Issue 6 06.05.20
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Coronavirus could close care homes A SOCIAL care leader has warned that half the care homes in Wales could be forced to close unless urgent action is taken. According to Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, many care homes are already having to take out loans and consider imminent closure because of the “perfect storm” of spiralling costs and falling income. The sector was already fragile before the coronavirus crisis began and the pandemic threatened to put many providers out of business. The scale of the problem, he said, was illustrated by the fact that Wales’ 650 care homes provided 20,000 beds, which was 8,000 more that the number of beds in hospitals. He feared that mass closures would lead to the NHS being “completely overwhelmed by a tsunami of need”. Mario added: “We have members who are increasing their staffing costs. They’re increasing other costs like buying their own PPE. “And of course we’re seeing falling occupancy as people pass and as other homes choose not to admit people, because they’re terrified that it’s going to introduce the virus into those homes and obviously affect the residents
they have.” “A typical care home needs to have 90 per cent occupancy to be viable and anything below 85 per cent is not sustainable – but some homes are down 25 to 30 per cent occupancy. “We have got people that are seriously talking to their banks, seriously talking within their organisation, whether the best thing and the safest thing for everybody is simply to close the doors,” he said. “We’ve never, ever encountered anything quite like this in the history of the care sector in Wales, and the UK. “Unless urgent support is forthcoming we will be seeing care home closures week on week over the summer months. Among those under severe pressure is Glyn Williams, who runs the 28-bed Gwyddfor Residential Care Home in Bodedern on Anglesey. In desperation he has launched an online appeal to raise £33,000 towards the costs, fearing he will have to shut within the month. Glyn added: “The simple truth is we are in dire straits as things stand. “The welfare of our residents is vitally important. They are like our extended family. But we just can’t survive as we are so underfunded.”
Guidance issued to providers
An Arbroath care home has not let the challenges we are all facing stop them from providing an extra sweet trip down memory lane for residents. The team at Balhousie Antiquary care home have officially opened a sweet shop filled to the brim with candies, chocolates and sherbets for sweet-toothed residents (and staff) to enjoy. Fitted with a vintage till and telephone, the space has been aptly named the ‘Old Fashioned Sweet Shop’ and is stocked with sugary treats specifically requested by the residents, from chocolate limes and sherbet lemons to boiled humbugs and liquorice comfits. The nostalgic project has been creatively overseen by new home manager Cheryl Roy, who saw the potential to do something special with what used to be a library area in the home. n Activities coordinator Lorraine Borland is pictured serving sweets to resident Anne Peters.
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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THE Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has issued guidance to those working for local authorities and care providers about good administrative practice and handling complaints during the Covid-19 crisis. Available online, the guidance sets out the basic principles the Ombudsman expects organisations to use to underpin their work during this crisis. The Ombudsman will use these principles when it considers complaints about actions during the Covid-19 crisis. Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: “The new guidance is designed to act as a compass for local authorities and care providers, and I hope will provide reassurance about how they should be working during this crisis. While we recognise the unique pressures currently placed on councils and care providers, we still expect them to respond appropriately to any complaints during this time of national emergency. “We understand their responses may look different to those we would normally expect, but councils and care providers should still pay close attention to urgent and serious public concerns.” The Ombudsman suspended all casework activity that demands information from, or action by, local authorities and care providers in March to allow those organisations to concentrate on their response to the crisis.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Resident returns to home after beating coronavirus THE family of a former army medic who was rushed into hospital with Covid-19 symptoms say they feel blessed after he beat the virus. Eddie Moss spent 10 days in the Standish Ward at Wigan Infirmary after being admitted with a cough and slight confusion. The octogenarian, who grew up in Scholes with his sister Phyllis, spent most of his life living in Leigh. But after a progressive nerve condition seriously affected his mobility, he moved into the Ash Tree House care home in Hindley, where families of the residents recently attended a surprise Clap for Carers to thank the staff. The plucky pensioner, nicknamed ‘Eddie the Eagle’ by carers, had already been through a difficult 12 months after developing health problems and losing his wife of 64 years, Hilda, in June. Daughter Jan Beaumont praised the “caring” staff at Ash Tree House who are continuing to look after him as he recovers from the virus, and is hoping to see Eddie on a video chat from the home as soon as he is up to it. She added: “Dad is our world, he’s been through so much in the last year and we really worried about whether he would have the strength to fight off the virus. “But once again he has shown his fighting spirit. We are so proud of
Eddie Moss with his late wife Hilda at their Diamond wedding party. him.” added: “I can’t put into words how The great-grandad has been unable happy we are to have ‘Steady’ (Eddie) to see his family for the last eight back at Ash Tree House. weeks due to lockdown rules, and was “He is a big character in the home unable to communicate with loved and we are very glad to be able to ones while he was being treated. help him get back on his feet and Eddie used to work for the Wigan enjoying doing the things he loves Post at Martland Mill before retiring, around the home such as singing and but enjoyed a varied career, including bingo. being a postman and railway fireman “I hope his return has given for British Rail at Wigan. everyone the reassurance that this Home manager Chris Durnan can be beaten.”
E T I S AYCTION D 0 3 E
Care teams at home care provider Bluebird Care Greenwich have been supporting their customers to consult with GPs via video. The team has also been helping families stay in contact by staying back and showing customers how to connect with their loved ones via video call. Ramaa Kalia, operations manager at Bluebird Care Greenwich, said: “This initiative exemplifies the way the team consistently go above and beyond to look after their customers. We are very proud of all our care assistants who are continuing to do such a fantastic job over this period, you are all incredible. We will continue to provide our valuable services to all our customers in Greenwich, while helping in any additional ways we can.”
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CARINGWEEKLY
Nurse’s swine flu work saves home’s residents
Stapely Residential and Nursing Home.
Care home’s trustee pays tribute to staff THE head of a Merseyside care home paid a heart-felt tribute to his staff and said the number of possible Covid-19 deaths so far were less than those caused by a flu epidemic two years ago. Philip Ettinger, Stapely Care trustee, said: “We are fighting for every one of our residents. “None of our residents have been tested for Covid-19, so it is possible that a very small number have passed away with the Coronavirus, as some have exhibited symptoms. But until they are tested for it, we can’t be sure. “During the big influenza epidemic two years ago, we sadly lost several patients and residents in a two-week period. “All of them were in their late 80s and 90s and had other underlying problems. “This is a similar situation, also with aged and infirm patients, but we’ve not reached the same level of loss we had two years ago from the current circumstances, up to now.” Stapely Care has been in lockdown since mid-March with no families allowed in and, while stringent PPE (personal protective equipment) is in force where necessary, care is taken not to alarm residents for whom
routine is vital and could be upset by seeing staff wearing unnecessary protective garb. Shirley Smith, Stapely Care senior manager, added: “We stick to the NHS Covid-19 guidelines exactly and although the measures are sometimes distressing, families appreciate our need to do this, as patient care must come first. “We try to be as compassionate as we can and respect those wanting to spend time with a loved one during their final hours. “We allow only two people at a time via a side entrance so there is no contact with other patients or staff and they must wear PPE.” Philip concluded: “I want to pay tribute to our manager Shirley Smith and her team who have been heroic in the way they have dealt with our residents in a conscientious, selfless and brave way. “It is very humbling for us as trustees to see the way our staff put our residents first. It’s a privilege to have our calibre of staff, some of whom have worked here for 30 years. “They are unbelievable in their devotion, which includes working overtime and not taking time off.”
A SPECIALIST dementia care home in Nottingham has successfully managed to contain an outbreak and ultimately save lives. Church Farm at Skylarks (West Bridgford, Nottingham) has experienced 13 cases of coronavirus in recent weeks, with every patient making a full recovery thanks to the hard work of carers and staff, led by head of nursing Maria Spollin. She has years of experience in the care sector, but was also working as an intensive care nurse during the 2009 swine flu outbreak so she was well-equipped to lead the team following doctors confirming five positive tests. After this, the care team was instructed to treat any resident with symptoms of coronavirus as having contracted the virus. Family consent was acquired to isolate all those with the virus or showing symptoms. Maria said: “This was of course a difficult decision to make as we had to consider that someone showing symptoms may not necessarily have contracted the virus, and if we opted to isolate them we would therefore be exposing them to the virus from those who tested positive. “But it was absolutely critical that
we reacted quickly and incorporated these isolation measures as soon as possible.” As well as setting up ‘ward beds’, the isolation area also included chairs and activities to make sure residents did not have to remain bed bound and could still engage with normal activities during the recovery phase. Patrick Atkinson, director at the Church Farm Care group, added: “The crucial thing is to react and isolate quickly if you believe someone is symptomatic. “Maria was instrumental in our containment process and in preventing further infection within our residents. “Using her experience from the swine flu outbreak, she implemented a ‘zoning’ process, turning a communal area into a make-shift ward with beds after residents began showing symptoms. “Many of our residents suffer from dementia, so it’s absolutely imperative that we look after their emotional needs as well. “We are doing lots of different things across our four homes to keep everyone’s spirits high – from a socially distanced concert from a relative to opening our own in-house salon.”
Residents stay connected A STOCKPORT not-for-profit provider of care for older people is helping residents and their families stay in touch as the country continues in lockdown due to coronavirus. Borough Care is helping keep residents and their families connected via telephone and video call. Residents are also sharing messages with their families via social media, with the operator putting photos of them with their messages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Some family members have visited to wave through the window to their loved one, while others have sent cards, flowers and gifts to show they care.
CEO Dr Mark Ward said: “We understand how hard it is for families to be separated from their loved ones during this difficult time. “Staff at all our homes are making sure there are lots of opportunities for residents and their families to see and hear each other remotely. “Our staff are working tirelessly to ensure residents are supported, both emotionally and physically, while families are unable to visit during the coronavirus pandemic. “We have received some lovely messages from families, who appreciate being able to keep in contact with their loved ones during this difficult time.”
Operator launches dementia support line NORTH West care operator Belong has launched a specialist dementia helpline run by Admiral Nurses to ensure family members and carers of its customers continue to be supported throughout the coronavirus outbreak. Usually delivered through face-toface home visits or appointments at one of the operator’s seven stateof-the-art care villages, the Admiral Nurses work alongside people with dementia, and their families: giving them support, expert guidance and practical solutions. The organisation made the decision to switch to a telephonebased service as part of a number of measures to help families face the current challenges and to ensure the health and wellbeing of its customers during this difficult time.
Headed up by Admiral Nurses Caroline Clifton and Louise McDonald, the free service continues its mission to improve the quality of life of Belong customers who have been medically diagnosed with dementia, alongside those who care for them. This includes helping them live positively with the condition and develop skills to improve communication and maintain relationships. They also advise Belong colleagues on best practice for dementia care. Louise said: “Our job is to make the lives of those we support easier and that’s exactly what we are aiming to do with this new service. “Moving to telephone consultations will enable family members and carers of our customers to contact us
from the safety of their own homes, without sacrificing on the support they receive. “Whether it’s offering advice and coping strategies, or simply lending an ear, we will do everything we can to provide assistance during this difficult time.” Dementia UK, a charity that works in partnership with NHS providers and commissioners, social care authorities and voluntary sector organisations, is responsible for upholding the standards of Admiral Nurses nationwide, and will continue to support the work of Admiral Nurses at Belong. Stacey McCann, chief operations officer at Belong, added: “Moving to a telephone-based system has been crucial in ensuring our Admiral Nurses can continue to offer expert
Admiral Nurse Louise McDonald. practical and emotional guidance to those in need during this time of global uncertainty, and we hope it has brought some comfort to our customers and those who support them.”
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CARINGWEEKLY
When a York care home was forced to lock down, director Elizabeth Hancock worried her residents would feel isolated. Instead, the community has poured in through the postbox. Caring UK reports.
Penpals lift residents’ spirits BY the time a national UK lockdown was called on March 23, Fulford Care Home had already tightened restrictions, closing its doors on March 12 in an effort to shield residents inside from coronavirus. With old age being a high-risk factor for Covid-19, the decision to isolate elderly residents and pause visits might have been sensible, but it certainly wasn’t easy, said Elizabeth. She added: “We spend all our time trying not to isolate our residents. It’s one of our key objectives, and suddenly we’re trying to isolate them. “It goes against everything we try to do ... and that’s quite hard.” Faced with the reality that residents could be without outside contact for weeks, even months, Elizabeth was struck with a simple idea to mitigate the impact: bringing the “outside in” by asking local people to write letters to the home’s isolated residents. Within hours of posting a simple message on a couple of local Facebook groups, Elizabeth’s message garnered hundreds of shares. Within days, letters began flying in from local schools, nurseries and residents, followed by cakes, gifts and produce from local businesses.
Emails arrived from all over the world, Easter eggs and other treats were dropped on the doorstep and handwritten post came through the door from places as far-flung as France and the Netherlands. Elizabeth now estimates that the home is averaging 80 plus letters a day. “The response has been huge – cakes, flowers, local shops dropping off stock,” she added. “Phenomenal … Anne, who works on reception – I’m thinking of getting her a postman’s outfit.” In order to minimise any risk of viral transmission, staff are “isolating” letters for several days as a precautionary measure, before distributing them among the home’s 28 residents – a process Elizabeth says is “totally bizarre” but “a nice problem to have”. The impact of the post on residents, she says, has been incredibly moving: “My great aunt lives with us ... she’s usually my biggest critic, and even she said Lizzie can I have some paper and envelopes, I want to write back.” Some of the home’s residents are no longer able to read the letters for themselves, yet the post is still
reaching them in other ways: “We’ve got one lady with dementia – she used to be a school teacher. The other day she received a picture of two children and their dog, and she loves children and dogs. “She was sat stroking the letter and talking to it all afternoon. I saw her the other day, too … someone had given her one of her letters, and I know she can’t actually read that letter. But to her, she was reading that letter. She spent the whole afternoon folding it up and opening it to look again.” Far from stopping at a single letter, many writers have now struck up regular penpal correspondence with residents who were mere strangers a few weeks ago. It’s correspondence that Elizabeth believes has reciprocal benefits during a time when so many people are struggling with anxiety. In her original call-out on Facebook, Elizabeth listed (with permission) the first names of every resident in the home, asking any potential letterwriters to pick a name and send a personal letter addressed to them. “In response, several letter-writers have nominated residents who
share names with deceased friends and relatives. It’s helping people go beyond a simple gesture to actually “make an emotional connection with the residents,” said Elizabeth. And though she jokes that her staff “could kill” her over the volume of post they’ve had to sort through, Elizabeth says she’s seen “a huge difference as well in the morale of the staff”. The lockdown has also brought another blessing in disguise to the home, with staff now having more free time to spend with residents. More time to have quality chats, says Elizabeth, is crucial during a time of such uncertainty. The coronavirus crisis has naturally brought its share of disappointments too, of course. Before the lockdown,the family-run care home had been planning a garden party to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Though the event has now been cancelled, Elizabeth can see a potential positive: when they’re finally able to host it, the guest list will hopefully be padded out by new friends made through the penpal correspondence currently taking place.
Stringent care home keeps Covid-19 out A SMALL group of staff at Peregrine House in Whitby, led by registered manager Alison Bedford and deputy manager Megan Collis, have now been effectively, “locked-in” to work for more than a month. Several of the staff are living, at a concessionary rate, in the nearby Saxonville Hotel, away from their own families, in order to further reduce the risks to more than 30 vulnerable adults living in the care home, whose ages range up to 102. Half the team work 12-hour shifts for seven straight days, either on duty by day or by night, and are then replaced by the other half for the second seven days in a regular rotation. The two managers elected to work without days-off to ensure continuity and maintain motivation. They have now worked for 45 of the last 46 days. While some care homes already face bankruptcy due to COVID19,
Staff at Peregrine House in Whitby. Peregrine House continues to face mounting costs in terms of footing the hotel bill and the quest to procure adequate PPE. Gloves and aprons were in standard use at the home, but not gowns or visors.
While North Yorkshire County Council has provided 700 masks to date, the staff initially had to be resourceful in creating their own visors. Alison came up with the idea of using empty lamination pouches
run through the office laminator to produce flexible transparent screens. These were used until owner Dr. Kevin O’Sullivan contacted The Solution House in Tockwith to purchase visors having seen a news story about their production. There was a minor celebration at day seven and bigger celebration at day 14 when there were no symptoms of COVID-19 within the care home. The 7:7 rota subsequently changed to give shorter runs of up to four days between breaks for team members, with many now feeling that Peregrine House is probably safer than their own homes. The team have maintained their spirits and those of the residents throughout the month with the help of warm sunny weather and donations of cakes and Easter eggs by the likes of Botham’s, the Co-op and Sainsbury’s.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Home help service launched in Wales Community comes together with donations for homes THE Cambridgeshire community has rallied around its most vulnerable residents with a number of businesses and individuals donating gifts to support people during lockdown. Homebase and Scotsdales Garden and Nurseries have donated a variety of flowers and plants to CHS Group’s residential care homes in Cambridge, bringing joy and smiles to both staff and residents. And John Lewis & Partners has gifted a bundle of goodie bags filled with Quality Street chocolates to staff and residents at the operator’s care homes in Cambridge. Nigel Howlett, CHS Group’s chief executive, said: “In the most challenging of circumstances, communities must find new ways to pull together and unite. “In the current climate of coronavirus and social distancing, the need to connect with the local community’s most vulnerable is more pronounced than ever. “It’s heartwarming to see a range of people and businesses coming together in different ways to support those who really need help in times such as these. “Every gesture or donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated, and goes a long way to promoting the values of togetherness and solidarity that we foster at CHS.” Cambridge-based online-
marketplace specialist Velocity Commerce, which specialises in managing product sales on eBay and Amazon, has pledged to deliver gifts to CHS Group’s residents in supported housing whose birthdays fall within this period of isolation, and are unable to celebrate with their friends and family. Each resident is able to select a gift worth up to £50 from Velocity Commerce’s eBay store – donations so far include a Majority internet radio, a Majority sound bar and a LEGO Technic racing car. Efforts to stay connected with the wider Cambridge community have also been taking place within the provider’s care homes too, with staff members at Langdon House helping residents stay in touch with loved ones by creating note cards together, enabling them to share messages with their nearest and dearest during times of separation. A family member of a resident, who runs laser cutting and design business Design Etch Cut, has also been busy producing protective face shields for front-line workers during the pandemic, including for staff members at Alex Wood House – CHS Group’s care home in Cambridge, while Cambridge Makespace distributed visors to the operator’s other care homes.
Residents get crafty to support key workers STAFF and residents at Newfield Lodge in Castleford have shown their support and appreciation by sending personalised handmade cards to key workers from the local area who continuously support the community. In addition, the care home residents’ knitting club has gifted Pinderfields Hospital’s maternity ward with more than 65 handmade baby hats. Residents spent time creating rainbow cards and writing personalised messages of gratitude. They were then delivered to key services such as local GP surgeries, district nurses, pharmacies and chemists, police and fire departments and supermarket staff. Emily Waugh, lifestyle manager at the Ideal Carehomes operated facility, said: “Our residents are such wonderful people and remain incredibly upbeat despite such unprecedented times.
Resident Margaret Newby spent time writing messages to local keyworkers. “It has been my pleasure to support them to deliver and donate their thank you cards and hats. “It is great to see everybody coming together to support each other. It has really given us a boost of positivity throughout our home.”
A NEWLY-launched Pembrokeshire business aims to bridge the gap between housekeeping and care. Taylormaids is the creation of Emma Taylor, one of the directors of NetLet UK, a company that provides holiday home rentals as well as laundry, property servicing and housekeeping services for holiday homes and for people in the local community. She recognised that the company’s trained housekeepers could easily be upskilled to provide a valuable service to elderly people in the community who need some extra help in their homes but do not yet need full-time care. Emma came up with the business idea after seeing her late grandfather’s care needs increase – but not enough for him to move into a care home. She recognised that NetLet already had a team of staff who could help him, and others like him. Emma said: “I started Taylormaids because as my grandad’s needs increased, I could see that the bridge between independent living and fulltime care was foggy. “I felt there was a need for a service that would help support clients to live independently for as possible and relieve pressure on family members. “Our Taylormaids can fill in the gap until clients need more care. They are fully checked, uniformed, trained and insured, so clients and their families can be confident that they are in safe hands.” Taylormaids are uniformed, DBS
Emma Taylor checked helpers who can assist their elderly clients with whatever they need, from housekeeping to shopping trips or outings. Each Taylormaid is given specific training to suit the needs of their clients, covering everything from Alzheimer’s to mental health issues such as hoarding. They also have access to NetLet’s network of other service providers, from gardeners to plumbers. By prioritising training for her team, Emma has also been able to provide valuable opportunities for career progression: they can access courses on a broad range of subjects and gain NVQ qualifications that help to build their confidence and career prospects.
Tech initiative launched to tackle loneliness A DIGITAL media academic has launched an initiative to provide hand-held digital devices to help residents living in care home isolation communicate with their loved ones. Mark Brill, senior lecturer in Future Media and Creative Innovation at Birmingham City University, has collaborated with technology business Memory Tracks and received donations from tech giants Huawei to provide 80 tablet devices to care homes across the UK. They are pre-loaded with communication and video software including Skype, Google Hangouts and Zoom, with technical support being made available to help residents with receiving and making calls to friends and family. Having previously researched the impact of music and technology usage on those living with dementia, Mark was aware of the challenges that care homes are currently facing. “With the current Covid-19 crisis, isolation and loneliness are a major challenge for people living in care homes,” he said. “It impacts on both mental and physical health. “With social distancing, older
adults in care homes are unable to receive visitors, where previously family members visited daily. “Video calling has been shown to alleviate isolation and we’re delighted to see an immediate response to our initiative with photos being sent in of residents using the technology so that they can see and speak to their families.” Mark and the Memory Tracks team are currently raising money via Crowdfunder to provide more devices to care homes and are already in contact with a number of technology providers who plan to provide devices for free or at a reduced cost. “As well as some finance to purchase devices, we’ll need some funds to package up the tablets and send them out to care homes,” added Mark. “Keeping in contact with families is an essential need right now and for the future. “We want to make sure that we can provide support to anyone in a care home who needs it.” Memory Tracks is an online care platform that links music to daily tasks to support those living with cognitive impairment, such as dementia.
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CARINGWEEKLY
City Council invites social workers to come back to care Residents and team members at Braemar Lodge in Salisbury at the finishing line for the walk in aid of the 2.6 Challenge.
Care group mobilises to support charities AN all-round team effort by care home staff has helped raise £1,000 – and counting – for charities facing a funding shortfall due to the London Marathon not going ahead. When they heard the annual race was cancelled due to Covid-19, team members at Colten Care’s head office in Ringwood, Hampshire and 21 care homes across the south were concerned about the good causes likely to miss out. Joining the national 2.6 Challenge, reflecting the 26 miles in a marathon and the date the London event would have been on April 26, they staged their own ‘marathon-related’ sponsorship activities. Head office staff have already raised more than £1,000, with amounts across the homes themselves still being counted. While respecting all the essential social distancing rules, the list of activities included 26-mile bike rides and walks, 2.6-mile runs, cookery challenges, trampolining and hulahooping. At Kingfishers care home in New Milton, staff invited residents to take part in a 26-minute ‘seated dance’. And a head office manager, senior buyer Tim Jones, completed a 26-hour DIY decorating challenge at his home. Among other colleagues and their children, activities included: n Baking 26 fairy cakes and 26 scones. n Performing 126 handspring flips, 26 back somersaults and 26 front somersaults on a trampoline. n A 26-burpee workout. n A husband and wife together
completing 260 press-ups in under 26 minutes. n Two children together running 260 times round their garden. Colleagues at Braemar Lodge in Salisbury clocked up a combined 26-mile walk through the gardens and home corridors. Much to the delight of residents, they even incorporated their activity in an outdoor dance routine to tunes including The Proclaimers’ 500 Miles and You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers. Jackie Cash, clinical lead, said: “We wanted to make it entertaining for our residents. “Because of lockdown and social distancing restrictions, this is such a strange time for everyone and people are missing their families and friends. “We always want our residents to know we are there for them, even when we are fundraising for others, so we thought we’d put on a show as part of our walk.” One of the organisers of Colten’s head office involvement in the 2.6 Challenge was operations manager and keen runner Jacky Sylvester. She completed the 50th marathon of her running career by finishing last year’s London Marathon while raising money for dementia research. Jacky said: “When Team Colten put their minds to something they really do deliver. I am so proud of my colleagues at head office for all the imaginative ways they have supported the 2.6 Challenge this year. “The same goes for our fellow team members and residents across our homes. Well done to everyone who got behind our campaign.” A couple who reside at HC One’s Sabourn Court have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. James and Jean Kinnear were wed at the Trinity Methodist Church in Leeds having met when they were in the Scouts and the Girl Guides respectively. The care home was unable to celebrate in usual style, but still made sure the special day was marked. The quiet lounge area was decorated and James and Jean had a Skype call with their four sons and other family members, and then opened up gifts that had been sent to the home from loved ones, and they even had a card from the Queen.
BRISTOL City Council is inviting anyone who has worked in children’s or adult social care to consider re-joining social work during the coronavirus pandemic to support vulnerable people. In response to the current exceptional circumstances, Social Work England has been given emergency powers by the Government to invite previously registered social workers in England to return to practice. Anyone who has left the social worker register since March 18, 2018 will have their registration temporarily renewed automatically so they can return to social care work as quickly as possible during the current pandemic. Councillor Helen Holland, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “We are calling on previously registered social workers to return to the profession to alleviate the pressure put on the system by the coronavirus crisis. “We are incredibly grateful to those already active in the care system, and would welcome anyone who is able and willing to return to practice
to ensure that the most vulnerable in Bristol are supported and receive the care they need in these unprecedented circumstances.” The city council has robust contingency plans in place and is working hard to maintain services for vulnerable people. Returning professionals will join experienced and supportive teams and be part of delivering the council’s vision to help children, families and adults to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Returning social workers, whether they are retired or re-joining from another line of work, will be able to practice and use the protected title ‘social worker’ while their name is on a temporary national register which will remain open until the end of the emergency. Posts are available for a minimum of 18.5 hours per week Monday to Friday with some evening/weekend hours for adult social workers. Returning social workers will receive a full package of induction, training and support. Returning social workers can apply for the temporary posts via Bristol City Council’s job site.
VE Day extravaganza is planned for care homes A SPECIAL VE Day episode of The Best Seat in the House – a new online variety concert especially created for the elderly and care homes during the lockdown – will air on Friday. Created by The Not Forgotten – a British Armed Forces charity for serving and ex-service men and women – The Best Seat in the House has been running for several weeks. The twice-weekly, hour-long shows have been enjoyed by residents in thousands of care facilities across the UK, as well as those who have tuned in from their own homes. From messages of hope to performances inspired by the 1940s through to 1970s, celebrity guest appearances have included Sir Cliff Richard, Brian May, Brian Conley, Anita Dobson, Lesley Joseph, Russell Watson, Bonnie Langford, Jimmy Cricket and some of the cast of Emmerdale, EastEnders and ‘Allo ‘Allo!, to name a few. The special VE Day episode will not only feature a message from forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, but will provide a trip down memory lane for viewers with a collection of tributes to the likes of Winston Churchill, Gracie Fields, Anne Shelton, the Andrew Sisters, Max Miller and many more. Brigadier James Stopford CBE, CEO of The Not Forgotten, said: “We wanted to ensure those who were already isolated, lonely, and vulnerable are not forgotten, nor are they allowed to languish in these difficult times. “The Best Seat in the House is a way for us to entertain those in care
Jimmy Cricket and senior living facilities across the country, provide them with two hours of simple, feel-good entertainment each week and put a smile on their faces during these uncertain times. “As a military charity, creating a special VE Day episode was a must to honour all those who gave so much in the war. The entertainers we pay tribute to in the show all helped rally the troops 75 years ago and I hope those watching are able to reminisce and recall some of the better times with comrades, and feel the pride of Britain as we unite against this new enemy in the virus.” The Best Seat in the House is available to watch on www.youtube. com/TheNotForgottenAssoc and new episodes are uploaded every Tuesday and Friday from 3pm. The VE Day special episode will be available from 9am on Friday.
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CARINGWEEKLY Advertiser’s announcement
There will never be a more important time to ensure good practice in on-premise laundries By Mark Drinkall RUNNING a safe, efficient and effective laundry is as critical as running a safe, efficient and effective kitchen in any care home, never more than in current circumstances. Every step of the process from collection of dirty laundry from a bedroom to the return of clean, hygienic laundry to that bedroom should be organised and controlled. Christeyns has been supporting care homes for many years via our trusted partners, using expertise in application and practical training to pass on our wealth of experience in laundry technology and disinfection. As the care industry copes with one of its most challenging periods yet, it is crucial that best practice is consistently adhered to in all aspects of care home operation, every day with every process. Staff: It is recommended that staff should change into uniforms at the site rather than travelling from home in them, and that the uniforms are laundered to the appropriate standard in the controlled environment of the on-site laundry. It is, however, recognised that this may not be possible in all homes. All practical steps to ensure that staff uniforms are hygienic when in use and do not present a contamination risk inside or outside the home must be taken. All staff should wear appropriate PPE when handling linen, particularly foul or infected linen, and when handling laundry chemicals. Follow the guidance provided by statutory bodies and on the packaging of the chemicals. Your machine and /or chemical
Mark Drinkall
supplier should be happy to provide training to ensure that staff are aware of how to get the best out of equipment, promote efficiency and ensure safety standards are met. Rooms: Ensure that all linen which is, or is suspected to be, foul or infected is placed into a soluble red bag and then sealed in a nonpermeable bag before it leaves the bedroom. It should be transported directly to the laundry. Any solids should be removed from the laundry before it is placed in the soluble bag. Keep clean and dirty laundry separate and ensure that there can be no transfer of infection from dirty to clean linen, washing hands and using clean PPE where appropriate. Transport and storage: Have separate storage and transport arrangements for clean and used laundry, ensure these are cleaned regularly. Housekeeping in the laundry: Keep the machines, floors, trolleys and surfaces clean. If a water softener is in use ensure that it is functioning correctly, hard water will cause results problems and damage the washers over time. Have separate containers or trolleys
for soiled linen and clean linen. Do not open red bags before they go into the washer. Never store or leave laundry on the floor, it is unhygienic and will result in footprint stains which cannot be removed. Report any faults with machines immediately. Never leave hot linen unattended or overnight, it might cause a fire. Ensure that linen is below body temperature before leaving unattended. Handle and store clean linen hygienically. Dosing systems: Ensure that dosing pumps are working. Report any faults immediately. Is the light or screen on, do they operate during every process? Are there any leaks, are the drums going down, do they need replacing, is the correct drum on the correct tube? Check drums daily. Always were gloves and eye protection when handling the chemicals. Never mix chemicals. Ensure that an appropriate stock of all the laundry chemicals is maintained to eliminate the risk that you will run out. Even running out of one chemical will negatively impact the washing results. Washers: Do not significantly overload or underload the washers or dryers, this will cause results problems and may damage the machines. Make sure that the appropriate wash process and dosing program is selected, paying particular attention to making sure that foul and infected linen is processed on a disinfection programme. If possible, wash dark and light
items separately. Do not attempt to shorten a wash process by advancing the machine, it will impact upon results and may cause skin irritation for staff or customers. Use a pre-wash when required. Select a destainer process for any stained linen. Never use fabric conditioner on kylies or microfibres. Never put starch and conditioner in the same process. Dryers: Load to the rated capacity of the dryer where possible. Do no overload as it will decrease efficiency. Select a cool down option where appropriate, particularly on polycottons. Never over-dry linen, this causes static build up, drives off conditioner perfume and wastes energy. Do not leave dried laundry in the dryer at any time as it poses a fire hazard. When removing linen from the dryer smoothing and folding it immediately and while still warm will result in a better finish and reduce the need for ironing. Clean the lint trap on a daily basis, otherwise it may become a fire hazard. Running an efficient and effective on premise laundry can give care homes peace of mind and a seamless supply of clean, hygienic linen. However, it must be well managed around strict guidelines and with staff who are kept up to date and knowledgeable about the important role they play in keeping everyone safe and sound. n Mark Drinkall is national sales manager at Christeyns Professional Hygiene. www.christeyns.com
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CARINGWEEKLY
Firm founded by former resident helps care home keep safe from COVID-19
Married couple keep in contact via video call A MARRIED couple who met on an army camp where the care home they live in now stands are keeping in touch via video call. Joan and Max Fullbrook are both residents at Gracewell of Church Crookham. Max lives in the Memory Care Neighbourhood and Joan in the Assisted Living Neighbourhood. As they have varying care needs they are having to live in isolation from one another in different parts of the care home throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Steven Wylie, home admissions advisor at Gracewell of Church Crookham, said: “Max and Joan are
a wonderful couple and the fact they met on the grounds here makes their story so special to us. “We are so pleased we are able to help them keep in contact with one another. “We know it is such an important time to speak to loved ones.” When the site was an army camp a big black shed in the grounds was used as a community shed and function room. The couple met at a weekly dance in the shed – Joan was 18 living in Fleet and Max was 23 living in Odiham. The couple got married in 1955 and have two children and one grandchild.
A SURREY care home is benefiting from extra protection during the coronavirus pandemic. The Huntington and Langham Estate in Hindhead has been supplied with the highest standard of air filtration masks available – with the masks coming from a firm originally founded by a former resident of the home. Cam Lock, a specialist in the design and manufacture of personal protection life support systems, has supplied the facility with multiple Matrix Full Face Mask Respirators. The masks serve to provide the highest level of protection from airborne particulates, helping to keep both staff and residents safe from the threat of COVID-19. Incidentally, one of the original founders behind Cam Lock was one of the first residents of Langham Court, the Estate’s specialist dementia care facility, which was built in 2013. Director Charlie Hoare said: “Our utmost priority is the safety of the people within our homes; both residents and staff. “Cam Lock’s Matrix masks maximise protection, greatly reducing the risk of any airborne viral particles spreading around the home, while they’re especially important when it comes to reducing the risks involved with aerosol generating procedures carried out by staff. “PPE has been tough to come by
in some instances, with visors in particular being hard to find. “At one point, we appealed to a local school who kindly donated their science lab safety specs, helping us with eye protection. “The great thing about the Matrix masks though is that, not only do they offer high grade filtration, they’re also reusable. “The majority of PPE is single use, which means we have to establish a constant flow of supplies, something that’s proving particularly difficult given the scale of the demand. “However, thanks to the opportunity for repeat use, Cam Lock’s contribution helps to reduce the strain on our supply chain.” Protecting the nose, mouth and eyes, the one-size-fits-all masks are fitted with a P3 high efficiency particulate filter, which protects against the micro-organism particles of coronavirus. With a high-quality distortion-free optical visor, glasses wearers can incorporate them via integration of a prescription spectacle frame – meaning everyone can use them. Charlie added: “So far, we’ve been managing very well in containing any risk from the virus. The masks though offer that extra level of protection; serving to reassure both residents and staff that we’re going above and beyond when it comes to providing the appropriate levels of PPE.” Staff at Watling Court extra care housing scheme in Gravesend hosted a glamour day in a bid to lift spirits and inject a bit of sparkle into the current difficult situation. Wearing their finest fancy dresses and their most dazzling hairstyles, the ladies had flowers in their hair and jewels on their faces as they went about their work, providing care and support for the residents. Some of the senior staff also brought in treats for the rest of the team including face masks, eye masks, hand and foot creams, false nails and chocolates, so they could enjoy a relaxing evening of pampering when they got home. n Pictured are Lorraine Hearne, Donna Foster and Sandra Burrow.
Group looking to recruit CARING Homes has launched a widereaching recruitment campaign to encourage new team members to join them and help the company to care for the nation’s families. The essence of family is at the heart of the company ethos as it continues to react to the current Covid-19 outbreak and period of lockdown and self-isolation which could continue for some weeks. Head of recruitment Eve Hill said: “We’re all family at heart. Caring for one another, supporting, sharing and looking after the ones we love. “We are looking for people to join us and help us care for our residents in more than 60 care homes throughout the country. “If you’re interested in a paid role,
or if you are looking to volunteer your time to help in social care we’d love to hear from you. “Particularly if you used to work in adult social care, if you are retired from this sector, or if you are from an industry that has been put on hold – such as catering, hospitality or air travel. “Do not worry if you’ve never worked in care before though as we’ll train and support everyone who joins us.” Caring Homes is following the latest Government advice, putting in new policies and protocols as well as stopping visitors to all homes. The operator was established in 1994 by registered nurse Helena Jeffery and her son Paul.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Domiciliary care agency is rated Outstanding THE Care Quality Commission has rated a Suffolk domiciliary care service Outstanding following a recent inspection. CQC inspected Hilltop House (Domiciliary Care) in Bury St Edmunds in March. At the time of inspection the service supported 11 people living with physical disability. People lived in their own selfcontained flats in a single building. In addition to being rated Outstanding overall, the service was rated Outstanding for being caring and well-led. It is rated Good for being safe, effective and responsive. Matthew Jenkins, CQC interim head of inspection for adult social care, said: “It is excellent to see this service delivering Outstanding care. “Staff brought an exceptionally caring approach to their work. “They respected and valued people as individuals, empowering them as partners in their care. “This led to trusted relationships, where staff sought to understand
how people’s conditions affected their lives, and helped people enjoy better outcomes. “The service saw the value of supporting people to maintain meaningful relationships and access the local community. “One person was supported to engage with their family after a long period without contact. Another person was supported to build their independence following a bereavement. “All this improved people’s wellbeing. “The service benefited from distinctive leadership that fostered an open culture. People could share their experience of the service’s care to help it improve; this approach won praise from people and their families. “An Outstanding rating is the result of considerable hard work, so I congratulate everyone at Hilltop House who made this achievement possible.” The service was previously rated Good following a 2017 inspection.
Rothley care home is given ‘Good’ rating MOUNTVIEW care home in Rothley has received an overall Good rating from the Care Quality Commission. The report details how staff who provide care for up to 66 residents are ‘kind, considerate and treat everyone with dignity and respect’. Following the unannounced inspection in February, Mountview hit the spot across all five key areas of care: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors observed day-to-day life at the home and examined paperwork, policies and care plans. They also spoke to eight residents, six relatives of residents, visitors including doctors and nurses who work closely with the home, care workers and management to gather a full picture prior to compiling their report. The constant theme running through the 16-page document shows that residents and staff are supported, happy and empowered. Inspectors were also impressed with
the varied daily activity programme for residents. Registered home manager Stacie Weaver said: “I have built my career at Mountview and have been part of the team since the very start, working my way up from care assistant to home manager, and I am extremely proud of how far we have all come in that time. I have seen the home consistently improve, and always with the residents at the heart of everything we do. “I am thrilled we received ‘Good’ in all areas, congratulations to everybody involved, I am sure this very encouraging news will spur us on to continue our ‘good’ work.” Staff spoke with the inspectors who commented that morale in the home is good, adding that they enjoy their work and feel well supported by management. The report details how there is a strong team ethic where staff hold positive views of each other and feel confident to speak up.
Leigh-on-Sea facility Buckinghamshire supported rated ‘Outstanding’ living service is Outstanding ADMIRAL Court in Leigh-on-Sea has become the second of a provider’s care home in a month to receive an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission. The health watchdog gave the Hallmark residential, nursing and dementia home the maximum overall rating – putting it in a small percentage across the country to achieve this high standard. The report praised the facility for its ‘caring and supportive culture’ and rated it ‘Outstanding’ in the areas of ‘effective,’ ‘caring,’ ‘responsive’ and ‘well led’ ‘and ‘Good’ for its service being ‘safe.’ General manager at Admiral Court, Susan Cruse, said: “I am incredibly proud that the home has been recognised as Outstanding by CQC. “Behind every success is hard work and passion and my team are so dedicated, enthusiastic and courageous to try new things in order to enable the residents to live active and fulfilled lives. “I would like to thank the residents, relatives and team members for supporting Admiral Court and
making every day a true pleasure. I look forward to the next stages of our journey together.” The planned inspection took place on February 12, and the report said: “There were numerous examples of people’s everyday lives being enhanced by creative, compassionate care with an extremely varied lifestyles programme. “The provider had strong visions and values focused on maximising people’s quality of life and cultivated a caring and supportive culture.” Ram Goyal, the managing director and owner of the care home, added: “To have the team at Admiral Court recognised for their amazing work by our regulator is a wonderful affirmation of what Hallmark is all about. “Every resident is treated as an individual and the teams show professionalism, enthusiasm and compassion towards everyone. “This is a true testament to the care and dedication given by the teams and how the wellbeing of our residents is always at the forefront of their mind.”
THE CQC has rated a Milton Keynes supported living service Outstanding following a recent inspection. Fenny Mews and Stratford View in Bletchley were inspected in February. The service cares for people living with a learning disability, mental health need or autism at its two houses and communal space. It supported 10 adults at the time of inspection. In addition to its overall rating, CQC also rated Fenny Mews and Stratford View as Outstanding for four of the five questions it asks when it inspects: is the service effective, caring, responsive and well-led? It is rated Good for being safe. Deanna Westwood, CQC interim head of inspection for adult social care, said: “It is excellent to see this service delivering Outstanding care. “People enjoyed positive outcomes because the service was tailored to their individual needs. “The staff team comprised
professionals spanning several specialisms, and they used their knowledge to help people live fulfilled lives. “People were treated compassionately and respectfully by the service’s exceptionally caring staff. They were also supported to achieve their goals. “One person was helped to have more independence through receiving support to use public transport; this enabled them to enjoy a fuller social life. “Other people were supported to participate in the social activities that mattered to them, including swimming and eating out. “The service’s success was driven by effective use of policies and processes. “This included using quality assurance procedures to identify areas where there were issues to address. The service was previously rated Good following a 2017 inspection.
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CARINGWEEKLY Advertiser’s announcement
How to stay safe from hackers on a conference call By Chris Cox
Daro delivers long-lasting handwashing skills SINCE the onset of the coronavirus, Suffolk-based manufacturer Daro UV Systems (part of the DaRo Group) has seen a sharp increase in demand for its hand inspection cabinet. The company cites that more than 15 per cent of large care home groups have placed an order for the product in the last month. Julian Cant, general manager at DaRo UV Systems, added: “Proper handwashing can really help to reduce the spread of infections and cross contamination. “Whenever we demonstrate the cabinet for the first time, even to workers on the frontline, they are hugely impressed by its capabilities.” The hand inspection unit provides a striking visual and educational aid for users by using UVA, long wave UV light, and light responsive Glitterbug lotion – to highlight areas where handwashing must be improved. After washing, when hands are placed in the inspection cabinet any remaining lotion will fluoresce under the ultraviolet lamp, thus demonstrating flaws in the hand washing technique of the user. By helping members of institutions and organisations identify where they need to improve handwashing technique, more effective infection control can be achieved.
DaRo UV, an NHS approved supplier and trusted specialist in ultraviolet systems since 1985, specialises in the design and manufacture of UV products for water, air and surface disinfection and hygiene equipment – using long wave UV light. Since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, DaRo has focused its manufacturing capability to producing as many UV products as possible, including the hand inspection cabinet and a mobile disinfection unit. Mervyn Douglas, managing director of the DaRo Group, said: “Many care homes are facing a real challenge when it comes to maintaining the wellbeing and safety of residents, especially as we move forward during the process of fighting the virus. “DaRo is proud to be able to deliver products that are both educational and help support the health and wellbeing of communities and individuals. “When schools begin to open up, as an example, we need to ensure children are properly educated on handwashing techniques, in order to protect family, friends and teachers. “The hand inspection unit can be a strategic and uniquely striking educational tool in helping them visualise the dangers of bad handwashing, and creating lifelong habits.” Enquiries: Visit www.darouv.co.uk
Cleaner is scientifically proven to kill virus causing COVID-19 in care homes
UNTIL now there has been no way of conducting the large scale cleaning needed in care homes to kill the novel coronavirus on surfaces, without using those potentially irritating chemicals The ProCleanz cleaning system manufactured by ECE Group Services Limited produces a natural and non-chemical cleaning solution that has just been awarded an EN14476 accreditation, having been proven to kill the coronaviruses that cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Tests conducted under strict clinical conditions by The Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology in Austria have verified the efficacy of the solution against the specific COVID-19 strain of coronavirus. Their results prove that the virus is killed by the cleaning solution after five minutes of contact. The ProCleanz system takes regular tap water and by the addition of salt and electricity, transforms it into a powerful surface cleaner. Delivering high sanitising properties, it was the first electrolysed water product in the UK to achieve the EN1276 accreditation, proving effectiveness
against e-coli and listeria, and now adds the EN14476 accreditation to its name. The system provides cleaning teams with constant access to litres of the low cost, natural and environmentally friendly solution, that can be used in buckets, sprays and scrubbing machines. It can be safely used on floors, push plates, tables, food dispensaries, in fact anywhere a usual cleaner would be deployed. Enquiries: Call Kevin Bullman, director, Ozofresh (ProCleanz distributor) on 07903 742373 or email kevin@ozofresh.co.uk Visit https://procleanzworld.co.uk
NHS turns to industrial-scale air cleaners
THE NHS and other healthcare environments have turned to Dustcontrol UK’s powerful air cleaners to help capture and limit the spread of airborne COVID-19 on patient wards and other areas. Normally found on construction sites protecting workers by removing hazardous dusts from the atmosphere, the company’s industrial AirCube range are finding their way into hospitals and care homes due to their HEPA filtration, singlephase continuous rated motors, mobility, and quiet running. The filters are H13, meaning they are tested to capture at least 99.95 per cent of particles between 0.15 to 0.3 micrometres. In accordance with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, in buildings where windows do not open and the ventilation system functions in a closed circuit, high-efficiency particulate air filtration should be used for the recycled air. Other options may include placing temporary HEPA filters over the vents and exhausts in the
THE coronavirus crisis has revealed few shafts of light, but one that has emerged is the pace of technological change. Suddenly, in the space of a few weeks, people have begun to embrace video conferencing tools. In the care sector such technology has been positively life changing. It’s enabled GP appointments to continue, while residents have been able to keep in touch with family and voluntary organisations in the local community. But while the coronavirus has accelerated this technological culture shift, it has also presented seasoned cyber criminals with an unprecedented opportunity to target unsuspecting care staff, who have begun using these intuitive systems without first properly assessing the security risks. As someone who has worked in IT for some of the world’s largest companies for the last two decades, I can tell you that the cyber threat is very real and the consequences of an attack can be potentially devastating. So what could a cyber criminal do? Well, quite a lot actually. Once on the call, they could steal any sensitive information relating to the care home, the people working there or the residents, before selling it on the Dark Web. But equally, there are several best practice steps you can take, which will not only mitigate cyber risk, but will also enhance privacy and improve security. So what are they? Firstly, check that all staff desktops, laptops, tablets and phones are up-to-date. Also check that contractors have installed the latest updates on their device. On this note, it’s worth remembering the saying ‘The chain is only as strong as the weakest link’ as if just one of the participants has a bug or flaw on their computer, it could allow a malicious hacker to infiltrate the meeting. When it comes to setting up a meeting, never post the meeting link on social media, as it could be intercepted by cyber criminals. Secondly, always use a platform
Chris Cox
which has a ‘virtual waiting area’. This will allow you to check who is attending the meeting. Thirdly, as an added security measure, ensure that everyone is muted before the meeting starts. Fourth, consider the content that is due to be discussed. If information is privileged, decide whether the meeting needs to be recorded. For attendees, there are a few best practice tips to observe. Firstly, the meeting may be a virtual one, but approach it in exactly the same way you would a face-to-face one. Secondly, check that the hardware you’re using works before the meeting starts. Thirdly, check the background, which will appear in shot, is the backdrop you want everyone to see. This is particularly relevant in the care sector because not everyone in a care home, or domiciliary agency has a private office. Therefore, there’s a risk that residents might accidentally appear in the background. This could breach privacy laws. The easiest way to nip this in the bud is to adjust the settings to create a virtual background. This ensures that no one else can be seen but you. Fourth, when it’s your turn to speak, ensure that you’re not on mute, and that when you’ve finished speaking, the mute setting has been reactivated. Finally, if there are lots of people on the call, it’s often a good idea to raise your hand.” n Chris Cox is chief technology officer at QCS. Additional resources https://qcs-qualitycomplianc.netdna-ssl. com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/How-toconduct-a-video-conference-safely-CaringUK.pdf?utom_source=CaringUK&utm_ article&utm_campaign=cybersecuirty
Staffing solution for care homes rooms housing COVID-19 patients, or using a portable HEPA air filtration system placed in close proximity to where the patient was located. By also creating a negative pressure environment, where in a well-sealed room containing patients for example, air is filtered, then exhausted outside, this will limit the spread of particles back into other areas of the building. Enquiries: Call 01327 858001, visit www.dustcontroluk.co.uk or email sales@dustcontrol.co.uk
JMS One is a unique and dynamic staffing solution, designed to improve staffing efficiencies and save costs for hospitals, care homes and other healthcare organisations. During this very difficult and challenging time we are all in, we very much want to do our bit to help, so are offering our booking module free of charge and without obligation for use during the crisis. If you have bank, temporary, or voluntary staff, our JMS One application could help fill your shifts almost instantly.
We appreciate the pressures you must be under, but if you would like to find out more please check our website or YouTube channel to see how this could work for you. Or if you prefer, please do call or email us and will do all we can to assist you. For more information please contact the JMS One team. Website: www.jmsinfotech.co.uk Phone: 01908 827222 Email: enquiries@jmsinfotech.co.uk YouTube: Search for “JMS One getting started”
Support for social care managers
Join our Facebook group It’s important in these challenging times to stay in touch with your peers. Request and share the most up-to-date guidance around COVID-19. Talk about ways to stay busy and entertained indoors. Provide support, understanding and reassurance to like-minded colleagues across England.
I am on the Facebook group and you can pick up some good tips and resources that other members have shared. It also highlights that we are all in the same boat and struggling with the same issues. Linda Lowrie, group member
You’re not alone. www.facebook.com/groups/registeredmanager
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