Issue 54 28.04.21
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Inspirational new book is a surprise hit A BOOK crammed full of inspirational true stories, quotes and anecdotes has become a surprise hit, particularly with care providers, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of copies of ‘A Pocketful of Kindness’ by author, dementia campaigner and motivational speaker ‘Big’ Ian Donaghy have been snapped up across the country and abroad. “I think it has just come at a moment to capture the mood of the nation,” he said. “A need for a little bit of positive motivation and appreciation at a time when we need it most.” More than 10,000 have been sold, without a publisher or Amazon to help, simply through word of mouth. The book has been a big hit with the social care sector with providers buying hundreds of copies to personalise and give to their staff as thank you gifts for their amazing work during the pandemic. “I wanted to show people how invaluable their acts of kindness are in the lives of others and how much they matter. Never has this been more important than during lockdown,” added Ian. He has drawn on his experiences working in
dementia care, working with young people with learning difficulties and his time working in crime reduction for the Home Office. There are also tales from his 30 years as a musician and from his earlier life in the North East and his home for the last 32 years, York, as well as travels further afield. It includes short stories, monologues and Ted Talksstyle chapters, all lasting the same as a cup of tea, championing the virtues and power of kindness. The key to its success is that batches of books can be branded bespoke with a company or organisation logo and there is room inside for the MD to add a ‘thank you’ message to their staff. The book has sold across the UK and in France, Italy, Denmark, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The book was put on sale on Ian’s website, bigian.co.uk, and proved popular from the off, selling 2,500 copies in its first two weeks, based only on word of mouth and LinkedIn. Many buyers bought a single copy and then returned to buy more with many buying enough for all of their staff. The book has been described as “A Haynes manual for kindness”.
Workers to receive a cash boost
Veterans celebrated St George’s Day at Royal Star & Garter’s Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe. They enjoyed music, crafts, quizzes and delicious food to celebrate the patron saint of England. The Home in Surbiton was decked with St George’s flag bunting. Residents there were treated to an outdoor St George’s Day concert, given by The ‘Lest We Forget’ Association. They then enjoyed a special menu for lunch. Staff also dressed for the day wearing red and white clothing. In High Wycombe, residents enjoyed a custom-made game of bingo featuring cultural icons such as black cabs, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and red phone boxes. The Solihull Home was also decorated for the special day. Residents living with dementia made St George’s flags from tissue paper. They also enjoyed a quiz – which featured rounds on English history, food and drink and monarchs.
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THE majority of care home staff across Barnsley are to be offered a boost to their pay following successful negotiations between the town’s care home association and the local authority. The positive outcome is as a result of an agreement on fee levels between Barnsley Independent Care Home Association and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and will see direct care workers receiving a minimum of £1 extra per hour, above the national living wage. The increase will be backdated to April 1 and is seen as a way of recognising the hard work and dedication of care workers during the pandemic. The cost of this wage increase is borne roughly equally between the council and the local care businesses. Aditya Jain of Panaceon Healthcare and a founding member of BICHA, said: “Our members, who represent the majority of care homes in the Barnsley area, have faced the same challenges as everyone in our industry has during Covid 19. “We have a vibrant care sector in Barnsley supporting our families and friends, the sector makes a huge economic contribution to the town and it is morally right that employees are recognised appropriately with fair pay. “Staff have worked particularly hard and this has led to many of our member homes maintaining an excellent infection control record throughout this pandemic.”
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Rivendell View in Nottingham will feature both an in-house cinema and its very own luxurious Sky Bar when it opens to residents in the near future.
New Nottingham care home to open A NEW state-of-the-art care home in Nottingham is getting set to open its doors for the first time in the near future. Rivendell View will be welcoming new residents from May and will provide a safe and luxurious home for up to 66 older people, employing more than 50 team members once fully staffed. Care provider Ideal Carehomes’ latest development has benefitted from a £10million investment, giving Rivendell View all the finishing touches you would expect from a luxurious new home. Home manager Samantha Kavanagh said: “I am extremely excited to soon be able to open the doors of our beautiful home.
“Our future residents will benefit so much from our facilities and the full and varied social programme organised by our activities co-ordinators. “We have had such an overwhelming response so far from local people, for both the first phase of recruitment and from prospective residents. “I can’t wait to support our new residents to live life to the full as part of the Rivendell View community.” The spacious en-suite bedrooms and latest care technology will allow the care team to deliver personcentred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible. The well-appointed care home
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boasts large, open plan social areas and ultra-wide corridors which are designed with residents in mind. Residents can enjoy all the luxury facilities on offer at Rivendell View including a luxurious Sky Bar with far-reaching views, a vintage tearoom complete with balcony area and a cinema room featuring its own popcorn machine. Samantha added: “Everything we do at Rivendell View will put us at the forefront of care, and with the established Ideal Carehomes team and policies behind us too, we have all we need to ensure the continued wellbeing of both our residents and staff. “The new build allows us to be completely on top of infection control
from the very start, and the large social spaces give us the means to social distance with ease.” The on-site beauty parlour will be ready for residents to receive regular treatments such as haircuts, chiropody appointments, manicures and much more. The landscaped gardens will become social hubs and continue to flourish with the help of green fingered residents attending regular gardening clubs in the botanical rooms. The newly appointed staff team are set to complete a thorough induction period prior to the home opening and will be given access to industryleading training and development via the ‘Ideal Academy’.
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A dedicated resident at HC-One’s Worsley Lodge residential care home still kept going with exercising for World Health Day, even though it was her 92nd birthday. Margaret joined in with the armchair exercises, which she regularly enjoys doing and it tied in nicely with World Health Day and her birthday celebrations. She likes to keep herself active and as fit as possible. Margaret does exercises of her own most days and enjoys walking too. Later in the day she admired the birthday banners which colleagues had put up, and blew out the candles on her cake. There was lots of singing and a pod visit from her family, which topped off a wonderful day.
Residents and staff at Oakview Lodge Care Home in Welwyn Garden City wished Marion Inman a happy 102nd birthday recently. Marion was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and lived most of her life in Welwyn Garden City. Staff put out a plea on the care home’s Facebook page for 102 birthday cards to mark Marion’s special birthday. “We had an amazing response from local people for Marion’s birthday,” said wellbeing coordinator Rachel Davies. “We’ve had so many cards sent in, we thought it would be fun for her to have 102 for her 102nd birthday but we received far more than that in the end.” The local Morrisons store also got involved by sending balloons, food for the party, flowers, chocolates and cakes. Marion celebrated with an afternoon tea party with her friends and a visit from her daughter Barbara. Marjorie Burke turned 100 at HC-One’s Averill House care home in Manchester recently, and the celebration was fit for a queen. After the home sent out a request on social media for 100 cards on her 100th birthday, she received cards from all over the world, including France and Germany. There were also plenty of cards received from all over Manchester including the local schools; St Johns and St Herbert’s, South Failsworth. In total, Marjorie received more than 200 cards, including one from the Queen herself. She also had hampers delivered from several local supermarkets. Continuing the celebrations, the home also received an outdoor visit by Glenis Jones and her enactment community group, who put on a show which was based on the war era. A resident at Westerham Place care home has marked her 100th birthday with a card from the Queen and a special visit from her nominated visitor, daughter Carolyn Guiness (also pictured). Joan Collier was joined by residents and staff at the home for the landmark celebration – which included afternoon tea with her daughter. Everyone sang happy birthday with one member of staff even dancing the can-can for her. In 1949, Joan married her husband, Jim, whom she was married to for 49 years before he passed away in 1998. Joan’s career was as a civil servant in Southport. Joan has two children, son Roger and daughter Carolyn. Her wider family includes two grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. Staff and residents celebrated the 111th birthday of resident Margaret Reed at Priory Court Care and Nursing Home. Margaret is listed as the seventh oldest person in Britain and the oldest Irish person residing in the United Kingdom. Staff at the Burnham-on-Sea care home threw a tea party to mark Margaret’s remarkable milestone birthday. Margaret enjoyed a beautiful birthday cake from her family and enjoyed looking at her card from Her Majesty The Queen congratulating her on her birthday. Margaret was one of nine children. During World War II she was part of the Royal Air Force at Farnborough, where she served in a secret establishment. After she married, she moved to Cornwall and had one child named David.
Celebrations have been in full swing at Ashcombe House as one of its residents celebrated her centenary in style. Rita Gallichan was joined by staff, relatives and residents as she received a telegram from the Queen in recognition of her landmark birthday. A champagne reception would have usually been the celebration but Rita prefers a nice Guinness. A garden party with vintage china was held at the Basingstoke home and guests enjoyed a special birthday cake made by the chef. Among those relatives attending were Rita’s daughter Sally and her sister Vera. Although they couldn’t join in with all the celebrations due to Covid restrictions, they were still able to feel part of the day with their own table set and party food. Edna Alvis, a resident at Brunelcare’s Deerhurst care home, has gone ‘viral’ on social media after her 105th birthday celebrations were recorded by BBC Radio Bristol. The easing of lockdown restrictions allowed Edna to celebrate her special day with a small garden party. Her party included flowers, cake and balloons, and she even received her second birthday card from the Queen. BBC Radio Bristol joined in on the celebrations, recording the day to share on their social media channels. After posting the story on Facebook, Edna’s story was shared around the world and she has received more than 4,000 birthday messages – including from the USA, Australia, and Nigeria.
One of Salisbury’s oldest residents has revealed the secrets of longevity that have enabled her to reach the remarkable age of 105. Iris Stowell cited good genes, a little chocolate each day and an occasional gin and tonic as ingredients in her recipe for a long life. Iris, a keen amateur artist who has exhibited her work over the years, began her birthday at Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge care home in Salisbury with a minipamper at the in-house hairdressing salon. She then welcomed a Covid-safe visit from her daughter Julie, a granddaughter and great grandchildren, speaking to them all through a screen in the foyer. The afternoon saw a socially distanced birthday party in the lounge with carer Myah Hewett singing and playing some of Iris’ favourite music on the piano.
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Community pays tribute to pair of long-serving employees set to retire as “institutions” STAFF and residents at a Cambridgeshire care and rehab community are paying tribute to two employees described as “institutions” as they plan to retire after 20 years of combined service. Askham Village Community, near Doddington, is preparing to bid farewell to two of its longest serving and dedicated members of staff, Isaac and Nikki Ajibade, who have each spent more than 10 years building a legacy at the family-run community. Isaac, currently Askham’s longest serving Lead Nurse, who specialises in long-term degenerative conditions of young people, and his wife Nikki, a specialist nurse in dementia care, have helped completely transform the care offered at Askham Village Community, becoming an integral part of its culture in the process and regarded as extended members of the family. Isaac joined Askham in 2012, with his current role seeing him manage Askham Place, one of the five independent care units that make up Askham. When he first joined, there were only three units, but in his time there the care community has continued to expand its offering, broadening its expertise to cater for ever more resident and patient needs.
Isaac and Nikki Ajibade. Nikki, a nurse at Askham House, which specialises in dementia, has left just as big an impact on the vulnerable people she cares for, being recognised as a driver in providing excellent care and for empowering fellow colleagues to reach their full potential. Director Aliyyah-Begum Nasser said: “Isaac and Nikki are Askham institutions. “They have been with us for many years and to be honest I can’t imagine Askham without them. Their legacy
will be here for years to come. “Ever since they first started with us, they have always been part of the life and soul of Askham. “I have so many fond memories, particularly when we would celebrate the diversity at Askham through international days and Isaac would always come in his native Nigerian attire, much to the delight of the residents. “As Lead Nurse of Askham Place for almost a decade, he has witnessed the many high and lows of working in
social care, but has always remained focussed on providing the very best care for his residents.” She added: “Nikki is just as dedicated to her dementia residents in Askham House and her personality shines through in all she does. “Just like a proud motherly figure, she runs a tight ship but always makes sure everyone is smiling. “Most recently, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, she has been what can only be described as a true soldier; motivating her team and ensuring residents were comfortable amidst incredibly trying circumstances. “On behalf of everyone associated with Askham, we can’t thank both of them enough for all the vulnerable people they have provided excellent care for, and the countless staff they have empowered and led and supported over their years here.” Set to retire at the end of April, the pair, who have lived and worked in the UK for 19 years, have exciting plans to open a care home in Nigeria founded on the same model as Askham. The building for the home, which will cater for 18 residents, is already built, and will provide nursing and dementia care, with future plans to provide neuro care too.
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Couple celebrate their sapphire anniversary A RESIDENT at The Fountains care home in Swinton spent an afternoon with her husband celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. Faith Yorke and her husband Arnold celebrated together in the home after visiting restrictions were eased recently. The couple married in 1965 at Eccles Parish Church after a fiveyear courtship, during which Arnold spent two years away from home completing his national service. They have one child, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren and like to reminisce about the years they spent going out dancing together. Faith said: “It was wonderful to be able to see my husband for our 65th wedding anniversary, and I am so pleased we were able to actually be together in the home. I sometimes wondered if that would be possible with this awful virus. “The past year has been quite
difficult as I have missed him very much, but the staff have made an extra special effort to make sure we kept in touch regularly. It won’t be long until I can give him a big kiss and a cuddle.” Arnold added: “I had a lovely afternoon with Faith; celebrating our sapphire wedding anniversary is such a milestone and it was great to be able to do it in person. “The secret to a long and happy marriage for me is having a wonderful family together, not keeping secrets from each other and sharing the good and bad times.” Home manager Huma Anwar said: “I am delighted restrictions were eased in time for us to welcome Arnold back into our home to celebrate his wedding anniversary with Faith. “Seeing the couple reunited for such a special occasion filled our hearts with warmth, and we can’t wait until the day we can lift all visiting restrictions.”
SEVEN colleagues at a south coast care home provider are set to become Registered Nursing Associates after completing a twoyear foundation degree course. Colten Care partnered with Southampton Solent University to offer the training to carers keen to progress into professional nursing. Despite practical work placements and face-to-face tuition being impacted by the pandemic, the first cohort have passed with flying colours. Among the grades, there was a Distinction for Vicky Acott, care co-ordinator at Colten’s Poole home, Bourne View. It means she was one of only three trainees from the overall 70-strong year group to achieve more than 70 per cent in her assessments. Vicky said: “It’s been full-on and an amazing opportunity for all of us. You have to balance work, study and home life but we’ve had a big support network and lots of resources. “We’re privileged that Colten Care has funded us to do this. It’s all about gaining more skills to do nursing.” Three colleagues from other Colten homes – Ligia Dragoi, Kim Gritt and Michael Von Bruggenberg Rothschild – achieved Merit awards, reflecting grades of 60 per cent or above. Nursing Associate is a nationally recognised role designed to bridge the gap between carers and registered nurses and leading to
Vicky Acott
formal enrolment with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. For those who want to, there is an opportunity to take the qualification further and follow an 18-month course to become a Registered General Nurse. In addition to qualifying, Verena Thomas, senior care lead at Colten’s Chichester home Wellington Grange, was shortlisted for Solent University’s Health Apprentice of the Year award. She said: “I would definitely advise anyone who is pursuing a career in healthcare to go for it if they have the opportunity. “It has been tough, especially in the last year with my children in lockdown and having to rejig our placements so that instead of going to community nursing we have done them within Colten Care. “It has also been difficult to have our university tuition done on Zoom rather than face to face, but it has been a brilliant course and the two years have gone by so quickly.” A second group of Colten colleagues are set to complete their first year on the course and a further eight have just begun.
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