Issue 85 01.12.21
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Carers’ fears over omicron Covid variant CARERS are calling for urgent Government support to protect the country’s oldest and most vulnerable as the new omicron variant of Covid-19 spreads. They urgently need more “boots on the ground” to cope with the new variant, winter pressures and a massive shortage of staff. Care provider organisation, The Independent Care Group said it was vital the Government stepped in to help care settings tackle the ongoing staffing crisis as the new strain and winter demands ramped up the pressure. ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “Care settings have not eased down for a moment during Covid-19, not for a second, but they are doing so without any great support from the Government. “Now, as we see the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant and winter starts to bite hard, we need some support, particularly with the ongoing staffing crisis. “We need more boots on the ground and we need them today. Before the pandemic there were more than 100,000 care staff vacancies. “The Government’s “no jab, no job” policy has added many more thousands to that shortage – maybe as many as the 60,000 the Government itself feared.
“As it has decided not to delay that in care settings – unlike in homecare and the NHS – we ask today, what are you going to do to help care and nursing homes get through winter, the new omicron Covid variant and the shortage of staff? “We were already in the eye of a perfect storm, with exhausted and burnt-out carers battling to provide the best care they can as winter sets in; the impact of “no jab, no job” and an inability to recruit from overseas because of Brexit. “Now we have the new omicron variant on top, which means we have to be ever more vigilant, we must have some support if we are going to get through the next few months.” Some £8bn has been cut from social care since 2010 and prepandemic some 1.5m people were not getting the care they needed. The ICG wants to see urgent support for care staff, starting with the payment of a staff bonus, to get more people into the sector to provide care. Further ahead, it wants to see root and branch reform of the care system to revolutionise the way we look after older and vulnerable people and reward those who provide the care. The ICG wants to see a root and branch overhaul of the way social care is planned and funded.
Music legend Paul Young welcomed residents from a Dorset care home for a town’s Christmas lights switch-on. Paul was the star guest as Sturminster Newton celebrated the start of advent with its annual community get-together. The fun took place around a main Christmas tree and decorations sponsored this year by Colten Care’s Outstanding-rated care home in the town, Newstone House. Two residents, Pat Steer and Gerald Blackburn, accompanied by the home’s Companionship Team leader Karlene Duffy, braved the cold to attend and were thrilled to be part of the event and to meet Paul. Together they joined a lantern parade in the town centre with local families and school children.
Specialist training zone launched BLUEBIRD Care Newmarket and Fenland and Bluebird Care Cambridge have created a specialist care zone capable of creating unique and applicable real-life care scenarios for their teams to be able to train effectively in realistic environments. As part of the launch, the homecare providers’ ‘Welcome to my World’ course enables care assistants, family members, customers and local healthcare professionals to experience and undertake the difficulties experienced
by customers on a daily basis. The GERT age simulation suit re-creates various impairments, allowing care assistants to understand each customer’s needs. Hannah Mayes, a care supervisor at Bluebird Care Newmarket, said: “The ‘Welcome to My World’ course gave a real feeling of what some of our customers have to deal with in their day-to-day life. “It gave a brilliant insight into how I can change my approach to care for the customers and have more
T H E 2 0 2 1 C A R I N G U K AWA R D S
empathy for them. “The GERT suit is so helpful for us to use and taught me a lot about the different conditions our customers live with.” Facilities have also been updated to include ‘real life’ living and bedroom areas to replicate the realistic experience of care assistants working in customers’ homes. Here they can practice having to operate specialist equipment under typical household restraints that are endured regularly on customer visits.
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Home’s a step closer to its minibus target following walkathon STAFF and residents at a Hertfordshire care home are a step closer to reaching their fund-raising target to acquire a disabled-friendly minibus following a 12-hour walkathon around its grounds. The sponsored walk, which lasted a total of 12 hours and 49 minutes, saw Emma Coates, a caregiver at Foxholes Care Home, near Hitchin, complete 104 laps around the estate’s circular gardens, joined and cheered by residents and fellow staff throughout the day, in a bid to raise funds for the inclusive minibus. Emma’s 104 laps paid homage to Foxholes’ oldest resident of the same age, Joyce Birrell, a former first aid responder during the Second World War, who joined her on her final lap much to the delight of all those involved at the home. Emma said: “Thank you to all those who participated and helped me complete the 104 laps. After almost 13 hours, I finally crossed the line with Joyce and her son Mike to amazing applause and celebration. “The support has been incredible and I can’t thank everyone involved enough for all their hard work in helping host the event and get us closer to our fund-raising target.” The fastest resident to complete a lap was 96-year-old Audrey Cornell, looping around the grounds in four minutes and 40 seconds, while housekeeping assistant Tracy Clifford recorded the fastest staff lap, clocking just two minutes and 55 seconds. The fastest resident and staff wheelchair combo was won by June Janes and Stella Burton, who completed their lap in three minutes and 40 seconds. The walkathon raised more than
Staff and residents at Princess Christian Care Centre celebrate.
Home re-accredited Platinum accolade Care assistant Emma Coates and resident Joyce Birrell are all smiles ahead of their sponsored lap of Foxholes’ grounds. £300 towards acquiring a minibus equipped with a wheelchair ramp, adaptable seats, removable seats for wheelchairs, and a toilet, making it more accessible and suitable for residents to enjoy year-round day trips. Estate manager Neil Gandecha added: “We’ve wanted a new vehicle for a while as the one we currently have is very small and can only fit four people plus one wheelchair. “We’re hoping to purchase something that is inclusive to our non-mobile residents and can hold more people too. “Our residents enjoy their day trips out and we’d love to take them out a lot more. “We’re thrilled with the amount of support we received from residents, staff and relatives, helping us to raise more than £300. It was a great way to keep active, enjoy some fresh air and have some fun.”
Operator wins award HALLMARK Care Homes was named ‘Residential Care Provider of the Year’ at the prestigious Health Investor awards. The Awards, which took place recently at Grosvenor House in London’s Park Lane, seek to promote excellence and recognise outstanding performance in the independent healthcare sector. Founder of Hallmark Care Homes and executive chair Avnish Goyal said: “I was absolutely delighted to have collected this prestigious award in the Residential Care Provider of the Year category on behalf of every one of our 2,150 team members who
have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to deliver excellent, relationship-centred care to over 1,000 residents. “On top of this there have been some amazing innovative ideas and initiatives started despite the pandemic to improve the lives of residents and team alike.” Hallmark were up against 11 other finalists for the award including Barchester Healthcare, Sunrise Senior Living and Care UK. The awards had a total of 181 finalists, making it one of the biggest events of the year for the health industry.
STAFF at a Surrey care home are celebrating after once again being awarded a prestigious accolade for the delivery of outstanding end-of-life care. Princess Christian Care Centre, near Woking, has been reaccredited Platinum status from the Gold Standards Framework following an inspection, having completed its Care Homes Training Programme. To get the accreditation, which lasts until April 2024, staff had to undergo training that provided a practical, evidence-based approach to optimising care for all people nearing the end of their life. It focussed on quality care, improvement with training, quality assurance with standards of care, and quality recognition. Manager Nisha Leo led the way in implementing GSF at the Surrey home, whereby the team attained an almost-perfect score rating of 56/57 –
placing them in the top 0.3 per cent of care homes to achieve GSF Platinum status in the UK in 2021. She said: “We’re delighted to have been reaccredited with such a prestigious accolade for our end of life services. It further showcases our commitment to being at the forefront of a growing community of care homes who strive to continuously deliver excellence in care, but also significant developments, which acknowledge best practices to encourage and inspire others.” The inspection highlighted how GSF remains ‘clearly embedded’ in practice at the home and at a ‘very high standard’. It also noted how there is clear evidence of ‘proactive person-centred care’ given by a close team. The report was rounded off by saying Princess Christian should be reviewed again as a ‘Care Home of the Year’, which it has previously held.
New campaign to grant wishes of firm’s clients HOMECARE provider Right at Home has launched a campaign that will see them grant the wishes of 10 lucky and inspiring clients over the next 12 months. The campaign has been launched in celebration of the company’s 10-year anniversary and has been nicknamed ‘a tin-full of wishes’. Over the course of a year care givers from franchises across the UK will be given the honour of nominating clients to be granted a wish. Working with franchisees, local communities and businesses, Right at Home’s national office will then choose 10 lucky clients to receive an experience that will be remembered forever. Ken Deary, founder and CEO of Right at Home UK said: “When a person reaches a 10-year anniversary it’s traditional to give them the gift of tin, but everyone at Right at Home felt the most appropriate way to celebrate our own anniversary was to pay recognition to some of the amazing people we provide care, companionship and support to on a
Ken Deary daily basis. “Each and every one of our clients inspires us – in their determination to live life to the fullest, and through some of their amazing stories. “That’s why, over the course of our anniversary year, we’re launching our ‘tin-full of wishes’ campaign and asking care givers across all our franchises to nominate a client and fulfil their wish.”
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Group celebrates dedication of its ‘incredible’ staff
Roop Cottage in Pontefract.
Pontefract home rated inadequate and placed in special measures THE Care Quality Commission has taken action against a Pontefract nursing and residential home following an inspection in August which led to it being rated inadequate and placed into special measures. The inspection was carried out due to concerns received about infection prevention and control as well as staffing levels. Following the inspection, CQC rated the service inadequate overall and inadequate for how safe and well-led the service is. It is rated requires improvement for being effective, caring and responsive. CQC also placed the service in special measures, which means that it will be closely monitored to ensure that people are safe. If fundamental improvements have not been made by the time of the next inspection, CQC will take further enforcement action to ensure people are not exposed to a service which does not meet standards they have a right to expect. Sheila Grant, CQC’s head of adult social care inspection, said: “When we inspected Roop Cottage Nursing and Residential Home, we found a disorganised service, where a lack of strong leadership was impacting on every aspect of people’s care. “This was not a safe place for people to call home. Vulnerable people who rely on staff taking steps to protect them were unable to do so. “Inspectors found serious safeguarding concerns, particularly where two people identified as a risk to each other’s safety, spent long periods of time together, and an unlocked, unsupervised kitchen area where pans were boiling, and a knife could be accessed. “Leaders did not learn from previous incidents to protect people. Someone managed to leave via the kitchen, and no action had been taken to reduce the risk of this happening again. “With regards to Covid-19, there were no systems in place to check if visitors were safe to enter the home. “People and staff were not having regular testing, and staff were seen not wearing PPE appropriately or not
wearing it at all. “There was a lack of personalised care. People didn’t receive their meals when they wanted, we saw some people waiting two hours for their breakfast. “The provider must ensure they take people’s personal needs into account when it comes to meal times. “Staff didn’t feel supported and there was a lack of communication from the management team. “Since our inspection, some improvements have been made around Covid-19 as well as other concerns highlighted. “We will continue to monitor the service closely and will take further action if we are not assured it is making necessary improvements.” Roop Cottage is a care home providing residential and nursing care to up to 35 people. At the time of the inspection, there were 26 people living in the care home. Inspectors found: n Medicines were poorly managed, and systems were disorganised. Medicines were not stored safely and there was an absence of some records needed to ensure this process was safe. n A faulty fire door leading to a flight of stairs had not been identified as a risk. n Staff knowledge around the number of people living in the home and who had a choking risk varied. Knowledge around how to meet people’s dietary needs was not evident n The provider did not have an overview of which people were under a do not attempt resuscitation order. n Some concerns have been identified around maintaining people’s privacy and dignity. However: n People we spoke with said the staff were caring and tried their best to take care of them. n People engaged well with the activities programme which was run by a coordinator who shared a genuine interest in making this enjoyable for people.
CARERS and nurses from Meallmore Ltd have been recognised for their outstanding dedication at the company’s annual awards ceremony. The awards, now in their 10th year, returned after a break in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Members of staff, residents and family members from Meallmore’s 26 care homes across Scotland came together virtually for the 2021 celebrations. Managing director Gerry Hennessey said: “Recognising the hard work of all our staff is extremely important to everyone at Meallmore, and this has never been more so than during the Covid-19 pandemic. “It really has been an exceptionally difficult 18 months, but these awards are all about celebrating the incredible people at Meallmore who have made a real difference. “Our awards are always one of the highlights of the year and we’re so glad that after a year away, we can once again bring together our teams from across the country to celebrate the outstanding performance and dedication from each member of staff – even if this year it is virtually! “Congratulations to all our shortlisted nominations as well as our worthy winners. I would personally like to thank all our Meallmore staff who go above and beyond to provide the highest standards of care for our residents.” Presented by singer and TV personality Michelle McManus, the awards recognise employees who have had a significant impact on improving the lives of residents, family members of residents and colleagues over the past 12 months. Nominations were put forward by residents, residents’ families, visiting professionals and staff. The company employs around 1,700 people, all of whom were eligible for a nomination. Each care home was provided with a party pack and treats to get staff
Michelle McManus and residents in the mood and join in with celebrations. Award winners were: Emerging talent – Conor Tillier, Hilton Court; Support staff – Robert Scott, Hilton Court; Positive impact – Jaime Ireland, Greenan Manor; Head office and field based support team – Jody Marshall, group hospitality manager; Specialist service home – The Oaks; Elderly home service – St Modans; Nurse – Kamila Rzepka, Culduthel; Manager – Pauline Gerrie, Crimond; Senior care worker – Yvonne Gilroy, Culduthel; Meaningful activities – Margaret McElwee, Belleaire; Carer – Gillian Weissenborn, Daviot. Winners were presented with a certificate, trophy and choice of prize, which included an Apple Watch, iPad or Nintendo Switch, with runners up receiving a certificate of recognition.
Residents at Moorgate Croft care home in Rotherham practised Christmas carols to join the town’s festive light switch-on, via pre-recorded video. The home, which forms part of Moorgate Care Village, took up the opportunity to participate in this year’s light switch-on. Singing residents from Moorgate Croft were streamed to take part in the event to mark the official start of Rotherham’s Christmas celebrations. The event was the first of its kind since 2018, after bad weather forced its cancellation in 2019 and the pandemic curtailed plans in 2020. As well as taking part in the official switch-on, the video of residents will be used throughout December on the Christmas bus.
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Residents enjoy their first rides on trishaw bike RESIDENTS at a Surrey care home have been able to enjoy their first trip out on a new trishaw bike – enjoying a sunlit sightseeing tour of the estate where the home is located thanks to the efforts of a cycling charity. Cycling Without Age, a volunteerled scheme which uses ‘pilots’ to take older members of the community out cycling, has recently completed fundraising efforts for its Guildford chapter, which enabled it to purchase a new trishaw bike. Residents at the Huntington & Langham Estate in Hindhead, whose staff helped fundraise for the endeavour, were delighted to feel the rush of wind through their hair again and to enjoy the general thrill of being on a bike – which in this instance is similar to a rickshaw, but with the person pedalling sat behind the passengers. With a pilot from Cycling Without Age doing both the pedalling and steering, residents were able to sit back, relax and enjoy the tour taking in the sights of the estate, which includes a mixture of farm animals, greenery and wildlife. Director Charlie Hoare said: “We are always exploring ways to help our residents to continue to experience and enjoy the things they love in life. “We’re also huge advocates of the outdoors and we do all we can to connect our residents with outside. We’re blessed to have vast grounds at the estate, which provides a great deal of enjoyment for people who live here.” The trishaw is now permanently
Flower power energises 60s festival vibe for Jo established in the local community, providing residents of the estate with the opportunity to enjoy regular bike rides, courtesy of the scheme’s volunteer pilots. The Cycling Without Age movement has individual ‘chapters’ across the UK and around the world, which seek to secure trishaws for communities through fundraising efforts. Charlie added: “It’s a tremendous initiative and we’re delighted to get involved. We have a unique outdoor environment on the estate, including a variety of farm animals and other outdoor attractions. “Being able to take residents on bike rides just serves to open up even more opportunity for those who live with us, as well as those in the wider community through the Cycling Without Age scheme.” John and Sheila Chilvers.
TEAM members at a Winchester dementia care home staged a colourful 1960s-themed garden festival in response to a resident’s wish. Festival goers at Colten Care’s St Catherines View spent the afternoon ‘groovin’ to the sounds of live music amid a riot of flower crowns and tie dye outfits. Companionship team leader Laura Sheldrake said the idea of having a festival theme came directly from a discussion with residents. She added: “We were talking about things we might have wanted to do in life but hadn’t and one of our residents, Jo Gough, said she had never been to a festival but had always wanted to. “Jo loves music and flowers so we decided to put on our own garden festival for her and all the residents to enjoy. “We went with a 60s theme, got some clothes and fabric and started our own homemade tie dye process. “The residents got really hands-on and loved using the bright colours.
“We rinsed and washed the fabrics the following day and the patterns were amazing. “The residents loved all the colour combinations and Jo especially loved her top as we used her favourite colours of blue and green. “We turned some of the tie dye material into beautiful bunting and also made some flower crowns to make sure we got the theme as authentic as possible.” On festival day, staff went out early to decorate the garden with the bunting and other decorations. They even made the festival food as colourful as possible. On offer were macaroons, vegetable crisps, pastries, sandwiches, brownies and carrot and cucumber sticks with hummus dip. The music was provided by Companionship team member Naomi Rides who played a range of 60s pop hits on her clarinet including Beatles favourites. It was enough to get Jo and her fellow residents up dancing in the sunshine.
Couple celebrate in style A COUPLE’S 65th wedding anniversary has been celebrated in style at a King’s Lynn care home. John Chilvers regularly visits his wife Sheila at Briar House, but on this occasion staff made sure the setting was extra-special, transforming the dedicated visiting room by decorating it with roses, scattered petals and balloons. Manager Pat Collins said: “It was fantastic that Sheila and John’s milestone anniversary coincided with the easing of lockdown restrictions. “Staff always would have pulled
out all the stops to help the couple celebrate, but it was extra special as their anniversary meal was the first they had been able to share together for such a long time. “We love making a fuss of residents who have something to celebrate, and this 65th wedding anniversary was no exception.” Buck’s Fizz was also laid on for the couple, who are both aged 85, to raise a celebratory toast, and John organised for a cake to be made for Sheila to enjoy with her friends at the home, which is managed by Larchwood Care.
A Camden care home has marked this year’s National Day of Arts in Care Homes with residents enjoying entertainment from musical duo Champagne Enterprise. Around 25 residents at Compton Lodge in Swiss Cottage gathered for an hour-long set by husband and wife Rob and Val Booking in the home’s gardens. A medley of classic songs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s were performed, along with smooth jazz, reggae and singalongs that had some residents on their feet The operator’s other Camden care home Rathmore House hosted a performance by the Fab Boys, while on jazz and swing singer Vintage Ruby entertained residents at Cecil Court in Richmond.
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