The Carer Digital - Issue #8

T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S

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The Carer Digital

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THECARERUK

Issue 8

Government Extends Support to Workers in the Care Sector Following Industry Backlash

The Government is to implement two “unexpected “policy changes to support staff in the beleaguered care sector.

The first change the government announced is to exempt overseas NHS staff and care workers from paying a surcharge to use the health service. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the PM had asked the Home Office and Department for Health to exempt NHS and care workers “as soon as possible”.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was “a victory for common decency”.

Many backbench Conservative MPs were believed to have been concerned about the surcharge, among them Tobias Ellwood, who told BBC Newsnight earlier this month said that the government should fully review care and that it was “curious how we clap for NHS staff but we under-appreciate what they’re doing”.

The health immigration surcharge on non-EU migrants was £400 per year and had been set to rise to £624 in October.

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3..._)

PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT Welcome to the eighth edition of The Carer Digital “Caregiving is a constant learning experience.�

VIVIAN FRAZIER

It is absolutely heartening that deaths in care homes (as reported on page 3) have fallen to a six-week low. England experienced 520 less deaths in the week ending 22 May, according to the Office of National Statistics, when compared to the previous week. The number of deaths in total have been absolutely heartbreaking, and the care sector has most certainly borne the brunt. Epidemiologist Richard Coker stated in The Guardian earlier this month that data will show that the care home market ‘has taken the full force, of the pandemic’.

I did say last week that it is to early (in my opinion) to begin instigating any public inquiry into the United Kingdom’s hanEditor dling of this crisis, but it sure as night follows day it is coming.

We are not the only country have got it so badly wrong, but that is by no means a mitigation. In Sweden and Belgium, care home residents make up approximately half of each country’s Covid-19 deaths. In Spain estimates state that almost 18,000 nursing home residents have died from the virus, and here in England and Wales, over 90 per cent of those who have died from the coronavirus have been people over the age of 65, including 11,000 care home residents, according to the Office for National Statistics.

When the inquiry gets underway it is going be very interesting to see who is called to give evidence and recommendation. I very much hope that the industry pulls together to sing from the same hymn sheet.

There is no doubt whatsoever that we, along with other countries, were wholly unprepared, and we need to know why we were so unprepared. A report I read this week, and I hope to embellish on further, revealed that Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore have had no Covid deaths in care homes. None! (Although 20 South Korean care home residents have died in hospital following infections presumed to have been contracted in nursing homes) Compare that to Europe. Professor Terry Lum, head of social work at Hong Kong University said that the most important thing Hong Kong did was to stop the transmission of the virus from hospitals to care homes, whereas the UK only committed to testing patients for coronavirus before discharging them on 15 April.

The government also did not advise against visits to care homes until 21 March. This was two weeks after criticism by Martin Green of Care England and after several private care providers took it upon themselves and decided to ban visits.

Prof Lum also said Hong Kong had isolated anyone with coronavirus and anyone they had been in contact with in a quarantine centre for 14 days, and tested them regularly. He also said Hong Kong had learned “painful� lessons from the SARS outbreak in 2003, where 299 people died, accounting for almost 40 per cent of the global death toll.

Recommendations in Hong Kong were implemented to ensure that care homes have one person, usually a nurse, to be trained in infection control. This person ensures the care home staff follow government guidelines.

Care home staff have also held annual drills in infection control during the flu season. So staff are well practiced in containing infections, Lum said.

Unsurprisingly, the lessons learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak proved to be a game changer. Prof Lum said most nursing homes kept one to three months’ supply of personal

Peter Adams

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protective equipment. Along with the thousands of masks donated to them by various community charities, their stocks help them deal with the crisis before the Hong Kong government began distributing 2 million masks to care homes a month from April onwards.

One of the most important factors appears to be that Hong Kong’s health workers realized that it was essential to prevent Covid-19 from spreading among the elderly not only because they were the most susceptible, but because it would save the healthcare system from eventually becoming overwhelmed.

So, when Mike Padgham chair of the Independent Care Group said: “The real priority is to get started urgently on a complete reform of care. During this pandemic we have seen in the most horrific fashion, what happens when social care and NHS healthcare are not properly integrated. Chronically under-funded and under-resourced, social care was not in a position to cope with a pandemic and has been brutally exposed� he could not be more right!

I would also take this opportunity to give credit where it’s due, and congratulate the government in its reversal of policy exempting overseas NHS staff and care workers from paying a surcharge to use the health service, and extending of its bereavement scheme to include care staff, all NHS support staff and carers.

Once again I would draw your attention to our Unsung Hero award this issue please see page 17. No frills, no gimmicks, no fancy award ceremony - a straightforward no-nonsense recognition award for somebody in the sector from any department who deserves to be recognised for what they have done.

It isn’t much, I know, given the current circumstances, and how we wish we could award everybody!

So please get nominating! This lockdown is not going to last forever and the hotels will be open for business soon - a luxury two night break for two people in a choice of over 300 hotels awaits! - nominate@thecareruk.com Say hello to some of our previous winners:

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WEBSITE: www.thecareruk.com EDITOR Peter Adams SALES EXECUTIVES Sylvia Mawson David Bartlett Guy Stephenson TYPESETTING & DESIGN Matthew Noades PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Shelly Roche

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Government Extends Support to Workers in the Care Sector Following Industry Backlash (...CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER.) Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, said: “While many NHS organisations have paid the immigration health surcharge for overseas staff, this U-turn from the Government sends a positive message that their work is appreciated and that they are both valued and welcome. “ “The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the vital role of key workers across the NHS and wider public services and so it is heartening that the Government has listened and responded.

“Health leaders will need to see the details of how the surcharge will be paid for and that additional funds will be made available as it could leave the NHS with a significant funding gap at a time that we need its services more than ever before.

“We must also now go further and design an immigration system that allows our colleagues in social care to recruit the care workers they so desperately need.”

In a further reverse of policy, the government has announced the extension of its bereavement scheme to include care staff, all NHS support staff and carers.

The scheme offers families of NHS support staff and social care workers who die as result of contracting coronavirus indefinite leave to remain, free of charge.

It previously applied to doctors and nurses from abroad but not cleaners, porters or carers.

It applies to all hospital support workers, including cleaners and porters, social care staff and care home workers, the Home Office said.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Every death in this crisis is a tragedy, and sadly some NHS support staff and social care workers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of saving the lives of others.

“When I announced the introduction of the bereavement scheme in April, I said we would continue to work across government to look at ways to offer further support. “ We are extending the scheme to NHS support staff and social care workers. We want to ensure families have the support they need and so this will be effective immediately and retrospectively.”

Care England, has welcomed the Government’s announcement, Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said: “Unfortunately this pandemic has taken the lives of many of our wonderful care staff. Care England wants to acknowledge the Government for making this scheme available to all care workers. This is a tangible way in which they have shown that they see health and social care as to interdependent systems, and they recognise the value of all health and care staff in whatever place they work”.

Launched in April, the life assurance scheme was initially for health workers in the NHS and independent sector. As of yesterday, it has been extended to NHS support staff and social care workers. The scheme recognises the increased risk faced by staff during the crisis and covers corona virus related deaths of workers in frontline health and social care roles during the outbreak. A payment of £60,000 will be made to the estate of the eligible individuals who die from coronavirus contracted during their frontline essential work.

He added: “Care England welcomes the fact that CQC registered providers are eligible regardless of whether they are publicly funded or not”.

Deaths Due to Coronavirus Fall to Six-Week Low The total number of deaths in the UK due to coronavirus has fallen to a sixweek low.

According to statistics from the Office of National Statistics, between 11 and 15 May, there were 4,210 death registrations mentioning Covid-19, across the UK, which was down from 4,426 the previous week, it is the lowest weekly figure since the 3,801 for the week ending 10 April.

Coronavirus accounted for just over 25% of all deaths in the UK in the week to 15 May. In the week to 17 April, when deaths from the virus reached their peak, this figure was just under 40%.

The number of COVID-19 deaths in the UK’s care homes has also fallen, with England experiencing 520 less deaths in the week ending 22 May, when compared to the previous week. There were in total 870 coronavirus deaths in England’s care homes (for the week ending 22 May) - a fall from 1,390 deaths the week before (week ending 15 May).

Responding to the latest ONS figures on coronavirus deaths, revealing that deaths involving COVID-19 as a percentage of all deaths in care homes decreased to 37.2 per cent in the week to 15 May, compared with 39.2 per cent in the previous week, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

“No one in care should have to suffer from this dreadful disease and every death from this virus is a tragedy.

“Every week, these figures act as a truly tragic reminder of how many of our older and most vulnerable people have lost their lives, leaving behind family and friends in mourning.

“Social care is on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus. While we have started to thankfully see a decline in some figures, it is still incredibly worrying that the percentage of all deaths in care homes attributed to COVID-19 has increased.

“We must continue doing all we can to shield those in our care homes and those who receive care in their own homes.

“Councils want to play their full part in the national effort to overcome coronavirus, but need help and information to understand where the outbreaks are happening more widely and be able to act quickly to contain them. The Government needs to share this vital and up-to-date data with councils, as part of the contact tracing programme.

“It is also crucial the Government’s online PPE ordering system is fully operational as soon as possible, so that councils and care providers can directly request that critical protective equipment gets to the frontline where it is desperately needed.”

PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

Alzheimer’s Chief Says Dementia Sufferers At Risk Of Discrimination As QF/WISH Place Mental Health In Spotlight People with dementia and those who care for them are being pushed to the extreme by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CEO of Alzheimer’s Disease International has warned while participating in a global discussion on mental health hosted by Qatar Foundation and the World Innovation Summit for Health.

A stark picture painted by the coronavirus crisis has this month been revealed in a report by the UK’s National Health Service, which showed that 18 percent of those who have died in hospital with COVID-19, and 42 percent of those who died in care homes for the elderly after testing positive for the disease, had dementia.

Paola Barbarino, who heads the UK-based organization dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s disease, was among the experts to give their insights on the impact of the pandemic on global mental health in an online edition of the Education City Speaker Series, and says these statistics reflect exactly how vulnerable those with the dementia are to disease, death – and discrimination.

“The report reveals the depths of vulnerability that those with degenerative neurological conditions such as dementia are prone to,” she said.

“It also gives us a glimpse of the many victims who had dementia. And there may be more - victims who had dementia, but were not registered at the hospital they were admitted to as having the diseases.

“Often patients with dementia cannot verbally express physical discomfort, and this applies to the symptoms of the pandemic as well. The result is that by the time help is sought for, and arrives, it is often too late. On the other side of the spectrum, we have heard of reports of extreme end-of-life decisions being made solely on the fact that an elderly patient afflicted by the virus had dementia – even when they had no other underlying health conditions.

“There have also been situations where patients who were previously living alone opted to stay with immediate family members, as their regular caregivers were forced to self-isolate. This puts enormous pressure on their children, who often have to juggle caring for a parent with dementia, working from home, and schooling their own children. The mental agility of such caregivers is often stretched to breaking point.”

Patients with Alzheimer’s benefit from routine, but amid COVID-19, that routine can be snatched from them, leaving them confused and scared. This leads to decreased cognitive capacity, and, in the case of advanced dementia, rapid physical and mental deterioration.

“Even simple precautions, such as wearing a mask, can be overwhelming for such people,” Barbarino notes. “Patients with advanced dementia are also more likely to move or wander out of their residences.

This adds another layer of risk when it comes to lockdown measures.

“With these strict measures in place, governments are imposing fines and penalties on those who violate these precautions. So when a patient with dementia accidentally wanders out of their homes into public places without wearing a mask, they are often reprimanded, resulting in unfortunate outcomes.”

While countries such as France and Taiwan have stepped forward with specific interventions for those with dementia during the pandemic, Barbarino says that much of the rest of the world has been slow to

RIDDOR Reporting Requirements With uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently produced guidance on what needs to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

Full information can be found at https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/riddor-reporting-coronavirus.htm The guidance states that the following needs to be reported:

DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE This is an unintended incident at work resulting in a release of Coronavirus that has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to Coronavirus. The HSE give the example of a lab worker accidentally

smashing a glass vial containing Coronavirus.

This is clearly targeting hospitals and laboratories handling Coronavirus and will NOT therefore be relevant to the majority of care homes.

CASE OF DISEASE This needs to be reported when a worker has been diagnosed as having Covid-19 and there is reasonable evidence that it was caused by exposure at work. The example the HSE provides is a health care professional who is diagnosed with Covid-19 after treating patients with Covid-19.

This is therefore relevant to the care home sector but there are two issues in the statement, that care homes need to consider before reporting under RIDDOR. 1) Firstly, what is meant by ‘diagnosed’?

respond. According to her, this is why the work carried out by initiatives such as the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) is crucial.

“Entities such as WISH tackle issues which most organizations prefer to shy away from,” she says.

“Qatar Foundation’s approach to such topics such as dementia is nuanced with sensitivity and courage – it has the courage to explore issues that need to be dealt with from a humanitarian perspective. The Education City Speaker Series webinar on mental health is a case in point.

“What’s commendable is that WISH’s interest and involvement in such issues is not a flash-in-a-pan; it doesn’t view such topics merely as oneoff crowd-pullers at conferences. Instead, WISH, and other QF entities, dedicate themselves to truly understanding and investigating such concerns from ground-level up. That’s exactly what helps organizations like us get our message out effectively.”

Alzheimer’s Disease International submitted a report with urgent recommendations for the World Health Assembly, calling for governments across the world to urgently recognize – and address – the unique needs of people with dementia amid the current crisis. As a part of those efforts, the organization has also launched an online initiative https://www.alz.co.uk/donate - to mobilize funds for dementia patients and their caregivers.

Barbarino also says the pandemic has inadvertently resulted in the media highlighting issues which organizations such as hers have been trying to bring to the forefront.

“The media have been nimble in presenting data, and governments have been forced to take notice,” she says. “It’s been a bit like peeling back the layers of an onion and getting to the core. The issue cannot be skirted anymore.”

If we look at section 2 of RIDDOR (‘Interpretations’), diagnosis requires a registered medical practitioner's identification of the disease in writing, where it pertains to an employee.

With the current lack of testing in care homes, and with this definition in mind, care homes will not be required to report suspected cases.

2)The second difficulty is in providing ‘reasonable evidence’ that the infection was caused by exposure at work and not from another source such as whilst commuting, or from family members. Care homes will have to look at this on a case-by-case basis once the formal diagnosis has been made.

WORK-RELATED FATALITIES Finally, if someone dies as a result of a work-related exposure to Coronavirus and this is confirmed as the likely cause of death by a registered medical practitioner, then you must report this as a death due to exposure to a biological agent using the ‘case of disease’ report form.

You must report workplace fatalities to HSE by the quickest practicable means without delay and send a report of that fatality within 10 days of the incident.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 5

Total Reform of Social Care Must Start Now – Providers

• • • • • •

Deaths in social care settings from coronavirus have demonstrated the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the care system straightaway, campaigners have said.

The Independent Care Group (ICG) says it is vital that reform of social care starts as soon as the danger of Covid-19 is over.

It says a time-limited expert-led task force should be set up now to begin rebuilding social care so that it is never again placed in the same perilous situation it is in now.

ICG chair, Mike Padgham said: “There can be no more delays, we have to see action on social care reform and we have to see it now.

“Social care staff have performed amazingly during the pandemic and deserve to be recognised and rewarded properly in the future, enjoying parity with their NHS colleagues.”

The ICG also calls for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to waive registration fees for the next 12 months and for social care to be zero-rated for VAT – both measures that would help struggling care providers immediately.

Longer term, amongst a number of things, the ICG wants to see: The total integration of NHS healthcare and social care Social care free at the point of need, funded through taxation or National Insurance Direct financial support for care providers during the current pandemic paid through CQC A commissioner for older people and those with Learning Disabilities in England A national career pathway and salary framework for care staff Professional registration for care staff

• A properly-costed national rate for care fees • Needs-based continuing healthcare (CHC) payments • A Covid-19 bonus for all frontline care staff.

Mr Padgham added: “Much still needs to be done to help all social care providers with PPE, testing and financial support and we have to remain vigilant to avoid a second spike in cases. If we keep up the pressure we will get through this.

“But the real priority now is to get started urgently on a complete reform of care.

“During this pandemic we have seen in the most horrific fashion, what happens when social care and NHS healthcare are not properly integrated. Chronically under-funded and under-resourced, social care was not in a position to cope with a pandemic and has been brutally exposed.

“Care providers had no capacity to respond to covid-19. Almost £8bn has been cut from local authority care budgets since 2010 and that has left care and nursing homes and homecare providers seriously depleted. We have to start the process of rebuilding social care straight away so that we are never put in this deadly position again.”

The task force must be independent-sector-led and should include industry experts like Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, Jane Townson, Chief Executive Officer with the United Kingdom Homecare Association, Vic Rayner, Executive Director of the National Care Forum, Nadra Ahmed, Chairman of the National Care Association and Richard Humphries, Senior Fellow, Policy, with the King’s Fund.

Mr Padgham says questions will need to be answered about the Government’s response to Covid-19 for care providers and whether enough was done to protect them, quickly enough.

“There are many issues, like the speed of lockdown, the availability of personal protective equipment and testing and the financial support given to care providers, which will need to be examined and we will need a public inquiry,” Mr Padgham added.

CQC Report Reveals Covid-19 Impact on Care Homes The impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on care homes has been laid bare in a new CQC report. The COVID-29 Insight report, is the first in a series of discussion documents evaluating key issues that the CQC regulates, affecting health and social care during the crisis.

The 29-page document found morale to be low in the sector, with staff feeling ‘undervalued’ compared with their healthcare counterparts.

Focusing on adult social care, the report reviewed data on staff absences, outbreaks, deaths and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the impact of Covid-19 on staff wellbeing and the financial viability of services.

This first insight document focuses on adult social care: reviewing data on outbreaks, deaths and availability of PPE, and in particular highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on staff wellbeing and the financial viability of adult social care services.

It describes the need – now more acute than ever – for whole system working across different sectors to ensure safer care. It also outlines future areas of focus, including infection control both within and

between services, how local systems are engaging social care organisations in the management of COVID-19, and how care for people from vulnerable groups is being managed through the crisis.

CQC chief executive Ian Trenholm said: “This new insight document begins to gather together what providers are telling us about the impact of COVID-19 – information gathered through direct feedback from staff and people receiving care, from our new regular data collection from services who provide care for people in their own homes, and insight from our regular conversations with providers and partners.

“We’re already sharing this information with local, regional and national system partners to help target support – and using it to take action to keep people safe where needed. Where providers are reporting pressures and challenges, we want to increase visibility and ask questions about what needs to happen to help alleviate them.

“This is very much a developing product – it will undoubtably change and evolve with future publications. We don’t have all the answers, but we want to share what we know to help find solutions – because we are all now operating in an environment where the need to act quickly and collaboratively has never been more important.”

The insight document said: ‘We said then that, in the absence of mitigating action, any further shocks to the labour market would be expected to increase the existing level of market fragility, place more pressure on local authority finances and possibly increase unmet care needs.

‘The troubling financial reality for some providers is that they may

now face a shortfall in people using their services due to increased deaths and not being able to admit new admissions. Also, some providers are struggling financially with the cost of PPE, including having to pay inflated costs to source what they desperately need.’

Kate Terroni, CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care, said there were excellent examples of ‘good joined-up care’ between health and social care professionals. ‘However, some providers are telling us that community health support has been reduced as the coronavirus response has resulted in resources being diverted elsewhere,’ she said.

‘As acute services start to move towards a more stable position, the community health offer – both to care homes and people who have care and support needs met in their own homes – must be a priority.

‘It is critical that the right focus is placed on social care to ensure that those on the front line get the assistance they need to protect the people they care for. We’ve seen what can be achieved and the impact that this has on people’s care – the challenge now is to make sure it is achieved consistently.’

The report also highlighted concerns over insurance companies informing providers that if they knowingly took in Covid-19 positive patients they would be in breach of their policy, while some operators needing to renew their policies had been unable to do so.

‘There is a risk that they may have to move residents elsewhere if this can’t be found,’ the report said.

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

Government U-Turn On Immigration Health Surcharge Sends Positive Message The Government has announced that NHS staff and care workers from overseas are to be exempt from paying a surcharge to use the health service. It also said families of all foreign NHS and care workers who have died with coronavirus will be able to stay in the UK permanently.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, said: “While many NHS organisations have paid the immigration health surcharge for overseas staff, this U-turn from the Government sends a positive message that their work is appreciated and that they are both valued and welcome.

We also strongly support the confirmation from ministers that the families of all foreign NHS and care workers who have died with coronavirus will be able to stay in the UK permanently.

“The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the vital role of key workers across the NHS and wider public services and so it is heartening that the Government has listened and responded.

“Health leaders will need to see the details of how the surcharge will be paid for and that additional funds will be made available as it could leave the NHS with a significant funding gap at a time that we need its services more than ever before.

“We must also now go further and design an immigration system that allows our colleagues in social care to recruit the care workers they so desperately need.”

Looking After Staff Wellbeing in Light of COVID-19

By Aliyyah-Begum Nasser, Director at Askham Village Community

In a care environment, you’re only as good as your staff. And at Askham we’re fortunate to have some of the best. Our staff are at the heart of our offering, so we need to ensure that we look after their health, both physically and mentally. This is a responsibility we take very seriously.

At the tail end of last year for instance, we’d initially set a strategic goal for 2020, where we would focus on looking after staff wellbeing. As part of this we’d planned several initiatives, including training mental health first aiders, bringing in on-site counsellors and using various methods to spread positivity to help show our staff just how much they’re valued and appreciated.

But while the advent of the coronavirus crisis has caused a great deal of disruption to our original plans, requiring us to focus on putting the appropriate measures in place to contain its threat, we certainly haven’t abandoned the emphasis on our staff and their health.

In fact, many of the measures we’ve brought in to counteract the virus have also assisted in improving wider staff wellbeing.

The biggest of these to date has proven to be the introduction of new digital systems, which includes an instant messaging system called Yapster and an HR tool called Alpaka.

It’s reported that up to 80 per cent of care sector staff don’t have an individual email address, something that serves to outline our industry’s somewhat outdated communication methods. It’s common within care for instance, for information to be cascaded down to staff and relayed via management, which often involves posters and flyers; a time-consuming process.

Given previous methods of communication, it’s fair to say that Yapster’s introduction has revolutionised our communication channels, having a clear benefit on staff wellbeing as a result.

The core element of this is on keeping our staff firmly in the loop. With COVID19 requiring strict isolation procedures should anyone present symptoms, Yapster has proven invaluable in communicating with staff who are either working remotely or self-isolating at home. Through its use, we’ve been able to keep them both involved and informed, helping to safeguard their mental health by preventing them from feeling on their own or forgotten about, whilst also ensuring they don’t

try and return to work too early if their physical health is at risk.

One of the real positives to emerge from the crisis is that of an enhanced sense of teamwork, with staff feeling ever more valued. Government messaging and public support has helped with this, but feeling involved internally has also been important, as has a wider sense of cooperation and collaboration across the care industry.

Another major benefit of Yapster’s introduction is that, by allowing everyone to communicate with each other, it’s helped to form an open-door policy for management, even if they’re not on site. Allowing, in turn, Askham to provide support for our staff 24/7. If staff have any issues or concerns, they’re able to reach out to management at any time and receive the appropriate guidance and help.

As well as providing much-needed ease of communication during the pandemic, Yapster has also served to weave in an element of fun and light relief amongst staff. Set against their day-to-day challenges this is hugely important. For instance, images and videos of staff and residents getting involved in the weekly clap for carers can easily be shared and circulated – as well as other positive initiatives or activities taking place in the various homes. This is working wonders in alleviating the mental burden presented by the pandemic.

The other newly introduced technology is our HR tool, Alpaka; a digital rota system. Able to be integrated with Yapster, it’s helped to provide immediate improvements to our organisation and communication.

It’s clocking in and out system in particular enables our care home managers to support staffing levels easily and clearly. This in turn minimises the stress and time consumption involved in planning rotas, helping to alleviate the mental toll on our managers who can then focus their energies elsewhere.

Staff can also view shifts at a glance on their phones, helping with transparency.

Touching once again on the need for self-isolation if presenting any symptoms of COVID-19, this has been instrumental in ensuring there are no gaps in staffing. The additional benefit of this, is that it’s prevented staff who are in work from being over-stretched, while also providing reassurance to those who are absent that they’re not placing a burden on their colleagues.

My advice to those then who are wanting to look after mental and physical health within their care facility is to focus on communication. By keeping everyone suitably informed and abreast of developments, it helps to remove self-doubt and uncertainty. With COVID-19 creating disruption and often requiring fast-paced change, your workforce will benefit hugely from being sufficiently kept up-to-date and in the loop.

Aliyyah-Begum Nasser is a Director at Askham Village Community, a specialist rehabilitation and care community situated on the edge of Doddington, between Peterborough and Cambridge. A family-run business of over 30 years, it provides specialist care and rehab for the very young to the elderly, offering day visits, respite or long-term care, goal-focussed rehabilitation, and continuing reablement support.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 7

Call For Public Inquiry After Testing Failures Turned Care Homes Into “Coronavirus Warzones”

A social care leader is demanding a public inquiry into the lack of Covid-19 testing which turned some care homes into “coronavirus warzones”.

According to Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, it was imperative to understand the reasons how and why the policies adopted by the UK, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland governments had been so misjudged.

Mr Kreft was speaking after a survey from Care Forum Wales revealed that 42 per cent of care homes felt they had been pressurised into accepting hospital patients who were either Covid-19 positive or had not been tested.

Until recently the Westminster and devolved governments had resisted repeated calls to introduce mass testing of all residents and staff in care homes – claiming it was not scientifically justified.As a result, patients discharged from hospital and admitted into care homes were not tested for Covid-19 and the infection spread like wildfire.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething MS has now announced that coronavirus testing is being extended to all care home residents and staff in Wales. The decision, which according to Mr Gething was based on new scientific advice, followed a barrage of criticism. Initially, the Welsh Government had opted only to test individuals with symptoms, and then increased testing to larger homes with no signs of the virus on 6 May. Health Minister Vaughan Gething said changes resulted from “emerging evidence and scientific advice”.

All care home residents and staff in England have been eligible for testing regardless of symptoms since the end of April but at that time First Minister Mark Drakeford said there would be “no value” in providing coronavirus tests to everybody in care homes.

Care Forum Wales say the change of policy came too late for the frail and vulnerable care home residents who had died after falling victim to the virus after being infected by discharged hospital patients.

Across the UK more than 11,600 people have died from coronavirus in care homes since the start of the pandemic – that’s a quarter of the total number of Covid-19 deaths.

Meanwhile, the latest statistics from Care Inspectorate Wales showed

that here just over 570 Welsh care home residents had died of suspected or confirmed Covid-19.

But that did not tell the whole story because a total of 2,377 people had died in Welsh care homes since March 1.

That was 62 per cent higher than the number for the same period last year, and many of the fatalities were likely to be as a result of the infection and its complications.

Mr Kreft said: “We very much welcome the decision to test all care home residents for Covid-19 but once again I’m afraid the response has been woefully behind the curve.

“Back in February Care Forum Wales launched a campaign to Shield Social Care and Save Lives.

“As part of the campaign, we were calling for a rigorous testing regime, along with an adequate supply of PPE and proper financial support to safeguard care homes from a double whammy of soaring costs and falling occupancy levels.

“Effectively, putting pressure on care homes to admit hospital patients who were Covid-19 positive or without being tested. Where this occurred it turned safe havens into coronavirus warzones.The magnificent staff in our care homes have fought this virus heroically and as a result 80 per cent of them remain virus free.

“But once the wolf was through the door it was too late because this contagion is so exceptionally infectious” “It’s a tragic contrast to a whole host of other countries, including Germany, Greece and Portugal, who locked down earlier and harder and used mass testing to contain the virus. Here we adopted a policy of protecting the NHS at all costs and social care was right at the back of the queue in terms of effort and resources. The UK just didn’t have the right mindset. This is probably the most single monumental safeguarding failure that we have ever had in the UK in regards to vulnerable people.

“It was a policy that effectively accepted we were going to import the virus into care homes and that the residents and staff were collateral damage. Instead of shielding them, we left them defenceless.”

“It wasn’t just here in Wales. The governments in Westminster and the other devolved nations followed the same policy with a total disregard

to the implications of that policy and the absolute destruction it would cause in the loss of human lives.

“We should have a public inquiry across the four nations because we need to understand the decision making in the four capitals and why this was allowed to happen.”

“Across the UK, we have nearly half a million people of our most vulnerable people in care homes and they have always been very safe places. If there is a second wave of this pandemic we need to quickly learn lessons to ensure care homes will be properly safeguarded so we can shield our residents.”

“This is not a blame game – we just need the truth and we therefore need openness and transparency to restore public trust and confidence.

We need to understand the thinking and the scientific evidence behind the policies adopted by the devolved nations.”

“We need to know what worked and what didn’t. Nobody is suggesting that the governments didn’t care but it seems pretty clear they took their eye off the ball and assuming that care homes would be broadly safe.

“They had not realised the consequences of this unsafe discharge policy which was designed to free up capacity in the NHS. They should have been extra vigilant in shielding care homes.”

“There needs to be total transparency about the scientific advice and how it differed to the advice in other countries where they have been far more successful in containing the virus and keeping the death toll lower.”

“If a private sector care organisation had been guilty of a failure that had led to a fraction of the fatalities they would surely be in the dock.”

“If we are going to restore faith in our decision-making and the safety of our care homes, the families of the people who have died have the right to understand why those decisions were made and what the scientific evidence was.

“It is vitally important that the families of care home residents now and in the future can have confidence that their loved ones are shielded from harm even if there is a second wave of this dreadful pandemic.”

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PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

Managing Health and Safety of Staff in Care Homes

By Debbie Coyne, Employment Law Senior Associate at Aaron & Partners

These unprecedented times have created new and complex challenges for care homes.

As key workers, care home staff must go into the workplace to carry out their jobs and protect extremely vulnerable people. The government announced last week it is putting a £600 million package in place to support care homes and to tackle the rate of infection. However, employers still have a duty to protect the health and safety of employees and consider the employment rights of employees carefully.

HEALTH AND SAFETY The usual obligations on employers to protect the safety of works continue to apply: • Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 imposes a duty

on an employer “to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees”. Companies and directors face criminal prosecution if they fail to do so.

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 sets out specific requirements for Risk Assessments and again carries the risk of criminal prosecution.

• Employers also have a general common law duty to protect employees’ safety. Under section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 employees who refuse to work may be protected from detrimental treatment/dismissal.

• It is currently not clear if employees must be paid if they refuse to work on health and safety grounds. This has not yet been tested, but depending on the circumstances, it may be more commercially viable to treat it as unpaid leave and run the risk of claims for unpaid wages.

• Employers could face civil negligence claims for Personal Injury from employees who contract the virus at work.

Employers must continue to follow all normal health and safety procedures, including appointing a competent person to manage health and safety, carrying out, updating and actioning risk assessments, training staff and displaying health and safety information.

GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE Government guidance on PPE for the care sector continues to reinforce that those most at risk within the UK are professionals working in health and social care sectors. Infection control measures and PPE should continue to be used and processes carefully followed.

Full PPE (disposable gloves, disposable plastic apron, fluid-resistant surgical mask and eye protection where appropriate) is necessary when providing personal care which requires the employee to be in direct contact with residents or within 2m of someone who is coughing. Note that PPE is only effective when combined with hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and avoiding touching your face.

Guidance advises to use a surgical mask when working within 2m of residents but without direct contact or when in communal areas.

WORKING TIME AND THE CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION (FURLOUGH) SCHEME Many in the care sector are working flat out to protect the vulnerable.

Employees can work more hours to cover staff shortages, but the Working Time Regulations 1998 still apply. This means: - There is a 48 hour a week limit, unless employees have opted out. The 48 hours is averaged over 26 weeks for residential settings, so excess hours worked should be monitored to ensure there is no breach of the regulations.

- Employees require a minimum 11 hour rest period between shifts. This can be taken in lieu if the employee is changing shift pattern.

- Employees require a 24 hour rest period each week, or 48 hours every fortnight.

- Employees require 20 minutes’ break, away from their workstation every 6 hours.

Given most care homes are busier than ever, furloughing employees is unlikely to be beneficial. However, consideration may be given to furloughing staff that have difficulties with caring responsibilities.

SELF-ISOLATING AND SICK PAY Government and PHE advice is that anyone who displays symptoms of a high fever or a new persistent cough should stay home and selfisolate for 7 days. Anyone who lives with someone with these symptoms should also self-isolate for 14 days.

Anyone self-isolating due to COVID-19 is entitled to receive statutory sick pay from day one, due to emergency changes in the law.

Government guidance indicates that employers could agree to furlough someone who is self-isolating instead to protect the employers’ cash flow and provide greater financial support to the worker.

Avery Tucks in For the Care Worker’s Charity!

Avery Healthcare are a major sponsor and supporter of the Care Workers’ Charity (CWC), a UK organisation that supports current and former care workers with crisis grants. Avery are always looking for innovative ways to raise much-needed funds for this worthy cause in the care sector, especially in the current circumstances.

Enterprising Project Manager in Avery’s Estates Department, Rachael Bisiker, decided that she would set up a Tuck Shop at the central office to raise funds by exploiting the staff’s need for snacks. From small beginnings just a few months ago, the Tuck Shop shelves are now stocked with cereals and breakfast bars, soups, noodle and pasta meals, drinks, and of course a tempting array of sweet treats. Very handy for staff who may have forgotten to bring some lunch in, especially now that the local delivery vans are not operating due to the lockdown.

Profits from the Tuck Shop have just hit £250, and so a cheque was presented to the CWC (not in person of course, at this time). Rachael said, “We used to get a range of food vans visit our business park here so it seemed that we would be better off supplying some of this ourselves and generating some funds for our favoured charity; so ‘Munch for Money’ has really paid off!”

As well as nominating the charity if ever offered any donations, Avery supports the CWC’s summer and group activity events, such as trekking up Snowdon and climbing the Yorkshire Three Peaks. To support the CWC’s new Coronavirus Emergency Fund, Avery have participated in recent events such as their CWC Sparkle Day, and their Skirt Rip Challenge, which is based on Eurovision Song Contest winners, The Fizz!

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 9

Survey Reveals Support Being Offered To Providers By Cash Strapped Councils On 19 March 2020 the government made available £1.6bn to local government to contribute to additional costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic. It was proposed that this funding should be used, in part, to help support adult social care providers deal with additional costs and ensure continuity of provision.

There were many calls on this additional funding, including those linked to rough sleepers and shielding vulnerable people. It is also important to put this into the context of cumulative savings of £7 billion from social services budgets between 2010-11 – 2019-20 (£5.5bn of which was found in the last five years and plans) and a further £700m scheduled for the financial year 2020/21.

A further £1.6bn was granted to councils on 18 April, with allocations confirmed on 28 April, of which £1bn went to councils with adult social services responsibilities. However, this funding will be required to support a range of other essential council services beyond adult social care, such as children’s services, waste and recycling and public health.

Local authorities have a statutory obligation to deliver a balanced budget year on year and if they are unable to do so they must issue a Section 114 notice. The loss of income from fees and charges and other streams as a result of the pandemic, as well as the prospect of reduced income from business rates and the non-payment of council tax will place local authority finances in a perilous position without significant government intervention.

It is clear that the £3.2bn of additional funding to-date will not be sufficient beyond the initial three-month period identified by Ministers, or to cover all of the measures that will be needed over the coming period to ensure continuity of care, address needs and stabilise local providers.

Further funding will be needed.

Over recent weeks, national groups representing adult social care

providers have publicly expressed concerns that the additional funding was not making its way to providers. As a response to these concerns, ADASS conducted a rapid survey of our members to see how councils are using this additional funding to support local providers to deal with short-term cash flow issues. This rapid survey of ADASS members ran for just three days (28 April to 1 May 2020), with more than four in five local authorities (89%) across England responding. It asked councils what support they are providing to their adult social care market to ensure stability and what other steps they have taken to support care providers through the pandemic?

The results of this survey offer the first comprehensive snapshot of the scale and types of support that local authorities are providing to adult social care providers. Significant support is being given within the constraints of council funding.

ENSURING PAYMENTS IN ADVANCE 1. 95% of respondents stated that they are using different types of payments in advance to protect providers locally. Mechanisms include: • Immediate payments (within seven days), • Guaranteed payments including day service providers who are unable to run services and home care providers who are unable to deliver all care packages • Block purchases of beds to support provider cashflow and sustainability.

Covering Provider temporary cost pressures Based on those local authorities that stated that they had taken action to address temporary cost pressures being experienced by providers: 1. 97% have provided financial support to providers to help them deal with immediate, temporary cost pressures. Actions taken include: • Establishing emergency funds for providers to claim back excess cost • Providing 5%-10% temporary uplifts in fees

• Providing lump sums upfront to guarantee care provision • The remaining 3% are providing support for cost pressures but their approaches require further clarification that could not be sought and secured in the short time period that the survey was open for.

Responding to the survey’s results, James Bullion, ADASS President said: "Local authorities are working with and supporting their local social care providers to help protect and insulate them from immediate cost pressures and ensure stability. We are working together to ensure that working age disabled people and older people continue to get the care and support they need.

"Ensuring that we have strong, stable and sustainable providers is an essential part of adult social care. That is why councils have been using a range of local approaches to ensure payments, and help providers meet significant temporary cost pressures.

"The financial pressures on councils and social care providers are very real and underline why the Government must urgently set out its plans to put adult social care on a sustainable footing."

Responding Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “This survey shows councils are doing all they can to support care providers despite being under huge pressure themselves to combat coronavirus and protect our elderly and most vulnerable.

“Councils are working closely with people using social care services, their local care provider, and the NHS to ensure people who use social care, and the workforce, are able to stay safe and well.

“While emergency funding made available to councils and providers has helped during the pandemic, future funding support will be needed to help meet increasing demand and costs and ultimately, only longterm sustainable funding will future-proof adult social care.”

Selected NHS Patients to Access Cutting-Edge Coronavirus Treatment Selected NHS coronavirus patients will soon be able to access a treatment to speed up their recovery.

Thanks to the joined-up efforts of the UK Government, the Devolved Administrations, pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, the NHS, and the MHRA, the anti-viral drug remdesivir will be made available to patients meeting certain clinical criteria to support their recovery in hospital.

The drug is currently undergoing clinical trials around the world, including in the UK, with early data showing it can shorten the time to recovery by about 4 days.

The Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) and scientific opinion from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) supports remdesivir to be used by selected NHS patients. For the time being and due to limited supplies, treatment will be prioritised for patients who have the greatest likelihood of deriving the most benefit.

Minister for Innovation Lord Bethell said: ‘“This shows fantastic progress. As we navigate this unprecedented period, we must be on the front foot of the latest medical advancements, while always ensuring patient safety remains a top priority “The latest, expert scientific advice is at the heart of every decision we make, and we will continue to monitor remdesivir’s success in clinical trials across the country to ensure the best results for UK patients.”

Allocation of the drug will be based on expert clinical advice and will take into con-

sideration the situation where it is most likely to provide the greatest benefit.

The UK Government continues to work closely with its partners across the Devolved Administrations, the health system and industry to ensure UK patients have the greatest possible chance of getting the latest, ground-breaking treatments as quickly as possible.

DrJuneRaine,MHRA Chief Executive,said: “We are committed to ensuring that patients can have fast access to promising new treatments for COVID-19. ‘’We will continue to work closely with the Department of HealthandSocial Care and other healthcare partners on protecting public health in the UK by prioritising our essential work on clinical trials, access to medicines, and the development of vaccines.”

Hilary Hutton-Squire, Vice President and General Manager, Gilead Sciences UK and Ireland said: “We are delighted that the MHRA and the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) have decided to issue remdesivir a positive Scientific Opinion within the Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS). ‘’This decision reflects Gilead’s commitment to rapidly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘’Treatment options in response to this global public health emergency are urgently needed and we are grateful to the UK government and the MHRA for their continued support and collaboration to make this medicine available to those patients who are most likely to benefit from it. We will continue to work closely with the government to supply remdesivir across the UK.”

PAGE 10 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

How Digital Technology During COVID-19 Can Help Care Homes Bolster Residents’ Safety & Protection

By Chris Barker, CEO, Spirit Health Group

COVID-19 has – for the vast majority of us – been the most disruptive event of our collective lives. And for those most vulnerable, and their amilies, probably the most troubling.

While so far we have seen great examples of digital technologies being used to provide support, comfort, safety and protection, digital health is now being called upon to take clinical care beyond what has been previously achieved.

With care homes across the UK understandably trying to do everything they can to shield their residents – including keeping carers on the care home site, reducing contacts and avoiding external visitors from coming in that might put the frail elderly at risk – the one thing they can’t afford to do is to compromise access to healthcare professionals and timely clinical intervention.

As such, amidst ongoing concern over care home residents’ health, NHS England and NHS Improvement have issued guidance calling for immediate steps to implement a clinical service model for care home support during COVID-19. The model includes a weekly ‘check in’ to review patients identified as a clinical priority for assessment and care; appropriate and consistent medical oversight from a GP; and more frequent contact with care homes where needs are identified. Remote monitoring is emphasised as key to the support model within the guidance.

Digital, remote monitoring healthcare technology allows care home residents to be appropriately assessed on a regular basis. Assessments are done by carers or nurses taking patients’ vital signs readings and answering simple, straightforward questions that are clinically validated, supported by sophisticated algorithms to give a risk assessment to the clinical teams - often GPs - responsible for the day to day care of these vulnerable individuals. By connecting carers with their patients’ responsible GPs, it presents a tangible opportunity for care home staff to care even more holistically and more consistently for their residents.

Significantly, by regularly and consistently monitoring care home residents, this technology allows GPs to triage their patients and know when to intervene. Usually, when a care home contacts a resident’s GP, they are seeking a face-to-face visit at the earliest opportunity. Extending the concept of the care home to one akin to a ‘virtual ward’, GPs get clinical information on their patients quicker and faster than they would do in that traditional setting which allows them to rapidly assess a patient, and better balance the dual aspects of risk management and time management.

Doing ward rounds virtually also allows clinical teams to respond as quickly as possible – often via video conferencing in real-time. Moreover, having immediate access to a dashboard of live clinical data on a group of patients enables rapid identification and triage of those individuals most at risk.

This proactive model of care allows for early intervention that helps keep people out of hospital, increases health system capacity and reduces the risk of cross contamination at a time when our collective focus is on protecting our vulnerable and our NHS. While it remains uncertain how long we may be in lockdown – complete or partial – one thing is certain: the innovation we unlock today will inspire a new future. As we collectively find new ways to provide brilliant products, services and care, the progress we make won’t stop when life returns to normal.

Over-65s’ Experience Of Negative Language About Older People Increases During Pandemic Period People’s experiences of ageist language during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased over the course of the crisis, shows new polling from older people’s charity Independent Age. The poll of 483 people aged over 65, conducted by Opinium between May 15 and 18, showed that nearly one in five respondents (18%) had heard or been on the receiving end of negative language about older people in relation to coronavirus.

This was an increase from 12% from when the same poll was conducted eight weeks ago, as lockdown began in late March.

Alongside being on the receiving end of negative language about the older generation, over-65s also report having reduced contact with friends and family during COVID-19.

The nationally representative poll found that older people’s social contact had become increasingly limited over the course of the crisis, with the proportion of people having their social contact significantly reduced rising from 75% in late March to 89% now.

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said the survey showed that the impact of coronavirus and the lockdown had profoundly changed the lives of older people across the UK. “It’s incredibly disappointing that one in five people over 65 are hearing ageist language as the coronavirus pandemic continues – and particularly that this figure has increased.

“People in later life across the UK have contributed to our society all their lives – and indeed continue to do so through voluntary work, pro-

viding care for grandchildren and providing informal care for loved ones. They simply deserve better than this.

“At Independent Age, we’re also very concerned about how many older people are experiencing isolation and loneliness at this challenging time.

“Some older people will need practical or emotional support, so this needs to be in place throughout the duration of this crisis. It’s vitally important that no one feels that they are going through this alone.”

Independent Age has advice on how to connect with older friends, family and neighbours – and how older people can stay connected – on its website: www.independentage.org.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 11

A Third of People Less Likely to Seek Residential Social Care for Relatives in Wake of COVID-19 Crisis, Poll Finds

New polling for Policy Exchange and the Institute for Public Policy Research shows that there is a growing crisis of trust in the current social care system as a result of Covid-19.

Some 31 per cent of those polled said they were less likely to seek residential care for an elderly relative than before coronavirus – with 40 per cent of those aged over 65 less likely to consider it for themselves.

The polling, of a representative sample of more than 2,400 people across the UK, was conducted between May 15-18th. It was supported by the older people’s charity, Independent Age. The findings come as pressure mounts on the government on PPE and testing in social care. New ONS data has revealed that the number of deaths recorded in care homes in England and Wales this year is more than double the average from previous years. There has been widespread criticism of the lower priority given to the care sector in the pandemic’s early stages, despite warnings that people depending on it were acutely vulnerable to the disease.

In light of this, Policy Exchange and IPPR, respectively the UK’s lead-

ing centre right and progressive think tanks, are jointly calling on both main political parties to come together in the wake of the pandemic, to agree a long-term funding settlement for social care – as promised in the government’s 2019 manifesto.

They argue that the new polling “points the way towards a new political consensus”. Among its findings: · More than half (52 per cent) of Conservative voters and nearly twothirds (64 per cent) of Labour voters support a funding increase for social care - with around two-thirds (64 and 67 per cent respectively) believing it to be under-funded at present · A majority of both Conservative and Labour voters reject private insurance schemes (only 15 per cent and 10 per cent respectively support it) and selling the home (only 5 per cent and 4 per cent respectively support) to fund social care · The most popular options to fund it are “general taxation, in the way the NHS is funded” and “a new social care tax” - combined, these two proposals receive over 60 per cent of both Conservative and Labour support · Meanwhile, at least four-fifths of Conservative (80 per cent) and Labour (85 per cent) voters agree that ensuring care workers are properly paid, more than the minimum wage, should be a priority with any new funding.

In a joint article released alongside the new polling, IPPR and Policy Exchange point to the fact that the two think-tanks from across the political spectrum have separately reached the same conclusion about reform of social care.

Both call for the principle that such care should be “free at the point of use, funded out of general taxation” to be the basis of a new crossparty solution to the problem after the Covid-19 crisis. Their call echoes similar recommendations made by the cross-party House of Lords Economic Committee in 2019.

Richard Sloggett, Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange (and former Special Adviser to Matt Hancock), said: "It is hard to overstate the impact of coronavirus on this country's care

homes. The scale of the crisis has also reminded the nation that the care system is badly in need of reform.

“We need to fix this urgently to restore the country's faith in social care. This will not be easy but our polling shows the emergence of a new national consensus on the future for social care. The public wants a system that is largely free at the point of use and properly funded like the NHS out of general taxation."

Harry Quilter-Pinner, IPPR Senior Research Fellow, said: “Covid-19 has been devastating for the social care sector and for many who rely on it. This polling demonstrates that without significant government intervention we risk losing trust in what is a vital public service.

“But the social care crisis pre-dates the pandemic. Governments have consistently promised to find a long-term funding solution for social care but failed to deliver.

“Covid-19 has demonstrated that they can no-longer ‘kick the can down the road’. Fortunately, our polling shows that there is a growing cross-party consensus in favour of social care free at the point of need, funded out of general taxation.”

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has put unprecedented strain on a care system already in crisis. Calls to our helpline have increased over the past two months, with people concerned about lack of PPE, or receiving less help than they need with tasks like going to the toilet or getting dressed.

“Alongside many others, we are calling for fundamental reform of our care system. This must include valuing the support provided by both professional and family carers more highly. We believe a system providing care, free at the point of use, would encourage more people to seek support when they need it.

“Covid-19 has caused uncertainty and loss for people everywhere.

Political parties must act now to ensure the social care system is supported to deliver fair and high-quality care for all who need it.”

Frontline Carers Exempt from Inheritance Tax, says Royds Withy King The families of frontline carers are to be exempt from inheritance tax should they die as a result of Covid-19 through the course of their work thanks to an exemption to legislation first created for serving personnel and emergency services.

Mandy Casavant, a Senior Associate in the Private Client practice at law firm Royds Withy King, explains: “There has always been an exemption from inheritance tax for emergency workers and serving military personnel who die in active service or through their work, known as the ‘blue light exemption’. This exemption applies to doctors and nurses, paramedics, ambulance staff and those transporting blood and organs, but not to care workers.

“HMRC, recognising the sacrifice many care workers have and will make, has indicated that it will extend this exemption to employees of publicly funded care homes, home care workers, and to those employed by charities providing a service to combat Covid-19.

“Very broadly, inheritance tax is charged at 40% on estates valued at over £325,000 or £650,000 for a married couple. There is an additional banding given where the deceased passes on their residence to descendants of £175,000 or £350,000 for a married couple. Certain conditions and rules apply to these figures, so advice ought to be sought in each case.

“This front liner relief will, importantly, extend not just to those carers who lose their life now but to those who lose their life at any point in the future if a clear link to the coronavirus can be proven.

“Whilst it is recognised that many carers are amongst the lowest paid in the sector with estates that would likely fall outside of inheritance thresholds, it is a welcome move by HMRC. “It has yet to be tested how far this ‘blue light exemption’ will go. We would urge HMRC to extend the same exemptions to other key workers who may contract Covid-19 and lose their life as a result of the service they have provided.”

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 13

Why The Coronavirus Needs to Recast and Reset the Value of Nursing For Everyone

By Paul Edwards, Director of Clinical Services at Dementia UK

Coronavirus is causing distress and pain to so many right now, and there will be a need for nurses to support society long after the acute phase of the pandemic has eased. Nurses will play their part in helping people put their lives and communities back together - they deserve to be valued not just in the Year of the Nurse but also beyond.

Everyone in the health and social care sector is playing their part in the greatest health crisis of our lifetimes, but we should be mindful that it is nurses who have much to gain from a reputational reset during and after this crisis. It is after all nurses who have often been denied pay rises; who work in a profession still hindered by gendered assumptions about roles; and who sometimes do not have access to mental health support. In a world which needs and values care and support now more than ever, it is fortuitous that this is the Year of the Nurse.

It's times like this which will allow us to really question what the values of nursing should be and how these are and will ultimately be perceived by the rest of the population, across our personal and professional lives.

Fundamentally, nursing has and always will be an art and science; an art in the way nurses can get to know the people and families behind a person's condition, and a science in the way nurses draw from evidence to understand how a patient's long-term condition can be affected by secondary conditions, such as dementia and dehydration. The current pandemic has allowed us however to see a new perspective within nursing; one which sees it as a force for social good and social change. This virus has without a doubt rippled across so many families and lives, including health and social care professionals with a number having sadly lost their lives while providing critical care and support. It is however nurses who are at people's sides delivering critical care and support, but also a listening or a comforting voice no matter what or who they are delivering care for. These values hold firm now, as they have done in the past and as much as they should in the future.

Managing the threat of coronavirus requires continual adaptation and change amongst our health and social care workforces, in addition to the emotional challenge of caring for others. Looking after one's own health and that of loved ones is key too.

Dementia specialist Admiral Nurses are some of the many nurses playing their part. Some of these nurses have had to change the way they support people

with dementia and their carers from a face to face to a virtual capacity; some Admiral Nurses have had to widen their scope of practice to support other parts of their organisations; and many are going above and beyond to support their local communities alongside their work. Heart-warming certainly, but it also demonstrates the ability nurses have to react with bravery, respond with altruism and review with honesty. These are very much values which should inform societal decisions more widely, such as mental health support for health and social care workers in addition to the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The value we place on those giving care should of course be followed by a response by giving them the tools they need for the job.

The other important side of nursing we are seeing is that of leadership. Every one of us is trying to support people through these times and a much broader spirit of collaboration across teams is prevalent. It is by no means perfect and when we are through this, nursing will have its issues to address, in particular the need to maintain collaboration across health and social care nursing. This virus has after all shown just how wide the rift can be between health and social care. It is nurses who will be in the prime position to redress this balance. With their integrity and their oversight, they are the gatekeepers between families' access to health and social care and vice versa. It is imperative that we think about things more holistically, joining up the dots for families so they know exactly where the support is. But also allowing systems to work together; a key example of this is a recognition that community support can be integral in reducing hospital admissions, which community nurses are adept at but whose value can be unseen This virus has permeated across so many areas and it's this which has led to the breaking down of barriers across nursing sectors too, and perhaps a different understanding amongst society toward how wide the role of nurses can be. There is a growing acknowledgment for nurses who work outside of the NHS in such sectors as social care, prisons, and the military, in industry and in the charitable sectors. That is both helpful and hopeful as for too long we have seen other non-NHS nursing as poor relations in the nursing family. Nursing is nursing; it is equally valuable and we should never knowingly or unknowingly undermine one area of nursing over others.

Perhaps in the past we have taken nursing for granted and haven't promoted its value in society.

This has to change and we already seeing important developments like bolstering the representation of nurses in media, particularly with Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, having a presence at the coronavirus Downing Street press briefings. We need to keep the focus on nursing and provide the support and opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills of nurses, and retain them. The pandemic may well inspire people to enter and respect such a rich and diverse profession where bravery, altruism and honesty rule the day.

For further information about the work of Dementia UK and its Admiral Nurses, please visit dementiauk.org

Test, Track and Trace Must Draw on Local Expertise

The Government has announced £300m additional funding for local authorities to support the new Test and Trace Service, allowing them to develop and action their plans to reduce the spread of the

virus within their areas.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, said: “This is good news – we called for local organisations and systems to be properly involved in this work. If the test, track and trace operation is to work effectively it must draw on local insight and public health expertise.

“The importance of this cannot be overstated – short of a vaccine, this is the way to contain outbreaks. We will need boots on the ground, in workplaces, housing complexes and other community settings, and helping with the most vulnerable.

“We need more detail about the strategy, including how the £300 million will be allocated, but this is a genuine and positive step forward compared to where we were just days ago.”

Novellini launch BeSafe walls to help the UK return to work safely

Workplaces around the nation are preparing for when the UK can return to a kind of normality. The Novellini Group presents a solution that will help to create safe working environments that are hygienic and adaptable. The BeSafe wall is a protective device that companies with any office, desk space, trade counters, and food service areas can incorporate going forward.

The primary benefit? Hygiene. Employees will feel protected with the BeSafe wall as it provides a barrier. Constructed from 6mm tempered glass, it’s easy to clean with any alcoholic disinfectant. In smaller spaces where it’s difficult to sit two meters away, the wall is a particularly helpful solution.

Office teams aren’t the only ones who will be happy to see these walls put in place. BeSafe is a smart answer for all industries where contact with the public is required, such as pharmacies, retail counters, restaurants and public offices.

Novellini can customise each barrier to suit the space with three versions (floor mounted, trade counter, and desks) and five different sizes.

UK Sales Manager at Novellini, Stuart West says ‘We are looking to help the UK workforce where we can and these are a positive answer to those concerns about health and hygiene.’

As specialists in showers and design, Novellini are putting their skills to good use and many businesses across the UK will be pleased to find a safe and stylish solution. They are even available in several colours and glass finishes to suit the surroundings.

For more information contact Novellini UK on 01727 229922 or visit the website at www.novellini.co.uk For brochure and advice please email info-uk@novellini.com For large projects or orders, customized solutions can be evaluated. We are available to evaluate and propose BeSafe Wall solutions specific for your protection needs.

PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

Underpinned By Need – Investing In A Vital Sector During Uncertain Times Written by Michael Hodges, Managing Director - Healthcare Consultancy at Christie & Co WHY INVEST IN THE CARE SECTOR? Christie & Co is proud to be associated with a sector which plays such a vital role in our society, never more so than over the last two months when operators and their staff teams have done an exceptional job in the midst of what has been a truly dreadful health pandemic with Covid-19. So many people working on the frontline have gone above and beyond to look after their residents. This dedication has been inspiring and rightly showcases the greatest strength of the sector which is the people working within it.

On being asked to write this piece, I was very much in two minds as you cannot escape the pressure the sector is under during this unprecedented time. However, I decided to proceed because this pandemic has shown more than ever how important the social care sector is and the vital, needs driven role of care homes.

These need-driven fundamentals, fuelled by a population which is ageing and with an ever-increasing range of complex conditions, are key reasons why the UK care home sector is seen as being such an attractive sector for investment. This investment takes many forms from care homes which are sold as operational businesses to property investments where the care home is subject to a lease with the investor buying the right to receive the resultant rental income. Positively, despite all the challenges of Covid-19, the Christie & Co transactional team is still agreeing deals with pricing and yields generally holding up relatively well. The latter is particularly the case with reference to new build development activity as investors, operators and developers take longer term views.

IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN INVESTING It is essential that proper due diligence is undertaken on any care home before proceeding with investment. Ultimately, the strength of the investment is underpinned by the resilience of the business. There are many factors to consider in this regard but in summary they can be split into three main categories consisting of the business, asset and market.

“Business” is a very wide-ranging term but essentially includes all aspects which impact on the business.

Aside from the financial and operational elements, it is particularly important to understand how the home is positioned in its local market environment. This includes the current and future demand for beds, demographic factors, and competitor landscape. For homes which are underperforming or have challenges, the business assessment will include considerations around scope to reposition the service and the steps which will be involved.

“Asset” is closely linked to business and refers to the physical building which the care home service is delivered from. Aside from issues such as the building specification, condition and need for investment, other factors include the strength of its location, accessibility for staff, the extent of external grounds and potential for further development.

“Market” relates to the transactional environment and, specifically, the nature, extent, and type of the potential buyer pool. Marketability is ultimately the key driver of value, so understanding the type and depth of the likely buyer pool is critical in terms of the wider investment and exit strategy.

SUMMARY The care sector is an established and resilient asset class with a business model which is underpinned by need. In the period leading up to the Covid-19 lockdown, the market was very active with interest from a wide buyer pool ranging from first-time buyers to large international investment funds. Once we navigate through the current Covid-19 related challenges, and as the availability of testing increases, my colleagues and I expect to see activity levels increase once again as the situation begins to stabilise.

Harmony House Shines Light on ‘Life In Lockdown’ for Those with Mental Health Needs Harmony House, a registered service for adults with learning disabilities, dementia and mental health needs based in Hebburn, has shared service users’ experiences of life in lockdown as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

The service, on Cuthbert Street, is home to adults with complex mental health needs, for whom living through the national lockdown can add an additional layer of pressure.

Kelly Wilson, manager at Harmony House, said: “Our service users have actually adapted to this new way of living very well. We are regularly updating them of the situation with the virus which has definitely helped to make everyone feel more at ease.

“Part of our usual daily routine was to encourage our service users to be independent, for instance doing their own shopping, which also enabled them to be active. While they are unable to go to the shops as they normally would, we have planned lots of socially distanced garden activities to ensure they are still active.”

During lockdown, Harmony House has planned activities such as basketball, football, BBQs and VE Day celebrations, with suggestions from

service users about the sort of entertainment they would like to see.

When asked about how they have found lockdown so far, Susan Skelton a resident at Harmony House, said: “I was frightened at first as I would not be able to see my friends at my drama group, but staff helped me through it and to understand what was going on in the world.

I am coping a lot better and have learned new skills in house and I love helping the staff” Another service user, Angela Shepherd said: “I have only managed with this because of the staff and have felt really looked after. COVID-19 is really serious and we are lucky to have what we have and for it not to have entered the building. I feel very safe here.”

The service has also received donations from the local community including food hampers and toiletries, as well as PPE. Kelly added: “We can’t thank our local community enough for their support and kind gifts. It has really meant a lot to our staff and residents so I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to anyone who has sent us lovely gifts or messages.”

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 15

DO YOU KNOW THE CARER’S NEXT UNSUNG HERO? Regular readers will know we here at the Carer have been awarding an Unsung Hero each Summer and Christmas since 2016!

Now, in these unprecedented and testing times we are looking for another Unsung Hero! (How we wish we could reward you all!)

Say hello to some previous ers!

A two night luxury break for winn

Care Home urst of Cloverfield Marion Brockleh

Debbie Day of Cedars Care Home

two people in a choice of over 300 UK-wide hotels is the prize! £50 Marks & Spencer vouchers for two runners-up! e Boynes Care Centr Sam Buckley of The

Tina Higginson of Sam brook care home

A no-frills, no glitz or glamour competition - all we ask is for you to send us a paragraph or two nominating your Unsung Hero from any department with a brief description of how they've gone that extra mile and deserve to be recognised.

✓ Do you know our next Unsung Hero?

Email your nomination to us today at nominate@thecareruk.com

PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

No Room for Complacency in COVID-19 Fight - Carers Carers have warned there was no room for complacency in the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19).

Whilst welcoming another fall in care and nursing home deaths, the Independent Care Group (ICG) said the country had to keep up the pressure on the virus to avoid a second spike.

It also says now should be the time when the Government starts to plan social care's recovery once Covid-19 is clear.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 1,660 people died in care and nursing homes from Covid-19 in the week up to 15th May. That is down from 1,666 the previous week, 2,423 the week before that and 2,800 the week before that.

For the first time, deaths in care homes accounted for more than half of all deaths from Covid-19 on one single day. On 9 May there were 214 deaths in care homes (51% of the total) and 191 in hospitals (46%).

ICG chair, Mike Padgham said: "The trend continues to be a downward one, which is encouraging. But we have to remember that each death is a tragedy - someone's mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or friend and for that reason we cannot let up.

"We have seen evidence of people on beaches and in parks failing to observe proper social distancing and we have to keep up the pressure and not let a second spike in this virus come and take away more people."

The ICG says providers are still facing some issues with personal protective equipment (PPE) and proper testing. They also need more financial support, as many are struggling.

Mr Padgham added: "Much still needs to be done as PPE and testing are patchy to say the least and providers need more financial support. We have to remain vigilant to avoid a second spike in cases. If we

keep up the pressure we will get through this.

"Then the real priority is to get started urgently on a complete reform of care.

"During this pandemic we have seen in the most horrific fashion, what happens when social care and NHS healthcare are not properly integrated. Chronically under-funded and under-resourced, social care was not in a position to cope with a pandemic and has been brutally exposed."

The ICG says the £3.2bn pledged for local authorities to help them support social care is not reaching care and nursing homes and homecare providers.

It says a time-limited expert-led task force should be set up now to begin rebuilding social care so that it is never again placed in the same perilous situation it is in now.

The ICG also calls for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to waive registration fees for the next 12 months and for social care to be zero-rated for VAT - both measures that would help struggling care providers immediately.

Longer term, amongst a number of things, the ICG wants to see: • The total integration of NHS healthcare and social care • Social care free at the point of need, funded through taxation or National Insurance • Direct financial support for care providers during the current pandemic paid through CQC • A commissioner for older people and those with Learning Disabilities in England • A national career pathway and salary framework for care staff • Professional registration for care staff • A properly-costed national rate for care fees • Needs-based continuing healthcare (CHC) payments • A Covid-19 bonus for all frontline care staff.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Thank Social Care Workers Across the UK

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have spoken to care workers from across the UK to hear about their experiences of providing care during the coronavirus outbreak, and to thank them for their tireless efforts to continue to look after the most vulnerable in our society.

On Wednesday, Their Royal Highnesses joined residents from the Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff via video call as they played bingo in the home’s cinema. Shire Hall provides residential, nursing and dementia care and is part of Hallmark Care Homes, a family-run care provider with 19 care homes across England and Wales. The Duke and Duchess took their turn as guest bingo callers for one of the games, before

speaking to some of the residents and their care workers.

Before the game, The Duke and Duchess heard from members of the care team about the impact of Covid-19 and the challenges that they have faced as a result of the pandemic. Their Royal Highnesses also heard how the home has adapted to the current circumstances, including greater use of technology to allow residents to stay in touch with their families and friends.

Earlier this month, The Duke of Cambridge held calls with care workers in England and Northern Ireland. Across the calls, they discussed the unique challenges of providing care throughout the pandemic, including the impact of the last few months on the mental health and wellbeing of both those receiving care and the caregivers themselves.

On Wednesday 6th May, The Duke spoke to members of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, one of the largest integrated health and social care trusts in the UK, and heard how staff are supporting service users and the bereaved through these challenging times. Those on the video call also highlighted the unique challenges that young people in care face when schools are closed and normal life has significantly changed.

On Thursday 14th May His Royal Highness held a video call with care workers from different parts of the sector across England, including those providing care within people’s homes, personal assistance, and supported living services. The Duke heard about the measures that they have taken to ensure that they can continue to deliver care throughout the coronavirus outbreak, including by self-isolating from their own fam-

ilies. The participants discussed the impact that these measures have had on their own mental wellbeing, and the crucial need to support social care workers on the frontline of the coronavirus. His Royal Highness also heard about the work that is being carried out by The Care Workers Charity to help those across the social care sector.

During this call, The Duke said: “If there’s hopefully some positivity that comes out of this horrendous time, it is that there’s a light shone on all of the wonderful things you all do and on the social care sector, and it allows people to acknowledge, respect and appreciate everything that you are doing.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 17

UK Care Homes Face National Bed Crisis The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for investment and innovation in the UK healthcare property sector, with long-term demand due to an ageing population combined with the accelerated closure of underperforming assets leading to a national bed crisis in care homes, according to the latest research from global property adviser Knight Frank.

Knight Frank’s research identifies a potential 6,500 care homes at risk of closure over the next 5 years, equating to 140,000 beds. This shortage will be exacerbated by the increased demand for care homes by 2050, which will see a national bed crisis in the UK as the share of people over the age of 80 is expected to surge over the next 30 years, with one in ten adults set to be over 80 by 2050, compared to one in twenty currently.

Estimating that the UK requires in excess of £15 billion to upgrade existing beds in order to future-proof for the ageing population, Knight Frank states that the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated trends that will

lead to closures of care homes that are no longer fit for purpose, resulting in a significant national shortfall of bed provision.

Furthermore, the UK ranks lower than other advanced European economies for its bed provision, behind Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany, with only 13,000 elderly care beds per 100,000 people over 80. Belgium and the Netherlands have a significantly higher proportion at over 25,000 elderly care beds per 100,000 people over 80.

Julian Evans, Head of Healthcare at Knight Frank, said: “Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the outstanding collaboration between the private sector, social care sector and NHS at this time of need and the strength in controlling infection levels, it has also unfortunately highlighted the lack of investment by successive governments into the UK’s healthcare sector, and therefore the urgent need to prioritise preventative and crisis funding.

"At present, there is not enough care bed capacity and there is a structural under-provision of beds in the social care sector. The pandemic has accelerated trends to scrutinise those buildings that are not fit for purpose whilst emphasising the insufficient funding available for reinvestment into existing care homes, which has therefore expedited the number of potential care home closures. This will result in a national bed crisis unless significant inward investment in the UK care home sector is taken. Our research shows that 6,500 care homes are at risk of clo-

sure currently, which is before we take into account that the peak of demand will continue to 2050 as our population continues to age.

“Once the situation resolves around the Covid-19 pandemic, we will see a number of changes around how operators fare and we expect that with the scarcity of stock and a continuing ageing population driving demand, the investment appetite for care home developments will remain strong. There will undoubtedly be a flight to quality as investors seek defensive healthcare assets and we anticipate that investment into the sector will be robust, from a broad church of domestic and overseas investors.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has placed additional pressures on the care home market which had already seen closures due to a range of factors including the continued impact of the National Living Wage affecting an already constrained labour market and ongoing staffing challenges, with an acute shortage of qualified nurses, combined with restrained care home development owing to building material inflation costs.

Knight Frank expects that care home design will adapt to meet future virus experience and that care homes will need to innovate their operational procedures post Covid-19, including an increased use of telemedicine. It expects that there will be an accelerated closure of tertiary assets whilst due to increased smart specifications necessary for future new build care homes, the cost of raw materials will further increase.

Care Home Mobility Solution Wins £50k Grant to Fight Covid-19 Developers of a revolutionary personal electric vehicle which reduces exposure to viruses like Covid-19 have been awarded a government grant of £50,000.

The Centaur is a two-wheeled, self-balancing machine for the elderly and disabled that fits into the space of a dining chair and has a seat which rises up to eye-level.

It will eventually be rolled out into hospitals and care homes where it will eliminate the need for porters and safeguard patients and carers by limiting contact between them, stopping the spread of infections.

The Centaur is made by Centaur Robotics, which has just launched its third investment phase, offering investors up to 23 per cent of the company in return for £1.5m. The personal electric vehicle will go into production later this year.

Reduces transmission of virus About 8,600 companies entered the competition set by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. The competition was designed to encourage businesses to address issues surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.

Care homes and hospitals using the Centaur will become more productive as less time will be spent pushing patients around. The Centaur also gives care home residents greater independence and is easy to clean, further reducing the chance of disease and virus transmission.

Using revolutionary technology, the sleek and lightweight Centaur will challenge the way people think about mobility. It is operated via a small joystick on the armrest or a mobile phone app and will be built in

the UK. Low-profile, puncture-proof tyres, a tight turning circle and small footprint make small rooms and corridors easy to negotiate. The Centaur’s armrests drop down to enable it to slip under desks and tables.

Exciting times Chris Hay, managing director of Centaur Robotics, said: “This is a real vote of confidence in our technology, our vision and our team. Future investors can see that we mean business and are on track. This is an exciting time for Centaur.

“We are leading the way and we’re really pleased that our work has been recognised and rewarded by Innovate UK.” The £50,000 will be used to carry out further research into mobility within care homes and build a demonstrator based on those requirements.

Improve lives, make impact The competition’s aim was to support the development of ambitious and innovative products and services which will help society or industry during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Innovate UK Executive Chair Dr Ian Campbell, said: “The ideas we have seen can truly make a significant impact on society, improve the lives of individuals, especially those in vulnerable groups and enable innovative businesses to prosper in challenging circumstances.”

For more information visit www.centaurrobotics.com

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 19

Vulnerable People Able to See Families for First Time in Months Thanks to iPad Donations from Connect the Love A 90-year-old care home resident from Cumbria has told of her joy after being able to see her husband again after over a month thanks to the donation of iPads to care homes.

Gwenie, who is 90, hadn’t been able to see her husband Bill since the beginning of April when her care home was closed to visitors due to the coronavirus lockdown. Thanks to the donation of a second-hand iPad she can now see him and their two sons every day by video calls.

Gwenie is one of many care home residents who has been helped by Connect the Love, a new charitable initiative which connects vulnerable people to their loved ones through video calls, by donating iPads to care homes and hospitals across the country.

Connect the Love’s mission is to fight loneliness and provide a way for those most affected by isolation to see their families again. The organisation has already distributed over 45 iPads and other devices to care homes and hospitals across the country in just the first two weeks of operation, meaning residents and patients can see and speak to their loved ones for the first time in many weeks.

90-year-old Gwenie moved into St George’s Care Home just before the lockdown.

When the home had to close to visitors she desperately missed her daily visits from family but now, thanks to Connect the Love and with the help of the care home staff, the video calls have become an essential part of Gwenie and her family’s daily routine.

Gwenie says: “I speak to my husband Bill and our sons Colin and Adam on the iPad every day at 11.15. We talk about what we are doing and just have a general chat which is such a comfort. I hadn’t used an iPad before coming to the home, but it’s a great way to stay in touch with family, who can’t visit at the moment. It has been a real joy to be able to speak to them and to feel connected again.”

Sophie Fisher, a carer at St George’s Care Home, said: “Gwenie had been feeling low since moving into the home just over a month ago, but the Connect the Love iPad has helped her a lot. She now sits in the lounge with the other residents and her family have noticed the difference to her mood too since they’ve been able to speak and see her on the tablet. Having to be closed to visitors has been upsetting for all our residents, but the iPads from Connect the Love have really helped. Being able to see and speak to family has boosted the mood and wellbeing of residents at such a daunting time.”

Gwenie’s sons Colin and Adam said: “Our Skype calls have been essential to us all. To be able to talk and see Mum, when the circumstances don’t allow us to physically be there, it’s become an important part of our daily routine. Having the ability to Skype call has made this uncertain time easier on us all, we enjoy our chats and can see that Mum does too. The staff being there while she talks to us is fantastic too, as Mum interacts with them also, boosting her social interaction and being comforted when needed.”

Connect the Love was launched by Lucy Russo, who devised Connect the Love as a way to give vulnerable and digitally unconnected individuals a way to see and speak to their loved ones. Lucy has a busy day job in the venture capital sector but set up the initiative in her spare time, so moved was she by the inability for those in care homes to see their families and friends.

The charity has now received a £5,000 donation from the CareTech Foundation to fund over 100 extra devices. The Foundation has also agreed to provide wider support to the new initiative to support its development and promote its work.

Lucy Russo, who started the initiative, commented: “During this difficult time, no one should suffer from feelings of loneliness. Staying connected to my family and friends through video calls has a real positive effect on my mood, and to some extent lessens the distance between us. Through Connect the Love I'm determined to support our most vulnerable and people who have previously fallen through the gaps. The testimonials we are hearing so far show that the initiative is having a really positive effect and helping tackle a problem that existed before Covid-19. I’ve been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received to date and I hope with more support we can Connect the Love all across the country.”

Jonathan Freeman, Chief Executive of the CareTech Foundation, commented: “At such a difficult time for the care sector, people like Lucy are an inspiration to us all and the work she is doing to connect care residents with their friends and family is incredible. The CareTech Foundation is so proud to be able to be involved with Connect the Love, alongside our other support for the care sector at this incredibly difficult time.”

Donations to Connect the Love to help connect vulnerable people with their families can be made at: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charityweb/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?charityCampaignUrl=connectthelove

Newcastle Care Home Resident Receives Personalised Video from The Army

An ex-army Resident at HC-One’s Kirkwood Court care home in Newcastle has received a video message off the army, just in time for VE Day. Tommy, a Resident at Kirkwood Court, used to be a Warrant Office in the Intelligence Cor. He served 27 years in the Army with posting in Germany and Poland and he has received a general service medal for his efforts.

With VE Day approaching, a member of staff from the home who had family in the Army reached out to them with the hope that they could record a personalised video for Tommy, explaining what life is like in the Army today and what changes it has seen over the years.

Lieutenant Alex Schofield, who is current in the Light Dragoons, got back in touch with a personalised video for Tommy explaining his experiences of life in the Light Dragoons. “That’s incredible, what a lovely young gentleman to do that for me,” beamed Tommy.

Alex also went on to thank Tommy for his years of service and sent him his best wishes for the future.

Sarah, who is Head of Care at Kirkwood Court said: “We are hoping to keep in touch with Lieutenant Schofield and the possibility for a visit when the pandemic is all over.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 21

UK at Risk of Second Surge of Coronavirus Without Clarity on Test, Track and Trace Strategy Time is running out to finalise a test, track and trace strategy to avoid a potential second surge of COVID-19 cases, the NHS Confederation has warned.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the membership body has set out the concerns of health leaders of a greater risk of a second wave of infections, putting the lives of more people at risk, unless a clear strategy is in place before lockdown measures are further lifted. This strategy needs to involve local public health directors who are expert in this work, it says.

While it is welcome that the Government has announced 25,000 contact tracers have been recruited to track 10,000 new cases of coronavirus a day from 1 June, health leaders are yet to see detail on the strategy that underpins this, including how local authorities can support efforts to ensure that testing is prioritised according to local needs.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “We are 10 weeks into the pandemic and still we await a clear and supported test, track and trace strategy.

We know there is frenetic work underway to deliver this but we should not be in any doubt how crucial getting this right will be.

“The relaxation of restrictions based on scientific advice is the right approach but it must be accompanied by an effective test, track and trace strategy which enables us to monitor local spread of the disease. To achieve this we must have national, local and cross-agency involvement. Without this, we do face the risk of a second wave of infections.

“This is about saving lives and protecting the NHS: if we do not set up the right system, involving local agencies, we will put patients and NHS staff at risk.

“We are calling on the Government to produce its strategy with support from local government and public health professionals within a clear and agreed implementation plan before any further easing of the lockdown.”

Colten Care Puts The Kettle On For Families Living With Dementia

Care homes in the south raised cuppas to press for vital support during the pandemic for families living with dementia.

Residents and staff across Colten Care’s 21 homes observed safe distancing as they enjoyed Dementia UK’s virtual tea party, Time For a Cuppa Together.

Among those involved were two dementia care homes rated Outstanding by sector regulator the Care Quality Commission, Fernhill in Longham, Dorset, and Linden House in Lymington, Hampshire.

At Linden House, more than a dozen residents took part in a traditional afternoon tea with cupcakes, cake stands and tea pots, followed by dancing, in their village hall-themed room, Bucklers Hall.

On show was a giant papier mache teapot which they and staff

members had made earlier in arts and crafts sessions.

The event was so successful, the home is looking to hold a similar get-together, Tea on the Terrace, every month.

Resident Trilby Mills said: “We had a lovely afternoon. It was absolutely delightful and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.”

Fernhill raised more than £1,000 for Dementia UK on its own by combining its afternoon tea with the Marathon Challenge, a separate bid to help charities affected by the cancellation of this year’s London Marathon.

Staff and residents completed 26 activities all linked to the number 26, reflecting the 26 miles in a marathon and the date the London event would have been on – 26 April.

They sang 26 songs in 26 minutes, separated out 26 red buttons from a collection of badges, pins and broaches, and one team member, Minibus Driver Guy Shepherd, underwent a 2.6-minute shave to lose his handlebar moustache.

As well as Linden House and Fernhill, there were tea parties at Colten Care’s two other dementia care homes, St Catherines View in Winchester and The Aldbury in Poole. Several non-dementia-specific homes also took part.

Funds raised from Time for a Cuppa Together will go to support Dementia UK’s

national helpline which enables families affected by dementia to access the support of specialist Admiral Nurses.

The helpline has experienced a surge in calls during the pandemic, with many carers and people with dementia reporting that they feel overwhelmed and do not know who to turn to. The helpline is there for anyone living and supporting someone with dementia.

Colten Care’s Consultant Admiral Nurse Adam Smith said: “Families with a loved one who has dementia need support more than ever during these incredibly challenging and isolating times.

“It was lovely to see our residents and staff get behind the idea of the virtual tea party to help. It worked really well.”

Dr Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse and CEO at Dementia UK, said: “When normal support networks have closed down, our helpline nurses are imparting invaluable emotional support and practical advice.

“Colten Care’s support will allow more helpline nurses to help families through these uncertain times.”

Colten Care’s own dementia care strategy includes regular drop-in sessions with Adam and fellow Admiral Nurse Kay Gibson, support for Dementia Action Alliances in the communities served by all its 21 homes, and an ‘Ask-an-Admiral Nurse’ website – www.coltencare.co.uk/admiral-nurse.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 23

New Tool Launched to Speed Up Social Care Recruitment

A new online platform to fast-track recruitment into the adult social care sector has been launched the government has announced today.

Join Social Care is a recruitment platform that makes it easier for care providers to reach people in their local areas looking to work in the sector.

The online platform, developed and licensed from Cera Care, allows candidates to record a video interview and access free training supported by Skills for Care before starting employment.

Registered providers are then able to search for candidates in their local area, view their video interviews before starting DBS checks and training processes and make conditional offers making recruitment more streamlined during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

Minister for Care Helen Whately said: ““The dedication and commitment of care workers during this global pandemic has been an inspiration to us all. We know we need more people working in care, and lots of people are coming forwards to do just that.

“As part of our adult social care action plan, we’ve launched a new platform to accelerate recruitment and help providers find candidates in their area.

“Crucially, candidates who want to work in social care can get free training and DBS checks, as well as access to job opportunities. We want to see thousands more people taking up the chance to work in care, boosting the social care workforce in this unprecedented time.”

Free online induction training for candidates is provided by Skills for Care endorsed learning providers and will include infection prevention and control, basic life support and first aid and safeguarding adults.

School Letters Bring Joy to Care Village Residents Year six students at North Cheshire Jewish Primary School have found new ways to keep in touch with their older friends at Didsbury care village, Belong Morris Feinmann, sending residents thoughtful letters and pictures to keep spirits high during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The letters, which were delivered digitally to the village to avoid risk of handling paper copies, spread messages of reassurance and kindness, telling stories of how the children have kept positive during this challenging time, including baking with family, arts and crafts and lots of exercise in the garden.

North Cheshire Jewish Primary School is a place close to the hearts of many of Belong’s customers and carers, whose children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have attended or worked at the school at various times over the years.

The school’s connection to the care village dates back to the original Morris Feinmann

Home on the Palatine Road site, with a long history of pupils providing musical entertainment for residents. More recent trips have seen the older and younger generations enjoy afternoons filled with picnics and storytelling, where they formed crucial bonds.

Belong’s experience coordinator, Angela Luckett, said: “Speaking with the children evokes many happy emotions and memories for our residents, especially those with a personal connection to the school, and we are all thrilled this has continued throughout the lockdown. We look forward to welcoming the students back to the village in person as soon as we can.”

Amanda Becker, staff governor and teacher at North Cheshire Jewish Primary School, said: “Our school has a longstanding connection with Belong Morris Feinmann and students every year enjoy spending time with residents, sharing stories and singing songs. The letters are a great way for the children to keep in touch until we can be back together at the village again.”

Skills for Care CEO Oonagh Smyth said: “Bringing together free online training offered by our endorsed training providers and DBS checks will make it easier for hard pressed employers to fill gaps in their workforce to help keep the people they work with safe and well.

“It’s critical all new recruits get high quality induction training from our endorsed providers to take on their new roles in what is an incredibly challenging time for all our sector’s employers, and they can also access other practical tools via our website.”

As part of the recruitment process candidates will undertake preemployment checks to help fast-track the recruitment process for employers. Providers can start the DBS checking process as soon as they have identified a potential employee and looked at their video interview.

This is part of the government's ongoing social care action plan to ensure the sector has the resources it needs during the coronavirus pandemic.

There are currently around 122,000 vacancies in the sector and the government launched their adult social care recruitment campaign in April to attract thousands of people into care roles by July to help the fight against coronavirus.

New Health Check Station A new product has been released to help check individuals’ temperatures as they enter a public space.

The Health Check Station by Contour Heating has been designed to help control the spread of infection in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Manufactured from mild steel with a BioCote® anti-microbial powder coating, The Health Check Station has been designed with safety and efficiency in mind. A durable Perspex screen with a small cut out provides the user with a safe means of checking employee and visitor temperature upon arrival.

With a letterbox-style slot for documentation (such as registers and time-sheets) and informative signage to help reinforce key messages in relation to government guidelines, The Health Check Station can be used in offices, factories, retail units, public buildings, schools and much more.

The Health Check Station is available directly from Contour Heating. Call +44 (0) 1952 290 498 to find out more or head over to www.contourheating.co.uk.

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

Maintain Team Communication Now to Gain the Edge

By Heidi Birkin, Head of Marketing UK & EMEA at Deputy (www.deputy.com)

Businesses that prepare now are more likely to survive than the ones who don't. Those that think they can simply recommence trading when the lockdown ends, picking up where they left off, will face considerable challenges – not least with staffing.

Maintaining good communication with your team, particularly those currently on furlough, or self-isolating or shielding, is vital. Doing so will help you to hit the ground running once it’s clear when some degree of

normal business can resume.

This may sound straightforward, but it’s important to keep team communication as simple and engaging as possible. Our phones are key to this. The vast majority of workers in the hospitality industry own a smartphone and are totally comfortable using apps. Employees don’t want to have to check email or look out for phone calls, texts, WhatsApp or Facebook messages from their boss. And given the social nature of working in a bar, they probably want to hear how all their colleagues are getting on at this time. The ideal scenario is therefore to have access to one dedicated app for everything work-related – this includes all communication with their employer and team in one place.

Workforce management apps, which are typically used for scheduling and managing shifts, as well as streamlining payroll, calculating holiday allowance and ensuring compliance, continue to play a very important role at this time. Whilst at Deputy we’ve seen first-hand the huge decrease in staff shifts scheduled in the hospitality industry, we’ve also seen an increase in the use of our app for communication and collaboration. When situations are changing quickly, it’s crucial to have a central noticeboard that keeps everyone in the loop. In addition, businesses are changing shift patterns to accommodate social distancing (less staff per shift, longer operating hours and staggered start, finish and break times) or a pivot in their business model (such as moving to delivery, and click & collect or take-out services) all which have an implication on working hours and roles. With a workforce management app, you can quickly adapt to new working patterns and job types so you can get the right number of people at the right time. And continue to do as conditions evolve.

A ‘newsfeed’ feature, much like that on a social network but within a workforce management app, is not only a great way to keep in touch with all of your team about latest developments, it’s also a great way to collaborate and share resources during this time. For example, it’s easy to post and watch videos all through the app, allowing you to record updates or post training videos, helping staff maintain knowledge and build new skills (albeit not setting mandatory work tasks for those who are furloughed). Teams are more informed and connected with newsfeeds and staff can share updates, comment, collaborate, and reach out with questions. It's important to remember that in the workplace good communication isn’t one directional – ensuring staff can talk to their manager and to each other is also vital to maintaining connectivity and building enthusiasm, ready for reopening. Perhaps you’ve managed to adapt your business, but have still needed to furlough several of your team – how are you maintaining your culture and keeping them plugged into what’s happening?

This is an incredibly testing time, but from a technology perspective it’s a great opportunity to get up to speed on new innovation, such as ‘touchless clock-in’ launched in response to the pandemic, and the latest PoS, accounting and staff management tools. There is a fantastic tech ecosystem now available with many of these services now seamlessly integrating, helping businesses improve productivity. One example would be leveraging key demand signals such as sales or bookings data to help with labour planning. Looking for easily adoptable and affordable apps that help you to make your staff’s lives that bit easier right now, as well as help you plan a brilliantly efficient business of the future, is a win-win.

Kendal Care Home Residents Receive ‘HeartWarming’ Donations from Local Community Residents at HC-One’s Summerhill care home in Kendal were the recipients of some generous donations from their local community.

Hayes Garden World in Ambleside kindly delivered a huge number of floral gifts to the home including; bulbs, orchids and bedding plants. The gifts were delivered

by Hayes Garden World to help lift the spirits of Residents and staff in the home as they have been going through a tough time recently The bulbs helped with the Residents wellbeing and mood as it meant they engaged with the beautiful outdoor environment at Summerhill care home. Some Residents enjoyed planting some bulbs in the sun and making a lovely display, whereas some were overjoyed to have a fresh plant in their room to improve their environment.

One Summerhill Resident said: “Planting the bulbs was lovely and it was nice to know they’d been donated locally, it was a lovely change and just what we needed at this time.”

Summerhill Residents were also gifted clothes bags by a local community artist, Lana Grindley who runs Love Art, to help them with storage and taking their belongings to and from the home.

Sarah Nelson from Grasmere Gingerbread shop in Kendal also joined in with the community spirit as she kindly donated lots of lovely gingerbreads so the Residents and staff can enjoy them with a cup of tea or coffee.

The acts of generosity and humanity shown across the whole country during the lockdown has been amazing and the Residents and staff at Summerhill are so grateful for what people in their local community have done for them during this time.

Summerhill Home Manager Kathleen Dean said: “The acts of kindness people have shown across the whole community has been lovely and this donation was very heart-warming, the feeling of the community coming together is amazing.”

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 27

Care Providers Get Free Access to Mental Health Apps for Insomnia And Anxiety All staff and volunteers within adult social care providers can now access free apps to cope with insomnia and anxiety as part of a nationwide effort to help ‘care for our carers’ and support the mental health of the social care workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health technology specialists Big Health and the Care Provider Alliance, the voice of England’s care providers, have today [19 May] announced a partnership to provide all 1.6 million members of the alliance and volunteers with evidence-based digital programmes to protect and support their mental health during the COVID-19 crisis. The digital programmes are designed to help maintain healthy and restorative sleep, reduce anxiety and worry, and to help them learn evidencebased techniques to address mental health issues when they arise.

The NHS-accredited apps Daylight – designed to help with worry and anxiety – and Sleepio – a digital sleep improvement programme, both featuring Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques – have been developed by digital therapeutics company Big Health. This partnership

builds on a recent announcement by NHS England to provide free access to Daylight and Sleepio to all NHS staff.

Following the recent news that a third of all coronavirus deaths in England are now happening in care homes, staff across the social care sector are being placed under enormous pressure to limit the spread of the virus, arrange intensive care for residents and cope with the loss of more occupants than usual, all whilst continuing to carry out their care responsibilities.

Big Health co-founder and Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Oxford, Professor Colin Espie, has praised the Care Provider Alliance for its commitment to protecting the mental health of care staff and volunteers during the pandemic.

Commenting on Big Health’s partnership with the Care Provider Alliance, Professor Espie said: “I’m honoured that Big Health is able to partner with the Care Provider Alliance to support our colleagues and volunteers in the social care sector to help protect their mental health during these most challenging of times. With the whole care sector being so valuable to the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 across the country, we recognise these staff are under enormous pressure whilst also experiencing significant changes to their lives at home as a result of COVID-19. We built Sleepio and Daylight to help people effectively manage their mental health whether the challenges occur during the night, or day, round the clock.”

Lisa Lenton, Care Provider Alliance Chair, added: “We are delighted to partner with Big Health to help support the mental health of our key workers. Facing challenges such as a lack of

PPE and concerns about their own personal health, care staff are under extraordinary pressure to deliver their services and keep people safe in these times. At the same time our colleagues are also managing their own personal lives, so it is vital they have the right support and resources to keep them mentally healthy. The evidence-based techniques Sleepio and Daylight offer will give our key workers instant access to the vital support they need so they can continue to deliver their high quality care services as well as manage any stress they may be experiencing in their personal lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Nicholas Kelly, Co-founder and CEO of Axela Innovations – a service provider member of one of the Care Provider Alliance’s 10 national bodies – said: “Sleepio and Daylight are tools put together by experts that offer a variety of techniques to help people get to grips with poor sleep, negative thinking and worry. We feel that these programmes will provide a tangible benefit for our staff, to make them feel heard, that we understand their fears and that we’re giving them mechanisms to help them cope with their worries and issues around sleep patterns. We genuinely expect this to make a big difference to morale.”

Sleepio and Daylight are available at no cost to all members and volunteers of the Care Provider Alliance to support their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. These solutions aim to support staff to maintain healthy and restorative sleep, reduce anxiety and worry, and to help them learn evidence-based techniques to address mental health issues when they arise.

Talent Contest Lifts Spirits Amid Coronavirus Crisis Care provider, Heathcotes Group, has been helping to keep its service users engaged during lockdown with a talent contest inviting their services to show off their creative abilities.

Fifteen services took up the invitation to enter Heathcotes’s Got Talent, which showed off a fantastic mix of artistic styles recorded on audio and video, including choreographed dancing, drawing, rapping, Elvis impersonations and a COVID-19-themed dance mix. Many of the entries promoted an uplifting message expressing positivity and solidarity in dealing with the coronavirus crisis whilst thanking the UK’s courageous key workers in the NHS and social care.

Gemma Hollingsworth, Director of Operations (North) said: “All the entries had plenty to admire and it was difficult to pick out winners. We ended up choosing four winners and all the other services received certificates of commendation. They certainly showed that they’ve got talent and they put a big smile on our face!

“COVID-19 has impacted many people’s mental health and the pandem-

ic has been an enormous challenge for a care provider that support adults with learning disabilities and complex mental health needs. The response from our staff has been amazing – our services nationwide have been coming up with all kinds of creative ways to lift spirits, keep our service users occupied and help them cope with the disruption. We’ve seen baking contests, photo shoots, rainbow-themed parties, art galleries, newsletters, garden makeovers and numerous other activities and events.”

Natalia Lysiuk, Director of Business Development, said: “Under immense pressure, our Support Workers, Team Leaders and Service Managers have shown unwavering commitment in support of some of the most vulnerable people in society, at a time when they need that support more than ever. We are incredibly proud of their work and the difference that they’re making. We’re also proud of our service users – their spirit and resilience have been incredible during such a difficult time for everyone.”

PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

Care Home Owner Mourning COVID-19 Deaths Warns Sector Faces Collapse A care home owner mourning the loss of 19 residents to Covid-19 is suffering financial losses of £15,000 a week and fears many care homes will not survive.

Brian Rosenberg, who owns Tregwilym Lodge Nursing and Residential Home in Rogerstone, Newport, is backing calls from Care Forum Wales for a public inquiry into the Welsh Government’s handling of the pandemic and says an urgent national plan is needed to ensure the future survival of the sector.

Mr Rosenberg, who has owned Tregwilym since 1985, said the home had lost at least 19 residents to the disease – 12 over the Easter period.

Many of these remain unconfirmed cases as staff could only arrange testing for seven residents – one of the tests was lost and the result never back.

Meanwhile, staff absence also soared as 15 staff tested positive or showed symptoms while 14 others were unable to work because they were pregnant, had health issues of their own or had a member of the family who was shielding while one member of staff had been unable to return from Ghana.

On top of the huge emotional toll of the losses on staff, the 74-bed home is also grappling with £15,000 losses per week from having 20 vacancies and spiralling staff and PPE expenditure. Two months into the crisis, it has yet to receive any additional funding to cover the extra costs although a payment was expected soon.

Mr Rosenberg said: “Care homes felt completely abandoned.

“It’s appalling - the staff have suffered badly. It’s even worse when you have got undertakers so overwhelmed with work they are slow to remove people.

“I feel deeply sorry for the relatives. How horrible to know your next of kin has passed away and you cannot even be there in their last moments.

“This is not like any other business. Care homes run around the clock,

it’s a 365-day service, and you’re dealing with human beings and lives.

“I take the responsibility very, very seriously. These people are in my charge.

“The complete mishandling of the situation amazes me. A pandemic of this nature is very difficult for businesses to absorb and survive. There are a lot of care homes which are very close to going bust. That’s a fact.

“I’ve always run my business on the basis of preparing for a rainy day.

Fortunately, I have a strong management team in there and they were able to cope better than a lot of people because they are highly skilled at what they do.

“As a businessman in other sectors too, I would say the care home structure is pathetic in terms of the way it is funded, controlled and regulated.

“The people who are controlling the way care homes operate don’t have a clue.”

The home, which employs 110 staff, closed its doors to visitors on March 14 and saw its first case of Covid-19 around a week later. From then, it spread quickly and staff implemented isolation strategies.

“The worst time for us was at Easter and you just can’t describe it,” explained Mr Rosenberg.

“I think in the space of just over a week we lost 12 people. During this period, we were also losing staff to sickness and agencies refused to supply replacements because we were considered too high-risk.

“We cannot say categorically it came from hospital. In all fairness, we have 110 staff and they are coming in and out of the home. The testing just wasn’t in place. We were relying on the fact that they were showing symptoms.”

Mr Rosenberg is supporting the call from Care Forum Wales for a public inquiry into the management of the crisis including the lack of testing in the beginning, the inaccessibility and cost of PPE and the absence of financial support to safeguard the sector.

“Someone has to take responsibility for the failings,” he said.

“There’s an old saying that you should judge a country by the way in which it treats its elderly. I don’t think we come up with a very good score.

“It would be extremely difficult to make any prosecution for corporate manslaughter stick but the evidence has got to emerge. That’s a judgement call for others to make in due course but CFW is absolutely right – there has to be a national plan, there has to be a national debate and

there has to be a public inquiry.

“I cannot think of any area in the country that has the public funding that’s sufficient to operate these care homes and show a return that makes it a sensible business.

“In a nutshell, the way in which it’s currently run through local authorities is bloated, wasteful and fragmented.

“This country needs a viable care sector but that’s not going to happen unless we start changing the way care homes are funded and operated. There’s aspiration to raise standards but there’s no aspiration to fund the costs that go with that.

“Our local Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has been superb but at the end of the day they are hamstrung because of the attitude of the Welsh Government.”

According to Care Forum Wales, care homes are being hit by a double whammy of soaring costs and falling occupancy levels.

Chair Mario Kreft MBE said: “This is a crisis that cannot be brushed under the carpet. Without a national plan to protect the future of our care homes and domiciliary providers, the sector will undoubtedly collapse and then our NHS really will be overwhelmed.

“We have grave concerns at the way this pandemic has been handled and the tragic costs of these decisions on human lives. Clearly, questions must be answered and responsibility accepted.

“Right now, there are care homes in Wales that are a hair’s breadth from ruin which need urgent help and financial support. They are suffering under a lottery system which delivers vast variations in support geographically. That system has to change.”

Most staff have now returned to duty at Tregwilym except for a handful of employees who are shielding due to health conditions.

The home is currently in the process of applying for funding to cover additional expenditure and hopes to be ready to admit new residents in a fortnight after no further cases.

“I doubt it will cover all the costs,” said Mr Rosenberg.

“We’ve altered the building and have isolated one floor as well as concentrating our staff in particular areas to make it easier for them to be safe and functionally more effective.

“We’re also using the opportunity to upgrade some of the areas with minor building works. Then we’ll readmit.

“The staff have done a lot of extra work and have been superb.

They’ve helped bring us through.”

New Information Pack Supports GPs in Best Practice Treatment of Constipation Independent clinical and patient organisation, The Bowel Interest Group (BIG), has published a new information pack for General Practices on managing chronic constipation through key therapeutic stages, ensuring that patients are not left for long periods with treatments that are not working.

Constipation (and its frequent companion symptom – faecal incontinence) ruins lives. Yet the condition is still under-managed in the National Health Service, despite some fundamentally important foundation work1.

In particular, survey work with GPs, conducted by BIG in 2019, has revealed that supporting materials for healthcare professionals at the primary level on constipation management are scant, and are one of the key resources sought by GPs. Most of these patients are treated empirically with laxatives, with little subtlety of which agent suits the individual patient’s symptoms. Respondents to the survey said they would welcome useful resources on the issue. This new document is one step in redressing that balance.

Poor bowel health and chronic constipation is debilitating for hundreds and thousands of people in the UK. In 2017/18, it cost the NHS £162 million in constipation treatment, of which £71 million was caused by unplanned, avoidable emergency admissions, and £91 million by

spending on prescription laxatives .

The newly published information pack - Dealing with Chronic Constipation, Information for General Practitioners - summarises key research on constipation and treatment options and combines them into a simple diagram to help provide a best practice pathway for general practice in its recognition, treatment and point of escalation of the available therapies for chronic constipation.

Professor Anton Emmanuel, Consultant Gastroenterologist at UCLH and the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, lead the compilation of the new information pack. He notes, “Many Trusts have now created, or are developing, dedicated bowel management pathways based on NICE guidance, and are already experiencing the resulting improved patient outcomes. BIG have created a management pathway based on the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary. This document is aimed at all clinicians, specialist care professionals, general practitioners and commissioners to help understand the rationale and positioning of this therapy that can have a profoundly positive effect on people’s health, quality of life, dignity and requirement for healthcare.”

Charity Reveals the Best MP3 Music Players to Help People Living with Dementia and Their Families Connect During Lockdown Leading music and dementia charity, Playlist for Life, has revealed the top three MP3 music players as tested by people with dementia and their families. The charity is encouraging family members to send music players loaded with personal playlists to support their loved ones under lockdown.

More than two decades of research at Stanford university showing that ‘personal music’ – the specific tunes attached to someone’s emotions that spark memories – can help those living with dementia by alleviating stress, managing symptoms and strengthening relationships with family members and carers.

The new MP3 user research, conducted by Playlist for Life in November and December 2019 with funding support from The Life Changes Trust, tested three MP3 players with a user group of 29 people living with dementia and their carers. The suggested players have been selected on the basis of accessible design, low cost and availability. All three MP3 players retail between £15 and £70 and are commonly available from Argos and Amazon.

Sarah Metcalfe, Chief Executive of Playlist for Life, said: ‘Lockdown is proving particularly hard for people living with dementia and many families are desperate for ways to support their loved ones.'

'We recommend everyone make a playlist of someone’s special tunes, download the playlist onto an MP3 player and post it to their loved one. They can listen at home to manage stress, engage their brain and lift their mood. This is a cheap and easy way to connect with loved ones during a period when physical contact is not possible’

While the user-testing was intended to examine people’s experiences with the technology rather than the music itself, the results also suggested that removing the burden of setting up technology and encouraging the use of the MP3 player could result in significant use: 92% of participants in the testing used their playlist a few times a week and 28% at least once a day.

One participant involved in the user-testing, who cares for their

spouse at home, said: ‘Using the MP3 player completely uplifts her. I use it to get her to walk around the house when she’s struggling with her mobility. The music just gets her going.’

Staff at Playlist for Life have been working remotely with care homes and family members of those living with dementia to provide music players to those who could benefit during lockdown.

A care home manager who worked with Playlist for Life said: 'The MP3 player was an amazing success with Billy, He walked everywhere listening to it and the song choices were obviously a hit as he was beaming and several of the staff commented on his reaction to it, it really seemed to focus him… really put him in a happy bubble.

We’re also working through the rest of the residents forming them a playlist for life due to its positive effects on Billy.'

The three MP3 players recommended by the report are: Bush 4GB MP3 Player (£14.99 from Argos), Bush 8GB MP3 Player with Display (£29.99 from Argos) and the Solo USB Personal Audio MP3 Player (£66.65 from Kings Access Technology), which was particularly recommended for those with visual impairments.

During lockdown Playlist for Life have launched a wider campaign encouraging everyone to connect through music. Advice for family members, carers and anyone looking for more guidance on the benefits of music for those living with dementia can be found at www.playlistforlife.org.uk. Guidance on using MP3 players can be found at www.playlistforlife.org.uk/downloading-music/ and the whole report is available to read at www.playlistforlife.org.uk/musiclabsmp3/.

stop the spread of Covid-19

Traditional sanitisers only kill germs at the moment of use so as soon as contact is made with another contaminated surface your protection has gone. OneSpray sanitisers powered by Zoono techology provide antiviral protection for your Staff and Residents up to 24 hours on skin and up to 30 days on all surfaces.

The Products

The Technology

OneSpray sanitisers significantly reduces the spread of harmful bacteria, viruses (including coronavirus), fungi, mould and yeast.

The revolutionary technology lasts up to 30 days on surfaces and up to 24 hours on skin.

OneSpray incorporates Zoono technology a mono-molecular layer of antimicrobial, silane based polymers that form a barrier of positively charged microscopic ‘pins’ on the surface. These positively charged ‘pins’ attract and pierce the negatively charged pathogens.

The ‘pins’ rupture the cell walls and this causes the pathogen to break up with lethal effect.

Plus the long-lasting bonding capabilities mean it doesn’t wash off so you can repeatedly wash your hands and wipe surfaces down without reducing its efficacy.

DERMATOLOGICALLY TESTED ULTRA GENTLE

ENVIROMENTALLY FRIENDLY

LEAVES BEHIND AN INVISIBLE MICROBIAL SHIELD

ENVIROMENTALLY FRIENDLY

LASTS ALL DAY ON SKIN DOESN’T WASH OFF NO HARMFUL CHEMICALS

PROTECTS FOR UP TO 30 DAYS PROVEN AGAINST BACTERIA, FUNGI AND VIRUSES NO HARMFUL CHEMICALS

One application of OneSpray Hand Sanitiser in the morning provides an antibacterial protective layer all day so you can relax, knowing you’re protected.

Using OneSpray after you clean gives you germ-free surfaces door handles, light switches etc. for up to 30 days.

When applied to a surface, OneSpray leaves behind a mono molecular layer that permanently bonds to the surface, Routine cleaning or handwashing does not disrupt the molecule or its antimicrobial activity.

OneSpray is water based, alcohol free and free from dangerous chemicals.

This is truly the next generation of antimicrobial technology.

Zoono has over 150 worldwide laboratory testing reports supporting the efficacy of their products.

MECHANICAL DISRUPTION OF PATHOGENS NOT DEHYDRATION OR CHEMICAL POISONING PROVEN EFFECTIVE FOR UP TO 24 HOURS ON SKIN

PROVEN EFFECTIVE FOR UP TO 30 DAYS ON SURFACES ENVIROMENTALLY FRIENDLY

PREVENTS MUTATION ( SUPERBUGS)

ZOONO TECHNOLOGY

R

SUPPORTED BY 150+ LABOROTARY TESTS

PURIFIED DEIONIZED WATER AND AN ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOUND

OneSpray is successfully used in London Underground, Network Rail, Offices, Vehicles, Shipping, Care Homes and Hospitals in fact anywhere where there is a risk of infection.

To find out more about how OneSpray can help your Home in the fight against Covid-19 and a host of other harmful pathogens call 020 340 41521 now or email carehomes@onespray.com

www.onespray.com

OneSpray Ltd. Abacus House, 14-18 Forest Road, Loughton, Essex. IG10 1DX

tel: 03300 577148 email carehomes@onespray.com

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Handwashing Gadget Launches To Help Care Homes

A motion-sensing gadget is launching to help and encourage better hand washing habits.

Wavewash can be fitted above sinks in any business, home, or healthcare premises, reminding people to wash their hands more thoroughly and helping them to achieve a 20 second wash every time.

Wavewash is intended for use in a wide range of businesses to help staff, customers or patients to wash their hands more thoroughly and meet their obligations under government guidelines. The product can also be especially useful in healthcare premises such as care homes where hygiene is crucial.

Once activated with a wave of the hand, Wavewash begins a light-up timer to indicate how long a person should continue washing their hands.

The 20 second timer gives users a clear indication of how long they need to wash, as recommended by the NHS and the government.

Under the government’s recently published COVID-19 guidance for employers (www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplaceduring-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance), employers should advise workers to regularly wash their hands for 20 seconds and they should consider providing any additional facilities needed to do so.

To help healthcare providers such as care homes to protect patients and staff from coronavirus, 100 Wavewash units are being offered to selected organisations in the sector, free of charge.

As well as being used in healthcare premises, Wavewash can be used in the toilets of pubs, cafes and restaurants to improve hygiene and reduce the spread of germs and viruses. It can also be used by businesses involved in food processing and preparation, where hand hygiene is essential.

Health authorities around the world, including Public Health England and the NHS recommend that everyone should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water to easily and effectively kill the

microorganisms which can cause illness, including COVID-19 coronavirus.

Wavewash partner, Martin Hurworth said: “Health authorities around the world are urging us to wash our hands for 20 second using soap and water every time as it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways we can avoid getting sick and spreading germs and viruses to others.

“Unfortunately, accurately counting to 20 seconds is actually pretty hard, even if you sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice and lots of people cut corners and forget to wash their hands for that long… and, of course, some people overlook washing their hands completely, which is disgusting.

“Wavewash aims to solve all of these problems. It’s a smart but noticeable device which reminds people to wash their hands better and helps them to do it.

“Telling people to wash their hands more thoroughly can work, but positive reinforcement, timely reminders and a little help can work so much better at nudging us into doing the right thing. I believe that Wavewash can make a real difference in getting everyone to wash their hands properly, helping to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses” The device has been designed to help all businesses, including those in healthcare to comply with governmental guidelines for hygiene and for the prevention and control of infections. As a result, Wavewash is intended to play a major role in helping businesses to prepare for life after the nationwide lockdown comes to an end, when good hand hygiene is expected to be crucial.

As part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s social distancing guidelines (www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-inthe-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance), every business is expected to advise workers to wash their hands using soap and water for 20 seconds regularly, and should consider providing additional facilities to help with this. Wavewash can help companies towards fulfill-

ing these requirements, reminding workers to wash their hands thoroughly and helping them to wash for 20 seconds every time.

Wavewash’s smart design and simple interface also makes it ideal for the home, helping parents and children to clean their hands and keep one another safe.

Wavewash has been developed by a team of British engineers who were inspired after speaking to doctors and nurses about the problems caused by people failing to properly wash their hands in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

The gadget is a simple tech solution which works using a non-contact sensor, so there’s no need to touch the device at all. It can also be fitted to virtually any surface using screws or a self-adhesive pad which are included and its smooth surface avoids the build-up of dirt and germs.

While washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is advised by the NHS (www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-towash-your-hands), Public Health England (www.gov.uk/government/news/public-information-campaign-focuseson-handwashing) and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html). Studies have shown that a 20-second hand wash with liquid soap is enough to effectively remove dirt, organic matter and most transient microorganisms which are acquired through direct contact with a person and from the environment.

Hand washing can minimise the spread of illnesses including influenza (annals.org/aim/fullarticle/744899/facemasks-hand-hygiene-preventinfluenza-transmission-households-cluster-randomized-trial), diarrhea and respiratory infections, and governments around the world recommend it as a central part of their advice to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) (www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/). Hand washing also reduces the risk of food poisoning (www.nhs.uk/livewell/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands).

However, recent studies have suggested that just 5% of people wash their hands for long enough (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23621052), with the average wash lasting only six seconds.

Wavewash is inspired by the ‘nudge theory’ of behavioural science which is widely used by governments and public health bodies. The concept is that individuals are more likely to make particular choices or behave in a certain way if they are positively encouraged and supported to make it through indirect suggestions, rather than coercion or education.

The makers of Wavewash hope that the device will lead to more people thoroughly washing their hands in future, helping to make 20 secondlong hand washing a permanent habit.

Wavewash is available for purchase now. Visit www.wavewash.co.uk for more information or call 01603 343 727.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 27

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Free Coronavirus Awareness Face Shields In Stock Now Video by iHASCO iHASCO , a market-leading provider of workplace eLearning, have released a free Coronavirus awareness video to help offer organisations and the general public practical advice on what Coronavirus is, how to reduce the risk of the virus spreading and what to do if you’re showing symptoms. This free resource is for anyone wishing to find out more about Coronavirus and how to minimise its impact. Employers can now, in under 10 minutes, provide a short video to all of their employees, spread awareness and help them understand best hygiene practices.

Access the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJrpfmnOnpc or visit the free resource page on the iHASCO website at www.ihasco.co.uk/blog/entry/2716/covid-19.

The free video contains information gathered from the NHS, the Direct Gov website, The World Health Organization, and it also includes a few useful tips from iHASCO’s Infection Prevention & Control course.

As a leading provider of online Health & Safety, HR and Business Compliance training, iHASCO offers quality online training courses to over 10,000 UK businesses. With this in mind iHASCO felt it their duty to share this information in a short video.

Face Shields are now in full production and available for delivery from Numatic International, home of the famous Henry vacuum.

Manufactured in the UK, the Face Shield offers a simple, comfortable and reusable solution. We are prioritising dispatch of these Face Shields to Healthcare settings, including Care Homes.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have urgently re-tasked our Design & Manufacturing Teams to deliver a Non-profit PPE initiative, supplying PPE to those that need it as quickly as possible.

For more information and to order: Call: 01460 269270 Email: PPE@numatic.co.uk Visit: www.numaticsupport.com/faceshield

“Being Health & Safety training experts, we have a duty to play our part in raising awareness to help reduce the risk of infection spread and keep people safe,” says Nathan Pitman, Director at iHASCO. “We know how to source quality information and present it in an engaging way to ensure the learner takes away the key points. Rather than focus on panic and frightening news headlines we want to provide information that is of use and provide practical steps organisations and the general public can digest, despite the uncertainty of things to come.

Visit www.ihasco.co.uk for further information.

Fight Back Against Bacteria and Viruses If the global COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's that good personal and environmental hygiene and a deeper understanding of cleaning procedures is of the utmost importance in controlling the spread of pathogens.

We know that having a thorough cleaning regime and the right cleaning equipment is important but how do you know which equipment is right and what a thorough clean actually is?

Understanding more about the potential pathogens is a good place to start. Firstly, do you know what the difference is between antibacterial and antimicrobial? An antimicrobial agent protects against various types of microbes, including bacteria, viruses, mould and fungi, whereas an antibacterial specifically protects against bacteria.

Knowing which products are best to use alongside chemicals, as manual cleaning is still vital, is also key.

Some pathogens survive in different

conditions for different lengths of time and variations in temperature.

For example, did you know, MRSA can survive up to 8 weeks on a mop head and 7 months on dust?

Listeria Monocytogenes, (aka Listeria) which is known to cause fever, diarrhoea and can even affect your nervous system, is what is known as a resilient bacterium.

That means it can harbour on seemingly clean surfaces and create a protective biofilm over itself that chemicals alone cannot remove. This is where the right cleaning equipment comes into play.

Using a high-quality brush alongside the correct chemicals when cleaning will allow filaments to get into the crevices where bacteria may be harbouring and clean it away, creating a hygienic surface.

For more information about the highest quality, anti-microbial brushes available for the job, visit https://bit.ly/39oRq5r or call +44 (0)17 4786 0494

Proven Technology Offers Greater Protection for Staff and Residents Against Covid-19

Care Homes are having to work around the clock to ensure their facilities are as clean and infection-free as possible, to try and prevent Covid-19 (and multiple other viruses and harmful bacteria) from entering their facility in the first place or containing it once it does.

However, routine cleaning and disinfection, even with the use of other hand sanitisers and antibacterial surface cleaners, only sanitises the individual or surface for that moment in time, i.e. as soon as contact is made with an infected surface or introduced from the outside, the area or the person is no longer safe.

In the tight confines of a Care Home, supporting one of the most vulnerable groups, cross infection via surface contamination is a major challenge. The transient nature of current cleaning regimes will always prove challenging, particularly as over 80% of germs are spread by hands.

Now a proven, independently accredited technology that offers a protective barrier wherever there is a risk of infection is at the forefront of preventing and protecting against the spread of Covid-19.

Once applied it stays active, providing up to 30 days protection on surfaces and 24 hours on the skin. In a

Care Home, this can dramatically reduce the chances of encountering a crisis by reducing the spread of dangerous pathogens either by hand or touch.

OneSpray’s Hand Sanitiser offers 24 hours protection with one application, contains no alcohol, is ultragentle on the skin and won’t wash off during normal daily washing. This means it is very economical to use versus alcohol-based sanitisers, given that typically one person will apply those sanitisers up to 10 times per day.

OneSpray’s Surface Sanitiser offers protection on nearly all surfaces including door handles, desks, door entry systems and keypads, touchscreens, phones, kitchens and taps. A single application forms an invisible barrier over the surface that lasts up to 30 days and will not wash off so normal, daily cleaning can continue.

OneSpray products incorporate Zoono technology, world leaders in antimicrobial protection. Over 150 worldwide laboratory testing reports support the efficacy of their products.

In earlier trials for London Underground a treated train came back 99.9% clear after 28 days of uninterrupted service.

OneSpray is offering a Starter Outbreak-Prevention Package, specifically for Care Homes. It consists of a 5-litre Hand Sanitiser with two 1-litre dispensers, plus a 5-litre Surface Cleaner with two 500ml spray bottles.

For more information contact 07811113108 or email russell@onespray.com or see the advert on page 8.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 33

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

Haigh Engineering Resident and patient waste is a day to day practical matter that simply cannot become a problem for frontline carers and nursing staff.

With the raised awareness of cross infection risks, the proven reliable waste disposal systems from Haigh are recognised more than ever as being a key part of the toolkit for ensuring that human waste is effectively and efficiently removed as a source of risk, day in day out, without the risks and complications of either washing pots or manual bagging waste for collection.

The team from Haigh have been working hard to support this beyond just the manufacture of the

Incomaster and Quattro waste disposers here in the UK, but also developing innovative and safe methods to enhance the servicing provisions that are available to customers.

The recently launched all-inclusive rental proposition has proven particularly effective and popular with new and existing customers alike, not least as it reduces the operational, maintenance and financing headaches from sites which have more critical matters to address.

For more information about incontinence and bedpan waste disposal please feel free to contact the Haigh team on 01989 763131 or info@haigh.co.uk

Reduce Cross-Infection with Dorgard

As a measure to reduce the risk of cross infection care settings may introduce increased cleaning routines, but managing this with the increased workload can be difficult and easily overlooked. Preventing cross infection amongst residents and staff in care and nursing homes has never been more important. Staff may be concerned that contact with door handles and hand plates could increase the risk of spreading the coronavirus and finding a legal solution to hold your fire door open has never been more pressing than now.

Dorgard Original and Dorgard SmartSound can offer you a quick and cost effective solution to this pressing dilemma. They can be fitted to your existing fire doors by your own handyman in around ten minutes, providing you with an effective solution to reduce the risks of cross infection. Once fitted, these fire door holders will hold

your fire door in the open position with the help of a foot plunger. The devices will constantly ‘listen’ for the sound of your fire alarm and on hearing it the Dorgard will automatically lift the plunger and allow the door closer, fitted as standard to all fire doors, to close the door, ensuring fire safety is maintained.

By holding fire doors open in this way you remove the need for your staff to touch door handles and hand plates, reducing the risk of germs and viruses spreading. You can programme the Dorgard to automatically close at night should you require this.

If you would like to know more about how Dorgard can help you meet your legal fire safety requirements and reduce the risk of cross infection, call our customer care team today 0800 612 6537 or visit www.safelincs.co.uk or see the advert on page 18.

How Best To Assist With Limiting The Transmission Of Airborne Viruses Care homes and hospitals have been of particular focus in the news recently and how best to assist with limiting the transmission of airborne viruses within these establishments.

This is part of the greater discussion around Indoor Air Quality and how we can protect people who are working, studying or being cared for in increasingly airtight buildings for the majority of their day.

Humidity control as part of the Indoor Air Quality discussion is very much part of the debate as we try to replicate good quality fresh air in our homes and buildings irrespective of the outside air quality, whilst being conscious of energy usage which could put greater pressure on climate change.

The benefits of humidity control are well documented - creating a more comfortable condition, adding to thermal comfort and importantly reducing the transmission of bacteria and viruses.

Scientific data does show that to maintain a humidity of 50%rh will reduce the transmission of viruses by keeping the bodies defence mechanism (mucus membrane in the nose and throat) moist and able to capture airborne bacteria and virus before it enters the body.

Maintaining a relative humidity (RH) between 30-60% has been shown to influence the survivorship of viruses and reduce the transmission and infectiousness of viral diseases.

More recent studies have taken aim at the influence of relative humidity (RH) on specific families of viruses,

• While coronaviruses are durable on surfaces relative to influenza viruses, survival rates are reduced at moderate RH of 50%. (Casanova et al., 2010) • The infectiousness of airborne influenza viruses was significantly reduced when RH was above 40% (Noti et al., 2013) • Humidification in homes can reduce survival of influenza and promote recovery, by improving restfulness, in sick individuals (Myatt et al., 2010) • Maintaining 40-45% RH in hospitals reduced perceived air dryness and airway symptoms of patients and hospital staff (Nordström et al., 1994).

Figure 1: Effect of pathogens, microbes, and environmental contaminants on human beings. From Sterling et al. (1985).

like influenza and coronavirus. These studies focus on the observed survival on surfaces and in the air column, and the rates of infection under different environmental conditions. Below we outline key findings from commonly referenced or recent studies. Links to the studies are posted as well.

• Maintaining an indoor relative humidity between 40%60% may help to limit the spread and survival of novel coronavirus. Humidification maintains hydrated and intact mucosal barriers of human occupants, resulting in an increase resistance against any microbial attack. (Dietz et al., 2020).

So, where a humidity control system is not already in place in a facility, is there a practical solution to retro fit into the office, care home, classroom etc? Mobile humidifiers can be used but they do require regular manual filling and take up floor space.

Commercial systems can be installed into the fresh air supply (AHU), but sometimes this is not possible, or such a system is not already installed into the building.

One excellent solution is to use the HomEvap, a cold water evaporative humidifier, which can be fitted to a heat recovery unit in a house or supplied with a fan to be neatly installed above a false ceiling in an office – out of the way, plumbed in, and providing excellent control automatically. Energy usage ranges between 20 -90 watts dependant on if you require a fan or not. A

single humidifier can evaporate 5 litres of water per hour which will provide humidity control to a space with a volume of approximately 1200m3. The result is a comfortable, healthier environment for net zero energy usage (temperature can be reduced by 2⁰C when the humidity is raised from 30 – 50%rh for the same thermal comfort).

In a care home the solution is often not to put the humidifier in the day room or bedrooms but to control the humidity in corridors serving these rooms and to allow the humidity to migrate to the areas of concern.

This way there is no noise issue (although very low in a bedroom a small fan can still be a nuisance) and maintenance when required does not disturb the occupant of the room.

Humidity Solutions Ltd has a wealth of experience, expertise and application knowledge in the field of humidity control please do contact us for free advice. www.humiditysolutions.co.uk info@humiditysolutions.co.uk

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Service & Maintenance

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 35

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL How Do You Control The Spread Of Infection?

The severity of any build up of bacteria or pathogen could be fatal. At SFS Protect, high standards of hygiene are recognised and paramount to the ethos of our service.

No sprays, no wipes, just vaporised Hydrogen Peroxide. The Nocospray 2, has been carefully developed around a heating and ionising turbine that transforms and emits the Nocolyse disinfectant into a non-corrosive, non allergenic, bio degradable gas – with no residue.

mint fragrance or with essential oils, should there be a requirement to remove odours. All Nocolyse gas when evenly distributed throughout isolated areas will eliminate dangerous viruses such as MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Norovirus, CPE, Coronavirus.

In relation to the current Pandemic COVID-19 Coronavirus, our “Oxypharm One Shot” has now been fully accredited and a full copy of this declaration is available on our web site.

THE PRODUCTS The Nocospray 2 will eliminate 99.99% of all bacteria in as little time as 90 minutes. There is no requirement for the removal of electrical equipment, furniture, fixtures and fittings, just the room to be completely sealed for the gas to work effectively.

Services At SFS, we offer 2 types of service.

Curative “One Shot” Disinfection is where there is a known or recurring problem.

Preventative Decontamination Disinfection is to maintain good levels of infection control. The “Decontimination” range is also available with a mild

OUR MISSION SFS Protect are dedicated to providing a caring and discreet service. Our mission is simple, to provide a safe and comfortable environment to work, play, learn and relax without the fear of contracting harmful viruses, bacteria and fungi.

TESTIMONIAL “SFS Protect are working with us to keep our employees safe by fumigating areas in any suspected COVID-19 cases. The team deliver a professional and efficient service, provide excellent technical support and respond quickly to any fumigation requests. Callout requests are fulfilled within 24 hours, leaving areas safe to return to within 40minutes of any suspected cases.”

Book now on 07468 428530, email info@sfsprotect.co.uk or visit www.sfsprotect.co.uk

JET - A Powerful Sporicidal Disinfectant JET is a powerful sporicidal disinfectant for use on non-porous high-touch surfaces.

JET is also a powerful cleaner destroying RNA and DNA in seconds. Its cleaning efficacy meets the requirements of a medical instrument cleaner, effectively reducing levels of protein and carbohydrate.

JET is the best safeguard for residents and staff wherever the risks of infection are highest and is ideal for use in care homes.

JET is sporicidal, mycobactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal and bactericidal in one minute. It has been tested in accredited laboratories and is proven effective against a wide range of microorganisms.

DOOR FRAMES & HANDLES

JET is built upon the same core chlorine dioxide technology as the Tristel medical device disinfectant products, but specially adapted for surface disinfection where cleaning and biofilm destruction are so important.

Chlorine dioxide is widely regarded as one of the most effective disinfectants for biofilm removal and prevention. JET delivers chlorine dioxide as a foam. It creates no aerosols when used.

Efficacy with the standard wipe in EN16615 means JET can be used with any sustainably sourced wipe, avoiding the use and waste of plastic wipes.

Find out more: BIT.LY/JETCH20

CHAIRS & WORK SURFACES

BEDS & BEDSIDE TABLES

FACE SHIELDS

Clean Care Is In Your Hands Skin health and surface hygiene expert, GOJO Industries-Europe Ltd, has backed the World Health Organisation’s global call to action for health workers.

The worldwide advocacy day for Hand Hygiene falls annually on 5th May, and this year its importance is even more significant, as the world battles COVID-19.

As a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Private Organizations for Patient Safety group, GOJO Industries-Europe has always been a strong advocate of making hand hygiene second nature to everyone.

Once again, GOJO is supporting the WHO’s annual ‘Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’ campaign and encouraging everybody in the healthcare industry to get involved.

As the World Health Assembly has designated 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, the campaign’s focus this year is on the central role played by nurses and midwives in achieving clean care. This includes hand hygiene best practices, as well as recognising their crucial contribution to strengthening quality health systems.

The annual campaign and advocacy day targets a crosssection of influencers in the global healthcare sector, calling them to join together in celebrating and empowering nurses and midwives in the monumental work that they do to keep patients, families, and colleagues safe, by preventing healthcare associated infections.

This year’s specific calls to action are: • Nurses: “Clean and safe care starts with you.”

• Midwives: “Your hands make all the difference for mothers and babies.”

• Policy Makers: “Increase nurse staffing levels to prevent infections and improve quality of care. Create the means to

empower nurses and midwives.”

• Infection Prevention Control Leaders: "Empower nurses and midwives in providing clean care.”

• Patients and Families: "Safer care for you, with you.”

Chris Wakefield, Vice President, European Marketing & Product Development, GOJO IndustriesEurope Ltd comments, ‘Nurses and midwives account for nearly 50% of the global health workforce1 and play a vital role in providing health services and meeting everyday essential health needs. At GOJO, saving lives and making life better through well-being solutions is our mission and it continues to inspire our deep commitment to improving hand hygiene. In partnership with healthcare managers, we can help implement a tailored, effective, and total solution, which promotes compliant and healthy hand hygiene behaviour.

‘We are proud and loyal supporters of the WHO’s “Save Lives – Clean Your Hands” campaign, and urge everyone in the healthcare industry to join together in support of hand hygiene improvement globally.’

Free advocacy toolkits to support the WHO Save Lives: Clean Your Hands campaign are available on the WHO website: www.who.int/infectionprevention/campaigns/cleanhands/en/ WHO invites everyone to use the hashtags #SupportNursesAndMidwives #HandHygiene #InfectionPrevention on social media to ensure Save Lives: Clean Your Hands posts are picked up by the campaign.

For more information, email infouk@GOJO.com or visit www.GOJO.com 1 https://www.who.int/news-room/ fact-sheets/detail/nursing-and-midwifery

Please mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES New Guides To Supercharge Your Care Home Management Calibre Audio - Unleash the Power of Your Imagination Is continued customer satisfaction important to you? Could your communications with residents and their loved ones be improved? Does your care home's website need to be brought into the 2020's? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you will be pleased to learn about a series of free expert guides for care home managers and owners.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) in partnership with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched a series of guides for the care home industry. These guides provide you with specialist advice on fair trading practices, complaints procedures, communications methods and website layouts

for care homes written by and for those working in the care homes sector.

UK consumer law is among the best in the world, but this also means that it can be complicated and in-depth. Care home regulations are no exception, and you may be overwhelmed by it all. These guides make it simple and straightforward so that you can avoid the regulatory pitfalls and improve your business for the good of you and your residents.

The guides are hosted on Business Companion, a government-backed website containing a wealth of in-depth knowledge on every element of consumer protection written by industry experts in every sector.

Download your free guides at: www.businesscompanion.info/focus

CareZips Dignity Trousers ™

CareZips™ are adaptive dignity trousers that preserve the privacy of people receiving care during diaper changes.

Fitted with unique 3-zip fastening system, the CareZips™ make changing of incontinence diapers more dignified and comfortable for the patients and easier and faster for the carers.

CareZips™ feature 3 strategically positioned zips, 2 of which run from the waist to the knees on both sides of the body. The 3rd zip goes from the inside of one knee up to the crotch and down to the knee again on the inside of the other leg. This allows total opening of the trousers at the crotch for diaper changes. The

3-zip system facilitates fast and easy access to the abdomen and crotch without having to undress the patient or pull trousers down.

CareZips™ are suitable for men and women. They are available in 7 sizes for perfect fit. CareZips™ are soft and wrinkle resistant with stretch and give for extra comfort. Practical, washable and non-iron, the CareZips™ trousers are the best choice for daily use.

When worn over soft hip protectors, such as HipSaver QuickChange or OpenBottom, the CareZips™ contribute to prevention of fall-related hip fractures.

Contact Win Health Medical Ltd 01835 864866 - www.win-health.com or see the advert on page 7.

The Oxford Up from Joerns Healthcare The Oxford Up, from Joerns Healthcare is a manual stand-aid and seated transfer device, designed to support easy, safe and efficient patient transfers. Suitable for clients who require some assistance when standing but are able to participate in the process, the Up can play a key role in patient rehabilitation and promoting on-going independence.

Manufactured from aluminium and weighing just 22.5kg, the Up is among the lightest and most nimble in its category; but don’t be fooled, a maximum safe working load of 200kg (31st) also places it among the elite. Highgrade castors offer outstanding manoeuvrability across a range of

floor surfaces and ensures minimal exertion on the part of the caregiver.

As with all Oxford products, injury reduction, fall prevention and ergonomic principles were fundamental considerations during the Up’s development phase. Perfect positioning of both the swing-away seat pads and knee support help ensure optimum patient positioning. Adjustable leg positioning and a contoured base allow excellent access for the patient and promotes better posture and ease of use.

Contact Joerns Healthcare for more information on 0844 811 1156, send an email to info@joerns.co.uk or visit our website at www.joerns.co.uk

New Skincare and Incontinence Leaflet A new ‘Skincare management in incontinence’ leaflet is available from Thornton & Ross Pharmaceuticals – manufacturers of Zerolon® Barrier Cream. Accredited by the Association for Continence Advice (ACA), the leaflet is designed as a quick guide for all health professionals involved with continence care. Including recommendations from NICE, the leaflet also outlines factors to consider when selecting a barrier cream and advice on helping prevent incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD).

Zerolon® Barrier Cream is the latest addition to the Zeroderma emollients and barrier creams range, specially formulated to prevent irritation from bodily fluids including urine, faeces and exudate.

To receive a free copy of the ‘Skincare management in incontinence’ leaflet, please email: zeroderma@thorntonross.com, email: 01484 842217 or www.zeroderma.co.uk

Ultimate Comfort For Extra-Wide Swollen Feet materials, expert shoemaking and advanced foot comDo you, or a loved one, struggle to find shoes or slipfort technology. It’s also why they’re recommended by pers to fit? Cosyfeet, the specialists in extra roomy over 11,000 healthcare professionals. footwear, can help. Wider and deeper than anything on The beauty of their footwear is in its simplicity. They the high street, their British designed footwear is expertly offer a roomy, one width fitting which can be adjusted to crafted to fit and flatter extra wide and swollen feet. fit a range of swelling, so you don’t have to worry about Their new spring collection includes a fabulous range complicated foot measurements. of fabric footwear in an array of exciting patterns and Lots of thought goes into Cosyfeet’s designs, includprints. Enjoy spot on style with their lovely polka dot ing minimal seams, easy openings and removable print or explore their collection of animal prints including footbeds so you can even wear your own orthotic. stylish zebra, fashionable snake and on-trend leopard.

Thanks to innovations such as Soft yet supportive, these their ‘Hidden Depth’ design, comfy styles are perfect for Cosyfeet fits swollen feet with relaxing at home. You’ll also STYLES FOR ease but still looks stylish and find a great choice of cottonMEN & streamlined. rich slippers which are ideal for WOMEN Cosyfeet offer VAT exemption the warmer months or if you STYLES SHOWN: Koryl, Katie, if you have a chronic medical suffer with hot feet.

Kama condition and a money-back Cosyfeet’s ethos is simple. guarantee if their footwear doesThey believe that swollen feet n’t work for you. should have the most comfortFor more information visit able, stylish footwear possible. cosyfeet.com or call Cosyfeet on That’s why they combine the VISIT cosyfeet.com 01458 447275. latest trends with premium

E

O

Calibre Audio is a free national charity that lends audiobooks to everyone who has a print disability.

A print disability is most commonly a sight problem, dyslexia or a condition that makes it hard to hold or understand printed. Audiobooks offer a way to overcome difficulties such as these, so that you can consume books the same as others, just in a different way – audio.

Calibre Audio has thousands of audiobooks in its collection, with so many categories catering for all ages and tastes. No one needs to miss out on the pleasure of a good book. Calibre Audio’s collection There are well over 11,000 unabridged audiobooks on

Calibre’s shelves. Titles cover all fiction and non-fiction genres, including bestsellers, classic novels, modern fiction and popular non-fiction.

Calibre’s audiobooks can be streamed online, downloaded to your device or delivered straight to your door on CD and memory stick by our free postal service. Which means whether you’re listening from your favourite armchair or in your garden, unleash the power of your imagination.

‘Being a member of Calibre has given me a chance to read and enjoy books that I wouldn't have otherwise had a chance to read.’

Join and get listening! It is free

Lotus Care Technology The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot.

Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for

for everyone with a print disability to join Calibre Audio.

Go online at www.calibreaudio.org.uk or call membership services on 01296 432 339 for more information.

See the advert on page 16 for details.

this at risk of falls.

Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has different needs. They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier.

Visit lctuk.com or see the advert on page 17 for details.

COVID-19 Game Raising Awareness To Promote Safe Behaviour Because COVID-19 is causing confusion and anxiety Focus Games has developed a simple online COVID-19 Game that offers the facts and challenges myths (from UK government and NHS). It's free-to-play and works on any device through a web browser. It only takes couple of minutes and there is no registration required.

The game is intended for anyone and everyone: https://games.focusgames.co.uk/coronavirus/game/ The game is being played by adults and older children and here is feedback from a teacher in Egypt: “I teach grade 8 students (14 years). My students are in COVID-19 isolation and their response to eLearning was disappointing. I needed to attract their attention. We were exploring diseases in populations and I sent them the COVID-19 Game. It was like magic!

Within 2 hours they were sending selfies of their scores, encouraging others to play and sharing information. The students were engaged, they learned and were entertained. Thank you.” Haidy Wael, Science Teacher, Egypt.

The game is based on similar health education games: Flu Bee Game and

Dementia Awareness Game. Both games were investigated by Queen’s University Belfast and within the NHS and they concluded that the games can and do change perceptions and behaviour.

So, it is hoped that the COVID-19 Game will have a positive effect on some members of the public. Here is a comment regarding the Dementia Awareness Game from Dr Gillian Carter, School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen's University Belfast: “The dementia awareness game has been played over 1,000 times and research conducted by Queen's University Belfast on its impact shows that after playing the game, a person's attitudes to people living with dementia improve! This statistically significant information is being prepared for an international journal” For further information, please contact: Andy Yeoman – Director, Focus Games Ltd andy@focusgames.com +44 (0)141 554 5476 games.focusgames.co.uk/coron-

Workwear Experts For Over 100 Years Grahame Gardner has more than 100 years’ experience in clothing a broad spectrum of medical and healthcare professionals. Our knowledge and understanding of uniform demands ensure we remain one the UK’s most trusted and respected suppliers. We combine our extensive expertise with the latest innovations in technology and fabric and design, to offer you the highest quality garments to meet the demanding standards of healthcare professionals… all at exceptional prices!

We also provide one of the most flexible embroidery services available from any clothing manufacturer using state-of-theart technologies that enable us to copy virtually any design or

logo directly onto your chosen uniforms.

Whether you’re seeking a classic healthcare dress or tunic, or something from our bold and bright scrubwear range, you can find it with us. As one of the largest workwear providers in the UK, we are proud to be able to offer instant stock availability on 1,000s of workwear garments all in addition to our extensive range of ‘made to order’ items that can be manufactured on demand in a wide range of styles, fabrics and colours.

To find out more, or for a no obligation discussion as to how we can help with your workwear requirements, please get in touch on 0116 255 6326 or email Info@grahamegardner.co.uk www.grahamegardner.co.uk

Mattress Maintenance Services In order to bring a mattress back into service after use, it needs to be completely cleaned and decontaminated to approved standards that guarantee bacterium and viruses such as C.Diff and MRSA are killed, and no cross contamination occurs.

A challenge with mattress cleaning is not only that it requires large commercial washing machines but that different mattress types also require different treatment.

The right rental and maintenance service will not only provide you with an appropriate mattress when you need it, but offer fast cleaning, repairs, and replacements, ensuring mattresses are up to the required standards. This undoubtedly saves you money in the long term, provides the best possible levels of care to your patients and residents, and reassures all stakeholders that hygiene is a top priority; a must in the current climate.

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR? So what should you look for in a rental service – apart from a wide range of special purpose mattresses? Here are a few key pointers: • Rapid breakdown response

• All work carried out by trained technicians • Mattresses returned in fully certified working order with free loans while repairs are carried out to allow you continuity of service • Servicing and/or repair offered in a hygiene controlled environment where mattresses are PAT tested, static pressure leak tested and cycle tested • Mattresses placed in an infection controlled 'Cold Storage' zone to control cross contamination • Mattresses completely cleaned and decontaminated using a specialist, certified decontamination system to approved standards • Transparent and clear results reporting for peace of mind In today’s ever-more pressurised care sector, ondemand mattress rental and maintenance services are playing a growing role in helping providers respond quickly to growing patient and resident intake. This allows you to maintain the highest possible standards of infection control practises in all areas.

Visit www.spearheadhealthcare.com or see the advert on page 4.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 37

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE How Tech is Supporting the Recruitment and Retention of Carers During COVID-19

By Stephen Pattrick, CEO and Co-founder, Newcross Healthcare (www.newcrosshealthcare.com) Newcross Healthcare is a provider of care and nursing resource to care homes, hospitals and service users in their own homes.

We are not a healthcare staff recruitment agency. We operate differently to our competitors -all staff are employed with permanent contracts and guaranteed minimum hours. So, we have a vested interest in the skills and development of each and every carer.

Their skills are vital to ensure we continue providing an excellent standard of care to our clients and service users. To support with this, in addition to our existing learning and development offering, we have recently launched a series of free clinical training webinars to help them upskill.

The ability to recruit and retain good people is critical to the service we provide, never more so than now.

With the COVID-19 pandemic putting pressure on the care industry like never before, we have had to consider how we recruit, induct, train and retain our people – safely and efficiently to meet demand.

At Newcross, we very much embrace technology to improve services.

Over the years we have invested in our own tech development team which means we can develop our own tools and roll them out across the organisation. Also, we can prioritise and accelerate development where we need it most. This has been true of a number of applications we are using now.

ACCELERATING RECRUITMENT

We are currently recruiting more healthcare staff and at a faster rate than prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is to ensure we can meet the increased demand for our services.

When speeding up our recruitment process, our main priority was that it remained as rigorous as before. We wanted to make it more streamlined,

but not compromise on employing the most competent people.

By digitalising the process, we have succeeded in fast-tracking recruitment so that candidates can go from initial application to being on-shift in as little as 48 hours.

The six-stage operation is now entirely virtual. Applicants can now progress through each stage at a much faster rate than before with our HR teams all working remotely from home.

From an online application form, where candidates submit details like their work experience, references and uniform size, the central recruitment team will call back and screen suitable applicants within three hours. The next stage is the DBS/CVG checks and contacting referees.

Applicants are then interviewed via video link and those that are successful are invited to take part in the ‘Virtual Shift’, our scenario-based test which places candidates in a virtual care setting to assess their knowledge and decision-making skills.

Those who are offered a position then complete a virtual induction and, if required, complete a ‘moving and handling’ certificate via e-learning.

Finally, before commencing work with us, staff will receive their ID badge and uniform couriered by next day delivery, as an automated process, directly from our supplier.

TRAINING ROLL-OUT

As part of our digitalisation process for training, we have formed a partnership with Docebo, a leading AI-Powered learning platform. This means we have been able to equip our entire workforce with specialist training required to keep our teams, clients and service users safe during the outbreak.

All members of Newcross office and healthcare staff, over 9,000 people, can access a suite of COVID-19-specific training materials. This includes guidance on what the virus is, how it spreads and what specific control measures should be in place to mitigate the risks of its spread. An optional module is also available to healthcare staff, which provides specialist training in oxygen therapy, basic observations, taking nasal and throat swabs and donning and doffing personal protective equipment. Scenario-based

Lifelong Antimicrobial Product Protection Guaranteed With Pinpoint According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Quality Standard (QS61), an estimated 300,000 patients a year in England acquire a healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) after spending time being looked after in the NHS. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reports that HCAIs are estimated to cost the NHS approximately £1 billion a year1. These monetary values do not even include the physical and mental health cost to patients and healthcare workers.

HCAIs include a large number of infections, such as the well-known infections caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Clostridium difficile (C.diff) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Guidelines published by organisations like NICE and Public Health England, give detailed instructions on the prevention of these infections in all parts of the health service.

While we have become very familiar with some of the measures that can be taken to reduce the spread of infections like hand washing and

wearing appropriate PPE, there are additional technologies that can be used to complement these practices One of these is the introduction of Antimicrobial technology. This technology inhibits the growth of a range of microorganism on the surface of the product.

Bacteria and other microbes can be spread by touching contaminated surfaces, objects or people. As with all infections, breaking the chain of transmission is vital to controlling the spread. This may sound easy enough – just wash your hands or change gloves and other PPE between touching different people. What about the microbes on the surface of more permanent pieces of equipment that get touched a lot? Do light switches, control panels, alarm buttons and personal attack alarms, for example, really get cleaned and disinfected thoroughly multiple times during each shift?

That is where antimicrobial technology can make a significant difference. Pinpoint Ltd is working with Addmaster, manufacturer of antimicrobial technology Biomaster, to add an extra product protection to its staff

PINPOINT WRISTPIT The WristPIT is a wrist worn Personal Infrared Transmitter designed exclusively for patient use.

The latest call button is recessed and surrounded by a bump guard to prevent false alarms. It is also backward compatible, allowing seamless integration into existing Pinpoint Systems.

DID YOU KNOW? Biomaster Technology is incorporated into all surface areas of the product during manufacture, inhibiting the growth of contaminating bacteria 24/7 for the lifetime of the product.

www.pinpointlimited.com

advice, specific to the environments in which we work, such as care homes, prisons and schools, helps to prepare frontline staff in the best possible way.

SHIFT ALLOCATION

Over the last six weeks, we have really embraced our in-house app HealthForceGo® - for communicating with our employees. The app was originally designed to give staff full control of their schedules, allowing them to opt-in to be automatically assigned shifts that they are eligible for and which matches their availability.

Among other features, staff who are self-isolating can now immediately notify us via our app. This will automatically suspend their availability for the isolation period. They can become ‘active’ again, once they have completed the return to work protocol.

STREAMLINED ACCESS TO OUR HEALTHCARE STAFF WITH AUTOMATED BOOKINGS

Our clients – care homes, hospitals and private individuals – are now using our automated booking process in the majority of cases. We fasttracked the launch of our Automated Instant Verification feature, enabling clients to make bookings via the client portal and with instant fulfilment.

This means we can help clients when they need staff critically, at short notice.

Thanks to our VoIP calling technology, the lines of communication have remained uninterrupted. Clients can still contact us 24/7 and speak to their local branch team or our advisers, who were previously based in an office setting, but are now working from home.

Tech has so much to offer in the current environment. For us, it has meant we can accelerate some of our recruitment and training processes, while ensuring the skills of our central recruitment team are used where they are of most benefit. This ensures that we continue to employ the most competent and best carers in the market.

Above all else, the ability for us to interview, induct and train new employees remotely means we are minimising the risk of infection to our branch staff and applicants alike. safety systems.

Biomaster is based on silver ion technology and can be added to polymers, textiles, paper, paints and coatings. The antimicrobial features of silver have been known for centuries. Apparently, even Hippocrates discussed the use of silver in wound care in his writings.2 The silver ions in Biomaster work in 3 ways, disrupting the bacteria cell wall, interfereing with the production of enzymes , therefore stopping energy production and. preventing DNA replication Pinpoint incorporates Biomaster Antimicronial Technology into the product of its staff security system including Personal Infrared Transmitters (PITs), call buttons and display units etcThe technology starts to work straight away and is effective 24 hours a day, 7 days a week., and if effective for the life of the product.. It is built-in, doesn’t wash or wear off or leach out. Tested to ISO standard, Biomaster is safe to use can be recycled as normal.

Although this antimicrobial technology makes Pinpoint devices more hygienic by reducing the ability of microbes to grow on the surface, it does not replace standard hygiene protocols.

Visit www.pinpointlimited.com for further details.

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8

TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Medpage Limited Medpage Limited have manufactured quality affordable caring technologies for over 30 years. We specialise in providing bespoke design and development solutions for patient care.

We were challenged recently to develop an alarm solution for a wandering resident in a care home on a limited budget. The alarm was to operate independently from the house nurse call system and required to send notifica-

tions to the carer mobile phone with time and dated incident reports. This we did with 100% success. The alarm is now a mainstream product sold nationally.

Reassurance and confidence in a supplier is paramount to a successful business relationship, especially where healthcare is concerned.

You can rest assured that when you buy and use our products you are connected with a company with backbone and a passion to offer care technologies that deliver performance and quality.

Visit www.medpage-ltd.com or see the advert on page 2.

Workforce Scheduling Solutions Workforce Scheduling Solutions deliver Electronic Time & Attendance systems worldwide, using the latest Face Recognition technology.

Why should care homes move from paper to electronic time sheets

The industry is under considerable financial pressures. An efficient electronic booking on/off system that will schedule, provide budgets, calculate hours worked, overtime and absence such as sickness and holiday entitlement will save Time and Money.

How is time and money saved by doing things electronically?

Collecting payroll information from paper timesheets can be slow, prone

to errors, and very labour intensive.

Staff rosters can be produced as far in advance as practical and accurate within budgeted hours. Staff book on and off-duty electronically, thus eliminating any time errors.

Wage queries are virtually eliminated and immediate checks can be made without wading through reams of paper which invariably are inaccurate, misfiled or even 'lost".

There are many systems on the market - Why facial recognition is important and how it works Some systems use tokens, which can be lost or left at home, requiring management involvement in the booking on/off procedure.

Fingerprint systems can be beaten and Social media is awash with ways

Edison Telecom

We here at Edison Telecom Ltd have been providing specialist solutions to your call system requirements tailor-made to each customers needs for over 25 years, says director Bob Johnson.

Is your current Nurse Call “legacy”, obsolete, so full of software bugs or commercially not viable for your current supplier/maintainer to maintain?

We may have just the part and expertise that you are looking for to give your nurse call a further extension to

to copy fingerprints. Face recognition combined with a staff PIN is simple to use and manage using touch screen technology and web cams.

Staff see their image displayed immediately when booking on or off and confirms their identity visually.

It provides the best deterrent available as it builds a greater 'image knowledge’ of each employee, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Eliminates 'buddy punching' where employees can book colleagues on/off duty using someone’s tokens, swipe card or even fingerprint.

How is data protected?

With the correct security setup computer systems provide more data protection than paper-based records which can be easily removed or stolen. GDPR covers all data including paper records and therefore the chances of infringing the rules and incurring fines is greater with paper.

Visit www.wfsoftware.co.uk

life, adds Bob, “Edison will treat your nurse call with the same compassion that you give to those in your care.

There will come a time when your equipment is beyond repair but Edison are experts in extending the life of obsolete systems.” www.edisontelecom.co.uk

NURSE CALL

IT’S NOT OBSOLETE UNTIL THE OPERA LADY SINGS

EDISON TELECOM LTD (IN BUSINESS SINCE 1984)

have spares, enhancements and expertise for wired and wireless systems abandoned by the original manufacturer, whoever they are.

Call us on 01252-330220 We can give most systems a new lease of life and maintain them into the future.

www.edisontelecom.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 39

TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Is This The ‘New Normal’?

With the COVID-19 crisis having such an impact on everyone’s life, is working remotely set to become the new normal? Care services are facing a massive challenge with workers, managers and owners having to isolate. GPs and other health professionals are also trying to avoid unnecessary contact.

Electronic care management systems have helped services meet regulatory guidelines. However this crisis has led to many more benefits becoming apparent.

With CAREis, our customers are giving remote access to GPs to review and leave notes and recommendations. Another service has their therapists working from

home and carrying out consultations remotely using CAREis to review and record their sessions. Managers using the system have reported that they find it reassuring to be able to remotely track and update care provision, audits and action plans. And families have been able to see what has been happening for their loved ones by logging in to the daily diary.

When choosing a new care management system it is important to check that it does everything that you need it to. Does it ensure your care and support is delivered as planned? Does it flag when things are missed? Does it allow remote access to you, your staff and selected professionals? Does it allow you to complete audits and inspection reports? Does it allow you to track and update action plans? Can you plan and track training, and carry out supervisions and appraisals on the system? CAREis does all this and more.

CAREis is easy to install and you can be up and running in a couple of weeks with or new easy start system. We can demo, install and support remotely. If you would like more information, please email us at info@careis.net or call us on 01424 400060

Mainteno Facilities Maintenance and Management Software Whether it’s managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs, Mainteno simplifies the day-to-day maintenance of almost any organisation.

Mainteno also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking.

Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process, saving your organisation time and money.

Usability made affordable Mainteno was designed with practicality in mind.

The interface is so intuitive that basic operation can be learned in minutes, and you can be a power user in one afternoon.

Elegant usability usually means a hefty price tag.

However, our pricing structure means that for small

organisations, Mainteno can cost as little as two cups of coffee a month. No set-up fees, no lengthy contracts and a free trial, all mean that the system starts paying for itself straight away.

Dr Asif Raja, Bsc MBBS Summercare Managing Director says “Facing significant challenges of ever increasing quality and compliance demands upon time and resources as well considerable economic pressures, Summercare, an award winning provider of residential care and housing related support, sought to upgrade their systems for managing the property and environmental aspects of its service delivery. After an extensive period of investigation and research Mainteno was selected as the platform of choice for the entire organization based on its ease of use, very short-term contract, quick set up and ongoing support.”

Visit www.mainteno.com, Tel: 020 8798 3713 or email sales@redro.co.uk

Facilities Maintenance and Management Software Simple to use, easy to maintain and very affordable.

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Reporting tasks and faults Asset tracking and value reporting Invoice management Add multiple images and documents Detailed analytical reporting Dashboard reporting showing live status of all tasks Management of all planned maintenance schedules Compliance testing and inspections Traffic light detailed reporting for audit purpose Audit reporting Direct allocation of work to relevant parties Can be used for help desk Supplier performance management and reporting Warranty and insurance management Can be used on any web enabled device Link tasks to calendar Create check lists for compliance purposes Contractor Quotes and Invoice Management Contractor Login upload function

www.mainteno.com 020 8798 3713 sales@redro.co.uk

Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 41

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Covid19: Accelerating the Use of Digital Technology in Healthcare or Excel so why do many operators still use this method when invoicing?

How many industries with shift workers rely on manual payroll processing outside the care sector?

Repeatable systems should harness the power of technology to cut back the massive waste of man hours spent processing and checking manual tasks.

In order to work out the best technology for your needs, you should assess your current systems against your requirements. Think about what inefficiencies exist in your homes and how you could: 1. Capture relevant information, such as resident/staff details, in a simple, time-efficient way.

2. Manage your documents to ensure that information is dealt with logically.

3. Avoid duplication at all costs; completing handwritten timesheets which then need to be manually inputted into payroll is a massive, unnecessary waste of time & manpower.

4. Address technological obstacles. The perception that your staffs are not IT literate is out of date; most people own a smart phone so yes they are!

See www.fusion4care.com for details.

As this crisis impacts every part of the health sector, significant vulnerabilities are being exposed. The NHS ‘digital revolution’ has long been touted as the key to futureproofing both Social Care and our health service in the face of increasing patient demand. That demand has now reached unprecedented levels and seems unlikely ever to revert to previous trends; against that background; there is an urgent requirement to move quickly to realise the opportunities which are available from digital technology. It is no longer an interesting speculation; it is an essential requirement to support staff and save lives. (Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell)

USING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY Poor efficiencies in many areas of the sector are caused by the lack of investment in technology.

Technology will improve the way your staff carry out tasks by either speed up existing processes or allowing new, more flexible and accurate ways of carrying out a job or process which will in turn enables live real time management information.

Would you expect to check out of a hotel with an invoice and extras raised in Word

Evolving Technologies Technology moves forward at an ever increasing pace and forward thinking Care Homes are ensuring they are keeping in step with the tech.

Quieter and calmer care homes are on the horizon and embracing various technologies can help with getting there.

Smart phone and tablet technologies are a firm fixture in our everyday lives and these are translating into the Care Home landscape. Care Management plans can be developed and improved by collating data from these technologies in extraordinarily fast ways – leaving more time for staff to focus on their jobs and not painful administerial tasks. The information managers receive ensures that they can make informed decisions and keep accurate and safe records without impacting on time spent caring for residents.

Real time alerts can be delivered to mobile tech

– resulting in faster response times. Meaning peace of mind for both staff and residents.

It’s not just the mobile tech revolution that is having an impact on Care Homes. New developments in the field of Acoustic Monitoring are having dramatic impacts on staff and residents.

Acoustic Monitoring has proven capabilities of improving the nights sleep a resident may have and freeing up time for night staff. A recent investigation into the benefits of Acoustic Monitoring has shown that the technology can result in up to 60% fewer nightly disturbances for residents and up to a 70% reduction in nightly visits by care staff.

This translates to freeing up to 40% of staffs time during the night – leaving them to carry out other duties. This, in turn, can result in staff and residents having better, calmer days.

The technology can be used to determine patterns in night time activity and, when coupled with the power of Care Management Apps, provide a better understanding of a residents needs and, therefore, enable more dynamic and relevant care plans to be deployed.

For more information about solutions for care, see Courtney Thorne's advert on page 11 or visit www.c-t.co.uk

A Longer and Healthier Life Is A Goal to Be Pursued The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock addressed the AllParty Parliamentary Group to present its longer, healthier lives strategy. A positive approach to a subject that is often seen as a problem, instead of something to celebrate. Matt Hancock: “Longer life is not a problem to be tackled but a goal to be pursued. And not just for government, or even the NHS, but for each and every one of us.” A goal imminently linked to technology.

Growing older every year is an accomplishment we should be very proud of. Not only because it’s the outcome of a continuously improving care system, but also because it shows that we’re all taking our health seriously. It’s no longer a side dish: it’s the main dish.

Matt Hancock tapped into the momentum and presented the longer, healthier lives strategy: “There’s a huge prize ahead if we get this right: 5 more years of healthy life. More enjoyment out of life. More time for the things that matter most in life.” It’s an ambitious goal, but definitely one worth fighting for and, with the right knowledge, people and attention, a goal that can be achieved.

There are three things that are key to making this goal a reality: people and place, lifestyle and technology.

Technology is an ongoing and upcoming important conversation that Adaptive IT Solutions is humbled and proud to be a part of. One of our most special clients WCS Care and our CLB Acoustic Monitoring were referenced in Matt Hancocks’ speech: “Adult social care is increasingly a site of healthtech

innovation. Internet-linked devices can help people live at home for longer and stay connected to family and friends.

They can also help providers deliver smarter, more responsive care. For example, there’s a provider up in Warwickshire – WCS Care – doing great things with acoustic monitoring.”

Our CLB Acoustic Monitoring lets the care staff hear crying, moving around and breathing difficulty, just to name a few. When a sound like that is detected, it sends an alert to the night managers’ monitoring station. An important solution with big impact: it means care staff doesn’t have to knock on the residents’ doors regularly to check and see if they’re alright, ensuring the residents can have a good night sleep.

This alone reduced the amount of night-time falls at WCS Care with 34%. It also provided WCS Care with another interesting insight, Matt Hancock: “…when they analyzed the data, they found that lots of people were staying awake late into the night. This led the care home to set up a ‘wide awake club’ to support night owls and get them back into a healthier rhythm.”

ABOUT ADAPTIVE IT SOLUTIONS

Formed in 2002, awardwinning Adaptive IT Solutions provides professional IT services throughout all commercial markets, predominantly within the Healthcare, Dentistry, Education and Retail sectors.

Adaptive IT Solutions offers a vast portfolio of IT services including structured cabling, audio visual, hardware deployment and specialist digital clinical equipment. For more information about Adaptive IT Solutions: www.adaptiveit.co.uk.

For more information about CLB Acoustic Monitoring: global.clb.nl.

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Made to the highest safety standards with a wide selection of choices, this range gives you total reassurance, every time. Each dish complies with IDDSI guidelines for texture, launched in nd. Each dish has April 2019, ensuring you can prepare each meal safely and with peace of mind.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 43

CATERING FOR CARE

Promoting Good Nutritional Care in Care Homes food first approach are commonly used in care homes.

IDENTIFYING NUTRITIONAL RISK IN CARE HOMES

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD NUTRITIONAL CARE BAPEN estimates that 93% of malnourished individuals with or at risk of malnutrition live in community settings (1). Unfortunately, malnutrition is often unrecognised and untreated, particularly in vulnerable populations (2).

Malnutrition can affect every system in the body, leading to adverse changes in body form and function.

Physical effects include (3): • Impaired immunity • Pressure sores • Delayed wound healing • Muscle wasting • Adverse changes to the gastrointestinal structure and function • Generalised weakness • Increased risk of falls • Increased risk of bone conditions (i.e. osteoporosis) Other studies have shown that malnutrition is associated with more hospital readmissions (4), longer length of stay, increased complications and greater risk of mortality (5).

The good news is that dietary counselling given with or without oral nutritional supplements (ONS) is effective at increasing nutritional intake and weight (6).

Therefore, interventions which combine ONS and a

Nutrition risk screening is a rapid and simple way to detect those with or at risk of malnutrition, so that suitable care plans can be implemented. Nutritional screening for malnutrition is recommended in NICE clinical guideline 32 for all admissions to care homes and when there is clinical concern (7).

The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) (www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/must/must_full.pdf) is the most frequently used screening tool in the UK. It is a five-step tool suitable for screening adults across all care settings. It is used to detect those who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

The five steps are as follows: • Measure height and weight to determine Body Mass Index (BMI) • Calculate percentage of unplanned weight loss in the past 3-6 months • Establish acute disease effect and score • Add scores together to obtain an overall score for risk of malnutrition • Use management guidelines and/or local policy to establish treatment plan All staff involved in nutrition-risk screening should be suitably trained to meet required standards for their organisation.

PERSON-CENTRED APPROACH TO NUTRITIONAL CARE Person-centred care (www.hee.nhs.uk/ourwork/person-centred-care) means “focusing care on the needs of the individual.” It’s about ensuring that people's preferences, needs and values guide clinical decisions, whilst delivering care that is respectful of

By Harriet Smith, Registered Dietitian on behalf of AYMES International

and responsive to their needs (8).

One-size does not fit all when it comes to good nutritional care. People’s dietary preferences are highly individual due to religious, cultural and ethical factors.

Additionally, nutritional requirements may differ according to medical need.

Food provisions in care homes must be able to meet an individual’s needs.

Having a discussion with care home residents and/or their family, friends or carers to obtain further information about food preferences can be useful when delivering person-centred nutritional care. Menus should provide variety and choice, with systems in place to gather the views about food and drink from their residents, families and friends.

Every mealtime matters, and individuals should receive appropriate support and assistance to ensure optimal nutritional intake. Organisational approaches such as communal dining and protected mealtimes are useful strategies.

Oral nutrition support should be considered in patients who have inadequate oral intake of food and fluids to meet their nutritional requirements. This may include a food first approach (i.e. food fortification, extra snacks, nourishing drinks, energy-dense meals), oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and dietary counselling.

ONS products are used for medical purposes in patients who meet the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) prescribing criteria, have been screened using a validated malnutrition screening tool and have been deemed to be at nutritional risk. ONS should always be given under medical supervision and must be used appropriately and in accordance with local prescribing guidelines.

Local prescribing guidelines for the treat-

ment of disease-related malnutrition often recommend powdered ONS products such as AYMES Shake (aymes.com/products/aymes-shake) as first-line interventions in care home settings. AYMES Shake is a nutritionally balanced, milkshake-style supplement, providing 383kcal and 19g protein per serving when mixed with 200ml whole milk. AYMES Shake is one of the best value powdered ONS products available (9), and is therefore a sensible choice for cost savings.

ABOUT AYMES INTERNATIONAL: AYMES International manufactures delicious, costeffective oral nutrition supplements for the dietary management of patients with, or at risk of diseaserelated malnutrition. For more information, visit https://aymes.com/ or call +44 (0) 845 680 5496.

References: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Malnutrition Task Force. Malnutrition in the UK Factsheet. Available at: http://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/resources/malnutritionfactsheet/ BAPEN Nutritional Screening Surveys in Hospitals in the UK, 2007 2011 (2014). Available at: https://www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/nsw/bapen-nsw-uk.pdf Gandy, J. Manual of Dietetic Practice, chp. 6.2 Malnutrition (2014).

Sharma, Y. et al. (2017). ‘Malnutrition and Its Association with Readmission and Death within 7 Days and 8-180 Days Postdischarge in Older Patients: A Prospective Observational Study’.

BMJ Open.

Correia, M. et.al. (2003). ‘The Impact of Malnutrition on Morbidity, Mortality, Length of Hospital Stay and Costs Evaluated through a Multivariate Model Analysis’. Clinical Nutrition.

Baldwin, C. & Weekes, C. E. (2012) Dietary counselling with or without oral nutritional supplements in the management of malnourished patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. [Online].

NICE, ‘Nutrition support in adults: NICE guideline CG32’, 2006.

Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg32/chapter/1Guidance NHS Health Education England. Person-Centred Care. Available at: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/person-centred-care MIMS April 2020

NUTILIS CLEAR • Transparent results • Simple to use • Amylase resistant1 • Does not continue to thicken2 • IDDSI compliant

The Dysphagia Act

NEW NUTILIS CLEAR RECIPE BOOK COMING SOON

AR NUTILIS CLE K RECIPE BOO

URABLE SAFE, PLEAS US FOOD IT AND NUTR IO LIVING FOR PEOPLE GIA A WITH DYSPH

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 8 | PAGE 45

CATERING FOR CARE Are You In Need Of Dysphagia Training*?

*This training is intended for healthcare professionals only.

The quality standards aim is for all new health and social care staff members caring for patients with Dysphagia to complete the modules as part of their induction programme. Existing health and social care staff members should also complete the learning to support their continuing professional development.

There is a certificate that can be downloaded once the training has been successfully completed.

Caternet With care plans running up to 100 printed pages, providers are increasingly turning to kitchen software to support their CQC nutrition and allergen responsibilities. With Caternet, care organisations build recipes and menus using live data from their suppliers. Going paperless means nutrition per serving is automatically calculated, with allergenic ingredients tracked and cross-referenced - transforming Regulation 14 risk management.

Reference: 1. O’Loughlin G, Shanley C. Swallowing problems in the nursing home: a novel training response.

Dysphagia 1998; 13, 172-183.( https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-languagetherapy/clinical-information/dysphagia)

Creating recipe cards using a bank of meal preparation steps saves a digital record, accessible to service users and care professionals alike. Organisations that share menus

to apps or websites removing dietary concerns around can build trust with families,

religious and cultural backgrounds. This saves time spent manual change.

ly updating meal plans as menus Going paperless extends to purchasing with

live prices and enforcing approved buying lists. Many organisations add in their

HACCP food safety analysis guidelines to use as kitchen training

packs. Included are forecasting tools that promote compliance

across stock management too.

Caternet is developed with operators, buyers and chefs, who have all experienced similar operational and financial challenges.

It is specifically designed to help the sector remove manual processes. You will support nutrition and allergen compliance, buy more competitively, enjoy paperless financial administration, and reduce overheads.

Start saving time and money today.

023 8212 4099 www.caternet.co.uk sales@caternet.co.uk

Simply Puree

Use the camera on your phone to scan the QR code to access the elearning and get started!

For any questions contact your local Nutricia sales representative or our Resource Centre at resourcecentre@nutricia.com.

Nutilis Clear is a Food for Special Medical Purposes for the dietary management of dysphagia and must be used under medical supervision.

utes in total to complete, however you can complete one section at a time.

How can this training help you?

• Easy & convenient online solution to dysphagia training • Visibility to track progress in your care home • Raise the quality standard of dysphagia care in a consistent way

Did you know that between 50-75% of nursing home residents suffer from dysphagia1? Nutricia has a training solution for you, a FREE e-learning covering the fundamentals of dysphagia management using Nutilis Clear.

The training is divided into 4 sections and has been specially designed for busy health and social care staff caring for people living with dysphagia. It takes 60 min-

Launched in 2019, Simply Puree is a range of IDDSI compliant, nutritionally balanced, texture modified meals from levels 3-6, catering for people with dysphagia. . All made to the highest safety standards with a wide selection of choices, this range ensures you can prepare each meal safely giving you total reassurance, every time.

Each dish also has consistency in nutritional content, allowing you to easily control calorie intake. All meals come frozen and ready to serve, providing quick and convenient meals that simply need to be placed in the microwave or oven. But that’s not all, made to home-cooked standards these authentic

and tasty meals are packed full of flavour, making them perfect for any meal occa

sion throughout all day parts!

We work closely with a number of speech and language therapists so that we can ensure that we can adapt and innovate to the changing wants and needs of patients or residents with dysphagia.

Clare Park MSc MRCSLT HCPC, Speech and Language Therapist says: “As a in swallowing, I have been using the Simply Puree range clinician specialising for many years. I would definitely recommend this texture modified meal but also for the appearance,

quality and texture. I range not only for the taste that this range has made a huge difference lives, find

to my clients’

they now enjoy their meals and I have found that many now look forward to meal times meals are quick and easy to regenerate and they maintain appear again. The and through. ance, texture

taste once cooked

“So, if you have clients who have to be on a texture modified diet following a

swallowing assessment by a speech and language therapist, due to perhaps a stroke, Dementia, Parkinson’s disease etc then I would highly recommend the Simply Puree range for them.

“The range has now been extended to include reduced portion sized meals for those with small appetites, as well as snack pots for those clients needing to up their nutritional daily intake. All options are of the same high quality and are fully IDDSI compliant – who wouldn’t enjoy an afternoon snack of level 4 tea, with a chocolate bourbon biscuit!”

Not only are we continually expanding our adult range, we’ve listened to our customers and have now launched our Simply Puree Junior range which also fully complies with paediatric IDDSI guidelines so now we can provide for all age groups.

For more information go to bidfood.co.uk/simplypuree

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