The Carer Digital - Issue #187

EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

Editor Peter Adams

Our lead story will come as a surprise to no-one that public confidence in social care and the NHS has plummeted to an all-time low The findings, revealing dissatisfaction stemming from inadequate pay, working conditions, and training, only serve to confirm what many have been warning about for years

However it would appear certainly to me that the dissatisfaction is clearly aimed at the government and not at those who provide the services

The public clearly recognise that the sector is going and always has gone above and beyond to meet its obligations and provide safe care but finds itself constantly fire-fighting for a multitude of reasons

The survey results are a narrative that has become all too familiar – successive governments turning a blind eye to the escalating crisis in social care Despite repeated warnings from experts and stakeholders, underfunding has persisted, leaving both care providers and recipients in a perpetual state of vulnerability

Local authorities find themselves grappling with squeezed budgets, forced to make impossible choices between vital services The consequences are dire –compromised quality of care overstretched staff and a growing sense of disillusionment among those who rely on these services

What adds insult to injury is the stark dissonance between promises made and actions taken Chancellor Jeremy Hunt during his tenure as chair of the health select committee unequivocally stated that social care required an additional £7 billion annually to address its myriad challenges Yet since assuming the role of chancellor those words have rung hollow as funding fails to match the rhetoric

The implications of this negligence are far-reaching affecting not only those directly involved in the provision and reception of care but society as a whole The erosion of public trust in our healthcare and social care systems undermines the very fabric of our society, fostering a sense of insecurity and neglect among our most vulnerable citizens

I have done a little research albeit limited into what our political parties will be offering in way of reform to the social care sector and can find at the moment precious little!

There appears to be “no serious addressing” of the state of the care system by

Labour or the Conservatives heading into an election campaign, however, to be fair the LibDems did make it clear £5 billion commitment to adult social care at their annual conference last September here in my hometown of Bournemouth

Mainstream news today focuses very much on the public be dissatisfied with the NHS but very little focus on the same survey revealing the public being dissatisfied with adult social care far as I can see at all about social care

It is rather alarming at the lack of discussion of the overall level of funding that is needed for social care, no (from what I can see) serious addressing of the desperate state that the existing means-testing system is in, and for any political party to go into a general election without social care being a significant part of our national discussion just seems reckless and irresponsible

And I will lead story confirms that!

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Public Satisfaction with Social Care Hits New Low

(CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

REASONS FOR DISSATISFACTION

The leading reason given for dissatisfaction was inadequate pay, working conditions and training for social care workers (57 per cent) This was closely followed by people not getting the social care they need (56 per cent) and there not being enough support for unpaid carers (49 per cent)

Dissatisfaction was markedly higher among respondents who had used or had contact with social care services (for either themselves or someone else) in the past 12 months (64%) compared to those who had not (49% )

Dissatisfaction with social care services varied considerably between demographic groups Respondents aged 65 and over were more dissatisfied (63 per cent) than respondents aged 18–64 (55 per cent)

Those in the highest income quartile were more dissatisfied (62 per cent) than those in the lowest (51 per cent)

There is a notable difference in party affiliation with both Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters saying they are more dissatisfied with social care services (both 62 per cent), than Conservative supporters (51 per cent)

CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED

Evan John Policy Advisor at national disability charity Sense said: “It’s little surprise that so few people are satisfied with their experiences of social care given the huge challenges facing the system right now Social care has been chronically underfunded under-resourced and understaffed for years with devastating consequences We hear countless stories at Sense from families who are battling a complex system that comes with huge costs yet often does not meet their needs No matter your salary everyone is expected to make a contribution to their social care which can leave people spending a huge amount of their income on their care costs including those who rely on benefits This prevents many disabled people from ever becoming financially secure while others run into debt

“With local authority budgets increasingly under pressure, more and more people are seeing their social care support cut Sense research found that a quarter of people with complex disabilities who use social care had their provision cut last year This puts even more strain on family carers and leaves disabled people without the support they need to live healthy and happy lives

The social care system is on its knees and it s vital that budgets increase substantially so that disabled people can access the care they need and providers can afford to pay care workers well We also urgently need a social care workforce plan which will lay out how the government will plug the staffing gaps in the sector

JUST 25%OF PUBLIC SATISFIED WITH NHS

Separate analysis revealed that public satisfaction with the NHS has also fallen to the lowest level ever recorded

The latest British Social Attitudes survey (BSA) again published by The King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust revealed that for the first time in

the 41-year history of the survey less than a quarter of people are satisfied with the way the NHS is running Satisfaction had previously peaked in 2010 when 7 out of 10 people reported being satisfied with the health service

Overall public satisfaction with how the NHS runs now stands at 24% – a fall of 5 percentage points from the previous year Since 2020 satisfaction has fallen by 29 percentage points Dissatisfaction is also at an all-time high with more than half (52%) of respondents saying they were dissatisfied with the NHS

The survey carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) in September and October 2023 is seen as a gold-standard measure of public attitudes in Britain

Nearly three quarters (71%) of respondents who were dissatisfied with the NHS pointed to long waiting times for GP and hospital appointments as one of their top reasons for dissatisfaction followed by staffing shortages (54%) and a view that the government does not spend enough on the health service (47%)

Since the 2015 survey a large majority of respondents have consistently expressed the view that the NHS has a major or severe funding problem with 84% of respondents to the 2023 survey now sharing this view

INCREASED TAXES SUPPORT

In a new question introduced for the 2023 survey,4 nearly half (48%) of the public would support the government increasing taxes and spending more on the NHS Those on the highest household incomes were more likely to choose this option

Despite record low levels of satisfaction with the NHS, public support for the founding principles of the NHS, which marked its 75th anniversary in 2023, is as strong as ever The overwhelming majority of respondents expressed high levels of support for the principles when asked if they should still apply in 2023: that it is free of charge when you need it (91), primarily funded through taxation (82%) and available to everyone (82%)

Other findings from Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2023 include:

Of those who were satisfied with the NHS, the top reason was because NHS care is free at the point of use (66%), followed by the NHS has a good range of services and treatments available (53%) and the quality of NHS care (52%)

Consistent with previous years’ surveys, when asked what the most important priorities for the NHS should be, the top two cited by respondents were making it easier to get a GP appointment (52%) and increasing the number of staff in the NHS (51%) Improving waiting times for planned operations and in A&E were chosen by 47% and 45% of respondents respectively

When asked about government choices on tax and spending on the NHS 48% chose ‘increase taxes and spend more on the NHS’ 42% chose ‘keep taxes and spending the same’ and 6% chose ‘reduce taxes and spend less on the NHS’ Those in the highest monthly household income quartile were more likely to choose ‘increase taxes and spend

more on the NHS POLITICAL DIVIDE

As we approach an election in 2024 low levels of satisfaction are now more consistent across the political divide than in previous years when public satisfaction had dropped In in the years leading up to the general election in 1997, when satisfaction dropped to 34%

Conservative supporters were consistently significantly more satisfied than Labour supporters In 2023, Conservative supporters reported only marginally higher levels of satisfaction than Labour supporters (29% and 24% respectively) and levels of dissatisfaction were similar across supporters of both parties

The survey also measures public opinion on specific NHS services The think tanks’ analysis reveals that public satisfaction with GP services – historically the service with the highest levels of public satisfaction – now stands at 34% the lowest level recorded since the survey began Since 2019 satisfaction with GP services has fallen by 34 percentage points Satisfaction with NHS dentistry has now fallen to a record low of 24% Public satisfaction with inpatient services is at a historically low level (35%) as is satisfaction with outpatient services (44%) 31% said they were satisfied with A&E services up 1 percentage point on the previous year

RESULTS “NOT SURPRISING”

Dan Wellings Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund said: ‘These results are depressing but sadly not surprising The NHS has seen no respite from the issues that have led to an unprecedented downward spiral in public satisfaction in recent years

‘With the health service increasingly unable to meet the expectations and needs of those who rely on it, public satisfaction with the NHS is now in uncharted territory The size of the challenge to recover it is growing more difficult with each passing year Ahead of the upcoming general election political leaders should take note of just how far satisfaction with this celebrated public institution has fallen

The public are clear that they want shorter waits for care better staffing levels and more funding Despite the challenging economic circumstances our analysis suggests that one in two people may be prepared to pay more for the NHS through taxation especially those with the deepest pockets

LOSING CONFIDENCE

Jessica Morris Fellow at The Nuffield Trust said: ‘The next government will inherit an NHS with a record low level of satisfaction with the way in which it’s running It is worrying how consistent this is across different NHS services, with inpatient, outpatient, dentistry and GP services reporting record low levels of satisfaction As we approach a general election, political parties should be frank and realistic about the challenges ahead of them if they are to turn this situation around

‘Despite such low levels of satisfaction, the public continue to back the principles underpinning the NHS The public has not fallen out of love with the idea of a publicly funded, free at the point of use NHS, but they are losing confidence that it will support them and their loved ones in the best possible way when they need it ’

Leadership in Care: “You Need A Strong

Vision and the Ability to Carr y a Team”

Care, explains what makes a good leader and how others can move up to the role – www churchfarmcare co uk

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Our business determines the way that

their

and, quite rightly, it is highly regulated Alongside adhering to legal requirements behind everything we do is the need to support the emotional physical and psycological wellbeing of the people we look after and there’s no denying it can be tough at times To get the balance right you need someone with a strong vision and the ability to inspire and carry the team towards its holistic goals while maintaining the highest professional standards which is what a good leader does

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A GOOD LEADER, AND A GOOD MANAGER?

A manager is very task orientated and will control the available resources to streamline processes, but a leader inspires and empowers people to work towards one

practice It’s important to be trustworthy and maintain your integrity, otherwise no one will believe in your vision and I think my past professional experience helps with this I also always make myself accessible should anyone need my support

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME AS A LEADER IN A CARE HOME?

Good staff is key for every organisation and this is definitely a challenge in our sector To hire a good

team, you need to look for strong values as well as practical skills so it can be hard to find the right fit This is why retention is key – to help you need to define your strong vision and mission while also ensuring practical elements such as ensuring considerations such as childcare and wages are built into every job offer At Church Farm Care we re proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer helping us to find and keep our team of specialist staff

WHERE DID YOU START IN YOUR CAREER IN CARE?

I’ve worked in health and social care for more than 35 years, and first gained a degree in dementia studies before working as a specialist nurse for many years in a small care home I also gained an NVQ diploma in management studies to help me move forward in my career, which saw me work in several managerial and operational positions

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ANYONE IN THE SECTOR WHO WANTS TO MOVE INTO A LEADERSHIP ROLE?

First you need to understand that there are lots of ways to progress in this sector if you choose to educate yourself and look for opportunities To do this make a point of doing lots of active listening to see what is happening around you so you can embrace any changes to learn and progress

To succeed you need to be human humble and open to challenges Connect with those within your organisation and ensure you remain highly competent at work, so you set a good example and put yourself in good stead to be put forward for any chances to progress

Most importantly, don't let anyone put you down – no matter your gender or race, we are all capable and everyone is born to achieve

A care home can be a challenging environment – how do you keep everyone motivated deal with any conflicts or problems and create a positive working culture for your team?

This all goes back to having a clear vision and the ability to bring people together Integrity is key too and being self aware – if something wasn t completed to a high standard take the opportunity to reflect on what went wrong and put steps in place to ensure it doesn t happen again always coming from a culture of compassion and improvement To do well during challenging environments, good communication is key as well as empathy for both your team and the people that you care for In this sector it s simply impossible to move forward without this skill

One of my biggest tips is to also make sure you have a good listening scheme in place this way you already know the challenges in your team before they become too deep-rooted to solve

ners and £100 donation to the Europa Conference League Winner

The team also managed to raise another pot of donations for Dementia UK on a ‘Go Fund Me’ page The donations made currently stands at £620 which completely exceeded the initial target of £200 In total, the team have helped raise over £750 for the charity, with more

•

•

League win for HC-One helped raise an additional £150 for the chosen charity

Business Fives published on their website: At our Tees Valley Football Tournament there will be a £350 charity donation made to the Champions League Winners and £150 donation to the Europa League win-

Routine Covid Testing Of Hospital Discharges To Care Homes To End In April

The government is to end routine COVID testing for hospital patients discharged into care homes from April 1

Health minister Maria Caulfield confirmed the decision in a written statement on Monday March 25 stating that the move could be taken due to continued high levels of vaccination among at-risk groups combined with wider access to treatments and the reduced impact of outbreaks Ms Caulfield added the shift was to align with the approach for other respiratory illnesses Confirming the announcement Dame Jenny Harries chief executive of UKHSA said: “Thanks to protection from the combination of vaccination natural immunity and effective treatments Covid-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people

“This allows testing programmes to be brought in line with the management of other respiratory illnesses such as flu while still protecting those most at risk

“While this is an important milestone for us in learning to live with Covid-19 as with other respiratory illnesses the virus hasn t gone away and can still cause severe illness for some “UKHSA will continue to work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care and with NHS England to closely monitor respiratory illness rates and characteristics through our critical science and sur-

veillance programmes ”

The move will include the abandoning of lateral flow testing to manage outbreaks in higher-risk settings However free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to determine the cause of an acute respiratory infection outbreak in higher risk settings where deemed appropriate by a local UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) health protection team (HPT), will remain to test for a wide range of respiratory viruses

An estimated 25 000 people were discharged from hospitals to care homes without testing at the height of the Covid pandemic between mid-March and mid-April 2020 and remains one of the most controversial aspects of the pandemic

This failure to test meant that vulnerable patients often went straight from hospital to a care home without a test, and then spread the virus to others

Professor Martin Green of Care England said People who live in care homes are often living with many health conditions and are susceptible to infectious diseases “It is for this reason that we would like to see testing continue when patients are being discharged from hospital

“If we see an end to such testing, the risk of people coming from hospital with asymptomatic COVID and transmitting it to other residents could have serious consequences

WE NOW SUPPLY A WIDE RANGE OF FURNITURE

Fire Safety in a Care Setting

By Guy Jones, Managing

Regardless of

There

person and they should be deputised for whenever not on shift by ‘fire marshals’, who then take on their responsibilities

Evacuation plans need to be in place and visible with clear instructions on exit points designated meeting points and other vital instructions Fire extinguishers a mixture of ‘class A’ and Co2 are required to be purchased and positioned in strategic locations around the facility

trained your staff members are, it is essential that systems are fully up-to-date and meeting or going beyond prevailing standards

In care homes, where the safety of residents is absolutely paramount, facilities need what is called an ‘L1 fire alarm system This categorisation follows standards set by the British Standard BS 5839 L1 category is the highest level of fire alarm system providing the most comprehensive coverage and protection for your residents

An L1 fire alarm system typically includes smoke and heat detectors For smoke - these are placed in all rooms, cupboards over a certain size and common areas throughout the care home Delivering vital early

detection of fire hazards, giving staff time to respond and evacuate residents

In terms of heat detectors these are applicable where smoke detectors may not be suitable such as in kitchens or boiler rooms These are installed to sense rapid increases of temperature which are usually indicative of a fire

Another key element of an L1 fire system is the installation of manual call points These are provided throughout the building in various positions which are easy to find for staff residents or visitors Allowing easy access to alert the entire building and its occupants of potential dangers

In addition to this audible and visual alarm devices should be strategically placed around the facility in order to alert all to the potential presence of a fire These should reach a minimum decibel level meaning that residents will be made aware of the alert, regardless of any sensory challenges

The fire alarm panel is the central hub of the system where all signals from detectors and call points are processed This provides rapid information on the location of fire and allows appropriate action to be taken

Overall, the L1 fire alarm system in care homes is designed to provide early detection of fires, rapid notification to occupants and coordination with emergency services to ensure the safety of residents and staff Compliance with fire safety regulations and regular maintenance of the system are essential to its effectiveness, and all care homes must by law meet these standards - with severe potential penalties for those who fail to achieve that

For care home management there are important steps to take without an outside contractor But for the installation of an L1 system, contact a qualified and professional contractor to ensure your systems are where they need to be

If the worst is to happen by following these steps you will give your care home and its residents the best tools to deal with a crisis

The Care Workers’ Charity Responds To PAC Report On Adult Social Care Reform

The Care Workers Charity (CWC) responds to the Public Accounts Committee s (PAC) report on the progress of adult social care reform highlighting critical issues in workforce management and funding within the sector

The PAC report highlights the pressing need for strong leadership from the Department responsible for adult social care It also reveals a troubling truth, one sadly familiar to those in the social care field, that our current path isn t meeting the nation s future care needs particularly regarding the workforce The experiences shared with us by care workers daily echo the report’s findings underlining the pressing need for action

Karolina Gerlich, CEO of The Care Workers’ Charity says,“We agree with the report s findings that while recent initiatives such as the Care Workforce Pathway, on which we are advising, are welcome However, progress remains slow and may become meaningless if funding issues

such as care differentials are not addressed The report rightly identifies the absence of a comprehensive workforce plan as exacerbating recruitment and retention challenges We have long been advocating for increased pay levels and a structured pay progression that reflects rising responsibilities throughout a care worker’s career a vital component of retention

We also agree with the report s findings that there is a lack of a cohesive long-term strategy akin to that of the NHS and that this disparity reinforces the perception of unequal partnership between health and social care sectors As the UK charity representing care workers the CWC occupies a unique position to advocate for policy changes that prioritise the workforce Through our Workforce Advocacy programme we urge four key policy changes: enhanced pay, professionalisation through registration full funding from central gov-

The birthday girl said: Her secret to a long life is ‘to just get on with it When

ernment and enhanced recognition of the sector s value with parity of esteem and pay for care workers with their counterparts in the NHS Only through concerted efforts to address these issues can we build a sustainable resilient adult social care sector fit for the future

Healthcare Leaders Call For ‘Full-Scale Cultural Shift’ To Future Proof Health And Social Care

Leaders across the health and social care sector agree that a ‘full-scale cultural shift at a policy and organisational level is ‘urgently needed in order to fix the mounting crisis in health and social care This follows the latest call from Lib Dem leader Ed Davey urging political leaders to ‘grasp the nettle’ and reach a cross-party agreement on social care once and for all During a recent roundtable discussion at the annual Nuffield Trust Summit chaired by Helen Buckingham (Director of Strategy at Nuffield Trust) thirty senior leaders and healthcare experts gathered to debate the barriers that need to be overcome to realise the benefits of technology and ease pressure on the current overburdened health and care systems

According to Age UK more than a fifth of people over the age of 80 have unmet social care needs due to a lack of available social workers and decades of under investment in the social care sector in addition to an ageing population This is putting an overwhelming demand not just on councils delivering care, but also on the wider health ecosystem where up to one in three English hospital beds are occupied by patients fit for discharge

Delegates at the roundtable, including NHS directors, geriatricians charity sector representatives and ICB leaders, called for more recognition around the symbiotic relationship’ that social care has with the NHS when it comes to funding in order to free up capacity reduce incidents of bed blocking and delayed hospital discharge The health chiefs also concluded that technology must form part of the solution to ‘fill the gap between capacity and demand

For instance research shows that technology such as remote monitoring in social care can help to accelerate hospital discharge rates by up to 16 days allowing people to return home where their needs can be met safely freeing up bed space

Addressing the roundtable Matthew Taylor Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation said: I think this is an opportunity for us to be clear about what we are ultimately trying to achieve in the digital space This feels to be about four things; first empowering patients to manage and optimise their own health and care; second integration of services; third using data to drive improvement insight and innovation; and the fourth is to deliver a more devolved pattern of care ”

To overcome barriers within organisations to drive improvements, there was agreement among delegates that technology needs to be designed with end-users and their families in mind Meanwhile, the Digital

Healthcare Council noted that it should be committed to ‘at scale for longer periods of time They stressed that there is a need to move away from the culture of short-term technology pilots in order to drive real change

Speaking at the event Catherine Davies Director of the Digital Healthcare Council said: We need to give confidence to people who are implementing solutions through longer term programmes to build momentum and we need to be able to implement digital innovations at scale One of the solutions [the sector] has come up with is the Proactive Care Fund which allows organisations to try new technology by helping them to accelerate the procurement process and giving local authorities and ICBs access to matched funds to support with initial costs This is a great example of problem solving ”

Nick Weston Chief Commercial Officer at Lilli added: “There’s a critical need for a positive reframing of the social care sector to drive this culture shift, and break down the silos between primary, secondary and community care

“We know the challenges, and we are seeing evidence already of the impact social care technology can have in supporting people to live more independently, which has a knock-on impact on our hospitals and emergency services while generating significant efficiencies and savings It’s now about how we create the right environment to enable that digital transformation to take place across the whole ecosystem ”

Wrapping up the event Helen Buckingham Director of Strategy at the Nuffield Trust said The technology exists and the need for it is recognised But it s not just about the money to provide the kit; it s about working together over time to create a big cultural shift so we can achieve the best outcomes for everyone Lifestyle monitoring company Lilli is calling on the next government to prioritise digitisation across the social care sector driving the take up of monitoring technology among ICBs and local authorities UK-wide Health-tech experts say this will ease pressure on emergency services and the system more broadly by creating less bed blocking and enhancing quality of life

In just six months of adopting Lilli technology North Tyneside Council acquired more than 7 000 additional carer hours and saved £132,757 by monitoring 40 people who were accessing services In Nottingham, they were able to accelerate hospital discharge by as much as 16 days due to having the technology in place

Care Home Residents Host Beaver Easter Egg Hunt

Barchester’s Reigate Beaumont Care Home welcomed 35 eager Beaver’s to their home for an Easter Egg Hunt in their gardens The plastic eggs were scattered all over the grounds and the beavers ran around trying to find as many as they could

Once all the eggs were found the Beavers brought them indoors to where the residents were waiting to greet them They were then able to exchange the plastic eggs for chocolate ones Everyone was able to enjoy hot cross buns and chocolate cake together afterwards

General Manager Pramojil Kurian said: “We are so fortunate to have had the 17th Reigate (St Joseph s) Scout Group to our home for an egg hunt in our gardens Absolutely fantastic to see the children running around looking for eggs!

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

Don't Let Cyber Criminals Exploit Your Care Home

By Durgan Cooper, CETSAT Chairman (https://cetsat com/)

Care homes provide a high value target for cyber criminals who are constantly looking for ways to ruthlessly exploit weakness - whether that’s in an organisation’s defences or through end-user error For the vast majority the thought of taking advantage of the vulnerable elderly is entirely unpalatable, however cyber criminals do not share those same morals They do not play by the same rules as the rest of us, with care homes wrongly seen as fair game

For most cyber attacks data and pounds are the currencies dealt in With care homes particularly vulnerable on both counts especially with such outdated protections in place for many establishments Staff understandably have other concerns so in many cases having IT systems fully up-to-date is simply not a priority That softens an already weak target

Extortion is a real risk with incredibly sensitive data being held on residents - from medical information to financial records This is not the information to fall into the hands of those wishing to do harm or leverage that data for a financial ransom

End-user training is vital in reinforcing any organisation s defences and this is where care homes are in real jeopardy Elderly residents are far less likely to understand the latest technology and more importantly be aware of the risks posed through a number of popular scams, particularly phishing attempts through emails, SMS or even a phone call

If an elderly gentleman in his 90s receives an email claiming to be from a loved one asking for financial assistance for an urgent matter - what will the response often be? Some may understand the need to check but for others that will not be so obvious Criminals will ruthlessly exploit their kindness with the potential to lose thousands and thousands of pounds

Once it s gone it s gone All too often sadly the importance of cyber security is only understood once it s too late

So what can care homes do in order to reduce the risk? The first port of call would be to deploy a vulner-

ability assessment and penetration testing Any defence is only as strong as its weakest link - identify that vulnerability before a cyber criminal does and fix it

As discussed, training of end-users is crucial Whether that s staff, or residents For a care home, ensuring that those with a duty of care fully understand the risks and solutions is of paramount importance Proper technology is essential but those using the systems need to understand the risks

I fully recommend the Government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme A world-leading and cost-effective assurance mechanism that helps you to identify and protect your business against a whole range of cyber attacks so you can demonstrate to stakeholders that the most important basic cyber security controls have been implemented

It’s the cyber equivalent of taking your car for an MOT - companies can help you prepare for it but failing is not always a bad thing Helping to uncover chinks in your organisation’s armour

Cyber Essentials aims to reduce common unsophisticated threats by 80% It s mandatory for all Government contracts which involve handling personal information so it is a strong place to start

Other measures to deploy include firewalls email security solutions encryption software and antivirus programmes Implementing two-factor authentication across all platforms where possible is vital - with basic training, this can be understood by most people capable of operating a smartphone or laptop and certainly with help from a trusted member of staff with a duty of care ensuring that no resident is excluded from any communications

For care homes I estimate that the most vulnerable part of any defence would be through an email inbox An advanced and sophisticated email security solution can reduce the amount of potentially dangerous malware and spam entering an inbox by up to 99% but it only takes one to get through and acted upon by an unsuspecting recipient, which is why the human firewall, training and vigilance are always required With sufficient staff training and appropriate systems in place cyber risks can be significantly reduced whilst still maintaining resident s access to vital communication systems and the wider internet It is about understanding and identifying the vulnerabilities whilst ensuring defences are deployed to protect the organisation staff and most importantly the residents

Durgan is an expert in all things cybersecurity having worked in the field for over two decades He advises the House of Lords on cybersecurity, and his expertise has helped countless business and organisations protect themselves against threats

those in our community and offer support in challenging times Creating a community spirit in our home is key for both residents and those local to us ”

As one attendee exclaimed The food was simply divine and the staff s care and attention made us feel truly cherished We've had an absolutely lovely time

This initiative will continue to brighten the last Sunday of every month Those interested in joining this uplifting experience are encouraged to reach out to the home directly as spaces are limited

For more information about the home or to enquire about attending a future Let us host your roast please contact bdm@camberleymanor co uk or visit https://www tlccare co uk/homes/camberley-manor/

NCF Launches Global Workforce Report

The National Care Forum (NCF) has published a report resulting from the Social Care International Workforce Summit held as part of the Global Ageing Conference last year

The report s publication also marks NCF CEO Professor Vic Rayner as the new board chair of the Global Ageing Network a role she will hold for two years Professor Vic Rayner said: Co-hosting the Global Ageing Conference with colleagues from the Global Ageing Network and Scottish Care was a huge honour and one which I am thrilled to continue as I take over the leadership of the Global Ageing Network board I relish the opportunity to nurture the international connections that have been made and set a course together with members and partners to tackle the issues affecting the care of older people around the world and ensure their rights are represented “The work we will be doing together reflects the enormous change taking place throughout the world that has a bearing on the daily delivery of care and support to older people particularly the impacts of mass migration on the global care workforce Our discussions at the conference included insights from 14 different countries and collectively reached a series of conclusions and recommendations It is now time for us to communicate these outcomes via

this report and demand action and funding from our governments and policymakers to help ensure each territory is empowered to develop a robust care workforce attract new talent while rewarding the dedication of current care workers and continue to transform the lives of older people with excellent professional care ” CEO of the Global Ageing Network, Katie Smith-Sloan commented: Without an adequate trained and well supported workforce there is no care Throughout the world we are facing enormous challenges in attracting, retaining, training, compensating, and elevating the profession of care workers A global challenge needs global solutions To this end, the Global Ageing Network and our members as a global community dedicated to the well-being of older adults are committed to raising awareness and driving the public and private sector towards urgently addressing the workforce crisis There is a way forward if we work together

The report, produced in collaboration with Global Ageing Network Scottish Care and UKRI is available to download at https://www nationalcareforum org uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/International-Social-CareWorkforce-Summit-challenges-solutions-and-the-w ay-forward-report-1 pdf

Morale and Resilience in the Health and Care Sector

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing system pressures, morale within the health and care workforce was at a low level Between 2022-2023 the Public Health Team at Worcestershire County Council (WCC) commissioned Thinks Insight & Strategy to conduct research to inform community and system-wide support for health and care professionals

The research focused on the past and present experiences of health and care workers with the aim of bringing to life the impact of the pandemic on their wellbeing and motivation to remain within the sector Thinks approach was rooted in ethnographic research methodologies, designed to fully immerse researchers in participants’ lives – and the unique experiences and routines of health and care workers Research participants reflected a range of roles and settings, such as practicing nurses doctors carers social workers and community volunteers

By Loulwa Al Rasheed-Wright, Associate Director, Thinks Insight & Strategy (www thinksinsight com)

Supporting participants to reflect on and recall past events was an important part of the research objectives Accurate recall is challenging in most situations but particularly so in the context of the pandemic Many of the participants reported ‘compartmentalising’ their thoughts to cope during this time, leading the pandemic to feel like a blur One participant said:

“Looking at last few years of pandemic from today’s perspective – unfortunately, it all feels blended All I remember are single events which made my mental health like being on a roller coaster all the time Today I look at the whole pandemic as one period in time ”

A range of reflective tasks were used to support participants in remembering the past such as:

Creating an emotional journey map to represent how their experiences evolved over time • Writing a ‘letter to self’ dated January 2020 to tell their past self about what they would experience over the coming two years and reflect on how this would impact their wellbeing

Recording a conversation with a loved one about how they perceived the impact of the participant’s work on their life during the pandemic

These tasks not only provided rich insight into personal experiences, but were also cathartic for participants Many had not yet had the opportunity to reflect on their experiences of the pandemic nor to discuss them with their loved ones and colleagues The research gave participants this opportunity to reflect which they truly valued and they wanted to take these activities to their workplaces to encourage and facilitate

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with their teams One participant said:

“I found it really helpful taking part [in the research] I told my colleagues in the office about the journey map and they all really wanted to do it It was so good to just reflect and actually think about everything we ve been through – we ve not had a chance to do this yet ”

The research highlighted a need for action and support in two key areas:

• Recognition of the sacrifices made and ongoing emotional support within the workplace and wider society

Systemic improvements and practical support, including staffing, best practice for hybrid working and opportunities for professional development

This research has played an important role in mobilising system change within the WCC Public Health and ICS teams Recommendations have directly shaped a variety of work that will have tangible benefits for healthcare professionals such as: Driving the recommissioning of Worcestershire s Workplace Health programme ensuring that there is sufficient focus on enhancing employee wellbeing, resilience and health at work

Informing the local health and care system s Workforce Strategy and work of the ICS Academy for example enhancing opportunities for progression and flexible career pathways

Informing WCC s commended workplace wellbeing initiative Wellbeing Week including supporting the development of a suite of employee wellbeing initiatives including rewards and recognition

• Informing system wide work on the links between affordable housing and NHS workforce retention

The experiences of the participants in Worcestershire are by no means unique The national health and care system is facing significant workforce challenges and recruitment and retention are critical issues that need to be addressed The recommendations developed through this research point to a way to help mitigate some of the pressures on staff and provide vital insight to addressing the critical challenges facing the NHS By clearly identifying learnings for system improvements and practical support this research can make a difference for health and care professionals across the country Research also has the ability to bring workforce challenges to life through the voices of front-line professionals – highlighting real life stories and experiences at a time when many struggle to feel heard By placing health and care workers at the heart of system change these findings have had tangible impact on a challenge of national proportion

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Care Home Residents Have Eyes Down and Dabbers At The Ready

The Importance of Plants and Green Spaces In Healthcare

by Dr Deborah Lee, Dr Fox Online Pharmacy - https://www doctorfox co uk/

In a 1990 Japanese study the authors discovered that simply looking at plants altered brain wave (EEG) patterns While observing plants, people also expressed less fear anger sadness and stress along with lower blood pressure, a slower heart rate and lowered muscular tension SEEING PLANTS THROUGH THE WINDOW SPEEDS RECOVERY AND LOWERS PAIN

In another 1984 hospital-based study, when patients could see plants and trees through the hospital windows they had a shorter hospital stay and needed less pain relief

VISITING GREEN SPACES LOWERS STRESS

In a 2021 Chinese study, the physiological and psychological responses of a group of young adults ages 22-28 visiting green spaces were recorded The Perceived Restorative Score (this measures being away from it all’) showed significant improvements in autonomic nerve function with less sweat gland activity reduced respiratory sensation and improved blood circulation The investigators emphasised the importance of visiting green spaces They recommended increasing the richness of plant species and water landscapes as a means of aiding stress recovery

LIVING NEAR GREEN SPACES IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH

The Mental Health Foundation has commented on the fascinating link between access to green space such as fields forests parks and gardens and a reduced risk of mental health problems improved mood and increased life satisfaction ’

Deprived areas where there is little greenery or access to green space tend to have higher levels of men-

tal ill-health Indeed a 2021 systematic review suggests that those from lower socioeconomic groups benefit more from access to green spaces than those who are more advantaged

THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES FOR HEALTH

Trees and forests play a protective role in human health as they remove environmental pollution through their leaves A single maple tree removes 48 lb (22 kg) of particulates and 100 lb (45 kg) of carbon per year from the atmosphere It also removes toxic metals nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide There may be a link between dementia and exposure to environmental pollutants such as exhaust fumes

GARDENING CAN HELP IMPROVE MEMORY

In a 2019 study 41 older people with an average age of 76 6 years were enrolled in a project to spend 20 minutes a day building a vegetable garden This involved digging planting, fertilising, and watering Blood samples were taken before and after the project There was a significant increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) after performing the gardening activity BDNF is important for brain function and memory PDGF is important for blood vessel formation and growth A 2016 meta-analysis of 22 case-control studies published since 2001, concluded a positive association between gardening and a wide range of health outcomes

It’s been estimated that a 10% increase in physical exercise would prevent 6000 deaths per year Doing more physical exercise is linked to a reduction in diagnoses of dementia mental health problems cardiovascular disease and cancer This does not need to be high-intensity exercise Gardening is a very realistic option to get people outdoors and moving more Gardening combines physical activity with being outdoors increases exposure to natural sunlight and can be a social activity Being outside in the sun has the benefit of lowering blood pressure and increasing levels of vitamin D

FINAL THOUGHTS

Investing in a garden in your care establishment can do wonders for your residents In some projects residents have been involved in planning digging and planting as well as setting up bird feeders for example Doing this may not be high on your priority list but we know that making the most of your outdoor space will do wonders for your resident s quality of life and well-being

- Are you making the most of your plants and green spaces?

- How could you improve exposure to plants and trees and the outdoor spaces for your residents?

Having More Occupational Therapists In The Community Will Improve Health And Care Ser vices Study Reveals

More occupational therapists placed in community settings rather than hospitals will prevent people from developing health crises help them get support for existing health needs sooner and reduce pressure on A&E and GP services Community settings include GP practices, schools, social services, housing associations, care homes and places of work That s according to the new Workforce Strategy for occupational therapists launched today by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)

The NHS is in crisis with waiting times at their worst ever NHS data released last week show a rise in the number of people waiting 18 months or more for treatment and continued high numbers of people waiting for 12 hours or more in A&E And by 2035 the UK population is projected to be over 70 million Mental illness will continue to be one of the largest single causes of disability, and two-thirds of adults aged over 65 are projected to be living with multiple health conditions People will also need to stay in work for longer and may need more support to do that

Occupational therapists support people to prioritise their health and wellbeing to live healthier for longer with a dual focus on both mental and physical health Streamlining services within hospitals and widening access to occupational therapy where people live, work and go to school will help prevent people reaching crisis point and ultimately reduce pressure on health services

Karin Orman, Director of Practice and Innovation at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, says:

Occupational therapy is the solution to many of the UK s health and care needs By positioning occupational therapists in the community – where they re most needed – people will have the support they need to live in their own homes for longer and continue with the occupations that they want and have to do It will mean that occupational therapy services are available to everyone who needs them Our plans echo the governments own NHS workforce plans across the UK and a recent King’s Fund report: Making care closer to home a reality

Having

M-Resourcing

M-Resourcing

Health and care services need to focus on prevention and early intervention to help people living with multiple health conditions or complex needs manage their symptoms and reduce the need for hospital and specialist services One of the best ways to do this is by investing in occupational therapists

Occupational therapists help prevent people going into hospital and if they are admitted can help get them home faster We support people to prioritise their health and wellbeing to live healthier lives for longer That’s why we want to see more occupational therapists working in communities and more occupational therapists leading reviewing and co-designing community services so they re as safe as they can be and the people using them get the support they need ’

THE NEW RCOT WORKFORCE STRATEGY FOCUSES ON SEVEN CORE AREAS:

children, young people and families, including schools

• community rehabilitation after a stay in hospital primary care including GP surgeries

• artificial intelligence and technology-enabled care housing acute and emergency care work

The aim of the strategy is that, by 2035, occupational therapy will help people have the choice and opportunity to engage in a diverse range of activities and roles have access to the health and care services they need within their community

• rely less on A&E and be able to stay in their own homes for longer with the right support pursue the occupations they value manage their health and care needs and contribute to society in the way that they want to

For more information visit rcot co uk/workforce-strategy

we’ve launched this programme to inspire and enable our leaders of the future “The programme covers a wide variety of topics which will enhance knowledge build confidence and truly inspire our future leaders to be the best versions of themselves

Through a series of interactive workshops - a number of which are delivered by in-sector experts of their field - delegates will be given the opportunity to embark on a transformative journey and gain the skills for effective communication strong business and commercial acumen as well as regulatory know-how

In addition to business knowledge those taking part will learn how to reflect on their own practice identifying factors like the strengths and challenges of their unique leadership style and the impact that they may have on others

The Outstanding Diversity Forum March Towards London Pride

The Outstanding Society are delighted to announce that The Out Standing Diversity Forum are proudly marching in the London Pride in June 2024 AND EVERYONE IS INVITED

The Out Standing Diversity Forum are particularly excited to be making its London Pride debut this year as LGBTQ+ history month s theme was Medicine – #UnderTheScope and aimed to celebrate LGBTQ+ people s “contribution to the field of medicine and healthcare both historically and today fitting perfectly with The OS s mission to help everyone achieve outstanding care together

OSDF are delighted that other organisations across the Social Care sector are in conversations about joining us, from The Care Quality Commission, Skills for Care Championing Social Care and DHSC

We expect uptake for our “march with us” tickets to be snapped up very quickly so we have set up an Eventbrite to “register your interest” People who have registered interest will be alerted first when the tickets are available NB: Everyone LGBTQ+ and allies are welcome, though we will prioritise ticket requests from those within the Rainbow family should we be oversubscribed

The House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee Health and Social Care and LGBT Communities First Report of Session 2019 was by its own admission “a clarion call to the health and social care sector” to improve The report stated:

We have found that too few health and social care providers are actively thinking about LGBT people when they plan their services and that senior leaders are not doing enough to ensure that LGBT-inclusion is hardwired into commissioning strategies This problem filters all the way down to training where medics of the future are not taught how to provide LGBT-inclusive treatment While few people set out to discriminate, training currently sends the message that sexual orientation and gender identity are not relevant to providing “person-centred care” We have heard that for many witnesses that it is, in fact, essential At the moment, there seems to be neither the leadership necessary to ensure services are designed to be LGBT-inclusive nor swift enough improvements among staff on the ground” We want to be part of the push for that improvement

Sanjay Dhrona Director of The Outstanding Society and Managing Director of The Close Care Home said:

I know the sector is challenged by the complexities around understanding celebrating and facilitating diversity in their teams and for their residents As we come up to pride month - LGBTQ+ issues will be at the forefront of many people minds and if your aren t from the Rainbow Family sometimes understanding the challenges and LGBTQ+ person can face in your service or setting can be tough The work of the Out Standing Diversity Forum the first ever cross sector LGBTQ+ network, will be to create a home for best practice around DE&I and share this through The Outstanding Society Our first pride is an opportunity to identify those stakeholders in the sector who are aligned with our mission and vision and we hope to be the vanguard of progress for our teams and residents

We’re delighted to also announce that The Outstanding Diversity Forum has been sponsored by Virgin Money Virgin Money have a dedicated Health & Social Care Team headed by Derek Breingan, set up to assist organisations in the health and social care sector Their customers include Aged specialist and child care facilities, Real estate and development finance, Dentists and dental practices Hospitals and medical centres Pharmacists and pharmacies Doctors and medical practices They also support Championing Social Care and The National Care Association

Derek Breingan said: “With the significant impact that social care has in our communities and the diversity within them Virgin Money Health & Social Care Team is delighted to be able to support the Outstanding Diversity Forum in order to help promote its aims and inclusion and sustainability in the sector”

You can find out more about The Outstanding Diversity Forum and register your interest here: OS ForumThe Outstanding Society

https://theoutstandingsociety co uk/os-forum/

And if you’d like to be part of The Outstanding Society you can sign up for a FREE membership on our website here: contact – The Outstanding Society And remember you DO NOT have to be rating Outstanding by CQC to join You simply have to want to get there and help others to get there too

Shropshire Care Home Offers Free Workshop On Caring For Loved Ones With Dementia

Care Group

The first workshop, held on Wednesday 20 March at Lawley Bank Court next to Telford Hall Care Home in Shropshire offered participants invaluable insights and practical strategies to support and assist their friends and family members facing dementia-related challenges

The four-hour session was hosted by Jay Chaplin, Sandstone Care s Regional Training and Development Manager who has more than three decades of experience in the care sector It focused on empowering attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the changing needs of individuals with dementia Now following the workshop s success a number of sessions have been planned with the next one being scheduled for Thursday 16th May

Jay said: Caring for individuals with dementia can be really challenging so it s vital that we can provide support and education to help people to get a better understanding of how best to give care in these circumstances

“Our workshops equip family members and friends with effective strategies to enhance the quality of

care and support for their loved ones

The workshop, which was free to attend, covered various topics including understanding dementia identifying triggers and addressing concerns that impact the lives of individuals with dementia and their caregivers

The workshop received overwhelming support from the local community with attendees expressing appreciation for the valuable insights they gained and the opportunity to ask for expert advice

Following its success at Telford Hall, the workshop scheme is set to be rolled out across other Sandstone homes giving more families the chance to access vital support

Valerie Herbert Area Manager for Sandstone Care Group said:

“We re committed to fostering a supportive environment for both residents and their families

With these workshops our goal is to empower caregivers with the knowledge and resources needed to provide compassionate and effective care to their loved ones It can be incredibly daunting and overwhelming when a family member starts showing signs of dementia, so we want to give a helping hand to these people when they need it most

We d encourage anyone interested in learning more about how to care for people with dementia to come along to our next session ”

Lack of Understanding is Stifling Adoption of Technology Enabled Care, Says Report from TEC Ser vices Association and PA Consulting

– as a vital part of their social care offer

Findings showed that TEC is underutilised and has the potential to be used far more widely to transform lives; it can extend to supporting children and young people with special needs and disabilities and unpaid carers as well as to the support provided to older people those with disabilities and to assist hospital discharge

From ambition to action is framed around the opportunities for TEC to play a wider role the need to define outcomes and build the investment case, tackling challenges and identifying enablers of success, and importance of a senior-championed plan for success

The report identifies four key barriers: financial pressures workforce challenges integration of health and social care and the digital switchover

Additional findings include:

• Knowledge and understanding gaps – half of councils say their workforce has “almost no understanding” of how to speak confidently to service users about the benefits of TEC Fewer than half (45%) of councils either have firm plans in place or are already making good progress in raising awareness of TEC across their workforce Just one-third (34%) either have firm plans in place or are already making good progress in removing barriers stopping their workforce from using TEC such as skills gaps

• Untapped opportunities – for example two in three councils currently either do not use TEC at all or only

occasionally to support children and their families

Concerns around integration – two in three councils expect building an integrated approach to TEC across health and social care to be a challenge – with the remainder saying it might be Some 79% of councils currently have no plans for joint commissioning of TEC

Digital distraction – more than half of councils cite the digital migration by 2025 as a challenge that could have an impact on people using services and the cost of TEC

From ambition to action brings together a wide range of data and insight direct quotes from adult social care leaders and case studies to paint a picture of the sheer scope for TEC services to play a bigger role in mitigating the crisis in health and social care It reveals the priority areas for commissioners and their aspirations around TEC over the next 12 months – providing a valuable resource for the TEC sector

The report was launched in Birmingham this week at the annual International Technology Enabled Care Conference, Empowering People s Lives

Alyson Scurfield CEO of TSA said: “This report marks the culmination of a long-held ambition to capture the current state of play around technology enabled care and its potential to support a wider range of people As the public sector grapples with rising demand and stretched resources it s clear that TEC services have a pivotal role to play

Our joint report with PA underlines the degree to which TEC is now seen as integral to meeting health and care needs and the desire to do more ”

Robert Turnbull care technology expert at PA Consulting said: Social care is in crisis and councils are rightly turning to care technology as one means to support its prevention agenda This is driving a huge surge in momentum surrounding care technology within social care This is more than just a passing trend; it is a transformative wave poised to revolutionise how we deliver health and care There is a huge potential to do more for the communities that would benefit from care technology so it is promising to see councils making plans to increase their use of care technology within the next year

“Over the last 10 years our Argenti care technology partnership has developed innovative technologyenabled services and solutions to help people live in the place they call home for as long as possible but this needs to be coupled with the right skills knowledge and awareness ”

Download From ambition to action at www tsa-voice org uk/resources-library/state-of-the-sector

Supporting Those Living With Dementia In Ever y Possible Way

where dementia no longer devastates lives In 2023 Care UK matched more than £24 000 of colleagues fundraising efforts This went on to help a large number of UK-based charities including Dementia UK the Great Ormond Street Hospital charity and Diabetes UK

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Catering can be tricky to go at alone Why not partner up? Trust us to lend a specialist hand across every aspect of your food operation, and guarantee the best results - safety and sustainability assured

NHS Waiting List Continues To Fall As Staff

Continue

To Tackle Covid Backlog Amid Strikes

The covid backlog fell for the fourth month in a row in January despite the longest period of industrial action in NHS history new figures reveal New monthly data published today shows the waiting list continues to fall with January data showing it is down by 27 761 from the previous month (7 58 million in January versus 7 60 million in December) with a total decrease of 192,659 since September (7 77 million) The number of patients waiting also fell by 43 053 in January (6 32 million versus 6 37 million in December) and is now 174,056 lower than in September (6 5 million)

1 in 5 days in January were affected by strike action but NHS staff still delivered 1 570 551 treatments – 52 214 (3%) more than before the pandemic (1 518 337 in January 2019)

The NHS continues to focus on the longest waits with the number of those waiting over 65 weeks down by 60% when compared to the peak of 233 051 in June 2021 to 92 213 in January

The number waiting over a year has also fallen standing at 321 394 the lowest since March 2022 This is the lowest proportion of the waiting list waiting over a year since October 2020 (4 2% in January 2024 compared to 3 8% in October 2020)

There was an average of 74 219 A&E attendances per day in February up 8 6% on the same time last year (68 367 per day in February 2023) The number of emergency admissions from A&E was up 7 7% on last year from 16 888 to 18 184 per day

NHS staff also delivered a record number of diagnostic tests in January with over 2 3 million patients receiving vital tests or checks up 14% on the same month pre-pandemic in January 2019 (2 338 520 versus 2,046,062)

Separate data for February shows that the NHS s innovative community diagnostic centres in the heart of

local communities, have now delivered more than 7 4 million tests and checks since the first sites opened in summer 2021 continuing to boost diagnostic capacity in areas most convenient to patients by delivering more than 100 000 vital tests and checks a week – 429 237 in February alone

The NHS has continued to maintain high levels of bed capacity since the start of the year with bed numbers in February showing an increase upon January and the latest weekly figures (week ending 10 March) show an average of 103 054 general and acute beds open 99 761 of which were core beds

The significant progress came thanks to robust winter planning and the NHS’s urgent and emergency care recovery plan which has seen more beds new ambulances and the rollout of measures such as care traffic control centres urgent community response teams and same day emergency care

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director said: “Demand for NHS services across the country remains high – this was a record February for urgent and emergency services with A&E attendances and ambulance callouts up significantly on pre-pandemic levels

It is testament to the hard work of staff and the measures in our elective recovery plan that despite the longest period of industrial action in NHS history in January with 1 in 5 days affected staff still managed to bring the waiting list down – staff delivered more activity than before the pandemic using a range of innovative and new technologies to ensure we continue to make progress on the longest waits for our patients

“With new measures like the expansion of same day emergency care services across the country to reduce A&E waiting times making sure people are checked for worrying symptoms quickly with community diagnostic centres and thousands of patients benefiting from virtual wards, staff right across the NHS are working incredibly hard to deliver on our post pandemic recovery plans

Scott Mitchell Named People’s Champion Of

The Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission

then Prime Minister Boris Johnson in memory of the EastEnders and Carry On legend who died of Alzheimer s disease in 2020 The initiative which was campaigned for by over 50,000 Alzheimer’s Research UK supporters aims to fast-track the development and delivery of new medicines for diseases like Alzheimer s This includes

experiences of people affected by dementia are

and what they need, will be put at the heart

UK is doing – so we get solutions that work from new clinical trials and tests to spot Alzheimer s

earlier to improved care ” said Scott This will involve working closely with the Mission’s Co-Chairs Hilary Evans – Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Chief Executive – and Prof Nadeem Sarwar

Welcoming the appointment Hilary said Scott s involvement will be a powerful driving force for change and people with dementia deserve no less ’’

Scott said: we still have a long way to go on the mission to beat dementia but by working together we can and will win ” The appointment comes alongside £6 million in funding to boost clinical trials and innovation This includes work in Northern Ireland on how artificial intelligence can be used to support dementia diagnosis and research in Scotland looking at how certain proteins found in blood can help detect the disease early

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said that she wants to see the Mission drive forward research to unlock the next generation of treatments in Dame Barbara’s memory “The government challenged G7 nations in 2013 to find new treatments for dementia and I hope we are now on the cusp of a breakthrough, with new drugs set to slow the impact of this terrible condition ’’

The Secretary also added that she is working with the NHS charities and the life sciences industry to make sure that the health service is ready to roll out new treatments safely and rapidly, should they be approved for use in Great Britain Two early-Alzheimer s drugs lecanemab and donanemab are currently being reviewed by UK medicines regulatory bodies for their safety and efficacy with decisions expected over the coming months

According to Evans the rapid progress being made in dementia research means society is in the strongest position yet” to bring an end to the devastation of dementia “Now we must keep up this momentum and ensure the UK is at the forefront of tackling dementia for years to come she said

smile on her face

Vera has lived in Wolverhampton all of her life and shares with us many happy memories of playing in Bantock Park as a child after seeking permission from the maids of the house to collect conker nuts from the trees

She also remembers the cows with the curly horns that used to graze in the fields there and is the one to go to when you need facts checking or a spell check and always a good listening ear when you need one

“She is very smart and is like a book of quotes, my favourite one is, If you can't be good be careful which is something she says very often

Army Veteran Left Injured After Iraq Mortar Attack “Flies” During Indoor Skydive

Teen

An Army veteran says he felt he was flying after taking on an indoor skydive 17 years after a mortar blast left him with severe injuries and using a wheelchair

Stephen Vause enjoyed the indoor skydive experience at the iFly centre in Basingstoke

The trip was arranged by military charities Royal Star & Garter which provides specialist 24-hour care for the 36year-old and Help for Heroes which paid for the experience following a request from Stephen

The veteran enjoyed a thrilling time soaring into the air in the wind tunnel, with assistance from iFly experts

Stephen was just 19 and serving with the 4th Battalion

The Rifles, when a mortar explosion near Basra left him fighting for his life in 2007 He was on his first tour of duty and the attack left him severely disabled He has been a resident at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton

Inspired by a 13 year old diagnosed with a life-limiting condition a Bo ness resident will take on an 81-mile hike to raise funds and awareness for a beloved Scottish charity

Proving age is just a number David Levin who resides in Bield Housing and Care s Dean Court development, will attempt to walk 81 miles to raise vital funds for Calum s Cabin

13 year old Chiara Fox is the granddaughter of David’s golfing buddy, Harry Petersen and was diagnosed with a rare life-limiting condition as a baby David hopes that taking part in this monumental challenge will help raise awareness for both the support Calum s Cabin provides as well as Chiara s condition David will set off from his development in Bo ness on his 81st birthday and will endeavour to complete the challenge over 10 days with the support of Bield staff and tenants local communities and Chiara s family Scottish football hero now GP Kenny Deuchar also known as Dr Goals, will also join David along the route David said: I am honoured to walk under Chiara s banner and raise money for Calum's Cabin where families can spend quality time together making irreplaceable memories

since 2017

Staff from the Surbiton Home took Stephen to the iFly centre where he was supported by instructors and his own private physiotherapist, on 6 February He later said: “It was the most amazing exhilarating feeling I ve experienced in a long time Since I suffered my injuries when I was 19, I haven’t been able to walk but for a few moments I was able to fly and it felt incredible I really did feel like I was flying ”

Helena Maher is the Home Manager at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton where Stephen lives She said: I m so happy that we were able to work with Help for Heroes and make this happen for Stephen We want him to be doing things that people his age are doing, and I’m delighted we were able to make this wish come true It is amazing to see how far he s come while he’s been at Royal Star & Garter and says so much about the care he receives that he was able to do something so physically challenging ”

“I am hoping to complete the route in 10 days and am looking forward to hearing the stories of those joining me along the way It’s talkie as much as walkie ”

Hailing from Merseyside David moved to Bo ness in 2019 and is an avid golfer and lifelong sportsman He added: “It is a challenge because, like many my age, I have a few health problems, but nothing like young Chiara faces I couldn t ask for greater motivation When Harry asked me there could only be one response ”

David will set off from his residence in Bo ness and stay in Bield developments throughout the central belt

Calum s Cabin founded by Caroline Spiers in 2007 provides free holiday accommodation for children

with cancer and their families in beautiful natural settings on the Isle of Bute and in Ayrshire Caroline commented: “Many families who have children with cancer are required to travel from all over Scotland to Glasgow s primary treatment centres for specialist care The mounting cost of travel and accommodation is often a huge burden for families adding even more stress and worry to their lives

“We are honoured David has chosen to walk for Calum’s Cabin, we wish him all the best and look forward for joining him for a couple of miles too

Chiara was diagnosed with the rare condition MPS1 H (Hurlers) at 8 months old and has undergone extensive medical procedures including two bone marrow transplants bilateral hip reconstruction and spinal fusion surgery Despite her challenges Chiara continues to inspire those around her with her strength and positivity

Chiara s mum

who have done some incredible work here It is extremely poignant and moving to see the portraits alongside the words of our colleagues who are represented by them These were extremely hard times for all of us, and that certainly comes over in the stories I would encourage everyone to come and see this exhibition which offers a chance to reflect on one of the most turbulent times in modern NHS history ”

Councillor Frankie Singleton Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport at Stockport Council, who has led the cross-party working group for the Covid Community Commemoration Project said: The exhibition will be a wonderful way to honour the work of all the staff who worked so hard during the pandemic to keep the NHS up and running Everyone in our communities throughout Stockport really pulled together to help each other and show true neighbourliness during the pandemic and events like this and our other projects show how grateful we all are to everyone involved ”

The exhibition was launched with a special preview event on the evening of Thursday 7 March and is now running at the gallery from Friday 8 March to Thursday 11 April 2024, until the artworks are returned to Stepping Hill Hospital for permanent display

Care Home’s Rainbow Celebration Rounds Off Year Of Help For Children’s Charity

Discussing

Edenmore Fulfill a Meaningful Wish for Resident

perfect as the home had recently

First step was for Gayle to contact Roberts closest friend Peter Mills who then arranged for other friends of Robert to meet in the pub As Robert entered The Village Inn,” the sheer emotion was indescribable” says Gayle who went along with Robert and Carol literally all of the pub welcomed him, the love shown was just

with

favourite bird magazine ready to read

to make memories “this is why I work in social

care this is my purpose some call this person-centred care but to me it s simply about seeing a person and doing what’s in my heart which is simply being compassionate Part of the support in the home for Robert is for eating and drinking and Gayle said with a smile on her face “at one point I had to support the pint of cider whilst Robert was drinking he joked that he thought I was taking it off him and asked if he could have another one he chuckled for a long time when I said I can’t tell you how many to have that s your choice so he continued with a couple more!

After a pint (or two) Robert, Gayle and Carol headed down to the promenade for a stroll again something Robert used to enjoy doing after a pint when living in the area

Gayle continued I thought walking in to the pub was emotional but the car journey back was another level of emotion, Robert cried for most of the journey but happy emotions he just kept repeating thank you thank you and how overwhelmed he was with his friends turning up to see him ”

The Team at Edenmore are there not only to support Robert to be comfortable and to show nothing but love and compassion during this time leading to his next journey, but to ensure Robert still lives with dignity encourages independence and to ensure Robert is able to make choices, his choices, not confined to any society norms that may be perceived during this journey, he has lived life and still remains living life until he chooses not to

The support on the Westwood Ho Community Facebook page has been explosive just evidencing the love and support this truly remarkable gent is surrounded by

Rodley House Care Home Celebrates Over 120 Years of Dedication at Long Ser vice Awards Event

who together have achieved 75 years’ service at the care home Rodley House which is run by The Order of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) held a presentation event with certificates and flowers given to staff in appreciation of their dedication to care Senior Managers including OSJCT Chief Executive Dan Hayes joined the special event to congratulate employees

Jane joined the home in 1979 aged 18 after completing her City & Guilds qualification in catering Jane recalls her starting pay was £1 05 per hour in 1979 Jane s husband also worked at Rodley House during the 1990s as a gardener Home Manager,

Chorley Retirement Village Introduces Emotional Support Chickens

who was involved in a recent chicken hatching programme at her school, St Paul s C of E Primary School in Walkden

The coop has been donated by team manager Jo Bamford The arrival of the chickens is highly anticipated especially for those residents who have a background in farming

The emotional support chickens are set to bring numerous benefits to residents from fostering a sense of community to helping to reduce stress and anxiety by providing therapeutic interaction with nature The chickens will also provide companionship and stimulate mental engagement and physical activity, contributing to overall wellbeing Hayley Rowson de Vares the manager at Buckshaw Retirement Village said:

Claire s generosity has created a wonderful opportunity for our village

The chickens will be placed centrally in our garden becoming a vibrant hub of activity once the chicks are mature enough and the weather is suitable for their outdoor living

Caring and spending time with the chickens will be a beautiful reminder of the past for many who recall their own families keeping chickens

“This project is not just about adding life to our garden but also about reconnecting our residents with their heritage and providing them with emotional support through the joy and serenity that comes with caring for animals

One of our care workers is leading a lovely chicken naming project and organising a coop opening party inviting everyone residents their relatives and staff to embrace the theme by dressing as ‘funky chickens’

“This event promises to be a memorable celebration marking the beginning of a new chapter in our community s life

One Of Somerset’s Oldest Residents Turns 105

The

a radio operator ahead of the Battle of Anzio in Italy

During the war Joan took in an evacuee from London, Sylvie, who remains in touch with her to this day Her father was a soldier stationed near Yeovil who used to visit and take her

out for the day on Saturdays, and Sylvie would accompany Joan’s mother to the off-licence once a week to buy her Guinness

When peace returned Joan became a stitcher for a local shoe maker while Bert took a job at Clark s Factory in Street where he remained for 42 years

In 1943 the pair welcomed their first child John followed by Mary in 1949 after which the new mum took a part-time job in a nearby pub and cake shop She later worked at the Morlands Sheepskin factory in Glastonbury

Joan and Bert celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1989 and were married for a total of 62 years They had three grandchildren and five great grandchildren

Joan s son John said We are so thrilled to be celebrating Mum s 105th birthday with her and really appreciate the effort the team at St Benedict’s has taken to ensure she enjoys her very special day

It was obviously a huge deal for her to relocate to St Benedict s last year from the home where she had lived for over a century, but she is happy and well-looked after here and we very much appreciate that

Council Leader Urged to Resign After “Muting Critic” in Care Home Fees Row

was utterly disgraceful that Cllr Feeley had been silenced by the council leader at the meeting where the rock bottom fees were decided Mr Kreft said Cllr McLellan had behaved like a bully and that he should now consider is position which was now “untenable”

He added: “Cllr Feeley was asking serious and legitimate questions when the Leader pressed the mute button to ensure that she could not be heard

“She was quite rightly criticising the level of consultation ahead of the totally inadequate 8 8% increase in fees which has been immediately wiped out by inflation and the cost of living crisis

“According to Cllr Feeley, the council should have done more to engage with Care Forum Wales along with individual providers and she was understandably unhappy there had been no meaningful dialogue with us

The pretence that the council has properly consulted social care providers in Denbighshire is a total sham and the reason they don’t want to listen is that they are in denial about the true cost of providing care

“Cllr McLellan is acting like a tinpot totalitarian dictator in muting anybody who deigns to question this unjust regime in Denbighshire

“It amounts to bullying and abuse of his position Cllr Feeley knows what she is talking about because she

was for a number of years the knowledgeable and well respected lead member for social services What Cllr McLellan doesn t like is hearing the truth

Democracy is about accountability and there is clearly no accountability in Denbighshire who shamefully have the lowest fees in the whole of Wales

Citing the 3 8% settlement from the Welsh Government as an excuse just won’t wash I’m afraid

They only have took across the Foryd Bridge in Rhyl which links Denbighshire with the neighbouring county of Conwy where they have taken a completely different and much fairer approach

“Despite having a lower increase of around 2% in overall funding from the Welsh Government Conwy Council have agreed considerably higher increases for care home fees of between 18% and 20%

“After years of campaigning by Care Forum Wales, Conwy chose to use the toolkit by leading healthcare economists Laing and Buisson to calculate their much more realistic rates

“It was fair and transparent and the complete opposite of what’s happened in Denbighshire

The upshot is that Denbighshire will be paying £9 224 a year less per person than in Conwy for providing exactly the same level of nursing care to residents

“It is beyond belief that Cllr McLellan and Cllr Ellen Heaton the Cabinet member for health and social care should attempt to justify the absurd situation where an elderly person with dementia in Rhyl should be deemed be worth £9 000 less than elderly person just across the Foryd Bridge in Kinmel Bay

All we want is fairness in line with the Welsh Government s Let s agree to agree guidance

“Instead, we’ve had a generation of injustice and it’s a generation where the institutional prejudice and discrimination against the private care sector and Denbighshire Council are the embodiment of this injustice

“It all adds up to an outrageous stealth tax on decent, hard-pressed families who will inevitably have to fund the shortfall themselves

“The councillors who voted for these irresponsibly low rates in Denbighshire should be ashamed of themselves

The real victims of the heartless democratic deficit in Denbighshire are the vulnerable mainly elderly people with dementia and other health issues for whom we provide care ”

Hickathrift House Care Home

Makes Resident’s Dream Come True

All Fired Up – Banbur y Care Home

Fulfils Resident’s Burning Wish

A Banbury care home resident was delighted when his wish to relive his past career was made a reality

When the team at Care UK s Highmarket House on North Bar Place heard that 92-year-old resident Francis Lomas known by his friends and family as Tony who spent almost two decades working as a firefighter was keen to relive his workdays they were determined to make it happen

Tony spent 18 years working as a firefighter where he was based at Tysoe Station in Warwickshire

During this time, and thanks to his passion and commitment, Tony climbed the ranks to earn the title of Leading Firefighter

To help fulfil his wish the team at Highmarket House arranged a special visit from Banbury Fire Station who brought along on of their fire engine so Tony and his friends at the home could enjoy an afternoon exploring the vehicle and chatting to the team

Commenting on the occasion Tony said: It was a lovely surprise to see the

fire engine turn up – they ve changed a lot and even have hot water to make a cup of tea now!”

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

Francesca Cowley, Home Manager at Highmarket House, said:

Tony is always sharing stories of his time as a firefighter

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a wonderful way for residents to share their passions and ambitions and it s hugely rewarding to be able to make these a reality Tony loved being back in the truck and it was a wonderful way to encourage residents to share fond memories and stories of past careers with one another “I’d like to extend a big thank you to the team at Banbury Fire Station, as well as to the team here at Highmarket House – we all had a wonderful afternoon!

Care Home Teams and Their Dogs Get Muddy at Charity Obstacle Course

aid of a good cause Residents staff and their families took on the Muddy Dog Dash alongside their four-legged friends in aid of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care on Sunday 17 March Staff members got thoroughly muddy competing whilst the residents enjoyed staying warm and clean cheering them on from the side lines

More than 20 residents from St Ives Country House Care and Dorset House run by not-for-profit charity Care South cheered on the event s participants which featured dogs and their owners facing a host of fun obstacles at Upton Country Park Afterwards, the residents got together to enjoy lunch in the tea rooms Pat, who lives at Dorset House care home in Hamworthy, said: “It was a wonderful day I loved meeting the different dogs at the event particularly the labradors as it reminded me of the labrador I used to have and meeting the families of the staff who work in our care homes Everyone did so well

Yvonne, who also lives at Dorset House care home, said: “It was such a lovely day It was incredible to

see so many dogs in one place

Over 400 people took part in this year’s Muddy Dog Dash alongside more than 200 dogs to raise money for Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, which supports people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across East Dorset

Chris Golding, Head of Marketing and PR at Care South, said: “At Care South we love enabling the residents to enjoy all sorts of activities and this one is quite unique! The team myself and my family thoroughly enjoyed being participating in the race – but most rewarding of all was seeing how much fun the residents had cheering us on and laughing at how muddy we were!”

Tom Goodinge Director of Fundraising at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said: “We were thrilled to see the Care South residents cheering from the sidelines of our Muddy Dog Dash as well as members of the care home teams taking part in the obstacle course We are so pleased to receive such fantastic support from Care South who help us to support more people with life-limiting illnesses during their

Dovehaven Care Homes Acquires Avonleigh Gardens Care Home

families We are also very excited to welcome the newest members of the Dovehaven team who will be joining us from MHA We’re keen to make them feel welcome and offer them the many benefits that come with

Awards Success for Lincolnshire Carers

Dedicated staff working in the care sector in Lincolnshire were celebrated at the annual Lincolnshire Care Awards (Thursday 21st March)

The awards which were organised by Lincolnshire Care Association (LinCA) took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Lincoln and were hosted by Melvyn Prior a former presenter on BBC Radio Lincolnshire Winners were announced across a total of 13 categories including Community Care, Residential Care and Workforce Development Nominations were open to the public and were then shortlisted before a judging panel decided the winners and highly commended for each category

HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

Front Line Leader – Louise Green OSJCT Whitefriars (Stamford)

• Community Care – Vicky Law Walnut Care (Boston)

Residential Care – Clayton Hosier Brun Lea Care Home (Spalding)

Behind the Scenes – Annemarie Markham Oakdene Care Home (Sleaford)

Social Care Nurse and Nurse Associate – Emma Wheeler Howson Care Centre (Gainsborough)

Caring Together – Grant Wadge and Maria Wadge, County Care (Skegness)

Outstanding Partner – K2 Community Paramedic Team K2 Healthcare (Sleaford)

Home Care Registered Manager – Lindsay Nearn LJM Homecare (Lincoln)

• Activities Co-ordinator – Lisa Gosney Pickworths Residential Living (Boston)

A barn owl called Bonzo has flown into Hargrave House in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, to bring some joy to its residents

Visiting from family-run farm Performing Pets

Bonzo popped into the residential care home for an animal therapy session The feathered friend was taken around Hargrave House to interact with its residents and received a warm welcome from everyone there

Animal therapy refers to the use of animals to help people with specific physical or mental health conditions and Angela Dickson Registered Manager at Hargrave House says the benefits for her residents are huge

Care Home Registered Manager – Alice O Hare Pickworths Residential Living (Boston) and Denise Green, Grosvenor House Care Home (Lincoln)

•

Rising Star – Donna Mason County Care (Skegness)

Glen Garrod from Lincolnshire County Council was awarded the LinCA Chair Award for his service to the sector as this marks his final year before retirement Councillor Wendy Bowkett Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Public Health said: “The Lincolnshire Care Awards celebrate the tremendous support provided by carers and their teams in the community residential care nursing and adult care

“Award winners are fine examples of so many caring staff in Lincolnshire who show real dedication and passion in their work to ensure that people throughout the country are given the care they need and deserve ”

Melanie Weatherley MBE Chair of LinCA said: It s so important to recognise the achievements of the staff and organisations working in the care sector across Lincolnshire

These awards are a great chance for these people to be celebrated and they wouldn t be possible without our amazing sponsors and event organisers!”

She said: Interaction with different animals helps stimulate our residents brains and helps to keep them mentally active and engaged Everyone loved having Bonzo visit and were happy to be given the chance to hold her A huge thank you to Performing Pets for bringing her in today Des Jordan from Performing Pets said: “Multiple studies have proven that Animal Assisted Therapy improves mood reduces developing depression and can support in decreasing the feelings of anxiety and sadness, as well as increasing physical activity We always look forward to our visits to Hargrave House and it s wonderful to see the pleasure she brings to residents ”

Hargrave House is part of AgeCare UK and Director of Care Jo Mason is pleased to hear how much

Swift Response Ltd

Grades 2, 3 and 4 the air mattress cells or air pockets, fully inflate and deflate around the pressure sore in dynamic alternating mode This action mimics residents natural sleep movements to optimise the flow of blood and air to the affected area The integral foam mattress can be stowed underneath the cells if needed for Grades 3 and 4 to create a full mattress system with maximum therapeutic hyperaemia

Additional features include: Auto Weight which automatically weighs the patient and adjusts pressure accordingly removing the need for manual intervention; Auto Upright which automatically optimises pressure when the patient is sitting up; and Auto Firm which adjusts the system to static maximum inflation to allow for nursing and care procedures Importantly there are no external pumps hanging from the bed that can hinder carers and an ultra-rapid CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) valve readies the mattress for chest compressions To discover more about the Integra-Mat please visit https://store blueleafcare com/product/pr766266integra-mat-auto-dynamic-mattress-system

Offer chemical plans that cut the cost of bedpan washer/scale inhibitor and macerator disinfectant by up to 15%

Maintain all sluice machines not just their own models – cutting the cost of callouts and reducing the time spent waiting for engineers

Give you full visibility of the condition and requirements of all your sluice room assets 24/7 with a unique online portal This also reduces time spent on CQC compliance

TRUE COST OF SLUICE MACHINE BREAKDOWNS

Decades of experience tell us that the true cost of a machine breakdown averages £633

Recreo VR headsets help improve the mental and social wellbeing of those you support with person-centered VR experiences Our fully managed service is a fun and exciting way to personalise care enhance activities and improve the quality of life of your residents

Our service has been designed for the care sector with

ories 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 For more information on the Tiny Tablet see the advert on the facing page

Can AI Ease Loneliness for Adults in Care?

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

By 2030 one in six people in the world will be aged over 60 (including me!) The WHO now outlines loneliness as a key risk factor for the wellbeing of people in later life As a potential solution we’re increasingly seeing AI companions championed for being virtual friends who will listen and talk to individuals With loneliness and feelings of isolation rife amongst the elderly and vulnerable it begs the question: could AI chatbots be beneficial in care?

In short we would argue no Here s why

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY

Complex issues such as loneliness cannot be solved by technology alone AI chatbots may seem like a promising solution but they cannot replace the human element of companionship and care that is so essential especially for those who are vulnerable and have complex needs Carers play a 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 to fit technology 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

Care UK s luxurious new Oat Hill Mews care home in Leicestershire gets the latest in Smart TV and digital signage technology from Boltonbased TVC Technology Solutions in time for its recent opening Oat Hill Mews is a stunning new development by Care UK offering the best in assisted living on-site care health and wellbeing for residents

Designed as a showcase of Care UK s portfolio the Market Harborough venue boasts luxury accommodation an on-site hair and beauty salon a dedicated café an on-site cinema multiple lounges and a fully equipped bar

To complete this high-tech luxury venue Care UK asked long-term audio visual and domestic appliance supplier partner TVC Technology Solutions to furnish the luxurious bedrooms resident common areas and cafes with the latest in Smart TV technology Maintaining the cutting-

edge theme Care UK wanted the latest in digital signage throughout the main areas enabling them to show various guest information restaurant menus and entertainment schedules

With Oat Hill Mews officially opening at the start of 2024 the complete AV and digital signage systems were specified installed and tested well in advance Early visitors have already been impressed by the neat hightech and luxurious feel of Oat Hill Mews from the reception area with its HD digital signage to every bedroom featuring a 43in Smart TV on either articulating or swivel wall brackets to provide the best viewing experience to its residents

Heading up the TV-technology TVC specified its own-brand Mitchell & Brown Smart TVs in 43in screen size for every room These fully featured Freeview Play catch-up TVs with all of the apps for streaming services such as Netflix Amazon Prime Disney+ and Apple TV offer Full HD picture quality and are backed by Mitchell & Brown’s UK-based customer help desk A key factor for Care UK in specifying Mitchell & Brown TVs was the brands famous seven-year warranty on every model in its range which has enabled it to become Britain s favourite UK TV brand

In the reception area, alongside a large Smart TV screen, TVC provided an industry-leading commercial digital signage media player with MySign content management software The system can be managed by staff at Oat Hill Mews to show a host of information including where residents are situated for their incoming guests display upcoming trips and events on-site staff and activities or simply display local weather and current events from around the world

MySign s cloud-based software has the functionality for members of staff at Oat Hill Mews and remotely from Care UK s main offices to easily schedule modify or update the content with minimal fuss As a default time-based templates provide information on meal times current and five-day weather forecasts

Comments TVC s Andy Greaves Sales Director With a longstanding relationship spanning over 15 years with Care UK the association trusts us to

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Care Business Management: A comprehensive toolkit that equips you to manage your care business anytime anywhere ensuring smooth and efficient operations

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People Management: From recruitment to retaining valuable staff our solutions make managing your team not just easier but more effective

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Our suite of products is tailored to meet the unique needs and challenges of residential, domiciliary providers, supported living, or any other type of care

We offer not just tools but solutions that bring real measurable change to your organisation

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See the advert on the back cover of this issue

Around the globe the healthcare sector is facing increasing headwinds Ageing populations and the increased prevalence of chronic illnesses are putting a strain on public health services Meanwhile the private sector needs help with recruitment talent retention global supply chain pressures, and rising costs The situation has necessitated a greater emphasis on HR to ensure that the onboarding process for new employees is swift and comprehensive Team members should be happy, feel sufficiently rewarded and be given every opportunity to develop their skills

At the same time the sector is undergoing a pandemic-catalysed digital transformation journey particularly as digital maturities in AI emphasise data collection for analytics and early diagnostics Alongside securing data cybersecurity is becoming a growing priority for HR professionals as many malicious attacks on healthcare providers require watertight data storage methods and payroll processes

When done right technology plays a big part in helping HR teams drive efficiencies in these processes while remaining cognisant of the potential dangers CUT

From highly qualified healthcare professionals to a diverse pool of support workers practices need to manage workforces effectively to offer exceptional patient care An excellent place to start is by dramatically reducing administrative tasks and manual processes, as they not only slow down workflow but can also impact the quality of care as multiple touchpoints create a greater possibility of human error

Through the implementation of integrated HR, payroll and finance platforms MHR has calculated that healthcare organisations with 1 000+ employees can expect a 5-year net saving of up to £524 682 which could be redirected towards adding value to employee and patient support From ease of access and having documentation stored in one centralised location to streamlined recruitment and payroll processes there are avenues across the organisation that can be made more efficient through digital transformation With rising costs for care and consumables implementing time-saving technology is one avenue to save money without cutting deliverables or sacrificing the quality of care

EASING THE PRESSURE

Secure and efficient payroll solutions also have benefits for employee retention and satisfaction levels

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on pay packets companies who can provide accurate and on-time payroll solutions will be popular amongst employees who are seeking to minimise their financial stress Respondents to an MHR survey on why employees are paid incorrectly found that 50% of cases are impacted by errors when manually inputting data, 48% are affected by errors when running different reports and piecing data together, and 30% are hindered by using paper formats

To rectify this, HR providers should turn to automated processes which not only save processing time and improve accuracy but can also keep on top of compliance and reduce payment risks

Behaviour Smart is a behaviour support and incident recording system that produces accurate incident reports and smart behaviour plans that improve behaviour and consistency

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info@behavioursmart.co.uk

www behavioursmart co uk

Behaviour Smart

As a Behaviour Consultant I was frustrated with the inefficiency of behaviour incident recording in schools, children s homes and care settings The data collected was often filed away rarely analysed and only revisited in case of allegations Existing systems were not designed to improve behaviour

This led me to conceive Behaviour Smart a system designed to enhance behaviour management

However the high cost of software development deterred me Despite my wife s encouragement and discussions about re-mortgaging the house taking loans or seeking investors I decided against it

My wife believed in Behaviour Smart but in 2019 she unfortunately passed away from cancer She requested that I use the life insurance money to develop Behaviour Smart Honouring her wish I proceeded with the project

Behaviour Smart works by encouraging staff to

PASS supports over 1 000 care providers every day giving them access to market leading care management tools hand in hand with unlimited 24/7/365 support from our dedicated and friendly PASS team Assured by NHS Transformation Directorate PASS provides a secure platform that allows you to plan record and evidence the care you deliver The only assured solution built specifically for the home care sector, it provides comprehensive real-time functionality and allows you to share progress against outcomes with customisable, exportable reports

CARE PLANNING AND ROSTERING FROM A SINGLE PLATFORM

To meet the wider needs of the PASS community All-in-one PASS has recently been launched bringing advanced rostering functionality to our established digital care planning platform As a result advanced staff scheduling payroll and invoicing functionality is now seamlessly linked with care planning and reporting reducing the technical complexity risk and overhead associated with integrating two separate systems

As a result PASS now provides an all-in-one

reflect on incidents through structured reports It features a dedicated post-incident learning page which is based on extensive research to improve outcomes for individuals and staff It records not just the de-escalation techniques used, but also their effectiveness This data is exported to a welldesigned behaviour plan, or ‘Smart Plan Our customers have experienced significant reductions in behaviour incidents, with some reporting over an 80% reduction after using Behaviour Smart for just one year Dean Cotton, Director, Behaviour Smart info@behavioursmart co uk www behavioursmart co uk

Cloud Doing Good: Award Winning Care Accounting Software for Care Homes

Like it or not, financial accounting is crucial to the operations of your care home Without accurate reports, you cannot make proper forecasts, build accurate budgets, get paid on time by multiple funders and keep bed occupancy at optimal levels

Unfortunately, many care homes don’t have the time or budget to invest in powerful, care home accounting software This results in a vicious cycle where financial teams are so busy running manual tasks that they cannot take the time to improve their accounting systems, only to find each year they are farther and farther behind the technology their care home will need in order to thrive in the long term

Cloud Doing Good, a licensed partner of Oracle NetSuite, is here to stop that vicious cycle We believe care homes should have access to enterprise-level software without ballooning their budgets, so we donate the base software with up to three users to qualifying non-profit care homes

Why Care Home Accounting is So Complex

You know better than anyone that care home management is complex, and we know better than anyone that care home accounting gets complicated fast Balancing income for each resident from Councils, private sources, and family members requires detailed billing practices Add on top of that multiple legal entities, multiple care homes, the need for timely occupancy tracking and your finance team quickly becomes bogged down in repetitive, manual, and frustrating work

To make it worse, most accounting software are designed for slick enterprises (and priced for slick enterprise budgets) That leaves too many care home finance teams battling spreadsheets and duplicate reports to accomplish basic care home accounting tasks

How Cloud Doing Good Makes It Simple

Cloud Doing Good partners with care homes to

implement Oracle NetSuite’s enterprise-grade accounting software at as low a price as possible Here’s how Cloud Doing Good simplifies your care home’s accounting:

Single Source of Truth

Pull all your financial data into a single platform Even with multiple legal entities, multiple care homes, complex billing structures, bed occupancy tracking, resident admissions and departures and additional unique needs, our system aggregates all the pieces of information into a single repository

Robust Reporting

Whether you need to get an overview of last year’s spending or forecast income, you can run the necessary reports in a matter of clicks This makes it simpler for your team to build forecasts, track spending, track bed occupancy and the financial implications in real time, and manage billing and collecting resident payments easily

Implemented By Experienced Accountants

When it comes to your financial systems, you need financial experts not call centre IT to set you up for success After all, with cloud software the IT should be pre-built and proven With pre-built base software, we

match our experienced system accountants with your project to make sure it reflects your accounts, your finances, and your people So you get not just powerful accounting software, but confident end users within as little as 15 chargeable days From the start of the project through your first month’s ends, you will have a team of system accountants on call to walk you through doing the day job on the new system

Donated to Qualifying Care Homes

Cloud Doing Good’s mission is to bring streamlined accounting management to organisations that deserve it, so we keep it simple For qualifying non-profit care homes, we donate the base Oracle NetSuite software, including up to 3 users and unlimited UK entities This way, you can upgrade to enterprise-level accounting management without ballooning your budget

Keeping Your Data and Care Home Secure with Oracle NetSuite

When you partner with Cloud Doing Good, you get access Oracle NetSuite’s award-winning accounting management software 25+ years of investment and trusted by over 1 million users, Oracle NetSuite safeguards your data in a cloud network with the latest security protocols and automatic updates to protect against breaches We’ll also integrate the platform into your existing data security structure for smooth, uninterrupted, and safe operations as needed This way, you can focus on your care and let us worry about cybersecurity Don’t risk your data and care home on a solution running small numbers of customers: Oracle NetSuite is powering 38,000+ organisations

Find Out If You Qualify

We stand ready to simplify your care home’s accounting. Reach out to discuss your needs:

Iain Goldmann, Director iain@cloudoingood.com

Mobile: 447404354865

LinkedIN:

www linkedin com/in/iaingoldmann/

AND SOFTWARE

Curam Forges New Partnership with Doctify to Advance

Patient-centric Feedback in the UK Care Market

Curam (www curamcare com) the largest care worker marketplace and home-care technology platform in the UK today announces a strategic partnership with Doctify (www doctify com/uk) the leading global platform for patient reviews of health and social care, to power enhanced trust and transparency in the UK care sector through patient verified reviews when choosing carers

The partnership will address the critical need to improve patient experiences where only 14% of households are satisfied with care services

Providing more choice confidence and quality of care for patients and their families is therefore essential – and that s exactly the goal of the Curam and Doctify partnership

Doctify gives patients quick access to genuine independent and verified reviews of carers to find the best carer to suit their needs for at-home care These are anonymised based on the experiences of other patients and cover aspects such as the quality of specialists their services and treatments

Patients can then click through to Curam to connect with the carers with the expertise and availability that they need in real time Not only does this ensure that patients have complete control over their carer

also able to earn around 50% more than they would in traditional care agencies Patrick Wallace director of Curam said The cornerstone of care is the patient But the UK’s care sector currently doesn’t reflect that, with the demand for fast high-quality care far outweighing the supply We re on a mission to transform care into a sector that’s truly patient-centric and offers more rewarding careers for carers too With our partnership with Doctify we are providing even more transparency and confidence to patients and their families that they are receiving quality personalised care ”

Patient experience expectations continue to rise in the care sector The sector must prioritise trust and transparency by putting the patient at the centre We work with 32 000 healthcare providers to achieve this and are

our partnership, we ensure that

their

needs and improving their experiences while patients can find

degree and developed a bespoke solution that delivers simplicity and ease of use coupled with speed, flexibility and accuracy – all in one outstanding application package

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 differ-

ence 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 stopgap It will undoubtedly help to raise the profile of the sector and will give people with limited qualifications the chance to build their skills

“It’s well-known that people stay longer at places where training is available ” People in adult social care jobs will be able to enrol on the new Level 2

Adult Social Care Certificate qualification between June this year and March 2025

There will be other training initiatives available, including a new digital leadership qualification to help managers in the sector with the implementation of technology

But Lesley warned that this funding must be followed up with decisive Government action to plug the gap in care sector vacancies

She said “There is a bigger conversation to be had at a time when there are 152 000 vacancies within adult social care It is predicted we will need 440 000 care workers by 2035

“While this is a good starting point the Government must pledge future funding to support the long-term sustainability of the sector to attract many more people into roles at all levels If decisive action is not taken soon we could be facing unimaginable consequences over the next decade

Valuing the current workforce and giving them opportunities to upskill is important but ultimately pay and conditions need to improve to attract new blood into the sector rather than going into retail or hospitality

Realise is one of the country s leading training providers working with more than 1 000 employers and more than 10 000 learners a year throughout apprenticeships and adult education courses

For more information visit https://bit ly/realisetraining

will also complete reviews and ensure their policies and procedures remain up to date This way a provider not only ensures they remain compliant; they also benefit from best practice policies and procedures that provide a solid foundation for safe working practices and – ultimately – protect and support service users and staff

Ben Erskine – Director at W&P Compliance & Training www wandptraining co uk | Tel: 01305 767104 See the advert on page 2 for further information

At The Health & Safety Group, we understand that the process of getting your care workers through their Care Certification can be pretty demanding So we ve made it our mission is to make the training process as flexible and accessible as possible without increasing your costs or sacrificing the quality of our courses

We recognise that some prefer traditional classroom learning for the benefits of immediate instructor feedback hands-on skills practice and connecting with likeminded professionals

However if committing to fixed schedules and locations proves difficult staff may favour the unmatched flexibility of e-learning Our online courses allow caregivers to learn at their own pace, fitting training around their commitments while benefitting from rich multimedia resources

However you learn HSG offers the best of both worlds With classroom courses available nationwide 6 days a week we provide exceptional accessibility for face-to-face