Issue 115 27.07.22
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Care providers call for better sector funding CARE providers are calling for an urgent injection of funding into the social care sector as the staffing crisis in the sector deepens. And they are warning that an increase in pay for NHS nurses is likely to worsen the situation unless better social care funding improves. A recent report from Skills for Care revealed that the number of vacant posts in social care had shot up by 55,000 in the past year – an increase of 52 per cent. Provider organisation the Independent Care Group said the figures laid bare a crisis that was robbing older and vulnerable people of the care they need. It is calling for the creation of a National Minimum Wage for care staff. ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “Shocking as they are, nobody can be surprised at these figures as care providers on the front line know that it is becoming impossible to fill care vacancies and they are struggling to give people the care they need. “We are seeing care and nursing homes close due to the ongoing funding crisis and homecare providers closing or handing back contracts that are not possible to deliver. “Unless better funding is provided for social care, this is only going to get worse and worse and that is terrible, tragic
news for those needing care.” He warned that the pay increase of around four per cent announced recently for NHS workers would pile even more pressure on recruitment within social care. “Just months ago, NHS nurses and social care staff were working side by side to tackle the pandemic and people were clapping on their doorsteps in appreciation,” Mike added. “That seems to have been forgotten. “Social care already cannot match the pay offered by the NHS and yesterday’s £1,400 pay rise for those workers, though very, very well deserved, will widen that gap even further, making it even harder for social care providers to recruit. “Local authorities who commission care, themselves strapped for cash after years of austerity, cannot pay providers a true price for the care that is provided, making it impossible for those providers, in turn, to pay staff properly and in line with their NHS counterparts. “They deserve so much better. Little wonder those going into the care sector go to the NHS when social care cannot compete. “Let’s face it, social care cannot compete with jobs in retail or hospitality, where there is arguably less stress than in the care professions.
Residents of a Plymouth dementia care home will be enjoying the benefits of new interactive audiovisual technology thanks to a sponsored cycle undertaken by staff and supporters. Sarah McCaffrey, deputy manager at Butterfly Lodge, and the home’s activities co-ordinator Paul Hutt were so enthusiastic about a mobile entertainment unit they saw at a conference earlier in the year that they inspired colleagues and friends to join them on a sponsored cycle challenge along the Camel Trail – and the eight-strong team succeeded in raising a total of £500. Barry Jones, a keen cyclist and Butterfly Lodge’s maintenance man, proposed the Camel Trail as a suitable route and led the pack. Other participants included kitchen assistant Lisa Palmer, domestic Clare Hamilton, care assistant Claire Walker, Sam Wilkinson the home’s senior healthcare assistant, and activities co-ordinator Kelly Tennant, as well as Sarah and Paul.
Time running out so enter now OPERATORS wanting to put themselves forward for recognition have been urged to enter the Caring UK Awards before it’s too late. Nominations for this year’s event are now open at www.caringukawards.co.uk The awards, organised by Script Events in partnership with Caring UK, recognise excellence and achievement in all corners of the care industry. And with more than 20 categories up for grabs, there’s something to suit every type of care business. These include everything from Quality in Housekeeping and Catering Team of the Year to Best Outdoor Environment and End of Life Team of the Year. Event organiser Dominic Musgrave said: “Nominations are coming in and our events team is already busy ensuring
that this year’s event is bigger and better than ever. “Our main aim is to recognise and honour the best in our wonderful sector and showcase the innovation and dedication that goes on every day so please share your successes and tell us about your hard work and initiatives by sending in your nominations … it’s a real privilege to read them.” A shortlist in each category will then be drawn up, with winners chosen by an expert panel. Trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday, December 1 presented by Emmerdale actor Dean Andrews. Deadline for nominations is noon on Friday, August 26.
Book a demonstration today by calling 01925 386800 or visit www.carebeans.co.uk
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CARINGWEEKLY
Residents support much-loved nurse Catherine’s band debut RESIDENTS of a Poole care home made sure they were in the audience when their nurse made her band debut at the Lighthouse Theatre. Margaret Goodland, Joyce Holden, Phyllis Haine and Mary Castle of Colten Care dementia home The Aldbury, went along to offer their support to Catherine Moyse. She was playing trombone for the first time with the Broadstone Community Band, which was raising funds for High Mead Farm and the Going for Bust charity. The ladies were accompanied on the trip by The Aldbury’s companionship team leader Sue Miles and companion Cara Duroe.
Sue said: “Catherine joined the band only six months ago when she joined the Aldbury team. “She practices every other week and finds the band helps her unwind from work and helps towards her general wellbeing. “She is very popular and our residents were extremely excited to go and see her and offer their support. “We were all bowled-over by the excellent concert which featured songs from the musicals West Side Story and Grease, as well as Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, the Jitterbug, The Charleston and the hymns Abide with Me and Deep Harmony.”
Village manager Chris Hill.
Village to host petthemed competition RICHMOND Villages Wood Norton will be running a competition to win a pet portrait at Ragley Hall Game Fair this weekend. Richmond Villages is partnering with The Cinnamon Trust to bring the competition to the fair and to host a dog show in September. The Cinnamon Trust is a charity that helps elderly people to look after their pets for longer. The charity has a team of volunteers who help with the day-to-day care of pets and they work to rehome bereaved pets after the owners die. Village manager Chris Hill said: “We are delighted to be involved in Ragley Hall Game Fair and to be partnered with The Cinnamon Trust. We want our competition to encourage people to celebrate their furry friends and to showcase what their companion means to them. “We know how important pets are
to people. They aren’t just animals: they’re part of the family. “They offer a vital form of companionship, particularly for the elderly who often suffer from loneliness. “That’s why all of our villages are pet-friendly. We’re always delighted to welcome pets to our villages along with our residents. “It’s important that people are able to enjoy that special bond for as long as they can, and we are proud to be able to help people to do that.” Visitors will be given the opportunity to have a photograph taken with their pet and write a short statement about why they think theirs is the best. Their picture will be hung on the wall of “pug-shots” and put on social media for others to vote on the best furry companion, with the winner receiving a “paw-trait” of their pet.
School choir strikes a chord with residents A SURREY primary school choir hit all the right notes when they visited a care home to delight residents with a heartfelt singing performance — boosting morale and fostering intergenerational relationships. CHD Living’s Kings Lodge, which offers care solutions to those in need of residential, respite, dementia and end-of-life care, recently welcomed a visit from pupils of Byfleet Primary, which sits opposite the care home in Byfleet. Singing a selection of songs from an event they had attended in March at Wembley Arena called ‘Voice in a Million’, the pupils’ 45-minute rendition was well-received by both residents and carers, who clapped, laughed and joyfully sang along. Michelle Woodyatt, wellbeing co-ordinator at Kings Lodge, said: “We were delighted to receive a visit from the choir members of Byfleet
Primary School. “The residents thoroughly enjoyed the performance and could not stop beaming for the rest of the day — you could see the music had lifted their spirits. “During the summer months we hope to continue collaborating with our local schools and the wider community, as we consider it fundamental that our residents are well-connected. “We have also seen first-hand the benefits of intergenerational relationships across our branches — for both the residents and the children.” To conclude the event, Kings Lodge resident Valarie Ward, 91, made a speech to thank the school for coming, stating how much she and her friends had enjoyed the afternoon and requesting an impromptu return visit.
A Great Wyrley care home was filled with magic as residents celebrated “Alpha Disney Day”. Staff at Waters Edge dressed in Disney costumes while residents enjoyed a themed day of activities. The residents were also treated to entertainment from the singing princess Pippa Langhorne. Britain’s Got Talent star Pippa reached the semifinals of the TV talent show with her dog Buddy and was joined at the home by some of the year five children from Lower Farm School. Claire Logan, care home manager, said: “We have a few residents who over the past year have been writing letters to the children at the school so it was great for them to finally meet their pen pals, its wonderful and important for the residents to have interaction with the younger generations and it was big smiles and laughter all around the home.” The residents were also treated to a visit from some other very special guests when Mickey and Minnie Mouse stopped by to say ‘hello’.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Home gives chickens a new lease of life
Head gardener at Pendine Park Andrew Jones with manager of Bodlondeb Ann Chapman and residents Barry Bellis and Allan Cope.
Home’s rose garden honours gardener A CARE organisation has paid a touching floral tribute to one of Britain’s first black gardeners who lived most of his life in Gwynedd. Pendine Park has planted a bed of 18 roses that were bred in honour of John Ystumllyn who was abducted in western Africa in the 18th century and raised in Criccieth The yellow bloom is taking pride of place outside Pendine’s Bodlondeb centre of excellence for dementia care in Wrexham. It went on display for the first time at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show and has also been planted at Buckingham Palace. The rose was bred by Harkness Roses in Hertfordshire, which is also responsible for a rose selected by the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. Pendine has planted a bed of the Queen Elizabeth roses at its Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon. At the time John Ystumllyn was abducted Britain was still engaged in the transatlantic slave trade which it’s believed how he arrived in Gwynedd. Early in his life he was taken by the Wynn family to its Ystumllyn estate in Criccieth . He was christened with the Welsh name John Ystumllyn and learned to speak English and Welsh and worked as a gardener on the estate. The campaign to have the rose bred was led by Zehra Zaidi, who founded the group We Too Built Britain, which tells the stories of under-represented people. Residents at Bankview in Banknock, Falkirk have showcased their artistic flair by creating a host of flower arrangements. Both staff members and residents took part in the floral arrangement session, with the finished budding bouquets bringing a fresh pop of colour to the care home. Manager Julie Merrick said: “Staff members and residents had a lovely time making floral arrangements together, not only do the blooms look beautiful, but it also is one of many chances for those at Bankview to, perhaps, try something new and embrace their creativity.”
Planting the commemorative roses outside Bodlondeb has been a labour of love for Pendine’s head gardener, Andrew Jones. He said: “It’s a really beautiful rose and has a wonderful scent. The rose is very, very nice. It starts off a creamy white and then goes a gentle sort of yellow as it opens. “As a gardener myself, the fact that it’s commemorating a gardener is quite meaningful for me.” Bodlondeb and the other three care homes on the site are surrounded by 11 acres of land tended by Andrew and his six-strong team of greenfingered staff. Andrew has been given free rein by Pendine’s nature-loving owners Mario Kreft MBE and his wife Gill to choose exactly how the gardens should look, working without the constraints of “a plant budget” as he continually eyes up ways to further enhance the grounds. Bodlondeb manager Ann Chapman said: “The bed of roses to honour John Ystumllyn is absolutely stunning. “This rose is perfect for us because our residents are diverse, our staff are diverse, and really, it’s absolutely just perfect. It depicts who we are and it’s so pretty – absolutely fabulous. “The gardening and maintenance team do an absolutely incredible job led by Andrew. “The garden gets so many compliments from the people who come here. You could open up this garden to the public and people would come flocking here.”
FOUR chickens have been given a new chance at life after being adopted by Richmond Villages Cheltenham. Upon seeing their residents’ love for animals, staff of the retirement village decided to turn Cheltenham into Chelten-hen by rehoming battery farm chickens from the British Hen Welfare Trust. Village manager Andrew Osborne said, “Our residents love animals and we know how beneficial animals can be to older generations. “We thought it would be nice to give some chickens a new start in life. “Our residents can benefit from the calming and mood-boosting effects of having animals around while our chickens can live a life of luxury. Plus we get to enjoy delicious fresh eggs daily. “We want our residents to feel at home. We work hard to create a vibrant community in pleasant surroundings and our new chickens are the latest addition to our Richmond family.” To celebrate its new feathered friends, the residents and staff voted for their favourite names as part of their Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Thanks to Richmond Villages Cheltenham and the British Hen Welfare Trust, the newly-named
Jubilee, Henrietta, Queenie, and Primrose are living in a newlyrenovated space. They are living a life of luxury in a free-range, fox-proof enclosure where they can live out the rest of their days in peace. The feathered friends are cared for by the Richmond Villages Cheltenham’s health and wellbeing team, with residents encouraged to help feed them vegetable scraps.
Resident Freda Sherwood, 91, joins entertainer Simon Woodley for his first performance at Colten Care’s Brook View in more than two years.
Simon’s welcome return MUSIC-loving care home residents have welcomed the return of one of their favourite entertainers after two years of only seeing him online due to the pandemic. Christchurch-based pianist and vocalist Simon Woodley performed live at Colten Care’s Brook View in West Moors, Dorset, and Kingfishers in New Milton, Hampshire, for the first time since spring 2020. The in-person show at Brook View was a particular treat for resident Freda Sherwood, 91, who used to have the same piano teacher as Simon and is a long-standing fan of his playing. Freda was a regular at Simon’s weekly Skype sessions during lockdown and was thrilled to see him back playing live in the residents’
lounge, even joining him at the keyboard for a brief duet. Companionship team leader Sarah Moule said: “If Freda is at a piano, she will smile and sing. It’s the same when she sees Simon play. “When lockdown hit, Simon was one of the first entertainers across the Colten Care group to suggest doing Skype music sessions. “Freda always looked forward to them each week but you can’t beat having music performed right there in front of you. It was a joy to see her face when Simon appeared in person once again, set up his keyboard and invited her to sit with him and play a few notes.” Freda and Simon were both students of the late Bournemouth-based pianist and teacher Terry Shade.
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CARINGWEEKLY
Group’s offices praised as ‘kind and considerate’ A COLLECTION of Bluebird Care offices have been rated as Good following their latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission. Bluebird Care Taunton and Mid Devon, North Somerset and Sedgemoor and West Somerset all provide home care services throughout the local community, including home visits, live-in care, companionship and complex care plans. Jeanette Hocking, group operations manager at the three Bluebird Care Offices, said: “I am absolutely delighted for all of my colleagues across Bluebird Care Taunton and Mid Devon, North Somerset and Sedgemoor and West Somerset following our CQC rating of Good. “It is a true reflection of our hard work and quality service in what has been a very challenging period of time for the health and social care sector as a whole. “We are delighted the CQC recognised our kind and considerate approach to care that puts the
individual needs of our customers first – at all times. “Our highly experienced and dedicated team of care assistants allow us to support our wonderful customers and their relatives and loved ones in their own home, and we owe this recent endorsement to them.” In the report, each of the Bluebird Care offices was recognised for its kind and considerate care that helps customers maintain their independence, privacy and dignity. Customer care plans were judged as being unique, tailor made and reflecting the individual needs of how each customer wishes to receive their care. There was also positive recognition of the home care provider’s performance and approach during the Covid-19 pandemic, where protocols had been introduced and followed to minimise the risk of infection and ensured customers were attentively cared for in their own homes at all times.
Veterans’ home wins prestigious accolade THE Royal British Legion’s care home in Somerset, Dunkirk Memorial House, has won an award from the South-West Academic Health Science Network. Following competition from numerous care homes across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dunkirk Memorial House was awarded for its work around the management of residents’ long-term conditions. Gaining the attention of the SouthWest AHSN, care staff at the home adopted a diabetes screening tool to identify the veterans and their families who are at risk of developing
the condition. Home manager Anne Lewin said: “The staff are delighted to have been awarded The Care Home Improvement Award for our work on long-term conditions for our residents, and while it’s wonderful to be recognised, we’re simply thrilled that we can continue to excel in the care we offer to our residents. “The safety and wellbeing of the residents is always of upmost importance to us, so allowing us to check for any serious health conditions is a big step forward in the way we provide the best care for each individual.”
Residents Anne Fenner and Terry Davis enjoying the singing session.
Welcome return for Sally Army RESIDENTS and staff at a specialist Bridgwater dementia care home were delighted to welcome back members of the local Salvation Army band and have been having a joyous time revisiting favourite traditional hymns and songs. Prior to Covid the Sally Army were regular visitors to Avalon Nursing Home, but there had been a long gap since their last visit due to the pandemic. Activities organiser Lisa Priddice said: “We were thrilled to see them again. “Their special brand of music gets our residents really involved; they simply love hearing that fabulous brass and joining in with the hymns and songs they know so well from their youth.” The Salvation Army offers a special programme for people living with dementia called Singing by Heart which uses singing to help their audience members connect with others and bring back memories. The scheme uses a mix of popular hymns such as ‘Joy in my Heart’ and popular songs like ‘Moon River’
which span the decades. Each song has been carefully selected to ensure they are fondly recognised by the people listening. The session at Avalon was led by Lieutenant Heather Culshaw. Lisa added: “It is widely acknowledged that music can trigger past memories and feelings in those living with dementia. “Musical memories are among the last to fade, and our residents really enjoy a good sing-along and can often remember word-for-word the songs they used to sing years ago. “We all thoroughly enjoyed this session – connecting to songs they used to sing at Sunday School and reliving other fond memories from the past. “They were tapping their toes and singing away and it was wonderful to see how much everybody was enjoying themselves. “Our residents also had a great time contributing to the music by playing various instruments, and some prayers were included in the programme to offer a spiritual dimension for those so inclined.” Watling Court residents enjoyed an evening that couldn’t be topped when they got together to make their own homemade pizza. Residents of the Gravesend extra care housing scheme swapped their usual take-away for a fake-away as they decided to have a go at making their own pizzas. The residents got together in the dining room, armed with the ingredients for their dough and plenty of tasty toppings, where they crafted their own restaurantstyle pizzas. Helen Goulding, housing officer at Watling Court said: “We usually have a takeaway evening every week but we decided to have a go at making our own pizzas. It was a lot of fun and easier than some of the residents expected. They tasted fantastic too, so I think we’ll be doing it again very soon.”
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