The Carer Digital - Issue #214

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Issue 214

Report Reveals CQC’s “Loss of Credibility”

As “Significant Failures” Revealed A critical review into England’s health and social care regulator has been published, prompting the government to order a larger-scale examination of the patient safety system in the country.

The review into the CQC has confirmed ‘significant failings’ in the way the watchdog operates, which have led to ‘a substantial loss of credibility’ and to ‘a deterioration’ in its ability to identify poor performance.

‘Poor-quality’ and delayed CQC reports have also limited the credibility and impact of assessments for providers, according to Northwest London ICS chair Dr Penny Dash who led the review.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has now published the full report of Dr Penny Dash’s review into the Care Quality Commission (CQC)’s operational effectiveness. In addition, the CQC published the report of Professor Sir Mike Richards’ independent review of CQC’s single assessment framework and its implementation.

In response to Penny Dash’s interim report and recommendations, in July this

year, the Health and Social Care Secretary announced four immediate steps for the government and CQC to take to restore public confidence in the regulator.

These included appointing Sir Mike Richards (former CQC chief inspector of hospitals) to review CQC’s assessment framework.

THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SECRETARY HAS ALSO ASKED DR DASH TO CONDUCT TWO FURTHER REVIEWS: • The first will examine the roles and remits of six key organisations (CQC, the National Guardian’s Office, Healthwatch England and the Local Healthwatch network, the Health Services Safety Investigation Body, the Patient Safety Commissioner, and NHS Resolution), and will make recommendations on how patient safety could be strengthened via a different approach to national oversight.

• The second review will focus on quality and its governance and will support the government as it works to ensure positive cultural change across health and social care.

(Continued on Page 3)

PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

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

The recent critical review of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), led by Dr. Penny Dash and Sir Mike Richards, has unveiled a series of concerning shortcomings that have significantly impacted the regulator's credibility. The review highlighted several key failures, particularly focusing on the overcomplicated and unwieldy nature of the Single Assessment Framework, persistent delays in inspection reporting, and the disruptive consequences of implementing a new regulatory platEditor form.

These issues have led to frustration across the care sector, with many organizations voicing concerns over the lack of clarity, consistency, and timeliness that are essential in maintaining high standards of care.

The CQC went through a major restructuring last year, which, I understand moved staff from three directorates with an emphasis on specific sectors into teams operating at local level, ‘resulting in a loss of expertise’ which, Dr Dash concludes meant providers did not trust the outcomes of reviews, pretty devasting conclusion!

She said: ‘This review has found significant failings in the internal workings of CQC, which have led to a substantial loss of credibility within the health and social care sectors, deterioration in the ability of CQC to identify poor performance and support a drive to improved quality, and a direct impact on the capacity and capability of both the social care and healthcare sectors to deliver much-needed improvements in care.’

Her review received more than 125 emails from CQC staff members and saw letters from trade unions to former health secretaries informing them of ‘significant issues’.

However, to its credit, the CQC has accepted the high-level recommendations of both reports without reservation, acknowledging the serious organizational failings identified. The CQC's commitment to taking rapid corrective action is a positive step, and it will be crucial to monitor how effectively these changes are implemented to restore trust and ensure

Peter Adams

accountability.

In other news, the recent decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) not to approve donanemab for NHS use has sparked considerable discussion.

NICE cited the high costs associated with the drug—including regular infusions and the need for intensive monitoring for severe side effects— versus the relatively modest benefit it provides, delaying Alzheimer’s progression by just 4 to 7 months. While this decision may be disappointing to many, it underscores the difficult balancing act of ensuring good value for the taxpayer.

Nonetheless, there is hope on the horizon. With around 20 Alzheimer’s drugs in late-stage clinical trials, the pace of progress is accelerating, and it is encouraging to know that more treatments will soon be submitted for approval. The world remains desperate for a breakthrough—either a longterm treatment or a preventative measure—that can alleviate the profound impact of Alzheimer’s, a disease that touches all of us, directly or indirectly, at some point in our lives.

At THE CARER, we are calling on our readers for help.

As you may have seen in our appeal for support, The CARER has always been delivered in print and online free of charge since 2004, including the sector's only weekly digital issue.

We are committed to keeping you informed with the latest news, views, products, and services on the sector's most popular adult social care website www.thecareruk.com , which receives almost 4,000 visits and 26,000 page reads every day.

However, with costs rising significantly, we recently put out an appeal for support.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to readers who have responded and pledged their support with a £10 donation covering the next two years, and thank you also for your very kind words of support too!

Your contributions are invaluable, and if you haven't yet pledged, please do consider supporting us so we can continue delivering quality content.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 3

Report Reveals CQC’s “Loss of Credibility” (Continues from Front Cover) KEY POINTS The two reviews reflect on different concerns over CQC’s leadership, processes and overall performance.

They will make complementary recommendations on how the regulator can restore its credibility, effectiveness, and its ability to ensure the safety and quality of care of services in England.

THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: • A fundamental reset of the organisation, reverting to its previous model of three chief inspectors leading sector-based inspection teams, and considering the appointment of a fourth chief inspector to lead regulation of mental health and inspections under the Mental Health Act. • Abandoning the concept of a ‘single assessment framework’ covering all sectors regulated by CQC, while retaining existing key questions and quality statements.

• Improving operational performance, including the quality and timeliness of reports.

• Rebuilding expertise within the organisation, and its relationships with providers.

• Fixing technical issues with the provider portal and addressing registration backlogs.

• Formally pausing ICS assessments.

• Working closely with providers to improve its approach to assessment and inspection.

• Revisiting the use of one-word ratings.

Dr Dash said: ‘This report reiterates the findings of my interim report while providing further detail and analysis of the CQC’s performance.

‘It builds on insights and perspectives from patients and users, and a wide range of health and social care providers as well as senior leaders from the NHS and local authorities.”

‘I am very grateful to the large number of staff within the CQC who have come forward to share their experiences of the last few years and to make recommendations for the future. They have shown exceptional patience and professionalism throughout this difficult period.’

DEEP ROOTED CHALLENGES Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, commented: “Sir Mike Richards’ report confirms the deep-rooted chal-

lenges we have seen first-hand in recent years. The CQC’s restructuring and its Single Assessment Framework have, quite simply, not worked. These changes have placed unnecessary pressure on the sector, delayed critical inspections, and demoralised both CQC staff and care providers alike. Urgent action is needed to address these failings and rebuild trust.”

“The review underscores several key failures, including the overcomplicated nature of the Single Assessment Framework, delays in inspection reporting, and the damaging impact of the new regulatory platform. Care England welcomes the call for a reset of the CQC’s structure and operations, emphasising that the organisation must return to its core mission: ensuring safe, effective, and high-quality care.”

“The findings of this review are a wake-up call for the CQC. The fundamental reset proposed by Sir Mike Richards is essential if we are to see real improvements. The lack of clinical oversight, inadequate training for new staff, and the complexity of the assessment framework are all issues that need immediate resolution. These are not just operational challenges – they are impacting the care and safety of vulnerable people across health and social care settings, and care providers are being charged for services that aren’t being delivered.”

“Care England supports the recommendations set out in the report, particularly the reinstatement of sector-based inspection teams, the appointment of permanent Chief Inspectors, and a simplification of the assessment framework to better reflect the diversity of the services regulated by the CQC. However, the changes must be implemented swiftly to avoid further damage.”

RAPID ACTION The review concluded that the CQC will need to set out how, and by when, it will make the changes required.

The CQC said it has accepted the recommendations of both reports and is ‘taking rapid action in response’.

In agreement with the Department of Health and Social Care, the CQC has paused its assessments of ICSs for six months and said that this is ‘to free up capacity to carry out more assessments’ of providers and enable the regulator to modify its current assessment framework.

The CQC has also said it will work with providers, colleagues, people

who use services, local government, and wider stakeholders to ‘develop a plan’ on how it will implement these changes and ‘make sure it is realistic about what can be delivered by when’. Once this is signed off, CQC will share what people can expect, and when.

REBUILDING TRUST Ian Dilks, Chair of CQC, said: “We welcome the final part of Dr Penny Dash’s review – we accept the findings and we will address the recommendations with urgency. Today [October 15] also sees the publication of the review we commissioned from Professor Sir Mike Richards – we are extremely grateful to Sir Mike for his helpful work and will be using his recommendations to help us respond to the serious failings identified by Dr Penny Dash. His review also offers additional suggestions for improvement that we will be exploring as part of our wider recovery work.

“Both reviews have reaffirmed the support for a robust health and care regulator and recognised the dedication and experience of CQC staff. We are committed to rebuilding trust in CQC’s regulation and are taking action to make sure we have the right structure, processes, and technology in place to help us fulfil our vital role of helping people get good care and supporting providers to improve.”

“VERY REAL PROBLEMS” Professor Sir Mike Richards, said: “I have been working closely with providers of health and social care and with CQC staff to find solutions to the very real problems identified by Dr Penny Dash. CQC’s transformation programme has not delivered what was intended.

“CQC urgently needs to return to a structure where inspections teams are led once again by chief inspectors relating to the different sectors that CQC regulates. In addition, the current assessment framework needs to be radically simplified and the major problems with the new IT system need to be rectified. I know that work is already underway to address these areas.

“I believe that CQC’s problems can be fixed relatively quickly under the leadership of Julian Hartley, the incoming Chief Executive.

Providers have overwhelmingly reaffirmed that they want good regulation, and many CQC staff remain fully committed to delivering this.

These changes will help the regulator to effectively deliver its crucial work of ensuring that people get high quality, safe care.”

PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

How Care Homes Can Help Their Residents Feel More Confident As we age, it’s normal to lose confidence. This can be due to a number of things, such as changes in our bodies, or potential health issues that may arise. This knock in confidence can also lead to people being less active and becoming withdrawn from those around them.

Care home managers at Elmfield Care, a leading care home provider, with homes in Salisbury, Chippenham, and Lydney, offer their advice on how to boost resident confidence.

FOCUS ON INDEPENDENCE “Empower your residents to make their own choices and complete tasks themselves” Rachel Gittins, Flowers Manor Care Home Lifestyle Manager shares. “We try to encourage our residents to take the lead as much as they can, this autonomy helps our residents feel more in control over their lives and confident in their decisions, and themselves.”

“It’s important to note that we have residents of all abilities, and independence is a spectrum. Care home staff need to find the balance between offering support and encouraging residents to be independent. Every approach we have for care home residents is personalised to each resident, which plays a vital role in helping them be more confident in their abilities.”

FACILITATING HOBBIES “We find all our residents have different interests and hobbies, so we try to personalise these as much as possible for our residents.” Bartosz Turewicz Nodens Manor Care Home Manager shares.

“Hobbies can provide residents with structure to their days and can help them focus on something they enjoy which provides residents with a feeling of control and direction.

“At Elmfield Care each home has an activity calendar which is shared each month with our residents and

their families, so residents know what’s coming up and can decide on what activities they want to join.

“Homes need to have an individual approach when it comes to hobbies, to make sure each residents interests are catered for and are for all abilities.”

SOCIALISATION AND COMMUNITY Emily Old Sarum Manor Care Home Manager shares: “Socialising is important for our mental and emotional well-being. To help our residents feel more confident we encourage them to take part in our organised events that are chosen based on the range of interests and abilities our residents have. This encourages them to make friendships and connect with the other residents too.”

“We also arrange regular trips out in our local area so our residents are regularly getting out as staying in can feel isolating for some residents.”

EXERCISE Bartosz Turewicz adds “Encouraging care home residents to exercise has many benefits. Including making them feel more confident in themselves.”

“At Elmfield we have a range of exercises across all abilities. Exercise helps strengthen muscles, improves balance, and increases stamina. Which helps our residents complete everyday tasks easier and allows them to maintain more independence.

It also gives our residents a sense of accomplishment that helps boost their confidence.”

BEAUTY TREATMENTS Emily continues “Just like anyone else, our residents love the feeling of being pampered and cared for which is why supplying beauty treatments is so important.

We also find, appearance can play a huge part of how we see ourselves so having beauty treatments such as hair styling and manicures can help our residents feel more like themselves which helps boost their confidence.

Likewise, it also gives our residents the chance to chat with the stylist and other residents, which can help their mood and reduce feelings of isolation. Overall, beauty treatments go further than just the physical appearance of our residents but also help their mental and emotional well-being.”

Bradford College Students Recieve Anchor Roles Bradford College students have gone on to secure permanent roles at Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for people in later life, following successful work placements.

Over 25 students have spent time working within Anchor care homes over the past 12 months. The placements were the result of a new partnership between Bradford College and Anchor, with the aim of supporting students’ education in health and social care.

All the students, alongside the Head of School Vicky Carter, were invited to Anchor’s headquarters in Bradford to celebrate their achievements and receive awards for their efforts during their time with the organisation.

Reflecting on their time with Anchor, one of the students said: “The placement at Mill View care home has opened my eyes and made me

want to pursue a career in care.”

Head of School Vicky Carter added: “We’re grateful to Anchor for allowing our students to enter its care homes and learn more about how they operate day-to-day. I’m certain they all picked up skills that will prove invaluable in later life.”

Following successful placements, three students from Bradford College have secured permanent roles within Anchor care homes.

Anchor District Manager Kirsty Francis said: “We commenced working with Bradford College, Vicky, and her team as these students are our potential care staff, team leaders, managers, and senior leader of the future. It is great to support these young minds and help them start their careers in health and social care.

Worldclass Angel’s Mega Singathon For Dementia A singer whose performance was described as ‘worldclass’ and ‘breathtaking’ by judges who named her as winner of Germany’s version of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ will be doing a five-hour singathon at The Dolphin in Plymouth on 1 November as a fundraiser for the local dementia care home where she now works.

Angel Flukes, who originally came from Saltash and attended Plymouth’s City College, won Das Supertalent in 2016 with her rendition of Celine Dion’s Think Twice, in front of a TV audience of around five million.

Angel, now 37, worked abroad as a singer from 2010, returning to Plymouth at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 to care for her dad who was living with dementia.

She said: “On Valentine’s Day in 2022 the team at Butterfly Lodge invited me to sing for their residents and it was on that day my dad passed away, so the home became extremely special to me.

“I often returned to sing for them, then when a vacancy arose on their activities team earlier this year I decided to apply and I’m so happy to be working there.

“I love getting closer to our residents, learning from them about their lives: some were landlords of pubs, tap dancers, travelled on safaris, had their own bands too – it’s wonderful.

“A lot of love and understanding is needed to provide our residents with the care they deserve, and it’s great to be part of a team where everyone’s happiness has the same high priority as health and safety.”

Clare Sinclair, manager of Butterfly Lodge, said: “Angel’s voice is amazing: the residents love it when she sings for them, and she always has them plus staff and families up and dancing.

“We are so excited about the singathon. Five hours is a long time for anyone to perform, but Angel is a pro and has a great repertoire, so we know it will be an amazing evening from start to finish, and we’re so grateful to her for doing it as a fundraiser for residents.

“There is no charge for entry to the singathon: the money Angel raises through donations and the sale of raffle tickets will be spent on Christmas activities such as taking residents to the Eden project, Christmas markets and festive shows and buying them some lovely gifts.”

Angel Flukes started her singing career when she moved to Mallorca aged 21. She was talent-spotted in a German bar in Magaluf by a scout who encouraged her to apply for Das Supertalent – though she had to learn to speak German first – and in 2016 she became the show’s first female winner since its launch in 2006.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 5

Over 10 Million Covid And Flu Jabs Delivered As NHS Ramps Up Protection Ahead Of Winter The first seasonal vaccination data out today shows more than 5.7 million Covid or flu vaccines have been given in the last week alone (2,181,198 COVID-19 and 3,556,236 flu vaccinations administered week ending 13 October) as those eligible come forward to get their protection.

Covid jabs were rolled out to those eligible on 3 October, and in just 10 days since then, NHS staff have delivered almost 4 million vaccines (3,794,214 from 3 to 13 October).

Flu jabs have been available for pregnant women and children since 1 September to help stop the virus

• are aged 6 months to 64 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book) • live in a care home for older adults • are a frontline health and social care worker, including those working in care homes for older adults

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THOSE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR A FLU VACCINE INCLUDE: • carers in receipt of carer’s allowance or are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person • close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

spreading as schools returned and are now fully rolled out across the country to all remaining eligible

• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024

groups.

• primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6) and secondary school aged children (from

Across the country, NHS staff have introduced ways of delivering vaccinations to make it as easy as pos-

Year 7 to Year 11)

sible for people to receive their jabs – like setting up a mobile unit in a supermarket car park in the

• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years

Midlands, training care home staff to deliver jabs to residents in their own space across the North West, or

• frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme,

hosting a pop-up clinic in a local rugby club in North East and Yorkshire.

including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary

The NHS has invited over 11 million people in England to come forward, but those that are eligible do not have to wait to receive an invitation to be able to book.

Anyone eligible can book a Covid-19 or flu vaccine appointment via the NHS website, NHS App, or by calling 119 for free. The flu vaccine can also be booked by searching online for a local pharmacy and there are walk in sites available to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

Latest data shows an encouraging number of adults over 65 are already coming forward to get protected, with over 2.8 million Covid-19 jabs delivered this month so far, on top of almost 4 million flu jabs since the start of the rollout. In the first 10 days of the rollout, around 600,000 Covid vaccines were also delivered to those in clinical risk groups.

UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) latest surveillance data shows an increase of Covid-19 and influenza hospitalisations as well as a rise in Covid-19 acute respiratory incidents (week 40).

Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening said: “Today’s figures are a testament to the hard work of NHS staff in successfully rolling out winter vaccinations across the country in a bid to protect those who are most vulnerable as we move towards the colder months.”

“We are seeing a rise of flu and Covid cases and hospitalisations, on top of a seasonal rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which are adding to the growing risk of a tripledemic this winter as pressures on NHS services are increased.”

“The threat of these viruses is real – and the best defence against these dangerous illnesses is vaccination – so it is crucial that anyone eligible comes forward for their vaccine appointment when they can to protect themselves and those around them – it could keep you out of hospital this winter”.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID-19 AND FLU VACCINATION IF YOU: • are aged 65 or over • are pregnant

careproviders, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or personal health budgets, such as personal assistants

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Remote Connectivity: Addressing Key Challenges In Healthcare

By Peter Turner, Chief Commercial Officer at TeamViewer (www.teamviewer.com) Healthcare systems worldwide face mount-

reach areas. Mercy Ships, who oper-

ing challenges – ranging from a shortage of

ates two of the largest non-govern-

skilled professionals to overcrowded hospitals,

mental hospital ships in West Africa,

rising costs, and ensuring equal access to care

faces this challenge daily as it pro-

for all, regardless of geography.

vides care to some of the world’s

These challenges are not unique to one

most isolated populations.

region; they span both developed and develop-

By using remote connectivity, Mercy Ships bridges the gap between their onboard staff and specialists

ing countries, pushing the medical community

across the globe. For example, a surgeon can quickly consult a pathology expert in the US before operating

to explore innovative solutions to deliver care

on a patient, ensuring the highest quality of care. This model of remote access could be invaluable for rural

more efficiently and effectively.

and remote areas of the UK, such as the Scottish Highlands, where specialist care is often difficult to access

Technology, particularly remote connectivity, offers a pathway to addressing many of these critical issues.

By leveraging digital tools, healthcare providers can enhance their ability to serve patients in even the most challenging circumstances.

And this isn’t just in theory, healthcare

or many hours’ drive or even boat away.

MANAGING OVERCROWDED HOSPITALS AND REDUCING COSTS Overcrowded hospitals are a growing problem, particularly as populations age and more individuals require long-term care. Technology offers a solution here as well. In the US, Integris Neuro uses TeamViewer’s remote connectivity solutions to monitor patients in their homes.

With constant electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring and real-time data sharing, healthcare professionals can provide ongoing care without requiring patients to be hospitalised.

This not only frees up hospital space but also reduces costs by treating more patients at home, enabling

providers across the world are seeing the results, and more importantly so are their patients.

timely interventions that improve patient outcomes.

TACKLING SKILLS SHORTAGES: BRINGING SPECIALISTS ANYWHERE, ANYTIME

THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE: A TECH-ENABLED REVOLUTION

The global shortage of healthcare workers – especially in rural or remote areas – has made it difficult to provide adequate care. In Australia, aged care provider Uniting faced this issue head-on where limited access to skilled healthcare workers often delayed or complicated patient care. Particularly for those in rural and remote areas.

Through the use of augmented reality (AR) and smart glasses, paired with TeamViewer's remote assistance, Uniting was able to bring specialists to the bedside virtually.

This allowed on-site caregivers to consult with experts instantly, reducing hospital referrals by 62% and improving response times by 75%. This technology effectively closed the skills gap, enabling early detection of health issues and better clinical outcomes.

EQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: EXTENDING CARE TO REMOTE REGIONS Providing equal access to healthcare remains a pressing concern, particularly in underserved or hard-to-

The examples of Uniting, Mercy Ships, and Integris Neuro illustrate how technology is helping to address some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare.

Remote connectivity solutions are creating a more flexible and responsive healthcare system by enabling real-time collaboration between specialists and care providers, extending access to hard-to-reach populations, and reducing the burden on overcrowded hospitals.

Not only that but the return on investment can be almost immediate with the reduction in travel costs and reduced hospital admissions.

With technology being one of the rising costs in healthcare this is a significant deciding factor on what to invest in. Proven technologies with a quick pay back are key.

As technology continues to evolve, it will play an increasingly critical role in transforming how healthcare is delivered – making care more accessible, efficient and cost-effective across the world.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 7

SEND Deficits Risk Bankrupting Almost Three Quarters Of England’s Largest Councils By 2027 Twenty-six of England’s largest councils could have to declare bank-

facing these councils. New analysis shows that SEND deficits for county

ruptcy by 2027 if the multi-billion special educational needs and disabili-

and rural unitary authorities currently stand at £2bn but will grow further:

ties services (SEND) deficits they are grappling with are placed onto their

reaching £2.7bn by the end of 2026. These councils are already estimated

budget books, a dramatic new survey reveals, as councils grapple surging

to face a growing revenue funding gap of £1.1bn next year, and £1.6bn in

adult social care costs.

2026/27, despite predicated council tax rises.

The warning comes from the County Councils Network (CCN), with the

• Because of these significant financial challenges, eight in ten respon-

analysis revealing the scale of the financial challenges facing county

dents said they were unable to build up more reserves to offset their

authorities in England, with these authorities projected financial deficits

SEND deficits if the override came to an end.

potentially tripling overnight and pushing 60% more councils into insol-

• But councils say writing off deficits up to 2026 or extending the statutory alone will not deal with the fundamental financial challenges caused

vency.

New data analysis by the Society of County Treasurers and the

by the SEND system. Unchecked, the new analysis shows that SEND

Association of Local Authority Treasurers shows rising demand and costs

deficits would continue to grow into 2026/27 by a further £1bn in county

has resulted in England’s 38 county and largest unitary authorities in

areas, reaching £3.8bn by the end that year, while nationally they could

England amassing ‘unmanageable’ SEND deficits of £2bn this year, a figure projected to rise to £2.7bn in

reach £8bn. As a result, 95% council chief executives in the survey said ‘comprehensive and fundamental

2025/26. Nationally, these deficits are now estimated to be £4bn this year, growing to £5.9bn next year.

reform’ to the system is ‘essential’.

These deficits are being kept off councils’ budget books due to an accountancy method called the ‘statutory override’ which is due to expire in March 2026.

The CCN’s submission to the government’s Budget and Spending Review consultation calls on the gov-

The calls come amidst an increasingly precarious financial situation for councils. Analysis released recently by CCN showed England’s county and largest unitary authorities face a £20.3bn black hole over the next five years before council tax rises and excluding SEND deficits. Unless action is taken to reform services

ernment to provide ‘immediate clarity’ and a ‘national solution’ on how the Treasury plans to manage coun-

such as adult social care and children’s services, the CCN warns that councils could effectively become little

cils’ high needs deficits if the override comes to an end in March 2026 as currently planned.

more providing care services by the turn of the decade.

But the CCN warns that removing or limiting councils’ exposure to high-needs deficits is only one part of the solution. In tandem with action on the statutory override, the government must set out ‘root and branch’

Cllr Kate Foale, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said: “The current SEND system works for no-one. It does not work for parents, young people and

reform of the SEND system which does not work for parents, young people and councils alike and to

councils alike and during the last decade demand and costs have spiralled out of control, leaving local

address demand and costs that are spiralling out of control.

authorities with deficits that are unmanageable. This is despite local authorities doing everything in their

A NEW SURVEY OF LOCAL AUTHORITY CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND NEW ANALYSIS OF SEND DEFICITS REVEALS THAT:

power to address costs.”

• Due to surging costs in adult social care, children’s services and home to school transport, and in the

“Today’s survey shows the reality of what would happen if these deficits are not addressed and the statutory override removed: an immediate financial emergency that would lead to dozens of councils declaring

absence of additional funding, 16 county and rural unitary authorities predict they are at risk of issuing a

bankruptcy in the next 18 months, and only four out of 38 surveyed surviving the decade. Considering only

Section 114 before 2027.

six councils in the whole of England have declared bankruptcy in the last ten years, this is an eye-opening

• In addition to this, if the statutory override expires then the number of councils at risk of declaring bank-

figure and each and every S114 Notice would be catastrophic for local services.”

ruptcy increases by 60%. A total of 26 of the 38 county and rural unitary authorities would be at risk of issu-

“With the clock ticking to March 2026 when these deficits are placed back onto councils’ budget books,

ing a Section 114 notice before 2027, including 18 authorities who would be insolvent ‘overnight’ in March

the government must provide immediate clarity on a national solution to eliminating or managing councils’

2026. Only four councils believe they can remain solvent by the end of the parliament if their SEND deficit

deficits. But this is only one part of the solution. We also need root and branch reform of the SEND system

was transferred to their revenue budget.

to address the key issues driving demand and cost, including flipping the system to make mainstream

• This is because accumulated SEND deficits at this point would almost triple the revenue funding gap

schools more inclusive for SEND pupils.”

PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Elizabeth Finn Homes Appoints New Operations Director Care home provider Elizabeth Finn Homes has

subsidiary of the charity Turn2us, Elizabeth Finn

strengthened its senior management team with

Homes offers the chance to improve lives

the appointment of James Hamilton as

across a broad cross section of people. As

Operations Director.

Operations Director, I am central to balancing

Originally from Dorset, James has worked in

the group and to driving and enhancing the out-

the care sector for nearly 20 years in various

comes for everyone involved.

organisations and positions, both regional and

The ‘profit for purpose’ structure of the group

national. Over this time, he has worked across

means that not only are we able to aim higher

nursing, residential, dementia, learning disability,

than other care providers – for our residents, for

autism, and complex injury and has a proven

friends and relatives, and for our teams – but

track record of delivering quality and profitability

that we must aim higher. I am looking forward

across this wide range of care settings.

to the challenge.”

James’s previous roles include Managing

Dr Olivia Curno, CEO at EFH comments: “We

Director at Autonomy Care Group, where he led

are delighted to welcome James on board. I

the transformation of the organisation's culture,

feel positive that his contribution will help us as

performance, and growth. Prior to this he held

we continue in our quest to balance the provi-

Operations Director roles at Priory Group and Encore Care Homes.

“This is a truly unique opportunity,” comments James. “As a

sion of excellent care alongside the wellbeing of our employees whilst also driving commercial efficiencies.”

ISL Creates An “Inspiring” Art Competition Supported Living organisation ISL created an art competition for clients to give them the opportunity to have their work in a professional gallery.

This project supported ISL clients with their goals, confidence and creative spirit, and to have their work in a prestigious gallery post competition was a really inspiring and profound moment for clients.

The Saul Hay Gallery, Manchester (https://www.saulhayfin-

eart.co.uk/), hosted the art exhibition for this project.

Clients and teams from across the organisation were able to meet one another and to celebrate one another’s art work.

More photos and winners’ speech can be found here https://www.isl-org.uk/blogs-videos/art-gallery-exhibition/

What In the World is Happening?

By Lori Pinkerton-Rolet PPBIID, IIDA, Reg. ID It will come as a surprise to no one that care is approached differently, in different

The global hub for senior living design Don’t get left behind… free ½ hour monthly podcast inspiring guests innovation spotlight research links & events join listeners from 60+ countries

parts of the world.

Cultural differences make an enormous difference. In France there are dementia villages without boundaries to the surrounding town but, through design, the residents stay put and people from town come in to enjoy shared experiences with them.

In Japan, where there are simply not enough younger people to look after the elderly, they have devised clever design strategies which allow them to operate with lower staff ratios than we generally employ in the West. The concept of an information hub related specifically to care, retirement and dementia interiors led to the development of the ThirdAge.Design podcast and website, with listeners in 63 countries. Why was this necessary?

UNLOCKING RESEARCH

Available through www.thirdage.design and all major podcast platforms

Supported by Wissner-Bosserhoff

The breadth of this topic is enormous, and operators, designers and architects are generally time-poor.

The Universities of Sterling, Newcastle and Hertfordshire are wellrespected in conducting research, but

a wider breadth of information available from other countries which we might adapt to suit UK needs.

Generally, this must be accessed via individual academic portals to which you must subscribe which can be both time consuming and expensive. Simply put, the research tends not go to the people who can implement the work.

INTERNATIONAL INSIGHTS Supported by Wissner-Bosserhoff, The Third Age Design (TAD) provides an interactive international community hub for care, retirement, and dementia design with transcripts translated into 12 languages in addition to English. The hub subscription is free by signing-up at www.thirdage.design where the podcast can also be accessed, in addition to all usual podcast platforms. Topics include: the impact of AI on care settings, elegant bariatric design, and ‘Design Rules and How to Break Them’. Each episode also has ‘Innovation Spotlight’ focused on cutting-edge global innovations in the sector.

Available through www.thirdage.design and all major podcast platforms.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 9

Bridgepoint Announces Sale Of Care UK Bridgepoint has announced that it had sold Care UK, a provider of residential care for older people to the public and private sectors. On the back of the transaction, Care UK’s homes will be run by an operating company that has been acquired by company management.

Care UK operates 163 care homes across the UK, having more than doubled its estate under Bridgepoint ownership from 59 at entry.

Acquired by Bridgepoint in 2010, the business was formerly part of a broader platform that also included a Healthcare division (rebranded as Practice Plus Group, subsequently divested in 2019 and still owned and managed by

Bridgepoint).

Andrew Knight, Chief Executive Officer of Care UK, said: “Bridgepoint has been an incredibly supportive investor for almost 14 years which has enabled us to deliver some of the highest quality care in the UK, alongside what is arguably the largest long-term newbuild development programme in the sector.

Care UK is now well positioned to continue delivering the very best care for residents and to drive our ambitious plans for future growth. The Care UK leadership team remains committed to delivering the highest quality of care and we are looking forward to this next step in the evolution of Care UK.”

Ita, 81, Celebrates 50 Years of Looking After Residents at Care South A carer has dedicated 50 years to providing compassionate care and support to care home residents.

Ita Graven, Care Team Leader at Elizabeth House care home, on Dolbery Road, has celebrated half a century of working for Care South, a not-for-profit charity, which is a leading provider of care homes and care at home services across the south of England.

Ita started her care career in July 1974 and has worked at a number of Care South’s homes in Dorset over the years.

However, she has spent the past 10 years working at Elizabeth House, where she provides relief shifts.

Elizabeth House residents and the team hosted a party to celebrate Ita’s 50th work anniversary with a party complete with balloon, decorations, music and party food. She was also presented with a ‘50’ signed which had messages written on it from the residents and care home team.

Ita celebrated her 80th birthday last year, but says that she

currently has no plans to retire as she thinks she might get ‘bored.’

Ita added: “I love it. No two days are the same. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Each resident is unique. They come to us so that we can look after them and I enjoy ensuring that they receive the best care for their personal needs.

“It’s good for the mind.

Elizabeth House is a very nice home to work in.”

Elouise Powell, Home Manager at Elizabeth House, said: “We were so pleased to be able to celebrate and give our thanks for the dedicated care that Ita has provided over the past 50 years to Care South residents.

She is a cheery face and a welcome, calming presence to the residents whether they’re having a good or bad day. She remembers all the little details about the residents and goes the extra mile to support them to live happy, fulfilling lives at the home.”

Prevent everyday wear and tear with Yeoman Shield’s extensive range of easy-clean, wall and door protection.

Our attractive, maintenance free, hygienic products protect healthcare environments from costly impact damage, making repainting and repair a thing of the past.

Blending with decors, and available in primary dementia-friendly colours, our designs can include signage, to promote the well-being of patients and aid wayfinding.

But we don’t stop at walls. Our Fire Door Services are specially designed to offer an extra layer of safety in care settings. From regular inspections and repairs to complete replacements, Yeoman Shield’s fire door services help you meet all relevant safety regulations, giving you peace of mind.

PAGE 10 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Glasgow Care Home’s Assistant Psychologists Believe Young People Working In Social Care Are ‘Essential’ To Meet Needs Of Ageing Population Professor Graham Stokes, Director of Dementia Care at HC-One, commented: Two Assistant Psychologists (APs) at HC-One Scotland’s Darnley Court care “Assistant Psychologists enable us to bring to life our commitment to underhome, in Glasgow, believe that young people working in care is “essential” for standing why people we care for in our SDCCs are distressed, present with supporting the complex needs of an ageing population. behaviours that carers find challenging and concerning, or present as disenFollowing the launch of the care home’s ‘Carmichael’ Specialist Dementia Care gaged and apathetic.

Community (SDCC) earlier this year, colleagues at the home have implemented a “Attracting these young graduates to HC-One not only means we’re tapping more therapeutic approach to dementia care, placing young Assistant into new ways of psychological thinking but we’re also gaining a fresh set of Psychologists like Maria and Abigail at the heart of the solution. eyes that can question accepted practice and bring new insights.”

As psychology graduates who aspire to become Clinical Psychologists, Maria For young people like Abigail and Maria, both 23-years-old, entering these and Abigail require experience before they apply for training courses to get their roles early in their careers to support an SDCC model will help them develop appropriate qualifications. within a framework that enables them to learn how to engage compassionately Working with residents directly in an innovative SDCC environment has not with residents and build confidence in handling complex behaviours. only provided them with an excellent opportunity to learn and develop within a In Scotland alone, It is estimated that between 2019 – 2040 there will be a 104 care home environment, but their contributions and efforts have been to the per cent increase in the number of people living with severe dementia meaning benefit of many residents. that care homes will need to introduce new ways of supporting those experiMARIA MCGINLAY, ASSISTANT PSYCHOLOGIST AT DARNLEY COURT CARE encing symptoms of dementia. The SDCC model is just one of the pioneering HOME, SAID: ways in which dementia care can be advanced for its residents. By using a per“Young people in care are essential as they’re the future. With an ageing popson-centred approach, every care plan or document associated with resident is ulation and even more people in care homes affected by dementia over the next made with their desires and best interests at the forefront. ten years, we need even more young people to get involved in the sector.

This approach values the person with dementia while striving to maintain and “I have personal experience with dementia in my own family and I think this Maria McGinlay (left and Abigail Graham (right) support the abilities that they possess while helping the resident in situations not only helps drive me to do everything I can for the care of every resident, but where things are becoming trickier. When faced with more difficult situations, an it also means that I can use what I learn at work when I’m supporting members AP’s job is to look deeper into the behaviour and not just see the situation as it was, but to look further of my own family. something that comes naturally to the young and curious minds of HC-One’s Assistant Psychologists.

“At HC-One, everything that I’ve said has been taken on board and I feel valued, and we feel as though ABIGAIL GRAHAM, ASSISTANT PSYCHOLOGIST AT DARNLEY COURT CARE HOME, STATED: our work is having a real impact on the lives of the residents.

“We differ a lot compared to other services because at HC-One we have more responsibility and opportuWorking closely with Darnley Court’s Dementia Specialist Lead, Rosamma Matthew, the young APs have nity to see residents before they come in and have a say in if they should be admitted into our homes. been integrated as part of the core care team, observing behaviour and recording distress to discover what “We use our pre-assessment tool which we’ve been using a lot recently as we welcomed our first resimight trigger or cause each person to feel upset or angry. Subsequently, the APs use this information for dedent at the start of September. We do data analysis and interpretation, which we will do more and more of escalation intervention to prevent this from occurring. as we get to really know the residents in the home.

People living with dementia may become frustrated by not being able to verbally communicate well, “As young people, we can add a new perspective on how to understand people and that helps everyone being frightened by misinterpreting a situation and upset by their loss of independence. This can then make in the care home especially residents.” them become physically or verbally defensive, or sometimes withdrawn.

The relationships that the young care workers form within the home are particularly pertinent. Maria is Through their observations, the young APs can enhance the way the home supports people who display distressed behaviour. As core members of the care team, they help design bespoke wellbeing interventions, often called a "pal”, demonstrating the bond that can be struck within the community.

At HC-One, the young APs have been provided an opportunity to gain valuable work experience in social as well as engaging them in everyday opportunities such as reminiscing, giving them a relaxing hand mascare, as well as by working with people with chronic and enduring dementia care needs. sage, playing familiar songs or going for a walk in the garden to help or stop someone from becoming While the experience is particularly valuable to the young APs, their ability to offer a new perspective and stressed or distressed.

This is completely unique to the SDCC model, and it means that every resident’s care plan is personalised inject fresh ideas into the care home has helped Darnley Court and others to offer even more exceptional and kinder care to all residents. and clinically evidence-based.

Residents Shine at Frank Foster House’s Sustainable Fashion Show In a celebration of creativity, sustainability, and community spirit, Frank Foster

ing the importance of sustainability and community support in fashion. “The home

House, part of the Runwood Homes group, hosted an inaugural Sustainable

truly enjoyed their first fashion show,” said Nicolas, the home manager at Frank

Fashion Show on the 11th of October, bringing together residents and staff for a

Foster House.

remarkable display of ingenuity and purpose.

The event featured a stunning dress crafted entirely from recycled newspaper,

Resident Maddie, who participated in creating the newspaper dress, shared her enthusiasm: “I love fashion, and it is great we participated in a sustainable fashion

designed by the talented residents. Additionally, many outfits showcased during

show. It took us a week to make the dress with newspaper, and we are very proud

the show were created from clothing donated by local charities, further emphasis-

of it.”

Social Care TV

Social Care TV continue to fly the flag for highest quality online training for Health and Social Care, after unwavering commitment to excellence within the sector for over 25 years.

Their widely-used health and social care specific courses - produced and edited in-house - are expertly designed to make learning engaging, informative and, therefore, highly effective for learners.

Accredited by CPD and endorsed by Skills for Care, training with Social Care TV is quality assured, comprehensive and relevant.

As one of the leading online training providers in the health and social care sector in the UK, they supply training for local authorities, recruitment agencies, care home groups and other health and social care organisations.

Their feature-rich Manager platform has further been enhanced this year with the introduction of several new Manager tools designed to aid with compliance, reporting and trainee management. Features now available include: • Compliance Dashboard with Traffic Light System • Downloadable Trainee Matrix • Custom Bundles • Trainee Groups • Bulk Uploads • Bulk Enrolment Onto Custom Bundles • Course Enrolment Notifications • Course Reminders SCTV regularly release new and updated high-quality courses. Previews for all courses can be viewed at:

Courses - Social Care TV (www.social-care.tv/courses/course-details) To enhance their learners' experience further they have created free, comprehensive subject-specific workbooks which were rolled out across all courses this year. This unique addition provides excellent value and a fully robust training package.

SCTV are delighted to have won several awards over the last 12 months including: • Best Online Health and Social Care Learning Platform’ – Global Health & Pharma Social Care Awards 2024 • ‘CPD Provider of the Year’ – The CPD Awards • Social Care Training Provider of the Year’ - Corporate Livewire Innovation & Excellence Awards Gold standard customer service remains a core staple of the business, with expert support and guidance provided via telephone, email and live chat. They place great importance on the training and development of their customer services team to ensure that they continue to provide a personal, friendly and knowledgeable service.

Their much-loved ‘Care Worker of the Month’ award recognises and rewards the selfless dedication shown by care workers across the UK and they proudly support the Care Workers Charity who aim to advance the financial, professional and mental wellbeing of social care workers.

SCTV believe that high quality training should be accessible to all and offer regular, free courses which include a digital certificate accessible via their website.

The company stands behind a clear mission and set of values which define their ethos and their dedication to both the Care Sector and those within it. These can be viewed at: Mission Statement and Core Values - Social Care TV (www.social-care.tv/about/mission-statement-and-core-values) Social Care TV are a responsible business, committed to ensuring that their actions have a positive impact on their employees, customers, the wider health and social care community and the environment.

Above all, SCTV consistently strive to make a meaningful contribution to the wellbeing of those being cared for.

For more information please see: Homepage - Social Care TV (www.social-care.tv) and see advert on the facing page.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 11

81-Year-Old Pilot Living With Dementia Soars The Skies Again After A Little Help From His Friends! pilot friend and Joseph was asked if he would like to co-pilot a local flight over Yorkshire.

Joseph was ecstatic and immediately said yes!

The home helped organise the trip out and a couple of days later Joseph was soaring the skies over York Minster and other iconic Yorkshire landmarks.

Joseph said: “I can’t believe I got the chance to An aviation enthusiast and care home resident, who once built his own plane, made an exhilarating comeback to the skies with the support of his friends and care team!

Joseph Lloyd, 81, has lived at Castleford Lodge Nursing Home in Wakefield for 15 months. The

fly again. The conditions were absolutely perfect and it felt incredible to be up in the air again!”

Rebecca Fairfax, Deputy Manager at Castleford Lodge, talked about how Joseph’s lifelong passion for aviation plays a huge part in his person-centred care plan.

home is part of the Orchard Care Homes group,

She said: “We are already planning another

which runs 23 homes in the North of England and

flight soon! Seeing Joseph doing what he loves

the Midlands.

Joseph’s history around aircraft and flying goes

the most was wonderful. When he first joined ing about his interest in engineering. It not only

was a boy, he used to sneak away from his house

helped us get to him more but it also helped him

to visit an airfield near his home in Lancashire with

settle in to his newer surroundings.”

When Joseph got older, his cousin joined the

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breaking out. ‘I went to college to continue my

hear incredible stories about his plane.

studies in engineering, whilst saving up to take fly-

Reminiscing about his aircraft always puts a huge

ing lessons.’

smile on his face – and ours too!”

He was 18 when he finally learnt how to fly. He saved up all his money and went to Florida to take lessons. Incredibly, It took him just four weeks to become licensed to fly during the day.

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PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Alzheimer’s Drug Donanemab Does Not Currently Demonstrate Value For The NHS says NICE The costs of providing donanemab, including regular infusions and

which revealed that donanemab could slow down cognitive decline by

intensive monitoring for serious side effects, balanced against the rela-

4-7 months, but this is just not they say enough benefit to justify the

tively small benefit it provides to patients, means it cannot currently be

additional cost to the NHS.”

considered good value for the taxpayer says the National Institute for

“The cost-effectiveness estimate for donanemab is 5 to 6 times above

Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

what NICE normally considers an acceptable use of NHS resources.”

The clinical trial evidence suggests that the monthly injection can slow

“I know this will be disappointing news, but this is an emerging field of

Alzheimer’s disease progression by 4 to 7 months, NICE’s independent

medicine and there are other treatments being developed.”

committee heard.

Professor Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at

However, there are significant uncertainties about how much benefit

Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Disease-modifying therapies like donanemab

donanemab provides, and how long this lasts for after stopping treat-

and lecanemab offer a new horizon of hope in the fight against demen-

ment. Further work is also needed to understand the costs of giving the

tia. MHRA’s approval of donanemab marks another milestone in this jour-

medicine in the NHS. The committee also heard that clinical trial evidence suggests there are significant health risks associated with the treatment. A third of donanemab recipients experienced amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) caused by brain swelling and bleeding.

The committee recognised the importance of new treatment options and has asked the company and NHS England to provide additional information to address areas of uncertainty in the evidence.

ney, but it comes alongside a draft NICE decision not to recommend donanemab for use on the NHS. While this is disheartening, we respect the decision of the regulator.”

“In other diseases like cancer, treatments have become more effective, safer and cheaper over time and we hope to see similar progress in dementia.”

“With around 20 Alzheimer’s disease drugs in late-stage clinical trials, more drugs will be submitted for approval within the next few years.”

Donanemab (also called Kisunla and made by Eli Lilly) has been licensed today by the MHRA for treat-

“New treatments are an important catalyst for change, but they are only one piece of the puzzle. While

ment of mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease in some adults. It is a type

preparing for the future, we must not lose sight of the million people living with dementia in the UK today –

of drug called a monoclonal antibody, which is given by infusion (through a drip in the arm).

a third of whom don’t have a diagnosis.”

Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE said: “For NICE to be able to approve a medicine

“We need to see significant government investment to bring about radical change so that everyone with

for use in the NHS it must provide additional benefits to patients, and it must also represent a good use of

dementia in the UK can get an early and accurate diagnosis. Without this, people won’t be able to access

NHS resources and taxpayers’ money.”

existing treatments and interventions to help manage their symptoms today or be ready for the disease

“NICE independent committee looked at all the available evidence, including the benefits for carers,

slowing treatments of tomorrow.”

Grays Fire Station and Museum Open Day: A Heartwarming Experience for Dementia Residents A special Open Day was hosted at the Grays Fire Station and Museum, designed to provide an enjoyable and engaging experience for residents of local care homes, particularly those living with dementia. The event, which took place on a sunny August morning, brought together residents from Crowstone House and Elizabeth House care home, part of the Runwood Homes group, for a memorable outing.

Residents were picked up by Gus, the friendly minibus driver, setting the tone for a delightful day ahead. Among those attending was John, a resident of Crowstone House with a remarkable history in the fire service. John served for 30 years in the London Fire Brigade and is the proud recipient of the British Empire Medal, awarded in 1980 for his outstanding contributions to sports within the brigade.

John's story is one of dedication and courage. He helped run an athletic club on Wimbledon Common, winning numerous medals in long-distance running and even representing the brigade in international competitions. Recalling his experiences, John stated, “We raised a lot of money for charity,” reflecting on his participation in races along Southend seafront and in France, where he secured a commendable third place. “I wasn’t first that day, but coming third isn’t too bad, is it?” he added with a smile.

During his time in the London Fire Brigade, John also received a medal for long service and bravery—an aspect of his career he humbly refrained from discussing. Recognising the significance of this outing, the staff at Crowstone House decided to take John along with fellow resident Alan to the Open Day. At the fire station, John quickly became the centre of attention. Fire station staff were eager to take photos with him, captivated by his stories from a life well lived, including his adventures in the Merchant Navy, service in the Military Police in Ireland, and, of course, his illustrious career as a firefighter. A newspaper clipping featuring John in the driver’s seat of a fire engine inspired a memorable moment: staff helped him into the front seat of a modern fire engine, where he remarked, “It’s like I’m back in the job.”

The visit left John with a heart full of joy. Upon returning to Crowstone House, he spent the next two days sharing his experiences with fellow residents, expressing how the outing had “brought back lots of lovely memories of my time as a Fireman.”

Julie Barnard, Lifestyle Coordinator at Crowstone House, shared her thoughts on the day: “It was a wonderful opportunity for our residents to engage with their pasts and create new memories. John and Alan had a fantastic time, and it was heartwarming to see the joy on their faces.”

Local Care Home First in Newcastle to Receive National Gold Standard for End-of-Life Care St Catherine’s Nursing Home, operated by regional charity St Cuthbert’s Care, has become the first care home in Newcastle upon Tyne to earn the prestigious Gold

ject. This, in turn, helps residents and their families feel calmer and more comfortable in expressing their wishes as death approaches.”

Standard Framework (GSF) Hallmark Quality Award. This national accolade, often

Gill Ennis, St Catherine’s Registered Manager, who led the team through this

regarded as the “Kitemark” for quality care, recognises the home’s outstanding

success, commented: “End-of-life care is something I’m deeply passionate about.

commitment to delivering exceptional end-of-life care, ensuring residents not only

This award is just recognition for the hard work and commitment our entire team

live well but are supported with dignity in their final days.

has towards our residents and their families.”

Achieving GSF accreditation involved a thorough inspection process, where St

Nic Gilbert, Chief Executive of St Cuthbert’s Care, applauded the result:

Catherine’s excelled, scoring an impressive 71 out of 75 points. This reflects the

“Achieving 71 out of 75 points on our first assessment is fantastic and shows the

dedication and skill of the staff team, whose efforts have fully integrated ‘gold

calibre of care we provide.”

standard’ end-of-life care into daily practice.

Dr Kathryn Mannix, renowned palliative care expert, author and trustee of St

Clinical Lead Sheryl Joseph and Senior Carer Natalie Hailes represented the home at the award ceremony in London. “It was a huge honour to attend,” Natalie

Cuthbert’s Care, praised the home’s achievement: “This is an incredible accolade

said. “We’ve always known about the high quality of care we deliver and it’s won-

for St Catherine’s nursing home and I’m proud to see our charity receive external

derful to have it recognised nationally.”

validation for delivering such holistic, well-led care. I know from experience that

St Catherine’s achievement sets a new standard for care in Newcastle, reflecting

talking about death and dying can be very difficult indeed, so it’s wonderful to see

local excellence and dedication to supporting residents at every stage of their

in the report that GSF has helped staff feel more at ease in approaching the sub-

lives.

PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Scientists Develop Pioneering Diagnostic ‘Laser Test’ For Dementia Researchers are leading a pioneering study to investigate a new laser-based test that could detect different

molecules present in the sample.

Different molecules vibrate in different ways and this profile represents the sample’s biomolecular com-

types of dementia early in the disease.

position giving a ‘biochemical fingerprint’ of the person’s health and disease status.

If successful, the test will help doctors rapidly identify which patients may be eligible for new drug treatments at a point when they are most likely to be effective.

The revolutionary test can provide results in seconds and would be much cheaper than other diagnostic tests currently available. It could also be made available directly in a clinic setting.

Initial results suggest the test can accurately detect dementia with an average accuracy of over 93%

The project is a collaboration between University

when diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.

Hospital Southampton (UHS) and the University of

Prof Kipps, consultant neurologist at University Hospital Southampton, said: “The slow progression of

Southampton, funded by UK Research and Innovation

dementia, with a long pre-symptomatic phase, presents a formidable challenge in early diagnosis.

(UKRI).

“This laser-based technique could change the way we approach dementia diagnosis and may significant-

The test works by profiling a ‘biochemical fingerprint’ which experts believe can give an accurate diagnosis and help distinguish between different types of dementia.

ly improve affordability and efficiency of current biomarker analysis. It represents a breakthrough in medical technology.

“This innovation is not just a leap in healthcare quality; it’s a paradigm shift, redefining our approach to

The development has been hailed as a “breakthrough in medical technology” by the study team, with initial results suggesting accuracy of up to 93%.

neurodegenerative disease in the clinic.”

The biochemical fingerprints generated by MX-Raman will be tested in groups of patients with different types of dementia to assess how this will benefit patients from new and emerging therapies that only work

There are over 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK with the figure is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

for certain types of dementia – such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Prof Mahajan, professor of molecular biophotonics and imaging at the

There are many different types of the condition, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia,

University of Southampton, said: “Our integrated approach has the potential to

which is progressive and get worse over time.

revolutionise dementia diagnostics. There is an urgent unmet clinical need for

Main symptoms include memory loss, difficulty in concentration, confusion, mood changes and language and problem-solving skills.

more discriminatory, efficient and cost-effective solutions.

“Our holistic MX-Raman technique is uniquely equipped to address these chal-

Diagnosing dementia early is difficult and often takes over two years using current diagnostic methods, with many people not receiving a diagnosis until a much later stage in the disease when treatment options are less effective.

lenges and we want to see this technology lead to vastly improved patient outcomes.”

Researchers are also aiming to create a portable prototype device to test dif-

One of the main challenges is that the disease has already progressed by the time symptoms start to

ferent bodily fluids and demonstrate its ability to identify specific dementia types.

appear and distinguishing between closely related dementia types can be challenging.

Paul Grundy, chief medical officer at University Hospital Southampton, said:

The new technology, known as Multi-excitation Raman spectroscopy (MX-Raman), uses lasers to analyse the composition of a single drop of a bodily fluid – this can be blood, spinal fluid or mucus.

“Research and innovation will be key to us addressing the most important health and care issues facing society.

The lasers create tiny vibrations within the molecules that can be probed and provide a unique signal

“We are proud to have partnered with the University of Southampton for over 50 years, and this latest

profile – called a spectrum – allowing scientists to examine the proteins, lipids, metabolites and other bio-

project is another example of when our experts come together from different disciplines.”

Theatre Show Promotes Hydration At Teesside Care Homes The Magic of theatre came to the bedsides of Teesside care home residents for an immersive multi-sensory performance designed to entertain as well as hydrate.

Elderly residents at two Hill Care Group homes in Middlesbrough and Saltburn were treated to a show called “Milk, Two Sugars” by the Woven Nest Theatre Company.

The sensory-focussed experienced is designed specifically for older people with dementia living in care homes, combining storytelling and performance with live music and puppetry to promote and aid hydration.

The show is based on a touring tea-trolley, which is operated by Clementine and Johnny, who invite the audience to join in on their tea-party cabaret.

This involved a puppet called Pip, who performed a tight rope walk, a set of musical teaspoons, and the serving of strawberry infused tea to the audience, as well as other theatrical and sensory surprises.

The visits were organised by Sharon Lewis and Samantha McCormick, activities coordinators at Hazelgrove Court Care Home and The Gables Care Home, respectively.

Sharon said: “This was such a wonderful experience for our residents. They all loved the show and the delightful strawberry tea was an added bonus and placed perfectly in the show.

“The bedside shows were so personal and made the residents so happy. We can’t thank the Woven Nest Theatre Company enough for visiting.”

Deputy Manager At Norwich Home Celebrates 20-Year Service A deputy manager at a Norwich home marked 20 years’ service with an intimate party.

Sharon Wright works at MHA Cromwell House and started her career at the home as a carer in 2004.

She moved into a senior carer role nine months later before being promoted to assistant manager which she did for nine years, acting home manager as maternity cover and then becoming deputy home manager, a role she has been in for the last 10 years.

The home arranged for a special party to mark Sharon's achievement, with a special sweet themed cake in reference to her sweet tooth.

Colleagues who worked with Sharon in the past also came in, which was a nice surprise for her.

MHA Cromwell House offers residential and respite care for 38 residents.

Speaking after the party Sharon said: “A lot has changed in the last 20 years, but I am very happy with how the time has gone.

“Working at MHA Cromwell House is great, it's a real homely environment and I have developed some great friendships as a result of working here.

“My managers have been great, their support has helped immensely in my development.

“On my 20 years of service, I was expecting just a little announcement and a presentation, but when I saw what was arranged, I felt very proud.

“It was nice to see former colleagues and I was very happy with the cake that was prepared for me.

“I really enjoy coming into work, working in care you do have to enjoy what you do and you have to be a caring person.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 15

12 Million Adults Delaying Social Care Plans Until Government Clarifies Policy, Report Reveals Millions are delaying making care plans and are confused by govern-

care charging reforms that were due to be introduced in England next

ment policy towards later life care, reveals research among over-45s for

year. The changes would have introduced more generous means-test lim-

the 2024 edition of the Just Group Care Report, titled Groundhog Day,

its and an £86,000 cap on the amount anyone would have to spend on

which is published today.

their personal care over their lifetime.

The in-depth report is the latest edition of the longest-running research

Stephen Lowe, group communications director at the retirement spe-

series of its kind, having surveyed around 27,000 adults since 2012 to

cialist Just Group, said that the new report’s findings underscore the need

understand how they think and feel about the care system.

for the government to tackle the crisis.

In its 12th edition, the report has been titled Groundhog Day in refer-

“The latest cancellation of planned reforms chalks up yet another false

ence to the cute rodent called Punxsutawney Phil who it seems has better

start on care funding, which can be added to the long list of delays and

odds of predicting the weather in Pennsylvania than any government

postponements that have created significant uncertainty around social

tackling the care funding crisis, now that plans for reforms have – once

care.

again – been scrapped.

This year’s survey of 2,500 adults aged 45 and older reveals that almost half (47%) of adults – equal to

“It is unsurprising that our research continually finds high levels of confusion among adults. The fact that millions of people continue to put off making plans for later life care until

approximately 12 million people2 in England – said they would delay making financial plans for residential

they have clarity on government policy is a hugely concerning trend. It risks people being forced into deci-

later life care until the government brings forward new plans for funding long-term care.

sions at the point of crisis without the necessary financial or practical preparations around how and where

More than half (53%) of respondents, roughly 13 million adults, said that they felt ‘confused’ by recent government announcements on the funding of residential care.

In July, new Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves scrapped Conservative plans for social

they would like later-life care.”

“We urge the government to bring forward a new, funded plan as a matter of priority. One that can create long-term certainty to help people begin putting plans in place and rebuild confidence in the sector.”

105th Birthday Celebrations For Local Care Home Veteran Celebrations have been in full swing at Hilton Park Care Home, as one of its veteran residents reaches her 105th Birthday in style.

Dorothy Smith was joined by staff, relatives, friends and other residents as she received her, now yearly birthday card from the King in recognition of her latest landmark birthday. A party for Dorothy was held at the Bottisham Airfield Museum and guests enjoyed a special birthday cake made by the home’s chef, Anthony Hopkins.

Born on 21st October 1919, Dorothy has had an amazing life including being a code-breaker in World War 2, decoding German messages and sending them to Bletchley Park.

Dorothy came to Hilton Park Care Home in 2018 where she is now enjoying a new chapter of her life.

The birthday girl, said: I feel truly humbled to have such a lovely day.

The secret to living to 105 years old is lots of love and laughter. A glass of sherry and dark chocolate also help’ Among those relatives attending was Dorothy’s Son, Jeff Smith, who played host for the afternoon to lots of guests.

Speaking about his mother Jeff said said: “My mother is and has been a fantastic Mother, Grandmother, Wife and friend to so many over the past one-hundred and five years, and it’s wonderful to be with her on this very special day to say just how proud she makes us feel.”

Geanina Tinca, General Manager of Hilton Park Care Home added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable woman as she reaches this amazing milestone. Dorothy is such a popular resident who always has an interesting tale to tell, and we look forward to hearing many more as she continues her journey through her second century.”

PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Ministerial Visit To NCF Members Dimensions And Optalis Care Minister, Stephen Kinnock MP paid a ministerial visit to NCF

communities and how vital it was to hear from those receiving care and

Members Dimensions and Optalis at the Wokingham borough. On his visit,

support, their families and the care workforce in the formulation of future

the Minister took time to meet with people who draw on care and support

government priorities around health and care.

and their families to hear first-hand about their experiences. He spoke to

Vic Rayner, National Care Forum CEO, said: “The Minister showed a

people about what matters to them and how good support enables them

strong interest in the work of NCF members Dimensions and Optalis. It

to lead the lives they want to live.

was clear he was impressed by the dedication and commitment of staff

he visit was organised by the National Care Forum (NCF) and started at

he talked with. I was particularly pleased he was invited by Ross into his

Ross’ home. Ross talked about how important his family is to him and

home, where he could properly understand the difference that person-

their involvement in his care and support. His support worker Diane

centred support made to his life each and every day. In addition, to spend

Clementson, who has worked for Dimensions for more than 20 years,

time at Loddon Court where he could immediately understand the vital

shared her love for her job. Diane went on to talk about the cost-of-living

role that respite plays in the lives of unpaid carers and people drawing on

challenges faced by many of her colleagues; most of whom cannot

care and support”.

afford to live in the area. Ross and Diane also highlighted how essential it is to provide the right level of support, in the right place, to ensure people get the best outcomes.

Matt Pope, Executive Director for Children, Adults and Health at Wokingham Borough Council and Director of Optalis, said: “Wokingham and Optalis were delighted to be part of this visit by the care minister

Next, the Minister travelled on to Loddon Court, a short breaks service run by Optalis. During a tour, he

and to have the opportunity to talk to him about the issues that Adult Social Care is facing. As the body

was joined by people who access Loddon Court and their family members, to find out what the service

responsible for commissioning services that the minister visited today, we would like to thank all of the peo-

offers. Families talked about how short breaks provide an important lifeline, which supports the well-being

ple with lived experience, their families and the staff for making this such a successful and useful visit.”

of the whole family unit and enables them to continue in their caring role.

After his visit, Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, said:

The Minister then met with representatives from the NCF, Wokingham Borough Council Adult Services,

“It was a privilege to see first-hand the services offered by Optalis and Dimensions. I know what an impor-

Optalis and Dimensions, to gain a further insight into the social care landscape. The discussion centred on

tant role social care plays in communities across the country, and this visit was a fantastic demonstration of

the strategic and economic value of social care, and its role within communities. The Minister acknowl-

the difference that care and respite makes to people’s lives.”

edged how important the social care workforce is and encouraged involvement in the development of the

“There is much work to be done. We are committed to tackling the challenges facing social care, and we

Fair Pay Agreement. There was also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of social care in healthy

will work closely with the sector and across government and cross-party on our plans for effective reform.”

From Djembes To Bollywood, Care Home Celebrates Team’s Cultural Diversity Residents at a Hampshire dementia care home have enjoyed learning a little

cheer.”

For part of each day, residents and staff

more about their carers’ backgrounds on

got together and looked at different

two days devoted to celebrating cultural

national flags and discussed the locations

diversity.

of countries across the African and Asian

More than a dozen team members at Colten Care’s St Catherines View in

continents.

The opportunity to join in and dance to

Winchester donned traditional national

traditional Indian music particularly ener-

dress from their Asian and African home-

gised resident Nalini Bhagwat.

lands to light up the festive parties.

Colleagues representing countries such as South Africa, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines led the way with music, dancing, national costumes and traditional foods.

Although born in Kenya, Nalini spent much of her childhood in the state of Maharashtra in western India.

She learned classical Indian dancing as a young girl and was good enough to be invited to perform in front of native Marathi aristocracy.

As well as learning basic greetings in Swahili, Tamil, Nepali and other languages, residents and relatives went hands-on and played African djembe drums and tried out Bollywood-style dance moves.

Companionship Team Leader Laura Sheldrake said: “On both days, the colour, the costumes, the music and the array of culinary delights on show were all amazing.”

St Catherines View Home Manager Vanda Baker said: “As our team is so multicultural, we thought it would be a great idea to get together with residents and share a flavour of everyone’s backgrounds.”

“Having a team drawn from so many places enables us to share experiences, skills and knowledge that help support each other and enrich our workplace. That in turn strengthens our care of residents and their

“Our residents absolutely loved these experiences. Both days just had so much laughter and good

families.”

EARZZ and CAREVision Join Forces to Enhance Proactive Care Management and Fall Prevention EARZZ, a leading provider of AI-powered fall prevention technology, and CAREVision, a leader in care planning and record-keeping software, have announced a strategic partnership to help prevent falls and enable proactive care management.

This collaboration aims to seamlessly integrate EARZZ’s AI-powered acoustic monitoring technology that allows care teams to remotely monitor the well-being of residents with CAREVision’s comprehensive care home management solution, offering a unified approach to improved resident safety, operational efficiency, and enhanced care quality for mutual customers of CAREVision and EARZZ. Enabling Fall Prevention and proactive care management: EARZZ’s AIpowered early alerts enable carers to respond swiftly when movement noise is recognised in the resident’s room, helping prevent falls and reduce the risk of serious injuries. EARZZ also specifically identifies and alerts carers to other health-related sounds in residents’ rooms - like screaming, and coughing amongst others. EARZZ keeps digital records of events relating to sounds of concern in residents’ rooms, helping provide carers and managers with automated health and well-being trends

enabling data insights for pain management, infections and fall prevention. The integration between CAREVision and EARZZ now aims to make this information available within CAREVision’s electronic care management system, which serves as a repository of all recorded data and care planning about a resident, from the preadmission stage through to end of care or discharge. The integration can therefore help provide more context to carers about the health and wellbeing of residents, enabling proactive care management.

Improved Care Coordination: Integrating EARZZ and CAREVision streamlines workflows within care homes. More specifically, the integration enables: - Digital room check evidencing: Offering an integrated approach to ensuring the carer’s physical presence in the room to register room checks - Easier staff handover - by enabling direct access to attendance times along with access to digital records of the sounds of concern recognised in resident rooms. In addition, any notes from carers taken in the EARZZ app will also be catalogued automatically within CAREVision enabling

unified care record access.

- Centralised Information: Care planning becomes significantly easier when all relevant data is integrated into a single platform. The integration enables a unified approach not only saving time for carers, but also ensuring that carers have the information they need at their fingertips within the CAREVision ecosystem.

Non-Intrusive Monitoring Technology: One of the significant advantages of EARZZ’s technology is its non-intrusive nature. Unlike cameras or audio relay-based alerting solutions, EARZZ uses AI-powered sound recognition technology, which preserves residents’ privacy. The solution does not record conversations or personal interactions, ensuring dignity and privacy are maintained.

“This partnership goes beyond fall prevention,” says Prad Thiruvenkatanathan, CEO & Founder of EARZZ. “By offering a holistic detection and alerting solution, we empower carers to deliver exceptional, person-centred care.”

Rishi Jawaheer, Director of CAREVision, adds, “This integration empowers care homes to be more proactive in preventing falls and delivering the highest quality of care.”

Earzz will be exhibiting at Care Show Birmingham at Stand F13, come speak to us to learn more about how we can help you enhance the quality of care.

Contact us: Earzz Limited info@earzz.co.uk +44(0)2038380090

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

‘No More Cuts To Social Care,’ Plea CAMPAIGERS have sent an impassioned plea to the Chancellor not to

with the Government’s desire to have more people looked after in their

impose any further financial hardship on the care of older, vulnerable and

own homes. An increase in National Insurance would be particularly harsh

disabled adults.The care provider body, The Independent Care Group

on domiciliary care, which is very staff intensive.”

(ICG), has sent an open letter to Rachel Reeves urging her to support

And he adds: “We cannot start to ease hospital waiting lists and empty

rather than harm social care when she presents her Autumn Statement.

hospital beds if there is no social care to look after people in the commu-

Their plea comes amidst fears that the Government will not boost

nity. We have to tackle the 2m people who currently cannot get care and

funding to local authorities for care but will increase employer National

the 131,000 vacancies in the sector, not to mention the lengthening list of

Insurance contributions, both of which would hit social care hard.

care home closures.”

“It isn’t too late,” said ICG Chair Mike Padgham. “The Chancellor must

Mr Padgham says there are sound economic as well as social and

pull away from measures that will harm the care of the most vulnerable

moral arguments for supporting social care.

and support the social care sector instead.

He adds in the letter: “The latest Skills for Care report revealed that

“The number of people living without the care they need has topped

social care now contributes £68.1bn to the England economy and

2m for the first time but if the Chancellor doesn’t support us at the end of the month, things will get even

employs 1.7m. That is a significant contribution, but it could contribute and employ considerably more if

worse.”

resources were switched from the NHS to support the sector. Skills for Care says an extra £6.1bn invested in

In his letter to the Chancellor, Mr Padgham says the Government needs to increase rather than decrease

social care would provide economic benefits of £10.7bn – for every £1 invested, a return of £1.75. Moving

the funding it gives to commissioners like local authorities to buy care from providers. And he warns that an

money from the NHS into social care would significantly save money for the NHS by keeping people out of

increase in National Insurance would hit social care providers and be at odds with the Government’s desire

costly hospital beds.

to see more people looked after in their own home. He also argues that the Government must support social care if it is to succeed in its proposals to reform and improve the NHS. In the letter he says: “In particular, an increase in National Insurance payments for employers would hit

“We will need an extra 540,000 care staff to cope with rising demand, by 2040. We will not be able to recruit those people and meet that demand if we cannot pay our staff properly. To do that we need social care commissioners to pay providers a fair price for the care they provide. Continuing cuts to local authority

social care providers particularly hard. Two thirds of our costs are on staffing and the sector is already

budgets have prevented them from paying a fair price for care in recent years, reducing the amount of care

under-staffed and struggling to recruit, with 131,000 vacancies in the sector. Adding another cost to employ-

available and creating care deserts – areas where it is virtually impossible to get local authority-funded

ers would bring further pressure and might put some providers out of business. It would also be at odds

care.”

HC-One Care Homes Host ‘Wear It Pink’ Day Events To Raise Funds For Breast Cancer Now Throughout the month of October, HC-

everyone who encouraged to wear pink

One care homes across the UK have taken

accessories and clothing, and to con-

part in a number of events and activities to

tribute by donating £2 to raise vital funds

mark Breast Cancer Awareness month

for the charity, Breast Cancer Now.

including taking part in ‘Wear It Pink Day’

Diane Lesley Bruce, Home Manager at

on Friday, October 18 to raise money for

Springwater Lodge Care Home, comment-

breast cancer charities and raise aware-

ed: “I am extremely proud of the team at

ness of the condition.

the home who got involved with ‘Wear It

HC-One’s Newlands Care Home in

Pink’ Day to raise funds for such an amaz-

Heaton Moor, Stockport in Cheshire, took

ing cause. I am thrilled that colleagues

part in Breast Cancer Now’s ‘Wear It Pink’

and residents had a fun filled day whilst

Day for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Colleagues and residents decorated the home as pink as possible and wore pink clothes and accessories to show their support for breast cancer awareness and research.

also raising awareness and money for Breast Cancer Now.” Hambleton Grange Care Home in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, raised over £400 for the charity, Breast Cancer Now by hosting a ‘Wear It Pink’ community coffee morning in honour of a staff member who is recovering

Newlands held a pink themed afternoon tea with a selection of iced cakes, live entertainment from Just

from a breast cancer diagnosis.

Jay, a raffle, an auction where breast cancer merchandise was sold, and a range of other fundraising activ-

Sunny Potter, Care Assistant at Hambleton Grange, found out she had breast cancer one year ago.

ities to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now. Two guest speakers from Public Health England delivered an

Sunny is now on the road to recovery, and the residents and staff in the care home are looking forward to

educational session about cancer, the early warning signs and symptoms and when to seek medical

welcoming her back to work.

advice.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month and the support shown to Sunny over the past year,

Colleagues and residents also took the opportunity to raise awareness of Breast Cancer to visitors at the home, speaking to resident Alison Graham who lives at Newlands Care Home after recently having a double mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis. In total, Newlands Care Home raised over £400 which was donated to Breast Cancer Now.

Hambleton Grange who run monthly coffee mornings on the second Friday of each month between 10.30am – 12pm, dedicated their October monthly coffee morning to fundraising for Breast Cancer Now. The team, residents and visitors from the local community wore pink clothing and accessories for ‘Wear It Pink Day’ and came together to enjoy delicious refreshments, raising a total of £410.

Melissa Johnson, Home Manager at Newlands Care

Sunny Potter, Care Assistant at Hambleton Grange Care

Home, said: “I am incredibly proud of all our colleagues,

Home, said: “I feel so lucky to have such fantastic support

relatives and residents for their support and for taking part

from my friends and work colleagues at Hambleton

in our ‘Wear It Pink’ Day. Everyone has had a wonderful

Grange, they’ve kept me going. Thank you so much to

day raising awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Now.”

everyone for their generosity, I’m overwhelmed!”

At Springwater Lodge Care Home in Calverton, Nottingham, residents, relatives and colleagues at the

Sandra Anderson, Home Manager at Hambleton Grange Care Home, added: “Sunny is an incredibly inspiring per-

home took part in ‘Wear It Pink’ Day wearing pink to mark

son. She truly cares about everyone at Hambleton Grange,

Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The home hosted the

and we don’t know what we would do without her!

day to help raise funds for life-changing breast cancer

“We’re so pleased to have been able to show our grati-

research and support to donate to the charity, Breast

tude and support for Breast Cancer Now, whose life-

Cancer Now.

changing research and support is invaluable to everyone

Collection boxes were placed around the home and

living with breast cancer.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 19

Care Home’s ‘Tea at 3’ Initiative Tackles Loneliness

In a world where everyone seems constantly busy, a local care home is taking a stand by making time for the most important thing — connection.

Hempstalls Hall Care Home is prioritising taking some time out by launching a new initiative, ‘Tea at 3,’ to encourage meaningful quality time and conversations between staff and residents.

Every Friday at 3pm, all staff at the care home pause their daily tasks to enjoy a hot drink and cake with a resident.

Home Manager of the 40-bed care home, Lisa Bailey, collects a selection of sweet treats from Greggs local bakery and brings them to the care home for everyone to enjoy.

This small yet impactful gesture aims to combat the loneliness often experienced by older adults while strengthening bonds with staff.

Recent studies show that just a short conversation can significantly improve mental well-being, making ‘Tea at 3’ a vital part of the care home’s weekly routine.

Lisa Bailey, who became the Home Manager of Hempstalls Hall Care Home in June, shared, “I’m

always looking for meaningful ways to enrich the lives of our residents and support our staff in their roles.”

“This initiative is a wonderful reminder to our residents that they are always our priority, and we will always make time for them. Seeing the smiles and hearing the conversations between staff and residents fills me with joy and pride.”

Head Chef, Alison Pellington, joined in the event and shared her experience, recalling a memorable conversation with Darrell Hancock, one of the residents at the care home.

She said, "Darrell told me all about their time driving boats, and it was fascinating to hear about their adventures. It’s those stories that make ‘Tea at 3’ so special, it gives us a chance to really listen and appreciate the incredible lives they’ve lived.”

As the initiative continues to gain momentum, Hempstalls Hall Care Home encourages other care homes to adopt similar practices that prioritise engagement and meaningful interactions, reminding us that in a fast-paced world, it’s often the simple acts of kindness that make the biggest difference.

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PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Hill Care Group Aims To Host Biggest Dementia-Friendly Exercise Class HUNDREDS of care home residents at dozens of care homes across the north of England

“I ran the idea passed our central office and they were really excited. We’ve had positive

will take part in the “biggest dementia-friendly digital exercise class ever” for this year’s

feedback from the other homes and we’ve been training and preparing the other activities

Children in Need day.

coordinators on the routine we will all be doing on the day.

Hill Care Group care homes from Derbyshire to Northumberland, North Yorkshire to Cheshire will participate in a mass Love to Move class organised and run by Rachael Addy, activities coordinator at Deangate Care Home, in Barnsley.

“With staff, residents, and their families all invited to take part, we’re hoping it could be one of the biggest dementia-friendly digital exercise classes ever.”

She added: “It is an absolute pleasure and honour to be able to deliver these specialised

Supported by staff at fellow Hill Care homes, Rachael will lead participants via a live

classes. I am over the moon to be able to call myself a Love to Move deliverer. I was nerv-

video feed through a series of chair-based age and dementia-friendly exercises tailored to

ous when I took my assessment, as I know how much it would mean for the residents and

their abilities.

the wider community if I passed.

Rachael recently became a certified deliverer for the British Gymnastics Foundation’s

“I feel so privileged to have been able to participate in the training course and take my

Love to Move programme, having supported the scheme for almost two years, working with

final assessment. This would not have been possible if Hill Care had not believed in the

the Barnsley Primary Care Network to deliver classes at Deangate Care Home and in the

Love to Move programme and put me through my training.”

wider community.

Rachael said: “We love it so much we were also featured in an educational video for

The classes are designed to get those living with dementia feeling fitter, stronger, better coordinated, and improve their memory through the performance of dance routines and coordination exercises.

Barnsley Older People Physical Activity Alliance (BOPPA), which showed the benefits that Love to Move can bring to the elderly.

“Our video for Children in Need gained momentum on social media and I was so proud to

Rachael plans on broadcasting the biggest class she has ever organised on Tuesday, 12th November, so residents, family members, and staff can all participate.

Participants from Hill Care’s 36 care homes will be seeking sponsorship for the event, with all proceeds going to Children in Need.

set up the community Love to Move in conjunction with the Staincross Methodist Church.

Rachael added: “Anyone can get involved. It’s not just for those living with dementia. Some of the staff found out how complex some of the cognition tasks can be and they were so surprised but the more they practised the better they are getting at it, just like our residents.

Rachael said: “I had an idea for Children in Need, where we would get all the other Hill Care homes to participate in a Love to Move class and raise money for the charity.

“It’s suitable for all abilities, so if the individual just wants to listen they can, sing, move, or chat. It’s all about interaction and engagement and, most importantly, having fun.”

Inspirational Care Home Worker Braves The Shave For Local Charity Dogs are man’s best friend and provide great comfort, and residents and staff at RMBI Care Co. Home Scarbrough Court, in Cramlington, Northumberland, know this by experience. Some dogs even have important roles in supporting those in the community who are blind or deaf.

One inspirational care worker, Tracey Nichol, decided to do her part. She has shaved her long hair, raising over £2,500, which she has split between Newcastle Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, and for resident activities at her care home.

“Newcastle Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a special charity to me as they supported my brother who is deaf. When Ernie the dog came along, it really helped my brother with his daily struggles; it changed our lives. Sadly, this year we lost Ernie to cancer after having him for nine years,” says Tracey.

Tracey has also sponsored six hearing dogs from their puppy stages, to when they are ready

to live in their forever homes. She adds: “It takes 18 months to train dogs to become someone’s ears, and change their lives in so many ways.

Sadly not a lot of people are aware of hearing dogs, and how much they do. They are true heroes!”

Tracey, who has worked at Scarbrough Court for four years, also raised funds to support resident activities at her Home. She said: “We are like a huge family, both team members and residents.

We laugh, cry, and support each other through the day. So I wanted to give something back to make a bit of a difference, to see residents smile.”

Everyone at the Home rallied round to support her fundraising efforts with Tracey’s long hair being cut at the Home. She was sponsored by residents, staff, relatives and the Home’s Association of Friends. Scarbrough Court Home Manager, Sam Buxton, says: "Tracey is a very positive person and we are proud to have supported her amazing fundraising effort.”

Triton Showers Presented with King’s Award For Enterprise Triton Showers has been presented with a King’s Award for Enterprise, recognising the brand’s commitment to sustainable development and integrating sustainability into its long-term business strategy and Net Zero goals.

The Nuneaton-based shower manufacturer was presented with the achievement by the Warwickshire Lord Lieutenant, Tim Cox, on Wednesday 4 September, at its Shepperton Business Park head office.

The King’s Award for Enterprise celebrates Triton’s ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact. Triton is one of only 29 select organisations to be recognised nationally for its contribution to sustainable development, having received the news earlier this year.

Lord Lieutenant Tim Cox praised Triton's achievement: “It has been an honour to meet with this year’s winners of the King’s Awards for Enterprise.

These Awards are a great boost to the local economy and show our ability to attract and sustain successful companies which in turn support our local communities. I am delighted to present this award to a company that truly embodies the spirit of the King’s Award for Enterprise.

"As we look towards the next year of The King’s Awards for Enterprise, I encourage as many Warwickshire

businesses as possible to consider applying. These awards are the highest accolade available to UK businesses and offer unparalleled prestige, exposure, and credibility to successful companies.”

David Tutton, Managing Director at Triton Showers, said, “We are incredibly honoured to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise, being one of only 29 select businesses across the UK to be recognised by His Majesty this year in the Sustainable Development category. This prestigious award underscores our commitment to placing sustainability at the heart of our business strategy and our determination to achieve our ambitious ‘Net Zero by 2035’ target.

“At Triton, we’re proud to be the market leader for showers in the UK and Ireland. With that leadership comes the responsibility to actively reduce our impact on the planet, and we are proud to lead the way in creating a more sustainable future.”

For more information about how Triton is moving the dial on sustainability, visit www.tritonshowers.co.uk/sustainability For further details about the application process for the King’s Awards for Enterprise 2025, visit: www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

CQC's Interim Chief Executive Kate Terroni Announced She Will Be Leaving CQC's Interim Chief Executive, Kate Terroni has announced that

"I wish Julian all the best as he takes on this very special job. He is a well-respected and experienced

she will be leaving CQC. James Bullion has been acting in the role

leader within the health and social care sector, and I know that under his leadership and with the support of

of Interim Chief Executive during Kate's recent leave of absence

you all, CQC will make the necessary improvements to get back on track.

and will continue to act in this role until Sir Julian Hartley takes up post as CQC's permanent Chief Executive.

Kate is stepping down from the Interim Chief Executive role with immediate effect. Until her departure from CQC she will be working directly with the Chair, Ian Dilks, to plan for the arrival of Sir Julian.

"I am proud to have been part of CQC and I have every confidence that with the wonderful people in this organisation, we will come back stronger than ever and better able to help ensure that people get good, safe care."

Ian Dilks said: "I want to thank Kate for her enormous contribution to CQC, as Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, as Deputy Chief Executive and most recently as Interim Chief Executive.

"She took up this last role at a particularly challenging time for the organisation. Her openness in

Kate said: "At the beginning of September, I informed the Chair

acknowledging that we needed radical improvement – and the plans she started to put in place to make

of my decision to not apply for the permanent Chief Executive role,

this happen – helped lay foundations for the work we have ahead of us to respond to the Dash review and

as I recognised the need for fresh leadership to take us forward.

Sir Mike Richards' report and to rebuild trust with the public, providers and our staff.

"It has been a huge privilege to act as Interim Chief Executive, but it has also been an intensely challeng-

"While she has stepped down as Interim Chief Executive, I am pleased that she will be working with me to

ing experience, and I needed to take some time away to absorb the impact it has had on me. This led me to

plan for the arrival of Sir Julian Hartley as CQC's permanent Chief Executive. Her knowledge of the organisa-

think about what comes next – my career has been non-stop for the last 22 years, driven by the desire to

tion and commitment to ensuring that we can once again deliver on our core purpose will be invaluable to

make a difference for people who use services, but I now want to take some time to think about what the

this work.

next 22 years could look like.

"I wish Kate every success for her future career and look forward to seeing what she achieves next."

Stone Lodge Therapeutic School Host Delightful Afternoon Tea For Residents The residents and staff at Elm Bank care

especially for the occasion, and all the deli-

home in Kettering were invited for a spectacular

cious sandwiches and freshly baked cakes

afternoon tea hosted by pupils from Stone

created by the pupils.

Lodge Therapeutic School based in Kettering.

The staff and pupils of Stone Lodge

Resident Jill said, “It is lovely, the children worked so hard in cooking and baking every-

Therapeutic School, were tasked with a project

thing for us, they have gone to a lot of trouble.

to create an afternoon tea for the residents of

I am surprised that all the cups were pur-

Elm Bank care home. The pupils attend the

chased from the Salvation Army for this today.

home every Friday to participate in intergenera-

They really have done well with the project

tional activities with the residents.

they were set. It was very nice, thank you to all

The teachers and pupils have built up a good bond over time in learning about the home and its residents, which has benefited both residents and the pupils. This week the pupils created an amazing tea, with freshly made sandwiches and baked cakes as well warm sausage rolls. Residents received beautiful

of them.”

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager said, “It is lovely to see our residents enjoying time with younger people, the enrichment it creates in their lives

hand crafted invitations, upon arrival they were greeted with a lovely warm welcome from all at the

is obvious. It is great to have links with local schools and for them to come in and spend time with our resi-

school.

dents is simply wonderful. The pupils of the school worked so hard to create a wonderful afternoon tea for

The residents learnt how the pupils sourced the china cups and saucers from the local Salvation Army

our residents and it was truly appreciated.”

SWITCH Partners with Curam to Provide Free College-Level Training for Care Professionals in the South West Earlier this month the Swindon and Wiltshire Innovative Technology Care Hub (SWITCH) held a training day for local Care Professionals working through Curam, the UK’s largest digital employment platform for the care sector, to upskill and improve care provision in the region.

Care Professionals who work through Curam from Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire attended SWITCH’s three-hour Wound Care training session, achieving a collegelevel certification at the end of the day. During the course, Care Professionals learnt about skin integrity and how to spot changes, such as pressure wounds, as well as the initial response required to prevent infection, whether that is basic treatment or referral.

Using realistic task trainers in SWITCH’s interactive learning suite, Care Professionals were given an accurate and bespoke sense of what wounds may look like on their clients and how they should react. The session highlighted how skin wounds manifest on different skin types to instil cultural competency.

The immersive suite at SWITCH simulates healthcare environments through projections, smells and a family of life-like manikins which can talk, cough, cry and realistically react to care interventions. This helps Care Professionals develop healthcare skills and softer skills such as patient interaction in a simulation setting. The hub was funded under the Skills Development Fund from the Department for Education. SWITCH provides mandatory and clinical skills training to upskill care professionals across the region.

The session also acted as a networking opportunity, allowing Care Professionals who work for Curam on a self-employed basis to come together as a team and share experiences and best practices.

The initiative reflects Curam and SWITCH’s shared ethos of improving care provisions in the UK by ensuring everyone has access to high-quality care through upskilling and training and using technology to facilitate this.

SWITCH aims to enhance and upskill health and social care workers in the area with cutting-edge, technology-driven facilities and equipment in simulation hospital wards. Augmented reality, virtual reality and manikins that have humanistic features and can react to the care given give Care Professionals hands-on experience and the opportunity to practice highrisk scenarios in low-pressure environments.

Ashley-Louise Lumley, a Swindon-based Curam Champion and organiser of the training day, said: “SWITCH’s training facilities are top class, and it has been fantastic to help deliver this to the wider community of Care Professionals who operate through Curam. There is a broad range of experience among Care Professionals who operate through the platform – some have been in the industry for just over two years, while others have been providing care for more than 15 years.

"Everyone, no matter their previous experience, benefits from bespoke in-person learning sessions like these, focusing on skills that are key to promoting individual health and well-being in the community. Skin integrity is particularly important and something all Care Professionals should be aware of."

“We look forward to continuing a relationship with SWITCH which will give Curam clients in the South West peace of mind that their Care Professional is learning from an established and innovative educator to provide the highest quality of care possible.”

David Panes, Programme Lead at SWITCH, said: “It’s a pleasure to offer this opportunity to Care Professionals operating through Curam in the South West and support them as they develop their skills. We truly believe that clinical competency combined with solid educational elements is essential to providing good quality care. By ensuring that those providing it have the skills they need, we create a stronger community of skilled caregivers, which ultimately benefits the wider local area and its residents.”

For further information visit www.curamcare.com

Dulux Unveils True Joy As Its Colour of the Year 2025 ™

immediately picture where yellow paint could seamlessly slot into your home, but it’s actually much more versatile than you may first think. The decision to choose the most uplifting hue in the spectrum is to spark inspiration and instil confidence to leap into the unknown and endless possibilities of what could be.

Whilst yellow is one of the bolder colours on the spectrum, True Joy™ is complementary to a vast range of palettes, it brings out the positivity in even the most neutral of shades and is the figurative glue that binds more daring colour stories together.”

For 2025, Dulux is asking architects, specifiers and designers to embrace yellow and infuse a sense of optimism, pride and imagination into their projects.

As a guiding light to introduce these bold, positive shades to clients, the paint manufacturer has announced True Joy™ as its Colour of the Year for 2025, which is complemented by three versatile ColourFutures™ palettes.

Over that last two decades, the Dulux Colour of the Year has been chosen through extensive trend research by Dulux colour experts and international design professionals. The 2025 selection, True Joy™, is a bright and positive yellow that reflects people’s desire to break free, reset, and create something new and exciting. As well as embracing True Joy™, Dulux is also encouraging designers to share the joy of yellow and help clients to leap out of their comfort zone - and feel confident in doing so.

Yellow shades like True Joy™ can be used as a bold statement colour or an accent hue. However, to help designers advise their clients on the best colour pairings, Dulux has created three supporting ColourFutures™ palettes.

● Bold Colour Story: Inspired by the thrill of adventure, these bold colours bring spontaneity and energy to any space. Bright blues and oranges contrast beautifully with accent yellow, making them ideal for educational and office environments where inspiration and creativity are key.

● Human Colour Story: Celebrating artisanal craftsmanship, these shades of wood and clay reflect the raw materials used in handmade processes. Perfect for educational and healthcare settings, these colours add a touch of authenticity and warmth.

To support specifiers and provide additional guidance on the use of True Joy™, Dulux has created the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2025 Specifier Guide which includes mood boards that can be used to help create the perfect space across any sector. Architects, specifiers, and designers can also use the Dulux Trade Colour Schemer for colour inspiration or to create specifications for projects. They can also speak with the Dulux Commercial Colour Services team for additional advice on how to use the Colour of the Year 2025.

● Proud Colour Story: Drawing inspiration from diverse cultures around the world, these deep, rich and earthy browns and greens celebrate the rich heritages that make us unique. Ideal for hospitality and residential spaces, they create a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels at home.

Dawn Scott, Dulux Trade Senior Colour Designer, said: “True Joy™ and its accompanying palettes offer a fresh perspective on colour's role in shaping our built environment. These colours are not just trends but tools for architects and specifiers to craft spaces that resonate with the values and visions of their clients, improving our experience within the spaces we inhabit.

“One of the most impactful applications of True Joy™ is within healthcare environments. Paired with the earthy, natural shades of our Human Colour Story, True Joy™ can transform waiting rooms, corridors, and communal areas into uplifting and calming spaces. This combination not only brightens the atmosphere but also connects patients and staff to a sense of warmth, creativity, and well-being.”

Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director and Colour Expert at Dulux, explains: “It may be difficult to

Dulux is proud of its ongoing efforts to produce durable solutions in a more sustainable manner. By focusing on reducing carbon emissions and increasing the circular use of materials, Dulux ensures that products like True Joy™ not only enhance spaces aesthetically but also contribute to a greener future. With initiatives such as using up to 70% recycled content in packaging and developing water-based paints with lower VOC content, Dulux is dedicated to helping professionals create beautiful, sustainable environments.

Dulux Colour of the Year 2025 True Joy™ and the accompanying palettes will be available for purchase from10 September 2024.

For more information, visit

duluxtrade.co.uk/cf25

and follow #CF25 on social media.

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Family Fortunes at Friends Of The Elderly’s Care Homes Residents from Bernard Sunley, the residential, nursing and demen-

and enjoy.”

tia care home in Woking, Surrey and clients from the Woking Day

At Bernard Sunley, in addition to the monthly Family Fortunes

Care Service which are both run by charity Friends of the Elderly, have

Challenge Cup, the activities include a Boules Club, quizzes, Scrabble

been going head to head in their monthly Challenge Cup game of

Club, arts and crafts sessions, exercise classes, Dominoes, Bingo, food

Family Fortunes.

tasting, Cooking Club, card games, musical entertainment, themed

Each month, the care teams recreate the iconic family TV game

afternoons, afternoon teas and movie nights.

show for the residents and clients to enjoy. It has become quite com-

“We also have individual or group games on our large interactive

petitive as the teams work together to correctly answer as many of

‘Rainbow’ tablet screen and the very popular interactive armchair trav-

the open-ended survey questions as possible, with the winning team

el around the world trips, which take place in the HMS Bernard Sunley

taking the coveted Challenge Cup.

Cruise Lounge,” added Ewelina.

“The Challenge Cup goes to the monthly winning team – either the

“In addition to all our meaningful, interactive and inclusive activities,

Bernard Sunley Residents or the Woking Day Care Clients,” said

I also host the monthly ‘Have Your Say’ session,” continued Fran. “This

Monika Ahmed, one of the Activity Coordinators at the care home.

is a great way for clients and their families to give feedback on how

“The monthly Family Fortunes Challenge Cup is now one of the must

they think the activities at the day care centre have gone, what they

do activities on the calendar. The games are always highly spirited

think worked, what they enjoyed, what they want to see more of and

and great fun, especially when the acting compare says the legendary

what they feel didn’t work.

words ‘Our Survey Said….’, there’s always a resounding ‘Uh-Uh’ like the

“This constructive feedback has enabled me to introduce a number

famous TV computerised sound when wrong answers are given. It has

Gino D’Acampo taking over as host when the programme returned to

everyone giggling.”

the television in 2020.

“We have slightly adapted the traditional game, so our two teams –

of new initiatives such as our Afternoon Walking Club and a Past Histories Game which is tailored to the non-verbal clients or clients

“The Family Fortunes Challenge is actually a great reminiscing

who find it hard to converse.”

Bernard Sunley and Woking Day Care – do not have to stand up in turn

activity for the clients and residents,” continued Fran. “The residents

and answer a question, it’s the first team to shout out an answer,” said

and clients remember the original Family Fortunes with much affection

mated and enthused,” added Monika. “Ewelina, Fran and I take it in

and often natter about Bob Monkhouse, Max Bygraves and Les Dennis

turns as Games Master or Compare, and it is truly wonderful to see

“The questions are the same as the TV show with our teams having

and the other shows they remember them hosting like the Golden

each client and resident engaged and enjoying the competition.”

to guess the results of open-ended survey questions which 100 people

Shot, Celebrity Squares, Russ Abbott’s Mad House and The Laughter

have been asked. Such as ‘We asked 100 people to name a sport

Show.”

Fran Simpson, the Manager at Woking Day Care.

played with a ball’, or ‘We asked 100 people to name a breed of dog’,” added Ewelina Wagner, one of the Activities Coordinators at Bernard Sunley.

The much loved television family game show originally aired from 1980 to 2002 on ITV. It was hosted by Bob Monkhouse from 1980 to

“The monthly Family Fortunes Challenge Cup gets everyone ani-

Currently, the Bernard Sunley Team is on top of the Challenge Cup leaderboard. “The Woking Day Care Team is ready for the next game,”

Monika, Ewelina and Fran create a wide and varied range of meaningful activities for the residents and clients at Bernard Sunley Care Home and Woking Day Care to take part in. “We are all focused on

said Fran. “They are really looking forward to taking part and are full of fun, competition fighting talk.”

“The Bernard Sunley Team won’t sit on their laurels. They don’t want

enhancing the residents’ and clients’ days with interesting, engaging,

to hand over the Challenge Cup. Roll on the next game and may the

inclusive and person-centred activities,” continued Monika.

best team win,” concluded a smiling Monika.

“The activities we run are varied and tailored to the residents’ and

Every day, Monika, Ewelina and Fran make sure they have activities

1985. When Family Fortunes came back in 1987, it was hosted by Les

clients’ individual likes, preferences, favourite pastimes and hobbies.

tailored to what each resident or client wants to do, when they want to

Dennis until 2002. A celebrity version followed from 2006 to 2015 with

We all try to ensure that there is something for everyone to take part in

do it.

1983 and later in 1983, by Max Bygraves, who hosted the show until

Care Home Residents Go ‘Back To School’ Residents at a care home in Crawley enjoyed a heart-warming afternoon visiting a local independent school, marking a delightful return to the classroom.

Deerwood Lodge residents enjoyed tea and cake made by the pupils at Atelier 21, while reminiscing about their school days which highlighted how times have changed.

The home formed a partnership with Atelier 21, a pioneering school designed to offer an education fit for our children’s futures, early this year. The project has involved weekly visits by the children to the care home to carry out a variety of activities, from artwork, music, games and gardening.

Service manager, Wan Ilman, commented: “We have enjoyed welcoming the pupils of Atelier 21 every week since April so it was lovely to be able to bring some of the residents to the school. The aim of the project is to create connections between the different generations, creating memorable experiences for all involved. It was interesting to hear our residents talking about their school days.

“These interactions not only bring joy to their lives but also promotes mutual understanding and

respect between the different generations. It’s a beautiful reminder that wisdom and youth can learn so much from each other.”

This initiative is part of a broader commitment by Deerswood Lodge to engage with the local community and provide enriching experiences for their residents.

Founder of Atelier 2, Hayley Peacock adds: “Our pupils really enjoyed sharing their performances and baked goods with Deerswood Lodge residents in school and were fascinated to learn about the older generations school days that are ‘worlds apart’ from our pioneering educational model that re-imagines the school day to make learning relevant, meaningful and joyful to pupils. Our children engaging in meaningful intergenerational activities, fills me with immense pride and gratitude. I am moved by the genuine connections formed during the visits and the positive influence it has had on our pupils.”

“This experience reaffirms our school's dedication to nurturing compassionate and socially responsible individuals who understand the value of connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds.”

East Grinstead Care Home’s ‘Soup And Roll’ Event Proves Big Hit HC-One’s Charters Court Care Home in East Grinstead, West Sussex, are opening their doors to the local community to help tackle loneliness and social exclusion.

The team at Charters Court which offers residential, nursing and residential dementia care for up to 60 residents, decided to assist and help those within their local community by offering free ‘soup and roll’ drop-in sessions at the home for local pensioners to come and enjoy together.

Every Wednesday from 1pm – 3pm in October, November and December the care home has invited local pensioners to pop in for some warmth and enjoy a lovely bowl of homemade soup and a bread roll, whilst also providing them with the opportunity to socialise and make new friends.

Charters Court’s Head Chef, Sue Williams, provides a different tasty homemade soup each week for members of the elderly community to enjoy for free, while their wellbeing team is on hand to provide support and engage visitors by having a good chat.

Visitor Chris Jones, commented: “The soup was absolutely delicious, and it was wonderful to spend time chatting to new people. It is such a lovely idea for the wider community to be invited into Charters Court, I will definitely come again.”

Charters Court’s Home Manager, Melanie Wightman, said: “Loneliness can be a huge problem for elderly people, especially as the weather gets colder and the dark nights draw in. Our doors are always open to welcome new friends to the home.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 27

Retford Care Workers Celebrate Award Success Three colleagues who work at a social care service in Retford sup-

Deputy Manager Amy Skoyles is also a finalist in the Great British

porting adults with learning disabilities and autism have been shortlist-

Care Awards, in the Care Home Frontline Leader Award category. This

ed for national awards.

award will be given to a leader who has shown clear commitment to

Beeches, in South Levington, Retford is part of the Cygnet Social

improving the delivery of care and support within their team. A person

Care division and is a 12 bed specialist residential service for adults

who has shown leadership qualities by reflecting on what could be

with autism and learning disabilities

better and supporting others to bring about change.

Manager Richard Lee is a finalist in the Care Home Registered Manager of the Year for the East Midlands Region in the Great British

Amy, who has worked at Beeches for 10 years, said: “I was surprised at the nomination but feel so proud that my work at the Beeches has

Care Awards. The award will be given to the manager who has demon-

been recognised by my peers. Sometimes it’s nice to be recognised for

strated a high level of expertise together with exceptional skills and

a job that you love doing.

who shows vision in developing person centred care and supporting staff to meet the ever changing needs of residents.

“I work with an amazing team of people and being nominated feels like good feedback for all.

He said: “I wasn’t expecting to be shortlisted, but I feel very appreciative to have been nominated and named a finalist.

“My job gives me so much satisfaction, our residents achieving their best is my number one priority. I pride myself on being involved with

“My job is very important to me and I always aim to work my hardest for our residents and the staff who support them on a daily basis.

every aspect of their wellbeing and liaising with their loved ones. Working with such a great team of people and seeing what together we can accomplish makes everything worthwhile.”

“Being shortlisted in these awards is a feeling of validation that as the registered manager you are achieving positive progress for the residents, staff and the service as a whole.

“I have dedicated my career to be at the forefront of supporting individuals to live their best lives with as much independence and autonomy in the decision making process as possible.”

Describing the best thing about his job, Richard said: “Seeing our residents achieve their goals and to be thriving in their lives is so rewarding. Also, supporting our staff members to help the residents achieve this

For Activity Co-ordinator Anthony Cobb, he is a finalist in the Champion of Activities and Wellbeing Award for the very first Nottinghamshire Proud to Care Awards.

Organised by Nottinghamshire County Council, the awards celebrate and acknowledge individuals making a difference in the adult social care industry.

Anthony said: “It is an honour to be nominated and shortlisted. It’s good to feel appreciated by the staff that have taken their time to nominate me.

and also for them to make achievements and progression in their own careers. It is a privilege to create a

“It shows that all the hard work I have put in has shone through and that others recognised this.

working environment that the team enjoy being part of, which in turn creates the best environment for our

“Every day is different but The Beeches is like a family and it is an amazing place to work.”

residents to excel.”

Residents Delight in Wine Tasting Evening at Ashcombe House Care Home Residents Delight in Wine Tasting Evening at Ashcombe House Care Home.

Residents and guests at Ashcombe House Care Home in Basingstoke enjoyed a delightful evening of wine tasting, filled with laughter and fun. The event showcased a wide selection of wines, from sweet dessert varieties to rich reds and refreshing rosés.

The wines were provided by Majestic, with Richard and Finn guiding the selection of six bottles and sharing plenty of insights about the origins and characteristics of each one.

Residents were able to sample the different varieties while learning about the various notes and blends, from floral and fruity to zesty, bitter, and earthy combinations. The evening was further enhanced by the care home’s hospitality team, who prepared a delicious spread of sweet and savoury treats perfectly paired to complement the

wines.

The event was part of Ashcombe House’s ongoing lifestyle enrichment program, which aims to offer a range of engaging activities and entertainment for residents. General Manager Louise commented, “It was lovely to see our residents and guests enjoying such a wonderful evening. We always strive to provide a diverse range of activities, and this wine tasting has been one of our favourites.”

One resident shared their thoughts on the night: “We’ve had a lot of fun this evening. It’s great to get together and try different wines. My favourite was definitely the orange wine, and the food was delicious!”

The wine tasting event was a resounding success, bringing joy to residents and guests alike, and showcasing Ashcombe House’s commitment to creating memorable experiences.

Girbau Awarded Ecovadis Bronze Medal For Its Sustainability Performance Girbau, a leader in comprehensive textile care solutions, has been awarded the Bronze Medal by EcoVadis, a renowned international authority on business sustainability ratings. This prestigious recognition places Girbau among the top 20%, based on the obtained score, leading companies assessed by EcoVadis in the past 12 months, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable business practices and responsible corporate governance across environmental, social, and ethical areas.

EcoVadis evaluates companies across several key areas, including Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. Girbau’s bronze rating places the company among the top performers in its sector, reflecting its dedication to reducing environmental impact, ensuring responsible sourcing, and promoting fair labour practices.

Thus award differentiates and recognizes Girbau as a preferred partner within the hospitality sector and among the members of the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP), an EcoVadis-powered sector initiative.

“We are extremely proud to receive the EcoVadis Bronze Medal,” said Joan Vilaseca, Girbau’s

Sustainability Officer. “This recognition validates our continuous efforts to embed sustainability into all aspects of our operations and motivates us to keep raising the bar in environmental and social responsibility in the professional textile care industry”. Mercè Girbau, CEO of the company, adds: “This recognition marks a significant milestone in our journey, affirming our commitment to making a positive impact on people and the environment. We are incredibly proud and excited to continue advancing our core values”.

Girbau’s sustainability strategy is built on a foundation of continuous innovation and responsible practices to reduce the environmental impact of its products and operations. Key initiatives include the development of resource-efficient technologies, such as water reuse and treatment systems, and the creation of zerowaste production processes and is working to cut its carbon footprint by promoting the use of long-lasting and low emissions equipment.

The EcoVadis Bronze Medal reflects Girbau’s alignment with global sustainability standards and its goal to foster long-term, positive environmental and social impact in the textile care industry.

PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

Care Home Waste Management Specialist Appoints New Business Development Manager For The Care Home Sector Anenta, the leading independent healthcare waste management specialist for the care home sector, has appointed former Business Development Manager at Future Street Smart Waste, Paul Barker, as its new Business Development Manager for the business.

Brought on board to boost Anenta’s growing care home client base, Paul will be responsible for delivering bespoke, affordable and professional end-to-end waste management solutions to the sector.

As part of his new role, Paul will oversee the management of Anenta’s existing waste contracts, ensuring that care home waste logistics, service delivery, and waste disposal performance levels are industry leading.

Paul has worked within the waste sector for more than 10 years and has over 25 years of client relationship management experience.

Part of the management team that brought the US waste technology “BigBelly” to the U.K, Paul has an extensive background in introducing disruptive waste technology to the UK’s healthcare sector including many Local Authorities and the NHS. Paul played a key part in introducing the ground-breaking Sterilwave clinical waste processing solution, enabling Alternative Treatment and Offensive Waste streams to be treated on site at hospitals, saving the NHS money and helping it reduce its environmental impact.

Commenting on his new care home focus, Paul Barker said: “Our research shows that care homes are typ-

ically wasting £8,000 every year through poor waste management process and procurement. My role is to help put a stop to that by working with care home clients to change waste disposal habits and practices, and to deliver a better service that saves clients time and money.

“This is made possible through Anenta’s cutting-edge, real-time smart technology, which identifies and creates opportunities to streamline waste services, reducing unnecessary costs through enhanced efficiencies.

“From identifying and preventing waste overbilling through to aiding clients with staff training, and complex waste and pre-acceptance audits, our role is to take the pain away from managing care home waste, so that clients can focus on delivering their services.”

Paul added: “Personally, I’m looking forward to providing care homes with a simple solution that brings them, their waste collection providers and other stakeholders to a single point of unified management. This means complete transparency and allows us to deliver an improved service, removing hassle and generating significant savings for our care home clients, all backed by the highest levels of customer service.”

Commenting on Paul’s appointment, Graham Flynn, Managing Director of Anenta, said: “Paul is incredibly well-versed in building successful, long lasting client relationships. We see this as key to working with clients in the care home sector, and to delivering added value.

“Combined with his depth of understanding in dealing with waste and identifying ways to improve waste management efficiency, Paul is perfectly placed to help care homes streamline their processes, enabling the delivery of consistently high levels of service and customer satisfaction.”

Working for customers in over 20,000 locations, including individual care homes and care home groups, Anenta simplifies the process of healthcare and care home waste management, collectively saving clients millions of pounds each year. Over the past five years, Anenta has saved its clients over £13 million.

For more information about Anenta, visit www.anentawaste.com or call 033 0122 2143.

CLEANING AND HYGIENE

CHSA Puts The Focus On Regulations New CHSA campaign designed to inform buyers and end users of cleaning chemicals of the value of regulations The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association has launched a campaign designed to spread the word about the importance of regulations when buying cleaning and hygiene chemicals.

Compliance with formal UK Government, European Union and industry-standard regulations is essential if buyers are to be certain product claims are legitimate and proven. Adherence to regulations guarantee safety. They underpin transparency and ensure consistency. They support buyers’ informed decision making by providing a framework for comparison, so a buyer really knows if they are getting the product or solution they need. They also provide accountability, giving buyers a route to recourse if needed. In short, they underwrite an ethical

approach.

Buyers and end users can also turn to regulations to be certain they are not misled by environmental claims in the rush toward sustainable solutions.

Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association, said: “Buyers and end users need to be able to trust the product and sales and marketing claims. They need to be certain of the balance between efficacy and sustainability and they need to make sure they are using the right product for the job in hand. They are not chemists, however, so may be misled by seductive sales and marketing messaging.

“Our advice is to talk to your manufacturer and ask for evidence to support their claims. This will come in the form of their technical data sheets, third party verifications and certifications and, importantly, proof of regulatory compliance.”

Gobble-de-gook or undefined phrases to be wary of include: ‘non-renewable chemicals’, ‘chemical-free’, ‘natural’, ‘five times filtered water’, and ‘non-toxic’. ‘Biodegradable’ is also a confusing term. As applied to cleaning products, it is defined in current legislation (Detergent Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 and corresponding UK post Brexit legislation).

Something claiming to be ‘organic’ should be certified by, for example, the Soil Association. ‘Net-zero’ claims should be based on the international net-zero standard (https://sciencebasedtargets.org/net-zero) or another reliable third party verified certification.

Every member of the CHSA has signed our rigorous Code of Practice, which demands our members trade ethically. Amongst other stipulations, it requires members to: • conduct business dealings in an open, honest, fair and proper manner and in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations of the UK and EU. • ensure all public statements made by and on behalf of the Member are decent, honest and truthful.

• ensure no false or exaggerated claims are made verbally, in literature, electronically or in any other way.

• hold and provide evidence on request for product and service claims, particularly with reference to legislation, certifications and accreditations.

The CHSA Code of Practice also includes the Competition & Market’s Authority’s Green Claims Code. Its principles are summarised as: • Claims must be truthful and accurate.

• Claims must be clear and unambiguous.

• Claims must not omit or hide important relevant information.

• Comparisons must be fair and meaningful.

• Claims must consider the full life cycle of the product or service.

• Claims must be substantiated.

Finally, every member of the CHSA’s Accreditation Scheme for manufacturers of cleaning chemicals has signed the CHSA’s own ethical marketing code. @CHSACleaning www.CHSA.co.uk

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

As a result, a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market, including antimicrobial technology. Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the

world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is exclusive to Angloplas.

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

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

You can order Angloplas products directly from its website by going to www.angloplas.co.uk

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

REM Care Range REM have been manufacturing furniture for the Hair & Beauty Sector for over 100 years and are now considered to be one of the largest manufacturers in both the UK & Europe. Our exclusive designs and meticulous British workmanship offer customers a wide range of furniture for every conceivable Salon environment. Understanding the growing requirement for Care & Residential Home Salons the REM Design Team have produced the Pendle Care range for the small, compact Care Home Salon. This new range includes ergonomically designed, height adjustable styling chairs and the Pendle Easy Wash

Unit with two ceramic basins allowing frontwash with wheelchair access and a tilting backwash basin for the more able clientele.

Should the need arise, our experienced Design Team can help you create a stimulating Salon environment for your clients. The REM Salon Interior Design Package which includes 2D and 3D AutoCad plans and visuals can be ordered for only £295 +VAT and is fully refundable on an order placement of £3000 or more.

Contact us on 01282 619977 or email sales@rem.co.uk See the advert on page 19 for further information.

Specialist Fabrics and Soft Furnishings for Caring Interiors With over 50 years’ experience, Skopos are experts at providing soft furnishing solutions to care environments, without compromising on style. Impervious contract upholstery solutions from Skopos are designed to keep care environments clean and fresh with the added benefit of antimicrobial protection and a soil/stain resist finish. Our new Encanto collection provides a burst of colour and texture into commercial spaces, with two new designs alongside Cuba colours. The palette provides pops of colour or a choice of classical neutrals.

Skopos also provide beautiful, printed designs on a wide choice of base-cloths, for a variety of end uses.

Printed locally (to reduce Carbon emissions) Skopos offers a choice of dimout, blackout, linen-looks, velvet and upholstery fabrics, so designs can be produced on complementary furnishings across the

room.

Our skilled team of manufacturers will also bring designs to life, making up high-quality curtains, cushions and bed-throws, which can then be installed to meet your project needs. We strive to make your refurbishment or new-build project run smoothly, ready for your residents to settle into a new home.

Skopos are proud to have achieved Carbon Neutral’ status as an organisation in 2023, accredited

by PAS2060.As as key part of our drive towards a more sustainable future Skopos are focussed on reducing emissions and working with local supply routes.

For further information, please visit our website at www.skopos.com or see the advert on page 7.

MOWOOT II – proven solution to chronic constipation without medication Developed by a team of doctors and other healthcare professionals, MOWOOT II performs gentle abdominal massage to speed up intestinal passage in people experiencing chronic constipation.

Clinically proven, safe and effective, relaxing and sideeffects free, MOWOOT II Abdominal Massage Therapy System combats constipation and provides soothing relief to affected people.

Easy to use and comfortable, the MOWOOT II treats and manages constipation in people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis sufferers, Parkinson’s Disease patients and people with constipation related to prescription medication. MOWOOT II also helps to relieve idiopathic constipation experienced by menopausal and post-menopausal women

and older and elderly people.

In clinical studies MOWOOT II increased evacuation frequency, softened stools, improved regularity, reduced gasses, relieved bloating and eased off abdominal discomfort.

10 to 20 minutes daily of relaxing abdominal massage with MOWOOT II rapidly reduces symptoms of constipation. Evident results are experienced only a few days after the first treatment. Regular abdominal massage with MOOWOOT II ensures lasting health benefits and better quality of life.

MOWOOT II – effective solution to chronic constipation for better quality of life!

Supplied by Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 - www.win-health.com See page 3 and the front cover of this issue for other Win Health products.

Temporary Catering Facilities For Events & Kitchen Refurbishments MOWOOT II for Constipation Free Life Mobile Kitchens Ltd specialises in the hire or sale of temporary catering facilities and foodservice equipment.

Ideal for events or to provide temporary catering facilities during your kitchen refurbishment, our versatile units and equipment offer an efficient and economic solution to the caterers’ needs.

Production Kitchens, Preparation Kitchens, Warewashing Units, Dry Store Units, Cold Rooms and Restaurant Units are available as individual units in their own right or they can be linked together on site to form a complete complex.

Alternatively, we can offer modular, open-plan facilities, usually for larger, longer-term hires.

We offer a free design service, and project management from concept through to delivery and installation on site, plus full technical support throughout the hire period.

The standard specification of our smallest

Production Kitchen unit includes a six burner oven range, salamander grill, twin basket fryer, upright fridge, hot cupboard, single bowl sink unit with integral hand wash basin, plus ample power points to plug in Microwaves, Food Processors, Toasters etc. Internal equipment can be interchanged and clients can effectively specify their preferred layout.

We have many tried and tested design layouts and would be pleased to put forward our recommendations for your project.

So if you’re planning a refurbishment or need to cater for an event then why not give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide advice and put forward a competitive proposal.

For further information or to arrange a site visit, email: sales@mk-hire.co.uk or call us on 0345 812 0800, or visit our website: www.mk-hire.co.uk See the advert on page 19.

C&S Seating Ltd

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

Our popular and vibrant range of Soft Knit covers in a choice of 5 colours, provide a softer alternative, ideal for the colder seasons and are designed to fit snug over our waterproof rolls for maximum protection and comfort.

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

See the advert on page 6 for further information.

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

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

C&S Seating Ltd is the sole manufacturer of the Alternative

Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company.

Chatsie - The Smartphone Built for Seniors No matter how digitally savvy you are, Chatsie helps you to stay connected with friends and family. Our founder George, saw his mother struggling with an iPhone and realised that no smartphones are made with seniors in mind.

Chatsie phones have been designed from the ground up to address this gap.

Key features include a text-based menu that replaces confusing icons, a customisable home screen with shortcuts like “Call Sarah,” and the ability to dictate text messages instead of typing. Users can also easily adjust the phone's font size and tap

sensitivity to their preference.

Chatsie phones give users easy access to popular apps like WhatsApp and Facebook, all on a simple, text-based home screen. It’s a modern smartphone with a fantastic camera and display that's designed to be accessible for everyone.

For only £19 p/m, a Chatsie phone comes with a monthly SIM plan including 4GB of data and unlimited UK calls and texts. We also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, and free shipping and returns.

Find out more at chatsie.com/info.

See the advert on page 7 for details.

New Ways to Avoid a “Long Lie” New developments at leading mobility equipment innovator AAT GB are supporting Occupational Therapists in their fulfilment of RCOT guidance on falls.

Data reveals that of the 2.6million falls in the home each year by people over the age of 65, only 4%- 140,000- result in a trip to hospital. If people do not have the ability to pick themselves up, they face the prospect of a “long lie” whilst they wait for either a care giver or emergency services to pick them up.

That can be more dangerous than the fall itself, experts say(2), physically and/or psychologically.

AAT is rising to the challenge by expanding its range of easy-to-use, compact fall recovery options.

Prescription of the aids has multiple benefits for elderly clients: - It eliminates the risk of a ‘long lie’ - It avoids adding pressure to already stretched ambulance crews - It removes the psychological worry for the client - It represents positive risk It further supports their care-givers, reducing effort and strain in the in physically helping the client back to sitting or standing.

Observes AAT Director Peter Wingrave:

“RCOT falls guidance states ‘contingency planning for the management of future falls that may occur should be explored. This may include advice and practice, where appropriate, on [] how to avoid the consequences of a ‘long lie’- lying on the floor after a fall for a period of 60 minutes or more.’

“The simple step of prescribing aids that empower the client to pick themselves up, that is easy for them to use, that can be re-allocated to someone else when they no longer need it, is surely a reasonable and practical consideration in any falls management strategy?”

AAT’s fall recovery aids are all compact, fold-away solutions that are tried, tested and proven in domestic and healthcare environments. Battery-powered, the equipment is fully portable. AAT’s fall recovery equipment can safely restore anyone up to 150kg (23st) from being prone on the floor. With their integral seat, they give the client confidence and the time to rebalance.

Details of AAT’s range of lifting devices can be found here: https://www.aatgb.com/lifting-devices/. AAT offers a free, no obligation assessment service to support OTs, and provides training of the recipient on the equipment’s correct usage as part of the service.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 31

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES The First Step To Decarbonising Care Homes Care homes intending to replace existing gas-fired domestic hot water (DHW) systems with more sustainable electric technologies as part of a decarbonisation strategy should invest in data gathering first recommends hot water specialist Adveco.

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

The most consistent issue we see in care home hot water systems is oversizing, whether through lack of understanding of application design or concerns over providing suitable back up to ensure system continuity. The result of oversizing is always the same, unnecessary capital costs for system supply and installation.

As the care sector seeks to adopt greener building operations, replacing old gas-fired systems with likefor-like electric is another guaranteed way to gain an oversized system. Should the new system’s electrical demand exceed a building’s available amperage of electrical supply, project installation costs will inevitably soar, or even stall the project. This can be avoided by understanding your actual hot water

demands and designing the replacement to meet those specific needs. This is why accurate data is so valuable.

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

Talk to Adveco about booking low-cost hot water metering and system design for your property. https://adveco.co/products/live-metering/ See the advert on page 5.

Protect and Enhance Care Environments with Yeoman Shield In any care environment, safeguarding the wellbeing of residents, staff, and visitors is paramount. At Yeoman Shield, we understand that maintaining the condition and safety of a facility is crucial to delivering the best care. Our comprehensive range of wall and door protection solutions offers an effective way to keep your facility looking its best while ensuring a safe environment for all.

From hospitals and care homes to clinics and rehabilitation centers, Yeoman Shield provides durable, hygienic wall protection that withstands the daily wear and tear of busy care facilities. With our impact-resistant solutions, you can prevent unsightly damage, reduce costly repairs, and maintain a clean, professional appearance that enhances the comfort of your residents.

But we don’t stop at walls. Our Fire Door Services are specially designed to offer an extra layer of safety in care settings. Fire doors are an essential part of

any building’s passive fire protection system, and our services ensure they remain compliant and fully functional. From regular inspections and repairs to complete replacements, Yeoman Shield’s fire door services help you meet all relevant safety regulations, giving you peace of mind.

By combining our wall and door protection systems with our expert fire door services, we offer a full spectrum of solutions to protect both the physical integrity and safety of your care environment. Trust Yeoman Shield to be your partner in maintaining a secure, attractive, and compliant facility. Protect your care environment today with Yeoman Shield—the trusted choice in safeguarding spaces.

For more information, call 0113 279 5854 or email info@yeomanshield.com www.yeomanshield.com See the advert on page 9 for details.

Sumed: Protect and Prevent Introducing Task Manager: Revolutionizing Food Safety and Efficiency in Senior Living and Care Centers Our Integrity Static Cushions, crafted with high-quality materials and innovative design, are effective in preventing and managing pressure ulcers by redistributing pressure and minimising skin damage.

They feature a larger surface area that spreads the user's weight, reducing pressure on specific points.

EasyGo patient lift and transfer chair addresses common issues found in traditional hoists, which are often cumbersome and difficult to manoeuvre, especially in tight spaces, and require multiple staff members. EasyGo simplifies the lifting and transferring process, enhancing patient dignity and comfort. It is designed to move between beds, wheelchairs, toilets, and cars. Additionally, we have developed a patient transfer seat that can incorporate any Integrity Static Cushion, providing optimal pressure relief during transfers.

Pressure ulcers are largely preventable with the right approach. Our goal is to make your job easier, allowing you to focus on exceptional care and improving residents' quality of life. We offer comprehensive product training and support, including inperson and online sessions, detailed manuals, quick-start guides, and access to our support team for advice and updates on best practices in pressure ulcer prevention.

01457 890 980 | sales@sumed.co.uk | www.sumedinternational.com See the advert on the back cover for further information

Mr Trax Curtain & Blind Solutions Mr Trax Curtain & Blind Solutions aims to provide a first class service across a wide range of products and bespoke fittings thanks to its two decades of experience, with many previous clients in the care sector.

Mr Trax has a range of NHS compliant fabrics for use in care homes, including ‘blackout’. They can supply and fit a wide range of flame retardant curtains and blinds in various fabrics to be made to your sizes and fitted using heavy duty fittings and rails.

Curtains can normally be made and installed within four weeks and blinds in two weeks.Fire retardant blinds on heavy weight systems are readily available and can be manually controlled or electrically operated. They also have antimicrobial options as well all at varying prices all normally available in two-three weeks. Faster times are available on some products.

The company is affiliated with Checkatrade where you can see customer reviews, including this recent comment: “Douglas did a fantastic job fitting our shutters and curtain rail. He even fitted an extra rail for us which we had bought ourselves! Friendly and efficient

service, plus great looking results. Very pleased - would definitely recommend!”

Based in Hailsham, East Sussex and owned and run by Doug and Carol Coe, the firm also provides a number of corded and motorised options for blinds as well as curtains, and offers a comprehensive range of shutters.

Doug says: “We stock two ranges of silent gliss corded curtain tracks and two ranges of silent gliss uncorded curtain tracks the fitted prices for which are available on this website. All of the aluminium silent gliss tracks stock can be shaped and fitted into bay windows, as can some of the poles. We also have ready access to many more ranges of both tracks and poles, most of which we can get in one working day.

“To read more of what our customers say about us please do look us up on Checkatrade: checkatrade.com/mrtrax” Call now to speak to one of our team on 0800 3345114 or 07968 242004, email us at: doug@mrtrax.co.uk or see the advert on page 8.

Serve in Style with Euroservice Trolleys

Watch your resident's eyes light up when the trolley arrives!

Euroservice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care products to residents. How about a delicious snack/pastry trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple?

Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents!

Visit the website at www.euroservice-uk.com to see the full range.

Or see the advert on page 11.

NCCO International announces the launch of Task Manager, an innovative food safety task management and temperature monitoring solution designed for the senior living and residential care home sector.

Task Manager addresses critical pain points in food safety, compliance, operational efficiency, and resident satisfaction.

"Task Manager is a game-changer for the senior living industry," said Karl Rose, Managing Director of NCCO International, "Our system not only ensures compliance with food safety regulations but also enhances the quality of life for residents by guaranteeing safe and nutritious meals."

Task Manager assists senior care facilities in adhering to local, state, and federal food safety regulations, aiming to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses among elderly residents. By providing detailed record-keeping and log management, Task Manager supports facilities in maintaining audit readiness, facilitating health inspections and compliance checks.

Task Manager automates temperature monitoring for refrigerators, freezers, and food storage areas to help maintain safe limits without manual checks. The system organizes food safety-related tasks, such as

cleaning schedules, equipment maintenance, and staff training, to help ensure thoroughness.

With consistent monitoring, Task Manager helps maintain the nutritional value and quality of stored and prepared food. Real-time alerts for temperature deviations enable quick corrective actions, potentially preventing spoilage and ensuring residents receive high-quality meals.

For more information about Task Manager, please visit www.ncco.eu or contact David Webster at dwebster@ncco.com

Consort Claudgen Introduces Wi-Fi Enabled Heaters to LST Range Consort Claudgen’s innovation in the electric heating industry takes another leap forward by introducing Wi-Fi-enabled heaters to their low surface temperature (LST) range. These cutting-edge heaters offer unparalleled convenience and efficiency.

The heaters connect directly to Wi-Fi, enabling users to control heating through the digital control panel on the heater or via the Consort Connect app. With a comprehensive 7-day timer, which allows 24 individual heating periods per day, and features such as a lock function, open window detection, and custom automation, users can tailor their heating needs to their preferences.

Adding to the ease of use, users can view the ener-

gy consumption statistics of all connected heaters, providing insights into usage patterns and potential savings. The LST heaters with Wi-Fi and occupancy sensors have a self-learning control ability. They utilise in-built occupancy sensors to detect and learn a user’s weekly presence in a room, creating an intuitive heating schedule. When the space is unoccupied, the heater conserves energy by switching to a setback temperature or frost protection mode.

BIM (Building Information Modelling) objects for the heaters are available for download from Consort’s website. 01646 692172 | sales@consortepl.com | www.consortepl.com See the advert on page 8.

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

CATERING FOR CARE

Guarding Against Malnutrition in Care Homes: Spotting Early Signs and Using Nutrition to Combat Frailty

By Zoe Cottrell, registered dietitian, member of the British Dietetic Association and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is a valuable resource for this purpose, enabling caregivers to systematically assess the risk of malnutrition in residents by considering factors such as Body Mass Index (BMI), unintentional weight loss, and the impact of acute illness on nutritional intake.

KEY EARLY SIGNS TO MONITOR:

Malnutrition remains a significant issue in care homes, where the elderly are particularly vulnerable. As a registered dietitian working in the community and in hospital wards, often with elderly people who have experienced fall, I wish more people knew about the prevalence of malnutrition and how to combat it before they ended up in hospital.

Recent statistics paint a stark picture: Around one in 10 people over the age of 65 are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition , and this figure rises alarmingly to 45% among those in their 90s. According to the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) , malnutrition costs the UK approximately £23.5 billion annually, with older adults being disproportionately affected.

As the population ages, addressing malnutrition and its associated complications, such as frailty and sarcopenia, becomes ever more critical. By focusing on early detection and strategic nutritional interventions, including the use of protein, care homes can play a vital role in safeguarding the health of their residents.

SPOTTING THE EARLY SIGNS OF MALNUTRITION The first step in combating malnutrition is recognizing its early signs.

1. Unintentional Weight Loss: A significant early indicator of malnutrition is unintentional weight loss. Regularly monitoring residents' weight and comparing it to previous measurements is essential. A loss of even 5% of body weight over a few months can signal malnutrition and warrants immediate attention.

2. Decreased Appetite: A reduced appetite is often a precursor to malnutrition. Residents may skip meals, eat smaller portions, or show a lack of interest in food. It's important to understand the reasons behind these changes, which could be linked to dental issues, depression, or medication side effects.

3. Physical Changes: Signs such as muscle wasting, thinning hair, dry skin, or dental problems may indicate nutritional deficiencies. These physical symptoms are often subtle but crucial indicators of potential malnutrition.

4. Fatigue and Weakness: Increased tiredness or difficulty performing daily activities can be related to inadequate nutrition. This could also signal the onset of sarcopenia, where the loss of muscle mass and strength makes everyday tasks increasingly challenging.

THE ROLE OF NUTRITION IN PREVENTING AND MANAGING FRAILTY Frailty, a condition characterized by decreased strength, endurance, and physiological function, is closely linked to malnutrition and is a major concern in care homes. Proper nutrition is key to preventing and managing frailty, particularly through the adequate intake of protein, which is essential for maintaining muscle mass and function.

STRATEGIES FOR NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS: 1. Prioritize Whole Foods: Ensuring a diet rich in whole foods is foundational. Protein-rich foods like eggs, lean meats, fish, dairy products, and legumes should be emphasized, as they not only support muscle

health but also provide essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to overall well-being.

2. Incorporate Protein Supplements When Necessary: In cases where residents struggle to meet their protein needs through diet alone—perhaps due to a lack of appetite or difficulty chewing—protein powders or fortified drinks can be effective. These supplements can be easily added to meals, snacks, or beverages, ensuring that residents receive the protein they need without overwhelming them with large portions of food.

3. Distribute Protein Throughout the Day: Research shows that distributing protein intake evenly across all meals is more effective for muscle protein synthesis than consuming large amounts at a single meal.

Caregivers should ensure that residents receive adequate protein at breakfast, lunch, and dinner to maximize the benefits for muscle maintenance and frailty prevention.

ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO ADEQUATE NUTRITION While boosting protein intake is essential, we should also address the barriers that may prevent residents from consuming enough nutrients. Factors such as taste preferences, difficulties with swallowing, or digestive issues can all impact nutritional intake. Caregivers should work closely with dietitians to develop personalized nutrition plans that accommodate these challenges, potentially incorporating protein powders and other supplements in palatable and easy-to-digest forms.

NUTRITION IS KEY TO INCREASING HEALTHSPAN Malnutrition in care homes is a pressing issue that requires vigilant monitoring and proactive management. While the numbers alone tell us the stakes are high, intervention is more than about reducing costs.

The ability to stand up from a chair unaided allows our elderly residents independence. By spotting the early signs of malnutrition and implementing strategic nutritional interventions, caregivers can help prevent and manage frailty, significantly improving the quality of life for residents. By addressing malnutrition and frailty head-on, care homes can help residents not only avoid the adverse effects of these conditions but also thrive in their later years.

Catering for Residents with Dysphagia

By Rob Henry, Head of Culinary Solutions and Compliance at EF Group (www.ef-group.co.uk) WHAT IS DYSPHAGIA? Dysphagia is a medical condition that makes swallowing food and drink more difficult. Depending on the severity, some textures may be more difficult to swallow, or somebody may have lost the ability to swallow at all. Regardless, this can make mealtimes much more difficult, which is why care home caterers must know about this condition and how to support those who have it.

A few conditions can cause dysphagia, including cancer, head injuries, a stroke or dementia. Age can also play a role in developing this condition, meaning there could be a higher likelihood of some residents suffering from this.

EFFECTS OF DYSPHAGIA Dysphagia doesn’t just affect mealtimes – it can also: • Impact on quality of life: If somebody is no longer able to eat and drink as they’ve been able to, they may become withdrawn and develop a low mood. The change can be difficult to get to grips with, which is why supporting residents through their dietary transition and making sure they’re properly catered for is so important.

• Lead to malnutrition and dehydration: A lack of food and drink due to not being able to swallow or chew properly can mean that residents aren’t properly hydrated or receiving enough nutrition. This can result in lower energy levels, and in more extreme cases, can also lead to further health complications.

• Cause choking: Without specialist catering, somebody with dysphagia may not be able to swallow their food which can be a choking hazard.

WHAT IS THE IDDSI FRAMEWORK? The IDDSI framework sets the standard for serving textured foods and thickened liquids to those with

dysphagia who have trouble chewing and swallowing. Using this framework, caterers in the care industry can determine which foods and drinks would be easiest for people with this condition to consume.

IDDSI consists of eight levels ranging from 0 to 7, with drinks ranging from 0 (thin) to 4 (extremely thick) and foods ranging from 3 (liquidised) to 7 (regular and easy to chew). These indicate the texture and thickness of foods and drinks and give some steer as to which ones would be safest for somebody with dysphagia to consume.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CATERING TO RESIDENTS WITH DYSPHAGIA When you’re preparing to cater for residents with dysphagia, there are a few extra things you might need to consider. These include: • Training your staff on the IDDSI framework: Ensuring your staff understand the framework, what it means, and how to apply it is crucial. Holding training sessions on this can make sure everybody is on the same page when it comes to catering to the needs of residents with dysphagia.

• Knowing when to modify the menu to resident needs: Once your team are trained on the IDDSI framework, this must be implemented into your catering practices. This should involve assessing each resident’s dietary needs to see if they require modifications and monitoring this over time in case further changes are needed.

• Getting in the correct nutrients and fluids: Alongside modifying diets based on what is easiest for residents to consume, you should be ensuring all residents are properly hydrated and receiving a balanced and nutritious diet. Whether their food is liquidised, regular or somewhere in between, hydration and nutrition must never be reduced even though you might need to alter the way these are offered to residents.

• Making mealtimes more enjoyable: If somebody has been living with dysphagia without a modified diet, they may need some extra encouragement at mealtimes once the modifications have been made. Try making mealtimes social, introducing different flavours or recipes and regularly rotating menu options to keep them interested and more likely to finish their food.

Supporting residents with dysphagia is a key duty of caterers in the care industry and can have a huge impact on their wellbeing, health and quality of life. Therefore, it’s vital that your catering team are aware of the signs of the condition and how the IDDSI framework can be used to prescribe a better approach to their mealtimes.

PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

CATERING FOR CARE The Importance of Nutrition and Hydration in Care Homes Food procurement specialists allmanhall, explore the importance of nutrition and hydration in older people, specifically considered for a dignified and person-centric dining experience.

Proper nutrition and hydration are critical in care homes, directly impacting the health, wellbeing, and overall quality of life for residents. Research by BAPEN reveals that malnutrition affects 35% of care home residents in the UK, leading to a variety of health issues including increased infections, poor wound healing, mental health decline, social isolation and increased frailty. This underlines the need for a comprehensive, person-centric approach to food and drink in these environments.

As people age, the risks of malnutrition and dehydration increase, compounded by the natural decline in thirst reflex and, in some cases, cognitive impairments such as dementia. These factors make it challenging for older individuals to maintain adequate nutrition and hydration. Therefore, it's crucial that care home staff adopt a dignified approach to meals, recognising that the involvement in making choices about food remains important even when other capacities are diminished.

At a recent National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Seminar, care professionals emphasised the significance of creating a positive mealtime experience. Engaging residents in conversations about their food preferences, understanding their personal histories, and ensuring that texture-modified meals are both nutritious and appealing are vital steps in enhancing mealtime satisfaction.

Hydration is equally important, playing a key role in bodily functions and the prevention of conditions like urinary tract infections and chronic renal disease. Strategies to encourage fluid intake include offering a

Flavour Creations and Albany Products Since 1997, Flavour Creations’ constant pursuit of ground-breaking dysphagia and nutrition products has delivered better patient outcomes and restored dignity and independence back to its customers.

Our mission is clear: to enhance the quality of all human life, harness our passion, and delight our global family.

A belief in the universal right to high-quality, delicious nutrition drives us to keep creating and to keep finding ways of helping more people eat real food – regardless of their age, lifestyle, or health.

Flavour Creations and Albany Products are pleased to introduce Screamies No-Melt Ice-Scream to the UK dysphagia market.

Launched in 2016, SCREAMIES is a brand with one purpose: to deliver the taste of sumptuous, old-fashioned ice cream, and make it accessible to everyone. Each SCREAMIES product is created with a spe-

variety of beverages, promoting "hydration hour" with mocktails, and providing high-fluid-content foods like soups and yogurts. It's also important to educate care home staff on recognising signs of dehydration, which can manifest as tiredness, headaches, and poor concentration.

Nutritionally, care homes should focus on nutrient-dense foods rather than calorie-dense ones. Incorporating ingredients like eggs, seeds, and Greek yogurt can help ensure that residents receive essential nutrients. Additionally, increasing dietary fibre through foods like whole grains, legumes, and unpeeled fruits can support digestive health and reduce the risk of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. It's important, however, to introduce fibre gradually to avoid digestive discomfort.

For residents with dysphagia, a condition that impairs swallowing, care homes must offer texture-modified diets that are both safe and nutritious. Providing adequate training for staff on preparing these meals, ensuring that they are nutritionally fortified, and enhancing flavours with herbs and spices can make these meals more enjoyable for residents.

In conclusion, providing a holistic, person-centric dining experience in care homes is essential for maintaining the health and dignity of residents. By focusing on nutrition, hydration, and individual preferences, care homes can significantly enhance the quality of life for their residents.

The mealtime experience is so much more than just food. Care establishments across the UK are partnering with allmanhall to manage their food procurement, achieve savings and improvements, and to access support to enhance the overall dining experience. Get in touch – hello@allmanhall.co.uk

cialised no-melt formula, resulting in shelf-stable ice cream products that can be enjoyed by everyone.

SCREAMIES ice-scream also never gets softer than IDDSI Level 4, making it the perfect treat for those with dysphagia.

As well as the traditional three flavours Screamies offers Chocolate and Salted Caramel with added Protein for those with additional nutritional needs.

With a long shelf life Screamies can be stored at ambient temperature and frozen when the time suits.

Flavour Creations also offer a wide range of market leading supporting products for those looking to provide something extra to patients. Pre-thickened Ready to Drink ranges include in excess of 20 flavour profiles. Advital nutritionally complete powder comes flavoured and neutral and is used in snacks like Advital chocolate mousse and Fruits with Attitude. Flavour Creations also supply high quality moulds and Shape It to assist with food preparation at all IDDSI levels.

To find out more simply contact Albany Products at enquiries@albanyproducts.co.uk or call on 01706 632233.

THE FIRST NO-MELT ICE SCREAM 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

No Melt Shelf Stable IDDSI Level 4 Suitable for Dysphagia patients Storage: Ambient - Freeze before Serving Shelf Life – 12 months Convenient - 120g Cup Source of Protein - 8g (protein range) Source of Calcium No Artificial Colours or Flavours Vegetarian Gluten, Nut and Soy Free Certified Halal Certified Kosher (except Strawberry) Low Sodium (except Salted Caramel)

To find out more simply contact Albany Products at enquiries@albanyproducts.co.uk or call on 01706 632233

www.albanyproducts.co.uk

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

ODOUR CONTROL Transform Air Quality in Your Care Home with Biozone’s Purizone Maintaining good air quality is essential in care homes, where residents are often more vulnerable to airborne bacteria, viruses, and unpleasant odours. Clean, fresh air is vital for their well-being, comfort, and overall health. Biozone Scientific’s Purizone offers an advanced air purification solution designed specifically for environments like care homes, where health and hygiene are top priorities.

Why Air Quality Matters in Care Homes Ensuring the environment supports residents' health is crucial for care home managers. Indoor air quality is key in infection control, as harmful pathogens and contaminants can easily spread through the air. Residents with respiratory issues or weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to the risks of poor air quality. Additionally, persistent odours in communal areas or private rooms can negatively impact residents' and visitors' experiences, affecting the home’s reputation and environment.

A Breath of Fresh Air for your Residents The Purizone air purifier uses advanced Photoplasma™ technology to eliminate airborne viruses, bacteria, and allergens. It doesn’t just mask unpleasant odours—it neutralises them at the source, ensuring that every

area of your care home smells fresh and clean.

Here’s why Purizone is the ideal choice for care homes: 1. Superior Pathogen Elimination: Purizone's Photoplasma™ technology actively destroys airborne pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and mould spores, creating a safer environment for residents and staff.

2. Odour Control: Care homes can suffer from persistent odours that are difficult to manage. The Purizone system neutralises these odours rather than just covering them up, providing long-lasting freshness.

3. Low Maintenance: Unlike traditional air purifiers, Purizone requires minimal maintenance, making it an ideal solution for busy care homes. Simply plug it in, and let it work continuously to purify the air.

4. Cost-Effective: Purizone’s energy-efficient design ensures that it delivers

To Care Home Owners and Managers: Neutralise all odours in your care home.

Remove dust, dirt and pathogens from the air.

And improve air quality for everyone.

All for £199 plus 8p per day to run.

It’s called the Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser, Dust Remover, Air Cleaner & Purifier.

It’s a powerful plug-in unit that takes in a whopping 100 cubic metres of air every hour, cleans it and then traps all the odours, dirt, dust and pathogens that are in the air.

No one in the home should have to breathe all of this in.

It releases nothing but odour-free, clean air back into the room.

It costs £199, comes with free UK delivery, a 30-day “no-quibble” money-back guarantee and is so energy-efficiency that it costs less than 8p to run per day.* In fact, because the Smell Away® is so

powerful, only customers with the most stubborn of odours need to actually run it all day. But even if you did, it would cost you less than 8p to run for a full 24 hours.

So, when you can’t open lots of windows, the Smell Away® is the most effective, most cost-efficient way to remove airborne smells, dust, dirt and pathogens from your care home.

Over the past 18 months, we’ve helped over 650 customers across the UK get rid of all kinds of odours and air problems from their homes, care homes, apartments and places of work.

It can do all of this because it’s powerful and built to last. The filter lasts 1-2 years.

Try the Smell Away® for 30 days — order today at www.smellaway.com/care *This is because the Smell Away® consumes just 14 watts (14W) per hour of electricity.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, the UK national average price per pence of kWh of electricity is 22p, as of July 2024. So the calculation is: 0.014kWh x 22p = 0.308p … less than half a penny an hour. Over 24-hours, that’s: 0.308p x 24 = 7.392p

top-tier air purification without increasing energy costs, making it both environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Improving Indoor Air Quality at your Care Home Investing in Purizone means investing in the health, comfort, and satisfaction of residents. By improving indoor air quality, you reduce the risk of airborne illnesses, enhance overall comfort, and improve the reputation of your care home. Fresh air benefits residents and leaves a positive impression on visitors, families, and potential clients.

Give your residents the clean, healthy environment they deserve with Biozone Scientific’s Purizone.

See the advert on the previous page for details.

For more information or to arrange a demonstration, visit https://biozonescientific.com/products/air-range/purizone/ or call us T: 0333 577 6111

Oxy-Gen Powered® Air-Care Range Part of Velair Group Limited, established 2012. Enviro-Save supplies cost-effective and environmentally friendly washroom solutions, as well as being the Master Distributor for the Oxy-Gen Powered® air-care range in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Oxy-Gen Powered® is the only technology that harnesses the power of pure oxygen to guarantee the delivery of fragrance into the air continuously, consistently and accurately for the entire duration of the cartridge life.

This innovative system is based on fuel cell technology that is used in the pharmaceutical industry to deliver drugs to human beings and animals.

Oxy-Gen Powered® technology is simple, reliable and cost-effective.

All Oxy-Gen Powered® fragrance cartridges contain Neutra-Lox, our proprietary odour eliminating ingredient that is extremely effective against the smell of urine, faeces, body odour, tobacco, pet malodour, kitchen odour, mould, mildew and more.

Unlike other systems that only mask odours, Oxy-Gen Powered® cartridges eliminate odours and release fragrance effectively and continuously.

Carbon footprint approved, and 100% recyclable cartridges; choose Oxy-Gen Powered® for cleaner air and a cleaner earth.

With no added solvents, alcohols, CFCs, VOCs or propellants, our Oxy-Gen Powered® cartridges contain 100% pure fragrance oil and are a safe choice for any facility.

See the advert on this page for further information.

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS

Energy Saving Innovation from Girbau Washers and Dryers Girbau’s GS7 Genius washer and ED dryer ranges are among the most energy efficient available today, thanks to a host of energy saving innovations in their design and manufacture.

Available with capacities ranging from 9 to 32kg, Genius washers feature a robust chassis design, high levels of water extraction and a 10-inch colour user interface. Their sustained higher spin speeds create a 450G extraction force, higher than available from other manufacturers. This reduces drying time by at least 10% and drying energy consumption by up to 30%.

The washers themselves are the most efficient on the market, reducing energy consumption by up to 15%. Girbau’s own tests on the Genius GS7018 washer found that it typically used 2.5 kWh for each full 18kg load cycle. This compares to 3.5kWh of a comparable washer from a leading competitor.

“With each kWh unit costing businesses around 25p today, the savings soon begin to mount up when machines are used all day every day in a care home,” says Jeremy Paul, Commercial Sales Manager at Girbau UK. “If we said eight cycles per day for 365 days, that’s a saving of £730 per machine per year, and more if we see electricity prices rising again.”

GENIUS washers come with the easy-to-use Sapphire management system that allows you to completely monitor, manage and configure a laundry from anywhere, giving greater control for energy efficient opera-

tion. Sapphire also allows you to check machine status and alarms as well as analysing data trends to spot how operational efficiency can be improved. You can also set up activity reports and use the alarms feature to show down times and check machine history.

Designed to be more energy efficient than conventional dryers, Girbau’s ED range of premium performance dryers feature the company’s unique Transflow technology. This is a combination of both radial and axial airflow for maximum efficiency, reduced cycle times and lower energy costs. Cabinet insulation and a double-glazed door further optimise energy efficiency by preventing heat loss.

The highly reliable and accurate built-in humidity control system automatically senses when clothes are dry and activates the cool down process, preventing wasteful and damaging overdrying, maximising energy efficiency and assuring textile care.

“Comparing Girbau’s ED260 with our previous generation GU030 dryer, we are seeing a saving from the latest machine of between £2 and £3 per day in gas use for each full day of operation,” Jeremy Paul adds.

Tel: 01462 427780 Email: sales.uk@girbau.com Website: www.girbau.com

Washing Machines for Care Homes MAG Laundry Equipment is a multi-award-winning supplier of commercial washing machines & tumble dryers that supports over 10,000 care homes across the UK. Clean laundry and bedding is critical for care homes, hospices, nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare organisations. With a nationwide fleet of accredited engineers MAG Laundry Equipment has successfully assisted over ten thousand care homes with their products, services, information and support.

MAG’s product range includes commercial washing machines, tumble dryers, ironers, presses and detergents. For 100 years, since 1922, MAG’s products

have been developed and improved to become some of the most reliable, energyefficient and affordable machines on the market. Care homes have peace-of-mind that their laundry machines can quickly be maintained and repaired as MAG Laundry Equipment supply, install and service equipment across England, Scotland and Wales.

If you are looking for high quality wash results that remove stubborn stains then speak with MAG for their recommendations. Complete thermal disinfection is a standard feature on their washing machines for nursing homes. To find out more about how MAG can support your care home telephone 01353 883025 or visit www.maglaundryequipment.co.uk

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS

Forbes Advises on a Cost and Energy Efficient Choice for Care Homes When it comes to laundry appliance procurement, sustainability has become an increasingly crucial consideration, with care homes striving to reduce their carbon footprints and do their bit for the environment. Laundry operations are a significant factor in this effort, especially given that. traditionally, the energy consumption of tumble dryers has been notoriously high.

However, with advancements in technology, it’s now possible to achieve excellent drying results while maintaining impressive energy and cost efficiency.

Miele’s heat pump dryers stand out as an ideal solution, reducing energy consumption by up to 60% compared to traditional vented dryers. The Ecoplus technology in Miele’s dryers ensures that both energy consumption and drying times remain consistently low. Additionally, the interaction between Miele’s filter system and the maintenance-free heat exchanger prevents fluff from clogging the heat exchanger, maintaining exceptional drying efficiency.

Safety concerns have led care homes to move away from gas appliances, avoiding costly annual gas checks and enforced building adaptations for regulatory compliance. Miele’s heat pump commercial dryers are not only safe but also eliminate the need for

complicated and expensive exhaust ducting and its incumbent periodic cleaning. This provides greater flexibility in machine positioning, making them even more convenient for care homes with varying spatial configurations.

Forbes Professional offers a wide range of Miele heat pump dryers, catering to different needs with models ranging from 7kg to 22kg capacities, including the slimline PDR 511 11kg. Miele’s machines are renowned for their superior functionality and reliability and help maintain the requisite hygiene standards of a healthcare environment. Whether you choose to rent or purchase laundry appliances, Forbes Professional provides comprehensive services that include installation, commissioning, user training, and award-winning repair and maintenance support.

Forbes provides a consultative service with a complimentary site survey to help specify the right machine for each requirement. They would advise any care operator that opting for Miele’s heat pump dryers, can significantly cut energy costs and optimise both energy and operational efficiency. forbespro.co.uk | info@forbes-professional.co.uk | 0345 070 2335

Environmentally Friendly Industrial Laundry Equipment Our Lavamac range of commercial laundry equipment covers the unique range of AF washers, LDR dryers and LH rotary irons together with specialist drying cabinets.

Capacity’s between 5kg to 120kg and heat sources that include Gas, Electricity, Steam and Electric Heat Pump technology.

Ideally sized to all requirements for healthcare situations the completely flexible controls are easy to operate and program to specialist situations.

Lavamac industrial laundry equipment has also received the prestigious Bronze Sustaibnability award in recognition of their policies and procedures based commitment to maintain a sustainable business for ourselves or customers and the environment The three main points Lavamac have been recognised for are: 1. Air source heat pump dryers , connected load 3kw as opposed to 30Kw for a 16kg elec-

tric dryer and 25-30 kw for Gas , clean efficient and saving the planet available from £10995 fully refurbished to £16995.00 new both with 24 months parts and labour warranty and the option to extend and cost effective annual premium ?

Refurbished Equipment, we completely rebuild any current model of Primus , 2.

Lavamac or Ipso washers , dryers and ironers . I full ground up restoration leaves these machines as good ( if not better than ) New ! sold , rented of leased these machines are between 40-50% of cost of their new equivalent with a warranty as new 24 months parts and labour ( see attached literature on our product range ) 3. Intelligent washings machines ( In conjunction with our partners www.countrywidehealthcare.co.uk ) we can potentially reduce chemical usage by up to 35% and labour by 30 % See the advert on this page for further information on Lavamac.

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

SENSORY STIMULATION

Sensory Stimulation in Care

By Scott Williamson, Managing Director, MBS Relaxing Music Video Productions (www.mbsrelaxingmv.com) Scott is creator of the ‘Resident Connect Experience’ program, designed to support residents, their loved ones, and carers. Scott is also committed to helping the broader care community by contributing to leading charities. MBS's company goal is to not only uplift residents but also give back to the people and organisations making a difference in the care industry daily.

In the ever-changing and often demanding environment of residential and nursing care homes, prioritising the well-being of residents is paramount. As care providers, it is imperative to explore innovative methods to enhance the quality of life for those in care, especially individuals living with cognitive impairments such as dementia. One highly impactful method embraced in recent years is sensory stimulation, a comprehensive approach that enhances physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. With the integration of advanced AI technology, newer technologies such as personalised, relaxing music videos breathe new life into old black-and-white photos by colourising them, accompanied by soothing music, captivating landscape visuals, and cherished family photos or video messages. This provides a distinctive way to deliver a holistic, sensory-enriched experience that significantly bene-

personalised landscapes or family-themed videos, residents can engage in taste sessions, trying familiar and comforting flavours, adding another dimension to the sensory experience.

THE BENEFITS OF SENSORY STIMULATION The implementation of sensory stimulation has wide-reaching benefits that can positively impact residents' emotional, psychological, and physical health. Regular sensory activities offer the following advantages: - Reduction in Agitation and Restlessness: Especially for residents with dementia, these videos create a sense of familiarity and calm, reducing anxiety and behavioural issues.

- Improved Cognitive Function: Engaging residents’ brains through visual and auditory stimuli helps maintain and, in some cases, improve cognitive abilities, providing meaningful engagement.

- Enhanced Communication: Residents who struggle with verbal communication often respond emotionally or cognitively to visual and auditory cues. Personalised videos offer alternative ways for residents to express themselves, facilitating greater interaction.

- Increased Social Interaction: When shared in group settings, these videos encourage social engagement, helping reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.

fits elderly residents and those with dementia.

SENSORY STIMULATION FOR DEMENTIA PATIENTS

DIVERSE FORMS OF SENSORY EXPERIENCES

For dementia patients, sensory stimulation plays a particularly important role in their care. Personalised videos offer structure, evoke memories, and facilitate moments of connection between residents and caregivers or family members. Combining these videos with other sensory activities, such as memory boxes filled with personal items, can deepen the experience, triggering memories and meaningful conversation.

There are many ways to incorporate sensory experiences into daily care, each offering unique benefits for residents: 1. Visual Stimulation: Personalised relaxing music videos use serene, natural landscapes and family memories to captivate residents' visual senses. These familiar images, paired with scenic backdrops, evoke positive emotions and comfort. Advanced technologies, such as AI-powered colourisation of old black-and-white photos, bring memories of the past to life, enriching the experience further by reconnecting residents with their personal history.

2. Auditory Stimulation: The choice of music in these videos is key. Rather than familiar music that may evoke specific emotions or memories, soothing and non-intrusive sounds are purposefully chosen to enhance deep relaxation and open the senses to help immerse themselves in the visuals and relax without the distraction of nostalgia, allowing for a more profound sensory experience.

3. Tactile Stimulation: Personalised videos can be paired with tactile activities to further engage residents.

Watching these calming visuals while interacting with textured objects, fidget blankets, or engaging in simple activities like handling soft fabrics can provide enhanced comfort and sensory richness.

4. Olfactory Stimulation: While videos alone do not engage the sense of smell, pairing them with aromatherapy sessions, using calming scents like lavender or invigorating fragrances like citrus, can amplify the relaxation experience, making it more immersive and holistic.

5. Gustatory Stimulation: Taste experiences can also complement sensory videos. For example, while watching

CREATING SENSORY ROOMS IN CARE HOMES Many care homes have found success in creating dedicated sensory rooms. Personalised relaxing music videos are ideal for use in these spaces, where they can be combined with soft lighting, calming scents, and tactile objects to offer a fully immersive environment. These sensory rooms provide a tranquil retreat for residents, allowing them to engage multiple senses in a way that is soothing and beneficial.

THE POWER OF VISUAL LANDSCAPES FOR SENSORY STIMULATION Visual landscapes, such as nature scenes, are an invaluable tool for sensory stimulation. For residents who may no longer be able to experience the outdoors firsthand, these videos offer a powerful connection to the natural world. Scenes of oceans, forests, or mountain views have been shown to reduce anxiety, alleviate stress, and promote mental well-being. The immersive quality of these visuals, when combined with soothing music, provides a window to the outside world, offering comfort and emotional enrichment for residents who may feel disconnected from nature.

AI TRANSFORMING RESIDENT CARE The integration of AI into sensory stimulation is revolutionising how care homes approach resident wellbeing. AI technologies, such as the colourisation of old photographs, help residents reconnect with their past in vivid detail. These enhanced visuals, combined with calming music and personal video messages from loved ones, create a multi-sensory experience that reduces anxiety and promotes emotional well-being.

This innovative use of AI not only improves the sensory experience but also strengthens cognitive function, making it an essential tool in modern care homes.

THE VALUE OF PHOTOS AND VIDEO MESSAGES FROM LOVED ONES Incorporating photos and video messages from loved ones adds an emotional layer to sensory stimulation. Seeing familiar faces and hearing the voices of family members triggers emotional recognition, which can provide comfort and reduce anxiety, especially for those experiencing memory loss. This personalised approach creates meaningful connections, stimulating both visual and auditory pathways and offering moments of joy and clarity for residents.

Moreover, video messages combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. Residents feel a stronger sense of belonging and connection to their loved ones, even if they cannot be physically present. This can significantly enhance their overall well-being, contributing to a more enriching care environment.

SENSORY THERAPY ALSO HELPS CAREGIVERS Sensory therapy, particularly 30-minute video experiences, serves as a versatile tool for structured activities. With the ability to loop the videos for longer experiences, caregivers can find moments of respite while enhancing the well-being of residents. Creating a calm and engaged environment through sensory videos can improve the caregiving experience and reduce caregiver burnout.

CONCLUSION The integration of sensory stimulation, particularly through personalised AI-enhanced relaxing music videos, offers a transformative approach to improving the well-being of residents in care homes. By engaging multiple senses including visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and even gustatory, these videos provide a holistic and enriching experience that benefits both residents and caregivers. For individuals living with cognitive impairments like dementia, these sensory experiences evoke memories, reduce anxiety, and foster emotional connections.

The use of advanced AI technologies, such as the colourisation of old photos, combined with serene landscapes, soothing music, and messages from loved ones, adds a deeply personal and meaningful dimension to the care environment. The implementation of sensory rooms and dedicated sensory activities not only enhances residents' physical and emotional health but also offers caregivers a valuable tool for creating a calm, structured environment. As care homes continue to evolve, embracing sensory therapies will remain essential in promoting a higher quality of life for elderly residents and those living with dementia.

Enhancing the Care Home Experience At MBS Relaxing Music Video Productions, we specialise in the production of personalised 30-minute relaxing music videos designed to offer a unique sensory experience for residents in care and nursing homes.

Our bespoke videos combine serene music, stunning global landscapes, and treasured photographs and videos of residents' loved ones from the past and present. The

videos are specially designed to provide a comforting experience by reconnecting residents with their family, friends, and the outside world.

We are excited to offer a no-obligation free trial to all new care groups/homes. We are confident that this opportunity will allow you to experience the full benefits of our exceptional service.

See the advert on this page for details.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 43

SENSORY STIMULATION Music 4 Memories Headsets If you have a loved one in a care home then you need to hear about Music 4 Memories Headsets!

Our Headsets aren’t just Headphones, they are a bridge to the past. These Headphones come pre-loaded with choices of music from the 1940s onwards.

Bringing back those golden memories.

Easy to use, and completely wire-free, they are designed with simplicity in mind, No Bluetooth or devices are required.

Care homes can even create wish

lists on our website ensuring every resident gets a personalized musical experience.

Music has an incredible impact on the brain, especially for those with Dementia, it reduces anxiety, brings happiness and most of all it evokes beautiful vivid memories Give the gift of joy, nostalgia, and connection with Music 4 Memories Headsets. Where every song is a step back to cherished moments.

Relieve those glory days, Pop on some headphones and let the memories dance back to you. www.music-4-memories.co.uk

®

The Importance of Snoezelen and Reminiscence Rooms for Older Adults As society progresses, we need to make sure we tend to the unique needs that older adults may have in their later life.

A lack of choice and control is a frustrating reality for many people who might be managing the effects of a range of conditions, from sensory processing disorders such as autism, brain injury to dementia.

Our Snoezelen® and reminiscence rooms breathe a sense of relaxation and cognitive stimulation for elderly individuals – specially designed to help engage, to comfort, and produce a sense of belonging. Our products and rooms have been carefully selected to support people with different sensory or cognitive requirements.

Investing in Older Adults Snoezelen® reminiscence rooms; care facilities, retirement communities, and healthcare organisations can significantly enhance the quality of life for older adults, promot-

ing their physical, emotional, and cognitive wellbeing.

The benefits of sensory, reminiscence and therapeutic resources for older adults and those with dementia can be life-changing as they can provide a safe and supportive setting for older adults to reminisce about past experiences, fostering a sense of identity and connection.

Through personally recognisable memorabilia, photographs, and interactive displays, older adults can also engage in meaningful reminiscence therapy.

At Older Adults provided by Rompa®, we are proud to lead the way in creating innovative solutions that empower elderly individuals to live their best lives.

Contact us to transform your space: https://www. olderadults.co.uk/contacts/ Tel: 01246 210416 Email: sales@olderadults. co.uk Web: www.olderadults. co.uk

Pre-Loaded Musical Headphones • Wire Free

• Lightweight • Easy to Use

• Hours of Play • No Devices Needed

• No Apps Needed

• Choice of Genres

Bringing Back Memories Through Music

www.music-4-memories.co.uk

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Pass by everyLIFE 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 suite of digital care management tools, available from a single platform, designed to: • Save you time • Increase the efficiency of your teams • Improve the quality of care • Deliver better outcomes

INTEGRATED HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE Our commitment to the continual evolution of PASS is further illustrated by the addition of GP Connect. The first product of its type to offer this feature, PASS is still one of only a handful of digital care man-

agement solutions to have completed this NHS Digital integration, and is the only one offering it to the home care market.

PASS GP Connect provides authorised social care staff with realtime access to their client’s GP records. It makes medical information available when and where it is needed, leading to improvements in both care safety and outcomes: • Visibility of allergies, vaccinations and medications, especially useful for clients unable to reliably share their personal information • Using medical information to inform care planning • Ensuring that the right medication is delivered to the right person in the timeliest manner. In one case, this allowed the administration of antibiotics on a Friday evening, aiding the service user’s swift recovery from infection Available to all PASS users at no additional cost, PASS GP Connect is significantly more efficient than waiting for a GP response. It’s also a positive step forward on the path to the DHSC’s goal for widespread digitally enabled care and is in full alignment with their ambition for joined up care for everyone.

Get in touch: www.everylifetechnologies.com hello@everylifetechnologies.com

Empowering Carers Through Technology The job of a care worker, though immensely rewarding, is not without its challenges. A growing demand for social care has seen carers placed under greater strain, with a mounting workload and limited resources.

Increasingly, carers are also exposed to abusive and even violent behaviour from service users and their relatives. Be it deliberate or, as often the case, unintentional. Such aggression can leave a profound mark on diligent and dedicated care staff.

The solution to many a modern-day problem is often tech and so too is this the case when dealing with today’s care landscape.

STAFF ALARM SYSTEMS Tech has proven to be a friend to the care worker, automating administrative tasks, enhancing reporting and, in the case of staff

alarm systems, protecting them from potential harm.

What was originally a bell to alert colleagues to the need for assistance has become far more sophisticated. The modern safety alarm is discreet, can be easily attached – if not part of – the wearer’s uniform. It is supremely efficient and designed with the accuracy to pinpoint the exact location of an active call in a ward of over 80 rooms.

With the press of a button, carers have immediate access to a team of responders able to assist, provide cover, and - where needed intervene to de-escalate high-risk situations. This access instils confidence in staff: confidence that the highest quality of care can be delivered, and confidence in their safety in the workplace.

For overwhelmed care workers, the ability to summon help with

the press of a button is incredibly empowering. Be it calling lunchtime cover on a 1-to-1 patient, or requesting urgent assistance with an abusive resident, the alarm offers staff a greater deal of control, assurance and resources while at work.

HOW DOES IT WORK? In Pinpoint’s case, an integrated staff safety system ensures full site security. When activated, a personal staff alarm emits infrared signals to receiver units installed throughout the building. These, in turn, send vital information to display units and devices, such as pagers, and desktops, detailing the exact location and type of call – assistance or emergency.

Within 85 milliseconds of triggering an alarm, colleagues are informed that an incident is taking place and, crucially, exactly where it is in the building.

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Let’s succeed together

PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Empowering Carers Through Technology (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGES)

surance that help was only a button-press away. Maria Donnellan, a Clinical Nurse Manager on the ward,

The application of infrared technology to provide precise, reliable and efficient data is critical here.

Rather than rely on WIFI-dependant systems - which are prone to interference and inconsistency – Pinpoint’s infrared systems deliver an accurate, consistent service that care workers can trust. And, for a

said “If a resident becomes abusive toward a member of the team, or if a patient is choking, staff can quickly call for support and know it will soon be on its way.” As a result, staff report higher levels of job satisfaction and reduced stress caused by the threat of violence.

As the care home environment evolves, so too have alarm systems. Far from the traditional bell caller of

growing care home population, such precision and dependability have never been more important.

SUPPORTING THE WORKFORCE

old, the modern alarm is a wireless integrated system that ensures a precise and efficient response.

The presence of high-performance alarm systems in care home settings has proven invaluable to workers.

With increasing demands being placed on care workers due to a growing care home population and staff shortages, the ability to quickly summon additional assistance is crucial to their sense of wellbeing and

A testament to innovation, the contemporary staff alarm system is a tool to empower care staff in what can be a challenging setting. By enabling immediate response to emergencies, promoting a safe environment, enhancing communication, building confidence, encouraging accountability, facilitating regulatory compliance, and providing peace of mind, staff alarm systems are essential for modern care environments.

security.

For staff in St Brigid’s Hospital in Galway, the installation of Pinpoint’s staff alarm system provided reas-

Visit www.pinpoint.ltd.uk or see the advert on the previous page for further details.

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years.

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!

Upgrade your falls programme with the latest technology from Fall Savers®. The NEW Fall Savers® Wireless eliminates the cord between the monitor and sensor pad. This results in less work for nursing staff, improved safety for patients and reduced wear and tear on sensor pads. Wireless advantages include the ability to use one monitor with two sensor pads simultaneously and support for many new wireless devices.

BENEFITS INCLUDE: Safer for patients; less work for staff Bed and chair pads available One monitor works with two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems A variety of options, including: Call button Pager Floor sensor mat Wireless door/window exit alerts

TREADNOUGHT ®FLOOR SENSOR PAD The TreadNought® Floor Sensor Pad is built to last with a durable construction that far out lasts the competition. Our anti-bacterial floor sensor pad is compatible with most nurse call systems or can be used with a

portable pager to sound an alert when a person steps on to the sensor pad. Caregivers typically place the sensor pad at the bedside, in a doorway or other locations to monitor persons at risk for falls or wandering. An optional anti-slip mesh reduces the potential for slippage on hard surface floors.

FEATURES INCLUDE: Connects directly to most nurse call systems High Quality anti-bacterial Floor Sensor Pad Large Size Pad: Measures (L) 91cm x (H) 61cm Options (sold separately): Anti-slip mesh for hard surface floors See the advert on this page for further details or visit www.fallsavers.co.uk.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 47

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Nursecall Shop Brings You Everything from Accessories & Falls Monitors to Complete DIY Systems From Falls Sensors to Wireless Crash Mats and pendants through to complete systems, Nursecall Shop has become a trusted supplier of quality products since its’ launch in 2016.

It has become a valuable source of vital spares for most nurses call systems. For example, purchasing a jack socket nut can allow a call point to be repaired cheaply without the need to completely replace the whole unit.

Anti-Ligature & Anti bacterial pull cords are a popular replacement for old nylon string. These can be easily changed by the user and provide a good wipe clean alternative.

Assistive technology is used in almost every care home and forms a vital part of the care provided to residents. When connected to a Nurse Call system, it is the primary way staff are alerted to the needs of the resident. Nursecall Shop has a whole range

of assistive technology that can connect to most nurse call systems and is ready to order online.

Wired and wireless bed and chair sensor packages are available. These help monitor a vulnerable resident trying to get out of bed or up off a chair and alert staff immediately. An urgent response can help prevent falls and injury to the resident.

Ordering these through the online store is simple, choose the package, specify the nurse call system and checkout. It’s as easy as that. Visit NursecallShop.co.uk today and use CARER15 for a 15% discount off your order, minimum spend of £20 (offer expires 2/12/24).

Contact us on : Email : support@nursecallshop.co.uk Tel : 0330 321 1060

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

PAGE 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Stay Safe with Smart Wireless Nurse Call In the post pandemic world, we have all seen the effects of supply chain problems with the invasion of Ukraine and other alarming global factors, ever increasing costs of living and other more local issues which have driven up the rate of inflation over the last few years. The impact of this meant that most manufacturers of electronic products had to increase their prices as costs spiralled. This, of course, has impacted the end user.

The most dramatic impact has been on the Care Industry. An industry that has lacked the support it desperately needs in these trying times.

Courtney Thorne, at the same time, took a strategic decision to take a close look at our core products, right down to component level, the objective being to make us less vulnerable to future global supply chain issues, and to reduce the cost of each product with the amin of ensuring that we deliver the same high quality product at a cost protected price. We had to ensure that this would happen without jeopardising the superb lev-

els of support we provide to our valued customer base.

This ground up review involved all departments from Research and Development right through to the Field Service team (and everything in-between). This in-depth collaboration took time as we had to ensure that each and every element was refined, perfected and tested to our (and our customers) rigorous requirements.

Whilst many organisations have limited-time or end of product line offers, we are very pleased to announce a price reduction on our core Connect and Connect Health Nurse Call system ranges. With flexible terms, full integration with Care Apps, celebrated service delivery and the most reliable and robust solution now at a new lower price, there has never been a better time to talk to us about a new nurse call system.

For more information email us at: info@c-t.co.uk or see the advert on this page.

Blaucomm Ltd - Telecommunications & Networks Blaucomm’s Nurse Call Messaging Service (NMS) is the market leading solution to remove the dependency on noisy nurse call panels and pagers, through its intelligent software, which delivers the alerts straight to the care staff who need them.

Care homes are rapidly introducing smartphones for digital care planning and eMar now, the same devices can be used to receive the nurse call alerts they need for the residents under their care.

Furthermore, Blaucomm NMS is deeply linked into Person Centred Software MCM, so call bell data is linked straight to care plans. This unlocks a huge benefit to care homes to enhance the staff performance with how they accept and respond to residents, which ultimately promotes better response times and visibility for management to audit their performance.

The best part is that Blaucomm NMS links into your existing nurse call system - we work with all major

brands such as Aidcall, ARM, Courtney Thorne, C-TEC, ENS, Intercall, Medicare, SAS and TeleAlarm.

Care operators are constantly recognising Blaucomm NMS for its reliability and dependability to their care operations, which is why we’ve been chosen time and time again over other solutions.

Head of IT Trudi Harrow at WCS Care had this to say about Blaucomm NMS: “We find Blaucomm is a genuinely fantastic company with a reliable product.

"We would highly recommend this to anybody who wants to replace expensive pagers and silence those annoyingly loud nurse call screens!”

To find out more about Blaucomm NMS, visit www.blaucomm.co.uk/healthcare See the advert page 5 for more details.

Crash Mats Designed to Reduce Injuries from Bed Falls Medpage Limited has collaborated with a leading UK manufacturer of crash mats to deliver a cost-effective tool for falls management strategies. The inclusion of the new TumbleCare full-length pressure mat sensor ensures that should a patient tumble out of bed, an alarm signal is generated to alert care staff to the incident, resulting in a recordable improvement to patient safety and service.

Crash mats act as a protective barrier, absorbing the impact of a fall and reducing the risk of serious injuries when a person tumbles out of bed. Beneficial for individuals who are at high risk of falling, such as older adults, patients recovering from surgery, or those with neurological conditions such as epilepsy.

Falls can pose significant risks, especially in healthcare settings and senior care facilities.

Every year, thousands of people suffer injuries due to falls from beds and other furniture. To prevent these accidents and ensure the safety of patients and residents, it is essential to implement effective falls and safety management strategies.

Further details can be obtained by telephoning 01536 264 869 or emailing sales@easylinkuk.co.uk See the advert the previous page for details.

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Effective Leaders are Responsible Managers: Explore the Charted Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) with Mary Seacole at the University of Exeter Have you ever wondered about advancing your career, but unsure how to gain the qualifications required whist working? There is an ever-increasing demand for skilled managers within the care sector, and having practical experience is just not enough to fill those positions.

Gaining a BSc (Hons) in Responsible Business Manager and becoming a Charted Manager with Mary Seacole at the University of Exeter, a Russell Group University is an ideal pathway for those aspiring to lead teams in a healthcare setting.

This tailored apprenticeship allows you to combine practical experience with academic learning, developing crucial leadership skills while working hands-on in the care sector. As a degree apprentice, you’ll learn from world-class academics, research experts, and experienced managers, developing a strong foundation in leadership, communication, and problem-solving—vital skills for managing clinical staff and operations effectively. You’ll also develop competen-

cies in performance management, care regulations, and strategic planning, all essential for advancing in managerial roles.

By earning while you learn, this apprenticeship is both financially advantageous and academically rewarding, equipping you with recognized qualifications that can accelerate your career. This pathway aims to empower you to lead in a growing sector, making a meaningful impact while progressing your career in care management.

If you this interest you, please come to our speaker session at The Care Show in Birmingham on the 10th October, and we are also on Stand F14 at the show to answer any of your questions.

See the advert on this page for further information.

3ET - Certified Training Courses At 3ET we are the experts in emergency evacuation equipment and training. Our years of experience means we design, manufacture and supply emergency evacuation products that really work, to aid patient movement and handling and help make the emergency evacuation of buildings easier, quicker and safer. In addition, our practical product training and ‘train the trainer’ sessions ensure your staff know exactly how to use the equipment and have the confidence to do so in an emergency.

Our practical emergency evacuation training courses are designed to teach exactly that. Held on site, so that staff learn to operate the equipment in their own setting, and drawing on our personal experiences in the emergency services, they cover how to deploy and use evacuation chairs and evacuation

pads as well as other products from slide sheets to slings.

We pride ourselves on our personal service and that extends beyond ensuring you get the right equipment for your setting and people. When you buy from us, we make a commitment to provide ongoing training and support for as long as you need it.

Whether it is to train new starters, give existing staff a refresher or learn about a totally new product, we can provide engaging and interactive training sessions to ensure your staff are fully confident in operating evacuation chairs and other emergency moving and handing equipment.

For further information see the advert on this page or visit www.3ET.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 49

PAGE 50 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Managers Must Upskill To Tackle Workplace Conflict

By Daphne Doody-Green, UK Market Director, CIPD (www.cipd.org) )

Work can and should always be a force for good.

But one in four workers (25%) in the north of England have experienced conflict at work over the past year, with most choosing not to report incidents such as verbal abuse and harassment, according to the 2024 CIPD Good Work Index: North of England report.

The research – from the annual survey of close to 900 workers across Yorkshire and Humber, the North East and North West - also reveals that victims of workplace conflict suffer more from poor mental health and a lack of trust and confidence in management.

As a trusted advisor to the government, the CIPD - the professional body for HR and people development - is calling for employers to ensure line managers are trained and prepared to deal with conflict effectively. This starts with addressing the underlying causes, such as poor management practices and excessive workloads.

including unfair treatment and sexual harassment.

To achieve this, they need to participate in regular people management training. This should offer specifics around what bullying, discrimination and harassment looks like, and how to resolve conflict by being able to have difficult, yet open and honest conversations, to prevent and tackle conflict at work.

Managers must also take the time to understand their organisation’s policies and procedures on bullying, discrimination, and harassment and how to report issues in a timely manner, so they are investigated swiftly.

WHAT CONSTITUTES AS BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION, AND HARASSMENT?

Rising technology and remote working is giving many employees – particularly parents and carers – a better work-life balance. However, the blurred lines between work and home have led to many staff working longer hours to manage increasing workloads – often out of hours and working when they are ill.

Line managers need to take effective steps to manage the main risks of excessive workloads which can cause stress and mental ill health among their workers.

The world of work is changing at pace and line managers are facing many new people challenges. For some employees, homeworking and the rise of technology threatens to create an ‘always-on’ culture where issues can be spread far and wide, across online chat platforms.

Therefore, it’s never been more important for line managers to play a vital role in identifying, challenging, and dealing with conflict at work,

IS A MANAGER’S ‘STYLE’ CAUSING CONFLICT AND STRESS? Managers are at the heart of people’s experience of their workplace.

What they do and say has a significant impact on their team’s motivation, engagement, and overall performance. This explains why ‘management style’ can often be the source of conflict and is the second most common cause of stress at work, after unmanageable workload.

People managers must reflect on their own management style and the impact their behaviour has on others. They should become part of the solution to resolving workplace conflict at an early, informal stage, before incidents escalate.

To do this, people managers must be open, collaborative, and compassionate to create a culture where staff feel trusted and confident to speak up without fear of judgement or being ignored.

AVOIDING EXCESSIVE WORKLOADS & AN ‘ALWAYS ON CULTURE’

BECOME A QUALIFIED TRAINER! Preventing & Managing Challenging Behaviour

MONITORING AND REVIEWING WORKPLACE CONFLICT Staff attitude surveys will enable people managers and the wider organisation to collect feedback in areas like gender equality and bullying and harassment.

Monitoring the gender diversity of the workforce at every level, including for recruitment and promotion, will also help to highlight if there is any potential discrimination or harassment on grounds of gender.

NEW LAW TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT From October 2024 the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill will strengthen existing protection for workers against sexual harassment.

The new law will place a new duty on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment. Tribunals will have the power to increase compensation by up to 25% if they find an employer has breached this duty.

Therefore, it is essential that people managers are proactive and systematic in how they tackle and prevent sexual harassment at work by providing evidence of the reasonable steps taken. This includes undertaking regular training and development to understand their role in preventing and addressing sexual harassment.

FREE RESOURCES FOR LINE MANAGERS The CIPD offer a range of free resources for people managers to develop their management capabilities and prevent and tackle workplace conflict including bullying and harassment.

Change the Way We Train Staff Training care home staff is essential to providing highquality care, but traditional methods can often be dull and ineffective. Game-based learning and peer-to-peer learning offer a more engaging and impactful approach, helping staff absorb information in a fun, interactive way.

Game-based learning uses play to make training more enjoyable and memorable. By transforming key topics like infection control, dementia care, and mental health into games, staff can practice real-world scenarios in a safe, low-pressure environment. This type of learning encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork, all while improving knowledge retention. The challenge and repetition in games help staff retain essential information, ensuring it’s available when needed on the job.

Social Care TV

SecuriCare was established in 1995 and has been providing training to care providers for over 30 years. We help them and their staff to positively support service users who present behaviours that challenge service and care delivery or are hazardous to themselves or others.

FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY! SecuriCare now offers a franchise programme (UK) to equip the successful franchisee to deliver SecuriCare training programmes in their designated territory.

As part of this, they must assess individual and team workloads to make sure they are reasonable, set clear expectations about taking breaks, and act as role models for healthy working practices. This includes taking time off themselves when sick. Providing staff with autonomy to control how, where and when they work is also key to empower, rather than restrict them, in their roles.

For more information contact: E: trainers@securicare.com T: 01904 492 442 www.securicare.com

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

Social Care TV continue to fly the flag for highest quality online training for Health and Social Care, after unwavering commitment to excellence within the sector for over 25 years.

Their widely-used health and social care specific courses - produced and edited in-house - are expertly designed to make learning engaging, informative and, therefore, highly effective for learners.

Accredited by CPD and endorsed by Skills for Care, training with Social Care TV is quality assured, comprehensive and relevant.

As one of the leading online training providers in the health and social care sector in the UK, they supply training for local authorities, recruitment agencies, care home groups and other health and social care organisations.

Their feature-rich Manager platform has further been enhanced this year with the introduction of several new Manager tools designed to aid with compliance, reporting and trainee management. Features now available include: • Compliance Dashboard with Traffic Light System • Downloadable Trainee Matrix • Custom Bundles • Trainee Groups

Peer-to-peer learning complements this by fostering collaboration. When staff share knowledge and experiences, they gain practical insights from colleagues who face the same challenges daily. This type of learning builds team cohesion and improves communication.

By combining these two methods, care homes can create a more engaging and supportive training environment. Staff learn better, work better together, and provide higher-quality care for residents.

At Focus Games, we offer a range of training games designed for care homes, helping you empower your staff through the power of play and peer learning. See our advert on the front cover or visit www.FocusGames.com

• Bulk Uploads • Bulk Enrolment Onto Custom Bundles • Course Enrolment Notifications • Course Reminders SCTV regularly release new and updated high-quality courses. Previews for all courses can be viewed at: Courses - Social Care TV (www.social-care.tv/ courses/course-details) To enhance their learners' experience further they have created free, comprehensive subject-specific workbooks which were rolled out across all courses this year. This unique addition provides excellent value and a fully robust training package.

SCTV believe that high quality training should be accessible to all and offer regular, free courses which include a digital certificate accessible via their website.

The company stands behind a clear mission and set of values which define their ethos and their dedication to both the Care Sector and those within it. These can be viewed at: Mission Statement and Core Values Social Care TV (www.social-care.tv/about/mission-statement-andcore-values) For more information please see: Homepage Social Care TV (www.social-care.tv)

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214 | PAGE 51

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Cyber Security: Defend As One

By Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Programme Manager - Better Security, Better Care, Digital Care Hub Cyber security is much more than the technical responsibility of a care provider’s IT department. It’s a shared duty across every level of the organisation and beyond to its partners.

The Better Security, Better Care programme at Digital Care Hub has seen record numbers of care providers taking steps to improve their cyber security. Over 72% of care providers are now using the official self-assessment tool - the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) - to check and improve their arrangements - up from just 13% in 2021.

But we know that’s really just the start. Having the right policies and procedures in place is essential – and a legal, regulatory and contractual requirement. But it’s day-to-day practice that makes the real difference.

Cyber security awareness needs to be embedded within organisational culture, in the same was as safeguarding is at the core of every service. Care workers, managers and administrators to think about cyber security whenever they are using technology – including personal smartphones that are used for work.

Tips for care providers Train your staff: Make data protection and cyber security an essential element of your induction and

Policies and Procedures Within Social Care The delivery of safe care is the paramount responsibility of social care providers. Central to achieving this is the governance framework adopted by service providers. And at the core of this framework are policies and procedures. These enable the provider to comply – and evidence compliance – with relevant legislation and regulations, as well as facilitating best practices, supporting business needs, and assisting in recognising and managing risks.

Providers have a legal duty of care to the people they employ. Policies and procedures should provide clear guidelines to staff on how the organisation operates, as well as informing them of best practices and processes to be followed.

Policies should be reviewed annually as a minimum to ensure they are still fit for purpose and align with legal and regulatory requirements. They should be reviewed not only by employees of the business, but also by experts in various subject matters (e.g., infection control or medicines management).

For many small- to medium-sized providers, there may not be the in-house skills, knowledge, and

annual refresher training programmes. Access free elearning and face-to-face training materials from Better Security, Better Care.

Check your IT suppliers: Push them for evidence about their cyber security, including what responsibility they take for continuity of access in the event of a cyber attack.

Strengthen your business continuity plan: Ensure it covers how you will manage if you were to lose access to data for a period of time. Watch out for our new cyber incident response checklist – coming in October for Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Create back-ups: Identify what data is essential to running your service, and create a backup separate from your main IT system. That could be on a USB stick, separate drive or PC, or on the cloud.

Be careful with emails and passwords: Train staff to spot ‘phishing’ emails. Ensure you use strong passwords and consider introducing multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA aims to strengthen security by requiring you to use more than a username and password to log in to systems.

Update software and install antivirus software: Software updates include security updates, and anti-virus software detects and removes viruses. Keep them up to date – and check that the update links are genuinely from your supplier.

For details visit www.digitalcarehub.co.uk/bettersecuritybettercare experience to complete such a robust annual review. Many choose instead to purchase their policies and procedures from a reputable provider like W&P Compliance & Training, who 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.

PAGE 52 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 214

FINANCE AND PROFESSIONALS OakNorth Completes £52m Loan to Support Warwick Capital Partners’ Acquisition of National Care Home Operator, Danforth Care OakNorth, the digital bank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, has provided a £52m loan to Danforth Care, as part of its acquisition by Warwick Capital Partners, the private equity and credit firm.

Founded in 2010 and with offices in London and Stamford, Connecticut, Warwick focuses on addressing complex capital needs across equity and debt. With assets under management totalling over $2.5b across its European Flagship Funds, Specialty Funds, and Performing Credit, the firm seeks to unlock value for its investors through a rigorous yet innovative approach to investing. The £52m loan from OakNorth will part fund Warwick’s acquisition of a majority stake in national care home operator, Danforth Care, from existing OakNorth customer LNT Care Developments. Danforth Care operates 18 purpose-built and operationally carbon net-zero care homes across the UK, with its portfolio expected to grow to 25 homes in the coming months.

Shanil Shah, Partner at Warwick Capital Partners, said: “At Warwick, we are always on the lookout for opportunities with a scarcity of capital and investment. In the UK, we continue to see demand for modern homes with

Swift Management Services Limited Swift Management Services Limited provide expert support through a network of highly experienced healthcare professionals who have many years of working within the health and social care sector. These include nurses, care managers, Registered Managers, Operating Theatre staff, & ITU staff.

The team is able to provide holistic support packages ranging from a short term improvement project to substantial change management programmes including interim staff where required. Our innovative action plans which are tailored to your specific service requirements are interactive and are held on our secure server for ease of access. These have proven especially popular with CQC as it is easy to evidence progress and improvements through our ‘You said- we Did’ information programme.

We can deliver training sessions in person or remotely using a variety of platforms that are designed for your service.

We can support your service through a crisis or on an ongoing basis with our retained consultancy service package, providing regular one to one coaching and development, quality monitoring

reviews, mock KLOE inspections, unlimited telephone and email support tailored service improvement plans and access to a dedicated care consultant to work in partnership with you to drive sustainable improvements.

Swift Management Services Limited can create staff friendly bespoke policies and procedures for you as required to help you achieve compliance.

SERVICES • Mock CQC inspections & compliance audits • Compliance support • Preparation of action plans • Enforcement action support • NOP, NOD support • Factual accuracy responses • Training- face to face or virtual • Crisis management • Registration support • Coaching & mentoring • Competency assessments of staff • Policies, Procedures and Forms Tel: 020 8087 2072 Email: info@swiftmanagement.org.uk Website: www.swiftmanagement.org.uk

quality care such as those Danforth provides and are pleased to support that growth alongside the deep sector expertise of LNT. OakNorth demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the care sector throughout the entire transaction, as evidenced by its continued support of LNT Care Developments over multiple transactions.”

Mike Whitehead, CEO of Danforth Care, commented: “Since day one, our mission has always been to create a home-like atmosphere for our residents that is safe, secure, and encourages independence. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care and services to our elderly residents and we strive to create a place where they can be comfortable, while feeling respected and valued. The support from Warwick and the financial backing they received from OakNorth will help accelerate our growth, highlighted by our expectation to open seven further homes in the coming months.”

Deepesh Thakrar, Senior Director of Debt Finance at OakNorth, added: “We were delighted to support Warwick on this project as it emphasises our strong ambitions to do more to support the UK’s care sector moving forward. Its highly impressive management team, with over 30 years of experience within the sector, is a key factor in our confidence. The historical demand for LNT-built care homes has always been robust that has seen them provide more than 15,000 beds to the UK’s ageing population. This consistent high demand, combined with Danforth Care’s reputation for offering personalised high-quality care plans within five-star living environments, indicates a strong potential for future growth and profitability.”

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance Global assists clients throughout the U.K. who specialise in the healthcare sector to achieve their objectives of purchase, development and refinance.

We have organised over £1.8bn for clients in the past 30 years, providing clients with competitively priced funding to refinance existing debt, ease cashflow and develop businesses further.

From helping clients make their first purchase through to allowing groups to grow significantly in size we assist at every stage of your business expansion.

Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements, I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements.

Call us on 01242 227172 or e-mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.net