Issue 81 03.11.21
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Staffing crisis edging care close to abyss DAMNING new figures on social care staffing highlight once again how close to the edge the sector is and the need for urgent government action, providers have said. The Independent Care Group says those providing care for people in their own home and in care and nursing homes are struggling to find staff to do so. Commenting on Skills for Care’s report on the state of social care employment, ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “This is no longer anecdotal evidence and is not the social care sector crying wolf, these are the hard facts of a sector in crisis. “The Government continues to bury its head in the sand and hope that the care staffing crisis will miraculously disappear, but it won’t, and with the compulsory vaccine coming in next month, it is going to get a whole lot worse.” Skills for Care’s annual State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report says employers were failing to fill eight per cent of posts before the pandemic. This fell to below six per cent by June last year – but by August this year it was back up to 8.2 per cent of care sector roles unfilled – more than 100,000 posts with no-one to fill them. The ICG says compulsory vaccines could add a further
40,000 vacancies if the Government presses ahead with it in November. Skills for Care also warns that a further 490,000 extra staff will be needed to cope with care demand by 2035. “All of these statistics point to a sector in crisis and facing a meltdown situation where people can no longer expect to get the care they need,” Mike added. “We know that before the pandemic some 1.5m people were living with unmet care needs – that figure is set to rocket. “And that is our loved ones and our friends, in their own homes and in care and nursing homes, not getting the care they need – it is a national scandal.” The ICG wants to see the Government postpone the compulsory vaccine regulation in November and urgently get more money into social care to tackle the staffing crisis. “The simple fact is that providers cannot pay care workers what they deserve and they can earn more in less stressful work elsewhere,” Mike added. “As a society, we have to decide how much we value the care our loved ones are being given – at the moment it appears that we don’t value it nearly enough to properly fund a social care sector that fulfils their needs.”
Excitement building for CUK Awards
Percy Mann and his best friend and care nurse Laura Hagan have continued their annual tradition of dressing up as famous twosomes for Halloween. The pair became very close during Percy’s time at Whitecraigs Care Home in Thornliebank and put up some fierce competition as they took on the home’s costume competition together for the fourth year running. This year they showed a preference to treats over tricks as they donned a matching costume from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Percy ,104, was the enigmatic Willy Wonka himself, complete with his walking stick as a candy cane, while Laura dressed as an iconic Oompa Loompa. n For more Halloween fun turn to page 3.
T H E 2 0 2 1 C A R I N G U K AWA R D S
EXCITEMENT is building for the industry’s biggest end-of-year party, with plans in place to make this year’s Caring UK Awards the best one yet. Nominations for the 2021 awards are now closed and the full shortlist is on the Caring UK website. Organised by Script Media in partnership with Caring UK and headline sponsor Virgin Money, this annual celebration of success will culminate in a glittering ceremony – taking place at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday December 2 – where host Dean Andrews from Emmerdale will reveal the lucky winners who will take home an award. We received a record number of entries from all over the UK with so many stories of the wonderful work that was done particularly during the pandemic and we want to thank everyone who sent in nominations. Shortlisted entries from far and wide have made the finals, now progressing to the next stage of the judging process. Event director Judith Halkerston added: “We have been amazed by the incredible work that has taken and is continuing to take place in homes nationwide, and the last 18 months has only confirmed to us just how wonderful care staff truly are. “Once again we were overwhelmed with the standard of entries we received from homes up and down the country. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at the awards on December 2.”
CARING UK AWA R D S 2 0 2 1
Thursday 2nd December 2021, THE ATHENA, LEICESTER
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S T O A L L T H E F I N A L I S T S Tickets are now available from script-events.co.uk/cuk-awards-tickets/ I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H
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THE 2021
CARING
UK AWARDS THE ATHENA,LEICESTER Thursday 2nd December 2021 I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S TO ALL THE FINALISTS THANK YOU
TO ALL THE SPONSORS Care Home Division
CARINGWEEKLY
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Homecare company to partner with Boots UK HOME Instead has announces a new partnership with Boots UK that will see them become the first home care company to be made available to customers via the Boots Health Hub. Through the partnership, Home Instead is looking to raise awareness of home care as an option while also making the process of finding care as straightforward as possible for customers. They will be able to access information on how home care works, allowing them to easily make contact with their nearest Home Instead office. Head of corporate sales and partnerships, Sarah Williamson, said: “Boots is such a trusted brand and somewhere people will turn to for advice. “As such we are delighted to be working with them on this exciting initiative. It’s another way we will help to change the face of ageing by raising awareness, bringing peace of mind and making it easy to find quality home care. “I am sure the Health Hub will be an invaluable asset to people up and down the country.” The Boots Health Hub partnership is the third for Home Instead this year. In March they announced a groundbreaking partnership with Parkinson’s UK that will see the company’s trainers becoming
Home spreads a little joy to key workers
Sarah Williamson Parkinson’s Recognised Trainers who go on to share specialist training with caregivers. And last month they unveiled a partnership with Barclays Digital Eagles that will give their care teams access to online digital training. Sarah added: “Our partnership programme is in place to bring home care to more people, give us access to broader skills and expertise and make life better for our ageing population. “We are really proud to have added Boots UK and are looking forward to working with them on this exciting new project.”
Holmes Care residents celebrated Halloween for the first time in two years. Staff surprised their extended community of residents, relatives and colleagues with parties, costumes and fun activities all around. At Larkfield View Care Centre in Greenock, staff dressed up as characters of the popular TV show Still Game, and organised a party with plenty of singing, dancing, and party bags. Residents took part in an arts and crafts session and Halloween-themed boards were made for each unit of the home. Almond Court in Drumchapel marked the day with plenty of music, dancing and fancy dress for all. The home even opened its doors to relatives, which saw a few lucky grandparents spend time with their loved ones. In Lanarkshire, Beechwood residents played ‘Guess Who?’ with staff members dressed in 1960s attire. Four Borders care homes have celebrated Halloween with their own parties in traditional frightening fashion. Mansfield Care’s Galahill House in Galashiels, St John’s in Melrose, Millfield House, Jedburgh and Peebles Care Home have celebrated the spookiest time of the year as residents dress up in their scary costumes. Each home held a typical Halloween event, with carers and residents alike dressing up to celebrate the occasion with games, movies and frighteningly good treats. The homes celebrated in different ways however, including face painting, apple bobbing, piñata fun, witches hat ring toss, themed buffets and Halloween mocktails.
CARERS from Coppice Lodge care home in Nottingham have been spreading a little joy around the community, dishing out hearty breakfasts for frontline workers to show their support and say thank you for all that they do. With lots of suggestions from the team on where to make their first delivery, Hayward House Hospice Palliative Care Unit was selected to receive the feast in recognition of tits outstanding work throughout the pandemic. Lifestyle manager Lorna Thornley, who is playing an instrumental role in delivering the delicious meals around the community, said: “During my deliveries, I met some truly inspirational people who have really worked hard over the last year and absolutely deserved a treat. “Everyone was so grateful for
their breakfast sandwiches, and it really goes to show how a little bit of kindness goes a long way.” The Coppice Lodge team created breakfast bags including sausage and bacon sandwiches, along with vegetarian and gluten free options. They also included a ‘thank you’ letter, offering words of support and encouragement to their fellow healthcare heroes. The care team intend to continue spreading the joy across the community to those who have worked throughout the pandemic. Plans include deliveries to a multitude of sectors including the emergency services, fire, ambulance and police units, paramedic teams, local GP practices, chemists and pharmacies, postal service workers, refuse collectors and even teachers at local primary schools.
Bluebird Care Mid Essex hosted a spooky party at their office in Maldon. With the Halloween season in full swing, team members at the home care provider wanted to do their bit and get involved with the celebrations. Aware that many children were enjoying their half term holidays, everyone decided it would be a great idea to invite their care assistants’ children down to their office for a spooky Halloween themed party. With scary decorations, great outfits, and plenty of sweets, the evening was filled with Halloween-themed games including, pass the parcel, pin the nose on the witch, yes and no game, Simon says and bulldog. Residents at Avandale Lodge in Northwich have been getting into the Halloween spirit and carving pumpkins. Residents enjoyed scooping out the pumpkins ready for carving, and enjoyed getting together in groups and having a catch up and having a good laugh while doing so. At fellow HC-One home Primrose House in Crewe, what started out as pumping carving ended up turning into a competition between residents and colleagues. Residents at Swallownest in Sheffield also carved pumpkins out so they could display them in the home’s windows, while at Hyde Care Home in Tameside they enjoyed a Halloween party.
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