Issue 49 24.03.21
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Sector has its say on Covid vaccine plan CARE providers say the Government needs to work harder to persuade care staff on the benefits of having the Covid-19 vaccine rather than making it compulsory. The Government has said it is considering making a vaccine mandatory for people to be allowed to work in care and nursing homes. But the Independent Care Group says it would prefer people to have the vaccine voluntarily and it is worried such a rule might put people off from joining the sector. Chair Mike Padgham said: “It is vital that care workers have the vaccine because of the vulnerable people they are looking after and I can understand the temptation to make it compulsory. “But I have always been of the belief that we cannot force someone to have an injection and it should be voluntary. We have to remember people’s human rights as we live in a free society. “I think rather than force it through legislation, the Government has more work to do in terms of persuading everyone, not just care workers, about how important it is that the whole country has the vaccine so that we are all protected.
“There are already 120,000 vacancies in the care sector, we don’t need to put anything else in the way that might prevent people from joining our rewarding profession.” Tony Stein, chief executive of Healthcare Management Solutions, which operates around 80 homes across the UK, added: “Whilst I’m somewhat shocked at the news it’s something that the whole sector has been discussing for some time. “This is more than a practical issue – it goes to the heart of what we, as healthcare professionals feel is necessary to protect our residents, their loved ones, the NHS and those that can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons. “Whilst compulsory vaccination is unusual, it is not unprecedented. NHS staff are already required to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B if they are to work on NHS premises. “Receiving a jab is not a big ask of people and whilst we have already seen that the vast majority of our workforce have been very happy to receive the vaccination in the fight against this terrible disease, we welcome further moves to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those in our care.”
Homecare provider is outstanding
Artistic residents have turned their care home grounds into a sea of yellow in a show of love for the thousands of people in Wales who have died with Covid-19. Large bright yellow hearts adorned the entrances to Pendine Park’s two sites in Wrexham to mark the first anniversary of Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing the United Kingdom would be entering lockdown. Each of Pendine Park’s seven homes in Wrexham saw their windows decorated with smaller yellow hearts, complete with fairy lights. In a further commemoration, the trees in the grounds of the two complexes on Hillbury Road and Summerhill Road were festooned with yellow ribbons. They will each act as a poignant reminder of the events of the past year and an expression of love to all affected by coronavirus, with Pendine Park having accepted an invitation to take part in the Light up Wales to Remember event. Pictured is Pendine’s artist in residence Sarah Edwards.
HOME Instead Sutton has become the first home care provider in the borough to be awarded a Care Quality Commission outstanding rating; testament to the hard work of its caregivers despite the challenges of the pandemic. The inspectorate highlighted in its report how well led the company is, and how clients were treated with utmost respect and dignity. Tony Ward, owner of Home Instead Surrey, said: “To receive a CQC outstanding is an honour, and a credit to our hard working team of caregivers. “And to be the first home care company in the London Borough of Sutton to be awarded that accolade is the cherry on top. “For 11 years we have made a positive difference to the lives of seniors across the area. I can identify with some of the challenges of reaching your later years, and I appreciate as well as anyone the benefits of keeping your independence and receiving care from home.” The report also praised Home Instead for its personalised approach, particularly in matching caregivers to clients based on similar interests, ensuring that a meaningful and fruitful relationship develops. The CQC also credited Home Instead Sutton’s employee engagement and cited its low staff turnover rate. Home Instead provides tailored support for older people.
“ Without QCS we wouldn’t have been rated as an outstanding service ” Rupert Stocks - Registered Manager, Guyatt House
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CARINGWEEKLY
Welcome for Covid-19 funding CARE providers have welcomed the Government announcement of £341m to help those looking after the country’s oldest and most vulnerable to get through the Covid19 pandemic. But the Independent Care Group has warned that by the time the money is shared across the 152 local authorities responsible for social care it might not go very far. The announcement from Health Secretary Matt Hancock comes after providers warned they faced hardship because key relief packages, including the Infection Control, Adult Social Care Rapid Testing and Workforce Capacity funds, all come to an end on March 31. Mr Hancock told the House of Commons that the new £341m would go towards helping with infection control and testing, to enable relatives to see their loved ones. ICG chair Mike Padgham: “We are grateful to the Government for making more funding available to help care providers tackle Covid-19 – every penny is welcome. “As we go forward providers on the front line are still facing rising costs due to the pandemic and extra costs to enable visiting to take place, through extra staffing needs, for example. “This is likely to increase as we go forward, especially if the Government announces that more than the current one visitor be allowed. “We need to see the detail and understand exactly what this funding
Vic Rayner
Mike Padgham is to be spent on. My fear is that by the time this money reaches the front line, where it is needed, it might not be enough to give care providers the help they need. “My biggest desire is to see the longterm plan for long-overdue reform of the sector which we have been promised for so long.” Nadra Ahmed OBE, executive chairman of the National Care Association, agreed in welcoming the announcement. She added.“This fund has been extremely helpful and appreciated to support providers meet the escalating costs brought about by the pandemic. “However, it is a drop in the ocean for a sector where any resilience has been eroded completely and sustainable investment is long overdue. This fund will address some of the issues around for a limited period but fails to address the substantive challenge of viability for us. “There is an urgency now to create real pathways of support for our vulnerable citizens by ensuring that
a robust overhaul of the creaking system is brought through reform. “The time for short sharp fixes will raise expectations without addressing the key issues. National Care Association is calling on the Secretary of State for Social Care and the Chancellor to engage in meaningful dialogue with us so we can look at creating options together to address this challenge. “Continuing to do the same and expect different results does not make economic sense for those who receive, deliver and invest in social care.” His comments were echoed by Vic Rayner, CEO of the National Care Forum. She said: “At the last gasp, the government has announced an extension to the vital infection control fund and the funding for rapid testing, which had been due to lapse at the end of the month. “The full grant conditions for this have not yet been published, so at this stage it is not possible for local authorities or care providers to plan
what this will mean on the ground.” In addition to the specific allocation for social care, there were announcements around additional funding for hospital discharge. It is anticipated that this will be available to fund the designated settings. These schemes were set up by providers at speed to ensure that anyone who is Covid-19 positive is not discharged directly to a care home. Vic added: “The delay in announcing this funding has been a huge concern, and without this confirmation providers would have been left high and dry and found themselves faced with March 31 fixed term contract terminations while simultaneously being told the policy commitment to offer designated settings continues – an intolerable position for both providers and the communities that they serve. “While welcome, it is impossible to not note the disparity in treatment of social care and the NHS. Out of the £7bn announced, less than a twentieth of it is ring-fenced for social care, and that which has been committed is only for a three-month period. “In addition, there is no mention of an extension to the important Workforce Capacity Fund brought in during January this year. In case the government had not noticed, the recruitment challenges facing the social care workforce will not disappear on April 1, and yet the funding appears to have.”
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CARINGWEEKLY
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Advertiser’s announcement
Duplex has the answer to the challenges of floor cleaning DUPLEX advocate Tracey Kirkland, who is head housekeeper of a large care home in Surrey, recently said: “I work in a large care home where in recent years we introduced the Duplex machine to our range of cleaning appliances. “We found the Duplex machine to be very user friendly and light enough to be suitable for all users, including the smaller built person, like myself. “The cleaning power of the machine is incredible; I was sceptical when our company first introduced the Duplex but on first use I became a complete fan. “The Duplex is not only easy to manoeuvre around but very quiet compared to the other cleaning machines I use. “Also, there are no nasty chemicals used – it works by steaming – which is environmentally friendly, a very important factor with our residents in mind. “You have only to watch the machine work to see how powerful it is on hard floor surfaces, it is amazing and I have used many machines but none clean and sanitize like the Duplex. “The surface of the cleaned area is dry almost immediately which reduces the risk of slips and falls immensely. “Not only does the Duplex clean hard floors, it also cleans carpets of urine, faeces and other spillages common in a
care home but again leaves the carpet with very little drying time required which is an asset in this environment. “It is easy to set the machine up, light and easy to use with excellent results and again easy to clean afterwards. “If we experience any problem with the Duplex a quick phone call is made and an engineer is on-site within four days latest. “No problems or questions are too small or too large to ask. “We have generally the same engineer if required so a good professional relationship has formed. If requested a query will be passed directly to our engineer who can advise and quite often sort issues out over the phone. “Having said all that we have little experience of any issues and all maintenance of the machine is dealt with during our six monthly service visits. “On first receiving the Duplex machine we were given a full installation and training session by a Duplex representative – all was explained clearly and we all were able to try the machine and ask all our questions which were answered in clear simple terminology. “If you are thinking of purchasing a new machine for cleaning carpets and hard floors why not just book a demonstration before making a decision – you will be as pleasantly surprised as we were.”
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CARINGWEEKLY
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Advertiser’s announcement
How safe are your ratings? ABUSE of power and of the process of law is now common in our society, the norm even. With delays of many months in bringing litigation by way of judicial review to a hearing in the courts, public bodies are growing increasingly blasé about any such challenge, and have become masters of the dark art of doing just enough to evade a hearing of such applications and the likely consequent public judgement. The Care Quality Commission is not merely no different from any other public body in this regard, it is a leader in the field. In late 2013 CQC issued fixed penalty notices on a blanket basis without individual assessment to providers having a registered manager vacancy of six months or more. Not one of these was the outcome of an inspection. They had dished out 570 such FPNs when my application for judicial review stopped the policy, preventing an estimated further 900 or so notices. In a letter to me dated December 16 2013 CE David Behan explained that, while they recognised the national shortage of suitable managers, they ‘had to do something’, and that the so-called “Registered managers project” was expected to be a catalyst for change. A signed confession as to abuse of the process of law. Criminal penalties arise exclusively on an individual basis. In early 2015 CQC started to apply the new Regulated Activities Regulations 2014 retrospectively. The regulations were actually in force from April 1 2015, but about 700 site inspections carried out before that date but not yet published were retrospectively stated to have been ‘judged’ against the new regulations, even including some carried out before the minister signed and published them in November 2014. No signed confession needed here, just look at the front of the published inspection reports. The (unlawful) purpose was to avoid difficulties in prosecution of an ongoing breach if no warning notice had been issued under the old regulations prior to April 2015, under which it had been a necessary precursor. CQC set a policy some time back of a blanket refusal to provide copies of inspection notes, behind a facade of allowing selective response to enquiry at their absolute discretion. Providers are entitled to know the basis of a ‘case against them’ and the policy offends against the convention rights of providers under the justice system in this jurisdiction. In April 2019 CQC set a limit on factual accuracy responses to inspection reports of 975 characters for each point made (a last-minute compromise on the 500-character limit of the sham consultation on it), requiring providers to use a new fac form that achieved that limit. I served CQC with a Letter before Action by way of judicial review on June 12 2019. The fac response is the single final opportunity to challenge the accuracy and proportionality of a document that may be relied on in proceedings including criminal proceedings. Arguments not made at the time (for whatever reason) may not be ‘raised’ in later appeal proceedings. Inspection reports are a component of the justice
system. CQC is part of the justice system and not the other way around, and has no authority to constrain the rights concerned. CQC withdrew the character limit on June 27 2019. A core theme of the constraints placed on providers in recent years has been the relentless push towards elimination of the right of response and challenge to draft inspection reports. In its, er, consultation on changes to the inspection regime CQC now proposes to reduce its use of site visits to conduct inspections. CQC is to “move away from using comprehensive, on-site inspection as the main way of updating ratings”. Predictable in 2021, although the last move away from site visits was abandoned after Winterbourne View. CQC is marketing this change as “a less rigid approach that allows us to update ratings more often when we recognise changes in quality and to make our on-site inspections more targeted and flexible”. The consultation document says: “We want to stop describing frequency of assessment in terms of ‘inspection’, and instead by how often we review quality and update ratings.” The Care Quality Commission is in reality proposing to divorce ratings from (site) inspections. Why? Section 62 of the HSCA 2008 provides that where an inspection is carried out for the purposes of the Commission’s functions the Commission must prepare a report on the matters inspected, and without delay send a copy of the report to the registered person; and that the Commission must publish the (final) report. The explanatory notes to the Act make it very clear that this is intended to provide the opportunity for comment on the draft. The Act does not explicitly provide that “inspections” must be done at site visits, but the explanatory notes to the Act make the intention clear beyond any argument that they should be: “In carrying out its functions, the Commission will engage with patients and service users and people involved in the provision of care and will also need to inspect relevant premises.” Performance ratings are by regulations a “function” of the CQC. If CQC succeeds in divorcing ratings from inspections (or rather their definition of them as site visits), then there is no statutory provision requiring a draft report or the right of reply to the proposed ratings. Game set and match on any right of reply to the findings and judgements of the overwhelming majority of inspections (or at least everyone else’s definition of them). It is no surprise that the consultation does not mention draft reports or right of reply in the new methodology. Under settled CQC policy, ratings are the trigger for “special measures” up to and including cancellation of registration. What more needs to be said? This latest, and perhaps most serious, abuse of the rights of care providers by the Care Quality Commission must be stopped in its tracks. In the Courts if need be. Email me at mail@hsc-prof.com to sign up for regular alerts and updates on coronavirus and the rest. Alternatively, visit my Facebook or Twitter pages at @ hsc_prof
Team members at Court Lodge in Lymington, Hampshire, celebrating Nurses Day 2020.
Home survey highlights team strengths in Covid response MANAGERS of a group of 21 care homes in the south with up to 1,000 residents have said responding to lockdown constraints has strengthened their staff teams. Respondents to a survey of Colten Care home managers and clinical leads said having to manage the impact of Covid-19 has made staff work ‘even better as a team’. They said they had been able to offer support and reassurance to residents at the same time as ensuring staff have the help they need too. There was praise from all respondents for ‘concise, timely and informative’ communications from Colten Care throughout the pandemic. And all were confident their homes
would remain resilient should there be future waves of the virus. Among the home managers who took part in the survey, 100 per cent feel proud of how they have coped with Covid in their homes and agree they have been able to offer great support and reassurance to their residents. Operations director Elaine Farrer said: “We will continue to develop resources to increase the resilience of our managers in responding to the challenges of Covid, reassuring our residents and supporting staff.” As well as Covid, the survey covered areas such as job demands, wellbeing, work-life balance, roles and responsibilities, career development, systems and processes, and communications.
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New Cannock care home to create 50 jobs CANNOCK’S newest care home, Littleton Lodge, is recruiting for up to 50 team members ahead of its launch next month. Positions available include care management, care assistants and kitchen and domestic staff. The new team will complete a thorough induction period before the home opens in April when they will provide residential and dementia care. Littleton Lodge, which has benefitted from a £10m investment and will have 66 beds, will be provider Ideal Carehomes’ 23rd site and boasts a cinema, an airy botanical room leading onto landscaped gardens, a traditional tea shop, beauty parlour and Sky Bar. The caring team will be focussed on creating a welcoming and fulfilling lifestyle for the people who live at the home via their round-the-clock support, regular and varied activities, healthy and nutritious food and laundry and housekeeping service.
An artist’s impression of the new care home in Cannock.
Head of development and engagement Sarah Colling said: “It is a great time to join the Ideal Carehomes family and even to start a career in social care if you are new to the sector. “Over the course of the pandemic the media has really shone a light on how amazing care workers are and it is wonderful to see them get the
specialist healthcare business agents
recognition they deserve. “We have unique training and development initiatives through our Ideal Academy, including industry leading training, career progression opportunities via a range of learning resources such as E-learning and specialist workshops. “We have recently launched our ‘future managers’ training
programme – there are always things to get involved in and opportunities to progress for the right people.” Staff will have access to some of the most innovative and supportive care technology in the industry and will be provided with a recently updated uniform, offered in a range of colours determined by job role, as well as all the PPE they require. Ideal Carehomes will also facilitate the Covid-19 vaccine for any new members of staff who have not yet received the jab. Managing director Stacey Linn added: “We are very excited to be opening our first luxury care home in Cannock and are keen to hear from people living in the local community who are seeking fulfilling careers within social care. “While our environments are second to none, it is our staff team who make our homes the best places to live and who help our residents to retain their independence while supporting them to live an active lifestyle.”
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SOLD
Muscliff Nursing Home, Bournemouth - Reg 41
On behalf of Mahmood Poonja and his fellow directors DC Care is delighted to announce the successful sale of Muscliff Nursing Home, a high-quality purpose-built care facility located in Bournemouth. When industry knowledge and wisdom are needed, when a discreet sale is desired, our clients choose DC Care to sell their healthcare business.
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CARINGCOMMERCE
‘Sleep-in’ shifts ruling upheld THOUSANDS of care home businesses have breathed a huge sigh of relief after the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in relation to ‘sleep-in’ shifts. The long-awaited ruling in Mencap v Tomlinson-Blake relates to businesses whose workers are on call during the night. The Court of Appeal had earlier confirmed that under the National Minimum Wage regulations, workers are either available for work or actually working. Those who provide sleep-in cover are only available for work and, therefore, only have to be paid at appropriate NMW rates if they have to get up during the night to help a patient or do some other work. They don’t have to be paid at NMW rates when they are in bed or resting. The Supreme Court heard the case over a year ago and has upheld the earlier ruling. If the ruling had been overturned, workers would have been able to recover up to six years’ underpayments. More significantly, HMRC could have imposed huge fines on employers of up to £20,000 for each underpaid worker. Siobhan Mulrey, an employment law specialist at law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “Care organisations will breathe a huge sigh of relief as, had the Supreme Court ruled against them, they would have faced huge and, for many, unaffordable liabilities. “On the other hand care workers
Siobhan Mulrey will be very disappointed, particularly as they perform a vital service, yet are some of the poorest paid workers in our society. “Although this decision only directly applies to workers whose main purpose is to sleep at or near their place of work, it may open wider arguments about the correct pay for other home workers. “It’s possible that home workers will find it more difficult to argue they are working throughout their shifts, rather than simply being ‘available for work’. “So, while this decision marks the end of the road for sleep-in shift
arguments, there’s likely to be further litigation around pay for home workers.” The Court made its decision on the basis of recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission more than 20 years ago which the government accepted at the time the NMW came into force. The LPC recommended that workers who perform sleep-in shifts should not receive the NMW for hours spent asleep and should only be paid at NMW rates when they were awake for the purposes of working. It envisaged that workers would negotiate an allowance with their employers to compensate them for the time they were contractually required to be at work but could sleep. The Supreme Court said that the NMW Regulations should be interpreted in that light. In doing so, it overruled previous cases, including one where nurses who manned a 24-hour telephone line at night from their homes, who were allowed to sleep between calls were found to be working throughout their shift and were therefore entitled to receive the NMW for it. Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, added: “After a lot of uncertainty it is useful to have this ruling from the Supreme Court. “Our staff are our best resource and need to be valued as such. This is all part of the broader picture of the much needed reform of the
adult social care sector which we will continue to press the Government on. “Care England continues to call for a 10-year plan for adult social a key part of which is a workforce plan, akin to that of the NHS, where career progression, pay and rewards are identified. “We hope that the Government will take account of this issue and the sector’s economic fragility in its forthcoming Spending Review.” But GMB legal director Sue Harris said the ruling was a missed chance to address the low pay of carers. She added: “GMB had already raised an eyebrow at the Court of Appeal decision – and we suspect many people will be surprised by the ruling. “It essentially means if you are at your employers’ premises – not at your home – able to sleep, but know you may be disturbed at any time during that sleep, then those hours don’t count for the purposes of working time. “Not many people would be able to sleep knowing they could be called to action at any moment. “We have seen throughout the pandemic the wonderful work that carers do, they are the group in our society most likely to be on the minimum wage and that they are predominantly women and predominantly Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic employees. “This was a chance to address one of the reasons for the low pay of carers, it’s a shame it wasn’t seized upon.”
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CARINGWEEKLY
Care home shortlisted The new CareDocs in prestigious awards website now live RESIDENTS and staff at a Hertfordshire care home are celebrating after being shortlisted for two highly sought accolades in the prestigious Family Business United Awards 2021. Foxholes, near Hitchin, has been named a finalist in the ‘London and South East’ category of the acclaimed awards for both Family Business of the Year and People’s Choice Awards. A family-run business for more than 10 years, the purpose-built residential home offers high-end accommodation and a wide range of facilities such as a cinema, restaurant, beauty salon and ice cream parlour. Representing the county in the London and South East category, Foxholes will come up against 27 of the region’s elite familyrun companies for the coveted accolades. Estate manager Neil Gandecha said: “On behalf of my family, who own and run Foxholes, and everyone else associated with the home, we’re honoured to receive such amazing news so early in the year. “My parents bought Foxholes in 1999; demolishing the old nursing home to transform the building into a luxury £6million residential care home. “It was always their ambition to
give back to the community that’s given so much to them, and now my sister and I are also very much involved in helping to run the home, ensuring it provides the highest quality of care in the region.” Organised by Family Business United, the magazine and resource centre that champions and celebrates the family-run business sector, the awards aim to recognise the diversity, strength and depth of family firms across the UK. Neil added: “As a secondgeneration family business, we are humbled to be recognised in these awards and want to personally thank all those who have supported us over what has been a challenging past year. “Our team never asks for or expects any recognition for the incredible work they do to keep our residents safe – it’s second nature to them, so this is really is a lovely surprise!” An elite judging panel will pick the overall winners of the Family Business of the Year awards, which will be announced at an awards ceremony in June. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will also be announced at the ceremony, but will be decided by a public vote. Plans for the awards ceremony have yet to be confirmed. Voting closes on April 30.
WE’RE excited to announce the new CareDocs website is now live! As the UK’s leading digital care planning and management software we felt we could be saying more to help care providers discover the benefits of digital care management systems and how businesses can be transformed by implementing technology. Our goal is to give you a clear sense of how CareDocs can benefit you, your business type, its size, your staff and of course, your residents. Over the last few months we’ve been hard at work creating a hub to place detailed information about our features, benefits, products, services, customer reviews, events, resources, company information and blogs. Our website now better expresses who we are, both through its text and updated branding. CareDocs was launched commercially in 2008 but our software and values go back even further to make us the first digital care management system of its kind. Our website is a great platform for us to share our history and showcase our passionate team, as well as what
you can expect from your customer journey and what separates us from the crowd. Find out more about our dedicated business development managers and how they help you get started, how our support team keeps everything running smoothly and the different ways our knowledgeable trainers can teach you how to use the system effectively to provide solutions for your setting. We have also included information on how existing customers can get the most out of our software and services. Come and visit us to see how CareDocs benefits care homes and nursing homes. Read testimonials written by other business managers and see how we’ve provided solutions to their challenges, and view care sector blogs created just for you.
AAT launches “game changing” concept in supported bathing
Laundry challenges are de-creased with Professional Ironing Board 100 launch THE professional division of Miele has announced the launch of its Professional PIB 100 steam ironing system. Designed with ease and convenience at its core, the PIB 100 is the ideal ironing solution for timepoor hospitality or care businesses that require a quality laundry finish and a fast turnaround, without taking up too much time or resource. Comprising the compact combination of iron, steam generator, and ironing table, the PIB 100 has been designed to master the challenges of commercial use. With a capacity of 4.5 litres, it provides at least three hours of uninterrupted ironing before refill. It features precise and efficient steam technology, producing a thin film of steam unique to Miele, to glide effortlessly over laundry. Its fourbar steam pressure and 100g per minute delivery leaves a crease-free finish on even the thickest of materials. Now available directly from Miele or through professional approved partners, the PIB 100 was delivered to long-standing Miele customer, care group Anchor Hanover, for trial and feedback before the official launch. Joanne Linley, head housekeeper at Anchor Hanover’s Oulton Manor site, manages the day-today cleaning, laundry and rotas, and uses the iron for residents’ clothing.
She said: “The PIB 100 is brilliant. It’s strong and sturdy while being incredibly light. “Even the smaller features, like the clip to hold the wire out of the way, make it so easy to use. It’s miles better than the ironer we were using before and we get through the ironing so much quicker. “Unlike our previous model, it doesn’t require a specific heat setting for the steam to work efficiently; with the PIB 100 the steam is powerful even on a low heat and the iron glides up and down garments very easily.” The PIB 100’s large ComfortZone ironing table increases efficiency with less repositioning required, while its honeycomb soleplate makes it ideal for more delicate items such as resident/guest garments. The light-weight unit is supplied on lownoise wheels, so not to disturb residents/guests, and can be folded or unfolded quickly in two simple movements thanks to its patented 1-2-Lift system. The PIB 100 also features an integrated display, providing the user with machine status, descaling intervals and water levels. Its automatic rinse function removes mineral residue for the steam generator, meaning only minimum maintenance is required from busy staff. Enquiries: To find out more about the PIB 100, click here.
FOR THE thousands of people, young and old, in Britain who need help to bathe, bath time is fun again. AAT, the pioneering company behind stairclimbers and vacuum posture cushions, in partnership with disabled people, carers and OTs, has invented Aqua Liberty to plug the gap in supported bathing- and beyond. AAT Aqua Liberty is the first, and only, bath system that comfortably enables the bather to be properly and safely supported in the bath with minimal physical intervention from a carer. It means the bather can relax and enjoy the hygienic and therapeutic benefits of being immersed in water. Based around AAT’s innovative vacuum posture cushion, Aqua Liberty precisely forms to the bather irrespective of physical and/or neurological conditions, stabilising head, trunk and pelvis precisely and individually. The system comprises a pioneering mechanism for securing the cushions in ANY bath. Secured into place with integrated suction cups, Aqua Liberty provides a stable, non-slip base during bathing, that can be easily removed for other members of the household to use the bath. Aqua Liberty provides a stable receiver for AAT’s innovative vacuum posture support cushions, which
can be precisely, infinitely moulded to perfectly and comfortably support the occupant without pressure points or rigid structures. A range of cushions is available meaning there’s the perfect fit for all- any user, any bath. The system does more than just support in the bath. It is multi-purpose. The advanced neoprene covering of the cushions provides further sensory positive stimulation, whilst being waterproof, and wipe clean to Covid-safe standards. The cushions can be detached and air-dry quickly, enabling their use to deliver postural support in any chair, static or wheeled – even in the car. “We strongly believe Aqua Liberty is a game changer,” said AAT director Peter Wingrave. “We have a reputation for being the UK’s leader in innovative support for people with special needs, and Aqua Liberty is reinforces that heritage. “It brings comfort, and independent stability to the bather, so they can truly relax and enjoy the experience. It removes the physical effort and contortion for carers in supporting their loved one in the bath. Bathtime becomes a pleasurable experience for everyone again.” AAT is so confident of the value the British conceived, designed and developed Aqua Liberty brings, it is offering free assessment and free trail of the system. Enquiries: Call 01978 821875, email sales@aatgb.com or visit https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/
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