Issue 39 13.01.21
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Call for New Year social care reform A CAMPAIGNER says his New Year wish is for the reform of care of older and vulnerable people to be an urgent Government priority now that Brexit is done. Mike Padgham, chair of The Independent Care Group, says the arrival of the Oxford Covid19 vaccine provides light at the end of the tunnel. But he said that light could get even brighter if 2021 was the year social care got the reform it has been promised. Mike added: “Thankfully, we do now have greater hope thanks to the addition of the Oxford vaccine to our armoury. “This should mean that the mass rollout of the vaccinations can begin in earnest to vulnerable people, including those in care and nursing homes and the people who care for them, giving us a positive start to the new year. “And then what would make it a truly happy new year would be for that to be followed swiftly by reform of the social care sector. Care providers proved during Covid-19 that they provide vital care to the most vulnerable and they have waited far too long for reform. 2021 must be the year it happens. “Now that Brexit is done Boris Johnson must get social care done with the same
sense of urgency. Nothing is impossible. No more excuses. He needs to tell the treasury this is going to happen. “Covid-19 exposed a fragile and vulnerable social care system, and it is only through the super-human efforts of its staff that we have pulled through. We cannot go on any longer with a system that is in crisis. Social care needs its Nye Bevan moment; someone to come along and grasp the issue, create a solution, and go down in history as the person who solved how to look after the country’s oldest and most vulnerable. “If this is to be Boris Johnson, he has what is perhaps his last opportunity to deliver after so many broken promises on social care reform. “The parallels with Bevan and his creation of the NHS are clear: the current system is failing a vulnerable section of society and needs reform. As Bevan did with healthcare, so the time is ripe for someone to create a system where the best in care can be provided to our oldest and most vulnerable. “Not only would Boris go down in history as someone who succeeded where others have failed, but he would create a legacy for himself and be known for something very special indeed.”
New testing procedures introduced
A charity’s healthcare assistant who has supported veterans for almost 40 years has been awarded the British Empire Medal in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Emrys Owen, lead healthcare assistant at Royal Star & Garter, received his award for services to veterans during Covid-19. He has been with the charity, which provides care for veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, since 1982. Originally working in the charity’s former Richmond home, he was there to support the residents’ move to the care home in Surbiton in 2013. Emrys said: “I’m highly delighted that someone like me could receive such an award. It’s mostly the people I have looked after over the years, the stories I have heard and the characters that I have met that makes the job so worthwhile. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else, it’s an amazing organisation to work for.”
A BIG THANK YOU
FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE SAFE AND HAPPY …
WE’RE IN AWE OF YOUR SELFLESS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
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A BERKSHIRE domiciliary care agency has responded to the newly-implemented UK lockdown measures by introducing improved weekly testing procedures for all care staff and management. County Carers, which provide bespoke care for more than 58 vulnerable elderly and disabled individuals, has begun testing all 53 members of care staff and management with the antigen tests. Founder and managing director Eloise Wakeford said: “Continuity of care for the vulnerable is essential, especially during the current environment where our patients are unable to see their family. “Our enhanced coronavirus testing means our residents will see the same familiar carers each week to provide the reassurance many of the vulnerable need during these difficult times.” “The fact that support bubbles remain unaffected and communal religious worship is allowed provides a clear risk. Every individual domiciliary carer will complete more than 52 tests during the following few months to ensure our carers are Covid-19 free and our patients remain safe.” County Carers’ domiciliary care staff and management completed a non-stop 12 hour fitness challenge inspired by Joe Wicks’ 24 Hour PE Challenge, completing various fitness activities over the course of 12 hours while dressed as elves. The event was live streamed and raised more than £1,373 for The Alzheimer’s Society.
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Celebrities praise and thank carers at virtual event Resident receives message from legendary jockey as part of home’s campaign CHRISTMAS came early for an octogenarian care home resident whose boyhood dream was to become a jockey when his hero Lester Piggott sent him a special festive message. As part of Foxholes’ new Wish Upon a Star campaign, 83-year-old horse racing fanatic Alfred Lewis was left speechless when his favourite jockey sent him a personalised video message thanking him for his support over the years and wishing him a happy Christmas. Widely regarded as one of the greatest flat racing jockeys of all time with 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, 85-year-old Lester was often cheered on from the stands throughout the 1960s and 70s by Alf, a former British Army chef. During that time, Alf attended the Epsom Derby for more than 10 years where he backed Lester in all the big races, with the all-time great more often than not paying out in first place. The festive surprise was part of the family-run Hitchin home’s Wish Upon a Star campaign, which seeks to find out who its residents’ idols are and then try and connect them.
The brainchild behind the campaign, Adele Querele, activities coordinator at Foxholes, said: “It’s important to make sure our residents are stimulated mentally, physically and socially – especially this year with the restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. “We always try and go that extra mile to create special moments for our residents and the Wish Upon a Star project has been a great way to continue putting those all-important smiles on our residents’ faces. “Alf was delighted to receive a personalised message from his racing idol Lester, and we’re all delighted to see how much it meant to him – he’s followed Lester’s career very closely and has had the fortune of being able to see him race in the flesh. Receiving the surprise message made Alf’s day, and that’s what it’s all about.” Alf was also surprised back in April when the team at Foxholes recreated the thrills and spills of Aintree during the virtual Grand National, after the 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic, which Alf was planning to attend for the first time.
Creative cakes wanted
BAKER Street has launched a new competition to encourage staff to get creative in the kitchen with residents, with a £1,000 top prize available for the winning care home. Second place will win £500 cash for your care home plus a hamper and third place will win a hamper. Using Baker Street sponge cake layers, entrants are being asked to create a tiered sponge, challenging chefs, residents and staff nationwide to create a quick and easy showstopper. Baker Street is offering samples in order to encourage entries via www. bakerstreetcompetition.co.uk until March 31. Scott Oakes, commercial manager for Baker Street, said: “It’s a really nice way to bring staff and residents together, and because the layers are already baked, it’s not asking too much of time-pressed care home staff. “We’re hoping that by making the
competition all about the appearance of the end product, we’ll get some really creative entries. “We have food experts in our product development team who will be thinking about flavour combinations, but since we can’t taste every entry, they’ll be judging on appearance only.” This is the first time the brand has run a nationwide competition of this kind, after its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth.
A VIRTUAL event celebrating social care in Surrey saw celebrities lineup to praise the hard work of care sector workers during the pandemic, applauding them for going above and beyond to help those in need. The likes of Piers Morgan, David Walliams, Charlotte Hawkins, Andi Peters, Katherine Kelly and Nadia Sawalha produced personal videos for the event where they thanked staff across the county for their continued endeavours throughout the coronavirus crisis. Taking place online via Zoom, the event, which was hosted by the Surrey Care Association, paid tribute to the incredible efforts undertaken by the sector’s workforce – and was held in place of the association’s traditional awards night, which normally pays tribute to those carers who go over and above. This year though, it was deemed that that applies to everyone in care – so a celebration of all was held instead. Erica Lockhart, CEO of the Surrey Care Association, said: “Care workers in Surrey have faced tremendous challenges throughout 2020, but they’ve risen to the task magnificently and are continuing to do so. “We wanted to host an occasion that would help to convey the enormous gratitude that people have for their
efforts, while also giving them a chance to reflect on what they do, recognising that they’re a muchvalued workforce, doing incredible things for the most vulnerable. “A huge well done to all social care workers, not just in Surrey but beyond, and a big thank you to all who contributed to the event.” The night featured speeches from the board of directors of the Surrey Care Association who were all dressed in celebratory black tie in honour of the occasion. These were interspersed with clips that served to showcase the best of the sector, using videos sent in from Surrey care providers to create a positive, vibrant array, while the celebrity endorsements added another layer of glamour to the affair. The event lasted for almost an hourand-a-half, with several hundred care workers registering to watch the occasion from the comfort of their own homes. Making the most of Zoom’s chat function, the event allowed attendees to network remotely with other care workers from across the county. In keeping with the spirit of the evening, participants took the opportunity to show support for and celebrate each other’s successes, while sharing ideas for future collaboration.
Janice Shaw (left) and Julie Walters are retiring from the Czajka Care Group.
Dedicated nurses retire after 80 years’ combined service TWO dedicated West Yorkshire nurses are retiring after each spending 40 years in the care industry. Janice Shaw has spent the last 28 years of her career at Czajka Care Group and Julie Walters has spent the last six years with the family-run company. Managing director Konrad Czajka said: “Janice and Julie are such dedicated, kind and professional nurses. We have been very lucky to have them as part of our team for so many years. “We hope they will enjoy their retirement and look forward to always welcoming them into our homes whenever they want to visit.” Janice, who is originally from
London, moved to Yorkshire with her husband and studied nursing at Airedale Hospital in Steeton to become a state enrolled nurse. During the 28 years Janice has worked for Czajka Care Group she has cared for hundreds of residents at its Fairmount Nursing Home and Staveley Birkleas Nursing Home, which are both in Nab Wood, Shipley. Julie, who is from Glusburn village, also trained as a nurse at Airedale Hospital in Steeton, becoming a state enrolled nurse in the 1980s. After having her son, Julie had various nursing jobs before joining Czajka Care Group’s Beanlands Nursing Home in Steeton in January 2015.
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Woman fined for running care company illegally A WOMAN who ran a Morley-based domiciliary care agency has been ordered to pay more than £12,000 after she admitted to providing care illegally. Beverley Bevis was fined £1,500 at Leeds Magistrates’ Court. She was also ordered to pay £10,380.91 costs and a £170 victim surcharge as a result of the prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission. Prior to her sentencing, Beverley pleaded guilty to providing a regulated activity – personal care – in people’s own homes through her company, Five Star Homecare Leeds Ltd, without CQC registration. This is a criminal offence. Joyce Frederick, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of registration, said: “It is unacceptable that Beverley Bevis risked people’s safety by running a care service without the benefit of CQC registration, so I welcome her guilty plea. “The registration process is important to appropriately assess services before they care for people. Services are then monitored and inspected to ensure that they continue to meet standards that people should be able to expect. “Unregistered services operate without oversight, putting people at risk of harm.
Joyce Frederick “Monitoring of domiciliary care agencies is especially important, as people who receive care in their own homes can be particularly vulnerable because of their circumstances. “When we find providers operating illegally, we do not hesitate to act to protect people.” CQC brought the prosecution after it received feedback, in September
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2018, from a relative of a person who used Five Star Homecare. At this time, Beverley had not registered Five Star Homecare with CQC. This prompted CQC to begin investigating the company, and inspectors visited its Morley premises, unannounced, three weeks later, in October 2018. On arrival, they found a large window sticker advertising personal care. It falsely stated that the firm was CQC-approved. Inspectors also found evidence that the company had 23 staff providing personal care to at least seven people. They also saw staff time sheets and invoices demonstrating that it had been operating illegally. In April 2020, Five Star Homecare successfully applied for CQC registration – following a robust process – meaning it can now provide a lawful service. The service was inspected in November and rated Requires Improvement. CQC continues to monitor it, including through future inspections, to ensure people’s safety. Although CQC understands that Beverley retains involvement with the company, she is not responsible for supervising its regulated activity.
Dementia specialist care provider Belong has appointed registered nurse Sue Goldsmith to the newly created role of operations manager in a move designed to enhance the operator’s provision of care and services as it prepares to open its latest villages in Chester and Birkdale. Sue will be responsible for quality improvement across Belong villages in Crewe, Macclesfield and Newcastle-underLyme. She will also support the development of a range of targeted services tailored to meet the changing needs and expectations of customers and their families. With more than 30 years’ experience, Sue most recently worked as the director of care quality and dementia for a care coaching consultancy.
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A resident at HC-One’s Wyndford Locks care home in Glasgow received some presents from his friends in the Navy as he became a centenarian. Brendan Moran, a resident at Wyndford, turned 100 and was surprised by his friends in the Navy with some wonderful presents. They sent him some cupcakes with all of the places that he had visited while he was in the Navy on the icing. They also sent Brendan a tie and a Navy pin for him to wear and said that they plan to meet up again when it is safe to do so. Later in the day, Brendan opened all of his cards from his friends, family and neighbours and was overwhelmed with all the kind wishes on his big day.
Janie Street, a Gracewell of Church Crookham resident, has been taken on a ‘This is Your Life’ tour in celebration of her 80th birthday. Janie, who was born in Farnborough, has spent most of her life in the local area. Asked how she wanted to celebrate her milestone-birthday, Janie said she only wanted to see her son who had been unable to visit her due to ill health. In response to Janie’s request, Gracewell of Church Crookham worked closely with her son to devise a special plan which would take her on a tour of local places where she has fond memories, while adhering to social distancing guidelines. A resident at HC-One’s The Beeches care home in Dukinfield celebrated her 101st birthday with a visit from her daughter. Kathleen Meek shares her birthday with her daughter Pamela Broadbent, who visited the home to see her Mum through the window and brought her some presents and cards to open. Later in the day residents enjoyed DVD entertainment from regular singer Deborah, who entertained the home with songs from the 50’s. Everyone enjoyed a good sing song and dance with colleagues, all socially distanced, and the afternoon was finished with a chocolate cake and some wine and Bailey’s. Marjory Clements, a resident at HC-One’s Harnham Croft care home in Wiltshire, celebrated her 100th birthday. With Champagne and cake as well as plenty of cake, treats and cards, Marjory enjoyed a lovely day with fellow residents, colleagues and her family. Marjory’s family visited Harnham Croft in the new Covid-secure visitor pod. Marjory also received a family video call from her relatives thousands of miles away in Canada. Marjory was beaming throughout the day following birthday wishes from the Queen and so many cards gifts and well wishes. Marjorie Ada Chahin, better known as Margot, has celebrated her 100th birthday at Antonine House Care Home in Bearsden. A former teacher, Margot’s lessons haven’t stopped yet as she shares some life wisdom which has never been more important: “Always find the positives in life and think about others before yourself.” On her milestone birthday Margot was spoilt by her family with banners and a photo album of her life. Cards from well-wishers were also received, including one from the Queen. To make her birthday as special as possible, staff at Antonine House arranged for their chefs to bake Margot a total of three cakes to spell out ‘100’.
A Dorset resident who played her part in Second World War military intelligence has celebrated her 100th birthday at a Blandford care home. Former MI5 secretary Sylvia Spooner was the focus of international attention as family members and friends in the UK, Canada, Australia, The Gambia and the United States joined a Zoom call or sent greetings. Team members at Colten Care’s Whitecliffe House helped Sylvia welcome 26 Zoom groups for chats and good wishes during her special day. They also helped Sylvia open her cards, presented her with a homemade cake and invited all callers to sing Happy Birthday. Nora Gladys Bicknell, the oldest resident at HC-One’s Kettlewell House care home in Surrey, turned 104 recently. She celebrated by speaking to her niece on a video call. Colleagues and fellow residents all sang ‘happy birthday’ to Nora, while her niece was on the call joining in too, and watched her aunty blow out the candles. Nora’s room was decorated with lots of balloons and bunting. She loved them on the walls and appreciated the colours, saying they brightened up the room.
A resident has celebrated her 100th birthday with staff and friends at Church Farm at Field House in Radcliffe-on-Trent. The Field House team held a party for Madge Parker, complete with a special cake topped with her favourite sweet treat of chocolate eclairs and of course, a telegram from the Queen. Madge marked her birthday with a special haircut from the one of the Field House team, before enjoying a visit from her daughter Pauline who celebrated with her mum through the window. Madge’s family plans to hold another party as soon as they can all attend in person.
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Hidden pandemic heroes recognised in national award CARE UK reached the finals of a prestigious national award for the exceptional efforts its IT team put into ensuring care home colleagues could operate efficiently and keep residents and their families connected throughout lockdown. The in-house team was a finalist in the IT Team of the Year category at the UK IT Industry Awards, with Thames Water securing the overall title. The Care UK success was in recognition of the team members’ skill and effort on two key fronts: n Boosting the availability of a secure, fast WiFi network and tablets to all the Care UK homes in record time. This provided increased access to a range of services including video calls to keep residents in touch with family members and allow virtual links to GPs and other medical staff. n Keeping support services going remotely. Teams working at Care UK’s Colchester support office were asked to work from home at less than 24 hours-notice ahead of the expected first Government lockdown in March. This involved putting in place an incredible amount of resource to support homeworking for more than 100 people who deliver critical support services like facilities management, payroll and HR for the 124 homes. Head of IT Carl Stokes said: “We were so pleased to reach the final stage if the IT Team of the Year category as these awards usually go to much bigger teams outside the social care sector. “It is a tribute to how the team pulled together at a difficult time to ensure care home colleagues had everything they needed.” In less than two weeks the team had ensured broadband bandwidth was significantly increased in homes and telephony systems were expanded so that support colleagues could operate care homes’ reception desks remotely if the home’s colleagues were too stretched. The team also worked hard rolling out a range of video call and collaboration technologies to enable care homes to maintain links between families, keeping loved ones in touch Residents at a Wellington care home have voted to name their new pub bar The Windsor Arms in memory of actress Barbara Windsor. Richard Dempslake, activities co-ordinator for Camelot House and Lodge, said: “Our residents loved Barbara as the bubbly star of Carry On films and the outspoken EastEnders lady at The Queen Vic, and were really enthusiastic about memorialising her in this way.” The pub bar – created by Camelot House’s maintenance man Wally Perlik – had only just been completed when Dame Barbara passed on. It was originally to be named The Welcome Inn but residents voted to remember the actress by naming the bar for her instead.
Carl Stokes, head of IT at Care UK. and maintaining essential bonds as well as giving tangible assurance that their loved one was well-cared for. Carl added: “In a matter of days we distributed hundreds of laptops to support office colleagues who had previously used only desktop computers, enabling them to work from home. “The video calling and collaboration technology had the additional benefit of streamlining essential communication links between home teams and the numerous external agencies and commissioners including NHS England, Public Health England, local authorities and GPs. “We also rapidly created our remote worker’s easy-to-follow survival guides to the new systems, published via our intranet to support working from home, which proved very popular.” He concluded: “The team’s efforts were Herculean. Their work was carried out at an unprecedented pace and with quality control and attention to detail as a fundamental component. “We all had residents and their relatives at the heart of our thinking; using our skills and knowledge of what the care home teams do to provide new digital services to residents to allow them to stay connected with their families and for teams to function efficiently.”
7 Doctor Natalie-Jane Macdonald
Operators’ CEO awarded MBE
DOCTOR Natalie-Jane Macdonald has been awarded an MBE for services to healthcare in the 2021 list of New Year’s Honours. She received the prestigious award in recognition of her successful 30-year career and for effectively leading Sunrise and Gracewell’s 46 care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Natalie-Jane said: “It is truly humbling to have received this prestigious award. Throughout my career I have approached all aspects of my work with professionalism, compassion and abiding dedication and it is wonderful to have now received this special recognition. “With the support of fantastic colleagues, I am proud that Sunrise and Gracewell has met the immense challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Together, our efforts have ensured residents across all Sunrise and Gracewell care homes received the highest possible level of care, always placing their wellbeing and priorities at the heart of everything we do.” At the start of the pandemic NatalieJane demonstrated her healthcare management skills by closing each of the organisation’s care homes in advance of official government guidelines. She also established a Covid-19 Task Force which drew on talent within
the business from across various departments. Through this Task Force, NatalieJane implemented stringent infection prevention control measures, which were in part influenced by her own medical background having worked in acute medicine and in clinical research at Glasgow University. The Honours Committee also sought to recognise how she prioritised the emotional wellbeing of family members of residents. By introducing regular and transparent updates for relatives, Natalie-Jane provided invaluable reassurances to family members regarding the safety of their loved ones and of the efforts the organisation was making to ensure their continued wellbeing. Internally, she established frequent cross-department calls and was available at all times to provide outstanding support and leadership to colleagues across the business. As well as holding the position of UK CEO for Sunrise and Gracewell, Natalie-Jane is also chairman of Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity and she became a non-executive director at Riverstone Living in July. She has also previously held nonexecutive roles at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and the Private Health Information Network.
Home becomes one of the first to adopt innovative infection control technology A SHEFFIELD care home is one of the first in the country to use an innovative new infection control data platform. Norton Lees Hall and Lodge, based on Warminster Road, adopted the Gather Care technology to help staff at the home identify and understand trends in infection, with the aim of reducing transmission. Gather Care is a unique data capture platform specifically aimed at the nursing and care home industry. It enables care workers, care managers, clinicians and operators to identify the early warning signs of outbreaks of colds, flu, viruses and infectious outbreaks, including COVID-19. Lydia Hardie, registered manager at Norton Lees Hall and Lodge, said: “We have been using the Gather Care system for a little while now and I have been really impressed with our experience so far. “The technology is very easy to understand and it will really help us to create a picture of how outbreaks affect our residents. “It will also help us to identify trends to better understand the transmission of infection within a care home setting, or in our local area. “By using this system, it allows our staff to identify trigger points and will help us to prevent potential outbreaks in the future.” Hugo Spalding, managing director of Gather Care, added: “I’m pleased to hear that Norton Lees Hall and Lodge are seeing the benefits of this new and exciting technology.
Lydia Hardie, registered manager at Norton Lees Hall and Lodge. “The Gather Care system has been designed to enable care homes to identify and curtail infections. This can be anything from the common cold to much more serious viruses like COVID-19. “By entering data into the system, it allows staff to compare the results to other Gather Care users across the country, essentially creating a virtual support system. “By comparing data, this can help a home to spot a pattern of increasing infection and will enable them to make informed decisions on which preventative measures must be taken.” Enquiries: For more information visit https://gathercapture.com/gather-care
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