irritability particularly when this marks an acute change in behaviour

It is therefore crucial that social care staff observe service users for any symptoms of anxiety after they have experienced any of these life events Staff are also equipped with various tools that can help resolve patients’ queries relating to anxiety including the GAD75 scale or the GAD assessment tool As a result they should be on the outlook for these signs and continue to

check up on patients symptoms

Family and friends can also play a role in identifying these sudden changes in behaviour and staff should first rule out any physical health cause before reorganising this as anxiety related Depression, on the other hand, affects 10-20% of older people6 and up to 40% of those living in care homes are affected by this Depression in older age is associated with increased cognitive and functional disabilities leading to higher care needs and increased costs for areas such as adult social care However as depression can be difficult to spot in older adults it means that many do not get the help or support they require For example some signs of depression may be confused with other mental health problems common in older adults such as difficulty concentrating, memory problems loss of appetite, irritability and restlessness or symptoms associated with dementia or anxiety It is therefore important that adult social care staff recognise the early signs and symptoms of depression so that treatment can be introduced Outward signs of depression can include withdrawal from day-to-day activities forgetting appointments and lack of enjoyment of hobbies The most commonly used tool in identifying depression is the geriatric depression scale Hence if treated it can lead to an improvement in quality of life wellbeing and reduce the need for further intervention from adult social care staff

In conclusion, while legislation including The Care Act (2014)7 and National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines8 mandates that local authorities and adult social care staff must recognise and promote the mental and emotional wellbeing of individuals staff family and friends all play a role in identifying mental illnesses within older adults It is important that they recognise these signs and intervene early so these people can get the right treatment

Care Home Makes Resident Wish Come True

Cambridge-based care home Cherry Hinton part of the award-winning care home group TLC Care made a wish become a reality for one of their residents Peggy

Burch Peggy a lifelong Arsenal fan had expressed her love for Arsenal after the home in partnership with the British Red Cross had arranged a day trip out to watch Cambridge United vs Fleetwood Town

Peggy came to Cherry Hinton Care Home on the 6th January after a terminal diagnosis which came to light after a spell in hospital and was told that she would need care in a 24 hour setting Peggy said “I am very happy here at Cherry Hinton and have no worries at all

All the team members are excellent and have made me feel right at home ”

After hearing about Peggy s wish to watch Arsenal play, Amber Christou, Business Development Manager at Cherry Hinton wasted no time in contacting the North London Football Club to secure tickets for the semi-final of the Women’s Champion League game against Wolfsburg

Amber, said “At Cherry Hinton, we love our wish tree as it is a super way for our residents to express their dreams The team always does its best to make things happen as we strive to make our residents happy in every way we can Making these wishes come true is just fabulous and so heart-warming to watch”

The home organised a comfortable taxi ride for Peggy and she was accompanied by one of their carers Leon to the Emirates Stadium Upon arrival they were greeted by an Arsenal team member who looked after Peggy all day and presented them with a scarf and match programme

Peggy expressed her excitement about the day, saying On arrival just seeing the Emirates Stadium was enough for me It was just AWESOME Leon was very supportive in helping me to get around the Emirates shop where I treated myself to an Arsenal teddy and then got some food before heading into the stadium On arrival at the seats, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes and the view that we had of the pitch We couldn t have got better seats, even if we picked them ourselves I can t express my thanks enough to Leon Amber Cherry Hinton Care Home TLC Care and the Arsenal team – It was a fantastic day out and the atmosphere was ELECTRIC

Peggy was overjoyed with her experience and could not believe her luck at being able to attend such an incredible event

Shelly Prakash, the Home Manager at Cherry Hinton explained “Our aim is to provide quality care to all residents and to help them to lead a quality life and enabling them to enjoy things that they used to in their past life is very important to us ”

Revitalise Respite Holidays Launches 2023 Summer Season

Revitalise the national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people and their carers, is celebrating its 60th anniversary with the launch of their 2023 summer season

Revitalise is a unique provider of respite holidays for those who need 24-hour care supported by skilled care and nursing staff All centres are fully accessible with specialised facilities and equipment The group has two centres based in Southport and Chigwell and caters for adults with a variety of different disabilities

Revitalise centres offer breaks in a relaxed holiday-style environment in which guests can unwind in beautiful settings, with access to a wide range of daily activities and evening entertainment There are opportunities to visit new places make new friends, participate in wellbeing activities like manicures and reiki or just enjoy some much-needed time off

Emily Sheardown Reservations Manager says A Revitalise holiday offers an important lifeline to disabled people and carers who need a break and deserve a proper time away from the day-to-day

Summer prices start from £680 for a three- or four-night break Care support packages are priced additionally based on individual support needs Revitalise are launching a campaign in May to highlight the lack of respite care on offer and the urgent need for funding so that more people can take a break

Booking:

Call: 0303 303 0145

Email: bookings@revitalise org uk

Book online: www revitalise org uk/book-now/

Over Half Of People With Huntington’s Disease Are Being Denied Access To Mental Health Support Ser vices Because Of Their Condition

New findings from the Huntington’s Disease Association (HDA) reveal that over half (56%) of patients have been denied access to mental health services because of having Huntington's disease While 85% of patients living with Huntington s have tried to access community mental health services of those denied access 92% of professionals said that their patients’ mental health worsened with over 1 in 10 (12%) of this group ultimately admitted to hospital or reaching crisis point and an alarming 11% being sectioned

Huntington’s disease damages nerve cells within the brain progressively impacting movement behaviour and cognition usually from mid-adult life 1 Neurological symptoms include irritability, sudden mood change, depression, and problems with memory thinking and judgement The Mindful of Huntington’s campaign, led by the HDA and backed by celebrities and MPs, aims to raise awareness of Huntington s disease related cognitive impairment and how non-physical symptoms can impact on mental health and quality of life

Cath Stanley Chief Executive of the Huntington’s Disease Association said: “Many people think of Huntington s as a disease which impacts movement but that is only half the story and the non-physical symptoms are often overlooked At the Huntington’s Disease Association, we find people will most commonly be referred to mental health services due to cognitive symptoms such as irritability and aggression

Throughout May, we will be focusing on these cognitive symptoms and the life changing impact they can have The stark findings we re announcing can t be ignored – people are asking for much-needed mental health support being turned away and their health is deteriorating further It is disappointing but not surprising to see that there’s still a lot of misunderstanding around Huntington’s ”

Alex Fisher Senior Occupational Therapist Clinical Lecturer and HD Module Lead on the UOB MSc Neuropsychiatry comments: “We often take for granted things like the speed of our thinking our ability to recall information or problem solve or even simply how we process language when someone is speaking to us These cognitive processes can be hugely impacted for someone living with Huntington’s disease When you think about these things you can really start to imagine how simple daily tasks such as washing cooking safely, cleaning remembering medication and medical appointments – all the basic things that keep someone safe and healthy can become much more challenging As well as daily tasks things like relationships and social interactions become compromised and this understandably leads to a lot of frustration and demoralisation These are what we would sometimes call hidden disabilities’ as they can’t always be seen ”

Throughout Huntington s Disease Awareness Month the HDA are campaigning for better services and support, and will be hosting a parliamentary drop-in event alongside Hilary Benn MP on the 10th of May The event aims to educate policymakers around the challenges faced by people living with Huntington s including how the condition affects cognition and what needs to be done to improve services

Hilary Benn MP, who is a Huntington’s disease champion in parliament, said: People living with Huntington s and their families face extraordinary challenges, and I have seen first-hand the huge impact it has on people’s lives Through the Mindful of Huntington s campaign we want to focus particularly on the less visible symptoms of Huntington’s – the cognitive ones and their debilitating effects We are calling for improved access to mental health services specific guidelines to ensure consistent care and additional financial support to offset unavoidable costs such as higher energy usage associated with symptoms of the condition because the current level of provision is simply unacceptable Action now will really make a difference and will ensure families get the support they need and deserve ”

At the parliamentary event the HDA will address government with the following key asks:

• Access to community mental health services when psychiatric symptoms are present

A care coordinator in each area to ensure people can navigate the many professionals they need and those professionals have knowledge and understanding of this disease

Specific NICE guidelines for HD to ensure there is consistent care for this complex illness

A review of the blanket refusal to entry to the armed forces unless proof of negative test

Actor George Rainsford (Casualty Call the Midwife) and patron of the HDA said: Through the role I ve played in Casualty I’ve worked closely with the HDA and several families impacted by Huntington s disease Something that really struck me was how often the cognitive changes that people with Huntington s disease experience are overlooked or forgotten about It s often the physical symptoms that get the focus yet the ‘invisible’ cognitive changes have a profound effect on a person s ability to manage daily life ”

Celebrity impressionist actor and singer Jess Robinson is also backing the campaign: I ve seen how my sister Jojo deteriorated with the neurological symptoms of Huntington’s She used to be a professional Jazz pianist - now heartbreakingly she can barely remember how to play her favourite song While Jojo tested positive for the gene in 2005, her increasing paranoia and psychotic behaviour wasn’t actually linked to the disease until after she was sectioned in 2018 It was so devastating to see her go through this The cognitive symptoms of Huntington s disease often go under-acknowledged and if someone isn t displaying physical symptoms it can be extremely difficult to access support ”

If you re struggling with Huntington s disease or your family or loved ones are or if you want to find out more about the Mindful of Huntington’s campaign, information is available on the Huntington’s Disease Association website at www hda org uk/get-involved/campaiging/huntingtons-disease-awareness-month-2023/

Recognii Offers New Way To Entertain Residents With Later Stage Dementia

The first film created especially for people living with later-stage dementia is offering care homes an inexpensive and accessible new way to entertain residents ‘Treasure Box’ by Recognii is an hour-long series of uplifting, plot-free and visually engaging short clips all set to some of the nation’s best-known music songs and theme tunes

Each scene has been designed to capture short attention spans and specially adapted to overcome the common visual and cognitive processing problems associated with the condition

The company s founder Sarah Harrison says Treasure Box was designed to be an essential resource for dementia care providers providing safe engaging entertainment for communal relaxation areas or a flexible tool for more focused one-to-one or group activities

She explained: “Treasure Box can be enjoyed as a complete film but there are also deliberately slow transitions between each of the clips to allow for sensory readjustment and to give staff time to pause the film and reminisce or chat with residents about what they have just seen ”

Recognii contains the sort of content the company s research showed had most universal appeal among sufferers, from happy children, appealing animals and gentle humour to musical interaction, the natural world iconic people and places puppetry and lots more Treasure Box is available on USB stick for use in Smart TVs and laptops and also in traditional DVD format They retail at £23 99 for the USB stick or £19 99 for the DVD

Dr Lucy Pollock gerontologist and author of bestselling The Book About Getting Older said This is just lovely Treasure Box is the sort of thing that can be watched over and over by people living with significant dementia In the same way that small children like replaying their favourites these images with music become very soothing with familiarity Even those with significant dementia can find repeated routines comforting

To accommodate the visual processing problems experienced by many people with advanced dementia the team took a deliberate approach to the way the content is filmed

Sarah explained: “To make everything as visible as possible we filmed against plain backgrounds, with high colour and tonal contrast and predominant use of red and those primary colours research shows are most easily recognised We also took care not to feature unnecessary detail busy patterns shadows or reflective light sources ” Each plot-free clip contrasts strongly from the last to draw wandering attention back to the screen and in keeping with the visual approach music and vocal arrangements are simple and dialogue is kept to a minimum

CASE STUDY:

Acacia Lodge Care Home in Oxfordshire is a purpose-built residence in the centre of picturesque Henley-On-Thames, with 55 en-suite rooms and beautifully landscaped gardens

It is part of The Future Care Group a leading residential nursing and dementia care provider with 18 high-quality homes across the UK

Acacia Lodge lifestyle assistant Alex Owens purchased Recognii to use on their dementia floor after reading about the innovation in The Daily Telegraph

Lifestyle lead Wendy Fricker said At Acacia Lodge quality of life is at the heart of everything we do and we are continually looking for new and varied ways to ensure each of our residents stays engaged happy and relaxed

“We were very impressed with the Recognii concept The short simple clips helped a great deal holding our residents attention and keeping them watching eagerly for the next scene The content is very well thought out and they loved the mix of singalongs, smiling children, animals and bright colourful images Thirteen out of our 16 residents with dementia engaged and joined in with every sequence, which was just amazing to see ” Wendy now uses Recognii as part of a ‘cinema-style’ experience, handing out popcorn, tea cakes and fizzy drinks for residents to enjoy while they settle down to watch with care staff She also uses it as a discussion and reminiscence tool with smaller groups or for focussed one-to-one activities

Wendy said “Recognii is a welcome addition to the stimulating and diverse programme of activities and events at Acacia Lodge We can t wait for the next volume and will be putting in our order asap!

and

are available through the Recognii website at www recognii co uk

Petition Launched to Demand Care Worker Pay Parity with NHS

“SOCIAL CARE DESERVES SAME RESPECT AS NHS”

Dimensions a not-for-profit supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people has launched a petition calling for government to align minimum care worker pay to NHS Band 3 – a plea backed overwhelmingly by the public

The petition launches in the wake of £250 million being cut from funding promised to the social care workforce at a time when urgent action is required to prioritise recruitment and retention There are currently around 165 000 social care vacancies – an increase of 52% since 2020-21

After years of delayed reform the public backs the social care sector in calling for the recognition it deserves Our latest research reveals that 80% of the public thinks social care is as important or deserves the same respect as the NHS Only 6% of the nation do not think social care workers should receive the same pay as NHS Band 3 workers – falling to just 3% of those over age 55

NHS Band 3 includes clinical support workers therapy assistants pharmacy assistants administrative workers and clerical staff who are currently paid £11 67 per hour Dimensions – and the public – believe social care workers skills and professionalism should be recognised at an equal level with these important roles to reflect the complex caring tasks they undertake alongside supporting people to gain choice, control and agency over their lives

At present four in ten social care workers earn less than the real living wage Between 2013-2020, a sales assistant went from earning 13p per hour less than a care worker to 21p more on average but social care providers are restricted in increasing pay by tough limits on local authority budgets Amidst the ongoing

cost-of-living crisis many skilled social care workers feel they have no choice but to leave the workforce for better paid roles elsewhere

To reverse this issue our petition calls on the public and social care sector to unite in a call for government to benchmark pay with the NHS Band 3 This will allow support workers to earn a wage aligned with their skills and responsibilities and encourage a much-needed pool of talented dedicated workers into these vital careers

Rachael Dodgson Chief Executive of Dimensions recently spent a week working as a support worker with a team in London, supporting adults with profound learning disabilities with all aspects of personal care medication and daily living She says: “The shortfall in funding for the social care workforce is a betrayal of the hardworking skilled individuals who were on the frontline of the pandemic and continue to provide essential care and support for older and disabled people who draw on social care support The NHS simply cannot function without social care – so social care deserves the same recognition that the NHS rightfully has ”

Increasing support worker pay is not the silver bullet to workforce challenges but it is a critical first step and will make a measurable difference We’ve implemented three pay rises for our support workers in the last year but we’re restricted in going further by tough limits on local authority budgets Yes a larger better-paid social care workforce comes with costs but it s an investment in people – both in rewarding and retaining a dedicated workforce and in providing people with the support they require to live happy and healthy lives

Parley Place Care Home Hosts YMCA

Bournemouth’s Sleep Easy 2023 Campaign Launch

Parley Place Care Home in West Parley hosted an evening of inspiration for the launch of the YMCA Bournemouth s Sleep Easy Campaign for 2023 Sheena Dayman Events Manager for the YMCA gave a presentation on the breadth of work the YMCA do to support people in need including introducing this year’s Sleep Easy campaign and encouraging the local community to get involved

To take part in the Sleep Easy campaign, businesses are invited to sleep rough for one night in a cardboard box this year in the grounds at Talbot Woods School on 14th October 2023 Staff members from Parley Place have pledged to take part in the event and along with residents are busy fundraising and planning to do their bit in support of the campaign

Several local businesses came together for the launch including Lester Aldridge who sponsored the event at Parley Place Lester Aldridge have been

the main sponsor of the Sleep Easy campaign for last 4 years and have raised over £20 000 YMCA CEO Gareth Sherwood comments “YMCAB has been transforming lives in our local community for over 140 years through economic crashes epidemics and wars; and we still strive to serve humanity with the same compassion hope faith and dignity as ever Once again we’re asking the people of Bournemouth to get behind the campaign and sleep rough to support those who need help when the going gets tough ”

Mark Benham Partner at Lester Aldridge said: I have huge respect for those of you who are brave enough to participate in the Sleep Easy campaign It will be tough going but I have no doubt that like us you will find it a rewarding and totally unforgettable experience ”

Government Announces New GP Access Recover y Plan

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to allow people in England suffering from a range of common conditions to get prescription medication directly from a pharmacy, as the prime minister seeks to deliver on his promise to cut NHS waiting lists

For the first time ever patients who need prescription medication will be able to get it directly from a pharmacy without a GP appointment for seven common conditions including earache sore throat or urinary tract infections by next winter, thanks to government investment of £645 million over two years to expand community pharmacy services

Published today by the NHS and the government, the new blueprint sets out actions to improve access to care better support patients to manage their own health and to modernise general practice for future generations

Almost half a million women will no longer need to speak to a practice nurse or GP to access oral contraception and will instead be able to pop into their local pharmacy for it

Tens of thousands more people will be at lower risk of a heart attack or stroke with the NHS more than doubling the number of people able to access blood pressure checks in their local pharmacy – 2 5 million, up from 900 000 carried out last year

The actions set out in the plan are expected to free up around 15 million GP appointments over the next two years for patients who need them most

Ending the 8am rush for appointments is a key part of the plan with no patient having to wait on hold only to be told to call back another day for help

This will be supported by investment in better phone technology for GP teams enabling them to manage multiple calls and redirect them to other specialists, such as pharmacists and mental health practitioners, if more suitable During trials this has increased patients ability to get through to their practice by almost a third

Extra training will also be provided to staff answering calls at GP practices so that people who need to see their family doctor are prioritised while those who would be better seen by other staff such as physiotherapists or mental health specialists are able to bypass their GP

In a significant new step up to half a million people a year will be able to self-refer for key services including physiotherapy, hearing tests, and podiatry, without seeing their GP first

In the run up to the NHS 75th milestone birthday on 5 July the new plan aims to support primary care services to continue to adapt and innovate to meet patients’ needs, with nine in ten people able to access their GP records including test results on the NHS App within the next year

Demand for access is only going to increase with the number of people over 70 who are five times more likely to need a GP appointment than teenagers growing by a third since 2010

GP teams are already treating record numbers with half a million more appointments delivered every week compared to pre-pandemic

Amanda Pritchard NHS chief executive said: The care and support people receive from their local GP is rightly highly valued by patients and so it is essential that we make it as easy as possible for people to get the help they need

“GPs and their teams are working incredibly hard to deal with unprecedented demand for appointments But with an ageing population we know we need to further expand and transform the way we provide care for our local communities and make these services fit for the future

“Today, we are setting out an ambitious package of measures to do just that – with pharmacies playing a central role in managing the nation s health including providing lifesaving checks and medication for common conditions for the first time

This blueprint will help us to free up millions of appointments for those who need them most as well as supporting staff so that they can do less admin and spend more time with patients

Over the last 75 years the NHS has always innovated and adapted to meet the needs of each generation and as we approach the 75th birthday we are doing that for primary care services – providing easy and convenient care as close to home as possible ”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: I am getting on with delivering on my five priorities and transforming primary care is the next part of this government s promise to cut NHS waiting lists

I know how frustrating it is to be stuck on hold to your GP practice when you or a family member desperately need an appointment for a common illness We will end the 8am rush and expand the services offered

by pharmacies, meaning patients can get their medication quickly and easily

“This will relieve pressure on our hard-working GPs by freeing up 15 million appointments and end the all-too stressful wait on the end of the phone for patients

The plan also commits to further reducing bureaucracy for general practice and building on the work of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Local health systems are being tasked with making fit notes available via text and email to patients to avoid unnecessary return trips to their GP

A new review by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges published today shows how the hospital clinicians and GPs can work together to offer patients more joined up care

In Lincolnshire and East London hospital clinicians virtually join GP appointments for renal appointments and MSK physiotherapy appointments so elderly patients do not need to trek to hospital

Joint weekly calls between Enfield GPs and urology clinicians in North London hospitals has also reduced the waiting list by a quarter by joining up care better

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “This plan will make it easier for people to get GP appointments

By upgrading to digital telephone systems and the latest online tools by transferring some treatment services to our incredibly capable community pharmacies and by cutting unnecessary paperwork we can free up GPs time and let them focus on delivering the care patients need

“Together with further support to increase the workforce, this plan will provide faster and more convenient care

Today’s plan will also change local authority planning guidance to mean access to primary care for new residential areas are given the same level of

Professor Aruna Garcea chair of NHS Confederation s primary care network advisory group said Our primary care network leaders will welcome this plan and the additional investment as an opportunity to support their practices to manage increasing demand for services Also our members know that greater use of digital technology enables practices within primary care networks to work together to make the most effective use of their resources and the new roles in primary care It s welcome to see a recognition of the role that community pharmacy can play to deliver care for those patients that do not need to be seen in general practice

“Along with a greater focus on self-care through a national campaign to support people to look after themselves where that is appropriate we hope that this will go some way to reducing demand on general practice We look forward to seeing this plan implemented so that primary care can continue to serve local communities as the bedrock of the NHS ”

We have long been calling for the NHS to allow community pharmacy to play a leading role in urgent care The access pharmacies offer is essential to tackling health inequalities and meeting a growing patient need We encourage NHS England to be ambitious in their plans and take full advantage of this opportunity ”

Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England Thorrun Govind said: “The plans announced today are a real game-changer for patients as they will provide better access to healthcare helping to reduce the strain on other parts of the NHS and provide patients with the care they need, when they need it They provide further endorsement of the crucial role that pharmacies play in helping the public at the heart of primary care

We welcome the government s plans that provide additional investment into the sector and that seek to ensure everyone across the country has equal access to care from highly skilled pharmacists and their teams These plans will help to reduce health inequalities especially in deprived areas where pharmacies are at the heart of their communities and trusted by patients

“Providing treatment to help prevent common conditions from becoming worse and requiring more complex treatment later on is better for patients and also cost-effective Patients can expect to receive trusted advice from pharmacists in their local pharmacy

We look forward to working with NHS England community pharmacies and other pharmacy organisations on the development and roll out of this plan ”

Care Worker Channels the Power of Music to Transform Lives

A care worker from Edinburgh has been recognised by her employers after using her love of music to transform the life of one of her residents

Susan Kulik is a support worker at The Laurels an adult mental health service near Edinburgh run by Shaw healthcare One of the residents she looks after had suffered from over 20 years of psychiatric episodes, having battled with alcohol dependency and substance abuse

Susan recently found out he was a fan of Guns’n’Roses and The Cult and longed to be able to play the guitar The revelation gave her an idea Being a musician herself she started bringing her guitar to work and began teaching him the chords he needed to play his favourite songs

After a few weeks he bought himself a guitar and started improving his skills She even arranged for him to attend his first concert – The Rocky Horror Show at the Edinburgh Playhouse

His renewed interest in music soon led onto a host of other changes in his life It encouraged him to improve his health and wellbeing by making changes to his diet and taking up swimming to increase his exercise levels The positive change in attitude

has even started to repair a broken relationship with his parents who had been driven away by his reliance on drugs and alcohol

They now meet him every Sunday and are looking forward to a more positive future They recently wrote to The Laurels saying We feel like we have our son back and can t thank you enough ”

Faye Mentiplay is the service manager at The Laurels and commended Susan on her commitment, hard work and her passion for supporting the residents

“The job we do can sometimes be quite challenging ” said Ms Mentiplay “Susan just typifies the person-centred approach we always try to take at The Laurels and it is amazing when you see the positive difference it can make to peoples’ lives ”

I love working at The Laurels and to be able to combine my passion for music with the care we provide to residents has been very rewarding,” added Ms Kulik Music can be very powerful and to see how it has been a trigger for such a transformation in one of our residents has been a really positive experience ”

The Care & Occupational Therapy Show,

July 2023, Westpoint Arena, Exeter

Click

The Value of Care Home Workers: Recognizing and Supporting Essential Staff

Working in a care home is a challenging job that requires physical mental and emotional strength Caregivers provide care for vulnerable elderly and sick people which can be stressful and painful at times In this article we will discuss the challenges that caregivers face at work and we will also look at how innovation and new products can help reduce the burden on carers care home-owners and managers, and contribute to the growth of the care home industry

Teams comprise of many elements that can help to make a team great the individuals within the team their passion for their chosen vocation the thought of helping others and feeling they have made a difference on a daily basis but also the systems and medical devices that can transform their daily duties; permitting them more time to care and less time on resource hungry processes especially at a time where care workers are generally in high demand across the UK with the much publicised staffing shortages

*According to the ONS there were almost 1 5m estimated open job adverts as a daily average during December 2022 Using data from the jobs search engine Textkernel it said healthcare accounted for almost 190 000 or 12 7% of all vacancies Healthcare also accounted for the two occupations with the largest number of job adverts nationwide with 31 870 adverts for support workers and 21 170

DIRECTOR

for nurses

With such an undeniably high number of job vacancies in the sector the need for smarter systems that reduce the burden on each carer and the care homes in which they work, is essential for the future of the profession and the care home industry

Innovation is crucial for the future of care Manufacturers such as Wellell Inc can through their products help care home owners and managers to reduce the burden on carers with new tools to make their job easier and improve the quality of care for residents

With innovative products such as Wellells all-in-one Optima Turn Mattress”, offering automatic continuous patient turning for pressure injury prevention and healing the management of limited staffing resources can be made easier, helping to maintain those great care home teams and aiding staff retention Afterall a happy healthy workplace leads to a happy healthy workforce and as the ONS has identified the need for carers is outweighed by carers currently available in the UK marketplace

Empowering Positive Action Within Care – Care Roadshows 2023

Care Roadshows are returning in 2023 arriving in Glasgow Birmingham Liverpool London and Cardiff Registration is now officially open and welcomes senior professionals within the care sector particularly those working with older adults

Each show includes free access to an exhibition including between 40-60 exhibitors and entry into a series of seminar and panel discussions that cover topics such as dementia technology vs human connection and raising the profile of the care sector The events also offer fantastic networking opportunities and the chance to improve the performance of your care practice or business

Founder and Managing Director Emma Barrett shared “Care Roadshow has grown greatly since its launch back in 2011 The 2022 Roadshows reached record breaking visitor numbers and we are anticipating an even higher growth rate in 2023 ”

“This year, we’ve set our mission statement as empowering positive action within care It s about time we stopped talking about changes and started taking immediate action We hope to bring influential members of the care community together at our events in an intimate setting where positive conversations can take place

TRUSTED CARE STAMP

With over 100 events targeting the UK social care sector it is very difficult for care providers to choose which events to attend Broadway Events the company who run Care Roadshow have recently joined forces with CloserStill Media (who also run social care events) to launch a Trusted Care Event stamp The stamp indicates events that are focused on improving the sector and wanting to make an active difference within social care You can read more about this here

There is great anticipation for the release of the Care Roadshows 2023 programme Register for your free ticket here to be the first to know when programmes are relased

DATES OF THE 2023 SHOWS:

Care Roadshows Glasgow – Hampden Park Stadium – 18th April

Care Roadshows Birmingham – Villa Park Stadium – 23rd May

Care Roadshows Liverpool – Aintree Racecourse – 25th May

Care Roadshows London – Epsom Downs Racecourse – 17th October

Care Roadshows Cardiff – Cardiff City Stadium – 14th November

Follow this link to find out more: www careroadshows co uk

Oxford Home to Open Doors for Community and Invite them to Exhibition Set Up By Residents

An Oxford home will be opening its doors to the public as part of the Oxfordshire Arts Week 2023

MHA Brookfield will be showcasing the artistic talents of its residents by hosting a live exhibition

There will be a display of some of the wonderful artwork residents have done in the past as well as a live activity There could also be an opportunity for visitors to see the amazing seaside mural which includes the painting of staff members in various roles found at a seaside The home will be open to the public on the 16th 17th 23rd and 24th of May from 11am to 1pm

Victoria Davidson activity coordinator said: The residents at MHA Brookfield love art and are always excited when we decide to do something creative

A lot of the work we do is communal and it allows residents to disappear into a different world

A lot of the credit goes to Jane our chaplain in making sure we became a part of the Oxfordshire Arts Week

The purpose of opening our doors to the public is to attract visitors and allow them to see the talent our residents have

We also want to attract potential volunteers who can support us making sure we can continue to provide the wonderful activities we do at Brookfield

“Personally I have been part of the Oxfordshire Arts Week before but it’s the first time I am doing this as part of the home and I am really excited

“We want to raise awareness of the wonderful work that happens in a care home and educate the community on the different things we do here

Living the Dream – Care Home Helps

Resident’s Wish to See Dreamboys Come True

Age is just a number 92-year-old Sway care home resident’s dream comes true as she sees raunchy theatre show

When the team at Care UK’s Sway Place, on Church Lane, learned that 92-year-old Betty Richardson had always wanted to see the Dreamboys show they were keen to make her wish come true

Betty has always had a zest for life and appreciates a male physique

Betty has also forever loved going to the theatre especially enjoying it with her girlfriends, who joined her to watch the performance

The team at Sway Place contacted the Dreamboys team who gave Betty free tickets to come to their next performance at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre the closest theatre to her

Dreamboys also gifted Betty a meet and greet with the performers before the show and a behind the scenes tour of the theatre

Betty said: Well I m not going to forget that in a hurry Was that a dream or was I really there!

The visit was part of the home s Wishing Tree Initiative, which encourages residents to put wishes forward allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new – from flying a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small

Jane Baxter Home Manager at Sway Place, said: “Betty has proved age is just a number by living her dream of seeing the Dreamboys

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their goals and it s hugely rewarding to be able to make these a reality The visit was a complete success and it was lovely seeing her face light up watching the performance

I would like to thank the team at Dreamboys for making her visit extra special and to the team at Sway Place for organising it for her – it was fantastic to see Betty still chasing her dreams!

Alice Woods Managing Director for Dreamboys added:

When we heard that 92-year-old Betty had made a wish to see Dreamboys via her care home we knew immediately that we had to make this happen ”

We ensured that Betty was given the full VIP experience at our Dreamboys show Betty and her friends were treated to the best seats in the house and a private meet and greet with our fabulous team, we loved how this put a huge smile on Betty s face We love helping make dreams a reality no matter the occasion ”

Supporting Employees With Mental Health Issues

By Helen Badger, partner at Browne Jacobson (www brownejacobson com) and specialist in employment law within the social care sector

Recent research by the Care Quality Commission has highlighted that the range of challenges faced by health and social care staff during the pandemic has impacted on their mental health and wellbeing

These have included: increased workload, witnessing serious illness and death at unprecedented levels, and feelings of guilt about not being able to do more In June 2021 a report by the Samaritans identified healthcare workers as one of five groups whose suicide risk may be exacerbated as a result of the pandemic

The impact of staff burnout stress and staff leaving the profession can be seen in absence and recruitment data The ONS sickness absence rates show that workers in care had one of the highest rates of sickness absence at 3 8% (compared to 2 2% across all groups)

Equally at the end of June 2022 there were more than 132 000 vacant posts in the health and care sector, which was a vacancy rate of 9 7%, the highest it has been for 5 years Further, mental health issues in the workplace are estimated to cost £1652 per employee per year

Given these statistics it is important to consider what employers can do to spot support manage and help staff in a social care setting who are showing signs of suffering mental health issues

The first step is to ensure that managers and HR colleagues are alive to the warning signs of poor mental health Training managers to spot the warning signs which may include uncharacteristic behaviour lack of engagement decreased productivity and withdrawal from social situations Frequent and regular engagement with employees will also assist to help staff feel valued and supported as well as building rapport so that they are more likely to be open about any difficulties they may be experiencing

Managers should also deal with concerns or issues that arise in a

timely manner rather than letting them rumble on Be sure that employees know who they can raise concerns or worries with and encourage managers to be more visible in the workplace Managers also need to be proactive Where there are concerns that staff are struggling due to poor mental health consider a referral to occupational health at an early stage There is often a temptation not to ask too many questions but that approach is not helpful to the employer or the employee The more an employer understands about an employee’s health and its impact on their ability to do their job, the more it can do to support that employee and prevent long-term absence from occurring

Care home managers and owners should also have in mind that an employee’s mental health condition may be a disability if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out their day-to-day activities (which is wider than work activities)

Employers are under a duty to make reasonable adjustments for its disabled employees to remove disadvantages they may suffer in the workplace Examples of adjustments may include changes to duties or working hours or working patterns Engagement with the employee and with occupational health will be vital in knowing what support can be offered If the employee is not disabled but struggling to manage a health condition workplace adjustments might support them to stay in work or to return to work from periods of absence It is in both the employer and the employee’s interests to find ways to help them remain at work

Owners and managers should also consider the impact of mental health on an employee s conduct and/or performance The disruption and uncertainty of the pandemic the cost of living crisis and ongoing staffing crisis in the care sector will have had impact on employee performance Fatigue anxiety and trauma are all contributing to the workforce being more vulnerable than it ever has been

Where an employee s performance or conduct slips employers should consider all relevant factors before moving to a formal process While employers need the workforce firing on all cylinders to minimise the impact of high vacancy numbers it is important to recognise that many care home employees have been through a lot in the last three years and will need tolerance and understanding to avoid making a staffing crisis worse

Where an employee is not performing or is behaving badly employers should consider whether there are any external factors contributing to those issues That is not to say that employers cannot expect their employees to perform and behave appropriately but they should engage with the employee obtain medical advice at an early stage and consider making reasonable adjustments before issuing sanctions It is important to remember that there is a person at the end of the process Therefore if a formal process needs to be followed consider the wellbeing of the person concerned and asses what support will be required, such as extra time to reach objectives or allowing the person to be accompanied by their spouse/partner at any formal meetings Where an employee’s performance or conduct is impacted by poor mental health there are no quick fixes and processes will take time Care home managers should consider every decision and step in the context of the employee s mental health condition and how it may be perceived or interpreted Small actions can make a big difference to a vulnerable employee so:

o consider training a pool of mental health first aiders that can be the first port of call for those who are struggling with their mental health o offer a counselling line to employees or at least have a bank of useful resources to which employees can be signposted if they are in difficulty o if you do have to tackle performance or conduct issues be compassionate in your approach Consider whether it is essential to send letters/emails which might be difficult to receive on a Friday afternoon or just before a holiday – can it wait until the following week?

o consider venue and times of meetings – an employee with depression may find early morning meetings difficult particularly if they have any distance to travel

o Acknowledge that things may take longer and you may have to agree to delays – while this will be frustrating it is often difficult to justify months later why something had to be done and could not be postponed for a week/2 weeks/ a month

Ultimately by investing in employees wellbeing you will not only make employees feel valued and respected but will also build trust and engagement This in turn may assist with retention and recruitment which given the current workforce crisis will be an important factor for any health and social care employer

Friendly Horses Help Bring Back Memories for Care Home Resident

Joan Rollason a resident at RMBI Care Co Home Zetland Court, in Bournemouth, has had a lifetime spent with horses Now at 99 years old she still remains passionate about them

When Sue Wiffen Zetland Court s Deputy Home Manager for the Dementia area, recently sat with Joan on her bed she noticed that the resident had a magazine about horses on her lap While she was stroking the magazine resident Joan said: “You never forget the way a horse feels but I will never feel it again Staff member Sue was so moved that she knew the Home had to do something about it

Staff member Sue Wiffen immediately contacted an old friend of hers who owns a stable yard and asked her to make the yard as accessible and safe as possible for resident Joan s wheelchair Then without telling resident Joan where they were going her son Mike and staff member Sue Wiffen drove her to the stable yard

The surprise was guaranteed As soon as they arrived resident Joan’s head turned towards a beautiful black

horse in a field Her eyes shone with an irrepressible twinkle of amazement Joan had the time of her life said Zetland Court’s staff member Sue Wiffen “Not only was she emotional the whole time, but she also clearly remembered how to act around horses – much better than we did! She knew how to feed the ponies, lead them and talk to them, just like a horse whisperer ” Kelly, the stable yard’s owner, was also amazed about how resident Joan could tell the height of all the horses at a glance

After spending time with most of the horses and ponies resident Joan wanted to visit the black horse she had spotted when they first arrived The owner said that horse was a bit too excitable but resident Joan was determined to see it Making sure she was safe at all times, they all accompanied her to the black horse which was behind a fence

Resident Joan pulled herself up to the fence and whispered to the horse Once she started talking to him the horse was absolutely calm It was amazing!” said Zetland Court s staff member Sue Wiffen “I can’t believe this is happening to me ” repeated resident Joan several times during the day Zetland Court’s staff members have now created an album of resident Joan s visit to the stable yard so she can look at the photos and reminisce

Puddington Care Home Receives Gold Award for Sensor y Loss Accessibility

A Cheshire care home has become the first in the UK to receive the incus Gold Award for its proactive approach to sensory loss

Both Chapel House Nursing Home and Plessington Court Residential Home, in Puddington, Cheshire, achieved the award from training provider incus-care following a five-step process over a two-year period

At least 75% of people living in care will have a hearing impairment 50% a visual impairment and over 70% will have some form of cognitive impairment Financial and staffing pressures coupled with an emphasis on the provision of nursing care have led to the sensory loss needs of this growing sector being under-serviced and often overlooked

The aim of the incus-care Awards is to ensure residents in care homes with sensory loss are communicated with, in the correct ways, their specific needs are met and they are supported to live fulfilling lives

Brian Cadwallader incus Training Manager said: Firstly congratulations to Chapel House and Plessington Court on achieving their incus Gold award From their initial registration through the training phases and onto their audit process it was very clear that both teams acknowledged DSN’s incus initiative and the benefits it has brought in terms of engaging in tailored training modules improving knowledge learning new skills and, importantly meeting the specific needs of their residents with sensory impairment

The evidence of their achievement was very clear to see with defined objectives set strong leadership and the willingness of staff to embrace the changes Chapel House and Plessington Court staff excelled in all areas of the incus care programme resulting in two very deserved Gold awards

Cathrina Moore who is also an Admiral Nurse said: “We re really proud to be the first care home in the country to have been awarded Gold by incus

Cognitive problems can be exacerbated by sensory issues so it is important to ensure that we minimise

the impact of this by reducing issues for each of our residents

“As a result of the incus training our staff have been trained to approach sensory loss issues with specialist techniques We have installed doorbells which light up when someone is knocking on the door so a resident with hearing loss isn t startled if someone walks into their room

Residents with hearing loss can also access our portable loop system and use specialist headphones to improve their listening experience when watching television We also ensure that all our residents have regular hearing tests so we can identify those who need more support

“We’re already seeing some good results We have improved people’s listening experience and helped with their overall communication We ve noticed that people are joining in with more activities and interacting better with their relatives

“Residents also love the new doorbells and they help to reduce anxiety because they can see – rather than hear – that someone wants to come into their room

Dr Jenna Littlejohn who helped to pioneer the standard said: Unmanaged sensory impairment exacerbates social isolation and loneliness ultimately leading to poorer quality of life It is associated with an increased risk of depression stroke hypertension dementia frailty falls and early mortality Through a bespoke package of works, incus-care helps to guide care staff to promote good sensory health for residents

“Working individually with each setting we can create a course which addresses their needs, focusing on often overlooked areas such as: identification and management of common hearing and visual impairments; recognising the role of equipment and the environment and implementing new care and communication plans for residents with sensory loss We are delighted to announce Chapel House and Plessington Court as our first Gold Award achievers

A “Right Royal Celebration”

The coronation of King Charles was a momentous occasion for the people of the United Kingdom and we here at THE CARER invited care homes throughout the country to share the celebrations with us!

And to say that we are not disappointed would be an understatement, we have we are thrilled to say been inundated with photos and stories of how you celebrated the coronation of King Charles III

As the country celebrated this momentous and historic occasion nowhere with the celebrations more evident than in the care homes where many older residents celebrated the event For the older generation the monarchy represents a sense of tradition, continuity, and respect that has been woven into the fabric of British society for centuries And in care homes where many residents have lived through decades of social

and political change the coronation of a new monarch is an opportunity to connect with a sense of history and belonging that is often missing from modern life

The celebrations in care homes across the UK were a wonderful testament to this enduring sense of tradition and respect From the waving of Union Jacks to the singing of patriotic songs residents came together to mark the occasion with a sense of joy and pride For many it was a chance to reminisce about previous coronations they had witnessed or participated in and to share stories of how their own lives had intersected with the history of the monarchy

(CONTINUED ON FACING PAGE )

Ashcombe House, Basingstoke

Louise Lambert General Manager at Ashcombe House said:

“We’ve all had such a brilliant time celebrating the Coronation, such a momentous occasion Our staff and residents love the Royals and so they were all so excited to take part It has been a real collaborative process - thinking about how we wanted to celebrate planning our activities decorating the home and creating all the party food It was so lovely to be able to invite our friends and family to come and join us for a proper celebration too

Wentwor th Cour t Nursing Home, Cheltenham

We had a spectacular party at Abbot Care Home to celebration the coronation of King Charles Many of our residents and their families and our staff joined together to sing and dance and enjoy great food We had Lee entertains us whilst our residents danced and smooched Our kitchen made a great cake and prepared a buffet for a King Everyone enjoyed spending time together Long live the King!

Walfinch Carers Deliver Coronation Cake

It was Coronation cake all round for clients of the Walfinch homecare franchise in Southampton – and some extra for their families too

Laura Pineiro made cakes decorated with icing sprinkles and rice paper crowns for all of Walfinch homecare’s 15 clients, ahead of the Coronation

We gave each of them two so they had an extra one to share with family or friends while they were watching the ceremony on television says Angela Harding, who co-owns the Walfinch Southampton franchise with Laura

The cakes were a big hit with clients telling the Walfinch team: "Wow they look yummy Thank you so much that is very kind of you I will enjoy them tomorrow whilst watching the coronation on TV with my family and Absolutely fabulous They will go nicely with a good old-fashioned cup of tea and Laura must have been busy! Thank you all they look lovely"

Coronation Afternoon Tea at Hunters Down

At Hunters Down Care Home Huntingdon residents and family members were treated to an afternoon of music entertainment while the kitchen prepared a wonderful buffet

Anca and Myrna manned the Tombola stall with prizes donated from friends and family members with funds raised towards the Residents comfort fund

The residents wore hats and crowns whilst some waved their flags in time to the music

Everyone had a wonderful time and was singing and clapping along to the music ,some residents were even up dancing to the music

The staff also dressed up in union jack costumes and coronation uniforms for the event

The resident said afterwards that they loved the shows and atmosphere created and it was great to get everyone together to celebrate in style

Black Swan Homes Celebrate Coronation Weekend

Residents families and care staff enjoyed the coronation weekend in Black Swan homes across East Anglia Care teams and Activity Co-ordinators supported residents to create home-made decorations posters and crowns Resident enjoyed special lunches and community events were organised, with barbecues, face-painting and open days

A spokesperson for Black Swan said: “it’s been a wonderful weekend in our homes Many of our residents watched the ceremony in our lounges and joined in with the proclamation before enjoying a special lunch The long weekend meant we could open our homes to our local communities and we were delighted to welcome people to join in with our street parties and celebrations ”

Brendoncare Alton in Hampshire

Brendoncare Alton celebrated the special day with a traditional street party

Buchan House, Cambridge Holds Coronation Tea Par ty

Buchan House invited Friends and Family to join them for a Coronation tea party we decorated the home and set our tables up so they looked like an old fashion street party, we dressed in hats, funny glasses and wore feather bowers

Our kitchen team had made us a lovely afternoon tea which was finger sandwiches scones with jam and clotted cream along with lots of yummy cakes We enjoyed a good old time sing along and reminisced about the Queen s Coronation which took place in 1953, Our Buchan family had so much fun and have asked if they can do it all over again next week!

A “Right Royal Celebration”

But beyond the festive atmosphere the celebrations also highlighted the important role that care homes play in bringing people together and fostering a sense of community For many older people care homes can be a place of loneliness and isolation, especially if they are no longer able to leave the home or participate in activities outside But on occasions like the coronation of a new king, care homes become a hub of social activity and connection where residents can bond over shared memories and experiences

In a world where technology and social media have made it easier than ever to connect with people across the globe it is easy to forget the value of local communities and traditions But the celebrations in care homes across the UK reminded us all of the importance of these connections and the role that the monarchy plays in bringing people together For the older generation the coronation of King Charles was not just a symbol of continuity and respect but also a reminder of the value of community and the power of shared history to unite us all

And there is nothing more for the team here at THE CARER to say than THANK YOU!!!!

Rivendell View Care Home Crowns Their Own King and Queen

Residents staff and family members at Rivendell View care home in Stoke Bardolph crowned their own King and Queen in preparation for the coronation They wore a crown and royal cape during their coronation party at the weekend where everyone enjoyed live entertainment from Swing When You re Blue, and a homemade buffet

Excitement in the Air at Austen House in Lower Earley, Reading

Over the bank holiday weekend the home held a Royal Tea Party, a concert with live music performed by fantastic Janet and Francis and a Cheese & Wine Afternoon with a Coronation-themed quiz The whole home came together to celebrate our new King and talk about the new era the country is entering Joseph Patterson General Manager at Austen House said: We ve all had such a brilliant time celebrating the Coronation such a momentous occasion Our staff and residents love the Royals and so they were all so excited to take part It has been a real collaborative process - thinking about how we wanted to celebrate, planning our activities decorating the home and creating all the party food It was so lovely to be able to invite our friends and family to come and join us for a proper celebration too

Ashlyn Care Home in Harlow, Essex

At Ashlyn Care Home, residents celebrated together with friendss and family Weather might have prevented a traditional street party but the home adapted to lay out a BBQ food style buffet along with games

Residents thought it was a lovely day proclaiming it very enjoyable and fun!

Okeley Care Home Enjoy the Magic of the Coronation

Residents and their family members at Okeley Care Home were entertained over the Coronation weekend as Brian the Magician came and performed a magic show and some close up magic Singer Alex Southgate also performed getting everyone singing and dancing along

Gibraltar Nursing Home’s Royal Weekend of Coronation Celebrations and Charity Fundraising

Gibraltar Nursing Home in Monmouth celebrated with many activities and successful events over Coronation weekend On Saturday the home s Pillars restaurant was a sight to behold with decorations and tables laid with the colours of the kingdom and a cheering crowd as King Charles III was crowned A special lunch of traditional fish and chips were served by the home manager and leadership team and was a huge hit with the residents who are affectionately referred to as family members

One of Gibraltar s team members Gabbi who was there on Saturday said the atmosphere was amazing “Family members from each house came down to the pillars to watch the coronation There was music playing in the background family members dancing and singing and everyone coming to together like one big family It was just phenomenal to see so many happy faces It was such a happy joyful atmosphere and made me proud to be a part of Gibraltar ”

Laureston House Residential Home, Dover

On Friday Laureston House Residential Home, Dover held a royal banquet All residents were given a royal title sash and crown and enjoyed a royal banquet for dinner including melon for starter royal quiche for main and a victoria sponge for desert

Residents also took part in a royal quiz before dinner was ready with all staff dressed as royalty

We throughly enjoyed our royal celebrations and was a nice change from our normal street party style picnics we have done in the past

It was a joyous occasion for us all!"

A “Right Royal Celebration”

Coronation Celebrations ‘In Full Sing’ For The New King!

Excitement was in the air at Claremont Parkway Care Home in Kettering for our Big Coronation Lunch on 8th May 2023 We had a fun-filled day of singing, dancing and glorious food including the King s Coronation quiche!

Our residents family and friends of the home enjoyed two live singing performances With male vocalist; Ian Dixon in the morning with his repertoire of sixties songs and the swinging melodies from various eras courtesy of the sensational Jenny Simmons in the afternoon

The lounges and communal areas were full of dancing and laughter as we came together to celebrate our new King; Charles III and Queen Camilla

Natalie Maxwell General Manager at Claremont Parkway said: We ve all had such a brilliant time celebrating the Coronation It has been a real collaborative process and so lovely to be able to invite our friends and family to come and join us for a proper celebration too

Brendoncare Froxfield in Wiltshire

A beautiful Coronation cake was the crowning glory for celebrations at Brendoncare Froxfield in Wiltshire

Coronation Elation:

Belong celebrates the new King and Queen

Customers and families at Belong villages across the North West and Midlands marked the historic occasion with coronation extravaganzas to remember

For the celebration centrepiece the dementia specialist’s Didsbury care village Belong Morris Feinmann formed a singing group led by Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) alumnus and Manchester choirmaster extraordinaire, Dan McDwyer

Having been rehearsing since January, The Tomforte Choir dazzled their families and guests with a collection of favourites including an Abba medley God Save the King and one of His Majesty’s most beloved tunes: They Can t Take That Away from Me

Customers at Belong s seven other villages and home care service Belong at Home, dressed in their best to enjoy the momentous gatherings which transported them back to parties of the past with live entertainment food bubbly and the sharing of stories from previous royal festivities conjuring happy memories of days gone by

Bushey House Beaumont Enjoys a Banquet Fit for a King

Bushey House Beaumont care home marked the King s coronation with a number of events over the weekend and the home suitably decorated so that everyone could enjoy the occasion

The celebrations began with a life size King Charles paying a visit and a wonderful lunch on Saturday following the service which was watched by all the residents in the main dining room For some residents were able to reflect on the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II almost 70 years before Staff and residents had been busy making coronation-themed decorations in preparation for the coronation weekend On Monday the culmination of the festivities in the afternoon there was a party fit for a king with home-made cakes and finger foods prepared by our award- winning Chef Avni

Windsor Lodge Celebrate The Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla

Windsor Lodge are a small private care home in Buckinghamshire and celebrated the coronation over the bank holiday weekend with a community party with colleagues from the FANS (Friends & Neighbour s) network

They hired an entertainer who brought in lots of memorabilia and we were able to hold items and reminisce It concluded with a sing-along and a quiz After watching the ceremony In the care home Windsor Lodge held a party and toasted our new King and Queen

Fortunately two of Windsor Lodge s staff received tickets for the Queen Victoria stand outside Buckinghams Palace with representatives from both Health and Social Care

We had a wonderful view if a little wet!

106 year old Rosella Celebrates Coronation at Grandholm Care Home, Aberdeen

Celebrations took place at Grandholm Care Home part of the Holmes Care Group to mark the King’s Coronation The photo shows resident Rosella Lamont who is 106 years old and has cards from both the late Queen Elizabeth and the new King Charles to celebrate her remarkable age

Avtivities at Healthcare Homes included:

Albany in Oxford

fantastic cake made by the chef Sandown Park in Windsor

a garden tribute

A crown made at Romford Grange Making Union Jacks at Foxearth Lodge in Suffolk

Healthcare Homes Crown in the New King

A “Right Royal Celebration”

Brendoncare Park Road care home in Winchester

In Winchester residents and staff at Brendoncare Park Road ensured they were looking suitably regal for the celebration!

The Chaseley Tr ust in Eastbourne

The Chaseley Trust in Eastbourne celebrated the Coronation by taking part in the Big Help Out Campaign

30 volunteers came and helped to clear their back garden on the morning of Monday 8th May under the lead of Alison their volunteer gardener

Thornhill House, Dar field, Barnsley

Celebrations at St Peter's Care Home, Herne Bay

St Peter s care home in Herne Bay celebrated the coronation with cream teas and a watch party, which was enjoyed by residents and visiting family members

We were amazed at just how much garden they all cleared, and how much garden we found! The group picture was taken in front of one of two big heaps of garden cuttings!

We are so grateful for the time effort and enthusiasm the volunteers gave on the day and cannot wait for our volunteer gardeners to now transform this area into our very own kitchen garden "

Residents and families enjoyed a Coronation tea party & lunch to remember at Thornhill House as well as activities across the whole weekend

A Once-In-A-Lifetime Royal Experience for People Suppor ted by

Community Integrated Care

People supported by one of the UK s biggest social care charities Community Integrated Care, were ‘over the moon’ to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla in the heart of Westminster on Saturday thanks to VIP tickets rewarded to the charity from Skills for Care, the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Four of the charity’s biggest royal enthusiasts received royal treatment as the quartet had front row seats as their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla passed by Buckingham Palace, as well as the appearance of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony and special Armed Forces parades throughout the day

Poignantly Susan Hill from Runcorn who is affectionately known as Princess Susan’ by her friends and support team for her love of the monarchy, was amongst attendees

Having met the Princess of Wales in November last year to share the success of the charity’s Inclusive Volunteering Programme with Rugby League World Cup 2021 the opportunity to watch King Charles coronation live from London was a dream come true for Susan

Susan said I was over the moon when I heard I d received tickets to the Coronation and so excited to be there in person It was amazing to be in London and see King Charles and Queen Camilla crowned The day felt like a dream I am so grateful for everyone that made this experience possible ”

Venus Healthcare Homes

Venus Healthcare Homes service users joined the rest of the country in commemorating King Charles III s historic coronation Service users at Toby Lodge, our residential care home in Whitechapel followed the coronation live broadcast then celebrated over a special lunch and a coronation themed cake Across town our supported living service users got together at V Lodge in Sutton for a coronation themed party on Saturday afternoon

On Saturday 6 May

Shaw Healthcare Celebrate in Style!

At Shaw Healthcare there were homemade cakes treats & nibbles staff dressed up as The Queen and of course the King! Residents were treated like royalty as they all wore their crowns whilst eating lunch

A “Right Royal Celebration”

CHD Living Care Facilities Celebrate Across Surrey

CHD Living care residences celebrated Coronation weekend with some outstanding afternoon teas and parties fit for a king They also celebrated one resident s 100th birthday at Abbey Chase with Lillian marking the Coronation with her very own note from the new King

The King’s Coronation: Street Par ties, Concer ts and Goody Bags as Care Home Veterans Join Royal Revelr y

Veterans at Royal Star & Garter have had a long weekend of celebrations and parties to mark the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Residents at the charity s three Homes in Solihull Surbiton and High Wycombe enjoyed street parties, live music and treats, as they marked the historic event ABF The Soldiers Charity helped prepare for the revelries by contributing toward coronation bunting for each of the Homes, as well as sweet treats and goody bags which included a coronation pen and pin badge for all residents Royal Star & Garter caterers Signature Dining also provided cupcakes for residents and staff members in the Homes

Brigadier (Ret d) Peter Monteith Chief Operating Officer ABF The Soldiers Charity said: “We treasure our close relationship with Royal Star & Garter and the veteran care home community and are delighted to help residents mark the King s coronation in style It is a time for great celebration and excitement, and it’s lovely to share this with the Royal Star & Garter family

Royal Celebrations Light Up Care Homes Across The South

Hundreds of royal well-wishers at care homes across the south celebrated the historic Coronation bank holiday weekend in style

Residents and team members at Colten Care s 21 homes in Hampshire Dorset Wiltshire and West Sussex all shared in the joy of the ceremony patriotism and colourful spectacle of events

Amid a sea of Union Jacks and red white and blue decorations the homes’ fun featured street parties lunches live music games quizzes charity fundraising and visits by families friends and entertainers

Green-fingered residents at The Aldbury in Poole contributed to three King Charles-themed artworks in their garden

They spelt out his name by colouring in pebbles around a heart-shaped floral tribute of 40 begonias combined with lilies of the valley, known as his favourite flower

At Castle View in the Duchy of Cornwall community in Poundbury Dorset residents celebrated the particular association that King Charles has with the home As Prince of Wales he performed its official opening in 2002 visited again in 2014 and took time to speak to team members on a neighbourhood walkabout in May 2022

At Brook View in West Moors Dorset residents and members of the local parish council shared a Coronation goodies box complete with fizzy drinks and cupcakes

At the same time residents at Wellington Grange in Chichester had fun with friends and family at a Coronation lunch held at the nearby Graylingwell Chapel arts and community centre

Undoubtedly a Memorable Weekend!

A fantastic weekend was had by all as we gathered in honour of King Charles' Coronation The team and residents at Sherrell House enjoyed the preparations leading up to the main event which included hanging up bunting and decorations as well as having an Arts & Crafts session with Wells Park School

While some enjoyed watching the big event on television we also had a live entertainer on hand for those who wanted to sing along and have a boogie Glen Mclaughlin gave a fantastic performance beginning with our National Anthem to which everyone joined in and, of course, weaved their flags!

A Tea Par ty Fit For A King at Thistle Cour t!

Excitement was brewing at Thistle Court Care Home in Cwmbran in anticipation of the King’s Coronation this weekend

The team decorated the home with banners, bunting and balloons and a tea party was held on Saturday for the residents who are fondly referred to as family members

Home Manager, Sarah Butfield said “the team baked some homemade cakes for everyone to enjoy with their nibbles and tea It was a lovely weekend for us all to have fun together!

A “Right Royal Celebration”

Dorset Care Homes Celebrate The King’s Coronation with VIP Guests and Mayoral Visits

Care South, a not-for-profit charity and leading provider of residential, nursing and dementia care across the south of England celebrated His Majesty The King s Coronation weekend with a programme of events and parties involving VIPs and local mayors

To mark the momentous occasion Elizabeth House care home unveiled a commemorative plaque Unveiled on May 6 by The Mayor and Mayoress of Poole Cllr & Mrs Tony Trent the plaque will stand as a permanent reminder of The Coronation The home’s celebrations continued with a party for residents and their families with a BBQ music and cake stall

Fairlawn care home, situated in Ferndown, enjoyed a calendar filled with exciting Coronation-themed events Residents sipped on fizz and enjoyed cordon bleu canapés as well as a unique performance from Fairlawn’s own choir made up of residents from the home who sang songs in celebration

Maiden Castle House in Dorchester enjoyed a star-studded party with a performance by the lead singer of Dorset rock band, The Leggomen, who played an acoustic set whilst residents ate cream teas fit for royalty

Hatherleigh Nursing Home Celebrate King s Coronation 2023

Hatherleigh Nursing Home based near Okehampton were eagerly awaiting the King’s Coronation that took place on Saturday 6th May united in anticipation and excitement for the celebrations ahead

In preparation for the weekend, the Devon home invited professional vocalist and entertainer Zara King to perform for their residents who are fondly known as family members

Zara covers songs from the 40s to the 70s specifically aimed for a mature audience She has created a Coronation themed performance to be enjoyed alongside a celebratory buffet that the team have organised

Glebefields Care Home Celebrates with Royal Crafts

At Glebefields Care Home in Drayton Village

Banbury where residents and staff have been busy making Coronationthemed decorations in preparation for the King s Coronation and their special Community Afternoon Tea today, 5th May

Staff and residents at the home put their heads together and came up with a variety of pre coronation themed activities to create stunning crafts that are fit for royalty Cynthia Ivy and Barry have crafted beautiful hat decorations while Helen Bert and Stanley utilised their artistic skills to design unique colouring sheets Our ladies are getting very excited with Pam Edith Marlene Sheila and Minnie crafting beautiful decorations that have added a regal touch to our home

Care Home Marks The King’s Coronation With Community Ar t Installation

Yorkshire-based not-for-profit care provider Harrogate Neighbours St Aidan’s CE High School and Harrogate-based artist Sarah Charneca from Brunswick Studio have joined forces to create a unique and vibrant art installation at The Cuttings, Harrogate Neighbours’ extra care scheme

The project which is inspired by the work of pop art icon Andy Warhol is a community celebration and a tribute to the Coronation of King Charles III

Acclaimed artist and art tutor Sarah Charneca was chosen to lead the project based on her previous work for the Queen s Platinum Jubilee Sarah set students at the school a brief to create their own interpretation of the King’s Coronation on a silhouette of King Charles III 42 students between the age of 11-18 took part in the art project during the Easter break led by Teacher of Art at St Aidan s Sarah Meader

Goldenley Care Home Celebrates with Their Own Pearly King

At Goldenley Care Home Faith the lifestyle coordinator organised the coronation party including the morning to start off with residents and families watching the ceremony with team members getting dressed up for the occasion

The residents enjoyed a lovely buffet an assortment of sandwiches and a delicious cream tea

The residents were then entertained by Elena singing songs from around the world to incorporate the countries in the Commonwealth wearing a variety of different costumes before bring greeted by their own Pearly Kings - three generations including the dad John Scott, son Terry Scott and grandson Terry Scott who chatted with residents they joined Elena with singing London songs and then did a turn themselves There was much jollity in the home throughout the rest of the day with Pearly s entertaining the residents with a good old Cockney knees up

King’s Coronation Celebrations at Reigate Beaumont

We started off on Friday with National Gardening Week with residents family & visitors being able to chat to Rob our gardener Saturday we were all glued to our television sets, watching the Coronation, while lunch was a feast of traditional British Cuisine perfectly suited this occasion In the afternoon we had a packed lounge with our Coronation Big Tea! It was wonderful to hear everyone join in and sing God Save The King together and reminisce about the morning s events Sunday we were extremely fortunate to have the delightful Charlotte granddaughter of two residents perform songs for us

IF YOU HAVEN'T APPEARED YET, DON'T WORRY! WATCH FOR THE SECOND PART OF OUR CORONATION SUPPLEMENT IN NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE

Continence Care in Residential Care Settings

Incontinence presents as a common problem for a considerable number of people in adult social care and describes an accidental or involuntary loss of urine or faeces

It is common among elderly people however many elderly people feel ashamed and embarrassed about incontinence concerns This can mean they are often very reluctant to ask for help For people who need incontinence help this can really impact the quality of their life and overall well-being

Women are more often affected by incontinence with 75% of those over 65 reporting urine leakages

For elderly people in care homes, 30-50% of them will need incontinence care 60-70% of people living with dementia or Alzheimer s disease will be incontinent

Incontinence is a symptom of underlying problems which with assessment and investigation can be identified and treated Even when a remedy is not achievable optimum methods of incontinence management can produce social continence' helping to lessen embarrassment and maintain patient dignity

According to the British Geriatric Society the main causes of incontinence are:

Urge incontinence (detrusor overactivity) In this condition the patient is unable to prevent involuntary bladder contractions which cause urgency with little or no warning of incontinence The sufferer may respond to this urgency by frequent visits to the toilet day and night Urge incontinence is often made worse by anxiety or fast bladder filling for example after diuretic medications

• Stress incontinence (pelvic floor weakness) A small leakage of urine occurs on physical exertion such as standing lifting coughing or sneezing and rarely occurs during sleep at night This is the commonest cause of incontinence in middle aged women and is seen in some men after prostatectomy

Overflow incontinence (retention of urine) The patient will have a large post-void residual urine volume and may complain of continuous dribbling incontinence or symptoms like stress incontinence Recurrent urinary tract infections are common and the condition is made worse by constipation or anticholinergic medication

Overflow incontinence can be caused by diabetes and some types of nerve damage It also occurs in men with prostatic obstruction

Outflow obstruction This almost always occurs in men who may complain of difficulty in starting micturition, poor urinary stream and dribble after micturition, perhaps with a feeling of inadequate emptying

Functional incontinence (e g poor or painful mobility, loss of dexterity, impaired communication mental confusion and depression) Incontinence is due to inability to reach and use the toilet

Residents in long term care settings have special needs and the standard of continence care provided varies between each area and between homes and requires specialist products to help those suffering with continence issues

MANFRED SAUER UK

Since 1976 Manfred Sauer UK Ltd has provided a range of innovative urology and continence care products to help sufferers of urinary incontinence But unlike other providers their effective and user-friendly products are often designed and tested with input from end users and healthcare professionals

Listed below are some of their products all available on prescription:

SHEATHS

Manfred Sauer offer five different types of urinary sheath to facilitate the drainage of urine away from the body into a drainage bag

LEG BAGS

Manfred Sauer supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities:

• Discreet Thigh Bag can be worn high up on the thigh area and hidden under clothes

Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult

Comfort Leg Bag range comes in a variety of materials from velvet smooth real cotton and flock backing

Children s Bag with smaller capacity and proportions

CATHETERS

When performing ISC you need something that is simple to use soft and flexible Manfred Sauer s IQ-Cath male female and paediatric single-use catheters are ready for use immediately and the protective sleeve on the male and paediatric catheters facilitates a no-touch technique

NEPHSYS BAG AND BELT SYSTEM

For people who have had a Nephrostomy NephSys can drastically improve their lives As well as providing a secure and sterile solution the system is comfortable and discreet

Contact Manfred Sauer s helpline team on 01604 595 696 or visit

www manfred-sauer co uk for more information about each product or to order a free sample

MoliCare® Celebrates 40 Years of Incontinence Protection, Ever y Day

MoliCare® the global incontinence brand is celebrating 40 years of supporting people carers and healthcare professionals with solution-based pads pants and skincare products The product range has been designed to help the everyday needs of those living with incontinence and bladder weakness, with the care of the skin at the heart of the MoliCare® brand

Incontinence is a condition that affects 1 in 4 women in the UK For a condition which is so common there is still a sense of embarrassment and isolation that leaves people feeling lonely and unsupported In fact, 68% of those living with incontinence feel that it has had a negative impact on their quality of life and just over half believe that urinary incontinence is a taboo subject Therefore it is vital that there is an increase in societal support as well as a wide range of simple solutions for people living with incontinence

MoliCare® has developed a range of pads and pants which feel like underwear Over the last forty years the brand has continued to focus on protection security and comfort as the core criteria for its product performance MoliCare® believes in plain talking backed up by their healthcare professional expertise to create simple solutions for people living with incontinence

MoliCare® continually strives to address the needs of its customers; from nurses through to care givers family members and people living with incontinence

They have developed an easy to remember acronym - ‘SAS’ - to simplify the product selection process

S – Style There are various styles such as large and small pads, or complete pull up mobile pants to suit various levels of mobility There are also products for men and women based on anatomical differences and urine flow

A – Absorbency MoliCare®’ s droplet guide makes selection straightforward

S – Size, MoliCare® s in-depth sizing guide ensures that products selected are a comfortable and secure fit

HARTMANN the company behind MoliCare® continues to invest in and develop in their products This

includes the introduction of new technology to the MoliCare® Premium Form range of large shaped pads that now features a new absorbent core known as ADL (Acquisition Distribution Layer) The ADL layer contains super absorbent polymers treated with Citrate which neutralise the urine, for better skin health In addition the ADL layer now features a new channel set within the pad to help to distribute urine Both innovations improve the feeling of dryness by over 70%, again demonstrating MoliCare® s commitment to skin care

As part of MoliCare®’s holistic approach to incontinence, the brand has developed a range of specialist skincare products which are skin friendly pH balanced and are gentle on delicate sensitive skin Used together MoliCare® provides a complete skin care and incontinence management solution

Amy Jaworska MoliCare® B2C Channel Manager comments; as a global manufacturer and expert in the field of Incontinence and Bladder Weakness, we are delighted to be celebrating 40 years of the MoliCare® brand supporting people living with incontinence

MoliCare® invests in the research design and development of our premium incontinence products to ensure they meet the highest quality reliability and protection for people living with incontinence We also support loved ones carers and healthcare professionals alike with the right support for the people they care for, because the individual’s wellbeing and quality of life is at the heart of everything we do

MoliCare® is a leading global brand of incontinence products manufactured by the HARTMANN Group MoliCare® works in partnership with Healthcare Professionals to develop clinically effective products advice and innovative Home Delivery service solution packages to meet lifestyle needs For more information and to order please call 0800 028 9470 or Visit www hartmanndirect co uk/incontinence-products

CYBER SECURITY

Why You Should Consider A Cybersecurity Strategy In Your Care Facility

cure so review your current security strategy to ensure that you have the proper policies and best practices in place to meet any required standards or obligatory regulations This should include a review of your security operations network and data security to check that you are protected from exploitation and have prevention and monitoring procedures in place

Carry out a cyber security assessment to identify the types of attack that you may be vulnerable to and assess how prepared your business is to respond to an incident Consider your ability to detect malicious activity, the procedures you have in place to contain an attack and what your incident response process is

Create a best practice guide to help prevent your exposure to cyber threats and share with all employees This should include the use of strong passwords which are updated regularly Software and systems should also be checked regularly, and updates actioned when due The use of two-factor authentication when available should also be implemented

employees for a coordinated calm and fast reaction to an unexpected cyber event

Cyber attacks are on the increase and the healthcare sector is one of the most targeted industries According to a recent survey conducted by email security firm Agari 67% of healthcare organisations in the UK have suffered a cybersecurity incident over the last 12 months Of all healthcare cyber incidents in the last year 48% have been the result of malware or viruses introduced to the network by third-party devices

To help protect your care home or care facility from the threat of a cyber related incident we recommend putting a robust cybersecurity strategy in place to sit alongside your insurance programme You should create a cyber risk assessment and action preventative measures including a best practice guide This will help to reassure your employees customers suppliers and any third parties that you are as ready as possible in the event of a cyber threat

To identify areas of weakness or vulnerability you should assess the security of your information or data Prevention is always better than

Ensure you are following the most up to date guidance on GDPR and that your data protection officer has all the latest information It s a legal obligation of any business to ensure appropriate and proportionate security is in place to protect any personal data held, to safeguard the rights of individuals You must also report any data breaches to the ICO within 72 hours of discovery

Provide your staff with Cyber Security Awareness Training so they can spot suspicious looking communications understand how hackers get in and the importance of strong passwords Educating your entire organisation helps to minimise potential attacks and can also help to reduce internal security incidents It’s also a good idea to create a robust reporting procedure to ensure that all employees are aware of any potential or recent Cyber attacks

With more of us working from home, you should make sure your remote working methods are protected and procedures are adhered to by all

Put together a business continuity plan and share with key

Your immediate response to an event will be key to the overall impact on your business Consider how you will contact everyone that may have been affected as a result of a data breach to help retain your customer database customer confidence brand reputation and trust

Don t wait until you have experienced a cyber attack to put measures in place be proactive and help protect your business now We can help you to develop a robust cyber security strategy as part of your complete insurance programme managing your exposure to cyber risks

Speak to us about arranging cyber liability insurance or carrying out a cyber risk assessment by calling us on 01480 272727 or emailing enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker co uk

Find out more about cyber liability insurance at www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk/cyberliability

FOOD AND DRINK

Discover The Power Of Chefs’ Most Trusted Bouillon*

With 25 years' expertise in special diets and nutrition for the elderly Chef Preston brings you the latest insights on providing nutritionally dense dishes for residents

Meanwhile two Michelin-starred Chef Tom has developed a range of classic recipes with a modern seasonal twist, each utilising products from the Knorr Professional Bouillons range in a different way

Knorr Professional s Bouillons are available in Powder Paste and Jelly formats offering chefs versatility and flexibility in usage and application plus consistent depth of flavour every time

Chefs Tom Kerridge and Preston Walker have joined forces with Knorr Professional Bouillons to launch a new training hub for chefs This new online platform The Base contains exclusive recipes video tutorials and training tools that will help other professionals working in Care Homes to improve their skills in the kitchen

Anglia Crown - Popular Dishes for Ever yone

Anglia Crown offer a wide range of hot and cold desserts that are ideal for a wellbalanced, nutritional diet, including choices that do not contain gluten Our Crown Choice and Advantage ranges include some fifty-eight dishes, including our new warming Ginger Chocolate Chip Sponge and delicious, comforting custard that goes with almost any hot dessert

Our Crown Choice cold dessert includes the perennial favourites such as Chocolate Cake, whilst our Crown Advantage range also offer ‘reduced sugar’ desserts All individual Crown Advantage desserts come in packs of eighteen whilst the Crown Choice desserts come in packs of 3 and 6 allowing accurate portioning and cutting down on any potential waste

Many of the Anglia Crown dishes can be teamed up with fresh fruit allowing for additional choice Items such as our Carrot Cake or Vanilla Cheesecake can be accom-

Chef Preston Walker said: I m so proud to be partnering with Knorr Professional Bouillons to create and share recipes and tips that will genuinely help improve the skills of chefs working in this exciting sector GET

panied by whipped cream garnished with seasonal fresh fruit

Our hot desserts are high in energy our hot portions of 170kcal and above provide energy and protein dense options and when served with custard provide over 250 kcal per serving Our cold desserts of 250 kcal and above also meet the energy guidelines in the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Nutrition and Hydration Digest (2017) requirements

VEGAN SUITABLE CHOICES

At Anglia Crown we pride ourselves with the array of vegetarian and gluten free dishes that we offer including an impressive range of desserts This was recognised with us being named at the Vegetarian Wholesaler of the Year 2022 at the VfL Awards for Excellence in Veg n Care Catering

All the Anglia Crown hot desserts are suitable for vegetarians Most of the Anglia Crown vegan products have been registered with the Vegan Society including some thirteen of the dessert dishes ” Anglia Crown are here to help take the strain out of your menus throughout the year Visit www angliacrown co uk for further details

Nutritional Support for Effective Diabetes Care for Older People

Diabetes currently affects a whopping 4 9 million people in the UK And with the condition more commonly prevalent amongst the elderly population catering to those with medical conditions such as diabetes is incredibly important

Effective diabetes care for older people requires nutritional support to help maintain healthy blood sugar level and reduce the risk of complications However Bidfood has recognised through customer insight that catering for diabetes within the care sector is especially challenging as care homes continue to operate under tight budgets and are feeling the impact of rising food costs

Consistently creating nutritious and delicious meals tailored to residents’ individual requirements isn’t always easy especially when you are juggling time budgets stock levels and the skill level of your staff So to help navigate these challenges Bidfood has launched Caterers Campus an online learning platform exclusive to Bidfood customers that takes the hard work out of supporting your team – so you have more time to focus on your residents

Designed by our chefs for your chefs the specialist diabetes module includes understanding the causes and symptoms how to cater for diabetes as well as inspiration to help with menu planning all to aid and equip care home staff with the right information and guidance they need Made up of over 30 chapters the unit also features a knowledge test at the end to really make sure everything has sunk in

To accompany Caterers Campus we ve also devised a comprehensive guide to help carers support residents with diabetes Packed full of advice our guide will fill you with confidence when discussing diabetic care with your team members and residents

Bidfood’s Culinary Development Chef for the care sector Wayne Wright has put together a full seven day meal plan to help inspire those in the care setting when catering for diabetes Here are some of his top tips:

* Be careful with the carbs try to not overdo it by adding in too many

* Make healthy swaps like whole grain sweet potatoes wholemeal flour and lean cuts of meat

* Instead of adding sugar and salt for flavour add herbs spices lemon and lime juice

* Lastly, remember to keep an eye on the portion sizes

See the advert on the previous page for further information

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Gain Valuable Insight With Adveco For Gas To Electric Decarbonisation Of Care Homes

Care homes intending to replace existing gas-fired domestic hot water (DHW) systems with more sustainable electric technologies as part of a decarbonisation strategy should invest in data gathering first recommends hot water specialist Adveco

Live Metering is a simple to install non-invasive onsite service provided by Adveco that generates consistent six minute data 24 hours per day from existing hot water systems to accurately understand actual usage including critical peak demands and their profile shape Adveco s specialist engineers will visit to fit the meter and assess the site The data will then be processed and a report generated with design recommendations for a replacement system that meets the exact needs of the building

The most consistent issue we see in healthcare hot water systems is oversizing whether through lack of understanding of application design or concerns over providing suitable back up to ensure system continuity The result of oversizing is always the same, unnecessary capital costs for system supply and installation, and ongoing excess operational costs associated with higher energy demands and therefore greater carbon emissions As the

Is Your Care Home Ready for its 2023 CQC Inspection?

care sector seeks to adopt greener building operations, replacing old gas-fired systems with like-for-like electric is another guaranteed way to gain an oversized system If the replacement system is oversized operational costs climb as the price of electricity per kW remains high Should demand exceed a building s available amperage of electrical supply project installation costs will inevitably soar or even stall the project This can be avoided by understanding your actual hot water demands and designing the replacement to meet those specific needs This is why accurate data is so valuable

The recommended replacement design by Adveco will show carbon reduction and outline new operational costs Accurate to the actual demands of the property live metered designs avoid excess capital costs associated with oversizing and ensures operation within the limits of the existing electrical supply of the building

Organisations which opt to purchase the recommended replacement system from Adveco will receive a 50% refund on the cost of implementing the initial Live Metering service

Talk to Adveco about booking metering at your property https://adveco co/products/live-metering/ See the advert on page 6 for further details

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

T&S Grab Rails

As we age or face physical challenges our mobility becomes limited and basic tasks can become challenging Our company specializes in providing high-quality support rails in both stainless and mild steel catering to a wide range of

Our Animal World

Our Animal World is an educational and therapeutic mobile zoo providing both informative and therapeutic experiences for care homes disabled residencies hospices parties schools and events in Suffolk, Norfolk Cambridgeshire, Essex, North and East London

Laura runs all the sessions and is a fully qualified teacher with significant SEN experience and an Animal

Assisted therapist diploma

Animal visits to care facilities have shown specifically to decrease the agitated behaviours of residents who have dementia and can help combat depression ADHD schizophrenia loneliness autism and PTSD Therapy increases residents social interactions too

Our Animal World are set apart from other similar companies by their purpose-built van which houses 16 individual animal enclosures Each has their own

light source and heat source as required We can also add our 6m x 3m gazebo to the back to extend the spacethis allows up to 30 different species to be brought out in one go This allows Our Animal World to pull up anywhere without the need of going into a venue, although for most care homes we usually set up in a communal area such as a café or lounge

Our Animal World houses over 40 different species of animals including a variety of reptiles amphibians invertebrates mammals and birds We are insured for up to £10 million DBS checked exotic vet and council checked and licenced by Mid Suffolk District Council For the full list of animals or more information visit www ouranimalworld com email us info@ouranimalworld com or call us on 07519 340 788 See the advert on page 5 for details

For any care home, the laundry process is critical to maintaining stringent hygiene standards and is therefore service area that will be closely evaluated upon inspection by the Care Quality Commission In order to ensure that your care home has efficient and CQC compliant procedures in place Forbes Professional advises that imperatives go beyond the need for commercial laundry equipment that provides the requisite disinfection

The CQC state on their website that for care homes to achieve their Good rating there is an expectation of a designated room for storage and managing laundry They will also require that ‘laundry processes follow national guidance and correctly manage’ and clean ‘used and infectious laundry to minimise risk of infection Efficient segregation of clean and soiled laundry is essential at all times with a clean and dirty flow system to

Yeoman Shield Fire Door Ser vices Taking the Guess Work out of Fire Doors

Fire Doors are an imperative part of fire safety and are considerations of the design and maintenance of any building but especially residential Article 17 –RRFSO states fire safety provisions (includes fire doors) must be maintained in a suitable condition order

If you are the Responsible Person it s 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 in the long term financially beneficial by halting 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 prevent 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 or see the advert page 10

Joerns Healthcare Ups the Anti with Next Generation Stand Assist

Joerns Healthcare s new Oxford Up is a uniquely designed active manual stand aid supporting assisted standing seated transfers and patient rehabilitation Previewed at the Moving and Handling People Conference and OT Show in the latter half of 2022 it commanded a lot of interest and positive review from those who matter

The Up will form part of the Oxford Professional series complimenting the already established Switch Journey and Ascend stand assist solutions Suitable for clients who require some assistance when standing but are able to participate and contribute effort to the process the Up can also be deployed as a useful rehabilitation aid

Manufactured using a combination of steel and aluminium framework the Oxford Up meets or exceeds all applicable design and regulatory standards and unlike other stand assist products it quickly and conveniently dismantles into three separate components This significantly eases storage requirements and facilitates onward transportation in the boot of a car

Reassembly takes a matter of seconds and the Up is ready for use again

Owing to its unique and robust design the Up successfully achieves a safe working load rating of 200kg (31st) Careful attention to component geometry including the single upright mast section, allows for a fully contained footplate, ensuring patients have no risk of toes overhanging the edge and potential conflict with the rear castors or foot opening pedals

Injury reduction fall prevention and ergonomic principles were fundamental considerations during the development phase A large multi-point push handle aids manoeuvrability for the care giver and the foot push pad a common feature on Oxford Professional series products provides a means of generating forward momentum when moving a patient Optimum positioning of the swing-away moulded seat pads and knee support help ensure comfort for the patient Adjustable leg opening allows closer access around furniture promoting improved patient positioning and general ease of use

High-grade castors offer excellent manoeuvrability across many floor surfaces and ensures a smooth and comfortable transfer for both the patient and carer The centralised singular upright mast when compared to comparative products with dual seat posts results in softer transitions over room thresholds and different floor types It effectively serves to dampen the vibration felt through the seat pads culminating in more comfortable and less disconcerting transfers for patients Where additional seated support is required the Oxford Deluxe Standing sling (With Clips) is fully compatible with the Up and available in three standard sizes: small medium and large

please contact

Surestop

Making a home safe secure and comfortable can be difficult for those with cognitive impairments long term injuries or medical conditions that cause mobility issues

One of the biggest risks to the home is water damage A brass stopcock is the last line of defence from water damage They are often inaccessible or in a hard-to-reach location What s more they are susceptible to seizing up If someone is unable to turn off their water in an emergency or when they leave their home even a small leak could cause significant dam-

Just Bowl

When residents enter a care home their daily routine inevitably changes and consequently several forms of physical activity are no longer possible One such activity that is synonymous with older adults is bowls Sadly for many residents when they enter a care home they will no longer be able to enjoy a roll up on a sunny afternoon However the Bowls Development Alliance is helping to change that by introducing Just Bowl into the care sector Just Bowl is a fun easy to play form of bowls that can be used in care homes rehabilitation centres and just about anywhere else Ian McCombes the Just Bowl Manager explains ‘We work with our partners to offer a bespoke training package which is supplemented by our exclusive equipment We provide aftercare support and guidance to ensure that Just

C&S Seating Ltd

C&S Seating Ltd have provided postural control equipment to residential homes, hospices, medical equipment services and NHS trust hospitals nationwide since 1991

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

C&S Seating Ltd is the sole manufacturer of the

age to a property

Surestop is a unique device, which works on water pressure No electrics or batteries, enabling the safe management of water use With a flick of the switch, the Surestop instantly turns off the water to a sink toilet, bathroom kitchen, or the entire property

It is easily installed and a low-cost safety measure that should be considered in every property

The Surestop can be installed by itself or with a remote switch

The Surestop is WRAS approved and is limescale resistant so will never seize

A Surestop is peace of mind for you and your home

Telephone 0121 280 1685

Email enquiries@surestop co uk

Bowl is being utilised to its full potential

The team have also been working with Sheffield Hallam University to conduct research to identify what impact Just Bowl has had on residents The findings showed that Just Bowl encouraged inclusivity as 83% of the participants had a disability and 75% of the participants were aged 81-101 years of age It also helped to increase physical activity levels with research showing the average levels increased by 40 minutes per week Just Bowl also created a sociable and fun atmosphere as residents were able to bond whilst playing the game which subsequently lead to an improvement in mental wellbeing and happiness and a reduction in anxiety

Additionally the research established that exercise self-efficacy increased following participation in Just Bowl which suggests that participants felt more confident in their ability to be physically active

For further information on Just Bowl please visit us at UK Care Week at stand E40 or contact Ian on 07741873233 or ian@justbowl org

Alternatively see the advert on the front cover of this issue

Alternative Positioning Support – also available in two sizes which has removable side cushions and middle pommel for when more control of the abducted lower limb is required

Our popular and vibrant range of Soft Knit covers in a choice of 5 colours provide a softer alternative ideal for the colder seasons and are designed to fit snug over our waterproof rolls for maximum protection and comfort Contact us on 01424 853331 or visit www cands-seating co uk to request or download a brochure, pricelist or order form, request an individualised quotation speak to an advisor or to place an order

See the advert on page 19

Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name”

have been trading since 1846 and have built up a reputation for superior value for money quality personalised and non-personalised items for many different outlets

We supply to Nursing and Residential Homes Schools

Scout Cub Guide and Brownie Groups as well as to the small or large business entrepreneur Our range of Designer name tapes add a professional look to garments crafts or other hobby items

Many of us have loved ones relatives or friends who need specialist care in a Nursing or Residential Home

Do you know someone who struggles to find shoes or slippers to fit? Cosyfeet the specialists in extra roomy footwear can help Wider and deeper than anything on the high street their British designed footwear is expertly crafted to fit and flatter extra wide and swollen feet

Now spring has arrived Cosyfeet s newest collection boasts a fabulous range of styles in a choice of delicate powder blues fresh florals and bright colours to see you through the season in style Get ready for the bright and breezy days ahead with supportive fabric styles so you can walk in cotton-soft comfort there s also a great selection of ontrend but comfy sandals Discover their new Sport

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels for Drug-Free Natural Pain Relief

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy

Gels are natural drug-free topical cold therapy gels for muscular and joint pain chronic arthritic pain postactivity muscle tension general aches and overuse disorders Easy to use and fast acting BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels relieve pain reduce inflammation and swelling without drugs and drug-related side-effects

BIOFROST® Gels:

BIOFROST® Relief Cold Gel for pain relieving cold therapy

BIOFROST® Active Dual-Action Cold Gel w th Heat Sensat on comb ning cold with heat to treat back pain

BIOFROST® Relief provides instant pain relief and activates body’s own healing through an optimal combination of natural ingredients including ethanol, menthol eucalyptus, peppermint and MSM Reported benefits of BIOFROST® Relief include lasting pain relief, improved joint movements, comfort during sleep, fewer cramps calmed nerve pain reduced joint and muscle discomfort and faster post-activity recoveries

Skopos has 50 years experience of supplying specialist contract fabrics and soft furnishings to Care interiors With new collections launched each year many Skopos fabrics are antimicrobial coming under the umbrella of Skopos ProtectPlus including waterproof upholstery options (specifically for care) soil and stain resist fabrics and printed fabrics for all types of Care environments Skopos can offer a fabric-only service or a full service; with site measure product manufacture and installation The Skopos team produce approximately 25 000 made-up items each year including bed-throws cushions and pairs of curtains all manufactured by a highly-skilled team of machinists cutters and pattern makers; items that are delivered and installed into different contract environments

BIOFROST® Active is a dualaction fast-acting cold gel with heat sensation for effective relief of muscular and joint pain Containing 10 natural herbal extracts (i e Arnica Burdock Roman Chamomile Garlic Watercress Ivy White Nettle Pine Rosemary Menthol)

BIOFROST® Active relieves chronic pain releases muscular tension loosens stiff joints and effectively treats back pain Benefits of BIOFROST® Active include easier joint movements effective pain relief in treated areas discomfort-free sleep fewer cramps and reduced post-activity muscular and joint fatigue

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are usable standalone or alongside other pain relieving therapies (i e medication, physiotherapy, etc ) BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are suitable for people of any age, including elderly and disabled people living independently or in nursing care

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are Class 1 Medical Devices made in Finland

Win Health Medical Ltd: T: 01835 864864866

E: biofrost@win-health com

W: www win-health com

See the advert on page 3

blackout/dimout fabrics

With a target reduction of energy consumption at the forefront of everyone s agenda Skopos are also pleased to have included a new wide-width double-sided blackout lining into their core offer As an optional choice on all Skopos made-up curtains the Reflection lining can be used in 2 different ways depending on the environment it is specified for On the most-part in the UK the lining will be used with the silver side facing inwards towards the room minimising any heat loss through the curtain With the silver side facing out the lining helps to reflect heat thereby keeping the room cooler The lining can facilitate a substantial reduction in energy bills

Skopos also offers a Bespoke design service for statement interiors that are unique to your environment or brand

In this busy environment clothes and personal items can easily get misplaced if they are not named otherwise this can become very stressful for the resident, relatives and the Care Home itself

Our woven clothing name tapes are extremely robust and are sewn on to garments to ensure that they stand the rigorous washing processes necessary Self-adhesive labels are easily applied to name shoes and books and make marking treasured items effortless to most other non-fabric items

We have recently introduced several new items such as magnetic name tags and personalised hi-vis jackets along with updated gifts such as personalised mugs and mousemats Check out the ad on page 9 for our offer code

Visit www cashslabels com

As with all Skopos prints customers are able to order designs across base-cloths for upholstery, curtains and bedding Qualities include waterproof upholsteries velvets drapery linen-effect qualities and

For samples of any of our collections www skoposfabrics com or see advert on page 5

Raising the Standard of Stair Climbing Solutions

The Stair Climbing Company is one of the leading providers of powered Stair Climber solutions, which have been specifically 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 commercial 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 manufacturer 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 carrier 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 15

Consort Claudgen Includes Wi-Fi Enabled Heaters in LST Range

Consort Claudgen s low surface temperature heaters range now includes heaters that are Wi-Fi enabled These heaters connect directly to Wi-Fi and heating can be controlled from the digital control panel on the heater or Consort Connect app Features include a 7-day timer with 24 heating periods per day lock function open window detection and custom automations Users can also view the energy consumption statistics of all connected heaters Additionally LST heaters with Wi-Fi and occupancy sensor have a selflearning control ability which uses in-built

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

Legionella is a bacterium that can cause a serious and potentially fatal form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires disease The disease can be contracted by inhaling small droplets of water contaminated with the bacteria which can be found in various water systems, such as showers, taps, and air conditioning units

Residential care homes where vulnerable individuals are often housed are particularly susceptible to Legionella contamination In these environments residents may have weakened immune systems due to age illness or medication making them more susceptible to infection As a result it is essential that care homes have regular Legionella testing and risk assessments in place to ensure the safety of their residents

Legionella testing involves taking samples of water from various sources throughout the care home and testing them for the presence of Legionella bacteria A risk assessment on the other hand involves identifying potential sources of contamination and evaluating the level of risk they pose to residents This includes factors such as the age and condition of water systems the presence of dead legs or unused outlets and the frequency of use of certain water systems

By conducting regular Legionella testing and risk assessments care homes can identify potential sources of contamination and take the necessary measures to prevent the spread of Legionella bacteria These measures can include flushing and cleaning water systems implementing temperature control measures

and introducing regular disinfection procedures

In addition to protecting residents from the risk of infection, regular Legionella testing and risk assessments can also help care homes comply with their legal obligations

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees and anyone else who may be affected by their activities including residents of care homes The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 also require employers to assess and control the risks associated with hazardous substances, including Legionella bacteria

It is also worth noting that failing to carry out regular Legionella testing and risk assessments can have serious consequences In 2019, a care home in Nottinghamshire was fined £4 000 after a resident contracted Legionnaires disease which was traced back to the care home s water system This highlights the importance of regular testing and risk assessments to prevent such incidents from occurring

In conclusion regular Legionella testing and risk assessments are essential for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of residents in residential care homes

By identifying potential sources of contamination and implementing appropriate control measures, care homes can protect their residents from the risk of Legionnaires disease and comply with their legal obligations

‘Beyond Covid’, What is the Future Strategy?

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (IPC)

Beyond Covid , what is the future strategy for Infection Prevention and Control Risk Management and Safety Culture Excellence in your Care Home? Government guidance exists; we can help you implement the correct procedures

Energy and Operating Costs

Professionally qualified and competent, we can reduce operating costs, maintain regulatory compliance and even negotiate your energy rates

With a whole new approach!

Legionella risk assessments have been a legal requirement since 2001.

Do you have an up to date one? If not, contact Steve on 07415713982 or office@stokefield.services

We have qualified risk assessors carrying out the work to BS8580 10% DISCOUNT if you place an order quoting Caterer Licensee & Hotelier

All other water hygiene management carried out including:

• Disinfections, domestic and process water sampling

• Softener installation and maintenance

• ACOP L8 monitoring

Experienced in the healthcare food hospitality and many industrial/commercial sectors we will advise on the application of our validated products

Our team has access to clinical expertise and an experienced carer and nurse brings a reality check to our approach

Antimicrobial fabric treatments; laundering of bed linen towels staff uniforms and residents clothing gives residual anti-viral and anti-bacterial quality which prevents infection transmission

Ozone generators for water treatment laundry processing room/air purification and fabric/clothes etc cleaning; validated systems are available for sale or rental

Copper Silver ionisation and other systems to control Legionella Pneumophila Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and other bacteria; water systems survey will determine the necessary equipment

Copper cover antimicrobial surface treatment; the a copper coating applied to existing surfaces, door furniture taps etc using proven technology

Laundry machinery, process specification and hygiene quality; we analyse your laundry operation and make recommendations

Buildings and Services M&E installation and maintenance services; Energy survey to identify cost reduction opportunities; can incorporate a carbon footprint and Net-Zero strategy report to enhance your sustainability image

Energy and Utility supplies procurement; negotiate existing or new tariffs

richard@opeque com

07831 873355 www opeque com

Omnitex Hygiene Products

Omnitex represents all round protection and hygiene products Launched in 2015 it has quickly become a brand synonymous with high quality, used everyday by thousands of individuals and healthcare facilities throughout the UK and Europe All products are manufactured in ISO9001 and ISO13485 certified facilities

Omnitex Body Cleansing wipes are a large size which the ideal thickness for a comfortable cleaning experience Bulk pack of 80 wipes with our unique enriching formula and microwaveable

Microwaveable for a warm bed bath

Lightly fragranced and with a honeycomb texture on Wipes facilitating better cleaning coverage absorbency and hygiene

If following the 8-wipe bed bath protocol each pack will allow for 10 cleanses Cost saving Pack of 80 wipes One wipe for each area of the body : Face, Neck,

Medical Grade Masks Shoe Covers, Disposable Aprons, Mob caps & Gloves

Omnitex also includes a premium range of Incontinence Bed Pads and Mobility Consumables

Contact 0141 778 6017 sales@omnitex-uk com or visit www omnitex-uk com

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

As a result a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market including antimicrobial technology Angloplas range of dispensers are produced in the world s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is exclusive to Angloplas This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and

mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA E Coli Legionella Salmonella and mould by up to 99 99%

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

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

Haigh Engineering

Haigh Engineering is excited to share the success of the latest iteration of bedpan machine, Panaway DS, following its initial roll out across multiple healthcare facilities The feedback received from both users and facilities managers has been overwhelmingly positive and we are pleased to see that the Panaway DS is delivering great value for money through improving sluice room up time and the niche but critical matter of ensuring patient waste disposal compliant Users consistently commented on the Panaway DS s ease of use and dependability when it comes to disposing of medical pulp items and patient waste With the intuitive interface and easy-to-follow instructions sites can perform routine maintenance tasks in house reducing the need for specialist technicians allowing for more efficient timely and cost-effective maintenance Additionally the backward compatibility of the machine has made

the transition from older models seamless with little or no need for costly sluice room re configuring and staff retraining

Facilities managers have been particularly impressed with the Panaway DS s focus on ensuring sluice room up-time With simplified installation maintenance costs and Haigh's well known product reliability the Panaway DS helps departments hit challenging SLAs that are critical to keeping the ever present infection risks associated with waste management under control With the alternative being washing bedpans pots and bottles with steam and hot water high energy costs are meaning that the benefits of bedpan macerators have never been greater Haigh s online cost calculator has been an eye opener for many customers seeing just how many thousands of pounds a year they benefit from by using these types of machine instead on top of the core infection prevention benefits

Complementing Haigh s movables approach to sluice room equipment Panaway DS is proving to be the logical step forward for existing and new customers alike meeting the demanding needs of everything from busy NHS acute wards to private elderly care sites where immobile at risk residents require the highest standard of care The team at Haigh Engineering is looking forward to continued developments in providing our clients with the best for the sluice room

If you would like to find out Haigh's Panaway DS can improve your site please contact the team on info@haighmed com or call 01989 763131 - Option 2 www haighmed com

Buyer Beware Specify CHSA Accreditation

BY LORCAN MEKITARIAN, CHAIR OF THE CLEANING & HYGIENE SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION (WWW.CHSA.CO.UK)

Buyers and users of cleaning and hygiene goods and services in the care sector need products that are fit for purpose They need to know product claims are legitimate, realistic and relevant and that ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’ They also want to do the ‘right thing’ and move towards environmentally and ethically sustainable solutions But those working in the care sector already have many challenges to deal with, including staff shortages, higher demand and tighter budgets Low-cost solutions are tempting but buyers lack the time, resources and expertise to audit their cleaning and hygiene suppliers and the products they manufacture and sell The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association represents manufacturers and distributors supplying cleaning and hygiene products in the UK Our Accreditation Schemes can provide the solution Our Standards, Your Guarantee

The commercial pressures we all face today are immense Interest rates have steadily increased in recent months and the Bank of England may have to go further to control inflation The war in Ukraine continues It’s impacting the cost of energy, which may have stabilised but is still relatively high This adds to the pressure on care homes, increasing their need for low-cost solutions At the same time it is hugely increasing costs for our members particularly our manufacturing members The opening up of the Chinese economy is also hitting prices Its growth rate may not have bounced back to pre-pandemic levels but the rapid opening up has put pressure on raw materials, driving up the cost

Balancing these economic pressures with delivering good quality fit-for-purpose products is not easy In the past the unscrupulous squared the circle by cutting corners A few sheets shorter or a little narrower with the soft tissue Thinner plastic for the sacks Lower absorbency for the cotton mops Our Accreditation Schemes were set up specifically to protect buyers of cleaning and hygiene products from this type of sharp practice and over the 26 years since the establishment of our first Scheme their impact has been impressive

There will always be rogue traders operating outside our Schemes who are more interested in making a quick buck than in trading ethically It’s a problem made worse by the pandemic, particularly when it comes to cleaning chemicals Extraordinary claims were made for these products, for example that they kept an area clean and sterile for days if not months The truth is different A product may keep a surface sterile for days but only in laboratory conditions with very specific testing protocols In the real world inhabited by people it’s not possible New methods of application were also developed Misting was proposed as quick and effective, but the truth is it is more suited to applying cleaning chemicals in operating theatres than care homes These claims are still made today

The fog created by these misleading claims is now being added to with all sorts of environmental claims that often amount to nothing more than greenwashing A typical example is claims of biodegrability Given the right conditions everything biodegrades into its natural elements but it could take thousands of years The claim means nothing without information on conditions and timeframe Chemical-free cannot be true because everything on earth is comprised of chemicals Non-toxic is meaningless The toxicity of a cleaning product relates to its effect on humans when in direct contact In the real world this depends on what they are for and how they are used For instance, toilet bowl cleaners tend to have higher levels of harmful chemicals than all-purpose kitchen cleaners but because of where and how they are used there is no increased risk to the user

How are hard pressed buyers in the care sector supposed to navigate these challenges and get fit-for-purpose product with good environmental credentials at the right price?

We can help Setting and maintaining standards is in the DNA of the CHSA We set up our first Accreditation Scheme in 1997 and now have six They are for manufacturers of paper-based products plastic-based products cotton-based products and cleaning chemicals for general manufacturers and for distributors of cleaning and hygiene products

The Schemes integrity is maintained by the Independent Inspector In 2022 he conducted more than 139 audits In the process, he inspected over 1,500 labels, tested over 507 product lines and physically tested 4 170 individual products

Every CHSA member has also signed the CHSA’s rigorous Code of Practice, which incorporates the Competition and Markets Authority s Green Claims Code It requires them to “maintain a high standard in the conduct of its business”

THE COMBINATION OF OUR CODE OF PRACTICE AND ACCREDITATION SCHEME MEMBERSHIP MEANS EVERY MEMBER:

• Trades ethically and sustainably; Provides quality, fit for purpose products; and Makes sure what s on the box is what s in the box

OUR ADVICE TO BUYERS WHO WANT TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS IS SIMPLE ‘BE CAUTIOUS ’

1 Be sceptical It if sounds too good to be true it probably is

2 Ask for supporting evidence The manufacturer should be willing and able to show you data sheets or other relevant evidence to support claims

3 Ask for the CE declaration and any other test reports to show conformance to specification

4 Buy from a reputable supplier with a track record

5 Finally, specify CHSA Accreditation Our Standards, Your Guarantee

@CHSACLEANING | WWW.CHSA.CO.UK

Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR

Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!

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

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

Safer for patients; less work for staff

Bed and chair pads ava lable One monitor works with two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems

A variety of opt ons including: Call button Pager

Floor sensor mat Wireless door/w ndow exit alerts

TREADNOUGHT

Lotus Care Technology

The NurseAlert pressure 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

Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining

Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has different needs They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier

Visit www lctuk com for details

MONITORING

Medpage Falls Management Products

Medpage is a family ran company with a huge heart and resources gathered over our 38- year trading history The majority of the technologies we design manufacture and distribute originate from enquiries received from healthcare professionals and personal family care observations Our product portfolio provides a wide variety of care solutions for epilepsy, dementia, senior care special needs and sensory loss

Our latest innovation currently in use in several Hospitals presents an effective fall monitoring detection and reporting solution The MPCSA11 is a complex software driven sensor monitor made to be user and operator friendly This device has already proven successful in hospital and care home trials by reducing patient falls while also reducing false positives from a safe

patient The device can monitor and interact with up to three sensor products: bed and chair occupancy pressure pads PIR movement detection sensors and proximity signal products

In use a patient or resident rising from their bed would be considered a falls risk but what if they are simply moving to sit in a chair close to their bed? A standard bed monitor would raise an alarm alerting care staff, who would arrive to find the person safely seated The MPCSA11 would only generate an alarm if the person was out of their bed or chair for a selectable time duration Learn more www easylinkuk co uk/mpcsa11

See the advert on page 5 got details

Silent Running - Tranquility in Care Homes

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

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 recommends 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 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 ” Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number 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 dementia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one “zone” whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative zone Each zone can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required

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 systems 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 disturbing the rest of the residents in the home

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 ramifications 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 co uk

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Mainteno is a complete cost-effective CAFM software solution designed to simplify the day-to-day maintenance of any organization Whether you're managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process saving you time and money With Mainteno, you can keep everyone in the loop and archive all your communications and documentation in one place, allowing for total control of your organization's assets The software also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking for added convenience

Mainteno s interface was designed with practicality in mind allowing basic operation to be learned in minutes and making it easy to become a power user in just one afternoon Despite its elegant usability Mainteno is surprisingly affordable with no set-up fee or lengthy contracts

Mainteno adapts to any organization's maintenance needs and offers a FREE TRIAL so you can see how it can benefit your organization before committing Try Mainteno now and experience the time and cost savings it can provide for your facilities management With Mainteno, you can enjoy a complete CAFM software solution that simplifies your maintenance processes and saves you money, all while providing the flexibility and ease-of-use you need to stay productive

Visit www mainteno com

Digital Employee Recognition Scheme Increases Morale and Productivity

Terryberry offer an all-in-one benefits reward and recognition platform including milestone and service awards lifestyle savings salary sacrifice cycle to work 24hour GP helpline and pension contributions in an easy-to-use platform

It is commonly accepted that workplace morale is intrinsically linked to productivity and retention With the current cost-of-living crisis rocketing basic food and energy bills Terryberry is helping UK businesses ride the storm

The 360 Employee Recognition software and platform incorporates four aspects into one integrated digital hub: employee benefits milestones and service awards social recognition and wellness

The employee benefit section allows managers and HR staff to incentivise staff through a range of benefits from private healthcare life insurance and GP helplines employee perks such as retail discounts and wellbeing schemes such as cycle to work schemes

We all want to know we re doing a good job; positive recognition bolsters self-esteem and super-

chargers dopamine It s a win-win scenario: employees feel good will stay in their jobs and continue working hard Managers benefit from a happy workplace with staff who feel valued and will go the extra mile

The last section is wellness with Terryberry offering services to support an employee s physical mental and financial wellbeing Through support with Mental health and wellness to online gym classes and help with managing your finances

The 360 Employee Recognition software and platform offers HR departments and business leaders an integrated digital hub to look after the basics: everyday workplace morale with customised calendar events for Christmas Birthdays and retirement occasions This leaves more times for managers to come up with valuable team building sessions whether that s in the boardroom or in the pub!

To start prioritising your employees’ wellbeing today, see the details below

T +44 03448262008

www terryberry com/gb

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

workflows were a key factor in their decision to select PASS

Self sufficiency: With a relatively young IT literate workforce they were keen to work in an environment where they could make simple changes to their digital care management system inhouse without having to go back to the supplier each time

They therefore particularly liked the Document Builder function in PASS which gave them the option to build and customise documents and assessments themselves

THE IMPACT

everyLIFE technologies was founded on a passion for empowering care agencies to deliver the highest standards of personalised care easily and efficiently

Through a secure cloud-based digital care software solution PASS was designed with the input of the industry and now supports over 80 000 people With complete care plans, care plan tracking, care records and online as well as offline alerts we work to make critical data accessible secure and usable for your team

THE COURT NURSING HOME BENEFITS FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF PASS

As well as offering care for older people The Court Nursing Home also supports those with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions physical disabilities and sensory impairment Amongst their staff they employ four registered nurses

WHY PASS?

In moving from paper to digital Court Nursing was seeking a solution that would allow them to streamline their working practices and realise improved operational efficiencies

Flexibility: The powerful core functionality of PASS, along with its flexible approach that supports customisable alerts documents assessments and

With the introduction of PASS Court Nursing has benefited from:

Realtime access from within PASS to their service user s GP records without having to contact the surgery or pharmacy

All of their service users documents stored electronically together in one place

• Ability to create and populate documents from within PASS

• Creating their own bespoke documents

• The Smart Observations function within PASS, making use of the Fluids observations feature for example

"GP Connect has provided continuity of care between ourselves and the GP, giving us access to up to date notes regarding the care of our users

In short PASS GP Connect helps us to cut out the middleman meaning that as nurses we can work more efficiently giving us more time for direct patient care

Rebecca Knight Registered Manager For further information visit www everylifetechnologies com

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Don’t Get Lost On Your Digital Journey

The next 12 months is going to see big changes in the residential care sector With around 50% of homes still using a paper system to plan and record care, The NHS Transformation Directorate have big ideas which whilst exciting are daunting to those without the proper tools to make these ideas a reality

So where to begin? Finding the right software provider might appear to be the ideal starting point Will the provider meet all your requirements within budget and customise the software to fit with your own processes? It s only once you have made this decision that your journey will really begin

There is little information and guidance out there on how to implement a new system into a residential care setting, where do you start? As with any journey you need a route plan

unique to our customers and are committed to working together to provide the best service for them We understand that the care landscape is always changing and improving, whether via new processes or new technologies We keep up to date with what our sector needs to ensure we are providing the best and most cost effective service possible

Again, let’s ask: So where to begin? Now we know the answer Find a system provider who will share their experience and knowledge with you and get you to your final destination smoothly and safely

From implementing systems into homes for over 20 years we not only know how to help plan your journey, but we ll be there as your co-pilot too Every step of the way So jump on board and get ready to take off!

For further information on the Blyssful Cloud Care System visit www ablyss co uk

Getting Digitisation Right, Ever y Step Of The Way – Top Tips From The Access Group

Care providers across the UK are digitising their records and processes to free up time improve safety and care quality and even staff satisfaction

When selecting and implementing a piece of care software it is easy to be wowed and carried away by all the advanced features, the impressive analytics, the powerful automation and all the potential that unleashes

However, unleashing that potential requires successful selection, implementation and ongoing use of the system

Care providers often tell us that the involvement ‘buy-in’ and enthusiasm of staff across their care services was crucial to achieving this

Here are a few tips on what to do help you get this right at each stage of the process

SELECTING A SYSTEM:

People working in different roles can offer very different perspectives For example a care worker may spot potential flaws and issues or hidden benefits that might not be apparent to management until it is too late

Create a working group involving staff from different roles within your organisation especially those that will have day to day use of the system you are procuring

You don’t need to involve everyone of course, just at least one representative from each role in your service that will have direct contact with the system you are selecting

From these working groups, draw up a checklist of your must-haves and red flags from your new system It doesn’t need to be an overly complex or extensive piece of work that saps your time and causes delays You just need something that outlines:

What our key goals/objectives are – what we want to get out of using this piece of software

Any key functionality or features any system we choose must have

Any characteristics of a system that we feel would not be a good fit for us BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION:

Once you’ve chosen the right system it is crucial to communicate regularly and openly with everyone across your care services Make it clear why you are implementing this new system, which should come out of your list of goals and objectives

How will it benefit service users, your care service and staff themselves? How will it enable them to provide better care and make their jobs easier or less stressful?

Communication should be two way Be open to questions and concerns from staff Listen as they may have thought of a potential hurdle you haven t spotted yet Respond because often these concerns are shared by colleagues and addressing them properly will help people feel comfortable and confident about the change in ways of working

DURING IMPLEMENTATION

During the implementation of your software maintain the approach to communication outlined above You should also identify ‘champions’ people who are especially enthusiastic about the software and the change it brings Often it s best if champions are care workers especially when care workers are using the software directly

These champions should not only act as an advocate of the software to colleagues, but also as a person who can confidentially hear the concerns or challenges that people are having and work with management and/or the software supplier to address them

YOUR NEXT STEP:

If you want to learn more about the full range of care software available to you then we can help At The Access Group we provide a complete ecosystem of care management software with everything you need to improve efficiency safety and care quality in your services

Contact us for an informal conversation whenever you are ready

See the advert on the facing page for further details

The CAREAudits System

The CAREAudits compliance auditing tool is now being used throughout the UK and Ireland in numerous locations by all care service providers Carers and managers are checking everything from CQC Compliance and Safety to Medication Audits Training and Maintenance as well as service users quality and wellbeing

The system allows care providers to audit or check just about everything and manage all areas requiring actions (or non-compliances) in its Web Portal Encrypted date and time stamped evidence including photos is seamlessly auto attached and recorded in the system Management see in real time exactly were best to focus their attention and resources and how they are meeting their compliance requirements

The system has over 150 easy to use example audits to select from which you can easily add to or edit your own audits in minutes ensuring simple instant updates of ever-changing requirements App care 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 its own help text standard answers and standard actions required ensuring

The UK has seen a rise in Social Prescribing Services with many NHS Trusts and local authorities now offering services that connect patients with community activities and voluntary groups

Social prescribing is an alternative to traditional healthcare models, which aims to improve health outcomes by connecting people with the wider community It is also a preventative treatment that can be used alongside other treatments to reduce the need for medication

Social prescribing is one of the most effective ways to provide healthcare to people struggling with mental health problems and it s a practice that has been growing in popularity for the past few years However it s also a relatively new field and there aren t a lot of people who have been trained in this area

If you re looking for a new job or are planning to retrain a career in social prescribing this article will give you an overview of what s involved and how to get started

WHAT IS SOCIAL PRESCRIBING?

Social prescribing is a form of community-based health care that helps people with social or emotional problems improve their health and well-being It involves the assessment of someone's needs, matching them with appropriate services and then supporting them to use those services effectively

Social prescribing has been shown to help people access the right support at the right time and can help to reduce the use of acute services It also improves outcomes for patients as they are more satisfied with their care and experience fewer repeat visits to the hospital or A&E

Social prescribing is a way of helping people access services and support they need but may not know about or have the confidence to access alone It can be used as a treatment for people with long-term conditions or mental health problems such as depression or anxiety Social prescribing can also address loneliness and isolation amongst older people in the community

Social Prescribing is an opportunity for GPs and other health professionals to work with local organisations, such as community groups and voluntary organisations, to help their patients improve their health and well-being The aim is for patients to maintain good health by accessing meaningful activities and meeting their needs

There are three main components: the person who makes the referral; the link-worker who helps the individual choose what kind of help they need and where to find it; and the activity itself

One of the biggest challenges in social prescribing is finding people who are knowledgeable qualified and willing to do it It s also important that they have a good understanding of their local area as well as being able to work with other agencies and professionals

Social prescribers are trained to assess the needs of their patients and connect them with services that can help them address those needs

It s a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on not only physical symptoms but also mental health financial stability and other factors

If you re interested in becoming a social prescriber yourself there are three steps you should take:

1 Learn about social prescribing and its principles so that you can understand what it means to be a social prescriber and how it differs from other approaches to healthcare

2 Complete an accredited training course from Need2Succeed this will ensure that you know what your role as a social prescriber is and how best to serve your community

3 Look for opportunities within your area or network with others working toward similar goals this will help you build a support system while also helping others become interested in social prescribing themselves!

If you d like to learn more about our online distance learning courses or specialist training opportunities don t hesitate to contact us today!

Visit https://need2succeed co uk/national-qualifications/level-3-certificate-in-social-prescribing

Appreciating Our People

BY JARROD KELLY, CONSULTANT AND TRAINER, MEANINGFUL CARE MATTERS

(HTTPS://MEANINGFULCAREMATTERS COM)

Without a doubt the success of a team rises or falls on the people who make up that team Of course there are other factors which can affect a team’s success; lack of resources understaffing and a stretched budget to name a few I ve seen teams pull together in incredibly tough circumstances and hit goals or targets that seemed almost impossible I’ve also seen teams who are over staffed and very well resourced yet they struggle to achieve even the most basic targets that their roles demand

In the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Dr Paul White found that 79% of employees who quit their job, cite lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving Why is it then that so many managers and leaders fail to show meaningful appreciation to their teams? Well, in my experience, most are trying to show appreciation in one way or another, but it is often completely ineffective A failure to understand how to appreciate people well can be frustrating for the leader and soul destroying for the team members

& RECRUITMENT

Here are four tips to help make sure your appreciation hits the mark

KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL

Some people respond well to a small gift but others just want to be told they re doing an amazing job I know people who feel on top of the world when their boss sets aside a few minutes to have a coffee with them and show an interest in their life It won’t be the same for everyone but an effective leader will take time to learn what makes their individual team members feel valued

MASS APPRECIATION HAS LIMITED EFFECT

Saying well done to your whole team is great, and we should do it, but it doesn’t acknowledge the achievements or contributions the individuals have made In some cases where there are one or two lazy team members it can actually lead to resentment from their high performing co-workers Why should lazy employees be rewarded in the same way as hard-working ones? Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a gesture of mass appreciation (like a staff Christmas party) will make the whole team feel valued

THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS

What works today will be less effective tomorrow For example if you give your team members a £100 gift card at the end of the year to say thank you it s likely to be well received the first year If you do it again the next year they ll be appreciative but not as much as the year before By the third year they re expecting that £100 gift card and it s now considered an entitlement rather than a bonus Make sure you mix things up so appreciation remains unpredictable and comes as an unexpected surprise rather than a scheduled entitlement

GIVE APPRECIATION, NOT JUST RECOGNITION

Recognition is given for a job well done What about appreciating someone for who they are not just what they do? This is much less common but so much more powerful It might sound like this; I so appreciate the enthusiasm and life you bring to the team We really value your energy and the team would be poorer without

Apprenticeships Partnership Could Help Create ‘Managers Of The Future’ For Care Sector

The co-founder of an award-winning management transformation programme believes a new class of apprenticeships could help create managers of the future for the care sector

Laura Ashley-Timms Chief Operating Officer of Notion, believes apprenticeships that increase people management capacity in learners could be transformational for the future of care sector management

Speaking at the start of National Apprenticeship Week Laura says: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) now requires a specific ratio of manager level staff to patients in each care setting But there is a shortage of care workers with the required Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care This reduces capacity in care settings which means hospitals are unable to discharge patients into those appropriate care settings which increases

demand for NHS beds If more care workers were able to access that qualification via an apprenticeship, it would increase care setting capacity and alleviate pressure on the NHS

“These areas are strategically important for the UK economy and for UK society as a whole Creating more and better managers, especially in the adult care sector has the potential to relieve pressure on the NHS Announcing their partnership Qdos Training Ltd and Notion have been working together to integrate STAR® Manager into their management and leadership apprenticeships that are the first to fully embed Notion’s innovative (and now research-backed ) Operational Coaching™ and management approach into selected Level 3 and 5 management and leadership apprenticeships

The partnership is initially focused on three apprenticeship programmes Level 3 Team Leader / Supervisor Level 5 Operations / Department Manager and Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care ”

Speaking of the partnership, Laura Ashley-Timms said

We ve always wanted to partner with a quality apprenticeship provider because we see apprenticeships as a powerful way of unlocking untapped talent and potential within organisations of all types Qdos

Do you have team members who struggle to work together?

Often it can seem team members are poles apart and have different objectives. As we ’ ve worked in the care industry over recent years, we ’ ve found the Ever ything DiSC tools to be a game changer for teams

Training is an exceptional provider and has a very impressive programme completion rate

Deborah Johnson Engagement Director at Qdos Training says of the partnership:

“We share Notion’s absolute passion to create the managers of the future Most of us are accidental managers and may not have ever been shown how to manage people let alone learned how to communicate in a way that invites the highest levels of collaboration in the workplace STAR® Manager is a unique approach that enables our apprentices to put into practice the people management and leadership theories they re learning The programme enables them to be more than just managers and instead become brilliant people leaders ”

STAR® Manager was recently subjected to one of the largest academic studies of its type The study carried out by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the Government s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy found statistically significant proof that the programme improves retention rates and transforms management capability at scale in as little as six months

Website: https://starmanager global/what-is-star/

Contact: hello@STARmanager global

Meaningful Care Matters can assist in developing leadership skills in a person- centred, feelings first, and emotion- centred way MCM is the only health and social care provider registered internationally as a partner with Everything DiSC It has Leadership Coaches ready to support individual needs in becoming aware of emotional intelligence factors to enhance leadership skills.

Ever ything DiSC helps people to understand themselves and appreciate the differences in other team members We may have different motivators and stressors, varying priorities, ways of interacting and working styles

Check out the three tools we can use to help your team work together in a more cohesive way

How

does it work?

Each participant completes an online questionnaire which then produces a comprehensive personalised report helping us to tailor the training to your team’s needs Contact us today to discuss how we can help you through individual coaching via Zoom or group training sessions in person using the Ever ything DiSC tools

Contact us today to find out how we can help your team admin@meaningfulcarematters.com

01273 242335

Check out more information on our Website: www.meaningfulcarematters.com/coaching-tools/

PROFESSIONAL , TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Braemar Finance Business Barometer – Care Homes

Braemar Finance recently conducted its latest Business Barometer research which examines current Care Home sector trends and the view of business-owners about a range of issues, from the cost of doing business to recruitment and retention

In this piece, we get under the skin of the data to find out more

COST OF DOING BUSINESS

The cost of energy has had – by some distance – the most impact on Care Homes’ income with 56% selecting this option Staff pay rises (16%) supply costs (12%) and fuel increases (10%) are the next most cited

Unsurprisingly 89% of Care Homes said they were taking measures to reduce their energy use, including, in order of most popular measures:

Turning off the lights overnight

Replacing equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives

• Looking at alternative heating and energy sources

Lowering the heating

Changed energy supplier

Insulating your building

Unfortunately, a quarter of Care Homes confirmed that they had considered closing their business as a result of rising costs and 33% said that they had made redundancies because of the impact of rising costs

Seven out of 10 firms surveyed admitted to passing on additional costs to their customers either partially (60%) or fully (10%)

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Looking at staff vacancies and the impact of the recruitment and the retention crisis 61% of Care Homes replied that they currently have a

vacancy to fill the highest of all the professions polled A further 49% said they ve struggled to fill vacancies in the past 12 months

When asked how long it took to hire a candidate results indicate it typically takes up to four months:

Less than a month

Sixty percent of Care Homes say there is a skills crisis in the sector and a similar number are currently finding it more difficult to fill vacancies

Looking ahead to recruiting in the future, respondents said:

I won’t have a problem recruiting adequately skilled staff 33 50%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in my sector

43 00%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in my region

10 50%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in the UK

13 00%

THE UK’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The majority (93%) of Care Home businesses surveyed responded that they were either very (43%) or somewhat (50%) concerned about the UK s current economic performance Despite this 16% expected to expand in the coming 12 months against 21% who think they will contract; 62% hope to stay the same – only 1 5% think they ll close their door permanently

The Eden Alternative - What Is It?

The Eden Alternative is a modern philosophy of care designed to enhance the wellbeing of residents and staff in care settings the quality of their ‘lived experience and their fulfilment

It aims to build a truly positive culture; underpinned by close partnership working between residents the team and family members

How does it work? It provides training to Care Homes manage-

ment and staff and encourages Homes to train their own ‘in house trainers to run the training

Eden has been running in over 20 countries on 5 continents for nearly 30 years and started in the USA It began operating in the UK in 2005 Eden UK runs both face-to-face training and online courses, which both lead to the accreditation of candidates as Certified Eden Associates of which there are over 2,000 in the UK and 20 000 worldwide

The Certified Eden Associate Courses online course run over 7 weeks x 1hr each week using the same material as the 3-day Eden Associate courses and comprise 5 elements (online training with Eden trainers digital workbooks video clips assessment of learning and development of a project to develop implementing innovative ideas)

Over nine in 10 (91%) of respondents confirmed they d been impacted by rising inflation and 70% admit it s likely they ll apply for funding within the year

THE ENVIRONMENT

Despite the economic headwinds they re facing 67 5% of Care Homes are working to limit their environmental impact and 77 5% have considered climate change and other environmental factors within their business plans

82% believe that they can help tackle climate change and a further 18% believe they can achieve carbon neutrality by 2050

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Half of respondents are looking to invest in new technologies over the course of the next year and 65% of Care Homes stated they feel keeping up-to-date with modern technologies is a key differentiator for customers and a reason they may choose their Care Home over a competitor 80% of Care Homes are confident about being able to keep ahead of technological developments within the profession

Braemar Finance has been established since 1992 and offers a range of tailor-made finance solutions to the Professions, including Care, Dental, Veterinary, Optical, Legal, Accountancy, Medical, Pharmacy and Funeral

For more information visit https://www braemarfinance co uk/care Methodology

Courses run continuously and a new one starts at the beginning of each alternate month e g March May July etc

For Homes or Services that choose to become an Eden Accredited Home annual validations of how Eden features with the life of the Home/Service are undertaken In recognition of the progress achieved by the care provision, an award of Platinum Gold, Silver or Bronze can be achieved

Eden UK is based at 11 Plantation Terrace Dawlish Devon EX7 9DS and can be contacted on 01626 868192 or 07483359472

The key advantages to the Eden approach are:

• It improves occupancy

It improves recruitment and retention

It improves team and resident wellbeing

Geoffrey Cox LLb MSc ,

We shall at the Health Care Plus show at Excel London on 26th-27th April 2023