The Carer Digital - Issue #186

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

Editor Peter Adams

Once again, the UK's adult social care sector finds itself on the periphery of governmental attention, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's recent Spring Budget making glaring omissions and exacerbating the sector's chronic underfunding

Despite fervent calls for support from sector spokespeople and organizations the government's silence on this crucial issue really does speak volumes

Sector spokespeople and organisations were quick to condemn the government s lack of support with one spokesperson rightly asserting that social care is the loser once again

It s a sentiment echoed by many who are witnessing the government s failure to address the pressing needs of the sector Despite promises to fix social care within the next five years, the budget's glaring oversight suggests a sad disregard for the welfare of vulnerable adults and those who care for them

The government's decision to shift from a proposed plan to increase National Insurance contributions to fund a dedicated health and social care levy to instead reducing National Insurance by 4p is particularly perplexing

This move not only fails to address the urgent funding requirements of social care but also contradicts Chancellor Hunt's own prior statements As former chair of the Health and Social Care Committee Hunt himself emphasized the necessity of an annual increase of £7 billion for social care labelling it as a starting point and calling for sustained investment

Today March 13 a new report by The King s Fund which is our lead story further underscores the dire situation facing the social care sector The report highlights how the lack of government action leaves social care struggling to meet the needs of those it serves It s a damning indictment of the government s inertia and highlights the urgent need for decisive action

To be fair it is not only citing the lack of government support but successive government support

The ramifications of neglecting adult social care are profound and far-reaching Without adequate funding and support the sector will continue to grapple with insufficient resources overstretched staff and compromised care quality The human cost of such neglect cannot be overstated

As advocates for the vulnerable, it is imperative that we hold the government to account for its failure to prioritize adult social care

Whichever government we have next must heed the calls of sector experts allocate the necessary funding and honour its commitment to fixing social care without delay and as we lead into the next election with some pundits highlighting may or October we really do need a clear and unambiguous party policy highlighting what their intentions are to support the sector

We would also take this opportunity once again to remind you that we here at THE CARER are media partners and are exhibiting at UK Care Week at Birmingham NEC next month (March 20-21) we are on stand F16

Trade events for the adult social care sector provide all in my opinion definite diary dates, they are a platform with industry-defining content, live product demonstrations and interactive features set to support and equip those in the sector with the skills and knowledge to improve the lives of those they care for

We are working closely with the organisers who we have been media partners with four many years now and this year s show features include the CQC Inspector Hub and the Virtual Dementia Tour which provides an immersive interactive experience for social care business owners and management teams The show will have hundreds of suppliers speakers and like-minded professionals are also on hand to engage with visitors and share their visions and solutions for overcoming the challenges care home businesses are facing

So if you own a UK care business have influence on key decisions in a care home or home care business, or are looking to expand your existing carebusiness then UK Care Week is the place to be, and please do stop by and say are hello, feedback is very important and we always welcome your views!

Once again we have this week had some wonderful uplifting and heartwarming stories from care homes throughout the UK, so please do keep them coming

This last week saw celebrations of both World Book Day and International Women's Day and features on both showing how the sector commemorated the events can be found in this week's issue

I can always be contacted at editor@thecareruk com

Successive Government Inaction Leaves Social Care Struggling...

…As Social Care Requests Hit “Record High”

(CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

The trends for 2022/23 show that:

Financial eligibility continues to tighten with financial thresholds for help with the costs of care not having changed since 2010/11

The cost to local authorities of purchasing care continues to increase faster than inflation – since 2015/16 the average weekly fee for working-age adults increased from £1,400 to £1,540 the average weekly fee paid for older people increased from £670 to £840 and the average hourly rate for home care increased from £17 50 to £20 60 (in real terms – taking inflation into account)

The social care workforce vacancy rate is still at its second highest-ever level despite the arrival of around 70 000 overseas workers

There are approximately 19 000 fewer unpaid carers receiving direct support than in 2015/16 and 21 000 fewer people receiving respite care, over the same period

The report s authors note that while the latest data does show a slight increase in the number of adults receiving publicly funded social care support compared to 2021/22, this upturn is likely largely due to a ‘correction after the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic

Compared to 2015/16 there are still 11% more people asking for support and 2% fewer people receiving it

OVERSEAS STAFF

Equally although the number of social care vacancies fell from the historic high of 165 000 in 2021/22 to 152 000 in 2022/23 this was driven by a sharp increase in the number of overseas staff recruited to work in adult social care

Since then the government has announced a tightening of the rules affecting overseas care workers meaning they will not be allowed to bring dependents with them to the UK

The King’s Fund argues that if the next government wants to ‘fix’ social care it will need to increase funding to enable care providers to attract retain and train staff and implement reforms to make the system fairer and improve quality and outcomes for the users of services and their carers

REFORM “DODGED OR DELAYED”

Simon Bottery Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund and lead author said: For decades social care reform has been promised by governments but consistently dodged or delayed The latest figures make clear that the sector is showing little sign of improvement, leaving thousands of people without the support they need There are severe financial pressures on local authorities who fund adult social care and no sign that national government will step in to help Nor is there a credible longer-term plan to recruit and retain the staff needed

At a time when adult social care has never faced more profound problems, with record numbers of people requesting support this is surely the time for the next government whatever colour it may be to make social care a priority

FURTHER INVESTMENT NEEDED

llr Kaya Comer-Schwartz adult social care spokesperson for the Local Government Association said:

This important annual report highlight the perilous state of adult social care It is disappointing and concerning that the Budget provided no new money for these under pressure services, despite an increased demand for them

“We need to see further urgent investment in adult social care and a boost to the workforce to ensure the best possible care for those that draw on it

BROKEN PROMISES

UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said: Care has gone into a tailspin on this government s watch A litany of broken promises and a complete absence of action best sums up ministers appalling neglect of the sector

“Cash-strapped local authorities have been pushed ever closer to the edge by spiralling care costs

The blame for the crisis in care lies entirely with the government Ministers have failed to ensure council funding bears any relation to the harsh economic reality

The sector simply doesn t have the staff to meet growing demands Care workers are quitting for betterpaid jobs on the high street, leaving employers increasingly reliant on staff from overseas

“The next government must make care the priority it’s never been Labour has promised a national care service and crucially a fair pay agreement in care

Raising wages in this way won t solve all the sector s problems But it will be an important first step that employers staff and those being supported will all be able to get behind

Fully Committed

The Department of Health and Social Care said it is “fully committed” to improving the social care system, adding that it had made up to £8 6 billion in additional funding available this financial year and next A spokesperson said: Additionally we are investing up to £700 million to accelerate digital transformation and rolling out digital care records as well as funding home adaptations to help elderly and disabled people to be more independent at home

“We are also helping to attract and retain care workers, including by supporting their career development through a range of new funded training schemes and for the first time a clear career path through a new accredited qualification

Invest In Technology For Social Care For A Whole System Impact

By Gren Paull, Chief Executive Officer, Lilli (www intelligentlilli com)

in the adult social care sector by 2035 These staggering numbers highlight the need for long-term reforms to sustainably address the

is

Investing in better pay and conditions for care workers is of course essential but

technology that shifts the UK from a reactive to a proactive care model It is not about technology for technology s sake but solving an urgent problem that currently cannot be fixed through recruitment alone, with proven solutions that bridge this gap between capacity and demand Falls detection technology is a key example of where proactive solutions for care homes can have a direct impact on the NHS and in ICBs Falls are a major problem in care homes and it is estimated one in two elderly people will have a fall this year and that 1 6 million elderly people have at least one fall every year One in five of these falls experienced by over 80-year-olds will result in a hospital admissionii which means they put significant and frequent pressure on the service including on ambulance and emergency services not to mention health decline for the residents When someone falls every hour spent on the floor correlates to an extra day in hospital This costs the

public health service a minimum of £500 per day Yet currently many care homes need to rely on intrusive night time checks to see if their residents have fallen Not only does this equate to thousands of hours spent unneccessarily on checks each year, but it also means falls are often not detected as quickly as they could be, leading to longer hospital stays which impacts both the resident and the wider healthcare system

Falls detection technology is available now that provides instant alerts and reduces the need for night time checks With a wider roll-out this could have a transformative impact addressing capacity constraints effectively and leading to shorter hospital stays better outcomes and less likelihood of a readmission

Moreover having access to more comprehensive falls data can pre-emptively inform care strategies mitigating risks and promoting resident safety It can support care homes to optimise resource utilisation, reducing associated costs while upholding residents' privacy and dignity

With the significant daily cost of hospital stays and the average stay of an 85 year old being 12 5 days it would seem prudent for ICBs to consider this when allocating funding for falls prevention across the system and to identify where funds can have the biggest positive knock-on impact on the whole health ecosystem

In addition to financial investment and technological advancements, there’s a critical need for a positive reframing of the social care sector, emphasising its inherent value and worthiness of investment alongside the NHS While everyone understands funding for the NHS as it is first person relevant social care has always been one step removed for everyone who funds it so it is less connectable or palatable from a political policy perspective

Positive storytelling not only celebrates the dedicated professionals and caregivers within the sector but also showcases the tangible benefits of investing in social care such as less pressure on the ambulances, less bedblocking, improved health outcomes, enhanced quality of life, and strengthened social cohesion By reframing social care as a cornerstone of a well-oiled sustainable NHS we can foster a culture of investment and innovation that ensures the sector s future and resilience in the face of evolving challenges As the budget discussions unfold it s imperative to recognise the symbiotic relationship between social care investment and the NHS By prioritising technology across both areas of the system policymakers can lay the groundwork for a more resilient, efficient, and person-centred care ecosystem capable of meeting the evolving needs of an ageing population

Riverside House’s Richard Dobinson

Recognised With ‘Champions Of Care’ Award

interests and hobbies but also on helping them achieve their aspirations reconnect with their passions and most importantly have

St James Community Hall in Morpeth attended by the mayor and 100 local people The choir s success has led to invitations to perform at various local events further cementing their place within the community

Tony Stein, chief executive of

Lords Voices Concerns On Impact of Health and Social Care Visa Restriction

A cross-party House of Lords scrutiny committee has raised concerns over restrictions to health and social care visas

The changes which come into force on 11 March include prohibiting health and care workers bringing dependants to the UK and narrowing visa eligibility from all posts in the care sector to only those where the sponsor is registered with the CQC

The Committee has called on the Government to provide more information about the effect of these changes which took effect in February 2024

The report comes after the Committee considered the Home Office’s latest Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 556) (the Statement)

The changes remove the provision for most dependants to accompany or join workers coming to the UK to work in the health and care sectors The Statement also narrows the range of jobs in England for which migrant workers can be sponsored reducing it from all posts in the care sector to only those where the sponsor is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The Home Office told the Committee that the measures banning dependants from joining migrant workers would reduce the number of dependants coming to the UK by 120,000 per year but would have no effect on the numbers of workers themselves

The reasons provided by the Department to support this assertion included the fact that there was already a high level of global labour supply; that workers were seeking to come to the UK without their dependants; and that there was a reduction in demand because of the CQC policy change However no evidence was provided by the Department in support of these claims

In addition the Home Office did not conduct a consultation before introducing these changes The lack of such a step meant that any benefits from gathering the views of those in the care sector and the

general public as to the potential impact of the changes was lost

The Statement also includes a separate set of policies that alters the schemes that allow those fleeing the war in Ukraine to enter the UK These changes also suffered from poor supporting material, meaning that explanations of the policy its context or its rationale were inadequate or unconvincing

Baroness Randerson Member of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, said:

We recognise that these changes are intended to address concerns about levels of legal migration However, there is alarm among social care providers about the impact of these changes the care sector is already struggling to recruit sufficient workers and is worried these measures could make things worse

“The Government says that the dependant ban will not reduce the number of immigrant workers but it has not provided evidence to back this up This means it is impossible for Parliament to assess the effects of the changes properly and the sector is also left in the dark

Whenever the Government lays legislation which has the potential to affect the effectiveness of a sector and has real world consequences for the public at large it must provide information on the impact This is a principle the Government has accepted but does not always observe in practice and we are writing to the Home Office to ask for further details

“We will continue to highlight examples where departments fall short of their obligations to provide information to Parliament and the public thereby hindering our ability to effectively scrutinise secondary legislation”

How Can We Help International Nurses And Carers Succeed?

Sally Bibb leads the Strengths Practice at PA Consulting and is the author of three best- selling books on strengths Debbie Whitaker is a strengths expert at PA Consulting, where she leads strengths projects across the public and private sectors

New analysis shows that three in 10 NHS nurses now come from overseas For more than a decade hospital trusts, GPs and the wider care sector have been attempting to address the labour shortfall by recruiting international nurses Roughly half of new nursing registrants in England in 2022/23 were trained abroad However this brings practical and cultural challenges which mean that recruits do not always move into more senior posts and surgeries care centres and trusts do not make the most of their skills For example a third of University Hospitals of Leicester s (UHL s) 3 000 nurses are international recruits mostly from India and the Philippines Well-qualified and highly experienced, they are attracted by the opportunity for professional development and progression Yet settling into UK life can be tough In addition to getting to grips with UK clinical, community and care practices, nurses are faced with a different culture and language Despite being highly qualified it can be a challenge to progress to more senior levels

UHL aimed to help these nurses adjust by setting up a pastoral team of nurses with similar backgrounds to their overseas colleagues to support them in navigating this new world This includes an education team

who help them through OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) to assess clinical competence and provide access to support networks English lessons also helped their nurses pick up the local dialect so that they re better able to understand and connect with their patients How else could they work out that duck’ is a Midlands term of endearment?

However despite this support some of their most capable international nurses were not progressing as quickly as UHL hoped Why? Moving to an environment with very different ways of doing things knocked their confidence Some didn’t believe they were capable of undertaking more senior roles This is where a strengths-based approach comes in

Having heard about the impact of a strengths-based method Eleanor Meldrum Deputy Chief Nurse and Head of UHL’s School of Nursing and Midwifery Practice decided to adopt this approach to career development with a view to helping these nurses thrive and developing them to take on roles like Ward Leaders and clinical specialists The programme sought to encourage international nurses to think differently about their development and career options The goal was to help them gain a deep understanding of their unique strengths and motivators – what they love doing are good at and what energises them – and identify the roles where these strengths would help them flourish

This has brought a shift in the way participants see opportunities instead of looking at career development through a narrow lens of clinical skills and qualifications 94% of participants reported that the programme would help nurses value their strengths and increase their confidence Similarly 94% said that it would help them understand how they can use their strengths to have a positive impact and to develop their career in a way that’s right for them By December 2023, 200 people had already benefitted, with several members of the education team promoted after seeing how their strengths fit in new roles and gaining the confidence to apply for them

One example was Thenmozhi Kaliyaperumal, who successfully applied for an Emergency Department nurse role after going through the programme She shared how she feels more confident talking to senior clinicians than she would have in India and is using her strengths to guide less confident colleagues UHL are now rolling the initiative out to all their nursing workforce from Health Care Assistants and Trainee Nursing Associates up to the most senior levels as they realise it will benefit everyone and not only those trained abroad

These positive outcomes can be achieved by other care centres general practices and hospital trusts if they adopt a strength-based approach to development which helps people gain deep insights into how they do their best work If nurses – particularly the rising number of international nurses – know what strengths they bring what they re valued for and how they ll thrive it will help them work out what this means for their future progression and help clinics health centres and care hospitals get the right people in the right roles

Government Unveils Increased 2024 Funding For Nursing In Care Homes

NHS-funded nursing care rates provided to care homes for the nursing needs of their residents are rising in April

The rate paid to care homes for NHS-funded nursing care will increase by 7 4% for 2024 to 2025 And the standard weekly rate per person eligible for NHS-funded nursing care will increase from £219 71 to £235 88 from 1 April 2024

Increased funding for care homes providing nursing will, the government says support tens of thousands of care home residents with nursing needs, following confirmation that the government will increase the rate by 7 4% for 2024 to 2025

The standard weekly rate per person provided for NHS-funded nursing care will increase by 7 4% from £219 71 to £235 88 from 1 April 2024 with funding paid by the NHS directly to care homes who provide nursing care For the higher rate it will increase from £302 25 to £324 50 This allows eligible care home residents with specific nursing needs to benefit from NHS-funded nursing care Registered nurses provide support to people eligible for NHSfunded nursing care with a variety of needs including people with

learning disabilities those living with enduring physical or mental health needs and various conditions associated with old age This type of nursing requires a range of skills and training with the extra funding supporting this important role

The NHS-funded nursing care rate helps cover the costs of nursing care, ensuring the vital provision can continue to support the needs of residents within nursing homes The uplift for the 2024 to 2025 financial year is based on adult social care data which is quality assured and

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Sector Dismay to Chancellor’s Budget “Social Care the Loser Once Again”

Social care providers have warned that a lack of extra funding for the sector in today s budget will undermine efforts to help the NHS

The provider organisation The Independent Care Group (ICG) had urged the Chancellor to improve funding to ease the crisis in the care of older and vulnerable adults

But social care was not even mentioned when Jeremy Hunt delivered his budget this afternoon, leaving carers dismayed

There was no support offered for social care was in the Spring Budget as chancellor Jeremy Hunt concentrated on tax cuts and providing more money for the NHS

Measures announced included a 2p cut in National Insurance and a £3 4 billion fully funded NHS productivity plan focused on digital transformation, but there was no new money for social care

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: Once again hundreds of thousands of people who currently can’t get care and the many thousands who work tirelessly delivering care have been cruelly betrayed

Here was an opportunity to improve funding for social care address the 1 6m people who can’t get care, the 152,000 staff vacancies and the ever-growing list of providers cutting back or exiting the market

“But that opportunity was again ignored and the delivery of social care will be the loser once again

“A lack of measures to help social care will undermine and potentially destroy the actions announced today to support the NHS as one cannot function properly without the other

“Today there was an opportunity to be bold and go down as the Chancellor who acted on the crisis in social care and began the process of creating a National Care Service for the country “Instead, the sector was ignored once again and the crisis will deepen letting down thousands of older and vulnerable adults and damaging our ability to work hand in hand with the NHS to create cradle-to-the-grave help and support

Professor Martin Green OBE Chief Executive Officer of Care England says: This year s Spring Budget made it clear that the government has no intention to make good on its 5-year-old promise to ‘fix social care While financial support was given to the child social care system which was recognised as broken, no such lifeline was given to adult social care Our sector continues to move ever closer to a cliff edge We all want good quality care for our loved ones – now we need those in Government to care ”

The focus of the Spring Budget was on reducing personal taxation despite consistent polling from Ipsos showing that healthcare is the primary issue that will decide the public s vote at the next election –ahead of inflation and the wider economic situation

The Chancellor confirmed a landmark public sector productivity

plan” which will create a more productive NHS Whilst Care England welcomes this move the relationship between health and social care has been overlooked Investing in social care will allow people to have their needs met in the place they call home and reduce pressure on the NHS

Following the Spring Budget the adult social care sector will face another challenging year on top of a situation where 43% of adult social care providers have closed services or handed back contracts to the Local Authority as a result of financial pressure according to research from Care England and the national learning disability charity, Hft

Professor Martin Green continues: “Adult social care is an essential service to the public The cries of our sector have fallen on deaf ears A stable adult social care system is vital to the health of the NHS but this relationship is clearly not appreciated Care services are vital to local economies and employment opportunities but this has also been overlooked This was the Government’s last chance saloon to deliver on its promise but with no long-term commitment to funding the system the situation grows increasingly perilous ”

Vic Rayner CEO of NCF said: This budget is yet another demonstration of this government undermining its pledges to deliver adult social care reform We are struck that we have gone from a position where there was a dedicated Health and Social Care Levy to fix social care once and for all” in 2021, to one where National Insurance has been cut by 4p in the space of a year There is very little regard to the long-term sustainability of public services in this budget and it is therefore disappointing but not unexpected that there are no new announcements for adult social care The cost of delivering these pre-election tax cuts will constrain public spending for several years

It is clear the Chancellor has missed a key opportunity to address the huge funding pressures on local government and social care providers alike – these pressures are leading to multiple councils from across the political spectrum declaring bankruptcy due to the spiralling costs of social care For the thousands of people who are waiting for assessments and care packages, this budget does nothing to improve the accessibility or availability of care Additionally for the organisations providing care and support it does nothing to address the ongoing workforce and recruitment challenges ”

We are calling for the government to take a long-term strategic approach to investment in adult social care as a key part of the nation’s infrastructure Adult social care is a public service which unlocks economic growth, enables people to return to work, reduces demand on other public services and leads to more social cohesion

Sam Monaghan CEO of MHA said: “As expected the Chancellor has failed to address the current crisis facing the social care sector during the Spring Budget

“Our ask is that ahead of the next General Election all political parties present a credible sustainable plan that resolves the current gap between government funding and the cost of providing care After decades of successive governments dodging this question there are

now nearly half a million people waiting just for a social care assessment This cannot continue

“We also need to see a long-term strategy that tackles the estimated 152 000 staff vacancies in the sector and makes social care a stronger career choice for young people This is why we’ve been calling on Government to commit to the creation of a Social Care Council which would value the sector and act as an independent body examining issues such as pay scales working hours and recruitment on an ongoing basis

“Solving current issues will require significant investment and any funding needs to be introduced in an affordable and manageable way At the very least, we expect all political parties to understand and listen to the sector s needs – and show their commitment to tackle challenges head on ”

Rebecca Young Director of External Affairs at Revitalise said: As the incumbent Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers what could well be the Conservative Party’s final fiscal commitment before the country heads to polling booths national charity Revitalise calls on all MPs to take heed of the critical state of affairs in the social care sector In particular the significant fall in access to respite support

"As the leading provider of breaks and holidays for disabled people and their carers in the UK Revitalise offers crucial respite care and safeguards against individuals with disabilities and their caregivers reaching breaking point

Yet years of austerity the pandemic and the cost of living crisis has seemingly turned vital respite care into a luxury – with ONS Data reported by Channel 4 suggesting that of the 4 7 million unpaid carers in England, only one in 129 received respite funding This is a 37% drop from 2015

Hunt has emphasised the Conservative Party s desire for better productivity and a higher quality of public services mentioning also that it was one of his great privileges to be Health Secretary Once again however, we must strongly urge the Government to consider how we go about meeting the surging demand for social care services after more than a decade of slashing budgets and a failure to protect the most vulnerable in our society As always social care has been forgotten

Our guests their families and their peers speak of being abandoned by those with decision making powers The current situation as it stands, means carers are forced to breaking point before respite is offered

"It is essential that respite services are fully funded and protected It is deeply concerning that successive governments have failed to address the enormous deficit in supply over demand in the social care sector and how we go about funding these services

When Jeremy Hunt was Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee he said social care needed an extra £7bn a year just to stand still

The Road to Outstanding Care

By Rebecca Pearson, General Manager, Bupa Care Services, Bupa Global, India & UK (www bupa co uk)

To

innovation 24/7 commitment and strong teamwork which together create magic! I always think you can feel an Outstanding home as soon as you walk through the door – there s a wonderful warmth and buzz So how can we help our homes achieve this?

EMPOWERING PEOPLE

Providing Outstanding care to our residents starts with supporting our people to be at their best Careers in our sector can be hugely rewarding but they also need wellrounded support Caring for people s mental and physical health through tailor-made benefits schemes should be a priority as well as supporting their financial health with schemes like

loans, early access to wages or financial advice

Setting Outstanding culture comes from the top It s important to empower every person at the home whatever their

can

Outstanding care This means encouraging people to come forward with their

implementing new initiatives These don’t need to be complicated every

something special Once the team starts to see the impact of

reward people for delivering Outstanding care This can be vouchers treats or par-

recognise

or whole teams for their Outstanding experiences A simple thank you in recognition of great work also goes a long way

PERSON-CENTRED CARE

When creating an Outstanding environment delivering person-centred care supporting independence and honouring choice should be the aim

This means getting to know our residents like friends and family and working closely with their loved ones to uncover their passions history life and personality outside of the home

Every day I hear wonderful examples of our people helping our residents live full lives This might be taking them to the pub, garden centre or café to enjoy activities they’ve always loved, to creating a shoe shop for a resident who used to work in one, organising a birthday message from Ed Sheeran for a super fan or becoming a Defra-registered home to keep pigs so that a lifelong farmer feels at home

SUPPORTED BY TECHNOLOGY

At Bupa we’re undergoing an ambitious digital transformation, driven by our people They told us that they wanted to spend their time caring By replacing time-consuming paperwork with digital notes that can be updated on the go we re freeing them up to deliver Outstanding care

Adoption of digital tools for care planning compliance and assurance underpins our ability to provide Outstanding care Technology gives us information about a resident’s history, medication or interests at the tap of a button and helps us communicate with relatives health professionals safeguarding and local authorities swiftly and easily It makes us agile in how we provide care adapt to change and gather data so we can predict future needs

It also supports us in evidencing our Outstanding care to our regulators when it comes to inspections and to share learnings with our colleagues so that we can all improve

Sharing the caring

Once teams are in an Outstanding mindset they are constantly on the lookout for new ideas Again technology can support with this On our intranet our 10 000 people share ideas and best practice and learn from each other It’s wonderful to see them inspiring each other, and it helps us all provide high quality care and experiences for our residents whichever home they’re in

Sharing best practice more widely is also a key part of achieving an Outstanding rating through contributing to scientific research And when it comes to inspections sharing learnings across homes can be really helpful so that everyone can benefit, and consider where improvements could be made

Ultimately an Outstanding CQC rating is entirely reachable by working together to provide Outstanding care every day By helping our residents to live their best lives our people thrive in their careers too

‘I’d Do it All Again Next Week!’: World of Fun as Winchester Care Home Celebrates Cultural Diversity

Important

Team members from a dozen countries have helped a Winchester care home celebrate cultural diversity Colleagues from Europe Africa and Asia partied with residents at Colten Care s Abbotts Barton on a vibrant day of multicultural festivities

The fun featured music dancing national costumes traditional culinary treats and displays highlighting different regions and customs

Countries represented among the team at the Worthy Road home include Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines Togo Ghana Nigeria Morocco South Africa Ukraine Poland and Estonia

Abbotts Barton Home Manager Dee Lovewell said: “Our staff are of many different nationalities and we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate that with our residents

“Across both clinical and non-clinical roles our team s experience skills

and knowledge informed by their mix of backgrounds truly enriches our home and our standards of care for residents and their families

“The day started with presentations from Poland and Ukraine followed by a gala display in the afternoon

We had traditional music and dancing from Nepal and India and food from all nations to sample Residents toured the room looking at the displays for each country They even got up to dance with staff when we played traditional South African music

“Everyone was still buzzing from all the excitement the following day

One of those who attended George Smith said: “The colours of the team’s dresses were so vibrant and the styles unique ”

Fellow resident Mary Bulbeck said: “I would be happy to do that all again next week!

Health and Safety Matters

Fulcrum Care Launches ‘Pivotal People’ Inter view Series, Spotlighting Leaders in the Care Sector

Fulcrum Care a respected name in the care sector has launched its latest endeavour:

Pivotal People an interview series dedicated to highlighting influential figures within the industry

This series offers a platform for open dialogue learning and inspiration providing viewers with insights into the minds and experiences of those shaping the future of care

In an industry constantly evolving to meet society's changing needs recognising the contributions of trailblazers is of particular importance ‘Pivotal People’ aims to do just that by spotlighting leaders from various domains, including care home management and healthcare investment

Through in-depth interviews, viewers can expect to gain valuable insights into the challenges triumphs and future directions of the care industry The series strives to deepen understanding of the sector and foster collaboration and innovation among professionals

Tony Thiru CEO of Fulcrum Care shared his perspective about the launch of ‘Pivotal People : We are delighted to introduce Pivotal People to

the care community and beyond This series offers an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the individuals driving positive change within the care sector By providing a platform for their stories and experiences we hope to inspire others and contribute to the ongoing dialogue within the industry ‘Pivotal People’ premiered on Sunday 18 February with an interview with Ernie Graham of the Graham Care Group Subsequent episodes have been released every Sunday thereafter The series can be viewed on Fulcrum Care s YouTube channel, or on

Fulcrum s LinkedIn page:

https //www linkedin com/company/fulcrumcare

About Fulcrum Care: Fulcrum Care Consultancy is a leading provider of expert guidance and support in the health and social care sector With a dedicated team of professionals they specialise in regulatory compliance operational efficiency and staff training for care homes and organisations Their client-centred approach and commitment to excellence ensure sustainable growth and success for their clients www fulcrumcareconsulting com

Maintain and encourage healthy living and a good quality of life.

Violet Home Care are an established domiciliary care agency in the UK.

We understand that many individuals would prefer to receive care in the comfort of their own homes, rather than moving into a care facility.

That's why we offer a range of home care services, tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of each client.

At Violet Home Care we aim to provide quality health care service, to enable people stay in their homes.

We recognize that everyone has different needs and hence require personalized care

Some of the many services that we can provide:

• Live in Care

• Overnight Care

• Sleep Patterns Evaluation

• Shopping e.g. grocery or personal

• Help with medication

• Meal Preparation

• Washing & Ironing

• Outings to friends, family, and walks

• Cleaning the home

Class Of 2023 Graduate From The Barchester Chef Academy

hospitality team it is Mervyn’s job to ensure that the food being produced in all of Barchester s 258 care homes and private hospitals for residents and patients meets Barchester’s very high standards in terms of quality taste nutrition and presentation and that dishes are being prepared to the exact requirements of our individual residents

The Barchester Chef Academy helps chefs to both hone their skills and learn new ones covering many different modules including cooking for residents living with dementia budgeting balancing flavours minimising wastage, presentation skills and so much more The 20 chefs who completed this year’s course were full of praise for all they had learned; the chance to perfect new techniques and recipes share hints

and tips to network and make new contacts and to expand their skill set Back in their divisions, these chefs will help to train the hospitality teams in their sister homes

Speaking about the Academy’s success Mervyn Knights commented: “I am absolutely delighted at how well the Academy has been received by everyone who attended the course it has been such a positive experience for all involved We have already started work with the Academy’s new Class of 2024 who are really enjoying the programme so far and who I know will go on to achieve great things ”

Dr Pete Calveley CEO of Barchester Healthcare added: I am a huge fan of the Academy, not least because I have had the pleasure of sampling some of the fantastic dishes produced by our talented chefs I am impressed by the high standard of cooking and by how beautifully everything is presented I am incredibly proud of all of the chefs that took part in the Academy this year I know they produce wonderful food for our residents and patients cooked to their individual preferences every single day I am also exceptionally proud of Mervyn and all that he has achieved with the Academy it is a brilliant initiative and one that I know will go from strength to strength under his leadership

Meet Industr y Experts at CleanEx 2024

Aerial Shots Show Innovative Development

As Langtree Care Home approaches its Autumn 2024 completion an exciting aerial photo has captured the development which is set to revolutionise care in the North West Langtree Care Home is a 52-bed EMI care home that will meet an increasing demand for high-need dementia care beds in the region

The home has been commissioned by Millennium Care a family-run award-winning care provider with five homes in Greater Manchester and Lancashire A pandemic-proof build the home has been designed with dementia in mind by Alessandro Caruso Architects, who specialise in healthcare builds which aim to improve quality of life

Alessandro Caruso, Founder at Alessandro Caruso Architects said: Empathic design is at the heart of every decision taken to enhance the well-being and quality of life for the residents of this new care home It s been a great journey to share our specialist knowledge with the team at Millennium Care and learn from so much feedback relatable to existing residents’ experiences to design a holistic new experience for people suffering from dementia

“The proposed new care home will provide an environment that can: alleviate stress and simplify residents movement; provide a choice of rooms and landscaped sensory gardens; maximise exposure to natural light to improve residents mood and circadian rhythms ”

Langtree Care Home will also finalise the Standish Care Village, an innovative care community that will provide the ultimate level of care continuity

The site based on Chorley Road in Standish will cater for respite residential nursing dementia and EMI care which will enable residents to stay in the same familiar setting as their needs change

On the development, Stacey Astin Regional Manager at Millennium Care said:

“As Langtree nears completion we re so excited to provide an extra level of care to those in our local community The need for EMI care is growing and Langtree will help meet that need which is only going to increase

“Having three differing homes at the Standish Care Village will provide residents and their families the peace of mind we all want when thinking about our loved ones

“Langtree as well as Worthington Lake is purpose-built to provide the best level of care Both taking on board the latest research in dementia design while utilising our exceptional location by harnessing nature; a key part of Millennium nonpharmacological approach to care ”

Overcoming Recruitment Challenges In Residential Care

From acute staff shortages and low retention rates through to resourcing from overseas and frankly, a perception problem recruitment is a daily issue that residential care employers must navigate The reasons behind the care recruitment and retention crisis are well-documented including historic and extremely low pay compounded by the cost-of-living crisis a lack of career development and training opportunities as well as poor staff morale often matched by long hours and burn-out

So where do care home employers start when it comes to redressing their recruitment strategies?

TIGHTEN UP YOUR RECRUITMENT PROCESSES

It’s easy to say “recruit carefully and slowly” when you’re not faced with a consistent staffing challenge impacting the quality of care and service you can offer But by tackling your recruitment strategy over the longer-term you will be able to remove immediate pressures on your talent pipeline

Taking the longer- term view and hiring the right person for your business – from culture and personality fit perspective – can save you time further down the line This can be as simple as ensuring you have a thorough background check system in place to guide your hiring decisions as well as increasing retention rates

Look at your visa compliance checks It might seem obvious but – when recruiting overseas staff - right to work checks should be done before the individual starts work EU workers will need to show they have either pre-settled or settled status and those with a temporary right to work will need to have their visa status checked From April 2022 all visas must be checked digitally via https://www gov uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work

If you employ any staff on student visas make sure they’re not exceeding their maximum permitted hours of 20hours / week during term times Any more than this is a breach of their visa conditions Overtime

By Chris Harber, Head of Immigration, Boyes Turner (www boyesturner com)

sleeping nights and on-call hours (if at the place of work or sufficiently restrictive) will count towards their total weekly hours We recommend requesting a copy of their university term dates at the start of each academic year to enable compliance

With modern slavery a very real and alarming feature of care homes today, ensure you have also implemented a watertight policy for this including relevant identity checks as well as training of staff

BUILD YOUR EMPLOYER BRAND

Alongside the ethics of being a good employer there s a commercial advantage too – in a competitive marketplace, care homes with strong employer brands will attract the best talent, which means they can deliver the best care for their residents and their families All this fuels your reputation – in a market where reputation is a challenge

In an industry where staff are often treated as disposable developing a culture of appreciation is also vital: showing people they are valued supports engagement productivity and loyalty And this needs to be cascaded across all levels – from carers to catering and cleaning teams as much as management and leadership

CREATE A CULTURE WHERE YOUR PEOPLE THRIVE

Again a powerful way to recruit people is through culture a place where people can thrive at work Make sure your employees take their full holiday allowance to both protect staff health wellbeing and work-life balance

Ensure staff get sufficient Breaks: they should comply with Working Time Regulation 1998 (WTR) requirements or if this is not possible offer sufficient compensatory rest instead Employers should check that staff who are working for other employers are still getting sufficient rest breaks between roles and not exceeding the maximum permitted amount of night working Remember sleeping nights and on-call shifts will count as working for WTR purposes (if at the place of work or sufficiently restrictive)!

In a market where training and career development are under-valued and hard to access prioritise professional development for your teams

An effective recruitment strategy in today’s care sector requires that employers ensure they prioritise the things that potential staff truly want – a positive workplace where people are valued can thrive and perform to the best of their ability – safely and fairly

Growing

If

Overseas Workers In The Care Sector – A

Vital Workforce Operating In A Legal Minefield

By Emma Brooksbank, Partner in the Business Immigration team at Freeths (www freeths co uk)

For employers in the UK care sector who continue to weather a long-running recruitment crisis, the importance of overseas workers for their survival cannot be overstated

Without the thousands of foreign workers who have taken up positions at care homes and other institutions many facilities would not be able to provide the vital service upon which so many depend

Many of those employed as care workers have been granted permission to work in the UK under the Health and Care Worker visa scheme which was introduced by the Government in August 2020 due to the unprecedented challenges being experienced at the time

The restriction on free movement following Brexit followed closely by the Covid-19 pandemic placed unsustainable demands on workforce recruitment within the sector at a time of intense pressure

These problems were exacerbated by existing difficulties faced by the sector in recruiting from the resident population and with the retention of care sector employees

Faced with such formidable challenges the Government also added key care sector roles to the shortage occupation list

Put together these measures enabled care managers to recruit from overseas at reduced salary rates when compared with standard visa applications and with reduced visa fees and no immigration health surcharge

Unsurprisingly, this raft of changes to regulations has had a significant impact

In the year ending June 2023 the Government estimates that grants under the Health and Care visa routes rose by over two and a half times to around 120 000 compared to the previous year

Yet this has resulted in a relatively low decrease in overall vacancy numbers of only around 11 000

High turnover in the sector meant that there were approximately 390 000 leavers in 2022/2023 a disparity which has drawn considerable attention Skills for Care estimate there are still over 150,000 vacancies, in addition to over 100 000 NHS vacancies

Consequently, overseas recruitment remains vital to sustaining recruitment levels and easing the current staffing crisis

Home Office concern about the significant growth in Skilled Worker visa holders however means it is likely to encounter intense scrutiny

In the wake of the recruitment surge the Home Office indicated that significant concerns have emerged about high levels of non-compliance worker exploitation and abuse within the adult social care sector par-

ticularly for overseas workers employed within care occupations

As such they have started to significantly increase scrutiny of certificate applications made by care sector employees These now trigger extensive further enquiries raised by the Home Office, leading to delays for care sector employers

In addition to these extra stresses placed upon employers the Home Office has also indicated that it will channel additional enforcement action to the care sector

For example we have already seen an increase in right to work enforcement with several civil penalties of over £100 000 being issued by the Home Office to care sector employers These penalties were issued before the civil penalties tripled at the beginning of February and would be much higher if they had been issued today

If the Home Office does take enforcement action it can also lead to the suspension and revocation of a sponsor licence For a care home business this would be catastrophic All sponsored workers would face the cancellation of their visas and would need to leave employment, and, most likely, leave the UK too

Seen in this context it is essential to note that while abuse and exploitation in the care sector must be identified and eliminated the Home Office s current approach will be harmful to the sector overall

The severity of the enforcement action will slow down essential recruitment and penalise businesses that have found the complex immigration system difficult to navigate rather than intentionally breaching the rules

Against this backdrop companies need to prepare well for anticipated future measures and ensure they are operating within the appropriate parameters, so they can be confident they do not lose their Skilled

Worker Sponsor Licences

Care sector employers should pay particular attention to whether sponsored workers are undertaking the role for which they have been sponsored, and that sponsored employees are being paid the correct amount

They also need to be vigilant in ensuring that overseas nationals are not being employed in breach of the conditions of their visa particularly when employing overseas students who have additional restrictions on their right to work

Another consideration is making sure that overseas nationals who are supposed to be sponsored by a different sponsor are still engaged in that employment If they are not they are not permitted to work in the UK

Of equal importance is checking that overseas nationals are not having excessive deductions taken from their pay to cover immigration costs or for example working excessive hours in breach of Working Time

Directives

More generally, employers who rely on a valuable migrant workforce absolutely must prepare for recruitment with sufficient time

It has never been more important to double-check the most up-to-date version of sponsor guidance right-to-work guidance and salary requirements

Kingston Care Home Residents Take A Trip Back To The Church Where They Married, To Celebrate Their 64th Wedding

and Patrick was a vacuum cleaner salesman Peggy remembers telling Patrick: “I would love to marry you” just a few weeks after they met They married just 6 months later and had their reception at Peggy’s parent’s house nearby They have 3 daughters and a son 3 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren

Shannon said: “Peggy and Patrick have lived together at Kingston Care Home for nearly a year now and it s been wonderful getting to know them and hearing all about their life together Being back at the church for the first time since their wedding brought back so many memories for them Peggy was quite emotional when she remembered her father walking her down the aisle but they told me how touched they were and happy that they got the chance to visit the church again, 64 years after they got married there ”

Parklands' Year of Achievement

on dealing with the outbreak and learning how the previous company ran things I needed to figure out their methods so I could smoothly transition Weston View into a fully operational Parklands home

I am a very systematic, organised person, so my first priority was to ensure that the care provided to the residents was not compromised during the period of transition I also had to get to know 40 new residents and their families and reassure them that Parklands had their best interests at heart

At Parklands, we use digital technology to update care records in real time At Weston View everything was logged on paper so we began the painstaking – but necessary – process of transferring the

paper-based care records from the previous operator onto our electronic systems

By Shona Conlin, Manager, Weston View (www parklandsgroup com)

This was a mammoth task lasting several months but fortunately I was supported by the staff team who knew their residents very well

This was a turning point I felt marking the start of a new relationship based on trust The care team saw that we listened to them all, took on board their views and valued their expertise

When I arrived the staff were in a quite despondent mood not surprising given the fluid situation Nobody had seen the process of administration coming They didn t know if they still had jobs They also had to undergo a huge transition, suddenly working with a new operator with its own set of standards and values

Identifying the permanent staffing team and managing the rota proved tricky at first because of the paper-based systems in place Using our new electronic systems staff can now easily access their rotas It might sound like a minor detail but it gives our employees greater certainty and allows them to plan their home life more effectively We firmly belief in a work-life balance

One of the reasons the previous company went into administration was because of high agency costs From day one, we were determined to reduce the home s reliance on agency workers This means we can invest more in our own people and ensures continuity of care for residents

Weston View is home to 40 residents and we want it to look its best Decluttering the home proved a big task We filled 18 skips and at times I felt that I was a property development manager!

But now we have a beautiful, newly decorated home with new carpets throughout a new lounge and dining rooms and a medication room fit for purpose Seeing the end results of our labour has given everyone a sense of pride in the home

There are more ambitious plans to come but changing the fabric of the building is only part of the challenge A care home is only as good as the people who work in it and the values they espouse Parklands is proud of its four key values – respect and trust, professionalism working together and a good place to work Through supervision and training events, we’ve worked hard to ensure that all staff live and breathe

those values

Communication has been a key factor in how we have been able to turn the home around - being honest having regular meetings acting on queries, requests, and information, and the recognition that every role at Weston View is equal in importance

Our latest Care Inspectorate report suggests we ve made tremendous progress embedding our values

In February the Care Inspectorate carried out a routine inspection at Weston View grading us on five key criteria: support for residents wellbeing quality of leadership performance of the staff team the home’s setting, and the effectiveness of care and support planning

It was our first inspection since the transition to Parklands and I couldn’t be more delighted with the outcome - in three categories, Weston View was graded 5 (very good); and grade 4 (good) in two others These grades are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Weston View and represent a quite dramatic turnaround To put this report into context Weston View was previously rated 3 (adequate) for leadership whereas today it is rated 5

In my over 10 years at Parklands I have never seen such a transformation It shows that by investing in and developing senior staff and giving them the autonomy to lead we have been able to unlock their full potential

I feel very humbled that in my 38th year of working in the NHS and social care I have the privilege to lead such a dedicated professional team and that we have fostered a learning environment that allows staff to develop their skills learn reflect and thrive professionally

Every member of the Weston View team should be proud of the Care Inspectorate report and see it as recognition of their hard work After a difficult period of transition and uncertainty it means we can all move forward together knowing that we have the skills knowledge and experience to deliver the best outcomes for our residents

In a career spanning four decades I thought I’d seen it all The past year has been one of most challenging but rewarding of my career There have been tears of laughter and tears of frustration but, in the end we can be proud of what we have achieved together through teamwork

88 Year Old Great Yarmouth Care Home Resident Finds A New

M-Resourcing are delighted to announce the appointment of Dan Ashenden to lead our M-Resourcing service with effect from 1 December 2023

M-Resourcing offers a multi-faceted approach to solving complexresourcing problems facing the care sector Whether you facespiralling staffing costs and pressures, or simply require a newapproach to managing this critical area for your organisation, ourcomprehensive resourcing solution reduces costs brings controland allows you to plan for the future with confidence

We knowfrom talking to our clients that managing their resourcing costs isstill a key priority and this important appointment underlines ourcontinuing commitment to the sector Christoph Marr CEO of Marr Procurement Dan is a highly-capable leader and has incredibly valuable experiencefrom his years in the care sector managing and delivering complex temporary labour

agency programmes We areexcited to bring that experience to our clients ”

Dan spent 6 years at Priory Group During my rewarding six-year tenure at Priory, I had the privilege of beingappointed as the inaugural UK Agency Manager where I honed my skills in enhancing their PSL offering Thisexperience has provided invaluable insights into the principles of effective temporary agency management reduction and control Now, as the Head of M-Resourcing at Marr Procurement I aim to leverage this knowledge tointroduce innovative strategies for temp agency reduction to benefit our clients My goal is to ensure

Experts Share Why Nutrition is Important for Older Adults – And How Carers Can Help

essary nutrients our body needs - and in the correct amounts -can lead to a range of physical effects and health complications This is due to the risk of sarcopenia, a muscle-wasting disorder, which is a key contributing factor to many diseases and health complications

“Poor nutrition can contribute to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and lack of energy which are common symptoms of depression; inadequate intake of essential nutrients can impair cognitive function and therefore increase the risk of cognitive decline and neurological disorders such as dementia

GETTING THE RIGHT NUTRITION

“If you’re looking after someone at home, ensure they have the support they need to be able to buy fresh food says Greta Hoxha chef at the care home Heatherton House “Make sure they have the right equipment to cook meals safely and have the correct glassware to stay hydrated You can also support with cooking batch meals as they are easier to then reheat for an older adult ”

At Danforth we ensure that our menus are nutritionally well balanced”, says Greta “We look at everything from protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and even colour so they have a visual appeal

“It can also help to create meal plans around what your loved one likes to eat adds Louise Brown head chef at Old Norse Lodge care home “We hold monthly nutrition meetings with the residents which allows them to give new ideas for menus and foods they wish to see on these

“For

says

“For those living with dementia who may not be able to express their likes and dislikes we seek support and information from families to help us with this information ”

THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION

year, and just in time for the care home s dedicated Mother s Day event Mum grandma and great-grandmother Joan Rose marked her milestone birthday on Saturday 9th March with her grandson David who had had his Tottenham Hotspur shirt specially personalised in her honour The inspiring woman then had the chance to celebrate again in the Enfield care home as staff organised a Mother s Day afternoon tea for their residents

Joan was born on 9th March 1918 when the world was still entrenched in the Great War and still had eight months to run Born and raised in London as an only child, the great-grandmother has now celebrated her 106th

Dr Theocharis Ispoglou from Leeds Beckett University

“Dehydration can impair cognitive functions such as memory focus and alertness, which in turn can affect daily life and overall well-being ” warns Dr Ispoglou

Hospitalisations medical complications and an increased risk of kidney and metabolic diseases are further consequences of not staying properly hydrated and symptoms such as headaches fatigue and mood changes can disrupt daily activities ”

“However, it is also important not to overlook the risks of overhydration which can also have serious consequences Overhydration can also affect cognitive function causing confusion disorientation and in severe cases seizures or coma

GETTING THE RIGHT HYDRATION

To prevent dehydration and underhydration for older adults the British Dietetic Association (BDA) recommends a daily water intake from drinks of about 1600 ml (approximately 6-7 cups) for women and 2000 ml (about 8-9 cups) for men ” says Dr Ispoglou

While these recommendations relate to fluids consumed through drinks it is important to note that about 20-30% of our hydration needs can be met through the consumption of water-rich foods such as soups, stews, fruits, and vegetables Hence achieving proper hydration in older individuals should involve a balanced intake of both water from drinks and water-rich foods adds Dr Ispoglou

If you re looking after a loved one at home to ensure they stay hydrated ensure a minimum of two drinks are offered with each meal and offer tea and cold drinks throughout the day Make sure they have access to a drink at all times and record the amount they have consumed recommends Chef Louise Brown

A former nurse has turned undercover boss in an attempt to improve quality and standards in care homes

Sathi Raghavan who worked as a registered nurse and midwife in both India and the UK before establishing her own business in the sector works shifts in homes to check care quality and suggest improvements The founder of Millennium Staffing which supplies staff to care homes hospitals and other healthcare settings across the West Midlands joins care home teams and works alongside her staff who are oblivious she s their boss

Sathi said: It all started when I was working as a nurse in a care home and got fed up with agency staff coming in many of whom refused to carry out the tasks they were needed to do to provide the best care That s what led me to set up my own specialist employment business And when I got my very first call from a care home asking for shift cover that evening I rang the small team I d recruited and no-one was free “So, I put on a uniform and turned up and worked the shift It gave me the opportunity to really understand the home how the team works their procedures and care levels so it’s something I’ve done ever since “I spend one or two days with all

do

And last month Sathi joined a care home night shift at 1am with agreement from the manager to shadow the team and watch her

Care Homes Residents and Staff Celebrate International Women's Day

International Women’s Day: The Resilient, Industrious ‘International Women’ Now Living at Royal Star & Garter

Day takes place today (Friday, 8 March), and

The

both married to servicemen living overseas, and made great sacrifices to be with their husbands when they were posted abroad raising young children away from their own families, and having to make friends and build new family homes each time their partners were deployed to another corner of the world Sacrifices such as these as well as putting their own careers on hold in order to support their spouse’s service are common among the partners of Armed Forces personnel

Ann is a resident at the charity’s Home in Solihull She was married to Paul who served in the Navy for over 30 years During that time she lived with her husband overseas, and each of her three daughters was born in different countries – Malta England and New Zealand

in the D-Day landings The couple married in 1945 and had two sons

Ann and Felicia live in Royal Star & Garter s Solihull and High Wycombe Homes respectively They were

The couple had met in their late teens through Ann’s brother who knew Paul in the Navy They were based in America between 1969 and 1972 when Paul was attached to the British Embassy in Washington DC The couple lived in nearby Arlington During summer holidays Ann would help organise road trips with their children embracing their adopted country and educating the children as they travelled

Felicia lives with dementia at Royal Star & Garter in High Wycombe She was born in the South American country of Guyana which at the time was a British colony known as British Guiana

In 1951 she married Earnest, who was also from Guyana, and had joined the RAF in 1944 They went on to have four children and as the family followed Earnest on his postings around the world including West Germany England and Singapore Felicia had to juggle the demands and challenges of being an RAF wife in foreign countries and raising a young family while her husband served

Sadly Earnest died in 1974 three years after demobbing and aged just 52 As a working mum Felicia managed to raise her four children, with financial help and support from the RAF Benevolent Fund

These remarkable women have in very different ways helped support the Armed Forces

Oldbur y Care Homes Inspires Inclusion on International Women’s Day

Newbury Manor Care Home and Portway House in Oldbury proudly celebrate International Women s Day incorporating this year’s theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion ’

On this important day the home recognises the invaluable contributions of women working within its home and worldwide while emphasising the importance of inclusivity and diversity in all aspects of life International Women s Day serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing pursuit of gender equality and the empowerment of women and staff at both care homes on Newbury Lane are dedicated to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued respected and included

As part of the celebration, the home is highlighting the remarkable achievements of its female staff members who play integral roles in providing compassionate care and support to residents

These women represent diverse backgrounds and experiences each bringing unique perspectives and talents to their roles

Kam Kaur home manager of Newbury Manor says: “We are committed to celebrating the strength

resilience, and achievements of women, not just on International Women s Day but every day

Faye Gailey home manager at Portway House says “This year’s theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’ resonates deeply with our values as we strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and respected

In addition to honouring the contributions of women Newbury Manor and Portway House recognise the dedication and hard work of all its staff members From carers to administrative staff every individual plays a crucial part in ensuring the wellbeing and happiness of residents

We believe in recognising and appreciating the efforts of all our staff members, regardless of gender added Faye

“Their unwavering dedication and commitment to providing exceptional care deserve to be celebrated ” Newbury Manor Care Home and Portway House remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting inclusivity diversity and gender equality within its community and beyond As the world marks International Women’s Day the home reaffirms its dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all

Elizabeth House Resident Shares Inspirational

Kathleen

role Kathleen said: They said I had to be good with numbers for the job but I said I wasn’t The reply was ‘Oh well You have common sense so you ll be good at it

Reflecting on her time as a Wren, Kathleen said: “I loved it We were all together and we did all of the rotten jobs together whether that was carrying the coal or stoking the fire ready for the cook who we called ‘Cookie’ to make our breakfast ” Kathleen left the Wrens in July 1946 where she was presented with her Wrens employment certificate On it she

Gibraltar Nursing Home Honours Former RAF Member on International Women’s Day

Celebrating International Women’s Day, Gibraltar Nursing Home honours one of its cherished residents fondly referred to as family members for her service in the Royal Air Force (RAF)

Born Doreen Mary Payne in 1932 in the picturesque seaside town of Paignton, South Devon and one of 6 siblings – Doreen never particularly had an interest in education she enjoyed sporting activities such as running and swimming After leaving school she ventured into the hospitality industry working either as a waitress or as part of the domestic team in local hotels Doreen joined the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) aged 18 after her eldest brother had joined the Army several years earlier Doreen chose to join the military to escape the small-town life and during her time at the WRAF she served in the Catering Corp and worked in the Officers Mess – a familiar environment and one of which she enjoyed reaching the rank of Corporal RAF life for Doreen was organised and disciplined which she loved The friendship among the WRAF was fun and mischievous

and Doreen had made many friends during her time there Doreen later met her husband who was an RAF Policeman at the RAF Filton in Bristol, where she was posted and was married on 2nd December 1954 aged 22 years old About a year later in 1955 Doreen left the WRAF after they were transferred to RAF Stanbridge in Bedfordshire After leaving the two had to move out of the married quarters and moved to Edlesborough Bedfordshire where she then later found employment in a local factory

Beyond her military service Doreen carried the invaluable skills and discipline she had learnt into civilian life – an extremely tidy person and strong disciplinarian Doreen who now lives with a Dementia resides at Gibraltar Nursing Home who’s ethos is a continuation of life and supports Doreen s independence The daily activities that Doreen enjoys the most is helping out in the kitchen washing up making coffee and engaging in friendly conversations with fellow residents during mealtimes

Boulters Lock in Maidenhead the staff and residents are celebrating Jennifer Butler a qualified nurse who changed career to become an air stewardess In 1961 on a flight from Barbados to London a passenger went into labour; Jennifer safely delivered the baby and was rewarded with a certificate from the British Overseas Airways Corporation for meritorious service

At West Cliff Hall in Hythe, Alma has looked back on her first job at 15 years old; she worked in the very same building she now resides in when it was a hotel Alma s role involved washing the steps and preparing the front entrance each morning before putting on her uni-

“Don’t Be Shy to Tr y New Things,” says South Croydon Care Home Resident and Former Tiller

Girl

Ninety-eight-year-old

on International Women’s Day

great sense of humour and even compares the service at her care home to Buckingham Palace! Reflecting on her life achievements she encourages younger generations to practice self-care: Look after yourself eat sensible and go for walks ”

Friends Of The Elderly’s Head Of Day Care Ser vices Supports International Women’s Day

Shirley Bradley, Friends of the Elderly s Head of Day Care Services has worked for the Charity for nearly 19 years and to support this year s International Women s Day, which celebrates the achievements of women Shirley has been sharing her own care career journey her passion for caring and her inspiration for inclusivity for all her clients and team members

Friends of the Elderly runs day care services in Malvern and Kidderminster in Worcestershire and in Woking and Wallington in Surrey All the services care for and support older people who are living with dementia and a range of

2005 a friend suggested I apply for a job in the day centre and as my skills in the hotel industry were easily transferable, I went along for an interview The rest as they say is History as I realised that I loved working with and supporting older people Shirley continued Shirley s first care role was as a Bank Day Care Assistant for two different day care clubs specifically for people living with dementia and one for older people living alone in the community In 2006 she became the Manager of the two services

In 2015 Shirley became the Manager of Friends of the Elderly’s Malvern and Kidderminster Day Care Services and in 2019 took on the role of Interim Engagement Manager for a year at the Malvern Site Most recently in November 2021, Shirley was promoted to Head of Day Care Services, line managing the Malvern and Kidderminster Day Care Services and also Friends of the Elderly s Wallington and Woking Day Care Services

“Throughout all of Friends of the Elderly s Day Care Services each member of the team always makes sure that our clients are involved in decisions about their care We ask for a life history before clients join us as we find this so useful to get to know them a little bit before they start That way we can tailor support to meet their individual needs and include some of the things that they have told us they like to do,” continued Shirley

Everyone has a different story to tell and I find them so inspiring ” Shirley added “We have regular client meetings to make sure we are constantly delivering the type of engaging and stimulating activities our clients want to take part in They tell us what they like or dislike and what they would like to see included in the Service or if we are missing anything Whether it is about our menu or the kinds of activities they would like – we listen and take everything onboard

However client inclusion doesn’t stop there “For example if we are redecorating or buying blinds or furniture we always include our clients in the choices we make

It is important that our clients feel included and that their opinions matter

When it comes to including and motivating her team, Shirley agrees there’s no ‘I in team “I would never expect anyone to do something that I wouldn t do myself said Shirley

“I encourage and support everyone to be the best they can be I don’t micromanage but am always available if anyone needs my help I genuinely feel that I could not do what I do without my Teams support

“Friends of the Elderly doesn’t just talk about its values that underpin the care we give to our clients; it includes and upholds them for staff too I am encouraged to be the best I can be too and like everyone at the Charity I have access to training support and receive recognition I am treated with respect and above all they care about my safety

I love working for Friends of the Elderly and am so lucky to work with the best bunch of colleagues and support a wonderful group of clients I am passionate about the care we provide and it makes me so proud to be able to be to contribute even a little bit in ensuring that the time our clients spend with us in the day centres is as happy and fulfilling as possible,” concluded Shirley

Care UK Celebrates International Women’s Day

Care UK is celebrating International Women s Day today Friday 8th March, by sharing stories of the inspirational colleagues who help us the provide the best care possible

It is estimated that approximately 80% of all social care jobs in the UK are performed by women and at Care UK we are dedicated to supporting our colleagues through training and development programmes and career progression, whilst giving them the freedom to work flexibly, whether that s through part-time contracts or bank roles

The theme of this year s International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion, so we are profiling a colleague who does just that Not only does she know what it’s like to rebuild a completely new career but she also works to encourage and support colleagues in her region every day Operations Support Manager Edith Rushden s role is dedicated to supporting Care UK’s homes in South-West London Her passion to deliver the highest standards of care to residents includes suggesting improvements in all aspects of the home s operations She also puts the wellbeing of her colleagues at the heart of all she does Edith originally trained as a teacher in Zimbabwe After the civil war ended there the call went out to support education and health in rural communities A city girl Edith dropped everything to go and help in areas

where there were no schools or health facilities Her experience led her to focus on family therapy, working with a UK-based organisation, and eventually she became their primary trainer for the whole of Africa Arriving in the

all trades” but her colleagues would say she is, in fact, the master of everything that comes her way Edith says The journey from where I started to where I am now has been a journey of dedication commitment, and perseverance I found enablers, listeners and supporters who encouraged me along the way The transition from Zimbabwe to the UK took some adjusting to but I will always be grateful to

Austen

Residents and staff at Austen House in Lower Earley Reading marked International Women s Day (IWD) on March 8th by spending the day celebrating the achievements of wonderful trail-blazing women throughout history

IWD takes place on March 8 every year to celebrate women’s rights and inspire people to fight for gender equality A United Nations-sanctioned global holiday IWD celebrates women s contributions to society raises awareness about the fight for gender parity and inspires support for organisations that support women globally

Residents took part in discussions about the role of the many different women who have shaped history from Cleopatra and Boudica to Florence Nightingale and Marie Curie right through to Queen Elizabeth II and Mrs Thatcher They talked about the important women in their own lives and celebrated the achievements of their fellow residents Also the staff arranged a tea party flowers and gifts for our beautiful ladies and we all had a wonderful time

Simona Cioinac, General Manager at Austen House said: “We’ve all had a really interesting day thinking

about the very many brilliant women who have had such an impact on our lives whether that was an historic figure or people in our own family It was good to share our experiences take stock and reflect on how much society has changed over the years ”

Resident Frances commented It is amazing to think how much things have changed just in my lifetime when I was younger there were so many things it was deemed inappropriate for women to do It is wonderful that women have so many more opportunities these days and days like this are so important to make sure we keep going in the right direction ”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities

Austen House is run by Barchester Healthcare one of the UK’s largest care providers which is committed to delivering high-quality

International Women’s Day in the Spotlight: Meet Award

Winning Margaret Vaile, a Pioneer in Empowering Women

Margaret Vaile is a resident at MHA Handsworth in Altrincham but her life wasn’t always as mellow and calm as it is now

For International Women s Day we wanted to share with you her story and how she supported fellow women in a foreign country by learning their language and teaching them life lessons

Margaret is an ordained minister and spent several years working in Peru supporting and educating women

She identified women in tribal areas as illiterate and struggled with basic knowledge on nutrition, reading and family planning

In 2015 Margaret was presented with an award for her services by the Peruvian government for her work with the women in the country

She met her husband Aldo Vaile whilst living out there and had to move back to the UK with her children in the 1980 s following the Peruvian conflict

Once coming back to the UK she was a minister for two churches one in Bradford and another in East London

She did however go back once the dust had settled to be with her husband and on her return was appointed as a teacher to support and prepare new ministers

She returned back to the UK and moved into MHA Handsworth 12 months ago following the death of her husband

Margaret is also a trained teacher and spent seven years studying art She is an inspiration to us all and we wish her all the best

members impacted by the menopause

The next phase will see Nellsar create a closed forum where team members can have access to further information and updates

Leni Wood Head of Nutrition and Wellness at Nellsar Care Homes said “In recent years workplaces worldwide have increasingly recognised the importance of supporting women's health and well-being

However, an aspect that has often been overlooked is perimenopause and menopause; although a natural biological process that affects women typically between the ages of 45 and 55, it has been relatively unspoken about until recent years

“By understanding the menopause journey we can

Never A Cross-Word At New Copford Place

Care Home’s Residents Are Definitely Not Clue -Less When It Comes To Their Daily Puzzles

favourite puzzles,” added Chelsey Leather, New Copford Place’s Activities Coordinator “ After having a chat, the residents decided that they had more than a top three Their favourites – in no particular order – are Word Searches, Scrabble, Number Puzzles, Matching Puzzles and Memory Puzzles,” Chelsey continued When it comes to a classic traditional jigsaw some of our residents enjoy doing the Relish Jigsaws which have been created for those living with dementia They are designed to stimulate minds and evoke happy memories which are inspired by real experiences and are full of vibrant colours

“Also a couple of our residents really enjoy tackling more challenging jigsaws I m so impressed with how brilliantly they complete them; I certainly couldn’t do as well as they do added Chelsey

“Puzzles are a very good pastime for our residents as they can improve mental speed and thought processes – and they are also a positive activity for improving short-term memory They can, of course be an individual activity but they are also a great group activity which creates opportunities for engaging with others chatting and conversations and making friends,” Daniel continued

Other benefits of puzzles include helping relaxation as by immersing yourself in a puzzle it can serve as an exercise in mindfulness and help to relieve stress For the elderly in particular the act of picking up puzzle pieces, turning them over and fitting them together can sometimes but quite a challenge However puzzles are a great way to exercise the small muscles in fingers and eyes

“One of our residents told me that jigsaws can be traced back to the 18th Century when European map makers put their maps on to wood and cut them into small pieces They did this to create learning tools to teach geography – so really, interactive puzzles have been around for quite a few hundred years,” Daniel continued I really do learn something new from our residents every day

“Our interactive Tiny Tablet is another example of our commitment to provide exceptional standards of quality care through person-centred care as all our residents can join in and take part in the group activities or use it on their own It’s up to them – they can do what they want to do when they want to do it ” Chelsey concluded

Memor y Makers Bring Cracking Conversations To Care Home

spark conversations about specific themes in this case Easter

Set up around a decade ago, Memory Makers consists of a team of four volunteers who visit care homes and day care centres in the Spey Valley and West Lothian, offering a blend of reminiscence therapy and creative expression to enhance the well-being of older people This was the first of three planned visits to the home by the charity this spring

Jasmin Mathew activities coordinator at Lynemore care home said: Our residents really enjoy speaking with Rona and Janet It s a chance to

reminisce, speak about our interests and channel that into a crafty, creative avenue

Volunteer Rona Smith said: “It s an honour and a privilege to come in and work with the residents Everybody has a story to tell It s amazing some of the things that you actually hear them talk about, and we just hope they enjoy the experience, whether it’s making things or talking or singing

“It’s about reminiscence and overcoming a lack of self-confidence because a lot of people feel I can t do that but if you sit with someone and they have success then success breeds success It’s all about improving the person’s skills as well as reminiscing

A

New Qualification To Boost Care Sector

A new accredited qualification for care workers will help to improve perceptions of the sector and will boost retention

That s the opinion of a Lesley O Connor Head of Strategic Development at Realise a leading training provider which offers numerous qualifications in the sector

Lesley welcomed the Government’s £75m investment to help people progress in their Heath & Social Care careers

The Government recently set out plans for a new accredited qualification and a national career structure for the adult social care workforce

It says the qualification will benefit around 37 000 workers within the sector while the defined career pathway will help people plan their future progression

But Lesley said while the funding package would make adult social care a more attractive proposition it would likely only make a small difference to the 152 000 vacancies within the sector

“This Government investment to add accreditation to the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate is very welcome and it will give the qualification additional value said Lesley

“A clearly defined career pathway is also something I have championed for a long time and it offers people a clear route to progress their careers

“It will also help to improve perceptions of adult social care as a whole People still think of adult social care as looking after old people and everything that goes with that but the opportunities are far more varied

including helping young people with disabilities and assisting with treatment and recovery from addiction

“I hope it will encourage school leavers to consider adult social care as a viable skilled career with progression opportunities rather than a stop-gap It will undoubtedly help to

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so they can receive the input they need and to stay safe Before this can happen however, the law says a process called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) must be followed by the local authority DoLS provides a set of checks to ensure that the deprivation of liberty is in the person’s best interests, is necessary to prevent harm to them and is a proportionate response to the likelihood and seriousness of that harm

The Charity says that DoLS is a crucial safeguard for older people and others who lack, or are perceived to lack mental capacity It means that people who by definition find it difficult or impossible to advocate for themselves, cannot simply have their right to liberty removed without any checks to ensure this is best for them – a humane and civilized response

But despite the paramount importance that we attach to upholding personal liberty in our country and the existence of these protections DoLS is not working well in practice and for an alarming number of older people is not working at all Chronic under-funding by central Government has led to serious problems in its local administration leading to an ever-growing backlog that is now so vast it can probably never be eradicated

Since 2015/16 the estimated number of incomplete DoLS applications has remained at over 100 000 and in 2022/23 126,100 applications went uncompleted Where applications were completed, in 2022/23 it took an average of 156 days for a standard authorization – vastly longer than the statutory timeframe of 21 days In many cases the decision to constrain the individual s freedom for their own good would have probably fulfilled the DoLS criteria but within such a huge number there must be a risk of injustice for some individuals, whose lawful right to liberty will have been inappropriately denied The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has also identified instances where local authorities have effectively adopted a policy of not even trying to deal with large numbers of low and medium priority applications

The problems with DoLS particularly affect older people – 84% of people subject to a DoLS application in 2022/23 were aged 65 years or over

Shockingly in 2022/23 49 325 people died while waiting for their DOLS application to be dealt with Age UK says that the problems with DoLS are part of a wider story of policy neglect and underfunding impacting social care The current social care staffing crisis means care homes often do not have enough staff to deliver care in a way that properly reflects the human rights principles set out by the DoLS and the Mental Capacity Act

Care home managers may lack the resources to provide person-centred care and this means that care practices can be more restrictive than they ought to be and that the minimal restrictions specified in DoLS authorisations are not always adhered to or reviewed For example older people may be locked up for long periods in their room in a care home or not supported to go outside or to leave at all due to lack of staff to accompany them There are also concerns that in some instances restless residents are sedated to keep them quiet

In addition to worries about resource issues there has been significant criticism of DoLS since their introduction in 2009 most notably in a 2014 House of Lords report It concluded that the ‘legislation is not fit for purpose Others have highlighted a widespread lack of knowledge of the principles of the Mental Capacity

Act among care professionals, a lack of training and inadequate support for individuals or families who want to challenge DoLS decisions

In response to these and other criticisms of DoLS, the Government planned to replace them with a new framework known as the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) as set out in the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 These plans for LPS were not universally welcomed within social care, partly because of concerns about the lack of resources in care settings and local authorities to implement them However in any case despite plans to introduce the LPS framework in October 2020, the Government announced a new implementation date of April 2022 Then that date was pushed back pending consultation until finally in April 2023, the Government announced that implementation of the LPS would be delayed beyond the current Parliament – effectively kicking the issue into the long grass

Meanwhile, the Government has made no extra funding available to enable local authorities to meet their statutory responsibilities under DoLS and there is no policy in place to tackle the enormous DoLS backlog

In its new report, Age UK sets out the results of qualitative research carried out with care home staff, representatives of local authority DoLS teams and families of those affected by DoLS

This research found a marked lack of concern from some professionals and others caught up in the system about the absence of proper DoLS processes being followed on the basis that what really mattered was that the individuals in question were safe This is understandable, given our beleaguered system of social care and health services but the Charity believes it is important to challenge this narrative as infringing liberty can be a ‘slippery slope’ and freedom is such a fundamental right in our society

Caroline Abrahams CBE Age UK Charity Director said: Personal liberty is part of our birthright and central to our understanding of what it means to live in a democracy, so it is profoundly shocking that so many older people with diminished capacity are living and dying without the proper legal protections for limiting their freedoms being in place

As a result we risk the nightmare scenario that somewhere there s an older person locked in their room in a care home, supposedly in their own best interests when, in practice, an objective assessment by a trained social worker would have found this not to be justified at all We have also heard of cases in which a care home is reluctant to constrain the movements of an older person with dementia who is clearly at risk because they wander without an order saying that this is legally okay

“It is shameful that more than ten years after a House of Lords report said the system for protecting older people with diminished capacity was not fit for purpose no decisive Government action has been taken to reform it A waiting list that now stands at over 100 000 cases means that today the system is in complete disarray Almost fifty thousand older people have already died without the legal protections in place to authorise the deprivation of their liberty and unless something changes those numbers are certain to keep going up

“The failure of successive governments to grasp the nettle of ensuring there’s a functioning system for safeguarding older people s liberty if they lose their mental capacity is symptomatic of their broader failure to reform and refinance social care At Age UK we support reform of the current system via the replacement scheme the Government proposed a few years ago but then subsequently shelved – provided it delivers effective human rights protections for older people In the meantime we believe it is essential that the Government properly funds the system that is in place until reform can happen It should also give local authorities the resources to begin to tackle the backlog

“Older people’s personal freedoms are too important for the system designed to safeguard them to be left to rot with the prospect of reform constantly being kicked into the long grass ”

Care Home Residents and Staff Celebrate World Book Day 2024

Chartwell House Brings Generations Together On World Book Day

As the world celebrated the joy of reading on World Book Day Chartwell House by Boutique Care Homes opened its doors to a heartwarming gathering of young and old alike Nestled in the picturesque town of Broadstairs Thanet this charming community hub welcomed visitors from near and far for a day of storytelling laughter and shared camaraderie Ahead of the event the community rallied together to collect over 100 children’s books from generous donors in the area ensuring that children who walked through the door would have a literary adventure awaiting them

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the heartfelt exchanges between residents and their young visitors From sharing favourite stories to colouring in bookmarks together each moment was imbued with the magic of connection and shared experience Resident Gerald with a twinkle in his eye captivated the audience with tales from his beloved book ‘Just William , imparting wisdom and laughter in equal measure

Amidst the laughter and chatter the Chartwell House team added an extra touch of whimsy with their colourful costumes transforming into beloved book characters that delighted both young and old alike From the mischievous antics of Where’s Wally to the timeless elegance of Mary Poppins each costume

was a testament to the enduring magic of storytelling

Another highlight of the day was when Jude Coveney Admissions Manager guided the children on a literary adventure through the pages of The Wonky Donkey Resident Patricia Sansby brimming with joy remarked “I thought it was a really special day!” Indeed World Book Day at Chartwell House was more than just an event – it was a celebration of community connection, and the timeless joy of reading

As the day drew to a close and the children bid farewell their hearts full of stories and their minds ablaze with imagination, the spirit of World Book Day lingered on at Chartwell House In a world where stories have the power to unite us all this annual celebration serves as a poignant reminder of the magic that lies within the pages of a good book and the bonds that connect us across generations Diane Collins Home Manager of Chartwell House said:

“Today was about

Elm Bank Care Home Residents Celebrate World Book Day

Doncaster Care Home Residents Enjoy A Tasty Treat To Mark World Book Day

Bookshelves are bulging at Hickathrift

House care home in Marshland St James Wisbech, where bookworm residents were keen to get involved in World Book Day Staff and residents at Hickathrift House care home decided to host a discussion about residents’ favourite books dress as characters from their favourite books visit the local Wisbech Library and launch their monthly book trolley

Intergenerational Fun For World Book Day

Dressing up costumes chosen with World Book Day (7 March) in mind and worn by preschoolers from Bridgwater s Little Montessori House were a great hit with their neighbours who live in the town’s Avalon Nursing Home

The youngsters all arrived at Avalon dressed as their favourite characters from their favourite books

Once they’d shown their costumes off they were treated to story time with the residents listening to the story of the Three Little Pigs

Lisa Priddice, activities co-ordinator for Avalon said: Residents were smiling and interacting with the children, holding their hands and talking about all

their favourite stories when they were young ” Old and young also enjoyed some colouring activities together and played with various toys as well as making time for cuddles with William, Avalon’s resident rabbit

Before they left, the children handed out cakes and jam tarts to the residents which also went down very well with everyone

The children are regular guests at the home and will be returning for their next visit at the beginning of April Their visits form part of a full and varied programme of activities organised for the enjoyment of residents at the home

too old to enjoy a good book and seeing the residents read with the children really was lovely Ashlands Manor resident, Barbara Hampson, aged 85, comments: I have always loved books and still enjoy reading so it was a real joy to see the school children today "

Ann Tonge aged 86 also a resident at Ashlands Manor adds: It was wonderful to learn about the children s favourite books and characters they dressed up as today I really enjoyed sharing some popular stories with them

Zoe Bowring from Back to the Garden Childcare adds: "We place a huge focus on reading within the nursery with the aim of instilling a lifelong love of books and stories with all of our children World Book Day is a great opportunity to celebrate everything that we love about reading and to be able to share it with the residents at Ashlands Manor made it all the more special proving that reading is for everyone whatever your age

Westgate Healthcare With Two New Care Homes In Hertfordshire

Westgate Healthcare has announced a strategic expansion initiative aimed at meeting the increasing demand for high-quality and compassionate care for seniors

The expansion plan includes the development and opening of two new care homes in Hertfordshire, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in senior living

Meadowbrook combines modern design with a warm and welcoming atmosphere Boasting 75 private

Plans for the construction of a contemporary 80-bed care home in the heart of Cheshunt are underway This significant development further marks Westgate Healthcare s commitment to providing premium care services to the Hertfordshire community Sanjiv Patel, CEO, expressed excitement about the expansion stating Our commitment to providing exceptional senior care remains unwavering The expansion is a strategic response to the growing needs of our aging population We are excited to bring our expertise and

impact on the lives of

”

MasterChef Winner Leads Gastronomic Adventure At Local Care Home

Signature at Highgate hosted an exclusive cookery class and Q&A featuring renowned MasterChef winner Jane Devonshire The live cooking demonstration for Signature at Highgate residents and members of the local community was a delightful culinary experience showcasing innovative techniques to elevate traditional dishes Celebrity chef Jane took centre stage sharing her expertise on transforming the humble roast dinner into a luxurious and inclusive dining experience The event focused on breaking down culinary barriers and introducing residents to the art of gastronomy

The highlight of the event was the live demonstration where Jane showcased clever cooking techniques emphasising the importance of elevating food beyond the ordinary From transforming a simple stuffing ball into a culinary masterpiece to utilising leftover bits creatively the session provided valuable insights into enhancing culinary standards

Jane addressed crucial topics during the event including food wastage and sustainable culinary practices, as well as answering questions about her time on BBC MasterChef Residents learned how to utilise every part of ingredients from using leftover carcasses to creating flavourful gravies to turning carrot skins

into a rich stock Attendees were treated to a tasting experience that showcased the depth of flavours created through sustainable and innovative cooking

Whilst the live demonstration was a one-off event Signature at Highgate residents enjoy Jane’s dishes every day of the week as she has co-designed the seasonal menus and recipes that are served at every Signature home throughout the year

Jane Devonshire MasterChef winner and guest chef at Signature at Highgate said: I ve had a lovely time cooking for the residents at the home and chatting to them One of my favourite parts of my job is being able to showcase my craft and especially in today s climate, showing how to maximise resources and be as sustainable as possible when cooking at home I hope Signature at Highgate s residents enjoyed themselves as much as I did!”

A resident at Signature at Highgate shared:“The session with Jane was so fun and insightful! I ve never before had the opportunity of participating in a cookery class like this before, and I felt like I really learnt something There’s definitely a lot I m going to be able to take away from that

Liverpool Care Home Celebrates The Spirit Of Nursing With A Special Day For A Resident

unique initiative: “We’re deeply moved by the enthusiasm and spirit of Teresa It was a joy to see her light up wearing her tunic and being part of the team This experience not only brought immense joy to her but also inspired our staff and other residents It’s a beautiful reminder of the

histories our residents bring to our home This initiative is part of Walton Manor’s broader approach to resident care which focuses on individuality dignity and the celebration of each resident s life story

Mother’s Day Happiness Shared At Elm Bank Care Home

Residents at Elm Bank care home, in Kettering, celebrated Mother’s Day in style, with visits and video calls from family members near and far The home was also beautifully decorated with balloons and bunting for the occasion

Residents, family members and staff at Elm Bank care home all enjoyed a spectacular mother’s day concert, performed live by singer Clare Care Joy was in the air, the home was filled with the sounds of music and laughter, with feet tapping and hands clapping Chef, Sophie prepared a spectacular table of refreshments for the live entertainment along with an afternoon tea for all to enjoy

General Manager, Marvellous Bindura said: “We’ve all had a really lovely day It has been so good to see family members who were able to visit in person and to have video calls with those who are further away Our residents enjoyed a fantas-

tic live performance that put smiles on all faces, and a delicious afternoon tea prepared by our brilliant chef Days like these are so special ” Maureen a resident at Elm Bank care home, commented: “she was very good, I enjoyed that, it was lovely to see the dancing and that made me smile, she made me happy, the wine was very nice as well”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities

Elm Bank care home is run by Barchester Healthcare one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals Elm Bank provides residential and dementia care for residents from respite care to long term stays

Millard House Care Home Celebrates Hydration and Nutrition Week

educate people on the value of food and drink in maintaining health and wellbeing Nutrition and Hydration Week serves as an opportunity to educate promote healthy practices and nutrition habits for overall health and quality of life in our care home environment and Millard House has introduced weekly themes!

Mocktail Monday

Tasting Tuesday

Water Wednesday

Thirsty Thursday

Fruity Friday

Smoothie Saturday

St Patrick day Sunday

The proof of the pudding really was in the eating and drinking with residents commenting :

“ I really enjoyed trying out the different juices , its a great way to stay hydrated and refreshed

“I Loved the tasting sessions the variety of drinks and snacks provided was fantastic

“ I appreciate the effort put into promoting this event “

Registered Home Manager Mishell Perez said: “It’s wonderful to see our Residents embracing Nutrition and Hydration Week trying out and enjoying healthy foods, we will continue to explore more healthier lifestyle choices here at Millard House

Longueville Court Care Home

A Bradford residential service which supports individuals with learning disabilities has been announced as the winner of a national Social Care Interior Design Competition

Beacon House in Wibsey Bradford is a 16-bed specialist residential service supporting individuals with learning disabilities complex needs and behaviours that may challenge

Cygnet Social Care launched an interior design competition last year encouraging social care services to enhance and improve their environment for the residents

All 50 services taking part received a budget of £1 000 with an open design brief giving them the opportunity to spend the funds on anything from soft furnishings and murals, to sensory room equipment and interaction based tools

The residents at Beacon House decided on an Under the Sea sensory room to uplift the annex as they often visit Sea Life in Blackpool or The Deep in Hull

Beacon House Home Manager Jeff Firth explained: “As the theme of ‘Under the Sea’ was chosen we wanted to ensure the area was as interactive as possible An example of this came from the Beacon team who had the idea of ship wheels that residents could interact with and that would turn when attached the wall We obtained ship wheels and Antony our onsite maintenance col-

league got on with working out how we could make them turn

Residents are really enjoying their life Under the Sea at Beacon House To find out we had been chosen as the national overall winner the team and residents of Beacon House were triumphantly happy and celebrated

“I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work our maintenance the residents and staff team put into making this project happen However for me the biggest prize was seeing how a person-centred environment such as our residents chosen Under the Sea sensory area honours our residents’ identity whilst supporting their quality of life and wellbeing

Gareth Williams, CEO of Cygnet Social Care, said: We wanted this to be seen as an opportunity for staff and residents to work together on a fun and engaging activity and to take pleasure in being creative with the space they share Our services are residents homes and we want residents to put their own personal signature on their homes

There were regional prizes of £200 for

The

The Jolly Journey creates a familiar

prefabricated packaged plant rooms also provide for better use of the spaces that already exist, without the need to undertake expensive and disruptive building projects This is especially valid as demands for larger accommodation space comes at a premium Adveco can help achieve emission reduction targets With more than 50 years of specialised expertise in designing supplying and servicing hot water systems for residential healthcare Adveco is the single resource you need for independent expert technical guidance on choosing pre-sized or bespoke sustainable applications today to get you on the right path towards net zero operation www adveco

rate up and down the steps- and beyond AAT visited Phil and Mel to assess the situation that the S-Max Sella would safely deal with the steps and that Mel and Phil were both comfortable using it Phil was so impressed he ordered one on the spot AAT delivered it set it up to their personal preference and trained Phil in how to use the equipment correctly and safely

Under Phil’s control with its integral seat and battery-powered kinematic climbing capability S-Max Sella safely gets Mel around her home again It gets her out of the house and into town It really is a fantastic piece of kit says Phil

Encanto and Cuba – Fabrics for Well-designed Contract Interiors

for any contract interiors whether office education care or high-end hospitality and cruise interiors Along with many other Skopos upholstery fabrics this collection comes under the Skopos Protect+ banner Perfect for flagship interiors with colours that compliment Skopos

drapery and bedding designs view the full palette on-line and order a shade-card The collection meets the requirements for Flame Retardancy standards across the UK and Europe and meets IMO standards with the added benefit of the MED wheelmark confirming suitability for marine/cruise-line interiors Available immediately with short lead-times for larger order quantities Skopos are pleased to add this collection into their Accents range For a copy of our Encanto shade-card pls contact our customer service team: sales@skopos co uk or for free samples of our collections visit our web-

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

Skin Health and Surface Hygiene Expert, GOJO Urges

Organisations

To Be Prepared This Germ Season

Skin health and surface hygiene expert GOJO urges organisations to be prepared this germ season

GOJO, THE INVENTORS OF PURELL™, and the hand sanitiser category itself is advising organisations particularly those in the care sector that look after the elderly and the vulnerable, to take steps to lessen the impact of seasonal viruses this winter

Preparedness can save lives – last year’s influenza programme prevented around 25 000 hospitalisations in England This autumn and winter COVID-19 flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are likely to be co-circulating which, according to Dr Marc-Alain Widdowson, who leads WHO's High-threat Pathogen team would increase the risk to vulnerable populations and put further pressure on health services ’

Whilst flu vaccines are a powerful weapon good hand hygiene is a critical measure in the battle against winter infections For healthcare and long-term care settings which support vulnerable patients GOJO recommends paying extra attention to their specific needs Chris Wakefield V P European Marketing and Managing Director UK & Ireland GOJO Industries-Europe

Ltd comments: ‘As a founder member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Private Organizations for Patient Safety group GOJO is a strong advocate of making hand hygiene second nature to everyone Hospitals and care homes need to ensure that the protection solutions they select are suitable for everyone with a facility – staff visitors, and patients alike

For example consider touch-free dispensers that are easier for the elderly and infirm to operate and ensure that the formulations are suitable too They must not only have proven efficacy against germs but should be gentle enough to care for resident s delicate skin as well as that of busy healthcare workers, who clean their hands repeatedly during a shift ’

Widely used in the NHS PURELL® is a trusted brand in healthcare facilities around the world Its solutions encompass fast-acting, effective formulas that care for skin state of the art dispensers and dedicated support such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accredited training

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588444 email CustomerExperienceUK@GOJO com or visit www gojo eu/uk

We do

We

Christina Larkin is JLA s Chief Data and Marketing Officer shaping the organisation s decision-making through analytics and insight As ESG lead Christina also inspires JLA s teams to put customer and sustainability-focused thinking at the heart of their actions As managers across the UK s care sector continue to navigate the triple challenge of infection control rising utility costs and the drive for greater energy efficiency what innovations and practices can be adopted to help future-proof care homes protect residents and staff and still enable organisations to meet their short and longerrange sustainability targets? In this piece on finding the balance JLA’s Chief Data & Marketing Officer, Christina Larkin shares her thoughts on an increasingly pressing question

WHY SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CARE SECTOR MATTERS

The Covid-19 pandemic has rightly seen the care industry – and the Care Quality Commission – place renewed focus on infection control From the laundry room to the kitchen care home hygiene and safety are rightly non-negotiable while compliance and residents safety remain everyone s top priority

At the same time initiatives to drive efficiency reduce waste and decarbonise the sector continue to gather pace with net-zero targets and more accessible alternative technologies allowing organisations to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising care standards The good news then is that energy savings are still highly achievable in care settings and can even help to demonstrate to your residents (and their families) that you are taking steps to becoming a more sustainable business which in turn enhances your reputation

Of course practically meeting these expectations will usually mean adopting a range of measures These could be as simple as switching to more sustainable everyday consumables and reducing waste sent to landfill It could mean upgrading boilers and associated heating equipment to more efficient hydrogen-ready units Or it could mean investing in more energy-efficient washing machine systems, which, thanks to technological innovations, will use considerably less electricity and hot water to disinfect a laundry load, and actually lower your day-to-day running costs

Whatever the path you take, improving sustainability brings a myriad of benefits – and not only in operational efficiencies or cost savings In fact, it s increasingly the case that committing to sustainability means investing in your people s wellbeing as well By making positive changes and working on sustainability together you can help to improve morale and reduce staff turnover which allows residents to build even deeper relationships

with your care team You ll also be a more attractive proposition to talent across the industry which further drives up standards

And as more and more families begin to consider the environmental impact of facilities while making crucial care decisions such a commitment to sustainability could well become the key difference between you and your competition

ADOPTING BEST PRACTICE SOLUTIONS

With commercial energy costs at record highs we often hear of care homes seeking cheaper domestic washing machines for their laundry rooms However research shows that this can be a false economy For one, domestic machines are much less robust, needing more regular repairs, while their smaller load capacities add up to needing more washes, at greater expense More importantly, it is unlikely that they can achieve and maintain the thermal temperatures required to keep you compliant with the requirements of HTM 01-04 A commercial washing machine is far more likely to control temperatures effectively, as well as providing the correct holding time to achieve the full penetration of a load for disinfection Alternatives to thermal laundry infection are becoming increasingly widespread too One example is ozone disinfection technology which uses the power of natural ozone gas to eliminate infection from laundry loads on an energy-saving cool wash During a study with Leicester s De Montfort University JLA s own ozone disinfection system OTEX was found to completely remove the coronavirus It also helped to cut hot water usage by up to 80% and electricity by 60%

As expected regular servicing and proactive maintenance are more likely to extend the working life of your equipment But when washers dryers and other appliances reach the end of their life it is always worth considering the latest developments to understand what they could save you in time energy and money This is because the most up-to-date technologies are likely to come with enhanced energy-saving features and help you spread savings across the year

Further utility savings can also be achieved through comparatively lowcost investments such as swapping double-headed taps for single-lever taps to help control hot water consumption installing showerheads that use aeration to save water adding reflective heat film to your windows to reduce energy loss and – a classic – powering down any unused appliances

ENERGY-SAVING INNOVATIONS ARE BECOMING MORE ACCESSIBLE

As technology for the care sector continues to evolve embracing it will be key to staying ahead Enabled by internet connectivity and state-ofthe-art sensors remote monitoring systems are now allowing providers to keep a watchful eye on your equipment spotting issues early and dealing with them before they can cause disruptive downtime Similarly customers are getting fresh insights into the way their laundry rooms are running; from one dashboard managers can easily view real-time data

without having to be on site By creating a fuller picture of a laundry room s daily use these systems offer a smart way to plan resources save time and make decisions that reduce energy use And as this technology expands we expect to see more and more use cases opening up JLA s own Connect service offers always-on monitoring for compatible laundry equipment Some of its features include improving efficiency by estimating the amount of energy and water machines use, in addition to suggesting better times to run them for maximum savings On top of that, JLA Connect offers a handy way to quantify and potentially reduce environmental impact with estimates of CO2 emissions

JLA has also introduced its own Energy Smart Hub, which combines practical tips, data-driven insight and actionable advice that is already helping customers tackle rising energy costs and stay energy smart We view this

Accessible Bathing in Nursing and Care Environments

Accessible bathing requires the use of specific equipment and aids to assist residents These may include handrails shower chairs bath hoists and walk-in baths It is vital to ensure that the equipment is regularly maintained and that staff are trained in its correct use

Technology can play a significant role in accessible bathing with innovations such as digital showers and temperature-controlled taps providing increased comfort and safety for residents For example some taps can automatically turn off if the water temperature gets too high reducing the risk of scalds

Residents' dignity and privacy should be respected at all times during accessible bathing Staff should ensure that residents are treated with respect and that their dignity is maintained throughout the bathing process Residents should also be given guidance on how to use the facilities and any equipment to ensure that they feel comfortable and safe

and timing of bathing the use of aids and equipment and the involvement of family or caregivers

Accessible bathing is an essential aspect of providing quality care to residents in UK care and nursing homes Health and safety risk assessment training injuries aids and equipment technology flooring infection control, and patient dignity and guidance are all crucial considerations when designing and maintaining accessible bathing facilities By prioritizing these aspects care and nursing homes can ensure that residents receive safe comfortable and respectful care during the bathing process

ages with different needs and abilities to share facilities

“We launched Omnicare Digital for this type of application, further strengthening our collection of thermostatic care showers The new model helps users with reduced mobility and can be specified in wet room applications, while still offering all the safety features that are included across our Omnicare range ” British Electrotechnical Approvals Board (BEAB) Care Mark approved all models in the Omnicare range have a maximum temperature setting of 43 C and are equipped with thermostatic temperature control to prevent scalding and sudden drops in water temperature regulating within +/-1 C Additionally to help users of all abilities wash easily and safely Omnicare products are Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) accredited and included audible feedback and tactile controls such as a looped lever handle and soft press start/stop button There are additional accessories that can be paired with the Omnicare range to mitigate against slips trips and falls including multi-purpose grab riser rail kits and remote start/stop controls

Triton s Omnicare Digital shows the manufacturer’s continued commitment to sustainable showering solutions In Triton’s latest research it found that an electric shower can cost nearly a third less than a mixer

Ashley added: “We’re always looking at impact on the planet, whether that’s from our own manufacturing processes or changing the behaviour of those using our products

For more information about Triton’s Omnicare range, please visit

www tritonshowers co uk/care-showers

in multi-generational households whether due to a shortage in housing stock cost-of-living crisis or the population living longer Therefore properties must be adapted accordingly allowing people of varying

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Is a Sustainable Diet a Nutritious and Healthy

“In the most general terms as a population our current diet is not sustainable or healthy The most recent UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) data shows our intakes of saturated fat, sugar and salt are above the Government recommended levels Whereas intakes of fibre, fruit, vegetables, and oily fish are too low

In the UK the Eatwell Guide provides a model for a healthy varied diet It is estimated that if everyone adopted this diet nationally it would lead to reductions in associated GHGE (-45%) and land use (-49%) It includes eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day wholegrain and higher-fibre starchy foods, and diversifying protein intake more towards plant sources such as beans and other pulses as well as plant-based meat alternatives

A recent study found increased adherence to the recommendation on reducing red and processed meat consumption was associated with the largest decrease in environmental impacts and carbon footprints

This same study found if everyone in the UK consumed a diet in line with these recommendations it would lead to significantly less type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, strokes and cancer

All the evidence shows moving to a more plant-based diet means a positive impact on our health whilst meeting nutritional requirements and sustainable eating can absolutely include small amounts of meat fish and diary

Is this suitable for older adults? Aside from specific requirements if it is healthy safe and appropriate for the individual this is all very relevant for over 80s wanting to support the planet David Attenborough is a good example!

Learn more by watching allmanhall s interview with ITN:

https://allmanhall

PRESSURE CARE AND PATIENT HANDLING

How to Approach Patient Handling In A Disability Care Setting

changing needs to maintain a person-centred approach

BEING AWARE OF THE RISKS

When undertaking patient handling tasks there are a multitude of potential risks for both carers and clients For example both parties could experience

be a part of the community they live in To avoid this care providers should always work in partnership and communicate with other healthcare professionals such as social workers doctors and dentists to minimise this risk and ensure that clients receive the best possible care

Another risk to consider is understaffing and busy workloads for carers who are trained in patient handling This must be avoided at all costs as the quality of client care is greatly compromised if people rush tasks or can’t complete them at all due to not having capacity To minimise this care providers should have good rota planning to ensure the right staff are always in place, as well as ensuring that patient handling training is provided to the necessary people

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CLEAR

In a disability care setting carers should be aware that they are expected to follow the policies and protocols of patient handling for safety purposes This includes carrying out risk assessments and a responsibility to follow support plans for individual clients so everyone receives personalised care

In addition carers have a responsibility to communicate with clients and explain what they are about to do even if they are non-verbal and

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unable to respond as this maintains the client’s respect and dignity Carers also need to make sure the correct equipment is always used –not only to reduce risks but to make the job easier People should be able to properly use equipment such as hoists slings standing aids shower chairs grab rails slide sheets and wheelchairs – to name a few

THOROUGH LEARNING AND TRAINING

The best approach for moving and handling training is through practical lessons It s a very hands-on element of personal care so giving people practical experience will allow them to become familiar with the correct processes and methods – something that is vital to ensure they pass the training Not only this but in-person training allows learners to get immediate clarification on any questions they might have Compliance with patient handling training should also be monitored through practical assessments and regular on the job training as well as through reviews and client feedback forms

Patient handling is such an important element of care giving – it promotes the safety dignity and wellbeing of individuals with disabilities at the same time as safeguarding the physical health and professional wellbeing of caregivers

The Pressure Problem

Unfortunately, the physical strain of moving patients can significantly impact staffing levels, with back and musculoskeletal problems accounting for 17% of staff sickness days in the NHS Physical repositioning also deprives patients of sleep impacting recovery as sleep is vital for maintaining healing and is essential for quality hospital experiences

Encouragingly implementing sufficient prevention can reduce pressure ulcers by up to 87% with a cost saving of £513 000 and a 362-day reduction in the number of bed days per centre This reduces the impact on staff while addressing overall quality of life

At Wellell we re dedicated to raising societal and healthcare quality Our range of air mattresses prevent pressure ulcers while decreasing caregiver workload automating labour-intensive procedures and complex therapy workflows

Our Optima Turn turning mattress one of our Optima Series products provides automatic and timer-controlled turning up to 30 supported by alternating pressure multiple pressure relief therapy options and manually deflatable air cells for heel relief care, all easily accessible through the intuitive pump interface, streamlining patient handling and caregiver workload

Contact us to learn more about this innovative pressure injury solution Let’s work together to provide better treatment uk wellell com

Taking Control of Time and Attendance

Social Care

Can AI Ease Loneliness For Adults In Care?

By Jody O Neill CEO and Founder of Curam (www curamcare com)

vital role in providing not only basic physical care but also emotional support and understanding This is especially important for individuals with disabilities who may feel isolated due to their condition, or those with cognitive challenges and degenerative conditions such as Dementia

Chatbots are not suitable for everyone And in such cases human empathy is necessary to interpret the needs and communicate effectively with the patient

EMPOWER CARERS AND PATIENTS THROUGH TECHNOLOGIES

The use of technologies such as AI in care must be evaluated to ensure it complements and enhances human connection rather than replacing it This means there must be careful consideration when proposing how

into the roles of those who may be the people patients see and talk to most as well as how it can be used to make the care journey better for patients

Although chatbots cannot replace human carers, a combined approach of AI and other technologies can help care providers and facilitators

For example, currently, a typical caring schedule often includes three in-person visits per day for each patient However, due to time constraints, caregivers may have to rush these visits In this case, we would argue, that technology can be used to allow carers to perform a more thorough in-person visit and follow up with two video check-ins based on the patient's needs (these video care calls can even of course be instigated from overseas)

Remote intelligent monitoring and predictive analytics can also be used by carers to capture an accurate overall picture of a patient s well-being to design better care programmes in advance rather than spending too much time during an in-person appointment on data capture

As well as improving patient-centricity AI has the potential to streamline services for care facilitators by taking on mundane tasks and freeing up the caregiver s time and talent for creativity and innovation For example the administrative work involved in the daily operation of care providers and facilitators AI can handle emails user inquiries and information requests enabling users to access information quickly so management can focus on solving more complex issues efficiently

DON’T IMPLEMENT TECH FOR THE SAKE OF IT

Ultimately the current care system is dealing with legacy and complex technology which has held back much-needed innovation While AI can be a potential solution many care providers see AI as a cost-cutting solution without first addressing the underlying issue of an inadequate care model

Digital transformation within the care sector should instead prioritise the needs of patients and carers rather than simply implementing technology for the sake of it Technology should add value to the care journey for example making it safer by vetting carers ID and training documents with banking-standard technology or reducing the time carers spend doing admin so they can focus on their vocation Similarly it should enable patients to access care easily and quickly so that they aren t stuck in the hospital and have better care outcomes

PATIENT-CENTRICITY FOR UNLOCKING AI’S POTENTIAL

The successful implementation of AI in the care sector requires careful consideration of how it can meet the needs of patients And for that reason it s not an effective way of combatting the loneliness of people in care AI cannot replace the crucial interpersonal relationships between carers and patients that build trust safety and companionship

However it can help ensure carers have more time to put the needs of patients at the heart of their work

The key to successful AI implementation in the care sector is putting the patient first

Silent Running - Tranquility in Care Homes

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 or see the advert below

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First Free E-Learning Resource on Data Security and Protection for Care Staff Launched

Care

–

Speaking about the

The

assessment covering topics from all four modules Staff can complete the modules in any order and over the course of several days

Care managers, trainers and staff can access the course and corresponding user guides at www digitalcarehub co uk/elearning

The course modules are:

Module 1: Data protection rights and responsibilities covers the importance of data security and protection in the care system and staff s personal responsibility to handle data safely

Module 2: Keeping data secure covers the importance of keeping data secure through good record keeping and data disposal and how to share confidential data securely

Module 3: Threats to data security looks at the threats to data security that employees might encounter, including common types of fraud and scams and how to safely use and keep digital and paper records

Module 4: Data breaches explains what data breaches are, the causes of data breaches and what to do in the event of a breach

Assessment quiz: The assessment includes 20 questions relating to all four modules Trainees are required to get 80% or more correct in order to download the certificate

The course which was developed and tested in partnership with care providers has been welcomed by the sector

Dr Jane Townson Chair of the Care Provider Alliance representing the 10 national care provider trade associations encourages members to use the course saying:

“Care providers are increasingly aware of how important it is to train their staff on good data and cyber security practice But until now there hasn t been anything really tailored to the specific needs and circumstances faced by our sector s staff

“This new elearning course from Better Security Better Care is the missing piece of the puzzle – and it complies with the training requirements in the Data Security and Protection Toolkit

The Care Provider Alliance encourages all care providers to use the resource to improve and assess their staff’s knowledge ”

Tom Rottinghuis Data Protection Officer at The Forward Trust who was on the Working Group that developed the course said:

“Our safeguarding manag-

er and two of our counsellors were particularly pleased to see that there is a focus on the need to share – as well as the need to protect – people’s information and it really shows that data protection is not the enemy of safeguarding and care, but a crucial part of it You can and must share information in order to ensure people get the support they need

“One of the most valuable aspects of the new resources is that they are short Given the pressure our staff are under and the high turnover it is so valuable to have something that is clear straightforward and flexible to use

Care staff who were involved in testing the course fed back:

This will help train all staff easily and at no cost Very clear and easy I look forward to using these modules for our staff!”

I think it is really digestible and has managed to strike the balance of including all relevant and necessary information whilst the training does not feeling too info heavy to digest

“These modules are tailored to the social care context and reflect real situations that a diverse variety of care workers face in different settings It’s visual and in plain English so it is very accessible to a wide range of staff including those with English as a second language Visit www digitalcarehub co uk/elearning

Grey Matter Learning Set To Support Over 180 Care Leaders Thanks To Skills For Care Funding

We have seen a huge

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