Issue 105 27.04.22
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Provider brings in flexible wage scheme for staff PARKLANDS Care Homes has introduced a new flexible wage scheme for employees to help them through the cost of living crisis. The company, which operates nine sites in Moray and the Highlands, is the latest to sign up to Wagestream, a financial wellbeing platform for frontline workers founded in 2018 by charities including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Its mission is to give employees the ability to instantly access, track, save and manage earned wages. The platform ensures that Parklands’ employees can access up to 40 per cent of their accrued wages at any point of the month, in the event of unplanned expenses. Elaine Taylor, operations director for Parklands Care Homes, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Wagestream. We’re committed to doing everything we can to support our employees. “The way we work is changing. The traditional model of being paid at the end of the month doesn’t work for many shift workers, it isn’t responsive to the cost of living crisis and doesn’t allow employees to meet unexpected costs. “This new system gives us greater labour flexibility, which is vital during a pandemic, but also gives our employees peace of mind that if they are hit with unexpected costs, they don’t have
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to be out of pocket. “The majority of our staff are shift workers and this platform gives them the power to choose when they’re paid, which is especially important in the current financial climate.” Wagestream also automatically links to Parklands’ shift rota system Planday to ensure that shift workers can claim up to 40 per cent of their salary for any additional hours worked and be paid the next day. It comes as a survey by Wagestream shows that for four in 10 UK employees, money pressures are their biggest worry, with the fear of unexpected costs the biggest concern for 47 per cent. The survey also found that more than a quarter (26 per cent) run out of money before pay day. Parklands recently announced that it plans to build 24 affordable flats for rent in Inverness to house employees at its new care hub in the city, currently under construction. The company hopes that providing affordable homes for rent for its staff will encourage more qualified care workers to take up new posts at the care hub which will consist of a 58-bed care home and a later living village of 11 homes. Parklands has also introduced incentives for new employees, including a £2,000 welcome bonus for new full-time nurses and a £250 incentive for other new employees, including carers.
Signature at Rosebery Manor client liaison manager Debbie Self has joined Step Up for 30 – a challenge where participants fundraise for Bowel Cancer UK. Residents and team members at the Epsom care home have helped Debbie on her challenge, where individuals commit to a form of exercise each day for 30 consecutive days across April. They do so in the hope of raising donations and sponsorship, as well as promoting Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Debbie joined the home when it opened in May 2014, and in February 2019 she was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer. Her treatment required daily chemotherapy and radiotherapy for six weeks, and surgery to remove the tumour and create a stoma. A further four months of chemotherapy followed, and another surgical operation in June 2021.
Awards nominations now open OPERATORS wanting to put themselves forward for recognition have been urged to enter the Caring UK Awards. Nominations for this year’s event are now open at www.caringukawards.co.uk The awards, organised by Script Events in partnership with Caring UK, recognise excellence and achievement in all corners of the care industry. And with more than 20 categories up for grabs, there’s something to suit every type of care business. These include everything from Quality in Housekeeping and Catering Team of the Year to Best Outdoor Environment and End of Life Team of the Year. Event organiser Dominic Musgrave said: “Nominations are coming in and
our events team is already busy ensuring that this year’s event is bigger and better than ever. Our main aim is to recognise and honour the best in our wonderful sector and showcase the innovation and dedication that goes on every day so please share your successes and tell us about your hard work and initiatives by sending in your nominations … it’s a real privilege to read them.” A shortlist in each category will then be drawn up, with winners chosen by an expert panel. Trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday, December 1 presented by Emmerdale actor Dean Andrews.
Win a three in one Triflex vacuum cleaner by taking part in the Miele survey on our Caring UK website https://www.caring-uk.co.uk/
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CARING UK AWARDS
Call 01226 734605 or email tb@scriptmedia.co.uk for details For general enqurieis call: 01226 734630
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11/04/2022 15:46
CARINGWEEKLY
Former homeless caterer Mick becomes award-winning carer MICK Sowerby, a senior support worker at Fairholme in South Shields, went from working for a fastfood chain and sleeping rough, to receiving an award from a national care provider. Mick, who spent most of his childhood in care, started his career working in catering. After attending youth training schemes he moved to London to find work, sleeping under a bush before finding suitable accommodation. After a year of jobbing in different fast food restaurants, he decided the industry wasn’t for him and applied for a job in a residential school which supported children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Mick said: “As I spent most of my childhood in care with my brothers, I had so much empathy for the students there and wanted to give back all the help and love I could. I loved working there and spent five years supporting students, until I moved on to further my career. “Whilst working full time I also studied for four years with Open University for a diploma in Health & Social Care, which I achieved in 2004.” After a short-term agency job in child protection for social services
Mick with one of the people he supports. covering all of the North East ended, Mick joined the team at Fairholme, a residential care home in South Shields supporting adults with mental health issues, which also provides care for people with learning disabilities and autism.
He added: “We have a great, balanced variety of skills in the team, and every day is completely different with a chance to learn something new. “Mental health support especially fascinated me, so to continue my
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learning and training in that area, I went full-time as a support worker. I always love supporting individuals directly and thrive on passing on my skills and knowledge to them so they can achieve their goals and aspirations as I have done mine. “I was honoured and quite shocked when I received a Salutem Star from our CEO, John, and when I read the congratulatory card from him, I got a tear in my eye. “I’m not in care to take – I’m in care to give something back to the individuals who just need a little bit of support and guidance to help them live their best lives. “Since joining Salutem, I’ve seen massive positive changes and progression, not just for the employees, but more importantly, all the individuals we support who we get out of bed for, work the hours for, and who make the job so enjoyable and worthwhile! I can’t wait to see where my career in care takes me next.” John Godden MBE, CEO of Salutem Care and Education, added: “We believe it’s important to recognise the essential work our carers do for the individuals we support. Mick is an excellent example of someone who is dedicated to their role and gives his all to the people we support.”
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National Pet Day sees furry friends bring joy to residents A HOST of pets and farm animals brought delight to Encore Care Home residents as part of celebrations for National Pet Day. The wellbeing teams at the homes, which includes Great Oaks in Bournemouth, Oakdale in Poole, Fairmile Grange in Christchurch and Hamble Heights in Fareham, welcomed in a host of dogs, chickens, ducks and guinea pigs for the national awareness day. At Great Oaks some of the care team brought in their dogs, Blue and Alfie, to greet the residents and bring a smile to their faces. And at Fairmile Grange, wellbeing assistant Victoria Thompson brought in her dog Freddie to help deliver newspapers to residents and to bring some fur therapy.
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At Hamble Heights they combined National Pet Day with National Farm Animals Day which saw a host of ducks, chickens and guinea pigs come into the care home to receive a fuss from the residents. Erin Butcher, wellbeing manager at Great Oaks, said: “We notice each resident’s spirits lift as soon as the pets walk into the room and a huge smile appears across their face, so we were keen to celebrate National Pet Day. “The team loved being able to bring in their pets to visit the residents for the day. “While receiving care our residents often ask our team how their pets are getting on, so it’s nice to bring them together so that the residents can meet the pets.”
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26/04/2022 12:11
Unlock the power of effective marketing for your care home Severe staffing shortages and falling incomes caused by the pandemic are pushing many providers to the brink of survival. Whether you are from a small independent home or a large organisation with a variety of brands, all homes and agencies have the same objective and are facing the same challenges. The best possible marketing campaign to make your business the most attractive to potential new staff and residents has never been more important, and this is where we can help. At Script we know care, backed up by more than 20 years of serving the industry through Caring UK magazine, as well as the highly successful Caring UK Awards that are now in their fifth year. Benefits of marketing to increase occupancy: • • • • •
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With our knowledge and expertise of the industry, Care Solutions from Script is with you every step of the way and we can tailor a marketing package to save you time and to suit your needs and budget. Powerful Print
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So what are you waiting for? It is vital that your care business stands out from the crowd to attract new residents and staff. Who better to help you do this than the team behind the country’s most successful B2B magazine for the industry. We’ll take away the hassle and provide professional marketing which will deliver results for your business. Based in Yorkshire, we have an award-winning team that prides itself on producing a range of top-quality work at competitive prices. To find out how we may be able to help your business, contact Dominic Musgrave today by calling 01226 734407 or email dm@scriptmedia.co.uk
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CARINGWEEKLY
Growing anger as investigation reveals giant North-South divide in care fees VULNERABLE care home residents are being treated “like second class citizens” by councils in Wales thanks to a growing North-South divide. An investigation by Care Forum Wales has revealed that the fees paid by local authorities in the North are up to £11,000 a year less per person than those on offer from their counterparts in South Wales. They say the issue was brought into sharp focus when Torfaen Council announced big increases in its rates – 17 per cent for residential care and 25 per cent for nursing care. It means that a 50-bed care home in Torfaen will receive £546,000 a year more for providing residential EMI care than a similar sized home in Anglesey, Wrexham and Flintshire for exactly the same levels of care. In the cases of Denbighshire and Gwynedd, it equates to an extra £494,000 a year and £444,600 more than a home in Conwy. According to Care Forum Wales chair Mario Kreft MBE, it’s adding insult to injury at a time when care homes across Wales are being forced to close because chronic underfunding has made them “unviable”. He said: “The North-South divide is essentially treating our beloved
Mario Kreft MBE, chair of Care Forum Wales. care home residents - who are by and large extremely frail and vulnerable – like second class citizens. “It is neither fair nor is it kind. The people making these decisions should take a long look at themselves. “It’s also a kick in the teeth for our magnificent staff who have been utterly heroic and put their lives on the line during the pandemic to protect the people for whom they
provide care.” This comes at a time when local authorities in Wales have received an additional £36.5million to meet the extra costs of paying staff the Real Living Wage of £9.90 an hour. Overall, there has been an overall rise of 9.4 per cent in local authority funding but the increases in fee levels have almost all been lower, at 6-7.5 per cent.
Mario said it was clear that local authorities in North Wales were choosing not to pass on the extra funding to the front line of social care and, as a result, there was “growing chasm” between the fees paid by councils in the north compared to the majority of authorities in South Wales. He added: “I have said in the past that channelling funding through local authorities without clear conditions was like putting a fox in charge of the hen house and what’s happening now is doing nothing to disabuse me of that notion. “Everyone is blaming the Welsh Government but they have come good with extra funding. “Councils have been given more money to cover the additional costs of implementing the Real Living Wage but the increases we’re seeing in North Wales are generally around six or seven per cent. “North Wales used to be the top of the league in terms of care home fees and now we are in the relegation zone. “Fees are unsustainable at this level and something has got to give. In many cases, the extra financial burden will fall on hard-up families to make up the difference.”
Home raises more than £1,000 to support Ukrainian refugees SIGNATURE at Sonning has fundraised £1,177 for those affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The sum has been donated directly to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and will be utilised by people of all ages forced to flee their homes, leaving behind jobs, belongings and loved ones. The fundraising effort has been spearheaded by residents, team members, friends and families across Signature at Sonning and the wider community. From the sale of cupcakes with icing donning the Ukrainian colours, to a luxury raffle and hosting an entertainer, the care home united to support those in need abroad. Kay Cox, chief operating officer of Signature Senior Living, said: “We have a number of residents in our homes who have themselves directly experienced conflict during their
Home brews up for double celebration lifetime and its tragic consequences. “It is therefore inspiring to see them supporting people who they will likely never get the chance to meet, including those that are currently being impacted by the extremely difficult situation the world is seeing unfold in Ukraine.”
MAGNOLIA Court Care Home in Golders Green marked the Queen’s 96th birthday in style by brewing up a storm for National Tea Day and having an afternoon tea party. Head chef Crischan Dumaquita whipped up a tasty selection of freshly-baked biscuits, pastries and cakes for the occasion, all washed down with a selection of different teas. Residents took part in royal and tea-themed sessions including
writing cards to thank the Queen for her dedication and service. General manager Octavian Stanciu said: “Our residents love nothing more than a good cuppa so they all really enjoyed the choice of different teas, cakes and events for National Tea Day and, as a nation who truly loves its tea, it was great excuse for an afternoon brew and a natter. It was also a lovely way to say thank you to our longest reigning monarch.”
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CARINGWEEKLY
Residents relive cherished memories of yesteryear with operator’s initiative RESIDENTS rolled back the years at a South East care group to mark the inauguration of ‘Through the Decades’ – an initiative launched to help the older generation relive some of their most iconic and cherished memories. With the music rocking and costumes at the ready, residents across the group of Nellsar’s homes in Kent, Surrey and Essex took a trip down memory lane to the 1950s – when many residents were in their teenage years enjoying a disco – or two. Viv Stead, recreation and wellbeing manager at Nellsar, said: “Our residents have seen an incredible amount of history transpire in the past two years alone, so we thought it appropriate to remind them of happier and younger times. “Let’s face it, it’s been a difficult period for everyone and how better to raise spirits than give our residents the opportunity to reminisce about the good old days. “Our ‘Through the Decades’ initiative offers no pressure or rules, just a welcomed nostalgic distraction. Our first stop in the booming 1950s was a great success. Everyone embraced the yesteryear culture and we had so much fun across our homes.” Residents and staff at Nellsar’s Meyer House Care Centre in Erith, Lukestone Care Centre in Maidstone and Princess Christian Care Centre near Woking were just a handful of homes that embraced a decade remembered by many with nostalgia. Dubbed ‘Through the Decades’, the first of several themed days at Nellsar, staff pulled out all the stops to ensure residents were able relive
The care team at Windsor Court care home in Wetherby.
their younger days in style, with Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers all making a musical appearance. To commemorate the era of rock ‘n’ roll, jukeboxes, drive-in theatres and the introduction of television, 50s themed music and entertainment were provided as residents engaged in fancy dress, watched some all-time classic movies and shared cherished photos from the era. In addition, 1950s delights such as spam fritters, baked Alaska and tinned fruit with evaporated milk were enjoyed across the care group’s homes. Nellsar’s ‘Through the Decades’ initiative will continue to dedicate a day each month to the celebration of each decade, with the 60s and 70s due to make an appearance in the coming months.
Home joins effort to support Ukrainians STAFF and residents at Camilla House in Auchtertool, Fife pitched in to organise a collection of vital supplies for a local Kirkcaldy shop to transport to Poland, where essentials such as nappies and baby formula will help refugees seeking safety from the Russian invasion. When Tools for You, a local hardware and DIY shop, put out the call for donations on social media, the home’s community answered with vigour. Colleagues messaged each other over the weekend and by Wednesday the office was full of much-needed essentials. Staff and residents gathered in the dining room to sort through items such as feeding bottles, sanitary towels, warm clothing and blankets, before making a trip to the local high street to hand in bags and boxes of donations together. Natalia Murphy, lifestyle coordinator at Camilla House, said: “Seeing the headlines about all the awful things going on there, I knew
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Frontline staff rewarded with second pay rise RESIDENTIAL and dementia care provider Ideal Carehomes has announced a second pay increase for all hourly paid staff, giving them a nine per cent pay increase in the last six months alone, a total investment of £3million. Last October staff were awarded a five per cent increase as a thank you for their continued dedication. Staff will now receive an additional four per cent increase, which takes all salaries significantly above the current real living wage. Managing director Stacey Linn said: “The commitment from the whole Ideal Carehomes team throughout the pandemic has been incredible and inspiring. “Our staff have maintained the quality of care delivered to our residents throughout, making sure their daily lives are full of fun, love and care and reinforcing to us that we employ the best staff in the sector. “The pandemic has shown the public that people working in care homes up and down the country are highly skilled and genuinely caring, and this is something we have always been passionate about.
“For far too long the social care sector has been deemed ‘unskilled’ and ‘entry level’ and I am proud that as an organisation we are leading the way on ensuring the remuneration of these amazing individuals is fitting to their important roles.” All frontline care staff will benefit from the rise, and Ideal Carehomes has put the increase in place in recognition of the care being delivered to residents whilst the challenges of the pandemic have continued in to 2022. Stacey added: “We are passionate about investing in our people, providing them with a rewarding and enjoyable career in care. “Our care assistants will now start on a minimum of £21,800pa and through the Ideal Academy can be earning over £30,000pa within two or three years. “We have development pathways in place to guide and progress our care teams, and we have a very strong focus on staff wellbeing, be that mental or physical, so that we are able to fully support every single employee within each and every care home.”
Operator wins industry awards Lily Galt, Leslie Muller and Myra Brown pack boxes we had to do something when I saw the shop’s appeal online. “We collected so many items and I couldn’t be prouder. It was moving to watch staff and residents come together and pack the items. “We hope it goes some way to helping people who have lost everything.”
A CARE provider is celebrating after landing two internationallyrecognised awards for demonstrating high health and safety standards. Barchester Healthcare has received both a RoSPA health and safety healthcare sector winner for working hard to ensure its staff, residents, patients and visitors are safe, and an award for being a finalist in the Sir George Earle Trophy which honours the strongest entrants from among the Industry Sector winners demonstrating the best health and safety performance during 2021. CEO Dr Pete Calveley said: “The health and safety of our residents and staff is paramount, and our staff work
tirelessly to achieve the best hygiene and infection control standards possible. “I am delighted to accept these awards on behalf of all the brilliant people who make up Barchester and who have gone above and beyond to deliver the most excellent care in the most difficult of circumstances over the past two years.” Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being worldleaders in health and safety practice. Every year nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longestrunning health and safety industry awards.
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