Issue 97 02.03.22
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Construction worker builds career in care A FORMER construction worker is building a new career as a home care assistant with a Kendal-based company. Sam Parker, 28, who previously worked for his father’s historical building restoration company, has joined Westmorland Homecare. In his construction role his job involved brickwork, plastering and general labouring tasks. Now Sam spends his day helping elderly and often frail people to live independently in their own homes. “When you wake up in the morning and look ahead to what the day has in store it doesn’t feel like it’s work,” he said. “It’s more like you are going out to help friends and family.” Sam spent several years working for his father’s firm Chris Parker and Son. Projects included restoring a wall at Sizergh Castle’s famous ‘mirror pond’ and building a toilet block at Rydal Hall. But Sam, who says he has always loved caring, decided on a change of career. His role at Westmorland Homecare involves providing personal care and medication and meals support for the company’s clients. “I also take some of my clients out on social visits,” said Sam. “We might go bowling, to the
cinema or out for a coffee and cake at Levens Hall or Rydal Hall. “I took a younger client to a gaming shop in Kendal – I am an avid gamer so we have a lot in common.” He said the main satisfaction he gained from the job was helping to make people’s lives easier. “If it wasn’t for me, they would not have the quality of life they have,” he said. Sam believes his time in the construction industry gave him some transferable skills for his new role. “I think I am good in very stressful situations and I learned that in the building trade. I am level headed and if something happens when some people might panic, I will stop and think about what to do. “I also met many people in the building trade where you have to be socially adept and able to speak to anyone and that has also helped in my home care assistant role.” Sam said he would recommend becoming a home care assistant to anyone thinking of entering the profession. “I would say go for it. There are thousands of people who need help with the quality of their life and if you can be a tiny part of that jigsaw puzzle that is fantastic.”
Music charity to broadcast performance
Residents at Graysford Hall Care Home in Leicester enjoyed a ceramic workshop led by artist Rachel Barnett. Rachel has a degree in glass and ceramics and teaches several classes as an arts practitioner for Leicestershire County Council schools and adult learners. Residents will be able to paint their pieces at the next session. The home is already planning its next project with Rachel, which will include making commemorative coin medals and other items for the Queen’s Jubilee in June. Wellbeing lead Jayne Hill said: “The ceramic workshop was a chance for residents to get creative in a sociable and welcoming space. It was also great for them to meet and get to know a very talented artist within their community.”
MUSIC charity Bristol Beacon will live stream the forthcoming London Symphony Orchestra concert with Sir Simon Rattle to care homes across the country. The concert will be broadcast live from Bath Forum via YouTube at 6.45pm on Monday March 14 and will be available for free for one month so care homes can screen it for their residents at a time that suits them. Hosted by organist and journalist Oliver Condy, any care home in the country can tune in for free and is invited to screen the concert for staff and residents thanks to sponsorship by Bristol Care Homes. Geoff Crocker, chair of Bristol Care Homes, said: “To be forming a close partnership with Bristol Beacon on highquality broadcasts of concerts like this is really fantastic. The pandemic has been challenging for everyone, particularly care home residents and staff, but the use of technology to share such magical performances in this innovative way is a real legacy that we will continue to support.” The first concert back in October featured across national TV and print press and inspired joy among the many care home residents who tuned in. Homes wishing to access the stream should email hello@ bristolbeacon.org for information. They can share photos of residents and staff watching the concert together using the hashtag #ThankYouCareHomes and tagging @Bristol_Beacon and @ londonsymphony
I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H
IT’S TIME TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CARING UK AWARDS 2022 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES AVAILABLE
THE ATHENA,LEICESTER Thursday 1st December 2022 Hosted by Emmerdale star Dean Andrews Congratulations on a fantastic event – we had a super time and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to share so many success stories across our industry. Well done to the Script team. We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Regional Care Home of the Year Midlands and Wales and are all still on a high. Thank you so much. Sarah Hammond, Rotherwood Group Firstly, I wanted to say a massive thank you to you guys on such a wonderful event! It was such an incredible way to finish off the year for us all and to be able to get together with everyone and celebrate was such a great feeling. You always pull off such an amazing night and this year was no exception so congratulations to you all. Alex Ball, Stow Healthcare Group Virgin Money was delighted once again to be headline sponsors of the Caring UK Awards. After such a difficult 18 months it was great to be able to get together and recognise the outstanding achievements from individuals and teams across the social care sector. Graham Harper, Virgin Money It was clear from the outset that the attendees were excited to be nominated and were using the ceremony as an opportunity for a night off and to have a glamourous end of year party. As a sponsor it was good to see our branding and our video on the big screen throughout the night and it was good to speak with existing customers and other industry professionals. It was a fun evening and I would highly recommend it for suppliers and nominees. Iain Corrigan, Cool Care
As a first time sponsor of the Caring UK Awards, being part of the event was very rewarding. As a specialist provider of outsourced neutral vendor recruitment solutions to the health and care sector, we firmly believe in celebrating the incredible work of organisations across the country, who deliver excellence every single day in challenging conditions. The event was well organised and thoroughly enjoyable – and the opportunity to present the award for the Best Initiative in Care made the occasion even more special. Congratulations once again to all the finalists and winners. Gill Hope, Geometric Results Inc
people after what has been a very challenging year for businesses in our sector. All the nominees were worthy of an award on the night, and it was truly inspiring to see so many people who, on a daily basis, provide care for the most vulnerable people in our society. It was a great experience to present the award to Roden Hall, winners of the Midlands & Wales Care Home of the year.. a really enjoyable event. Martin Jones, Fusion eCare Solutions
As long standing sponsors of the Caring UK Awards, we are immensely proud to support this major event that promotes social care provided throughout the UK. Sir Anthony Ullmann, Shackletons Ltd
We have been proud to support the Caring UK Awards 2021 in their efforts to honour and recognise excellence in the healthcare sector. We would again like to congratulate all nominees and winners and particularly the winner of the award we sponsored which was Scotland Care Home of the Year which was won by Abbey Court Care Home in Glasgow Gary Walton, Walton HPC
This was the first time Learning Curve Group have been involved with the awards, and we were very pleased to be able to sponsor the Commitment to Training and Development Award. The whole evening was an excellent celebration of the fantastic work that happens every day within the adult social care sector. The pandemic has placed an additional and unprecedented demand on care providers, so it was great to see care staff being recognised for their dedication and the levels of care they provide. Chris Grieveson, Learning Curve Group
As sponsors of the Caring UK Awards, N&C Phlexicare were delighted to attend the glittering awards ceremony. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners for their commitment to excellence, particularly in face of the arduous challenges of recent times. ‘ It was an amazing night, and we are honoured to have been a part of it. These awards are a wonderful celebration of the outstanding service offered by care professionals who go the extra mile to serve the vulnerable in our communities. David Forbes, Nicholls and Clarke Group
I wanted to support our industry through sponsorship at the recent Caring UK Awards. The event was a lovely evening, an opportunity to meet
www.caringukawards.co.uk or email tb@scriptmediagroup.co.uk
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CARINGWEEKLY
Celebrity gardener reveals gardens in bloom winners ASH Tree House in Wigan and Launton Grange in Bicester have been jointly crowned as national winners of the 2021 gardens in bloom competition run by Ideal Carehomes. Celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh MBE sent his congratulations to the national winners and thanked everyone who took part in the competition. Alan, who is famous for presenting Ground Force and Love Your Garden, said: “I would like to congratulate everybody at Ideal Carehomes for joining in. “It’s so important that we recognise the value of flowers, trees, shrubs and everything green in improving our mental health and giving us a much brighter outlook on life. Thanks for doing your bit to keep those care homes blooming.” Gardens in bloom is an annual competition run throughout all Ideal Carehomes to engage its staff, residents and local communities in working together to embrace their love of the great outdoors and create outside spaces for everyone to enjoy. Ash Tree House in Wigan was chosen due to the huge amount of resident engagement involved in the creation of its garden. The care home created a garden so that residents could grow their own produce and use it in the kitchens. It also managed to get relatives and
the local community involved despite the challenges of the pandemic. Their plans for the garden also ensured that those who don’t have green fingers, or who wanted to enjoy the gardens from indoors, could still get involved. Residents at Launton Grange decided they wanted to create a wildlife oasis for their garden and linked up with the local wildlife trust to identify ways to attract wildlife. They created a giant bug hotel, built a hedgehog house, installed bird feeders, water baths and bird houses, and planted lots of pollinators. This is an ongoing project for the gardeners at the home and in the future they plan to build a small pond, install more feeding stations and animal-friendly homes, and plant some more fruit-baring trees and
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berry bushes. They are also hoping to become a hub for releasing rescued hedgehogs. Stacey Linn, managing director of Ideal Carehomes, said: “I would like to congratulate all our care homes which entered the competition. “They have really got into the spirit of it and shown what can be achieved. At Ash Tree House and Launton Grange, staff and residents have worked together to create some really inspiring and meaningful gardens that will continue to enhance their wellbeing and enrich their lives in the future.” Fairway View in Nottingham, Woodthorpe Lodge in Loughborough, De Brook Lodge in Manchester and Ashworth Grange in Dewsbury were also regional winners.
Residents at The Whitecroft in Orsett, Essex have enjoyed a tour of their town, pointing out places that brought back fond memories and seeing how things have changed over the years. The trip included a tour of all the small villages local to care home, driving through scenic back lanes too. The residents enjoyed pointing out places that reminded them of times passed, reminiscing and directing the driver to other villages that they remembered. The residents remarked on how much they enjoyed the trip and look forward to being able to do it again soon.
Unlock the power of effective marketing for your care home Severe staffing shortages and falling incomes caused by the pandemic are pushing many providers to the brink of survival. Whether you are from a small independent home or a large organisation with a variety of brands, all homes and agencies have the same objective and are facing the same challenges. The best possible marketing campaign to make your business the most attractive to potential new staff and residents has never been more important, and this is where we can help. At Script we know care, backed up by more than 20 years of serving the industry through Caring UK magazine, as well as the highly successful Caring UK Awards that are now in their fifth year. Benefits of marketing to increase occupancy: • • • • •
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So what are you waiting for? It is vital that your care business stands out from the crowd to attract new residents and staff. Who better to help you do this than the team behind the country’s most successful B2B magazine for the industry. We’ll take away the hassle and provide professional marketing which will deliver results for your business. Based in Yorkshire, we have an award-winning team that prides itself on producing a range of top-quality work at competitive prices. To find out how we may be able to help your business, contact Dominic Musgrave today by calling 01226 734407 or email dm@scriptmedia.co.uk
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CARINGWEEKLY
Artistic resident Tom, 93, inspires charity auction Pictured outside Kendal House with care home staff are (top left) Unity Trust Bank relationship manager Michael Wicks and Lenore Care directors Jack Jenkinson (top right) and his wife Grace (front centre).
Whitley Bay couple buy second home THE third-generation owners of a pioneering residential care home in Tyne and Wear have acquired a second property thanks to sevenfigure funding from Unity Trust Bank. Jack and Grace Jenkinson took over 23-bed Lenore Care Home in Whitley Bay in 2019 when Grace’s parents put it up for sale. The home caters for people with learning difficulties and mental health issues and was the first registered home of its kind in North Tyneside when it was founded in 1976 by Grace’s grandmother Maureen Bond, a former mental health nurse. The couple have now purchased the 22-bed Kendal House, which cares for elderly residents with dementia, thanks to a £1.4m refinance package from Unity. Jack, a qualified dentist at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Grace has worked at Lenore since she was 16 and we both love working in the care industry so it was a natural progression for us to take over. “We decided to buy Kendal House because the owners were retiring and it had an excellent reputation, but the high street banks told us they would only fund 40-plus bed facilities.
“Thankfully a broker introduced us to Unity and they have been brilliant. “They are keen to support smaller care facilities and have specialist sector knowledge which is great as they already know the ins and outs of the industry. “Our relationship manager Michael Wicks has been amazing; I don’t think I’ve met a bank manager like him. He’s been very pro-active, involved in all of the decision-making and very supportive. “We had a relationship manager at our previous bank but that was a very different experience. At Unity you can pick up the phone and speak to Mike straightaway rather than having to go through a call centre. It’s also nice to know that we’re with a bank that invests in good things.” Jack and Grace, who employ 36 people, created six new full-time roles at Lenore so that the residents, who are referred from all over the North East, can be accompanied when they are out in the community. At Kendal House the couple are looking to improve the number of rooms with en-suite facilities and in the longer term, increase the home’s capacity.
Provider successfully sells £80m of 2049 bonds HOUSING 21, a not-for-profit provider of retirement living and extra care properties, has sold a further £80m of its existing 3.288 per cent 2049 secured bonds, taking the total bonds in issue to £450m. There was exceptional support for the bond issue with demand of around £270m from a broad range of existing and new investors, ultimately enabling the bonds to be sold at an all-in yield of 2.488 per cent. The proceeds of the issue significantly strengthen Housing 21’s balance sheet, extending its liquidity horizon and average life of debt. It will also enable the organisation to continue delivering more new homes for older people across England with confidence. Andy Howarth, chief financial officer at Housing 21, said: “We are delighted with the very positive response from investors to this fund
raising, which further reduces our average cost of debt. “The funds will play a key role in helping us deliver our strategy to provide more affordable, quality homes for older people and continue to provide an excellent service to our residents. “We have recently started enhancing our engagement with the credit community and we look forward to further developing these key relationships in the years ahead.” Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets acted as sole bookrunner. Housing 21 was also supported on the transaction by Devonshires (legal advice) and Chatham Financial (financial advice). Bookrunner’s legal advice was provided by Addleshaw Goddard LLP. Housing 21 continues to hold £50m of the 2049 bonds, enabling fast and flexible access to further investment in the future, if required.
TOM Rooney, a 93-year-old retired Grenadier Guardsman who lives at a dementia care home in Bridgwater, has produced artwork which so astonished his carers that they have been inspired to organised an exhibition of his work. A landscape of butterflies painted by Tom was the work which prompted art therapist Ewa Kuwalek, a member of the activities team at Avalon Nursing Home, to suggest the idea of an exhibition. The activities team has been supporting their artistic resident to indulge his passion both with individual and group activities, as well as encouraging him to contribute ideas for future sessions and welcoming his help with seasonal displays and projects around the home. Ewa said: “Tom feels most at ease and happy when he has a paint brush in his hand, and some music on to help him create his masterpiece. “He has been living at Avalon for a year now, and has a wonderful life history, including serving our Queen in the armed forces, and personally giving her tea. “We see it as an important part of our jobs to inform ourselves about our residents’ backgrounds and interests because it gives us such a natural way to encourage and maintain their engagement in the world around them, despite the challenges posed by dementia. “Tom, for example, continues to show a great interest in travel and culture and he loves animals and music, especially choir and country
music. “And, of course, he is also an incredible artist who loves painting nature and people, and when he produced this beautiful landscape of butterflies recently we just knew we had to organise an exhibition to showcase his work. “We are also including pieces by other residents, because quite a few of our ladies and gents enjoy art and craft activities and we make sure they have access to a range of resources, so between them they have produced enough for us to organise a really interesting exhibition. “Tom is very happy with the idea of auctioning his works and we’re planning to plough the proceeds back into our activities fund which will then benefit everyone who lives at Avalon.” The auction will take place in April, exact date still to be announced.
Group to provide sanitary products for female staff RENAISSANCE Care has set out plans to increase inclusivity and security among its workforce. The group, which operates 16 care homes throughout Scotland with more than 1,200 staff, has launched the initiative with a commitment to supplying sanitary items for female staff in all its facilities with the provision of sanitary towels and tampons in all staff bathrooms. Corinne Morrison-Gillies, interim people services, said: “Sanitary items are not a luxury; they are a necessity and should be treated as such by employers. The nature of our job in the care sector means our staff do not have regular working patterns therefore can easily be caught off
guard by their menstrual cycle, adding undue pressure to what can be a challenging job. “Our staff work incredibly hard, and the last thing they should have to worry about is having access to, what we consider, bare essentials. By having free period products available in all our care homes we hope to remove barriers and create an open and safe working environment for our employees.” The move is part of the group’s efforts to create a safe and happy working environment and comes following calls from The British Medical Association for these essentials to be accessible to all healthcare staff throughout Scotland.
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Cleaning Show set to return to Manchester
THE Cleaning Show is gearing up to return to Manchester for its first face-to-face event in the city for more than three years. Moving to an a new venue, the event will see cleaning professionals descend on the Manchester Central Convention Complex on April 6 and 7 for two days of networking, a chance to learn from industry leaders and test the latest product innovations in person. Organised by the British Cleaning Council and Quartz Business Media, the event, which runs in Manchester every other year alternating with ExCeL, London, is set to welcome more than 3,000 cleaning professionals – spanning the contract cleaning, facilities management, healthcare, hospitality, retail and public services sectors. Event director Stuart Dacre said: “After three years of no Manchester event, we’re excited to return and reconnect with the industry at an all-new venue as we move to the
Manchester Central Convention Complex. “Last year’s event at the ExCeL, London, provided us with a clear message: there is an overwhelming appetite for in-person networking and collaboration among industry professionals. “We are counting down the days, looking forward to a triumphant return to the capital of the north and excited to welcome the industry as they join us.” With a chance to celebrate the industry’s biggest achievements, the event will also provide an invaluable platform to discover the next big trend and source the latest products and solutions from exhibitors including Prochem, Greyland Limited, Innovise, Victor Floorcare, Rotowash, Toucan Eco and Gojo. Registration for the Manchester Cleaning Show s now open. To register today and find further information on this year’s event, visit https://cleaningshow.co.uk/ manchester/
Operator puts care teams centre stage HOME Instead’s 10,000 strong care workforce, previously called CAREGivers, will, from now on be known as care professionals or collectively as care pros. The move by the home care company, which has 240 offices nationwide, was announced at its national conference by UK CEO, Martin Jones. He also announced the formation of a care pro council. The council, made up of care professionals from across the Home Instead network, will meet with the company’s executive leadership team three times a year. Care professionals’ views, opinions and guidance on issues such as benefits, brand and marketing and training and professional development will be sought. Their counsel will inform strategic planning and decision-making that will benefit the entire workforce as the company moves to expand the world’s capacity to care as part of care technology and operations business, Honor. Martin said: “This initiative sends out a clear signal about our intention to be an employer of choice and reinforces the admiration and respect we have for our people. It will also
ultimately benefit our clients. “We need to professionalise the sector and make it one where people want to stay and grow within. One of the ways we will achieve this is by having a more open dialogue, and learning from the care professionals themselves. “We pride ourselves on the esteem with which our care workforce is held within the business and the training, career opportunities, support and wellbeing packages already on offer – but we are taking this to the next level.” Care professionals from the four UK nations will be represented on the council. Meetings will be held off-site in an informal environment with the care professionals joining the ELT to drive the discussion about their role and all aspects of Home Instead’s service. Martin added, “The care pro council will allow us to walk in a care professional’s shoes and get an invaluable insight into their dayto-day work. They will have a direct input into the decisions we make that will impact their lives and those of their clients. It’s a win, win. “We are all really excited about this new initiative and looking forward to our first meeting in the spring.”
Nutrition and wellness manager launches staff ‘dietary diaries’ A NUTRITION and wellness manager at a South East care group has launched a campaign to boost the physical and mental health of staff to coincide with You Can Care Week – a nationwide initiative that shines a spotlight on social care workers. Nellsar’s Leni Wood has unveiled a ‘dietary diary’ scheme for all staff across the group to help boost the overall health and well-being of those working in social care. The qualified nutritional therapist is trialling the project, which involves staff keeping a record of their food intake across three to four days before sending to Leni for review. She then uses her nutritional expertise to appropriately adjust each dietary record for better overall health and balance. Leni said: “Measuring our overall well-being can begin with the food
Leni Wood that we eat, and one way of knowing if you are on the right track with your diet is by having a dietary diary. “There are many things that a healthy, balanced diet can help
improve the symptoms of, including diabetes, obesity, hormone-related issues such as PMS, and menopause and fatigue. “Some of the things I will be looking out for in the food diary review are whether people are having enough vitamins and minerals, proteins, fats and the right kind of carbs. “Does the diet look heavily processed and how can the processed foods be easily replaced rather than restricted? Does the diet support energy balance or is it a fatigue-driving diet? Is the diet an inflammatory diet which could be driving hormone issues or diabetes symptoms? These are all important factors to boosting health and wellbeing.” She continued: “There is so much you can do with how you eat and this new dietary diary scheme is just
another way of giving back to our amazing staff. We’re always looking to make positive adjustments for the well-being of our residents, and staff are no exception.” Martin Barrett, managing director at Nellsar, added: “Staff well-being is paramount. Leni does such an incredible job managing our residents’ range of dietary and nutritional intake. “The aim of the dietary diaries is to carry this over to staff too. We wouldn’t be able to achieve the outstanding levels of care across our group if it wasn’t for the dedication of our workforce, so by offering free advice to help boost their well-being too is just a small way of showing our appreciation – and that’s what You Can Care Week is all about, highlighting how great our sector is to be a part of.”
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