The Carer Digital - Issue #101

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The Carer Digital

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THECARERUK

Issue 101

Government’s “Flagship” Adult Care Reforms Could Cost £10bn More than Current Estimates

A new report today (May 25) reveals the regional impact on local authorities as a result of the government’s flagship adult social care reforms, concluding that the costs of these proposals could be significantly underestimated.

The analysis by the County Councils Network (CCN) and Newton, provides the

authority to do it on their behalf.

The report estimates that the costs of reforms in the nine years from when they are introduced to 2032 could be a minimum of £10bn higher than currently estimated and could create a further workforce crisis in social care, with over

first independent analysis of the reforms, which include a more generous

5,000 extra staff projected to be required to carry out extra care and financial

means-test, a cap on care costs of £86,000, a move towards a ‘fair’ cost of care,

assessments for those seeking to benefit from the reforms.

and the ability for people who arrange and fund their own care to ask their local

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3...)

PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

Editor

Peter Adams

We lead with a very important story today. An indepth analysis of the government’s estimates for its adult social care reforms have revealed an unbelievable shortfall of at least £10 billion in its costings.

The report estimates that in the 9 years from when they are introduced until 2032 the shortfall will be at least £10bn and an additional 5,000 extra staff will be required to carry out extra care and financial assessment for those due to benefit from the reforms.

County and rural areas are looking at a funding deficit of £7.6bn, and these areas will need 60% of all new recruits (3,000 staff).

Furthermore, estimates according to report reveal that the total cost of the reforms will be between £5.2bn and £6.5bn a year by 2031/32, however, while the levy will generate £12bn annually, only £1.2bn in each of the next three years has been committed to

the social care reforms.

Who knows our Prime Minister will be in 2032, but they could rightly point back to 2022, blame our government of the day and say that the “can was kicked down the road” for another administration to deal with.

I don’t think anybody is critical of the government’s desire to reform adult social care.

These reforms are supported and long overdue, but the findings of this report cannot be ignored.

These reforms clearly leave social care significantly underfunded, and with the sector always experiencing staffing shortages the government really does need to heed report concerns, otherwise it will be even more difficult to recruit staff and experienced staff will look to pastures new.

This time last week we were at the wonderfully busy Residential and Home Care Show at London’s ExCeL. I have often stated that these tradeshows are a wonderful opportunity to get feedback from people “at the coalface”.

I had the opportunity to sit in on a seminar by Martin Green, who is the chief executive of Care England.

Professor Green launched a rather critical attack on the government and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), who he described as ‘shambolic’. Prof.

Green also compared the Prime Minister to four previous prime ministers who “promised to fix social care, but none of them had delivered”.

He spoke of missed opportunities and called the government’s social care reform agenda “a recovery plan for the NHS”, which I think is in line with our front page story, which cites that much of the government’s newly introduced levy will go to the NHS and not to adult care.

Prof. Green highlighted that the new health and social levy has led to the government taking £39bn from taxpayers, only for the DHSC to give the National Health Service £35bn of that.

He also addressed “the elephant in the room”. He said that he believed many care staff are suffering from post- traumatic stress. He said: “I’ve had countless stories of people who’d put the people they were supporting even before themselves. Tragically about 34,000 people died in social care during the pandemic. I don’t think we should underestimate the impact that had on our colleagues. I think they are in post-traumatic stress many of them. Because of course when you work in social care you establish relationships with people you support. I think that is why we need to have a clear reform of social care and legacy of that sacrificed must be a better tomorrow”.

Please do watch out in the coming issues, we here at The Carer are reaching out to professionals who can provide advice guidance and best practice regarding staff who are suffering stress and mental health issues following the pandemic.

We are delighted to have picked a winner for our “Unsung Hero Award”, which is a secret at the moment! The winner will be revealed in our printed issue, which is on the presses this weekend, so please watch for the announcement!

We had an absolutely wonderful response again, with the most uplifting and heartwarming nominations all around the country, suggesting staff who went above and beyond the normal work duties.

When we telephoned the care home in question to inform them of the winner, the care home registered manager shared the news in the office, and it was quite a humbling experience to hear them all cheer!

Once again, we had so many wonderful nominations it was incredibly hard to only reward a single winner, so we have added a couple of extra runner-up prizes!

Please do watch out for our Unsung Hero Award returning in future issues. The award started out as as a one-off to celebrate a Carer anniversary, but it has proved to be so popular we are running it several times a year! So please, as I say, do watch out for the announcement of our next Unsung Hero award.

Once again we are delighted to have received more heartwarming and uplifting stories from residential and nursing care settings around the country, which can be seen in this issue, from celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee, to marathon runs and walks, a dog show delightfully called “Scrufts”, a medal of honour for service dedicated to care, please do keep them coming to editor@thecareruk.com

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 3

Government’s “Flagship” Adult Care Reforms Could Cost £10bn More than Current Estimates (CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) The report, Preparing for Reform, has been developed through extensive engagement with local authorities, providers, and residents alike, coupled with unique postcode-level analysis to understand the impact of the reforms across the country.

Download the report at http://www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/download/4278/ Key findings include: • The cost of the care reforms, including the cap and means-test for over 65s, new ‘fair cost of care’ and administrative overheads in England will cost a minimum of £25.5bn over the next decade. This compares to the government estimate of £15.6bn for the same elements of the reforms. The analysis suggests more people will benefit from some financial support under the means test and cap, meaning the cost of this element alone is £2.5bn higher than government projections.

• There is a significant regional variation in the costs of implementing the reforms, with councils in county and rural areas disproportionately impacted. Councils in England’s counties account for 57% (£14.3bn) of the total estimated minimum costs of the reforms over the next decade. This is compared to just 11% (£4.9bn) in urban metropolitan borough councils in the North and West Midlands • An additional 4,300 social work staff will be required to carry out the additional Care Act assessments, reviews, and case management, on top of a current vacancy rate of 1,782. In addition, an extra 700 financial assessors will also be needed to carry out additional financial assessments if no changes to existing ways of working are made. The report projects an extra 200,000 care and financial assessments will be required annually, which determine the level of support an individual receives, at a cost of £1.9bn to councils over the next decade.

• Councils in county and rural areas could face the biggest financial and workforce challenges. Unless the government provides more funding and changes the way it allocates resources between councils, county and rural areas could face a minimum funding deficit of £7.6bn. Some 3,000 additional new social workers and financial assessors will be required in these areas, 60% of all new recruitment.

• In order to properly fund these reforms, the government could potentially need to spend half of the Health and Social Care Levy by 2032 on these proposals alone, irrespective of other social care pressures in the system. The report estimates that the total costs of the reforms could be between £5.6bn and £6.2bn a year by 2031/32. The levy will generate an extra £12bn in annual revenue earmarked for both the health

service and social care, but only £1.2bn in each of the next three years has been committed to these social care reforms so far.

COUNCILS “NOT WELL PREPARED” A separate survey of CCN councils for the report found that almost two-thirds of councils felt that they were ‘not well prepared’ for the reforms due to funding shortfalls and a tight timescale of implementing them from October 2023. Just over three quarters (77%) said that they would be unable to allocate any more resources from other service areas to pay for any financial shortfall, whilst nine in ten (91%) said they were ‘very concerned’ they will be unable to recruit enough staff.

Councils say recruitment on this scale will be ‘impossible’ and they will need more funding to attract more staff, alongside extra time to implement the reforms by transforming their working practices, including greater digitisation of assessments to streamline the process.

Facing a funding shortfall, and a workforce crisis next year, twothirds of councils support delaying key aspects of the reforms beyond next Autumn, rather than a ‘big bang’ of introducing all of them at the same time. This would give councils more time to transform their services in anticipation of the extra assessments required, including greater use of technology. The report also calls on government to urgently invest in a national recruitment and workforce development campaign for local authorities and providers.

Failure to do so could result in individuals facing even longer waits to get a care package. Presently, there are over 500,000 people waiting for an assessment – and councils will face further administrative pressures from the reforms from next October.

SIGNIFICANT UNFUNDED COST PRESSURES Councils will also face significant unfunded cost pressures, particularly those in counties. The report calls on government to fully fund these reforms based on its financial projections and to re-examine its funding formula which will distribute funding for the reforms. CCN is calling for this formula to be overhauled to account for county areas being particularly exposed to the costs of reforms.

GOVERNMENT MUST FULLY FUND REFORMS Cllr Martin Tett, Adult Social Care Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said: “There is clear support from local government for the government’s package of social reforms, which will make the system fairer and ensure that more people do not face catastrophic care costs.

“However, today’s report shows there is a significant financial and operational cost to these reforms, which are likely to be significantly more than the government’s estimates. We urge ministers to clearly

examine these findings, which show costs are likely to be higher than the government is forecasting, and potentially devastatingly so in some regions.

“Local authorities are also facing a mountain of extra assessments required for the thousands of people who will approach their local authority to benefit from the reforms and it will be almost impossible to recruit the extra staff required.

“Therefore, the government must fully fund these reforms, incorporating the substantial extra cost they are likely to generate for councils so we are able to set balanced budgets in the future. Importantly, instead of a big bang introduction to the reforms, today’s report calls for them to be phased to give local authorities enough time to mitigate the challenges and give them enough time to transform and prepare for such a momentous change.”

Daniel Sperrin, Director at Newton, said: “Newton is pleased to have partnered with CCN to carry out this analysis of the impact of the charging reforms. It is evident that whilst offering clear benefits for residents, the reforms will have a profound financial and operational impact on local authorities and providers. We hope that the findings and recommendations from this report will help both local and central government to prepare to implement the reforms, and so help realise the opportunities that they present.”

EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE Responding to analysis, Cllr David Fothergill, chair of the LGA Community Wellbeing Board said: “This report provides further analysis that adds weight to growing concerns that proposed reforms to social care are potentially significantly underfunded. This would be disastrous for councils, care providers and people who access care.

“With shortages across the sector, social care staff are already under extraordinary pressure and adding more to their workload with no plans for increased support or pay risks driving even more valued staff away from working in the sector “Potential underfunding of these reforms would only exacerbate pre-existing significant pressures, which the reforms – and the funding for them – do nothing to address. These include unmet and under-met need, greater strain on unpaid carers and increased waiting times for assessments and delivery of care packages.

“A higher proportion of the health and social care levy needs to be spent on social care to tackle these issues and create stable foundations for these reforms. The timetable and cost of the reforms must be kept under close and regular review, with any additional costs incurred by councils fully funded by Government.

PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

Why Meaningful Engagement Matters in Dementia Care

By Jackie Pool, QCS, Dementia Care Champion (www.qcs.co.uk)

son living with dementia has always been accustomed to taking a bath in the evening, the activity would completely lose its relevance if their carer scheduled it during the day. Therefore, perhaps this demonstrates that those responsible for building a biography of a person with dementia need to capture the smallest, most nuanced of details if they are to truly understand the person they are caring for.

KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK

What do we mean by meaningful engagement and why does it matter in dementia care? As an Occupational Therapist specialising in dementia and the founder of the PAL Instrument, a tool that helps carers to assess the cognitive and functional ability of people, these are two questions that I have been exploring and trying to make sense of for the best part of three decades.

On the surface, as defined by the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society, “meaningful engagement is a person-centred approach that encourages and invites people living with dementia to participate in an organisation’s work with purpose and interest”.

However, there is much more to it than that. The real question is how do get to that place? The answer is by knowing the abilities and difficulties of the person living with dementia and their life history.

Gaining the necessary insight in important in order to form a complete picture, as often the person with dementia cannot provide all of the information themselves. Therefore, often to piece together a person’s life history, carers need to also speak to friends and family, which can take time. But, it is an extremely worthwhile exercise as this is the only way to truly discover an individual’s character, personality and their background experiences, which is the key to shedding light on some of their behaviours and ultimately to meet their needs.

MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY So, what is a meaningful activity? I would define it as an activity that not only deeply resonates with the individual, but also supports a person to experience a sense of what I call “socially meaningful being”.

The activity, therefore, must be significant, worthwhile, relevant, purposeful, important, valid and consequential. It is likely to be an interest that the person has enjoyed and chosen to do in the past, and has therefore remained significant to them. But, it can also be a personal care activity or a work-related or domestic activity. It must be relevant too. So, for example, an individual might view a bath as a purposeful, important and worthwhile activity. But, the timing also matters. If a per-

To reinforce this point, when facilitating an activity, I always advise that carers ask themselves and their colleagues two questions. The first is, ‘is the activity meaningful to the person in terms of their life experiences and their wishes’? The second is, “is it also meaningful to the person in that it helps them to retain their sense of self?’

I mention these questions, as when I have worked in care homes or been a visitor, I have seen well-meaning providers taking newspapers or magazines away from service users with dementia because they think they are no longer meaningful to them because they cannot read it, or understand the content. But, if an individual has always gained enjoyment from reading a newspaper, so much so that it has become a focal part of their daily routine and lifestyle, then the onus is on care staff to enable the person to continue that routine, providing the setting, perhaps seated at a table with a coffee, so that the person can continue to engage in an activity that is meaningful to their sense of self. The newspaper or magazine is an important part of that setting even though the focus might have shifted to the drink or maybe to engagement with a care team member during this familiar everyday episode.

MATERIAL CITIZENSHIP The newspaper in this example has great power. It provides a ladder that can help a person with dementia to re-find lost memories and most importantly retain their sense of self. So, the daily newspaper is a good example of what we call “material citizenship”. Material citizenship can be any object that a person uses or appreciates on a daily basis. It could be a favourite mug, hair brush or handbag. Like the newspaper, it must however support a person’s participation in daily life.

If material citizenship is taken into account when planning activities, it helps promote meaningful interaction, which I believe is the very essence of great dementia care. In order to achieve meaningful interaction, carers must take into account the fact that “a sense of personhood is bestowed by others”. What do I mean by this? Well, in order to connect with another person, usually the level of engagement on both sides is around 50 percent, However, it might be that a person living with dementia has lost some functional and cognitive ability and they are only able to interact and engage in a reduced fashion. Therefore, the onus is on the carer to fill the interaction gap by increasing their level of engagement. That requires good knowledge, good communication skills and most crucially, a willingness to engage and a clear understanding of what great engagement looks like.

GREAT ENGAGEMENT – WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

A well planned and well-crafted activity must be one in which a person with dementia is completely immersed in. It must be one where they feel a sense of joy, mastery and accomplishment in what they are doing. In short, it must remain a process driven activity rather than a product driven task.

But, to achieve all this, the activity also needs to be just right for the person participating. And this is where the PAL Instrument, which was recently acquired by Quality Compliance Systems, the leading provider of content, guidance and standards for the social care sector, can add great value. Many of you will already be familiar with the PAL Instrument, a tool I created over three decades ago, to assess cognitive and functional ability in people with dementia and other forms of cognitive difficulty. But, for those who have never come across the PAL Instrument, when carers complete the assessment form, it automatically produces a guide that helps them to support people at that ‘just right’ level.

QCS PAL INSTRUMENT ENGAGEMENT MEASURE The new QCS PAL Instrument Engagement Measure also enables carers to evidence meaningful engagement. The Engagement Measure, which I developed with QCS and has also been validated by Brunel University London, is part of a larger body of resources, which can be found in the QCS Dementia Centre.

It’s important to note that the QCS PAL Engagement Measure not only measures and evidences cognitive ability during a specific activity, it does so while evaluating the whole person. In spreadsheet format, it asks carers and/or activity providers to observe a range of different behaviours and applying zero, one or two depending on how often a particular behaviour is witnessed. Over a number of weeks, the QCS PAL Engagement Measure provides a snapshot of cognitive, physical, social and emotional behaviour. In the same way, the Measure can also be used by managers as a supervision and monitoring tool showing the great work that frontline staff do to support people over a set period of time.

Evidence shows that more meaningful engagement help people live for longer and also removes doubt, fears and guilt that families and friends might harbour when they make the difficult decision to place their loved ones care in the hands of others. There are also benefits for carers. Activities that are meaningful and meaningful engagement with people who they support also makes a difference to their lives and finally care services benefit too. More meaningful engagement boosts reputation, improves ratings and enhances recruitment and retention.

Over to you, then…

You can download the QCS PAL Activity for free here: www.qcs.co.uk/thecarer_pal You can access Jackie Pool’s webinar on meaningful engagement, here: www.qcs.co.uk/thecarer-free-trial

Jubilee Grant to Fund Art Exhibition at Essex Psychiatric Hospital The “frightening childhood ordeal” of being a war evacuee during World War II has been captured in an artwork which is set to be showcased at a forthcoming exhibition in Essex.

Local artist Derek Finch is joining forces with patients and staff from the psychiatric hospital St Andrew’s Healthcare in Benfleet to showcase a collection of artworks as part of a new exhibition.

Traumatised by being forced to leave his family aged just 8 years old and live with strangers, Derek has sought solace from his artwork which has helped him come to terms with his childhood experience.

The exhibition, which will also showcase drawings, sculptures, poetry and music from St Andrew’s staff and patients, is being held to mark her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The event is being funded by the Arts Council which has provided the charity with a grant of just over £5,000 as part of the Let’s Create Jubilee Fund.

Members of the public are being invited to come along to view the artworks from Wednesday, May 30 until Thursday, June 2 between 12:00 and 15:00.

Annymn Adams, Lead Occupational Therapist at the hospital, said: “Derek’s work gives us a glimpse into how he made sense of the frightening childhood ordeal of being a war evacuee.

“But central to all his work is a common theme, a message of hope and the beauty of the human spirit

as it grows despite adversity. We’re thrilled that Derek agreed to take part in our very first art exhibition for members of the public.

“We wanted to do something special for our patients to mark the Jubilee, because unfortunately being a long-term patient at a hospital like St Andrew’s can mean many miss out on opportunities to make meaningful connections and be part of the national celebrations. But we hope to bring the celebration and the community to our site; that way removing the barrier of being hospitalised.

“We look after some of the most vulnerable people in our community, but that doesn’t mean that they have to miss out. We think this event will entice the community to come to us, and through the beautiful medium of art, it will give them the chance to find out a bit more about what we do.

There will also be interactive sessions held over the course of the three days, including a Rhythm to Recovery drum circle led by music therapist Chris Baron.

Darren Henley, the Chief Executive at Arts Council England, said: “The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund is a wonderful example of our ambition to give everyone the opportunity to participate in and experience the arts, culture and creativity.”

Rosemary Macdonald, CEO, UK Community Foundations, said: “For community foundations, people and places are the priority and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is a unique opportunity for people to get together and celebrate in their communities.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 5

Essential Adult Social Care Engagement Whitepaper Launches The Good Governance Institute (GGI), Care England and the Homecare Association have launched a whitepaper designed to explore the extent to which the adult social care (ASC) sector is being appropriately engaged in the ongoing development of ICSs. The purpose of an ICS is to deliver properly joined up care, so that people accessing health and care services experience them as seamlessly as possible. It is a partnership between organisations to better meet health and care needs across an area. Despite this, it seems that effective engagement among ICSs with the ASC sector has not been consistent. Recently, much of the focus in healthcare has been more on post-pandemic restoration and recovery, although even that situation still seems to be changing rapidly.

Andrew Corbett-Nolan, CEO of GGI, said: “Engagement with adult social care is essential to the success of integrated care systems (ICSs) and the development of health and social care services. This paper comes at an essential time for engagement with key partners across the system, to enable connections between health and social care.”

Martin Green, CEO of Care England, said: “In order for ICSs to succeed, social care provider’s must be heard. We urge all ICS leaders to carefully consider the key recommendations in this paper to ensure that integration works for both health and social care.”

Jane Townson, CEO of the Homecare Association, said: “Homecare services play a vital role, alongside

housing, health and other community-based services, in enabling us all to live well at home and flourish in our communities. People receiving services need to experience seamless support from professionals and volunteers. It is therefore paramount to create a culture of collaboration between partners, focused on meeting the needs of people living at home. We thus strongly encourage Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to engage effectively with homecare providers and develop the huge potential that joined up care systems offer. Investing in multi-disciplinary support for people to maintain their health and well-being at home helps to enhance healthy life expectancy, which benefits individuals and their families, reduces pressure on the NHS and reduces costs in health and care systems.”

Key recommendations from the paper include: • ICSs note that the social care partner member on the Integrated Care Board (ICB) will not necessarily be able to effectively represent providers, and therefore, ICSs should work with providers to develop more effective engagement mechanisms • ICSs should develop a plan about how to engage with ASC providers and involve them in the process • ICSs should have a provider forum or liaise with local care associations which nominates a representative to the ICS Partnership Board • ICSs should ensure that ASC providers have a role in the new local place arrangements, the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) and/or the ICB. Perhaps through the creation of a paid position that is tasked with furthering the ASC agenda and educating others around them on the issues facing the sector • The Department of Health and Social Care publish a specific framework for ICS engagement with the ASC sector

Cardenden Care Home’s Dog Lovers Welcome Surprise Visits from Loyal Companions Residents at Fernlea House Care Home in Cardenden, Fife were treated to special visits from favourite local dogs, Milo and Pippin, who bounded up to residents and staff members for a warm hug and a treat.

Their visits were organised as part of the home’s pet therapy programme, designed to make sure residents keep healthy and happy. Staff members organised the visit from Milo, who belongs to one of the home’s carers, Jemma Rutherford. Pippin’s owners, Jill and Khaliegh Ireland often bring him along on his much-loved visits to see Alison, Khaliegh’s grandmother, in the home.

Milo and Pippin provide warm, gentle company for residents, who enjoy petting them and taking their leads for a tour of the home’s lounge areas and garden. Their visits are part of the home’s extensive activities programme, which has helped residents, particularly those who live with dementia or a disability, engage with life in the home.

Joan Brown, Senior Carer at Fernlea House Care Home said: “Lots of our residents grew up with dogs, so they enjoy having Milo and Pippin in the home. You feel the difference immediately when they walk through the door – staff and residents love being around them and you see it in all the smiles on faces and laughter to go

around.”Residents at Fernlea House Care Home in Cardenden, Fife were treated to special visits from favourite local dogs, Milo and Pippin, who bounded up to residents and staff members for a warm hug and a treat.

Their visits were organised as part of the home’s pet therapy programme, designed to make sure residents keep healthy and happy. Staff members organised the visit from Milo, who belongs to one of the home’s carers, Jemma Rutherford. Pippin’s owners, Jill and Khaliegh Ireland often bring him along on his much-loved visits to see Alison, Khaliegh’s grandmother, in the home.

Milo and Pippin provide warm, gentle company for residents, who enjoy petting them and taking their leads for a tour of the home’s lounge areas and garden. Their visits are part of the home’s extensive activities programme, which has helped residents, particularly those who live with dementia or a disability, engage with life in the home.

Joan Brown, Senior Carer at Fernlea House Care Home said: “Lots of our residents grew up with dogs, so they enjoy having Milo and Pippin in the home. You feel the difference immediately when they walk through the door – staff and residents love being around them and you see it in all the smiles on faces and laughter to go around.”

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

Protecting the Vulnerable in High-Risk Settings

By Denis Kinane, Immunologist and Founding Scientist at Cignpost Diagnostics (www.cignpostdiagnostics.com) Last week, it was reported that the UK Health Security Agency, the public health body that has overseen Britain’s efforts to combat COVID, is having its budget slashed. This will see a 40% headcount reduction and the suspension of routine Covid testing in hospitals and care homes.

There are concerns that changes like ending asymptomatic testing could have put vulnerable or immunosuppressed people at greater risk, but that the organisation could be left too underfunded to cope with any resurgence in the pandemic.

Yet with Covid cases having fallen dramatically since the start of the year, many argue this decision is just the next step in the Government’s ‘Living with Covid’ plan. Funding is understandably tight, so is it not better to put testing on hold during the safer summer months?

Although immunocompromised people have access to several COVID countermeasures, including additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccines, it does not prevent them from catching the virus. In fact, a recent study by Imperial College London showed that 19 per cent of 239 kidney transplant recipients who received four jabs did not display any immune response.

This means that the decision to end free tests, coupled with the possibility that people spending time with the immunocompromised may not be vaccinated, could possibly put vulnerable groups at greater risk of becoming infected.

Undoubtedly, the Government faces a number of challenges in deciding how best to proceed as the country emerges from the worst of the pandemic. The need to balance the protection of the most vulnerable from COVID while ensuring life and the economy returns to normal is fully understandable. In my opinion, reconsidering the decision to abandon all testing, particularly those concerning vulnerable people, would be a sensible step.

Testing has formed a vital part of the public health response to the pandemic and has been crucial in preventing transmission, especially within settings such as care homes and hospitals. It has also helped us to detect and react speedily to emerging new variants.

Just because the Government has ended free testing does not mean that hospitals, care homes and other high-risk settings should not look to what measures they could continue to use that offer some protection, even if it is just encouraging the retention of social distancing measures, mask wearing and limited testing.

That is why Cignpost Diagnostics has offered to provide bulk low-cost tests direct to care homes to help them ensure they have available tests for residents, staff and visitors.

I would strongly advise that anyone exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19 takes a PCR, or at the very least, lateral flow test, so they can minimise the chance of passing the virus onto the immunocompromised people they come into contact with. I would also recommend that any vulnerable people continue to take protective measures wherever possible, including wearing masks, practice social distancing where appropriate, and if possible, avoid socialising with large groups of people.

Cases may now have significantly reduced, but the virus is still with us. COVID has taken many surprising turns over the past two years, so it is important we continue to look out for our most vulnerable, not only by protecting them in the here and now, but by being prepared for the inevitable next wave that is most likely to come in the Autumn or to combat any new variants of concern. This means doing what we can to continue with the simple measures that we know will contain the virus spread.

Hallmark Care Homes Bury Time Capsules to Mark 25 years Care provider, Hallmark Care Homes has buried time capsules at all of its care homes to mark the organisation’s 25th anniversary.

The family-run group buried the time capsules for future generations to dig up last week.

During the celebratory events, residents and team members at the residential, nursing and dementia homes buried the time capsules which included newspaper cuttings, photos, coins, resident poems, letters from relatives and collaborative work with local schools in line with the businesses five values; Growth, Openness, Togetherness, Individuality and Quality.

As part of the special events, residents also enjoyed live entertainment and a special cake made by the home’s dedicated kitchen teams.

They were joined for the occasion by Hallmark Care Homes’ Chairman Avnish Goyal, Managing Director Aneurin Brown and

the senior leadership team who thanked the team and made an 800-mile trip to visit all of the company’s 22 care homes in one week.

Managing Director of Hallmark Care Homes, Aneurin Brown said: “It was lovely to mark our 25th anniversary as a business and see everyone joining in with something that explains the world as we see it right now.

“A special plaque has been installed to mark the point where the time capsule is buried and we hope in 25 years when it is dug up, future generations can discover and learn from it.”

Chair of Hallmark Care Homes, Avnish Goyal added: “I am so thankful and proud of the teams for everything they have achieved over the past 25 years. The road trip was a great opportunity to unite and acknowledge our caring and committed team who go above and beyond daily to ensure that residents have an amazing quality of life.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 7

One in Ten Disabled People Have Complex Disabilities One in ten disabled people in the UK have complex disabilities. That’s according to new research, published by the national disability charity, Sense, that shows for the first time the scale of disabilities in the country.

The research, developed in partnership with the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), says that of the 14.1million disabled people living in the UK, 1.6 million people have complex disabilities. This figure is expected to grow to 2 million by the end of the decade.

Complex disabilities – or complex needs – commonly describe a person living with two or more disabilities who may require high levels of support. These needs may be from birth, or following illness or injury, or they may develop with age. The individual may need support from a range of health and social care services.

This is the first time an estimate, with regional breakdowns, down to local authority and constituency level, has been made on the number of children and adults with complex disabilities. Research in this area has been limited, and the lack of robust and accurate data has meant that local authorities and the NHS have not been able to adequately plan and commission services.

Sense, who provide specialist support to people living with complex disabilities, say that the failure to recognise the inter-connected nature of people’s needs has resulted in gaps in service provision. Where someone’s needs are not understood, complex needs can result in challenging behaviour, resulting in services that are not delivered in a way that meets that person’s needs.

Sense wants to see a systematic approach to transform the care and support for people with complex disabilities who deserve better support than they currently receive. This will necessitate a cultural shift towards people-centred and holistic support that enables more inclusive lives.

Richard Kramer, Sense Chief Executive, said: “We know that services for disabled people with complex needs are required by more and more people.

This ground-breaking research helps to deepen our understanding of the scale of disabilities in the UK. It will mean that, for the first time, local authorities and the NHS will have information and data to understand the number of people with complex disabilities living in their area.

Too often support and services are based around individual conditions and disabilities rather than looking at an individual’s range of needs.

As a result, people with complex disabilities often struggle to get the care and support they need.

We hope that this research will provide a significant milestone and enable local authorities and the NHS to use this information to develop a joined-up approach to policy making, assessment of need, service delivery and support.

It will also encourage providers to tailor their support to better meet the needs of people with complex disabilities, allowing them to achieve the best possible outcomes.”

Dr Sokratis Dinos, Director of Health at NatCen, said: “For the first time, this research shows the wide variation in the number of people estimated to have complex disabilities in different local authorities and constituencies.

The findings highlight that some areas have more people with complex disabilities aged 65 or over, while other areas have more local people of working age with complex disabilities.

These insights can help with understanding the needs of people experiencing complex disabilities living in different areas, and the services best suited to assist them.

We hope this research will support and inform the delivery of local services for people with complex disabilities across the UK.” For more information, visit www.sense.org.uk/information-and-advice/conditions/what-does-complex-disabilities-mean/

Jon Sends His Art to Her Majesty the Queen The people who live at Aliwal Manor Care Home in Whittlesey have been preparing for the Queen’s upcoming platinum jubilee by making some arts, crafts and decorations

impressed with his creation. Sarah, who is a Lifestyle Coordinator at Aliwal Manor said, “This is fit for the Queen”, and suggested they sent the art to her majesty.

to put up around their home.

Jon was initially sceptical and said, “I don’t think she will reply,” but went ahead with

During a recent craft session, residents were given a variety of royal-themed tem-

the idea in case she did!

plates, paints and decorative items to make some jubilee themed art.

Jon, who lives at the home, decided to use a template of the Queen’s head his art piece. He placed this on a plain piece of paper and dabbed red and blue paint around

Together, Jon and Sarah wrote a letter to accompany the picture, found out her mailing address and sent it off it in the post. Jon and Sarah then had a chat about the Queen and laughed as they said, “What if she does reply?”

the edge of it. He then removed the template to reveal a perfect picture of the Queen.

Jon was really happy with how his idea turned out and the team was equally

Jon is now eagerly checking the post each day to see if he receives a response from her Majesty.

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PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

Let's Do Lunch

Care charity Vegetarian for Life launches vegan lunch club catering guide to help those looking to diversify their lunches Many leading caterer training providers give budding chefs only a limited overview of vegan and vegetarian diets. VfL's lunch club guide - available in digital format - is the perfect way to bridge this gap. Packed with lots of information on catering for vegans and vegetarians, chefs will no longer be struggling for lunchtime ideas and inspiration.

Amanda Woodvine, CEO of VfL says: "You're sure to have seen positive news about the rise in meat-free diets. Google reports that searches for ‘vegan food near me' rose by more than 5,000 percent in 2021. Supermarkets, online stores and most catering suppliers are now havens for plant-based foods, and both the ingredients and cooking possibilities are endless."

The new 24-page guide was written especially for those running lunch clubs, but its tasty, nutritious recipes and sound advice will be invaluable for all hospitality workers. In addition to novel sandwich ideas, soups and mains, there are helpful hints and tips around hidden ingredients, vegan protein sources, and dairy alternatives.

Ms Woodvine added: "An increasing number of older people in particular are choosing to cut down on meat or dairy consumption, or even cut them out completely. And around 10% of the UK population may have special dietary requirements because of their beliefs. So, it's more important than ever to provide a diverse and tasty range of options.

"Recent research by the Eating Better Alliance found that 85% of sandwiches available on the market have meat, fish or cheese as their main ingredient[1]. Given the significant rise in meat-free diets, consumers are likely to be very attracted to a good range of lunchtime options."

VfL offers care caterers and those looking to run communitybased lunch club activities the expertise, hands-on training, and practical resources needed to cater for older vegans and vegetarians with flair.

For more details and to download a copy of ‘Lunch club catering for older vegans and vegetarians', visit https://vegetarianforlife.org.uk/ or call the charity on 0161 257 0887.

Bournemouth Care Home Residents Send a Handmade Card to the Queen… and She Gets Back to Them!

With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee just around the corner, residents at RMBI Care Co. Home Zetland Court, in Bournemouth, recently crafted a handmade card to congratulate the monarch on her 70 years of service.

The residents, who reside at Zetland Court’s Red Admiral House, which supports people living with dementia, all contributed by writing, decorating and signing the card to the Queen. Eighty-one year old resident Joyce, who stuck the final ornaments on the front, wrote: ‘Long Live Her Majesty – Love, Red Admiral Residents.’

What they did not expect was a reply from the Queen herself. Resident Joyce says: “It is very nice of the Queen to send us a letter. I know she is busy, but she can always come for tea.”

Susan Wiffen, Deputy Home Manager for the Dementia House, says: “We were thrilled to receive a message from the Queen a few weeks later. Getting an envelope from Buckingham Palace is rather unusual!”

The Home’s staff opened the royal envelope eagerly and the residents read the Queen’s thank-you card, which was put up in Red Admiral House for everyone to see.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 9

Huge Increase in Demand for Rehabilitation in the Last Six Last Months, Survey Finds A survey by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has found that its members have seen an 82% increase in demand for occupational therapy-led rehabilitation services in the UK over the last six months alone.

A survey by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has found that its members have seen an 82% increase in demand for occupational therapy-led rehabilitation services in the UK over the last six months alone.

As the country begins to ‘live with COVID’, already overstretched, rehabilitation services have seen demand rocket over the past two years due to the COVID pandemic and are now seeing a further rapid increase in patients.

The findings raise questions about the prospects of providing timely rehabilitation, for people recovering from short and long term illnesses, and need urgent support to live independently carry out their daily lives.

The survey, which over 550 occupational therapists working across the UK took part in, found that: • 84% are supporting people whose needs have become more complex due to delayed interventions arising from the pandemic • 82% of respondents noted increased demand for occupational therapy-led rehabilitation over the previous six months.

• 71% of respondents felt there were not enough occupational therapists to meet demand.

• 66% of respondents reported difficulties in delivering rehabilitation services due to reduced access to facilities, suitable space and equipment.

50% are supporting people affected by Long Covid.

Commenting on the survey, RCOT Director of Practice and Innovation, Karin Orman said: “It’s clear from this survey that rehabilitation services across the UK are overloaded, with the vast majority of occupational therapists seeing a huge increase in demand and complexity of their caseload over the last six months alone. This simply isn’t sustainable and there isn’t a big enough workforce to currently meet demand.

“Across the UK, health and social care leaders need to invest more in rehabilitation services and drive the recruitment of more occupational therapists as a matter of urgency. Not in a few years but now. As leaders of rehabilitation services, occupational therapists are a vital part of the solution to getting through the backlog of people needing intervention. The maths is simple – the quicker people have access to rehabilitation services, the better their chances at getting back to doing the things they need and love to do.”

Layla Moran MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, said: “These new findings clearly show that the long-term impacts of the virus, including Long Covid, are exacerbating many of the challenges that occupational therapists are facing both in the NHS and beyond.

“Healthcare professionals are bearing the brunt of UK Government inaction and as long as Ministers bury their heads in the sand and refuse to address the growing Long Covid crisis, our economy and essential services will be under even greater strain. They must commit more money for research and funding, and recognise the condition as an occupational disease.”

•

Football Legends Have a Ball at Vida Healthcare The UK’s leading provider of dementia care, Vida Healthcare, has welcomed famous football

Sharon Oldfield, home manager at Vida Court, said: “We were thrilled to be able to host three

players through its doors to reminisce with resi-

Leeds United legends at our care home. Activities

dents.

like this are so important for our residents and

Three retired players from Leeds United Football Club (LUFC) visited residents at Vida Healthcare’s latest care home, Vida Court. Tony Dorigo, Eddie Gray and Paul Reaney spent time

they had a fantastic time meeting Tony, Eddie and Paul and sharing a pie and pint with them.

“Wellbeing and life enrichment is crucial to the lives of our residents. This special day was all

with residents and staff, and spoke about high-

about reminiscence and nostalgia, and it brought

lights from Leeds games over the past few

back special memories for everyone in atten-

decades and major career moments. Staff also set

dance. Events and visits like this are crucial for

up goals in the garden for residents to have a

encouraging residents to remember moments in

game of football with the players.

their lives, and building strong bonds with staff.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 11

MPs Join Relatives & Residents Association Call for New Right to Care Supporter A cross-party coalition of MPs has joined a call from the Relatives & Residents Association (R&RA) for a new legal right to ensure people can maintain contact with their family across health and care settings. Over 60 MPs have signed a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in response to the severe, detrimental impact isolation from family and friends has caused.

The joint call follows a R&RA event in Parliament on 9 March, which co-chair Tracey Crouch MP described as one of the “most powerful” she has been involved in. People who have been affected by separation during the pandemic travelled to Westminster to talk to MPs about why this new right is needed. Listening to the “harrowing experiences of people unable to see loved ones”,

James Wild MP said “it can’t be right that there’s a postcode lottery that leads to such cruel outcomes.”

The letter to the Secretary of State, sent on 23 May, has been coordinated by four MPs: Labour MP Dan Carden, Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper, and Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts. Many more MPs have expressed their support but were unable to sign the joint letter due to their Ministerial/Shadow roles.

MPs are calling on the Secretary of State to create a new legal right which would give anyone who needs care and support access to a ‘care supporter’ – a relative or friend who can help them wherever they need it, such as in hospitals, care homes or GP surgeries. The joint letter is below.

R&RA director, Helen Wildbore, said: “MPs have sent a message loud and clear to the Government: never again should those who need support be cut off from the people they need most. The support of partners, parents, sons and daughters is not an optional extra, but vital to dignified care. The Government must answer this call to ensure the devastating harm of the past two years is never repeated.”

Lord-Lieutenant Presents John Gorée with British Empire Medal to Honour 4 Exceptional Decades in Social Care John Gorée was formally presented with the British Empire Medal (BEM) by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire this week in recognition of his services to the disabled in Lincolnshire and the Midlands.

The special ceremony was held at the Guildhall in Grantham where official speeches and medal presentation were followed by relaxed refreshments and was attended by close family, friends and colleagues from national charity, Ambient Support.

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Toby Dennis, says: “There is definitely something about Grantham, over the last few months I have been privileged to meet people from very different walks of life who have received national honours and John is continuing that wonderful spirit of community activity with the work he has done over the last four decades for his service in social care. I am delighted that, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, I am able to present John with the Medal of the Order of the British Empire.”

John started his career in 1982 as a care assistant then trained as a Learning Disability nurse in the NHS in 1985 before moving into social care where he joined Ambient Support 21 years ago. Prior to his retirement in May last year, John oversaw a team looking after 269 service users as Regional Manager for the Lincolnshire and The Midlands.

John’s passion was to ensure that a ‘person-centered’ approach was at the very heart of decision mak-

ing at every level of the charity and he introduced news ways of thinking and devised many schemes and projects that realised this type of care.

CEO of Ambient, Mark Milton, says: “It was truly delightful to see so many people gather together to celebrate John’s outstanding career. His services to Ambient alone have been thoroughly commendable- a true trail blazer for change and a fearless advocate for people with disability and a pioneer in ensuring the voices of the people we support, are heard.

We are forever grateful for his enthusiasm, dedication and his willingness to believe that everyone can lead a valued and meaningful life.

John truly encapsulates what we call, ‘The Ambient Way’.”

On being presented with the BEM, John says: “I feel truly thankful and humbled to receive the British Empire Medal surrounded by so many people who mean so much to me. My family and friends are forever supportive and I am eternally grateful to have worked with such fantastic teams of people in the Midlands and Lincolnshire at Ambient Support- we come to work every day with a smile, even when it’s difficult, knowing that we can make a positive impact to individual lives.”

The ‘John Gorée Awards’ were launched by Ambient last November as a way of honouring the retired Regional Manager following his 40-year career. John has generously donated £5,000 to the charity to run the award scheme in his name over the next 10 years which celebrates staff who deliver exceptional care and support to the people they look after.

PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

Monkeypox – Expert Reveals PCR Testing Difficulties and That Covid May Have Aided Its Spread At least 71 people have so far been identified with monkeypox in the UK. London Medical Laboratory says monkeypox is not the next Covid, but the pandemic may be responsible for the speed of its spread.

Cases of monkeypox are increasing in the UK and across the world. It has now been found in 19 countries outside of Africa, including the UAE, Spain, Portugal, the US and Australia. London Medical Laboratory says Covid-19 may have paved the way for the outbreak and that widespread PCR testing for the disease would present significant new challenges.

The leading testing expert, Dr Quinton Fivelman PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at London Medical Laboratory, says: ‘Though typically spread by contact with an infected animal, person-to-person cases are now being recorded in the UK. The virus is likely spread by touching or sharing infected items like clothing and bedding, or by the respiratory droplets produced by sneezing or coughing.

‘So far, there seems little need for UK-wide testing in the same way we did for Covid. That’s because monkeypox, though a serious disease, is not usually life-threatening and the characteristic rash is quite distinctive. Initial estimates put the risk of fatality from the strain of monkeypox present in the UK at around 1%, though it is obviously a painful, unpleasant disease that must be taken seriously. There is a different and much more lethal monkeypox strain present in central Africa, thought to kill up to 10% of patients, but this is not believed to be in the UK or Europe currently.

‘The virus is also less likely to mutate than SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that mutations tend to be typically lower with this virus, which means that it is less likely to

evolve new ways to spread through populations as rapidly as Covid did. The WHO says it has no evidence that the monkeypox virus has mutated and, although it’s endemic in west and central Africa, it has tended not to change significantly.

‘However, if the virus does become of greater concern, widespread testing for it would present some challenges. Diagnostic PCR tests became well-known during the pandemic, using nose and throat samples to detect the presence of Covid. To detect the monkeypox virus, doctors also use a PCR test, taking samples of the fluid-filled blisters and scabs on the skin. The sample then goes to a lab, where testing is carried out to determine the presence of the monkeypox virus.

‘At the moment, it is thought that such samples must be kept refrigerated, unlike Covid tests. That presents a logistical problem. Samples sent via the mail may not be useable.

‘Of equal concern is that, as a WHO-designated Risk group 3 pathogen, these samples need to be treated carefully. The smallpox vaccine is thought likely to prove at least 80% effective against monkeypox as they are closely-related viruses. Here in the UK, we stopped regularly vaccinating against smallpox way back in 1971. Anyone under the age of 50 is unlikely to have been immunised.

‘America’s Center for Disease Control says that where possible, only vaccinated people (i.e. smallpox vaccination within the past 10 years) should perform laboratory work that involves handling specimens that may contain monkeypox virus.

‘It says non-immunised people must use increased personal protection equipment and improved practices should be followed to further reduce the risk of exposures.

‘Obviously, this presents a problem for UK doctors, health workers and phlebotomists coming into regular contact with these PCR tests, the majority of whom will never have received a smallpox vaccination.

‘While monkeypox and Covid are entirely unrelated viruses, it is possible that Covid coincidentally paved the way for the global surge in monkeypox cases. That’s due to two factors. Firstly, Covid-19 may have left some people with weakened immune systems. New research from scientists in Cambridge indicates that some Covid patients show pro-

found alterations in many immune cell types that persist for weeks or even months after Covid infection. This could lead to people with weakened immune systems being more susceptible to diseases such as monkeypox.

‘Secondly, there is some evidence that many of us, even those who have never caught Covid, have less resistance to viruses because we have been out less and interacted less with other people during the pandemic. We’ve all been masked-up and had less exercise and exposure to the protection offered by sunshine’s vitamin D. Certainly for children, this lack of exposure to new viruses won’t have helped build robust immune systems.

‘Another way Covid may be influencing the spread of monkeypox is through international travel. For many months, this was at a virtual standstill during the pandemic. Now it is once again largely unrestricted, families and friends from across continents are reuniting all at once.

That presents a great opportunity for any opportunistic virus to spread.

‘The good news is that, unlike the Covid-19 virus, the monkeypox virus is made of double-stranded DNA, which means that it is larger and heavier and unable to travel in the air as far as the tiny, singlestranded Covid RNA virus. Once the rash forms a scab, in two to four weeks, people are no longer infectious.

‘No monkeypox blood tests are privately available currently in the UK and, indeed, the almost universal appearance of the distinctive rash a day after an initial fever means patients are left in little doubt they have caught the virus. However, a general health test might be a useful course of action for anyone concerned about monkeypox, to ensure they are in overall good health to help fight the symptoms of new viruses. London Medical Laboratory’s Health Profile Test provides people with a comprehensive check-up of their general health, including vitamin D levels, diabetes (HbA1c), liver & kidney function, full blood count, bone health, iron levels and a full cholesterol profile. It can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer this test across London, the southeast and selected pharmacies and health stores. For full details, see: www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/general-health

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 13

Association Between Vascular Risk Factors and Dementia Vary with Age Research has shown that the association between vascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and dementia varies with age. The findings were published in the journal Neurology earlier this month.

Researchers in Ireland and the US used an established risk measure called the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP) to study vascular risk factors, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and dementia risk in people aged 55 and above.

Participants in the study came from the Framingham Heart Study and included 4,899 people aged 55 at the start of the study.

People were followed up over five timepoints in mid to later life from 55, at ages 65, 70, 75 and 80, to assess their dementia risk.

People with diabetes and high blood pressure from around the age of 65 had an increased risk of developing dementia in the next 10 years.

Diabetes, across all age points from 65-80, increased a person’s risk of developing dementia in the next 10 years. In midlife, people living with diabetes had a four times greater risk of developing dementia than those who didn’t.

Midlife high blood pressure also increased risk of developing dementia within the next 10 years, however, those who took antihypertensive drugs in laterlife did reduce their risk somewhat.

Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “The findings from this study confirm existing

research, which links vascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, with an increased risk of developing dementia in later life. We know that poorer vascular health can increase the chances of developing small vessel disease and other conditions that affect blood flow in the brain, which then damages our brain cells irreparably.

“Further work in a more representative group of people will ensure we understand the risk for people from different ethnic backgrounds who we know are already at a greater risk of vascular conditions.

“Studies like this are good for highlighting links, but we need to understand more about why and how these conditions affect dementia risk. With this knowledge, researchers can then design treatments and prevention strategies to benefit people in their midlife – a critical timepoint for reducing your risk of dementia.

“It is important to properly manage long-term health conditions and people who have concerns about any aspect of their health should speak to their GP. “We do know that it’s never too early or too late in life to take steps to reduce our risk of dementia and improve our brain health. Not smoking, only drinking in moderation, staying mentally, physically and socially active, eating a balanced diet, and keeping cholesterol and blood pressure levels in check can all help to keep our brains healthy as we age. Find information and advice on brain health at www.thinkbrainhealth.org.uk”

Local Care Home Hosts Important Veterans Event

Southgate Beaumont care home in conjunction with Age UK Enfield and The Armed Forces Covenant is hosting a monthly event for Ex-servic-

es personnel and their families from the local community to meet up over a coffee.

Taking place the first Tuesday of the month from 11am to 1pm, Ex-services personnel and their families will have a chance to meet and chat over tea or coffee and homemade cakes provided by the home.

Beatrice Godfrey, General Manager at Southgate Beaumont said: “Our Veterans Coffee and a catch up event allows individuals from the local area to meet and connect with one another regularly. It’s a great chance to share stories, make new friends, and of course, enjoy our wonderful spread provided by our hospitality team!’

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PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

Research Reveals on Why Assisted Hydration for Patients Near the End of Life is Difficult for Doctors to Discuss with Patients and Families Assisted hydration at the end of life is a highly emotive topic. Some may remember negative headlines about the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), many of which focused on poor communication and practice relating to the use of assisted hydration. Although the LCP was withdrawn some years ago, recent data suggest that conversations about assisted hydration are only documented in the medical notes for 9% of dying people and 30% of their families.

This new research looks at how doctors communicate and make decisions about assisted hydration near the end of life. It indicates that rigid workplace cultures, clinical uncertainties, wide variations in opinion and ethical quandaries all play a part in making these conversations challenging.

For this study, Dr Kingdon, Specialist Registrar in Palliative Medicine and Academic Clinical Fellow at the Primary Care Unit, carried out indepth interviews with 16 doctors experienced with end of life care from several hospitals and hospices.

Most of the doctors interviewed recognised the benefits of discussing hydration proactively, but reported that they faced difficult decisions about timing and what exactly to talk about, including whether it is necessary to mention assisted hydration in every case. NICE guidance suggests that this should happen, but this was at odds with many interviewees’ personal practice.

Dr Kingdon explained: “There are so many nuances to take into account. It was clear that participants wanted to empower their patients to be active partners in shared decision-making about their care. But they didn’t want to burden their patients with unnecessary decisions about concerns that might not be relevant to them, when these patients are already very fatigued. The interviews really showed this tension between wanting to involve patients and not wanting to burden them or over-medicalise their deaths”.

Deciding about assisted hydration The participants in the study described a complex series of factors that influenced their decisions about assisted hydration. Factors included the patient’s condition, whether they are judged likely to benefit, the degree of prognostic uncertainty, what families are experiencing, where the patient is and where they wish to be, and what others in the healthcare team are used to as part of their notion of ‘normal’ practice.

All the participants in the study had encountered situations in which the family of the dying person requested assisted hydration, but where participants felt clinical benefit from assisted hydration was unlikely. This situation is ethically challenging and almost all participants described that they would be willing to start a time-limited trial of assisted hydration in this situation – possibly for ‘buying time’ for family to adjust to the dying process.

This gave Dr Kingdon pause for thought: “I had wondered whether doctors might stick quite rigidly to ideas about “best interests” decisionmaking and refuse to give assisted hydration in these situations. But actually it seems that the interviewees were happy to include families’ views in their decision-making process, which is actually probably more in keeping with what patients would want, given what we know from previous research”.

Discussing hydration with patients and families Participants said they relied on tried and tested techniques to help them have these difficult conversations. Many participants said they aim to make sure that there was an understanding that the patient was likely to die before opening up discussions concerning hydration. The hospicebased participants tended to emphasise that it’s normal to take less by mouth toward end of life. One said: “I very often explain that people’s feeling of hunger and thirst diminishes in the dying period.”

Many participants said they took time to build rapport and trust, and they aimed to listen rather than launching into prepared explanations. Tailoring care for each individual was the biggest concern. While most participants said they feel assisted hydration is rarely clinically beneficial for dying people, blanket decisions must be avoided. The conversation is seen as one where there is “real potential to upset the person you’re talking to.”

The research also highlighted overarching cultural issues that influence practitioners, patients and families.

“In Asian culture everything centres around food and drink… it underpins all of the social norms and it’s how people show that they love somebody or appreciate somebody… it’s analogous to, you know, you have a relative that’s constantly trying to feed somebody when they’re dying, it’s because that’s their way of expressing love,” said one palliative medicine consultant.

“This area of practice is challenging even for senior clinicians with experience in end of life care. The topic of hydration near the end of life is of great importance to families, and poor communication or decisionmaking about hydration can result in drastically negative consequences,” said Dr Kingdon.

He added: “Hospital-based practitioners may need reminding that active treatment until death is not always the right course of action; hospice-based professionals may need reminding that it is not always wrong. Our research shows how clinicians are handling the challenges of assisted hydration as they strive to provide individualised care for all their patients, and provides food for thought for doctors from any specialty who might be involved in conversations of this nature.”

Hallmark Care Homes and Santhem Residences Team to Walk 26 Miles for Alzheimer’s Society On Saturday 28th May, 39 team members from award-winning care provider, Hallmark Care Homes and new assisted-living brand Santhem Residences will take part in a gruelling 26 mile walk to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society.

The participants, which include Hallmark’s Managing Director, Aneurin Brown will commence the challenging walk which starts and finishes at Larkhall Park in London.

The dedicated group have decided to take on the Trek26 walk after experiencing dementia first hand within their roles.

Aneurin Brown said: “We decided to take on this challenge, because dementia affects the people we care for everyday in our roles, and many of us have loved ones currently living with dementia or who have sadly passed away from the disease.

“We will also be undertaking the walk as part of our anniversary celebrations in May as we will be 25 years old. We thought what better way to celebrate than to give back to a charity that does so much to support both people living with and caring for someone living with dementia.”

Nick O’Donohue, Alzheimer’s Society Area Manager, said: “We would like to thank all 39 of the Hallmark Care Homes and Santhem Residences employees who are taking part in Trek26 for us later this month. Money raised will help Alzheimer’s Society reach and support more people through our vital services, which have been a lifeline for so many people living in London.

“We’re calling on people from across the capital to go the distance and don their boots for a Trek26 challenge in 2022. Every pound raised will help Alzheimer’s Society provide crucial information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by the condition.

“We are in awe of the resilience of supporters like the Hallmark Care Homes team, whose dedication to fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society ensures that we are able to support those who need it most.”

The walking group have already raised £6,300 for the charity which campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and supports people living with dementia with a goal of £7,000.

Connecting Residents and Families for a Year – MHA and Famileo Mark First Anniversary Care charity Methodist Homes (MHA) is celebrating a year of using the digital gazette Famileo which helps link residents with family and friends.

Famileo was piloted at MHA Coed Craig care home in north Wales by activity coordinator Amy Clearly, who started using it with her residents and their families and friends.

People upload status updates to an app, much as they would update their social media profiles, and include text and images. These are then converted into a weekly printed newsletter for residents to read and catch up with the latest family news. Each Famileo is personal to a resident.

Since it was introduced at MHA Coed Craig, Famileo has been adopted

by MHA’s 88 care homes and some of its retirement living schemes, 5,112 families and friends are using it to stay connected and around 23,000 individual gazettes have been published. MHA is the largest care provider in the UK using Famileo.

Famileo is funded by MHA’s charitable work so there is no additional cost to residents. The company behind Famileo is based in France and the gazettes are used by care homes across Europe.

Amy said: “When I first found out about Famileo, I thought how fabulous it would be to help keep our residents connected with their family and friends.”

MHA’s dementia lead David Moore, who has been instrumental in rolling out Famileo to care homes, said: “Because of the pandemic, visiting in our care homes has been limited at times. Famileo has been a fantastic way of helping keep the connections between residents and their family and friends when they haven’t been able to see each other.

“We also have a number of residents who have family living abroad so it helps them catch up on all the latest news and goings on that we take for granted when we meet face-to-face and the showing of photographs.

“All our homes using Famileo talk about the excitement and joy the distribution of the weekly newsletter brings to residents.”

Armel de Lesquen, Chief Executive of Famileo, said: “It has been great to work in partnership with MHA to bring Famileo to their residents and families.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 15

Government ‘Failed in its Duty of Care’ to Doctors and the Healthcare Workers in its Handling of the Pandemic, says BMA A major review into the UK Government’s handling of the pandemic and its impact on the NHS, the health of the population, and doctors, has been undertaken by the BMA. The first two reports conclude that the UK Government failed in its duty of care to protect doctors and the wider healthcare workforce from avoidable harm and suffering in its management of the COVID-19 pandemic. This failure is evidenced in detail and published today by the BMA. The reports, part of a series of five, are the most comprehensive accounts of the lived experiences of doctors throughout the pandemic, collated from thousands of doctors across the UK, including those who were on the frontline during COVID-19. They also draw upon real-time surveys over the past two years, as well as formal testimonies, data and evidence sessions from stakeholders. Page after page details the devastating impact of the pandemic on medical professionals as individuals, and on the NHS, showing mistake after mistake – errors of judgement and policy made by the UK Government - which amount to a failure of a duty of care to the workforce.

In what is believed to be the first documented account of its kind, doctors from across the UK have spoken out about their own experiences during the pandemic, recounting their fears and anxieties as well as laying bare the shortages of PPE, a lack of timely and adequate risk assessments, and the huge impact on their mental and physical health.

The reports, which will also form part of the BMA’s submission to the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry, make a series of recommendations about lessons which must be learned as well as presenting evidence of where things went wrong.

Key recommendations for governments from the reports include: 1. UK and devolved governments should continue to carry out pandemic preparedness exercises for the most likely types of infections and must act on the lessons learned from these exercises and the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying key themes such as PPE stockpiling, testing, and public health capacity.

2. Public health systems should be resourced and funded to have adequate contact tracing capacity and be able to rapidly scale up testing for future variants or pandemics.

3. The UK Government needs to maintain an adequate rotating stockpile of suitable PPE and have plans to quickly scale up procurement and manufacturing if required.

4. General wellbeing support including timely and accessible occupational health assessments and support to access psychological support services must be made available for staff at all levels across all health services, with specific support also offered to ensure staff can recover from the pressure of delivering care during a pandemic.

5. The need for a continuous and transparent assessment of workforce shortages and future staffing requirement to ensure health services and public health systems are better prepared to deal with crises.

6. Improve capital investment, modernise physical infrastructure and improve ventilation of the NHS estate.

7. To mitigate inequity in the future, mechanisms must be introduced to make the experience of working in the NHS less variable by background or protected characteristic.

Saint Cecilia’s Care Group Acquires Oakland Nursing Home Saint Cecilia’s Care Group has agreed terms to take over the running of a popular Whitby nursing home and is to give it a new name.

The care group is taking over Oakland nursing home securing the care of its 13 residents and the jobs of its 25 staff.

The home is to be renamed and the company is looking for suggestions that will signal a fresh start for it.

All existing Oakland staff are being offered posts with Saint Cecilia’s, matching their current pay, terms, and conditions.

Saint Cecilia’s Managing Director Mike Padgham said: “We are delighted to complete the takeover of Oakland and look forward to now welcoming the home, its residents, and staff to the Saint Cecilia’s family.

“Following successful negotiations, we are pleased that this popular nursing home has been retained for the Whitby community.

“The staff have done an amazing job ensuring continuity of care at the home during a very uncertain period and we will now be working with them and with the residents and their families to take the home on to a bright new future.

“We decided on a name change to signal a fresh start for the home and we are open to suggestions. If someone comes up with a new and inspirational name for the home, we will give a donation to a charity of their choice.

“We are grateful for the support of North Yorkshire County Council, the Care Quality Commission and North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group during this transfer.”

Saint Cecilia’s has appointed Tom Johnstone as interim manager and has begun recruiting other new staff for the home. It is looking for applicants for a number of posts.

Dale Owens, Assistant Director of Service Development and Prevention at North Yorkshire County Council, said: “We know the importance of Oakland Nursing Home to the community and are very pleased to see it move on to a new phase. North Yorkshire worked hard to help achieve that result.

“Our priority was to ensure its residents get the best possible care and the peace of mind of knowing it has a secure future. This development also provides job security to the staff and we look forward to working with the new team.”

The home becomes Saint Cecilia’s second nursing home, joining Saint Cecilia’s Nursing Home on Queen Margaret’s Road in Scarborough.

Mr Padgham added: “This remains a challenging time for social care, but we do believe that the sector has a very positive and bright future and that the care of older and vulnerable adults is a vital service for the community.

“The addition of Oakland helps us to grow and strengthen the company to enable us to keep providing that care and also to provide greater opportunities for progression across the group for our staff.”

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PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

WWII Veteran Major Edwin ‘Ted’ Hunt MVO Honoured in The Netherlands Major Ted Hunt MVO, who lives at the Care for Veterans Home in Worthing, was taken to The Netherlands by The Taxi Charity to celebrate Dutch Liberation on 5 May and when the rest of the group returned to the UK, Major Ted and volunteer London Cab Driver Mike Hughes stayed behind to attend the event in Gennep.

London Cab Driver and Taxi Charity Volunteer , Mike Hughes said, “What Major Ted didn’t know was that the event he was attending today was not purely to commemorate building the Bailey Bridge during WWII but was primarily to thank Ted for his contribution to this amazing feat of engineering. Keeping this secret from him for several months was not easy but seeing the joy on his face when the penny dropped that he was the guest of honour, and the day was for him was something I will never forget.”

The wording on the sign at the site of the Bailey Bridge says, ‘These two bridge segments are a tribute to the 1222 metre, 1126-ton Bailey Bridge, that English Sapper Major Edwin Hunt MVO and Dutch Civil Engineer reserve Lieutenant Constant Lambrechtsen van Ritthem planned and designed. The bridge was built between the 12 and 20 February 1945 by 7th Army Engineers of the British Second Army and this masterpiece was the longest floating Bailey Bridge of WWII.” Major Ted Hunt, said, “It was wonderful to be here today to celebrate the courage and skill of a very brave Dutchman. It was an honour for me to work with him and it is lovely for the people here today to see and recognise the result of what he did. The bridge at

Gennep was the lifeline of the war as it moved on into Germany. Constant is the man to be admired I was just his dogsbody.”

Dick Goodwin, Vice President Taxi Charity said, “Ted is a very humble man and does not take much credit for his part in the Bailey Bridge at Gennep but his advice and help in the building of this significant bridge is one of the major turning points in the final stages of the war in Europe. The Taxi Charity has brought Ted back to The Netherlands on many occasions, and it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to be here with him today.”

Historic Garden at Croydon Based Care Home to Host Street Party Picnic as Part of Jubilee Celebrations With the jubilee fast approaching, staff at a Croydon based care home will be using their historic garden to host a street party picnic.

The venue, Wilderness Gardens is a seven-acre historic garden situated within MHA Hall Grange, a care home that offers residential and dementia care for up to 86 people.

The party will take place on Saturday 4 June from 12pm, with staff, residents and family members of the home invited as well as members of the community.

There will be an outdoor hymn service to kick the celebrations off and the party will also include a performance from the Croydon Brass Band.

Steve Thompson, commissioning and partnerships manager for the Wilderness said: “The street party is a great way to engage with the community and celebrate something which is unique and may never happen again.

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“It was at the request of residents at the home which prompted us to arrange the party and we are very happy with how the plan is coming along.

“A lot of them were asking us what we will be doing for the jubilee and that’s how the idea came about.

“So far we have sold more than 70 tickets, and we are confident of selling at least 100 in total.

“The ticket fee will help to cover our costs as this is a break even event.

“For those who are unable to attend we will be live streaming the service on our Facebook page.

“Hopefully, it’s going to be a great event, in a beautiful location and we are looking forward to seeing as many people as possible joining in with us to celebrate.”

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

JCVI Provides Interim Advice on an Autumn COVID-19 Booster Programme The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has provided interim advice to government regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) booster doses this autumn.

The boosters would be for more vulnerable adults, alongside frontline social care and health workers, in order to maintain their protection over the winter against severe COVID-19.The advice should be considered as interim and for the purposes of operational planning for the autumn for the NHS, care homes and wider health community.

The committee recognises that there is considerable uncertainty with regards to the likelihood, timing and severity of any potential future wave of COVID-19 in the UK in the year ahead.

Despite these uncertainties, winter will remain the season when the threat from COVID-19 is greatest for individuals and for health communities.

As in autumn 2021, the primary objective of the 2022 autumn booster programme will be to increase population immunity and protection against severe COVID-19 disease, specifically hospitalisation and death, over the winter period.

The JCVI’s current view is that in autumn 2022, a COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to: • residents in a care home for older adults and staff • frontline health and social care workers • all those 65 years of age and over • adults aged 16 to 64 years who are in a clinical risk group

Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of COVID-19 vaccination on the JCVI, said: Last year’s autumn booster vaccination programme provided excellent protection against severe COVID19, including against the Omicron variant.

We have provided interim advice on an autumn booster programme for 2022 so that the NHS and care homes are able to start the necessary operational planning, to enable high levels of protection for more vulnerable individuals and frontline healthcare staff over next winter.

As we continue to review the scientific data, further updates to this advice will follow.

Throughout the pandemic, evidence has clearly shown that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected those in older age groups, residents in care homes for older adults, and those with certain underlying health conditions, particularly those who are severely immunosuppressed.

It is important that those who are eligible for the spring booster currently being rolled out – specifically adults aged 75 years and over, residents in a care home for older adults, and individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed – still come forward to ensure they are protected.

The JCVI will continue its on-going review of the vaccination programme and the epidemiological situation, particularly in relation to the timing and value of doses for less vulnerable older adults and those in clinical risk groups ahead of autumn 2022.

The committee will announce its final plans for the autumn programme, including further detail on the definitions of clinical risk groups, in due course.

Sanders Senior Living to Develop New Care Home Site in Leicestershire Sanders Senior Living has completed the transaction for the development of a new, futureproofed care home facility in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire which will comprise 60 bedrooms on a one acre plot. Each room will have en-suite wet room provision and residents will have access to a range of best-in-class communal facilities including a dementia café, hair salon, communal lounges and landscaped outdoor spaces with seating areas to enhance residents’ wellbeing.

Located in the main urban area of Melton, just a fifteen-minute walk from the train station, the care home consists of good-quality, inclusive and sustainable design and is regenerating the former Sandicliffe Ford car sales pitch site. Achieving planning in April, construction on the site is due to start next week.

Sanders Senior Living develops luxury care homes and is a sister company to Runwood Homes Ltd, the UK’s largest privately-owned care home group that owns over 70 care homes nationwide, operating circa 5,000 beds. In 2020, Knight Frank advised Sanders Senior Living on the acquisition of a similar site in Worcester, The Belmont, which is now operational.

Tom Sanders, Estates Director, Sanders Senior Living, said: “We are pleased to have received the guid-

ance and expertise of Knight Frank on this strategic acquisition in Melton Mowbray. We have worked with Knight Frank on previous Sanders Senior Living developments, including our Worcester site, The Belmont.

As such, our already established and existing partnership with Knight Frank gives me the upmost confidence that we will see great success in our new development. The Group’s invaluable expertise and knowledge ensures that we will be meeting the needs of Melton Mowbray’s community in providing professional care, something, at Sanders Senior Living, we pride ourselves on.”

Mandip Bhogal, Associate in Healthcare, Knight Frank, said: “We are proud to have supported Sanders Senior Living in this strategic acquisition and development opportunity which will provide a premium care home for the local Melton Mowbray community.

“The demand for best-in-class care properties is only set to increase as the population continues to age. In addition to providing a significant facility locally, this development is also providing much-needed stock of fit-for-purpose, future-proofed, purpose-built care facilities with sustainability and a focus on residents’ experience at the heart of the design and development process.”

Knight Frank’s research indicates that the growth in the UK’s elderly population will potentially lead to a near doubling of demand for care beds by 2050, increasing by 350,000 beds against current levels of demand. Care home closures and this growing elderly population mean that supply is failing to keep pace with demand despite a healthy new development pipeline. The UK elderly care market is at risk of reaching capacity by the end of the decade, heightening the need for new homes to be built and for existing homes to be futureproofed and modernised.

Otiom, the World's First IoT Device Designed To Prevent People With Dementia From Becoming Lost Although commonplace, wandering can be dangerous or even life-threatening for people with dementia, and the stress can weigh heavily on friends, family and carers. Otiom - is beginning to make a positive impact in the social care sector and is demonstrating its potential to be a gamechanger for the care of people living with dementia.

WHAT IS OTIOM? Otiom is a unique and discrete tagging device which people with dementia can easily carry. It utilises IoT technology to ensure reliable tracking indoors and outdoors, and has a long battery life.

THE OTIOM SYSTEM: Firstly, the tag: the monitoring device which is carried by the person with a tendency to wander.

Secondly, the home base: which is placed in the home of the person with dementia. The Otiom tag constantly communicates with the home base via Bluetooth while the person is at home.

Thirdly, the app: which is free on iOS or Android and allows an unlimited number of caregivers or relatives to operate the system.

The app allows caregivers to set a safety level depending on individual circumstances. The safety levels have been designed to cater for all stages of dementia. At its lowest setting, location data can

only be accessed when carers are concerned about a person’s whereabouts to manually raise the alarm. The fact that tracking is non-constant helps avoid any invasion of privacy for the person with dementia.

Otiom can be managed using a smartphone and a safety zone can be set outside the personal home or care facility where the person resides, including gardens or community areas. If the person leaves the safety zone, an alarm will be triggered and the Otiom-app will show the current location.

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PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

70 YEARS’ OF MAJESTEA - The Nation’s Cuppa Marks 70 Years Of Research Into Health Benefits Regular black tea is the number one choice for a brew in the UK with more than three quarters (74%) polled having a cup of this – on average 2-3 times a day. The black tea capital of the UK is Belfast (89 percent), followed by Glasgow (87 percent) and Plymouth (84 percent). Just over half (55%) drink green tea, while over four in 10 (47%) drink herbal teas.

TEA RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS 1952-2022

It’s not just Her Majesty who’s celebrating 70 glorious years. The great British cuppa – the nation’s favourite hot drink – is also marking seven decades of research into its health and wellbeing benefits.

Tea Advisory Panel (TAP) dietitian at www.teaadvisorypanel.com - Dr Carrie Ruxton, says: “In 1952, when tea rationing came to an end, scientists focused on the polyphenols – natural plant compounds which are understood to give tea its positive health effects. The 1960s and 70s revealed new data on how tea drinking reduces heart disease risk, while the 90s saw the discovery of anti-cancer compounds in green tea.

“As the millennium passed, research turned to other tea benefits, such as its antibacterial effects and natural fluoride content which protects dental health. Newer studies began to link regular tea drinking – of around 4 cups a day – with lower blood pressure, protection from stroke, weight management and hydration. The most recent studies in 2022 have highlighted how black and green teas help with relaxation, and reduce stress levels, dementia risk and cognitive decline. These 70 years have taught us that there’s so much more to the traditional British cuppa!”

The benefits of tea are also felt by Brits up and down the country, according to a new poll of more than 1000 British adults[1] reviewed by the Tea Advisory Panel. Almost half (46%) of those responding say their morning cuppa helps get them going, while nearly a third (29%) say drinking tea gives them the energy to do their job and more than a fifth (21%) go as far as to describe tea as a “superpower in a mug”.

Dr Roberts and Dr Wood[2] isolate and characterise plant compounds in tea, advancing the methods we use to quantify the beneficial polyphenols in different teas.

1960s – amino acids found in tea As reported in the Tea Research Journal[3], scientists review types of amino acids in tea. One example is L-theanine, an amino acid now known to induce feelings of relaxation after tea is consumed.

Tea expert and researcher from the Tea Advisory Panel -Dr Tim Bond added: “The 60’s was a key decade in black tea chemistry for coloured polyphenols with the way Theaflavins (TF’s) were created as well as their structure[4],[5]

1970S – THEARUBIGINS A focus on the brown coloured Thearubigins – the dominant polyphenols in a cuppa - investigating their structure,[6] was a research focus for the 70s. Thearubigins are now known to be the richest source of health promoting flavonoids in the UK diet.[7]

1980S – TEA INHIBITS CANCER CELLS Dr Chen and colleagues[8] extract an antioxidant component from green tea and identified the major compounds as epicatechins. These were found to have anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer effects, suggesting they could help prevent some types of cancer.

1990S – ANTI-MICROBIAL EFFECTS & TEA PROTECTS HEART HEALTH Dr Hamilton-Miller and colleagues[9] suggests that the anti-microbial activity of tea is down to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and concludes: “Mrs. Beeton’s advice to bathe styes with cold tea was rational therapy.” A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association[10] links tea drinking with protection against heart disease.

2000S – TEA CAN HYDRATE JUST AS WELL AS WATER A clinical trial in the British Journal of Nutrition[11] busts the myth that tea dehydrates, finding that regular black tea is just as good as water as hydrating. Participants drank either four or six cups daily providing 168-252mg of caffeine a day.

2010S – FLUORIDE IN TEA HELPS TO PROTECT DENTAL HEALTH A study in Nutrition Bulletin[12] finds that tea contains natural fluo-

ride and drinking 4-5 cups a day could be good for teeth. The authors suggest some tea brands would qualify for a health claim to “strengthen and maintain tooth enamel”.

2022 - double health benefit as tea found to connect heart and brain health - new study suggests the humble brew could be a win for minds and hearts A new research review by TAP[13] looks at the benefits of tea for minds and hearts, finding a wealth of evidence on markers of heart health, such as blood vessel function, and the positive impact of tea drinking on relaxation, stress, mental focus, dementia risk and cognitive decline.

SEE www.teaadvisorypanel.com [1] Independent survey of 1047 UK adults, Summer 2022, data on file.

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1197528/ [3] https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/cha1953/1962/19/1962_19_1/_article/-char/en [4] https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bbb1961/27/4/27_4_319/_article/-char/ja/ [5] https://academic.oup.com/bbb/article-abstract/28/1/64/5976496?redirectedFrom=fulltext [6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031942200888573 [7] https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0128132 [8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1813062/ [9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC162950/ [10] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/485133 [11] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21450118/ [12] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nbu.12171 [13] https://sciforschenonline.org/journals/nutrition-food/NFTOA176.php

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 21

New Toolkit Launched to Improve Dementia Care for South Asian People People living with dementia from South Asian communities will benefit from improved culturally sensitive support, thanks to a new online toolkit launched by universities and charities.

The toolkit hosted by the Race Equality Foundation will provide enhanced care for members of South Asian communities – many of whom receive significantly less effective dementia care from statutory services compared to their counterparts from White British communities.

People from South Asian communities are at greater risk of developing dementia but are less likely to access all points of the care pathway – and more likely to present in crisis and/or at a later stage. They are more likely to face barriers including a late or missed diagnosis, reduced access to treatments, and inappropriate or inadequate support coupled with problems caused by language barriers. They often rely on local, community-led organisations for support.

Alarmingly, the number of people from South Asian and communities with dementia is expected to increase sevenfold by 2051, due in part to inequalities in service provision and the increased risk of other health factors associated with dementia. For White British people, the rise is expected to be more modest – doubling over the same time period.

Combatting the current one-size-fits-all model, the South Asian Dementia Pathway Toolkit (ADaPT) aims to provide more accessible, tailored resources enabling services to provide more culturally appropriate care.

Designed to address the uphill struggle that many people from South Asian backgrounds face, the toolkit includes short films, animations, awareness raising materials, assessments and post-diagnostic support – all of which have been culturally and linguistically adapted for people from South Asian communities.

To ensure the toolkit was designed to meet the needs of these communities, public participants from South Asian communities (along with staff from voluntary and statutory services) were asked to share their experiences and feedback about the current level – or lack – of support and to identify what more was needed.

The project was jointly led by researchers from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and the University of Bradford, with other collaborators including the Race Equality Foundation, the Dementia Alliance for Culture and Ethnicity and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG, as well as researchers from the universities of Bath and Wolverhampton. It was funded by the National Institute for Health Research, under its Research for Patient Benefit Programme, and has been launched in Dementia Action Week.

Professor Richard Cheston, an expert in dementia research at UWE Bristol, said: “Many people from different south Asian communities receive their diagnosis at a later stage, often when

they are in crisis, and when they do use these services then they tend to be less satisfied with the care they receive. In essence, the services have little flexibility and are often designed around assumptions about who will use them, which means that people who don’t fit into these assumptions are at a disadvantage. One contributor described them as ‘Caucasian-centric’.

“The website has been produced from reviews of literature and research but also interviews and focus group workshops carried out with 90 people either affected by dementia and who are from different South Asian backgrounds, or who have provided services to these communities.”

Dr Sahdia Parveen, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bradford and the study’s co-lead, said: “It is well established that people from South Asian backgrounds living with dementia experience a number of inequalities throughout the dementia care pathway which not only has a negative impact on the person living with dementia but the entire family. I am proud that the ADaPT study goes beyond documenting these inequalities and aims to address and challenge inequalities through an online toolkit of culturally sensitive resources aiming to improve the dementia care pathway from dementia awareness to post diagnostic support for families. The resources are not only ‘evidence based’ but have been evaluated by the very people the toolkit has been designed for: South Asian families and health and social care professionals.”

Jabeer Butt OBE, CEO of the Race Equality Foundation, said: “The powerful stories we heard from South Asian people interviewed in this project sent a clear message about the urgent need for culturally appropriate help. Dementia has been described as a taboo subject in the Asian community and this is just one of the barriers that needs to be broken down to correct inequalities in this area. We hope that this toolkit will be a game changer in the support available to those living with, caring for and working with people with dementia from South Asian communities.”

Dr Karan Jutlla, Dementia Lead at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “Working with our public contributors on this project made powerfully evident the challenges faced by South Asian communities when attempting to access services. Indeed the lack of knowledge of dementia in South Asian communities and lack of culturally inclusive care has led to a large proportion of people not accessing services. Not only will this toolkit help commissioners, stakeholders, service managers and health and social care professionals provide better support for South Asians living with dementia but, also provides resources for South Asian families. One of our public contributors described the toolkit as ‘shining a torch for people who have been scrambling around in the dark’ as it describes an understanding of the dementia care pathway and evidenced based resources and interventions. We hope that this toolkit will provide better outcomes for a hitherto neglected but growing part of our British community.”

Moors Manor Bopathon Marks Dementia Action Week Staff and residents at Barchester’s Moors Manor care home in St Leonards, near Ringwood marked Dementia Action Week which took place from 15 – 21 May. The home organised a ‘a cake sale for the community and a “bopathon” for the staff and residents to show support for Dementia UK and the Admiral Nurses who work closely with those experience a dementia. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning – thinking, remembering, reasoning – which can affect a person’s day to day life and activities. Functions that can be impacted are memory, language skills, visual perception, problem solving, self-management and the ability to focus and pay attention.

Moors Manor care home, part of the national care home provider Barchester

Healthcare, regularly holds events and activities for its residents and surrounding neighbours.

Tracey Aldin, General Manager said: “we wanted to pay special tribute to the people living with dementia, but also those who dedicate their lives to caring for people with dementia. Carers make a huge difference to the lives of the individuals they look after, and we wanted to make sure we acknowledged their hard work. We held a lively “bopathon” for 2 hours where we the staff and residents joined together for a song and dance as well as having a cake sale for the community. We were even joined by Her Majesty and we all stood up to sing the National Anthem.”

For 10% discou nt on all woven an d iron-on nametapes, ad d CARE2022 at the checkout !

Valid to 30/04 /2022

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

What is the Cost of a Cyber Attack or Data Breach?

Articlew supplied by the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre (ECRC) - www.ecrcentre.co.uk WILL I GET FINED BY THE ICO IF MY BUSINESS SUFFERS A DATA BREACH? As with many things in life the answer to this tricky question is...it depends? One thing that may surprise you is that if you take cyber resilience seriously, then you may be able to reduce or eliminate this cost completely.

WHAT IS THE COST BREAKDOWN FOR A CYBER-ATTACK? Losing data can be as a result of many events, but as we are a cyber resilience centre let’s assume it’s because of a cyber-attack that results in the organisation’s network being breached and their data being stolen and / or encrypted. Let’s look at where the cost of the attack may come from.

COST ONE – loss of operational effectiveness. So the first impact will be in loss of business as you company comes to understand the nature and effectiveness of the attack. This may be caused by potential customers coming to your website, and on being unable to log in simply going elsewhere to get their product. And it may come from being sued by supply chain organisations from being unable to fulfil contracts.

COST TWO – paying the ransom. More than 80% of UK companies agree to pay ransoms to cyber criminals, which is significantly higher than the global average.

COST THREE – resetting the operating environment. As part of the incident response your organisation will have to work through the impact of the cyber-attack and put themselves back into Business as Usual mode.

COST FOUR – reputational loss. If customers and suppliers don’t think that you’re going to look after their data, they may look elsewhere to do business.

COST FIVE – ICO fines. Just when you think you’re out of the woods you might get slapped with a significant fine from the Information Commissioner’s Office. And as it remains a legal obligation to report a breach to the ICO there is no legal way to avoid their scrutiny. But the level of the fine, or whether you’re fined at all will depend on a number of factors.

WHO ARE THE ICO AND WHAT DO THEY DO? The ICO was set up as an independent organisation to ensure that UK businesses adhered to Data Protection provisions, and handled / protected data according to the law. They can fine businesses up to 17.5 million pounds or 4% of global turnover, whichever is higher.

But the ICO do not automatically fine every organisation that suffers a data breach – they look behind the breach at the structure of the affected company; and if they have carried out a proportionate response to protecting their data – through adequate cyber resilience measures for example, then they may not issue a fine and simply offer guidance and support.

CASE STUDIES The following are a list of the more infamous data breaches in the UK that have led to fines from the ICO.

Cambridge Analytica and Facebook On 23 March 2018, the ICO searched the London headquarters of Cambridge Analytica amid reports that the firm harvested the personal data of millions of Facebook users as part of a campaign to influence the U.S. 2016 presidential elections. In October 2018 the ICO issued a

fine of £500,000, the maximum allowable at the time the incidents occurred, to Facebook, for breaches of data protection law. The ICO's investigation found that between 2007 and 2014, Facebook processed the personal information of users unfairly by allowing application developers access to their information without sufficiently clear and informed consent, and allowing access even if users had not downloaded the app, but were simply 'friends' with people who had.

Equifax In September 2018, the ICO issued Equifax Ltd with a £500,000 fine for failing to protect the personal information of up to 15 million British citizens during a cyber-attack in 2017. The incident, which happened between 13 May and 30 July 2017 in the US, affected 146 million customers globally.

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO AVOID BEING FINED? This is explained by one of the ECRC’s Advisory Group members – Andy from DPO for Education (https://www.dpoforeducation.co.uk/) an outsourced Data Protection Officer function that operates on behalf of a number of schools across the South East of England.

Andy explains ‘We have spent a great deal of time advising clients to gain Cyber Essential accreditation. We are well aware that it is not the highest level of IT security accreditation but it does demonstrate an appropriate level of commitment to protect against cyber threats for many organisations in line with GDPR requirements.’

Whilst the cost to schools has risen to up to £450 for some schools both DPO for Education and the ECRC agree that it is an accreditation worth undertaking. Not only does it provide insurance cover of £25000, and protect fully or partially against up to 99% of current cyber threats also demonstrates to the ICO that your organisation is taking Cyber Security seriously. A real life example of this is explained by Andy.

‘The following incident occurred on the last day of term before the Christmas holidays when one of our School Academy Trust clients discovered that they had suffered a brute force cyber-attack some weeks previously back in mid-November. The Outlook email account of a member of the Senior Leadership Team was hacked that resulted in a change to the “rules” and several thousand emails redirected. Not surprisingly there was a degree of panic not only in what data may have

been lost but also finding out at 4pm on a Friday before a 3 week close down. The breach was reported to the ICO due to the potentially sensitive information stolen.’

‘The Trust first completed the IASME accredited Cyber Essentials process in May 2019 and continued thereafter. They duly followed their guidance in reporting the incident to their insurer immediately.

The response was fantastic.’

‘Within 2 hours the insurer had arranged for a conference call for 3pm on the Saturday which had not only ourselves, the Trust’s Data Protection lead, the school IT provider but also a leading City law firm and a cyber security expert from KPMG.’ ‘The cyber specialist was allowed access to the schools network and within 4 hours had discovered how the incident occurred, rectified the problem and provided a report on the incident. At the same time the Law firm had assessed the potential repercussions and made their recommendations.’

‘Within 18 hours of the incident being discovered reports had been written and collated and the information sent to the ICO. The following week we received a letter from the ICO stating that they were satisfied that the Trust’s data had been’ “…. processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures (‘integrity and confidentiality’)” The case is now closed.

‘For anyone who doubts the value of Cyber Essentials this will hopefully clear any misgivings they may have. Firstly, the professionalism of the services provided by all those connected with the insurance claim was first class and put the client’s mind at ease. Secondly the ICO’s acknowledgement by following Cyber Essentials, the Trust had taken appropriate measures in its protection of data is good to know.’

‘As we stated at the start of the article it is not the silver bullet.

However, in this example, the £450 spent on Cyber Essentials scheme has proven to be great value and we will continue to urge all organisations to consider it.’

CYBER ESSENTIALS ACCREDITATION We would like to thank Andy and his team for sharing this really insightful case study into the effect of a real life cyber-attack and how this particular school navigated it, with DPO for Education’s assistance.

To find out more about the accreditation scheme go to https://www.ecrcentre.co.uk/what-is-cyber-essentials.

And remember that free membership with the centre https://www.ecrcentre.co.uk/core-membership-sign-up includes a free guidance package called Little Steps that will help you to become accredited.

REPORTING CYBER CRIME Report all Fraud and Cybercrime to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or online. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Report SMS scams by forwarding the original message to 7726 (spells SPAM on the keypad). s common cyber-attacks.

Jubilee Garden Unveiled by Lord Lieutenant at Shefford Care Home A Jubilee garden set up at a Shefford care home has been unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant ahead of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The garden is in the front yard of MHA Oak Manor and to mark the occasion a new cherry blossom tree was unveiled by HM Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis.

The cherry tree has been officially added to the Queen’s Green Canopy Map and is one of two in the town.

The home offers 64 places for residential and dementia care and as part of the unveiling ceremony, there was a chance for residents to mingle with the Lord Lieutenant.

Residents also sang the national anthem and planted gravel in red, white and blue to replicate the Union Jack.

Fay Gooch, home manager, said: “After I applied to be added to the

Queen’s Green Canopy Map I asked if the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire would like to come down to unveil the tree and she was more than happy to visit.

“The residents loved it, they were over the moon. It was a glorious day and they all had a lot of fun.

“The Lord Lieutenant was amazing with the staff and residents. She spent a good amount of time with them and the residents really enjoyed speaking to her.

“Some of the residents were sharing their 100th birthday cards that they received from the Queen and were very proud.

“It was a really proud moment for all of us at MHA Oak Manor and hopefully we can continue to add more trees to the garden in the future.”

Health and Safety Matters – Keep Up to Date The National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services ( NASHiCS ) focuses on all health and safety matters affecting the social care sector. The association has goes from strength to strength and has a growing membership across many providers and organisations covering the UK. Keeping up to date regarding Health and Safety matters is vital. The more you know, the more you can plan and the more you plan, the less you are susceptible in turbulent times.

Through the association you can Network with colleagues responsible for Health and Safety, share your own ‘best practice’ experiences and hear how others have overcome challenges.

Attend dedicated events, on health and safety at special member rates; and participate in national and local Networkers, Conferences and Seminars, in-person or virtual.

Advertise job vacancies free; and benefit from special member offers and rates from suppliers of goods services and equipment.

Receive regular update emails covering latest developments and safety alerts/news; while giving access to current information, links on key safety topics; and monthly our highly praised e-News.

Matters cover range from fire safety, training, infection control, lone working, falls prevention, first aid to stress, legionella, case law, regulation, people moving people and mock courts to mention just a few. See our website for report on past events – www.nashics.org We have national links with other organisations, government bodies and enforcement agencies. Our aim is to promote and improve safety and health in care practice by providing a sharing and networking forum for debate, and discussion.

Joining NASHiCS is a great and easy way to keep informed and aware. Health and Safety is an essential and matters to everyone involved with social care now and in the future.

Find out more – administrator@nashics.org | www.nashics.org | 07840 160 030

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

Royal Star & Garter Veterans Attend Official Opening of Solihull’s Armed Forces Community Garden Veterans from Royal Star & Garter were among the guests attending the official opening of the Armed Forces Community Garden in Solihull.

The stunning open space in Hillfield Park, which is a collaboration between Solihull Council and Royal British Legion (Warwickshire & Birmingham branch), was officially opened during a ceremony on Friday 20 May. Joining military personnel, local dignitaries, Monkspath Junior and Infant School, local choir and community groups were three residents from Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, and its Home Manager, Jamie Stubbs.

The charity provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

The community garden consists of three zones – a community wildlife garden; summer meadow and community orchard; and community woodland.

The garden came about after Solihull Council and the local RBL branch identified the need for a place of rest and relaxation for Armed Forces personnel and their families, which could also be used by the local community. The whole project was designed, in cooperation with the military, to address specific needs whether they are physical or to aid mental health and wellbeing.

Kevin Dempsey, a Navy veteran, is part of the Wellbeing Team at Royal Star & Garter. He assists with residents’ outings and says the community garden will be well used by the Home: “This is a great asset for the community, and will be a great asset for Royal Star & Garter. It will be good for residents’ wellbeing, and I can see them getting lots of benefit from it for many years to come.”

And Home Manager Jamie Stubbs, who himself is an RAF veteran, said: “It’s a beautiful, peaceful oasis, and we’re very lucky to have such a wonderful facility on our doorstep. It’s going to be a popular place for outings and I know residents are looking forward to making the most of it.”

Signature at Chorleywood ‘Acts on Dementia’ as Part of Dementia Action Week Campaign Signature at Chorleywood is raising awareness of dementia and encouraging people to ‘act on dementia’ by seeking help and support when faced with a diagnosis.

Running from 16th- 22nd May, the theme set by the Alzheimer’s Society this year is diagnosis and will focus on tackling the common misconception that memory loss is a sign of normal ageing to encourage people to receive a dementia diagnosis as early as possible.

Dementia Action Week Signature at Signature at Chorleywood wants to ensure that more people understand and recognise possible dementia symptoms so that they or their loved ones can receive early guidance and feel empowered to take the next steps.

Person centred dementia care is a core part of the care provided at Signature, with a third of all residents across its 36 care homes living with dementia. This includes a commitment to providing the bestskilled care that those living with dementia require, in order for residents to maintain a fulfilling, safe and dignified lifestyle.

To mark the week, team members and residents came together to enjoy a range of activities with one another.

From a poetry group, musical workshop, drama club and endless entertainment, it was yet another opportunity for residents to get involved in countless stimulating, interesting, fun, and exciting activities

available for all to enjoy at the care home.

The fantastic week was brought to a close with a wonderful talk by Bob the beekeeper, who shared the art of beekeeping and his life as a beekeeper. This was followed by a delicious honey tasting session, quiz, and raffle.

Activities are a crucial aspect of dementia care, reducing common dementia symptoms and stimulating positive feelings and emotion within individuals.

Priscilla Nyamarebvu, Dementia Care Manager at Signature at Chorleywood, said: “Dementia Awareness Week is very important to all of us at Signature, as we want more people to know about the signs of dementia and how best to support their loved ones.

“This year we launched our new comprehensive dementia strategy which aims to create innovative, warm, and welcoming dementia communities and set the highest standard in dementia care.

“As part of the strategy, we have ensured that all team members at Signature at Chorleywood receive mandatory dementia training, which exceeds the sector-standard approach.

“Our staff are passionate about supporting residents living with dementia and work hard to ensure that we provide exceptional care within a dignified environment for each individual.

“We are happy to see so many of our colleagues and residents taking part in music, drama and informative sessions, which add to our exciting and varied activities programmes.”

The Care & Occupational Therapy Show 2022 A brand new show is set to take the care sector by storm this year.

Inspired Motive acquired the ‘South West Care Show’ during the pandemic and have rebranded the show to make it more encompassing.

With over 30 years of experience in the event industry, Inspired Motive will be hosting the Care & Occupational Therapy Show. The visitors will include buyers from Care Homes, Domiciliary care companies, Care Groups, NHS, Trusts, Individual Carers, and Individual Practitioners also.

Attracting 3000+ visitors, it will truly be a festival of business for the care community.

Their goal is to enable companies across the UK to exhibit innovative products that will aid care sector professionals to enhance their brand/services, with 175+ Exhibitors, 30+ Industry Leading Speakers and a Live Demo Area, the show is perfectly positioned to put you on the road to success.

The show will also be appealing to Occupational Therapists as there will be services exhibited by those that cater to that market too, making it by far the largest care event in the South West.

The show has already confirmed impressive keynote speakers from the likes of Care England and Care Quality Commission with more to be announced in the coming weeks. They already have some great exhibitors at the show, from the likes of - Albert Goodman, Motor Tech, Appetito, Nourish, Oysta Technology and Reval Continuing Care. All of the show’s seminars are CPD accredited so you can also earn your CPD points whilst attending the show.

All tickets for the show are free and will be released over the coming weeks. You can keep an eye on show announcements and ticket availability via their website www.careexhibition.co.uk If you are interested in exhibiting your own products/services at the show, please contact Luke Outram on 02045 178 888 or email - luke@inspiredmotive.co.uk.

Driven By Health With care are official show media partners and we very much look forward to seeing you all there.

Care Provider Belong Begins Initial Works at Wirral Waters Site Not-for-profit dementia specialist Belong has begun enabling works at its site at Peel L&P’s Wirral Waters, appointing Caddick Construction to carry out the work as the organisation commences development of its £20 million leading edge care village.

Belong Wirral will be the hub of a dementia-friendly neighbourhood within one of the largest and most sustainable regeneration projects in the UK, on the ‘Left Bank’ of the River Mersey.

Designed to support people as their needs change, the village will provide a range of specialist dementia services, including home care and day care under the Belong at Home and Experience Days brands, 34 independent living apartments and a range of amenities open to the wider community.

24-hour care will be provided in six extended family sized households, each accommodating up to 12 people, with spacious suites arranged around a shared living and dining area.

The household model was pioneered by Belong to create a homely and reassuring atmosphere, where the Belong team is able to develop positive relationships with residents, understand their needs and monitor wellbeing discreetly, aided by the open plan layout of the environment. Having already proven to be

highly effective for infection control, the model at Belong Wirral will also incorporate additional design features based on learnings from Covid-19.

The village will offer a vibrant setting, with a number of amenities including a waterside bistro, hair salon, exercise studio, and entertainment venue with licensed bar. Outdoor spaces include spacious balconies for each household and a rooftop garden.

Belong chief executive, Martin Rix, said: “We are delighted to be entering the next stage of this landmark project, which also marks the latest expansion of Belong in the North West. Wirral Waters is an exciting development and we’re looking forward to welcoming the community to what will be our second Merseyside village, following the opening of Belong Birkdale, next year.”

Richard Mawdsley, director of development for Wirral Waters at Peel L&P, the owners and developers of the Wirral Waters regeneration project, added: “It’s wonderful to see even more progress along Northbank with the creation of Belong Wirral, which will offer specialist dementia care and accommodation, as well as a range of facilities and employment opportunities which will all significantly benefit the local community. Belong’s development will be a key component of the diverse neighbourhood we are creating along Northbank.”

PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

Care Home Names 'Best in Show' in Annual Dog Competition Scrufts As part of its annual tradition, The Heights, High Wycombe care home of The Fremantle Trust, welcomed dogs and their owners to partake in a competition of obedience and obstacle courses to become 'best in show' at Scrufts.

Winrow and his companion, Biscuit.

Each dog owner was also presented with a bag of goodies from Jollyes – The Pet People in Wycombe.

On delivering rosettes for a winning category, resident

With multiple categories including most obedient and walk to heel, eight dogs donned their prettiest coats and showed great enthusiasm in taking part in the competition. After revealing the winners of each category, residents took turns to present the rosettes to the winning dogs. A special 'Best in Show' trophy was presented to young dog handler, George

Bernadette, commented: “I really enjoyed it. It was nice to see so many lovely dogs.”

Speaking after his win, George, 11 commented: "It was fun and I think everyone enjoyed themselves, especially the dogs."

When asked about his win and what he will do with the prize, Biscuit responded: "Woof"!

Care Provider Partners with Community Church to Offer its Residents Diverse and Inclusive Activities A specialist Cambridgeshire care provider has once again partnered with a local community church to promote the mental and physical well-being of its residents through engaging activities – specially designed for those with learning disabilities and in their old age.

Askham Village Community, near Doddington, recently welcomed the services of Fenland Community Church, a family-run organisation that seeks to call upon the power of religion to dismantle stereotypes and to view everyone as equals, regardless of their age or disability.

Through a combination of drama, music and other sensory focussed activities, the group’s universal aim is to bring a smile to the faces of social care residents — something it undoubtedly achieved during the recent visit to Askham, where a total of 18 residents were entertained in the Atrium of Askham House.

Represented by husband and wife duo, Edward and Marilyn, along with another team member, Rosie, the church group will now visit on a monthly basis following a successful day promoting mental and physical well-being through engaging activities. The group

used to visit Askham regularly and has done for over 15 years, however, due to the hardships of the pandemic, this has not been possible for over two years.

Some of the residents in attendance suffered from advanced dementia so the sensory engagement of such activities proved vital for their cognitive wellbeing — something Fenland Community Church recognises in its approach.

Jo Monaghan, Head of Care & Nursing and Registered Manager at Askham Hall and Askham House, commented: “Partnering with activity providers like Fenland Community Church is an integral part of our diverse care offering.

Seeing the smiles on residents’ faces highlights just how important it is to keep them engaged with stimulating activities, something Edward and Marilyn are so well versed in. Their approach reflects our own ethos here at Askham — where all individuals are equal regardless of their mental or physical condition.”

Jo continued: “Due to popular demand from both staff and residents, Fenland Community Church are now visiting us every month and will continue to encourage those staying with us to engage and have fun within a completely accepting environment.”

Wellington Care Homes Team up for Dementia Action Week Outing Two Wellington care homes teamed up to arrange a special outing as part of their activity programmes for Dementia Action Week (15-22 May) treating residents to a trip to see the recently restored Wellington Memorial and learn about its history.

Residents from Camelot House and Lodge and Oaktree Court were given a guided tour John and Jo Greenshields, senior Wellington Monument volunteers For the National Trust, who wowed visitors with their in-depth knowledge of the Duke of Wellington and the landmark obelisk.

John Greenshields said: “Some could remember being given a candle to light their way up and having picnics and gatherings on the grass, one person remembers being proposed to there. Remembering the past has a great effect on the wellbeing of people and that was definitely apparent.”

Special permission was granted by the National Trust for the homes’ minibuses to drive up close to the monument to enable access by residents with mobility issues: the site is otherwise a 500m walk from the car park.

Richard Dempslake, activities co-ordinator for Camelot House and Lodge, said: “We have a view of the Blackdown Hills with the monument on the skyline from our home, and people were amazed by how tall it was when we got up close – 175 feet is really tall!

“While there are many things people living with dementia are no longer able to do, outings like this are all about helping them focus on what they can do – a vital ingredient in living well with dementia – so we

thought this would be a great way to mark Dementia Action Week.

“And these kind of outings have been missed so much during the last couple of years – it’s clear that our residents are really enjoying being out and about again now.

“The residents from both homes also really enjoyed the chance to make new friends and big thanks to Nicky Perry from Oaktree Court for her part in arranging the day.”

The team responsible for the Wellington Monument restoration project has been awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ at the 2022 Museum and Heritage Awards in the category of ‘Restoration or conservation project of the year,’ reflecting the skills of the masons, architects and others involved in the restoration project, and the invaluable support of local fundraisers and volunteers.

Both Camelot House and Lodge and Oaktree Court contributed to the fund for the upkeep of the Wellington Monument which is managed by the National Trust.

The striking landmark stands as a tribute to the Duke of Wellington and his victory at the Battle of Waterloo and its prominent location on top of Wellington Hill has led to it becoming a symbolic marker on a journey within the local area and to the wider South West, see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wellington-monumient

Support Worker Journey Praised at Stoke-on-Trent Support Service A STOKE-ON-TRENT-based support worker has undergone a remarkable journey to win a special ‘Highly Commended’ award at National Care Group’s Annual Awards.

Returning in-person for 2022, 150 colleagues from across the country gathered to celebrate and reflect on the past year in care, with senior management setting out their vision for the leading support provider over the next few years.

Daniella Gilbert, who is part of the Day Services team at Shelton Care, was commended in the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ category, following her incredible journey from an individual supported by National Care Group to a part-time support worker with the company. Diagnosed with autism, Daniella has been able to successfully gain new skills and independence to earn her current role at the company, after living in its residential services for seven years.

Daniella said: “I’m really pleased to win this award, which wouldn’t be possible without the help of all

my friends and colleagues that I work with. I’m really grateful for all the support they have given me over the years, and feel incredibly proud to be now giving back and supporting other people to achieve their dreams.”

Elsewhere, Stacey Bennett, part of the Oak House team at Shelton Care, was praised for her passion in helping supported individuals lead happy and healthy lives through food. Taking home ‘The Master Cook’ award, she was nominated by her colleagues for being creative with everyday meal planning at Oak House, and for also playing a central role in catering for its special events.

Stacey said: “I’m delighted to receive an award that plays such an integral role in the lives of the people we support.

While day-to-day support, quite rightly, takes precedence in terms of spotlighting our roles, it should never be underestimated the joy food can bring to the lives of the individuals we support, both from a skills and nutritional point of view. I’d like to thank everyone that I work with that helps to deliver such a quality service all year-round.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 27

HYGIENE AND INFECTION CONTROL

Why Star Ratings Offer Peace of Mind for Residents and Providers

By Dan Sullivan, National Compliance Coordinator at NTH Solutions (www.nthsolutions.co.uk) The last two years have seen a new level of scrutiny on cleanliness and safety in healthcare settings. As a sector, social care takes great care in their cleanliness for residents and staff – having coped amidst a global pandemic and adapting to increasing levels of safety, is testament to this.

It’s one thing for you to know how clean and safe your care home is and to feel assured with the rigorous processes you have in place, it’s another thing to make sure your residents and their loved ones know this.

HOW CLEAN IS CLEAN? We are fully aware of the importance of infection prevention and control, and the associated hygiene practices required in these settings.

So, although the levels of safety have always been a core part of running a healthcare environment, it’s been magnified due to the new world we’re living in. Most nursing and care homes will have a way of monitoring and measuring cleaning methods, but the big question is, how can you prove how clean your site is?

The National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021 (NSoHC 2021) introduced by NHS England and Improvement are in place to promote a level of consistency across all healthcare settings. The Standards are effectively a tool to outline how healthcare settings can ensure they meet the highest levels of cleanliness for resident, visitor and staff safety.

A core element of the Standards is the introduction of the star rating, a recognised scoring system to easily promote how clean a space is. The star rating result is generated by a standardised and scored audit, so it’s fully evidenced and verified. To the resident and their relatives, this is an easy-to-understand way of knowing and being able to trust the environment they’re in. To the care home provider, it’s recognition for doing the right thing and maintaining excellence in cleanliness, which is supported and recognised by the NHS. The aim is for all healthcare settings (where NHS care is provided)

to have a star rating displayed by November 2022. This is achievable for all social care settings as the Standards offer a way of documenting the day-today cleaning and putting in place a consistent quality auditing procedure to formalise what you already do.

It’s a valuable step forward for primary care to maintain the provision of cleanliness, as well as showing how good you are and what sets you apart.

If it’s likened to how much we care about food hygiene standards, we all know the level of reassurance it brings when we can see the Food Hygiene Standards Agency rating in our local fish and chip shop, so think of the benefits to have it in a setting where someone is taking care of your loved ones.

WHY SHOULD IT MATTER? Maintaining a certain standard of cleanliness is ultimately about patient safety, the proof and peace of mind to residents and visitors (and staff) that it’s a safe environment, knowing it has been audited and then proudly displayed through the approved star rating. There’s no better way to demonstrate your efficiency and commitment to safety than having it for all to see. Why let the hard work go unrecognised?

What may feel like ‘another thing’ for care homes to comply with, is in fact something that should be welcomed. It brings uniformity to cleaning practices and provides you with the reassurance that you are delivering the highest service to your residents.

We urge care home providers to think about where you might need support to implement anything you’re not currently doing.

There are organisations that can guide and support you in the implementation and maintenance of high levels of cleanliness, to formalise your existing processes and provide you with the tools to put measures in place to keep you, your staff, residents and visitors safe.

In a Covid-19 era, why wouldn’t you want to give instant and reliable reassurance when walking into your care home?

Fragrance Solutions for Care Home Environments At Oxy-Gen Powered®, we understand the sensitivities and challenges associated with the caring business, especially when it comes to providing a clean, safe and odourless environment for your valuable members.

The Oxy-gen Powered range is designed to counter the unpleasant, tough odours that can present themselves despite a thorough cleaning regime.

They are effective for odour elimination, yet safe for health.

The Oxygen-Pro uses patented technology that ensures a precise dose of fragrance oil is released consistently and continuously, guaranteeing the same level of freshness throughout the cartridge life, silently and discreetly. Oxygen-Pro is a true nonaerosol, continuous Fragrancing and Odour Elimination System.

Our air-care systems contain the proprietary odour neutralising agent, Neutra-Lox, which eliminates malodours rather than masking them. We can offer nonfragrant cartridges that simply eliminate nasty odours or a fantastic fragrance range that will not only eliminate those bad odours but will emanate continuous, clean, fresh-smelling fragrances into the air.

The system is easy to use and is Carbon Footprint approved. In an independent study, the product has

been assessed and verified for emissions and energy consumption and was found to have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to aerosol products on the market. Changing cartridges is hassle-free and, more importantly, they are recyclable at the end of the cartridge life.

The Oxygen-Pro system is an ideal replacement for environmentally harmful aerosols, gels, liquids and other fragrance systems. There are no allergens, no added VOCs, no propellants, no solvents, no alcohols, just continuous, clean fresh fragrance all day, every day!

Email: fdtuk@oxygenpowered.com or tel: 01270 766676.

Angloplas Dispensers Help Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry.

Although these are designed to keep the workplace tidy and uncluttered they are, more importantly, built knowing the control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a priority for healthcare providers, and who are employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies, including hand hygiene, cleaning, training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem.

As a result, a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market, including antimicrobial technology. Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which

is exclusive to Angloplas. This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product, reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA, E Coli, Legionella, Salmonella and mould by up to 99.99%.

For non-clinical environments Angloplas has recently launched its new Budget Range of products which are made to the same exacting standards as the antimicrobial protected ones but with lower price tags.

You can order Angloplas products directly from its website by going to www.angloplas.co.uk and clicking Hospital, Health and Hygiene or by using the Quick Response code.

PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Hygienic Warewasher is Central to Care Home‘s Efficiency When choosing a commercial dishwasher for a healthcare environment there are a number of factors to consider including the plumbing and electrical supply, the financial outlay and the physical space available. Most important however are the industry and individual care-home’s specific hygiene requirements.

Forbes Professional always conducts a comprehensive site survey to ensure that the right machines are specified for each site. They are proud partners with Miele, whose commercial dishwashers are fully WRAS compliant and comply with all the necessary industry regulations. For a care environment, Forbes’ latest range of tank dishwashers enable an impressively fast throughput, which is invaluable for a busy kitchen. However, for some care homes a specialist hygiene dishwasher is required in order to ensure that the highest levels of hygiene are maintained. Miele PG8059 HYGIENE freshwater dishwashers deliver a particularly high temperature final

rinse that is maintained for 5 minutes to ensure the ultimate hygienic clean.

With a default temperature of 85c they more than exceed the Department of Health’s recommendations of a twominute cycle at 82c. During lockdown, Forbes continued to install and service these machines for a number of NHS hospitals as they meet the most stringent hygiene standards.

Forbes Professional’s experienced account managers provide all the necessary advice to ensure adherence to the relevant operating parameters.

Under their complete care package, clients avoid capital outlay and the fixed monthly payments are entirely deductible pre-tax profits. Clients also have the peace of mind afforded by a first-class engineer response service, at no extra cost for the duration of the contract.

Contact info@forbes-professional.co.uk, 0345 070 2335 or www.forbespro.co.uk or see the advert on page 25.

Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name”

At Cash's, we aim to capture, reinforce and communicate our clients’ brand equity through quality and innovation, from design to distribution.

Our product range fully caters for the needs of both small and large retailers and brand owners alike comprising of woven and printed labels, woven badges, care labels, branded and promotional swing tags, garment accessories, packaging and barcoding. Our ground breaking labelling and security technologies are also able to provide an unrivalled level of protection to our customers' brand

by assisting to combat counterfeiting and grey market activity.

Our industry leading eCommerce system is designed to reduce cost, improve efficiency and streamline supply chain management and will fully protect the integrity and accuracy of critical business data. The order entry process is very simple meaning suppliers and vendors can spend their valuable time on tasks other than ordering apparel labelling and accessories.

Visit www.cashslabels.com or see the advert on page 23.

Temporary Catering Facilities For Events & Kitchen Refurbishments Mobile Kitchens Ltd specialises in the hire or sale of temporary catering facilities and foodservice equipment.

Ideal for events or to provide temporary catering facilities during your kitchen refurbishment, our versatile units and equipment offer an efficient and economic solution to the caterers’ needs.

Production Kitchens, Preparation Kitchens, Warewashing Units, Dry Store Units, Cold Rooms and Restaurant Units are available as individual units in their own right or they can be linked together on site to form a complete complex.

Alternatively, we can offer modular, open-plan facilities, usually for larger, longer-term hires.

We offer a free design service, and project management from concept through to delivery and installation on site, plus full technical support throughout the hire period.

The standard specification of our smallest

Production Kitchen unit includes a six burner oven range, salamander grill, twin basket fryer, upright fridge, hot cupboard, single bowl sink unit with integral hand wash basin, plus ample power points to plug in Microwaves, Food Processors, Toasters etc. Internal equipment can be interchanged and clients can effectively specify their preferred layout.

We have many tried and tested design layouts and would be pleased to put forward our recommendations for your project.

So if you’re planning a refurbishment or need to cater for an event then why not give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide advice and put forward a competitive proposal.

For further information or to arrange a site visit, email: sales@mk-hire.co.uk or call us on 0345 812 0800, or visit our website: www.mk-hire.co.uk or see the advert on page 23.

Reduce Your Operating Costs!!

The first 10 CARE HOMES to respond will receive a FREE SURVEY to identify potential savings and recommendations for how you can realise: · Precise control of engineering and building services to reduce costs: • Plant room, water tanks, hot and cold distribution, heating and ventilating, lighting · Laundry services to achieve hygienic standards HTM0104 compliant: Optimum processing of bed linen, towels, staff uniforms and residents clothing · Health and Safety standards for your residents, staff and the building(s): HSG220 is the recognised guidance for implementation in CARE HOMES ACoP L8 and HTM04-01 compliance to ensure Legionella control Public Health England Covid 19 guidance on PPE and operational procedures · Sustainability, carbon footprinting to achieve a 'net zero' emissions strategy

Call or Email NOW: 07831 873355, email admin@opeque.com or visit www.opeque.com Opeque can assist in reducing energy bills, complying with legislation, managing health and safety and achieving a sustainable operation.

Over years, Opeque has worked with various industry sectors, from tyre manufacturing to laundries, schools to hotels and hospitals to care homes, optimising their manufacturing procedures and facilities management.

Applying industrial engineering principles, we address productivity, resource efficiency, quality control, health and safety and asset management, bringing people, utilities, equipment, and buildings together to realise product excellence.

We have worked with many care homes to provide laundry services and water hygiene and it is from these close relationships that we believe we can further assist your CARE HOME to reduce operating costs. or see the advert on page 11.

Celebrate Special Events with Your Very Own Jolly Trolley ®

Our Award Winning ’Jolly Trolley’ is a fantastic FUN way to create festivity in the care home environment encouraging residents to engage in social activities and reminiscence.

Winner of Product Innovation of the Year by the Design in Mental Health Network the Jolly Trolley can now be yours with a special 10% discount to celebrate the Queens Jubilee! But hurry – limited stock available!

Our ’Jolly Trolley’ is a self-contained, mobile interactive entertainment trolley that uses the latest technology incorporating sensory lights and vision that brings the benefits of MUSIC, SONG, REMINISCENCE and FUN to everyone in a care home environment, wherever they may be…and now features automatic shutdown, Wi-Fi, and YouTube!

• Easily add your own playlists, slideshows, images and videos.

• It enlivens, stimulates and energises, reducing apathy, encouraging interest and con-

tributing to the wellbeing of the residents.

• Have fun dressing the Jolly Trolley into whatever theme you wish, then press the appropriate program on the screen - then enjoy!

• Uses the latest touch screen technology and incorporates sensory lights, vision and music including a built in echo karaoke machine and microphone.

• Make individual playlists and pictures for your residents offering a way of musically capturing all the songs or pieces of music that make up the soundtrack to their life CQC love this!

• Saves costs by reducing dependence on outside entertainers.

To find out for yourself the benefits the Jolly Trolley can bring to Life in your Care Home, call us on 01282 869802 or email hello@littleislands.org or see the advert on page 9.

NRS Healthcare Launches New Online Store, Healthcare Pro NRS Healthcare, the UK’s leading provider of independent living aids and associated services, and an official supplier to the NHS and local authorities, has announced the launch of its new online store, Healthcare Pro. Part of the NRS Healthcare family, Healthcare Pro demonstrates the company’s commitment to serve healthcare professionals and the general public online, underlining its unrivalled in-house occupational therapy capabilities and professional expertise in helping people live independently in their own homes.

The new online shop, www.healthcarepro.co.uk (previously known as www.nrshealthcare.co.uk), offers over 4,500 independent living aids, from personal care, to bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and mobility, chosen and trusted by professionals. Additionally, the website includes a new range of services, such as the Expert Product Advice and Home Living

Consultations with Occupational Therapists, to better support all its customers with a more complete solution.

The company’s public sector and clinical services divisions remain unchanged and continue to operate under the NRS Healthcare brand and at nrshealthcare.com With a dedicated Occupational Therapy team of 130 professionals, the company offers a go-to source for up-to-date information and guidance on daily living aids, offering peer-to-peer engagement, education and support as well as guiding customers to a ‘right first time’ purchase.

Clinical Services Director, Rachel Seabrook says: “NRS Healthcare is delighted to announce the launch of our new online store, Healthcare Pro. Through our 75-year heritage and position as an official supplier to the NHS, NRS Healthcare has a longstanding reputation as a trusted partner for healthcare professionals, who often recommend our website and products to the people they see.”

Rachel Seabrook continues: “Healthcare Pro focuses on our high levels of expertise, credibility and professionalism, improves the customer journey and shopping experience, as well as providing easy access to product advice, support and associated services. We trust that this will give all our customers the added reassurance that they are shopping where the professionals shop.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 29

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Gailarde - Wholesale Supplier To MOWOOT II Combats Chronic Constipation The Care Home & Healthcare Sector Gailarde is a family run business established in 1979 to provide household textiles specifically manufactured for the contract trade. Our core principals of putting our customers’ needs first has helped us to grow into one of the UK’s largest suppliers to the contract market.

Gailarde have been successfully supplying the care home and healthcare industry for over 40 years, supplying both the public and private sector. We are proud to hold a framework agreement as a supplier to the NHS for wipeable pillows, duvets and flame retardant bed linen.

Our best selling bedroom collection includes flame retardant and easy care linen, as well as our core offering of specialist pillows and duvets designed with infection control features. Our bathroom range features superior towelling, shower curtains and bathroom accessories.

Our competitive homeware range, features table

linen, tableware, kitchenware and cleaning supplies. We are also pleased to offer inventory, ready-made and build your own packs suitable for housing associations and supported living schemes.

For refurbishment plans and new build projects, we supply a wide selection of furniture, including beds, mattresses, sofas, chairs and dining tables all compliant with care home and healthcare regulations. Our Soft Furnishings collection is ideal for transforming rooms.

By using fabric from the leading suppliers, we can supply cushions and bedspreads through to runners and curtains, in a variety of styles and designs.

As a customer you will have a dedicated account manager, on hand for any questions.

For all enquiries, please give our friendly team a call on 020 8905 2776. Alternatively, please email our care home and healthcare specialists directly: jo@gailarde.com or shelley@gailarde.com www.gailarde.com or see the advert on page 8.

MOWOOT II is a revolutionary non-invasive and nonpharmacological solution to chronic constipation.

Developed by a team of medical professionals, MOWOOT II delivers gentle abdominal massage that speeds up intestinal transit in people with chronic constipation.

Clinically proven and free from side-effects, MOWOOT II Chronic Constipation Therapy System fights constipation effectively, safely and comfortably without laxatives, enemas or colon cleansing supplements.

Comfortable during use, MOWOOT II treats and manages chronic constipation in people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease as well as helps to combat medication-related constipation issues. MOWOOT II also fights chronic constipation in menopausal and post-menopausal women and elderly people.

In a published clinical study*, MOWOOT II increased evacuation frequency, softened stools, improved reg-

ularity, reduced gasses and bloating and relieved abdominal discomfort. Results showed that as many as 72.2% patients experienced increased bowel movements, 77.4% patients manifested reduction in constipation symptoms and 81.0% patients enjoyed better quality of life.

In just 10 to 20 minutes per day of abdominal massage with MOWOOT II, significant improvements were noted only days after the first treatment, whilst regular applications of MOWOOT II delivered positive health benefits and better quality of life.

MOWOOT II – effective, safe and comfortable solution to chronic constipation! *McClurg D; Booth L; Herrero-Fresneda I. Safety and Efficacy of Intermittent Colonic Exoperistalsis Device to Treat Chronic Constipation: A Prospective Multicentric Clinical Trial. Clin Trans Gastroenterology 2020; 11(12): e00267.

Contact Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 www.win-health.com

Herriot by Skopos – A Timeless Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentry Wool-Look Collection for Care Upholstery

Care homes are crucial for our society, so it’s important to ensure they’re a safe setting to help staff carry out the best possible care.

With many family members and friends visiting their loved ones daily, InVentry is essential to track who’s entering and leaving your care home. Visitors are met with a simple signing in process and their information is stored directly in the system. This not only allows you to track who is onsite at any given time, but it ensures an even faster sign in during repeat visits.

You can also ensure that the contractors you have onsite have the skills to do the job safely by asking custom questions before they sign in, with options to include documents they may need to read upon arrival, ensuring health & safety and the security of

your site is always maintained.

InVentry can even help you become CQC and Care Inspectorate Compliant as our software allows you to receive star-rated feedback from those who have visited your care home. You can store this feedback within your system and note any actions taken to improve your processes and procedures!

Head to our website: www.inventry.co.uk or see the advert on page 11.

Consort Claudgen launches Consort Connect app Consort Claudgen have launched Consort Connect app which allows users to have complete control over their heating remotely via their smartphone or tablet. The app is free and downloadable from Google Play or Apple Store. It can control Consort’s Wi-Fi enabled heaters and SL heaters connected to an SLPBWIFI wireless controller. It gives quick access to four operating modes and provides a 7day timer with twenty-four heating periods per day. It is easy to set up and users can configure the settings of all connected heaters on

the app. Users can also view the energy consumption statistics. Other features include a lock function, open window tracking and response capability, and custom automations. There is a selflearning control ability utilising occupancy and temperature sensors, however, this is only available on the SLPBWIFI controller and Consort heaters with Wi-Fi and occupancy sensor.

For more information, contact our sales at 01646 692172 or visit www.consortepl.com or see the advert on page 6.

AKW Launches Upgraded Doc M Range and Installation Compliancy Guide AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its ugraded Doc M sanitaryware range for public-use accessible toilets and washrooms.

Committed to ensuring that compliance is as straightforward as possible, AKW has also launched a design advice guide alongside the range, to make compliancy as straightforward as possible.

Ensuring toilets and washrooms conform to Document M of the UK Building Regulations involves buying and correctly installing the appropriate products. As well as giving examples of how a fully compliant Doc M washroom or toilet area should be designed and installed, the guide also includes the latest AKW Doc M pack options.

There are 10 AKW Doc M packs to choose from and they range from fully compliant Doc M washrooms (including hand dryers, soap dispensers Etc.), to individual toilet cubicles. As well as traditional styling, there are two contemporary Doc M packs that feature stainless steel rails to fit in with any modern design aesthetic.

Designed with hygiene in mind, the packs include an AKW Navlin Doc M close-coupled or low-level

rimless, raised-height toilet pan, a water-saving cistern and direct flushing system. The ergonomic, soft-close toilet seat and the grab rails are also available in a range of colours, to enable high colour contrast between surfaces for those with visual impairments. All of the Doc M packs feature either fixed or fold-up rails, and the washroom options are available with easy to use taps and British Standard BS 8300 wash basins.

Stuart Reynolds, Head of Product and Marketing at AKW comments: “Our upgraded AKW Doc M packs offer specifiers even more choice when it comes to installing a public-use accessible toilet or washroom. Each pack has been designed for maximum comfort and ease of use and also comes with recommendations for how and where to fit the products to ensure compliance. Our Doc M guide has also been created to help make the whole process even more straightforward and can be downloaded at www.akw-ltd.co.uk/documentation/catalogues-brochures-guides” For more information, please contact AKW on01905 823298, email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk.

Skopos recently introduced the launch of the new upholstery collection, Herriot, perfect for upholstery solutions within Care. Four timeless designs brought together in a woollook quality, developed specifically for the contract sector with the added benefit of a waterproof layer, antimicrobial protection and soil resist. Inspired by the natural wilderness of the Moors and Dales, Herriot is a nod to the simplicity and beauty of the Yorkshire countryside, with a natural texture and favoured classic design cues, which bring sophistication and class to contract furniture. Herriot is one of many Skopos upholstery collections specifically developed for Care Interiors and has been developed using new

back-coating technology, minimising the use of chemicals in a move towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly flame retardant contract upholstery solution.

Herriot upholstery fabrics achieve 40,000 + Martindale rubs for inclusion into high traffic contract areas, across all sectors. Sitting under the new Skopos Pro-tect Plus umbrella, with the added benefit of an antimicrobial finish, this collection supports best practise hygiene goals within caring interiors.

Free samples of all of our fabrics are available via our website, or by calling our sales team 01924 436666 or visit www.skoposfabrics.com or see page 11.

Wall & Door Protection for a Caring Environment For 55 years Yeoman Shield wall & door protection systems from Harrison Thompson & Co. Ltd. have been delivering healthcare providers with a solution to costly and unsightly impact damage to interior walls & doors. This proactive approach to impact damage can show a year on year saving on maintenance time and budgets.

Offering a comprehensive range which includes, protection panels, protection rails, handrails and fire rated door protection systems, offered in over 48 colours, gives customers a wide choice to realise functional and aesthetic requirements.

The ability to incorporate colours, signage and images, into Yeoman Shield’s core products can be beneficial to mental health environments be that creating a calming atmosphere or a practical assistance in wayfinding.

The Guardian Handrail can also be supplied in an anti-ligature option safeguarding service users.

Fire doors are never more important than in a residential setting catering for those more vulnerable.

Yeoman Shield offer a full fire rated door protec-

tion system that when installed can prevent compromising impact damage and by doing so extends the functioning lifecycle of fire doors.

To complement these products is the company’s newly launched Fire Door Services giving reassurance to the building’s responsible person by offering fire door assessments, remedial and door replacement works all carried out under FIRAS accreditation.

Tel: 0113 279 5854 | email: info@yeomanshield.com www.yeomanshield.com See the advert on page 10.

Renray Healthcare Renray Healthcare has been producing high quality furniture for over 50 years and is one of the UK’s largest and leading suppliers to the healthcare sector.

Whether you require a fast efficient delivery of quality furniture or a full room installation and fitting service, we have the experience and resources to handle your contract.

We manufacture and assemble our products in our own purpose built factories in Cheshire and Europe to British Standards. Hence we are able to ensure your furniture is produced to the highest quality, working with you to plan and meet your projects time schedule and budget.

We understand you are purchasing furniture that is fit for purpose, stylish and will continue to perform well into the future, which is why we design and build our furniture with you in mind.

Telephone: +44 (0)1606 593456,

Email: info@renrayhealthcare.com, www.renrayhealthcare.com or see the advert on page 3 for details.

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

CATERING FOR CARE Carte D’Or Launches The Perfect Base To Create Flavour-Filled Desserts For Your Residents To Enjoy The key to a delicious dessert is the right ingredients. As a chef, you need quality, adaptability, and versatility, to create efficiency in the kitchen and variety on your menu. Carte D’Or have got you covered with all this and more, with their range of powdered dessert bases offering endless possibilities for your dessert menu.

Carte D’Or have teamed up with Aaron Watson, Head Chef at Primrose Bank Care Home and winner of the NACC Care Chef Of The Year 2021, to demonstrate just how adaptable, controllable and reliable their range can be.

Alongside Executive Chef at Unilever Food Solutions, Alex Hall, Aaron has created a series of recipes that are easy to create and will really impress. These include a refreshing ‘Eaton less Mess’, soft doughnuts, a classic baked Alaska and fruity strawberry ice cream – all made using the Carte D’Or Strawberry Mousse and perfect for a movie night or warm summers day.

Alex and Aaron have used the Carte D’Or Panna Cotta mix to make a rhubarb & custard, black forest, and raspberry panna cotta. All these recipes are quick, simple, and packed full of different flavours –

which is ideal when catering to various individuals’ preferences! Aaron commented: “You have to think of each resident as an individual, rather than thinking a dish will be suitable for everybody. You have to personalise it to each person”.

Finally, Carte D’Or Crème Brulée is used to make an apple tart, coconut crème caramel and the classic Queen of puddings. The latter utilising leftover ingredients such as breadcrumbs, which are usually seen to go to waste. It’s made in 4 simple steps; just whisk, mould, chill and serve your delicious pudding. The coconut crème caramel is a play on Aaron’s winning dish from the 2021 NACC Care Chef of the Year competition and he highlights the importance of having these exciting dishes for residents: “Obviously, the food we put on the plate is a really important part of the residents’ day to day lives, mealtimes are one of the main times of the day, where all the residents can come together and interact”.

To learn more and watch the full recipes visit www.ufs.com/cartedorincare

Catering for Your Residents with Bidfood An estimated 70% of residents in care are affected by Dementia. The term actually describes a group of symptoms, including memory loss, confusion, mood changes, and difficulty with day-to-day tasks. It’s more likely to occur as we age. It’s a difficult phase of life for residents affected by dementia, and it is important to help them maintain their independents, dignity and a daily routine.

The reduction in cognitive function caused by dementia can make eating and meal occasions difficult and it can be challenging to serve the right food in the appropriate way. Some top risks and challenges include: • Risk of malnutrition • Not recognising food • Resisting being fed • Limited manual dexterity • Change in temperament Creating uplifting resident mealtimes tailored to those who are living with dementia is so important as mealtimes are a familiar, stimulating and important part of the day. However, for those who have problems holding a knife and fork, or holding their attention for a period of time, mealtimes can be stressful and challenging. Some of the tips that can make a real difference are: • Stimulating the senses: if residents can hear the sound of food preparation, or the table being laid, smell the food as it’s being prepared, and see activity in the kitchen, the familiar sounds, smells and sights as well as tastes may prompt their memory and help to stimulate the appetite.

• Introducing finger foods: these are an ideal way to help residents retain independence and dignity, making it easier for them to eat with their hands or to eat on the go, whilst walking about. Introduce finger foods over a few days to get the person used to a new way of serving food.

• Think smaller, frequent meals: these can help maintain nutrition levels and are easier to eat than three big meals a day.

• Create memories with meals: themes and celebrations not only lift the spirits, but can help your residents recover memories. Music is a great way to engage residents at mealtimes and spark nostalgia and memories.

• Two finger food recipesFinger foods are an ideal way to help residents maintain their independence, dignity, and a daily routine.

SMOKED KIPPER SCOTCH EGGS: These scotch eggs are a perfect snack to provide your residents. Delicious, and a great finger food for your residents with dementia.

Serves 10 40 minutes Ingredients: Free range medium eggs x 12 Hot & cold mix mashed potato 150g Water 50ml Whole milk 600ml Boned Scottish kipper fillets 200g Natural breadcrumbs 300g Plain flour 100g Method: 1. Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the eggs for 8 minutes. Then cool the eggs down as quickly as possible before taking the shells off carefully.

2. Place the other 2 eggs in a bowl with 200ml of milk and whisk together.

Set to one side.

3. Place the rest of the milk and water in a pan and bring to the simmer.

Place the fish in and poach until just cooked.

4. Then flake the fish into a bowl and add the mashed potato mix. Combine well, and then add the warm milk to the bowl until the potato swells and becomes firm. Allow to cool.

5. Wrap the potato and fish mixture around the eggs and allow to chill.

6. Place the bread crumbs on a tray along with the flour. Firstly, roll the eggs in the flour, then dip into the egg mix, then roll in the breadcrumbs (this process may need to be repeated).

7. Then place the Scotch eggs on a tray and either deep fry until golden brown and reaching temperature, or place in a hot oven until cooked.

BRIE AND BLUEBERRY TART: This brie and blueberry tart is a perfect combination of sweet and savoury. An easy recipe guaranteed to satisfy any resident's taste buds.

Serves 10 30 minutes Ingredients: Puff pastry sheets 280g Brie 200g Frozen blueberries 100g Thyme 5g Squeezy clear blossom honey 20g Method: 1. Defrost pastry and blueberries.

2. Preheat the oven to 180° then grease a muffin tray.

3. Lay the puff pastry out and cut into 10 equal squares, then

place into a muffin tin.

4. Cut the cheese into 10 equal parts and place on top of the pastry, then top with the blueberries.

5. Wash and pick the thyme and sprinkle over the blueberries.

6. Place in the oven and bake until the pastry has a crisp base and the cheese has melted.

7. Then allow to cool slightly before drizzling with honey and serving.

DYSPHAGIA We all love to sit down for a nice meal, but when you have dysphagia, the meal itself can be a danger. Dysphagia is more common amongst the elderly but can affect people of all ages. It affects our ability to swallow which can lead to food or drink entering the lungs leading to significant risk of choking or pneumonia. It can be a common reason for hospital admission for care residents and can even be fatal. Catering for those living with dysphagia means helping them stay safe when eating and drinking as well as helping them retain pleasure in mealtimes. Modifying meals, for example by pureeing, means running the risk of losing up to 50% of the nutritional content, and they aren’t always pleasing to the eye.

Specialist ranges of texture-modified dishes can help here, for example Simply Puree which is available through Bidfood. This range is individually created for people with dysphagia, and each meal complies with IDDSI textures. This means that you can prepare them safely and with reassurance that each one has consistency in nutritional content.

Having dysphagia may mean a person consumes less, so a pureed diet should be fortified to maximise the calorific value of each spoonful.

Instead of using water therefore, try full fat milk or cream, melted butter or oil, sauces, gravy, honey, or juice for dilution. The first taste is with the eye, so to ensure meals are also visually appealing, make up modified consistency foods separately, then pipe them onto the plate while still hot and serve immediately. Use stronger flavours so that the food is still tasty when diluted and pureed, and make sure you taste food before serving- would you like to eat it?

It’s also vital to make sure you’re regularly monitoring residents’ intake closely, including a nutritional assessment and weight check weekly to ensure that they are not losing weight, and are receiving sufficient nutrients. Make sure those who are preparing food are fully trained and aware of the risks related to swallowing difficulties, and the correct way to prepare modified consistency foods, and to thicken fluids for patients with this need.

The International IDDSI Diet Standardisation tool is a global standard with terminology and definitions to describe the texture modified food and thickened liquids used for individuals with dysphagia of all ages, in all care settings and for all cultures. The Simply Puree IDDSI guide is a free easy to use tool to help you understand and cater for the different IDDSI textures.

Read the Simply Puree IDDSI Guide at https://tinyurl.com/bddvdwxj

Support Vegetarians This Dementia Action Week: 16–22 May 2022 This Dementia Action Week, Vegetarian for Life, a charity supporting vegans and vegetarians in later life, is encouraging carers to consider how they support people’s beliefs.

What happens to the beliefs and values of those with dementia? If a person struggles to remember ideas that mattered to them, how do they continue to practice their values?

This year, Dementia Action Week coincides with National Vegetarian Week – a time to reflect on how carers can and should support people to maintain their beliefs.

The charity Vegetarian for Life (VfL) works with vegans

and vegetarians in later life. Many have been committed to meat-free diets for decades, often motivated by ethical desires to prevent harm to animals. Many fear, if they need care, that they may lose their ability to choose diets free from animal products.

This fear is not unfounded. An Inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vegetarianism and Veganism highlighted many instances where dietary practices linked to beliefs were not supported in care. In some instances, people who had been vegan for decades were regularly being fed

meat.

In many ways, this concern goes beyond just respecting a person’s past wishes. Recent dementia research has considered the ideas of identity and personhood. Simply because a person struggles with memory, does not mean that their beliefs, and right to hold values, have disappeared.

Dementia research begins to suggest that even when the condition is advanced, people should be supported to interact with ideas and concepts that are important to them.

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 30...)

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

CATERING FOR CARE Support Vegetarians This Dementia Action Week: 16–22 May 2022 (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28) This may support them to retain a sense of identity in a care setting, especially when interacting with carers. In such cases, the carer actually supports the person to retain a sense of themselves, even as their condition progresses.

Practically, the question remains over how carers can be aware of the values held by those they care for. In some cases, people have families to explain beliefs that have guided a person’s life. However, VfL strongly recommends that people document their future wishes.

In its Self-Advocacy Guide, VfL provides a template Statement of Wishes, allowing people to document their dietary beliefs. This statement includes sample wording, clearly explaining to carers how to support people on meat-free diets if they appear to be choosing meat based dishes. This may involve offering alternative meals and fortifying foods with plant based alternatives.

Alzheimer’s Society also provides a template advanced statement to allow individuals to document their values.

When values are documented, it is important that care providers reference these views and act accord-

Halo Hydration More than 70% of us are dehydrated at some point during the day - this can cause drowsiness, lack of focus, tiredness, confusion, muscle soreness and a dry mouth. We know water is boring, but it’s one of life’s necessities…there is however an alternative. Adding just one HALO sachet to your glass of water makes it not only delicious, but makes it highly nutritious, and makes your water work harder for you!

Instead of trying to drink the recommended 2 bottles of water per day, simply mixing one sachet of delicious HALO Hydration to your glass of water gives you the

ingly. To support providers, VfL has produced a Memory Care Pledge, encouraging people to investigate and acknowledge individuals’ dietary beliefs.

The pledge consists of five simple good practice points that care establishments can follow to ensure that vegetarian and vegan residents experiencing capacity issues or cognitive losses will be offered a choice of meals, drinks and snacks that uphold their ethical beliefs.

Good practice recommendations include offering a resident the opportunity to eat at a vegetarian-only, or vegan-only table when possible, and in the event of an ‘accidental’ choice to eat meat, offering an alternative that upholds their philosophical beliefs. These recommendations are suggested because Vegetarian for Life is aware of vegetarian residents experiencing issues with capacity or cognition, who may otherwise pick meat from others’ plates.

Beliefs are central to our identity and personhood.

Dementia Action Week should be a time to focus on how providers can best support those with limited capacity to maintain beliefs and values that define them as people.

For more information, visit www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk or call 0161 257 0887. same amount of minerals that drinking 4 litres of mineral water does!

Each HALO Hydration sachet contains a daily dose of Vitamin C, B Vitamins, magnesium, sodium, zinc, potassium, calcium, and an array of trace minerals, with only 1g of natural sugar and ZERO artificial ingredients. These are the nutrients that your body needs to hydrate properly, which, in these amounts, are not found as readily in a modern-day diet.

Sir Andy Murray is a huge HALO fan and says: “HALO is the healthiest way to hydrate”. If there was ever a person to listen to, it’s 2 time Wimbledon Champion and father of 4, Sir Andy Murray.

With summer fast approaching and dehydration becoming a factor for everyone, why not try HALO to help boost your hydration.

Visit www.HALOhydration.com

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

CONTINENCE CARE

Top Tips for Managing Incontinence from Ontex FLUID INTAKE Drinking sufficient fluids each day is essential for maintaining a healthy bladder. If you don’t drink enough your bladder will become overly sensitive. You should try to consume at least 1.5-2 litres (or 6-8 glasses) of fluids each day.

DRINKS TO AVOID It is advisable to avoid certain types of drinks, such as tea, coffee, cola and chocolate, as they contain caffeine which can irritate the bladder. An irritated bladder becomes overactive, which makes you feel as though you need to empty your bladder when it is not full.

HEALTHY EATING Your diet should be balanced, not too high in fat, with plenty of fibre, and contain at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

Healthy eating is also important because being overweight can make bladder problems worse.

SMOKING There are a number of health risks associated with smoking. A ‘smokers cough’ can place extra pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor, increasing your chances of experiencing stress incontinence.

DEHYDRATION If you don’t drink enough your bladder will become more sensitive to smaller amounts of urine, which means you will go to the toilet more frequently.

INFORM YOUR GP It is a good idea to notify your GP if you are experiencing bladder weakness for the first time or if you already have bladder weakness and it has become worse.

RECOMMENDATIONS: KEEP A BLADDER DIARY Maintain a record of every time you experience bladder weakness.

Ontex Launches New Odobin Incontinence experts Ontex have launched the innovative new Odobin for use in care homes. Odobin removes bad incontinence odours in order to improve the experience of those living, working and visiting your care home.

The Odobin has many important features, which make it the perfect partner for your establishment.

FIVE KEY FEATURES Ergonomic – Odobin allows you to throw away incontinence waste easily and ergonomically.

Fast – It is quick and easy to handle the Odobin – think of it as your personal assistant for removing inconti-

Note the activity you were performing at the time, the types of beverages and the quantity you consumed beforehand, as well as the extent of the leakage.

Limiting fluid intake may actually increase the frequency of incontinence. Drinking a total of 6 to 8 glasses of water throughout the day is recommended. Unless advised to do so by your health professional, never restrict fluids to control incontinence.

RECOMMENDED DIET* • 40% Fruits and vegetables • 30% Bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods • 12% Meat, fish, eggs, beans • 8% Milk and dairy foods • 1% Oils and Spreads * https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide

nence waste fast.

Hygienic – Odobin provides the most hygienic way to remove incontinence waste.

Odourless – Odobin is adept at removing up to 75 litres of the unpleasant odours of incontinence waste to ensure they don’t hang around the care home.

Silent – The wheels on Odobin have been designed to ensure a silent operation, which is particularly important for those working a night shift who don’t want to disturb residents.

For more information email Ontex at salesandmarketing@ontexglobal.com

Introducing The World’s First Movable Bedpan Disposer Panaway® M1 It has been great to get back out helping some customers face to face again but we are also aware of ongoing restrictions and the many pressures facing all.

Haigh's product development has continued regardless and with the launch of the Panaway M1 mobile bedpan disposal system, the team has also made a virtual 3D version for you to view from your smartphone via the link / QR code below.

Bedpans, commode pots, kidney dishes & urine bottles are simply and efficiently disposed using Haigh's proven technology now in an easy to deploy, mobile, plug and play format.

Panaway M1 gives unprecedented flexibility when it

comes to bringing the infection prevention benefits of disposable medical pulp to your site, as well as the sustainability and cost considerations associated with using very little electricity and no hot water. A perfect solution as an emergency stand-in when a bedpan machine or washer is unavailable or as a cost-effective solution whilst migrating a site to a disposable system.

If you or your colleagues have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to email or call us.

For more information about renting, purchasing or a trial of Panaway® M1 contact Michelle Marriot on +44 (0)7500 626463 or email info@haighmed.com or visit www.panaway.com

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

CONTINENCE CARE Help To Manage Your Incontinence Issues Independently The Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult The Comfort Leg Bag range comes in variety of materials from velvet smooth, real cotton and flock backing The Children’s Bag with smaller capacity and proportions comes with a discreet and secure twist tap that will not open accidentally while moving, or out and about

Urinary incontinence affects millions of people in the UK. Although a widespread problem, incontinence remains a taboo topic.

Embarrassment often stops people from talking about it, let alone feeling able to access products and services that can help them. So, without the correct help and support, the problem often remains unsolved, which has a negative impact on people’s lives.

COMFORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE

IQ CATHETER

Since 1976 Manfred Sauer have provided a range of innovative urology products to help sufferers of urinary incontinence. But unlike other providers, our products are often designed and tested by both end users and healthcare professionals to ensure effective and user-friendly solutions that work. This means your incontinence issues can be managed independently, without worrying about frequent emptying or toilet access and do not impinge on your ability to live life to the full.

Read about four of our most popular product ranges, which are all available on prescription.

SHEATHS We offer 5 types of urinary sheath to facilitate the drainage of urine away from the body into a drainage bag. They are made from either latex, or synthetic materials and available in a range of sizes. We also offer skin friendly tapes, straps and adhesives, hair guards, measuring tape as well as Preventox, which cleans and protects the skin, so you are always comfortable and have the best fit possible.

LEGBAGS

We supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities.

Perfect for being outdoors, and packed full of unique features and benefits, you now have a choice when it comes to managing your incontinence issues.

The shape of our Discreet Thigh Bag allows for it to be worn high up on the thigh area and can even be hidden under shorts, skirts and even swimwear

Thousands of people across the country must perform Intermittent Self-Catheterisation (ISC) to effectively empty their bladder and having something that is simple to use, soft, flexible and easy to lubricate is essential. That’s where our IQ-Cath shines, plus, new for 2022 are male/paediatric and female single-use hydrophilic catheters which are immersed in saline and ready for immediate use.

Nephsys For people who have had a Nephrostomy, and tubes are already in place, our NephSys system can drastically improve their lives. As well as providing a secure and sterile solution, which consists of an adjustable, elasticated belt; drainage bags and suspenders to secure the bag to the belt in the chosen position, the system is also comfortable and discreet.

For help, support and advice, call 01604 595696, email helpline@manfred-sauer.co.uk or visit www.manfred-sauer.co.uk for more information about each product, or to order a free sample.

Texible Wisbi Smart Care Support Monitoring incontinence of a resident is often difficult and undignified. If that client also has dementia or is liable to fall out of bed, ensuring that they are safe is also challenging and time-consuming.

The innovative Texible Wisbi Home Smart Incontinence and Bed Exit Sensor Mat will detect if the bed has been wetted and send a notification via the free Texible app to the caregiver. This allows the caregiver to change the bedding as soon as possible, preventing pressure sores caused by laying on soiled sheets.

The Smart Incontinence and Bed Exit Sensor Mat also detects if the person has left the bed, allowing the caregiver to monitor someone at risk of falling out of bed.

The Texible Wisbi Smartphone app connects the bed pad control box to your smartphone via Wi-Fi. You can download the free app (suitable for both Android and Apple devices) and you will be able to see both the continence and occupancy status of your loved one at all times, wherever you are. This gives you

peace of mind and allows you to carry on your day, or get a good night’s rest, without constantly stopping to check your resident or worrying if they are ok.

For bed users who can toilet themselves, the app allows you to adjust the amount of time that your resident is out of the bed before it alerts you, so that it only sends the caregiver a notification if the user has been out of bed for more than the normal time.

Texible Wisbi is hygienic, washable and very easy to use. The sensor mat can be machine washed at 95°c, and each mat has a lifetime of 100 washes. The pad will absorb up to 700ml/m², providing excellent absorption.

See the advert below or visit www.willowdesign.uk.com for further details.

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Smart Synergy: Why Two Leading-Edge Technologies Are Set To Transform Care

By Stuart Barclay, UK Sales Director, Vayyar Care (info.vayyar.com/careTC2) COVID-19 derailed the plans of many start-ups and for a technology supplier serving the nursing home sector, the challenge might well have proved insurmountable.

Unable to physically access care homes, Arquella was prevented from piloting or deploying their cuttingedge nurse call system, the only such solution featuring a unique embedded care app. Fortunately, the company was able to use the enforced hiatus wisely, by integrating Vayyar Care’s transformative touchless technology.

Arquella instantly saw the value of Vayyar Care’s unprecedented fall detection accuracy, its ability to gather rich activity data, and easy interoperability. The convenience of its app-based functionality was also key. It would allow carers to receive real-time updates on their mobile devices, allowing them to work more efficiently and react more rapidly to emergency scenarios.

In fact, enhancing staff effectiveness is a core purpose of the integrated offering. Since the start of the pandemic, care providers have had to do much more with severely limited resources. Vayyar Care’s recent survey of the sector confirmed that staff recruitment and retention is the most significant challenge for two-thirds of care providers.

Data revealing response times and how long staff spend in rooms will allow them to receive the support they need to do what they do best, increasing long-term employee satisfaction.

The response from Arquella’s customers has been exceptionally positive. They intuitively understand the benefits and appreciate the opportunity to replace legacy devices such as floor mats that trigger frequent false alerts, wasting time that frontline carers can ill afford. That’s why the accuracy of Vayyar Care’s fall detection is a true game changer — for both staff and residents.

Older adults are far more safety-conscious and technologically aware than they were just a couple of years ago.

They now demand fall alert and monitoring solutions that ensure safety without compromising their dignity, privacy and independence. What’s more, they’re no longer willing to settle for solutions such as hard-to-reach buttons and cords, wearables that often cause embarrassment, or cameras that inevitably intrude on their personal spaces.

The pace of digital transformation in care is increasing, partly thanks to the efforts of CQC and the government, and partly due to the challenges presented by COVID. Communities must ensure that care is person-centred and enables proactive interventions and to do so, they need solutions that automatically gather real-time data which can easily be shared between caregivers. That data will also be used to demonstrate the quality of care and its outcomes.

The sector requires data-driven, digital alternatives to outdated analogue technologies and Arquella is a key player in the ecosystem we’re enabling. The company is looking forward to its first in-market installation in the coming months, supported by distributor Panacea Healthcare Group.

The offering will play a pivotal role in transforming operations for care homes across the UK and unlocking true personalised outcomes for residents.

To find out more, please email me at stuart.barclay@vayyar.com

Why 4,438 Daily Falls in UK Care Homes Deserve Our Attention A’ “Responding to falls in care homes: two innovations” report by Dr Mark Hawker and River Rea from Involve, discussed how best practice in post fall management can provide time and cost savings to the wider health and social care system.

Combining benefits of assistive lifting technology and video-based clinical support could return costs savings of up to £3,911 per fall, whilst also safeguarding residents’ lives.

Across the 15,000 + care homes registered by the Care Quality Commission there are between 270,000 – 1,620,000 falls per year. As one of the most frequently reported accidents among residents, falls represent a pressing issue for providers of care, particularly as demand for places is expected to rise as the population ages.

Author, Dr Mark Hawker says, “the risk factors for falls in care setting are diverse and the multiplicity of elements influencing the likelihood of falls makes them incredibly difficult to eliminate entirely. For the individual, the consequences of a fall are numerous and distressing, while the repetitive lifting requirement of carers puts them at risk of musculoskeletal injury.

“The pilot studies we’ve examined demonstrate that by giving care home staff the tools to empower

safe lifting reduces the time residents spend on the floor after a fall waiting for an ambulance and help to arrive. Organised and safe post fall care is better for the resident and more cost effective for the NHS.” The report goes on to discuss the importance of reducing the risk of spreading infectious diseases by eliminating avoidable contacts. There are clear benefits of using technologies that reduce the number of external contact such as those that would be required to pick up a resident following a fall. While difficult to quantify, the reduction of contacts with healthcare workers such as paramedics, GPs and district nurses with residents is seen as essential during a pandemic.

Mangar Health CEO Simon Claridge adds, “we have been working with NHS Ambulance Trusts for nearly 20 years and yet this report has been incredibly eye opening for us. We know lifting fallen care home residents is a daily challenge to prioritising ambulance calls, yet equipment and technology could easily lift the considerable pressures they are under and save the NHS millions annually.

“We would like to call on NHS England, NICE and CQC to review the dynamics involved in a resident fall detailed in this report and consider alternative care models in a post pandemic environment.”

Falls Prevention Programme Features in World Health Organization Report A trailblazing programme designed to reduce falls in older people has received international recognition after being highlighted in a World Health Organization report.

The Falls Management Exercise programme (FaME) targeted those at risk of falls in Leicestershire, Rutland and Derby, delivering specialist classes led by postural stability instructors over the course of 24 weeks.

The classes were shown to improve balance, walking speed and reduce fear of falling, all the while helping to increase physical activity and reduce falls. Those taking part were also provided with techniques for getting down and up from the floor, should they have a fall.

The success of the initiative, which saw the number of falls reduce over time, led to a blueprint being developed to allow health providers roll out the programme across the country.

Now the FaME project has been given a global platform after being featured in the World Health Organization’s Step Safely report, which is designed to support practitioners, policy-makers and researchers in the prevention of falls and fall-related injuries.

It identifies that each year in England, more than 200,000 emergency hospital admissions and four million bed days result from falls and

fractures among those aged 65 years and over, costing the health service approximately £2b.

With the NHS facing pressure as a result of falls, researchers from the University of Nottingham put together an Implementation Manual for Commissioners to allow the FaME programme to be rolled out across other areas. They estimate widespread adoption of FaME could save the NHS more than £700m.

The research was funded by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands.

Following publication in the WHO report, those behind the FaME programme are delighted the initiative could have a far-reaching, global impact.

Dr Liz Orton, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and Consultant in Public Health, said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better platform to share the impact of the FaME classes, which have been several years in the making and have shown such positive, encouraging results.

“Exposure in the WHO report is hugely beneficial - the more people working in this field who hear about this preventative programme, the better.”

Professor Adam Gordon, Professor of the Care of Older People, University of Nottingham and Lead for the Building Community Resilience and Enabling Independence theme for ARC East Midlands, added: “We’re extremely proud to have been part of a project which is now receiving world-wide recognition and is being showcased to clinicians and researchers working at the forefront of this field.

“With the blueprint now in place for other areas to implement FaME, we look forward to seeing its impact on those vulnerable to the often debilitating effects of a fall.”

NIHR ARC East Midlands funds vital work to tackle the region’s health and care priorities by speeding up the adoption of research onto the frontline of health and social care. The organisation puts in place evidence-based innovations which seek to drive up standards of care and save time and money.

NIHR ARC East Midlands is hosted by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and works in collaboration with the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network. It has bases at University of Leicester and University of Nottingham.

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Silent Running Assistive Technology Tranquility in Care Homes Solutions from Medpage

Medpage t/a Easylink UK is a company who have designed, manufactured, and distributed Assistive Technology solutions to aid independent and assisted living for over 35 years. We introduced the first wireless bed and chair leaving detection alarms into the UK market more than 25 years ago.

During the Pandemic, against all odds, we

launched a new brand of fall prevention and detection products. TumbleCare. TumbleCare products are simplistic, but effective, people sensors. The sensors detect a person in or out of their bed or chair, or physically falling. A warning notification is transmitted by radio signal to radio pagers, nurse call station, or over the internet to alert designated carers. Our philosophy over the years has not changed. To deliver quality, reliability, and performance at realistic prices.

We are key suppliers to the majority of Local Authorities throughout the UK and the NHS of fall prevention products. Our systems operate as stand-alone solutions or can integrate with most commercial nurse call systems. We offer attractive sales discounts for trade and volume buyers and provide free advice and help in developing a falls prevention strategy.

Visit our website www.easylinkuk.co.uk and view our guide on wandering and falls or telephone our sales office on 01536 264869.

Edison Telecom - Specialist Solutions For Your Nurse Call Systems 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 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

Quiet and calm care homes ensure that residents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment. Similarly, carers and staff find that they too benefit from reduced stress when working in a home where noise levels are kept to a minimum. There are many environmental factors that can affect those sensitive to their surroundings, particularly those suffering from dementia, these can be fluctuations in ambient temperature, light, and of course noise. Repetitive and high levels of noise can originate from a number of internal and external sources, for example, telephones ringing, loud conversations in corridors, and call bells sounding, often one of the largest contributors to increasing the levels of stress and discomfort in residents.

A published study by the University of Stirling stated that unanswered Nurse Call (Call Bell) alarms can be one of the most common causes of stress in dementia sufferers. The University recommends “fitting call alarms which alert nurses but do not resonate throughout the whole building. Alarms can be particularly disconcerting as they may encourage the person with dementia to respond or investigate what the matter is. At the very least the loss of sleep will compromise a person’s ability to concentrate. It can affect their attention levels and capacity to

cope, as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing. Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers.” Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number of methods to reduce their impact in a care home. These include zoning whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call. In these circumstances, dementia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one “zone” whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative “zone”.

Each “zone” can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil environment for residents. Pagers have been around for many years, are a relatively simple and cost-effective measure in reducing the levels of noise, and can be added to most Nurse Call systems.

Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps for care planning, e-medication, etc. Many Courtney Thorne clients are now utilising the “Go” app with their Nurse Call system. With the “Go” app, nurse call alarms are delivered immediately and silently straight to the handsets, alerting the individual carers to all Nurse call alarms without creating any general alarm sound and rarely disturbing the rest of the residents in the home.

Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less stressed also, this creates a happier workplace where morale is greatly improved, staff are retained and CQC ratings improve. Clearly, the positive ramifications of a quiet Care Home run deep. Get in touch today to find out how we can help your home become a quieter, calmer, and more tranquil environment.

For more information email us at: info@c-t.co.uk

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 41

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years.

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR

Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!

Upgrade your falls programme with the latest technology from Fall Savers®. The NEW Fall Savers® Wireless eliminates the cord between the monitor and sensor pad. This results in less work for nursing staff, improved safety for patients and reduced wear and tear on sensor pads. Wireless advantages include the ability to use one monitor with two sensor pads simultaneously and support for many new wireless devices.

Benefits include:

Safer for patients; less work for staff Bed and chair pads available One monitor works with two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems A variety of options, including: Call button Pager

Floor sensor mat Wireless door/window exit alerts

TREADNOUGHT ®FLOOR SENSOR PAD The TreadNought® Floor Sensor Pad is built to last with a durable construction that far out lasts the competition. Our anti-bacterial floor sensor pad is compatible with most nurse call systems or can be used with a portable pager to sound an alert when a person steps on to the sensor pad. Caregivers typically place the sensor pad at the bedside, in a doorway or other locations to monitor persons at risk for falls or wandering. An optional anti-slip mesh reduces the potential for slippage on hard surface floors.

Features include:

Nurse Alert Mats Designed to combat the problem of residents who are inclined to walk undetected, the Nurse Alert Mat can help protect residents especially at night that are at risk of falls and accidents.

When connected to a Nurse Call system or the mobile Floor Sentry Monitor it will then alert staff, sounding the alarm with a small amount of pressure thus enabling staff to investigate.

• Nurse Call Systems • Fire Alarm Systems • Door Access • Staff Attack • CCTV • Infection Control • Dementia Care • Electrical Contracting

Connects directly to most nurse call systems High Quality anti-bacterial Floor Sensor Pad Large Size Pad: Measures (L) 91cm x (H) 61cm Options (sold separately): Anti-slip mesh for hard surface floors See the advert on this page for further details or visit www.fallsavers.co.uk.

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 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 www.lctuk.com for details.

In addition The Floor Pressure Mat has a heavy non slip backing, It comes professionally sealed so can easily be cleaned for liquid spills and is fully serviceable.

INCLUDES A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE

sales@lctuk.com 0800 8499 121 www.LCTUK.com

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

44% of Care Employees Are Considering a Job Change This Year Close to one in every two care sector employees are thinking about a role change this year, according to new research published by workforce software company Sona.

In a survey of 750 staff working in care in the UK, 30% said they are looking at a new role within care, and 14% could quit the sector entirely. Given the existing employment gap in care, these figures suggest that providers should be looking to ease the burden on their recruitment teams by prioritising programmes to increase employee satisfaction and retention.

Respondents were asked which aspects of their work they feel are very important in any decision to switch employers. Salary (62%) came third, after relationships with residents and patients (63%), and more flexible schedules (62%).

The research showed a clear correlation between working patterns and satisfaction at work. 54% of staff with more unpredictable hours are considering a job change this year, compared to 39% of those with predictable hours. Almost 20% of respondents who work unpredictable hours are considering leaving the sector.

The findings were revealed as part of Sona’s Rethinking Retention report, which also looked at the factors most likely to make staff feel happy about working for their current employer. More recognition from management (92%), better internal communication (91%), having more freedom to choose their working patterns (90%), and better mental health support for employees (90%) were top of the list.

Intelligent Care Software (ICS) If you are looking for a care management system which answers all of your quality, monitoring and compliance needs, then looks no further than Care is. Care is provides the intelligent software solution for care home and domiciliary care managers and owners looking to roll all of their care and management functions into one electronic platform. We know this to be true because unlike some other CMS’s Care is was conceived, designed, built and is managed by nurses, registered managers and care home owners.

Richard Upshall, Product Director for Health and Social Care at Sona, said: "The possibility of more staff leaving the sector is very concerning given that recruitment is already a big challenge. However, our research shows that the most important contributors to happiness at work are all things employers can control. The status quo is clearly not sustainable, so providers should give themselves permission to radically rethink how they support, engage and motivate their staff. That includes looking at the role technology can play in creating more flexible working patterns, enhancing team communication and recognition, and supporting staff wellbeing.”

For more information, please visit www.getsona.com/rethinking-retention

ABOUT SONA Sona’s mission is to put technology in the hands of frontline staff that transforms how they manage their work and engage with their employer. Designed for the specific needs of modern care organisations, Sona’s ‘people operating system’ combines powerful productivity tools with a sleek, simple and intuitive user experience. Features include live schedule view, absence management, instant messaging, and an innovative shift booking platform that matches shift vacancies with employees willing to take on more hours. Trailblazing providers are revolutionising the way they manage, engage and retain their staff with Sona. Customers include Advinia Healthcare, Creative Support, and Praxis Care. www.getsona.com The ‘CARE is’ suite includes care and support, care planning platform, our policy app with over 200 high quality policies which are updated regularly and which also includes our supervision, appraisals and training record apps and our audit app which templates all the essential audits and includes a record of inspection visits.

At Care is we can get you started on your journey from paper or another care management system with minimum fuss, plenty of support and all for what we believe to be good value for money.

With eMAR, mandatory training and a complementary care certificate coming in 2022, there has never been a better time to get on board. https://careis.net

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Autonomy and Consent in Care Sam Hussain, Founder and CEO of the care management platform Log my Care, delves into the importance of consent in social care.

Too often in care settings we hear the question “Why did no one tell me?” No care provider wants their clients to feel unheard or uninformed, that’s why autonomy in care is so important.

In many care situations, service users may already feel like they’re losing control simply because of the circumstances that led them to seek support. Involving them in decision-making around their care can help them retain as much autonomy as possible.

REDUCE RISK Although there’s an element of risk with every activity in care, by giving consent, a client accepts those risks.

For care providers, a signed record of this consent can be invaluable, should those risks become reality.

Not getting consent right can lead to complaints, criminal liability and more. However, consent obtained correctly can protect those providing care.

IMPROVE CARE QUALITY AND BE PERSON-CENTRED

Consenting to care means that people are at the heart of the plans put in place to support them. This is an opportunity to initiate discussions with clients about the care that might benefit them, and help tailor care plans to suit them.

LEGAL REQUIREMENT Finally, having a record of consent is a legal requirement that regulatory bodies, like the Care Quality Commission or the Care Inspectorate, check diligently, and will affect how they evaluate a care service as a whole.

HOW LOG MY CARE CAN SUPPORT YOU TO MANAGE CONSENT Log my Care’s consent management feature allows care providers to easily manage their clients’ consent records. Service users can digitally sign consent and lack of capacity forms directly on the platform and reminders can be scheduled to review these records at a later date.

See the advert on this page for further details.

‘Work Smarter’ To Tackle Care Recruitment Crisis, Advises Bizimply The recruitment crisis continues to hit care homes hard. According to the latest ONS figures, to 31 March this year, vacancies in the health & social work sector, which includes care, stood at 216,000 – a 6.5% increase on the previous quarter and massive 65% up on the previous year. Care home owners and managers are learning how to run their business with a staff vacancy rate that is here to stay for a while.

Conor Shaw, CEO at workforce management specialists Bizimply, says: “Tackling the staffing crisis means ensuring your teams are working not harder, but smarter.

“Technology such as ours can be really helpful, allowing managers to create staff rotas and payroll easily and quickly, so they can spend more time with their teams, which raises morale and motivation. It can also

reduce the reliance on agency staff to fill the gaps.

“The other benefit is that managers can give staff members their shift patterns further in advance, putting an end to last-minute requests to work.

Improving your employees’ work-life balance can go a long way to making them feel more valued in their job and less likely to leave.”

Shaw adds: “Nobody chooses a career in care to spend hours on administration. By automating routine tasks, care home managers and staff can concentrate on doing what they love - caring for residents.”

A growing number of care homes across the UK and Ireland are now using Bizimply’s software to create staff rotas, payroll and more. To find out more: https://www.bizimply.com/health-care/

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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 45

CYBER SECURITY How To Prevent Phishing Cyberattacks In Your Care Facility are because of actions inadvertently taken by employees.

Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated than ever and email recipients are finding it increasingly difficult to spot imposter emails.

Whilst you have little control over what’s happening externally with BEC, there are some steps that you can take to help prevent this cyberattack impacting your business.

Implement the five tips below to help prevent Business Email Compromise in your care business:

1 MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Cyberattacks are on the increase and a favourite and growing approach is via email, which we call phishing. Cyber security company Nexor reported that there was a 31% increase in cyber related cases across May and June 2020, with the healthcare sector amongst one of the most targeted industries.

According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021 carried out

by Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, among the 38% of small to medium sized businesses identifying a breach or attack, 83% had phishing attacks, 27% were impersonated attacks and 16% had malware (including ransomware).

There are many forms of email phishing, but they all have one thing in common – to cause disruption to your business. One form of phishing attack known as ‘business email compromise’ uses compromised email credentials or imitates a legitimate email address in order to encourage the recipient to take action. It’s usually targeted at an individual or small group and relies upon the ability to look like someone in a senior position within a company or a trusted external provider. The aim of the attack could be to transfer funds, make a payment or share sensitive information – patient data for example. It’s exceptionally easy to fall prey to business email compromise or any phishing attack.

In fact a report by Beazley PLC, highlighted that a staggering 90% of data breaches occurring in the UK in 2019 were caused by human error! This means that most incidents that occur in a business setting

Introduce multi-factor authentication into your systems. This is an authentication method that requires a user to provide two or more verification factors in order to gain access to a resource such as an application or online account.

MFA will protect the user and therefore your business from an unknown person trying to access data, such as patient data, personal information or financial details.

In addition to this, you could also create a rule for all new emails that come into the business from external sources. With this in place all external emails would be clearly identified, acting as an additional prompt for the recipient to make sure it’s a legitimate email.

SET UP Take a close look at the procedures in place for the set-up of new accounts. How do you verify their details and address? Look at how you manage any changes they request, to ensure that they are genuine.

IS IT TIME TO REVIEW YOUR CYBER RISK?

2 STAFF TRAINING Carry out staff training on how to detect and avoid phishing emails.

The Barnes Risk Management Hub has online learning resources that can be utilised for this purpose, and is an easy way to educate staff in what to look out for.

3 REINFORCE FUND TRANSFER/PAYMENT PROCEDURES Review and reinforce your fund transfer and payment procedures to identify areas that may be vulnerable. This could involve an authentication requirement for people or businesses that are not within your network.

At Barnes Commercial, we can help with a comprehensive risk review, including your vulnerability to cyberattacks and create a programme of covers that are best suited to your needs. As an independent broker we provide completely impartial advice on the best solution for your specific needs.

Telephone 01480 272727 Email: enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk

4 LIMIT USERS Reduce or limit the number of people that can authorise financial transfers and payments. The fewer people with the ability to carry out these tasks, the lower your risk of compromise becomes.

5 REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR SUPPLIER/CUSTOMER ACCOUNT

Specialist care home insurance We arrange tailored insurance programmes for care and nursing homes, hospices and domiciliary care providers, for both staff and business owners.

Our extensive knowledge of the care market will help to ensure you have the right protection in place for now and, for the future.

Secure robust cover that’s right for your business.

CALL NOW FOR A QUOTE

01480 272727

Impartial advice from experienced advisers

Exceptional service from a dedicated account executive

Let us help you to protect your business with a no obligation risk review today!

Market-leading products from A rated insurers

Send us an email: Visit our website: Follow us:

Support with claims

Guidance on risk management solutions including H&S and HR

enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk/care /barnes-commercial

Barnes Commercial Insurance Broker is a trading style of Barnes Commercial Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN: 844370. Registered address: 3 Fenice Court, Phoenix Park, Eaton Socon, St Neots, Cambs, PE19 8EW. Registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 11909011.

PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & TRAINING

THEMA Healthcare

"I have got 12 years experience in the care industry working in different settings as a nurse or nurse manager. During this time I have realized and understood what clients expect from a truly reliable healthcare professional.

"With this in mind, we aim to provide to our clients the people for the job. Our goal is to create long term business relationships with our clients based on trust and providing high efficiency services as we will take time to listen and understand what is important to our clients.

"Understanding the importance of flexibility, continuity and stability we will always have the best interest of both client and our staff at heart.

Claudiu Nicolae Burtica, Director, Thema Healthcare THEMA Healthcare Ltd. supplies Registered Nurses and Healthcare Assistants to Care Homes, Rehabilitation Centres, Hospitals, Private Clinics, GP

Surgeries and Domiciliary Care Providers.

At THEMA Healthcare we complete full checks on all our staff and we make sure their mandatory training is up to date.

We offer exclusive contracts which means you will get the same staff.

We cover short notice calls (without a contract with us) but we also offer the option for lock booking our staff for longer periods, days, weeks or even months in advance.

THEMA Healthcare covers for short notice sickness, summer holidays period, annual leave, long term sickness and we help care providers until they recruit their own staff.

07894070385 info@thema-healthcare.co.uk www.thema-healthcare.co.uk

Why Train Beyond the Care Certificate?

It can be tempting to think that once the Care Certificate has been achieved it’s the end of training. The Care Certificate can demonstrate that staff have the minimum level of required training.

Training to Level 2 and beyond will therefore improve abilities to cope with the challenges presented by working in a difficult sector. Obviously one of the most significant challenges was dealing with Covid but there will be new and different challenges ahead However, it is the clients who will benefit from the improvement that additional training will bring.

Whilst these may include advances in the treatment of dementia, or changes to the legislative framework, there will undoubtedly be any number of other issues that will create new and complex problems that need to be dealt with.

So, if you think the Care Certificate completes all the training, it might be time to think again.

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

So why choose Step Up Training and Care?

We provide training services that will build implicit trust, leading to confidence by clients looking to use your services.

At Step Up Training and Care, we know people are busy, work long hours and that a set 9-5 timetable will not work for most care homes and providers. We can tailor our learning programmes to meet individual needs, time our training to meet business commitments, working shift patterns and around family life.

Zoom Boom is here to stay, and we can accommodate teaching and learning through blended learning such as classroom, remote, assessor based, one to one training sessions. Our trainers have personal experiences of working in the health and social care sector, hence our flexible approach.

We empower people to learn.

Training beyond the Care Certificate - Can you afford not to?

T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk

STEP UP Training and Care At Step Up Training and Care we offer: • Tailored learning journeys and programmes • A flexible blended approach of one to one, in-house, classroom, practical assignments and online assessment methods • Training that will lead to higher quality of care delivery • Training led by tutors and assessors who are specialists in health and social care • Level 3 diplomas that are accredited to Highfield Qualifications

T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 101 | PAGE 47

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & TRAINING In Dire Need Of Experienced Health Care Assistant, Senior Carer Or A Nurse?

JJ Recruitment has the large database of well qualified applicants with experience in the health-care industry, such as health care assistants, senior carers, and nurses from overseas. We also have an expert team of solicitors for the necessary legal proceedings and advices.

Why JJ?

Solicitude Training Training packages are engaging and bespoke to individual organisations to ensure that they are relevant to that particular service and therefore optimise learning and include accredited as well as awareness courses. Solicitude Training is a registered centre with Qualsafe.

Training can be delivered virtually, face to face or via e-learning or through a combination. The benefit of using a blended approach is that it can reduce delivery time (and therefore cost), but knowledge can be checked during the face to face delivery, to ensure that not only have the staff gained the knowledge, but that they can apply it to practice.

E-learning courses are flexible, can be done from the comfort of the individual staff members own home and at a time that suits them. This enables all individuals to learn at their own pace, without any pressure, to keep up with other staff. The on-line courses are designed to be engaging, interactive and

• We have very minimal processing fees.

• We assist you to get a sponsorship license.

• Qualified and experienced candidates from overseas.

Tel: 01704 809756 www.jjcarerecruitment.co.uk admin@jjrecruitment.co.uk relevant to the individual to help staff learn and retain knowledge and so content is designed to enable staff to relate theory to practice.

A well-trained workforce is an essential requirement to enable outstanding care to be delivered and these e-learning courses are designed to support the whole employee life cycle from induction through to career development, which in turn empowers staff to feel valued and continue their personal and professional development.

E-learning enables services to ensure that all staff are compliant with their training in a cost effective and timely manner. With multi-buy discounts available, this enables services to reduce costs and budget for the years training. Packages can also be purchased that facilitate blended learning, enabling all learning styles and needs to be accommodated.

For further information you can contact Solicitude Training on: Tel: 01256 242272 Email: info@solicitudetraining.co.uk Website: www.solicitudetraining.co.uk

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance

Global assists clients throughout the U.K. who specialise in the healthcare sector to achieve their objectives of purchase, development and refinance.

We have organised over £1.8bn for clients in the past 30 years, providing clients with competitively priced funding to refinance existing debt, ease cashflow and develop businesses further.

From helping clients make their first purchase through to allowing groups to grow significantly in size

we assist at every stage of your business expansion.

Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements, I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements.

Call us on 01242 227172 or e-mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.net