The Carer Digital - Issue #109

T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S Issue 109

W W W. T H E C A R E R U K . C O M

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Coming Year “Most Challenging Ever” for Adult Social Care

ADASS, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, is warning that the year ahead will be the most challenging ever faced for adult social care and for the people needing and working in it.

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ (ADASS) spring survey revealed that inflation and a labour market crisis were expected to add to long-

term pressures caused by austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Directors reported increases in care needs while 82% said they had experienced increased referrals of people discharged from hospital.

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PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

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

Once again our lead story makes stark reading.

“Adult social care is facing its most challenging year ever”!

This will again come as a surprise to nobody.

There are many alarming parts in this report, particularly with reference to the workforce being “Underpaid, Overstretched and Undervalued”. This is only my opinion, but I would have changed undervalued to “taken for granted”.

Given the sector’s heroic response to the Covid pandemic, and the Government’s mishandling of its now withdrawn “mandatory vaccine policy”, I am confident the wider public value and support care staff overwhelmingly.

Last year we were part of the government’s drive to encourage the public to consider a career in adult social care. In February 2021 the public were urged “to apply for rewarding short-term and long-term opportunities in the adult social care sector to support care home residents and those being cared for at home.”

I remember reporting Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote at the time: “I want to thank carers for all they do to look after our loved ones. Throughout this pandemic, they have gone above and beyond to protect our parents and grandparents, and to provide them with the support and care they need and we would be truly lost without them.”

“This exceptional career choice is tough but rewarding, and I would urge anyone who is thinking of a career in care to come forward and join this heroic workforce.”

I have often said here in my editorials that I regularly get the opportunity to speak to care providers and care workers at events, and I always make a specific point of asking about the rewarding aspects of the job and the challenging aspects.

Challenging though certain aspects of the sector are, I always get an overwhelming sense that workers really enjoy what they do, when they visit our stand they are always part of the team, interacting and telling us the warm and uplifting part of their job, but also the challenges they and their bosses face.

I really don’t think that the government can go on acknowledging reports such as this but failing to act on them.

Editor

Peter Adams

The consequence is exacerbating the difficulties in recruiting staff, and exacerbating the difficulties in retaining staff.

The hospitality sector is finding a similar problem.

Those who left the sector due to it being closed down for 18 months, and who then found other jobs, are not coming back.

They have quickly readjusted to life in other careers. The government really does have to up its game, acknowledge and act upon the warnings the sector is sending out.

A date for your calendar - Afternoon Tea Week is coming up on August 8-14. A quintessentially British tradition celebrated in every care home throughout the UK! We have a wonderful upcoming feature with some interesting statistics and fun ideas, also highlighting how important nutrition and hydration are so please do watch out for our printed issue on the presses this weekend and posted out to you on Monday!

We will be inviting residential and nursing care homes to send in stories and photographs of their celebrations for Afternoon Tea Week, with a super prize courtesy of THE CARER (which we are not yet revealing) on the way when Afternoon Tea Week ends to a lucky winner, so please do watch this space!

Again we have received some wonderful and uplifting stories from care homes around the country, awards, birthday celebrations, fundraising, sports events, singing and dancing - you name it we are receiving them at the moment - all feelgood stories which highlight the dedication, commitment and devotion staff display in every day improving the well-being of the residents so well done, and please do keep them coming to editor@thecareruk.com

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 3

Coming Year “Most Challenging Ever” for Adult Social Care

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Almost seven in 10 directors said care providers in their area have closed, ceased trading, or handed back contracts to councils. Many more cannot deliver the increased care and support needed due to staffing shortfalls.

The survey revealed that just 12% of respondents said they are confident they have the resources to deliver on all of their legal responsibilities this year, falling to 3% next year.

future.

Cathie Williams, ADASS’s Chief Executive said: “Our health and social care services are in jeopardy.

Without immediate and substantial help from the government, we face the most difficult winter we have ever experienced during which more people will miss out on vital care, others will wait longer for support and choice and quality will decline still further.

“Measures so far to ‘fix’ social care simply do not address the scale of current funding and workforce challenges and are crying out for a long-term, properly funded plan.”

INCREASED REQUESTS AND REFERRALS

“PUSHING SERVICES TO THE BRINK”

Respondents also reported increased requests and referrals for support because of mental health issues (87%), domestic abuse safeguarding concerns (67%), a breakdown of unpaid carer arrangements (73%) and a lack of other services in the community (51%).

Some 82% said they were receiving more referrals of people discharged from hospital, with 46% reporting increased activity because someone could not be admitted to hospital, and 74% saying they were recording more referrals and requests for support from the community.

Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) said: “ The ADASS Spring Survey confirms what we have been telling government for some time – that the current funding for care and support services is pushing people’s social care services to the brink. Increasing levels of unmet need, mounting workforce pressures, and a failure by government to provide sufficient financial resources all contribute to the bleak picture painted by Directors of adult social care services today.

“Chief executives of disability charities are telling me that the soaring financial costs of provision are not being matched by funding local authorities. This is all having a direct impact on services, and it is the people who draw on, or who are in need of social care, whose lives will be disproportionately affected.

“The recommendations thoughtfully laid out by ADASS are all achievable and are backed by the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group. Today, central government can choose to make a difference to the lives of people who draw on social care and adopt these recommendations.

“AT THE CENTRE OF A STORM” Sarah McClinton, ADASS President, said: “Adult social care has long been in a fragile state, but growing economic turbulence is rapidly deepening our problems and concerns. We are at the centre of the storm. Those who need or work in care are amongst the most exposed to the cost-of-living crisis.

“A growing number of Directors tell us that they have never been more concerned than they are about the winter to come.

We need action and funding now to support recovery in social care, just as in the NHS, and build firmer foundations for the reforms we all want to see.”

The survey, the leading and most comprehensive assessment of adult social care, shows that the long-term impact of both austerity and the Covid-19 pandemic on support for people with care needs is now being compounded by spiralling inflation and intense labour market pressures.

UNDERPAID, OVERSTRETCHED, UNDERVALUED WORKFORCE Existing challenges of rising requests for support, increasing complexity of care required, fragile care markets, and underpaid, undervalued and overstretched workforce, risks being compounded by the current cost of living crisis. People who need care and support, unpaid carers and those who work in adult social care are amongst the most exposed.

This, the survey says, has profound implications for people who need care and support today, those who will need support this winter and our chances of providing the type of care and support we all want in the

“SOCIAL CARE WORKFORCE ARE VALUED, APPRECIATED AND SUPPORTED” A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “Reforming adult social care is a priority and we are investing £5.4 billion over the next three years to end the lottery of unpredictable care costs and support the workforce.

“This includes £3.6 billion to enable all local authorities to move towards paying providers a fair cost of care, and a further £1.7 billion to begin major improvements across adult social care in England – on top of record annual funding to help councils respond to rising demands and cost pressures.

“Our social care workforce are valued, appreciated and supported, which is why we are also providing an additional £500 million for training to boost career opportunities.”

“As ADASS has highlighted, the next 12 months were always going to be challenging given wider unprecedented external cost pressures. Urgent attention to these recommendations is, therefore, required immediately. We need the forthcoming leadership of government, through the role of a new Prime Minister and Cabinet, to grasp social care and put our essential services on a sustainable footing.”

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Government Issues Care Home Heatwave Advice

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has updated its guidance offering support and advice for residential and care settings during heatwaves.

The advice follows the national emergency which was declared over the weekend.

The government is warning that the biggest increase in risk of death is among those living care homes. It has now stepped in to update its guidance to care homes by urging staff to ‘advise residents to avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, colas), very sweet drinks and alcohol’.

The main causes of illness and death during a heatwave are respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Additionally, there are specific heat-related illnesses including: • heat cramps – caused by dehydratation and loss of electrolytes, often following exercise • heat rash – small, red, itchy papules • heat oedema – mainly in the ankles, due to vasodilatation and retention of fluid • heat syncope – dizziness and fainting, due to dehydratation, vasodilatation, cardiovascular disease and certain medications At-risk groups This includes: • older people, especially those over 75 years old, or those living on their own and who are socially isolated, or in a care home • those with chronic and severe illness, including heart conditions, diabetes, respiratory or renal insufficiency, Parkinson’s disease, or severe mental illness • those on medications that potentially affect renal function, sweating, thermoregulation, or electrolyte balance • those who are unable to adapt their behaviour to keep cool, including those with Alzheimer’s, disabilities, or who are bed bound Mike Padgham, care of the Independent Care Group said: “An extended period of hot weather such as that we are being warned about can pose a health risk to those in our care and we are reminding our fellow providers to be vigilant.

“To those looking after people in care and nursing homes they must follow the Government’s advice on heatwaves and those visiting people in their own home to similarly ensure clients are safe from the dangers of a heatwave.

“We would also urge the public to be vigilant too. Some older and vulnerable people live alone and might not be taking extra care during the heatwave.

“We would ask for people to be good neighbours and to check in on those people and make sure they are looking after themselves over the coming days.”

Helen Wildbore, Director of R&RA said: ‘Providers will know the dangers posed to older people by extreme heat and its vital that their risk assessments and action plans are shared with care users and their families/carers. This will not only help to ease any worries relatives/carers may have but communication is also key to ensuring risks are identified and plans are individualised. Where homes have an outbreak, it is vital that the Government’s heatwave guidance is followed and people are not isolated in hot rooms.’

Cllr Louise Gittins, Vice-Chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “With a Red Heat Alert having been issued for the first time by the Met Office, people should avoid unnecessary travel and take action now to keep yourself and others safe.

“Extreme heat is a serious thing. “Research published this week shows that nearly 800 extra deaths a year in the UK are caused by excessive heat. With a period of record breaking heat due, people should remember to take care. It is not just those who may be more vulnerable who are at risk from these extreme temperatures. Anyone could potentially fall ill if they have not taken adequate precautions.

“No-one is immune to the power of the sun. Drinking plenty of water, keeping our homes cool, avoiding direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day and using sunscreen are sensible precautions we all need to remember.”

Jill Young, operations director at Vida Healthcare, discusses the initiatives that are in place across the three specialist dementia care

homes to keep residents cool and comfortable during a heatwave.

She said: “Hot weather can present significant challenges for older and more vulnerable people, particularly those living with dementia.

Dehydration and heatstroke are real concerns that must be taken into account.

“At Vida we have a permanent plan in place should a heatwave, like the one due to occur next week, take place to make sure our residents are kept cool, hydrated, happy and healthy. We’ve already started implementing a range of initiatives which will be kept in place until the weather cools down.

“Dehydration is a particular cause for concern, as some of our residents may forget to keep hydrated. No matter the weather, each one of our residents has a hydration and fluid care plan and chart so that staff can monitor their hydration levels. This ensures we can keep a close eye on residents who might not be drinking enough.

“During hot weather, we also introduce extra fluid measures. Our chefs make jelly sweets that contain 20ml of water per sweet – our residents love them and it can be a straightforward way of giving them a little extra fluid. Our freezers are kept stocked with ice creams and ice lollies for both staff and residents which are available at all times, and our residents also have access to jugs of juice and water in their rooms and the communal areas.

“We’re very lucky that all three of our homes have access to secure outdoor spaces with shaded areas that our residents can enjoy. If a resident is keen to go outside, our staff will make sure they’re wearing a hat and suncream, and will encourage them to sit in the shade to keep safe from the sun.

“In terms of our care homes, we have destination areas with air conditioning to keep staff and residents cool, and we keep windows open to increase the flow of fresh air into the building.

“Fans are also available to every resident, however we have strict infection control measures in place and will clean each fan thoroughly to reduce the risk of residents contracting an infection. Residents are also given increased opportunities to have showers and baths to keep them cool and comfortable.

“It’s not only the residents’ surroundings that play an important role in keeping them safe from the heat. We have emergency menus on standby that reduce the amount of hot food being cooked and served and instead focuses instead on cold and lighter foods, such as salads.

This also plays an important role in keeping our chefs cool in the kitchen.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 5

Recognition of the Workforce – Call for Fully Funded Minimum Wage Care England is calling for the Government to better support the adult social care workforce by introducing a fully funded minimum wage for adult social care workers in England, Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “The social care workforce is our biggest asset and care providers are anxious to deliver a new deal for our workforce with clear career pathways and proper remuneration. However, this is impossible on the current funding which we receive from central and local government, and there is a desperate need for significant increases in funding to keep pace with the cost of living crisis and to make care a valued and properly rewarded career.

Today, Citizens UK, and various other groups gathered outside the offices of care providers to call for

increases in the pay of care workers. We want to see these increases as well, but these gatherings were in the wrong place, they should have been outside Downing Street, putting pressure on the Government to deliver the funding required to deliver a new deal for social care professionals”.

Martin Green continues: “Care England continues to work on behalf of its members to ensure that a long-term workforce strategy is introduced. Social Care services have been through one of the most traumatic periods in living memory and our colleagues have been on the frontline of the global pandemic, yet we have not seen proper recognition or reward for this contribution coming from the Government. In Wales and Scotland, care staff have been given bonuses, yet these have not been paid in England.”

School Garden Launch Sows Seeds of Friendship for Care Home Residents Residents of a Dorset care home have cultivated community links with the opening of a garden at a nearby school.

Children and staff at Talbot Primary School in Poole welcomed neighbours from Colten Care’s Bourne View which is just around the corner in Langside Avenue.

The Bourne View party, including residents Kathleen Betty, Pat Tharme and Albert Langworthy, enjoyed a tour of the new space and complimented all involved in its planning and opening.

It features raised beds enabling all children to take part in gardening activities and the care of plants and flowers.

After admiring the layout of the garden and its array of vegetables, wild self-seeded flowers and mixed sunflowers, Pat said: “The displays were beautiful and it was a joy to visit such a lovely garden and see children so full of happiness.”

Albert agreed, adding: “This is such a well-tended and peaceful green space.”

Pupils have been involved in planting and nurturing the plants and flowers during the past academic

year.

Some of the seeds they have planted recently were specially gifted to them from the Tower of London Superblooms display, part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Talbot school Head Teacher Kate Curtis said: “This has been a long-term project and it is great to see it come to fruition. We are so grateful to the Talbot Village Trust for providing the funding and delighted to share this beautiful space with our children, families, and the wider community.”

Accompanying the Bourne View residents were staff from the home including Companionship Team member Brian Ramsey and Julie Steele, Customer Advisor.

Brian said: “It’s clear that a great deal of work has gone into making this garden so attractive and inspiring.

“We congratulate all at Talbot Primary School and thank them for being such great hosts.

“They even served us afternoon tea and homemade cakes which was a delightful surprise.”

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Dehydration In Care Homes: Don’t Let People Die Of Thirst

By Jo Jacobius, Communications Consultant for the Water Dispenser & Hydration Association (www.twha.co.uk) Fluid intake is fundamental to health and well-being. Yet in care settings where water should be readily available, hydration is all too often not prioritised not because people don’t care but just because they are sometimes not trained to understand that many people in care, especially those with cognitive impairment, need to be reminded to drink and importantly need to be helped to drink.

It pays to hydrate people. It is scandalous that in the UK today, vulnerable people are dying of thirst. Apart from the human misery caused by dehydration, it costs the NHS and care homes dearly due to illness that can result from dehydration. Older people admitted to hospital from residential care settings have been found to be 10 times more likely to be dehydrated than those admitted to hospital from their own home. The consequences of dehydration include cognitive impairment, lack of balance leading to falls, constipation, UTIs and respiratory tract infections. Lack of fluid can even cause fatalities.

Perhaps because hydration is a basic right, research has been limited and continuous training on this aspect of care is lacking. The situation may have worsened during the Covid pandemic, where care has been hindered by lack of visits from relatives who often are the first to note a cognitive decline that may result from dehydration.

Drinks are not the only means of delivering fluid. Soups, fruits, and vegetables for example, all have a role to play. One of the best means of hydrating people healthily however is water.

Some solutions are simple. In some care homes, water is often provided in plastic jugs where the fluid becomes unpleasant to drink and may be left out of reach. Even when the vulnerable person can reach, those who have dementia don’t have the trigger mechanisms to know they need a drink unless encouraged. Coloured drinking cups along with encouragement to drink, and improved palatability of the water

catering staff, care assistants and carers.

Fluid charts aren’t the answer either. They can be overly complicated, misunderstood, and not completed properly. Phillipa AtkinsonClow, general manager of the WHA, said: “There is no substitute for reviewing the client’s symptoms. Is the mouth dry? Are lips cracked?

Does the tongue look wrong? Is the urine dark in colour? These obvious symptoms can often be addressed by simply offering fluids and noting if the symptoms quickly clear. Often they do.”

If your care home uses water dispensers, these may come in a variety of formats: bottled water coolers, mains-fed (bottle-free coolers), integrated tap systems in the kitchen area, or other forms of water station or water fountain. Whichever you choose, hydration must be delivered safely so you need to ensure your system is provided and maintained by a WHA-Safe supplier. WHA stands for The Water Dispenser & Hydration Association, the body that trains and annually can help.

A report resulted written by Dr Lisa Wilson for the International Longevity Centre, Hydration and Older People in the UK: Addressing the Problem, Understanding the Solutions, concluded that hydration policies should be “mandatory with practices in place to monitor and evaluate these to ensure they are being carried out effectively”. Good hydration practice, it said, “must become a part of regulated and inspected care issues”.

Some hospitals have hydration champions or nurse leads. Care homes might wish to consider having a champion to ensure correct training. However, this individual is not present all the time and so a culture of hydration should be built into everyone’s job: managers,

audits suppliers to ensure good practice. They also have a Find a Member section so you can check if your dispensers are WHA-Safe.

Phillipa Atkinson-Clow adds: “It is essential to provide convenient and safe hydration. Potable water must be on hand. Risk assessments are necessary. Whatever the means of providing water or other fluids, there is a need to service the machines or taps and sanitise touch points, although increasingly touchless machines are becoming widely used”.

Staff need to be well-hydrated too. Hydration breaks should be as much a part of working life as handwashing.

The problem of dehydration is easily identified: it’s one of the cheapest forms of preventative treatment. Don’t risk clients dying of thirst.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 7

Government Commits to £7.2 Billion “Better Care Fund” Framework 2022-23 The government has published the Better Care Fund framework (BCF) 2022-23 ensuring greater join up of health, social care and housing services to help older people and those with complex needs and disabilities to live at home for longer. A minimum of £7.2 billion has already been committed to the BCF this year to enable people to stay well, safe and independent at home and get the care they need, when they need it by funding things like adaptations to homes for disabled people and rehabilitating people back into their communities after a spell in hospital.

Over 90% of local areas have consistently agreed that delivery of the BCF in other years has improved joint working between health and social care, helping to provide joined up NHS and social care services to patients, supporting hospitals across the country with discharge pressures and ensuring a better transition for those needing support after a hospital stay.

The 2022-23 BCF framework will continue to build on initiatives developed during the pandemic, strengthening the integration of commissioning and delivery of services and providing person-centred care, as well as continuing to support system recovery from the pandemic. It will also strengthen focus on person-centred outcomes by asking areas to meet two overarching objectives reflecting the priorities for health and social care integration: • Enable people to stay well, safe and independent at home for longer

• Provide the right care in the right place at the right time As part of this, local authorities will be asked to develop capacity and demand plans for intermediate care covering both admissions avoidance and hospital discharge across health and social care to help the system prepare for winter.

The Better Care Fund was launched in 2015 to join up the NHS, social care and housing services so that older people, and those with complex needs, can manage their own health and wellbeing and live independently in their communities for as long as possible.

The BCF requires local authorities to pool budgets, including £4.5 billion of NHS funding, £2.1 billion from the improved Better Care Fund (iBCF) grant to local authorities and £573 million from the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).

The NHS contribution to the BCF is increasing by 5.66% in line with the NHS Long Term Plan settlement. Since 2015, the BCF has included a condition that a minimum amount of the NHS contribution is used to fund social care services that have a health benefit. In 2022, this minimum is almost £2 billion, and will protect vital social care services that help people to remain independent or recover following a spell in hospital.

The improved Better Care Fund (iBCF), which is part of the overall BCF funding package, has increased by £63m this year, to £2.14bn. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) will be maintained in 2022-23 at £573 million.

Hove Residents Go on a Mission to Help Give their Home a Makeover Residents at RMBI Care Co. Home Barford Court, in Hove, recently enjoyed a trip to a local garden centre. As part of their regular out-of-home activities, the residents travelled via the Home’s mini bus to the garden centre, accompanied by Barford Court’s dedicated staff. The aim of the trip was to get ideas for the care home, which the residents are helping to redecorate.

Ninety-four-year-old resident Beryl said: “It was so nice to be out and about and to get out in the mini

bus!” Eighty-eight-year-old resident Joyce added: “I

really liked looking at the bright coloured flowers.”

The residents not only looked for plants, but also for some stuffed animals to make Barford Court even more homely. Michelle Dyer, Activities Coordinator at Barford Court, helped them collect the best items. She said: “I had a lovely time exploring the garden centre with the residents. It was so nice to see the smiles on their faces!”

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Supporting Care Worker’s Mental Health

By Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO at Health Assured (www.healthassured.org) Working in a care home is both physically and psychologically demanding. It can be a stressful environment with a focus on looking after others, which means workers in care homes often neglect their own health.

Additional stress and pressure placed on care homes during the Covid pandemic saw residents unable to have any visitors for almost two years, some homes experiencing serious outbreaks and high death rates, and a significant increase in poor mental health amongst care home workers.

As an employer, you have a duty of care to look after your employees. There are not always clear signs that your employees may be struggling to manage stress, distress, or anxiety rather than just having a bad day. However knowing what some of the common signs and symptoms of stress are, can help you to identify if someone may need more support.

These can include: • Difficulty concentrating • Feeling overwhelmed • Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness • Low energy • Being pessimistic It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, however, if you notice any of the above signs or other significant behavioural changes in any of your employees, you must do something to find out the cause. Then you can put measures in place to help them manage any issues before they become debilitating.

SUPPORTING CARE WORKER’S MENTAL HEALTH Encourage self-care: Many care workers are so focused on helping others that they forget to look after themselves. As an employer, you should encourage your employees to prioritise their own health and

wellbeing. Self-care can improve mental health, so ensure that your employees can take time to relax and do the things they enjoy.

Employee support groups: Research shows that 3-in-4 care workers say that working during the COVID19 pandemic negatively impacted their mental health. This statistic highlights the likeliness many workers in your organisation have or are struggling with common mental health issues such as stress and anxiety.

Your staff must know that they are not alone in their struggles. One way to do this is by running support groups, giving people the opportunity to be open and discuss any issues. By providing a judgement-free space, you're allowing your employees to voice their concerns, which can help support their health and wellbeing.

Practice mindfulness: you should encourage your staff to practice mindfulness techniques. These include breathing exercises, meditation, or journaling. These techniques can help minimise stress, anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed. You can also encourage your employees to practice mindfulness in a group setting, which brings a range of additional benefits including fellowship - creating a more cohesive team unit.

Open wellness culture: To help support your staff, you must create a work environment that encourages open and honest communication. It’s essential that your employees feel comfortable at work. As such, you should establish an environment where your employees feel confident discussing their mental health.

You should also provide constant reassurance - letting your employees know they can get the support they need whenever they need it.

Encourage treatment: Encouraging treatment can be a difficult subject to approach, as you do not want to alienate or aggravate someone who is struggling. Many people with mental illness do not realise they are experiencing issues. Therefore, broaching the subject and encouraging treatment requires emotional sensitivity. By using non-stigmatizing language, you can reaffirm your support. This will let your employees know, that when the time comes, you will help them through the process.

As a care home owner, you must do your best to support staff in any way you can. You will be rewarded with a healthier and happier workforce, creating a more positive work environment and culture – something every employee can benefit from, especially during challenging times.

Daughter Surprises Her Mother with Wedding from Las Vegas Isle Court Nursing Home resident Brenda Johnson was delighted as her daughter surprised her with an ‘at home’ wedding reception after Brenda missed the real ceremony held in Las Vegas.

81-year-old resident Brenda Johnson has been at Isle Court for 12 months, and was unable to attend the wedding of her daughter Alison Bennet and Craig Bennet earlier in the month in Las Vegas, so the bride surprised her mother with a wedding party in the comfort of her home. Alison and Craig have been together for five years, and got married late June.

Brenda’s fellow residents and friends joined the newly married couple in the Isle Court gardens, where Social Life Co-Ordinators Debbie Rees and Christian Lugtu organised a wedding reception with a marquee, special afternoon tea,

and a hand-crafted wedding cake prepared by Head Chef Matthew. The event was a huge, happy surprise for Brenda, who was delighted to see her daughter in her wedding dress. The other residents were thrilled to be invited for the celebration, and spent the afternoon out in the sunshine with the happy couple.

Claire Harris, General Manager at Isle Court said “It was lovely to see Brenda be part of such a special occasion with her daughter and now son-in-law, and to share it with her friends throughout the Home. We were thrilled to host the surprise wedding reception for Alison and Craig for Brenda. She was over the moon to see Alison in her beautiful dress, and really enjoyed the afternoon.”

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England’s 1 Million Elderly Population ‘Boom’ Over the Last Decade The elderly population of England’s county and rural areas has swelled by over a million people during the past decade, a new report has revealed.

The analysis, carried out by the County Councils Network (CCN), shows for the first time in history, county and rural areas now have as many people aged over 65 as children and young people.

The CCN warns that this demographic shift is adding significant pressure to adult social care services. But funding from government has failed to keep up with these changes, with county authorities receiving money based on an ‘outdated’ funding formula.

Because of this, social care services in county and rural areas are hundreds of millions of pounds worse off compared to cities and large towns in England – with these councils facing a further multi-billion-pound shortfall from next year’s planned care reforms.

The analysis of Census data shows that between 2011 and 2021, those aged 65 and over grew by 1.1m (23.3%) in county areas, while the number those aged 0-19 rose by just 72,000 (1.3%), meaning the number of new over 65s outnumbered children and young people by a ratio 15 to 1.

In contrast, the ratio of new over 65s to children and young people in towns and cities in the North and West Midlands was 3 to 1 and in London 2 to 1, with the combined growth in older people in these areas 400,000.

The government had attempted to address how funding is distributed for social care services in its Fair Funding Review, but this has been delayed due to the pandemic.

Analysis for CCN shows that if the government had implemented a new funding formula for social care services the government previously developed as part of its long-promised reforms, county and rural councils would be receiving at least £440m additional funding each year.

This is because the formula that currently distributes funding fails to take into account the growth in those over 65s since 2011 and increased demand for services in county and rural areas.

But county leaders are warning the underfunding of care services could become dramatically worse over the next decade, exacerbated by the ‘boom’ in rural elderly populations and disproportionate impact of adult social care reforms.

From October 2023, flagship reforms to adult social care will be introduced, including a more generous means-test, a cap on care costs of £86,000, a move towards a ‘fair’ cost of care, and the ability for people who arrange and fund their own care to ask their local authority to do it on their behalf.

A recent report for CCN showed these reforms could leave county and rural councils with a funding deficit of £7.6bn over the next decade. CCN warns that unless the government provides more funding and changes the way it allocates resources between councils this could mean the quality and accessibility of care is worsened further in these areas.

With the government expected to announce a funding consultation later this month to determine the distribution of council funding to implement the reforms, CCN is calling on the next government to fully fund the reforms and implement a new formula to ensure county and rural areas receive a fair share of resources. <strong>Cllr Martin Tett, County Councils Network Adult Social Care Spokesperson, said:</strong> “Over the last ten years we have seen an elderly population boom in county areas, with the increase in over 65s far outstripping rises in other parts of the country. This continues the demographic trends we’ve seen in counties for decades, with more people are living longer or choosing to live in England’s counties.

“This is to be welcomed. But we also must recognise that the dramatic increase in over 65s in county and rural areas will have a significant impact on adult social care services. The failure to reform an outdated council funding formula has left social care services in these areas already hundreds of millions of pounds worse off.

“The reforms to social care in England will have a further disproportionate impact on county areas. Unless the government provides more funding and changes the distribution of money for its flagship adult social care reforms, the quality and accessibility of care services could be further worsened.”

Helen's Dream Comes True And Raises Donations For Charity Helen Fearis from Braintree Essex has fulfilled her birthday wish and helped Essex Dementia Care and Cancer Research with a generous donation.

Helen’s dad, John suffered from vascular dementia and sadly passed away five years ago. Both dementia and cancer in its various forms has affected close friends and family and so Helen chose the two charities that resonated with her experiences the most. Decision made; it was all action from there. Helen booked her Tandem skydive then appealed to supporters to make donations to ensure a better future for many people in the community.

Helen says “I was amazed at how much I was able to raise and to learn how many people around me had been directly affected by dementia.

The sky dive was amazing, I have been smiling ever since and would love to do it all again. Touching a cloud and flying like a bird in the sunshine was the best feeling. I know I will always smile when I look up to the clouds. I did the skydive at Beccles UK parachuting, Tibi put me at ease and Pip took some amazing photos to treasure.”

Kelly Bleasdale, Senior Manager for Essex Dementia Care says “It was a lovely

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surprise when we were contacted by Just Giving to say that Helen had selected us for a donation. We are incredibly grateful to Helen for choosing us. As a small Essex based charity, we do rely on donations to keep supporting clients and loved ones with activity centred dementia care and we cannot thank Helen and her sponsors enough for their kindness.

Dementia diagnoses are on the rise and set to rise even further in the future, it is important that we help people to remain active and independent for as long as possible. At EDC we are all about making new happy memories and pleased that Helen could fulfil her dreams whilst helping others to improve their lives.”

Kelly continues “We appeal to others in the community to follow Helen’s example by using their hobbies, interests or sporting activities to raise donations where possible and would be delighted to hear from anyone who we could support to accomplish this.”

Visit www.essexdementiacare.org.uk for more information. Contact EDC by calling call 01245 363 789 or e-mail: info@essexdementiacare.org.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 11

Health Leaders Call for a ‘Realism Reset’ for the NHS from the PM Candidates As the Conservative leadership campaign continues, NHS leaders are urging the remaining candidates – and the future Prime Minister – to level with the public about the current challenges facing the NHS and set out how they will support this public institution to ensure patients get the care they need.

This includes ensuring services receive appropriate capital investment, after nine in 10 NHS leaders said recently their efforts to reduce the size of the waiting list are being hindered by a decade long lack of investment in buildings and estate, as well as addressing the workforce crisis and ensuring that social care is appropriately supported, including with a national minimum care worker wage to prevent a mass exodus of staff.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “As we watch the Conservative Party leadership race play out and wait to find out who our next Prime Minister will be, healthcare leaders urge that a heavy dose of realism about the state of the NHS is injected into the public debate.

“What the NHS and the public really need from politicians right now is a realism reset and a promise to level honestly with them.

“We need a proper acknowledgement of where the last 10 years of austerity have left the NHS, and the huge gulf between levels of demand and capacity.

“That honesty means crumbling buildings and ill-

equipped and outdated estate, 105,000 staff vacancies at the last count, and a social care system in desperate need of repair and very far from being fixed as the current Prime Minister would have us believe.

“We need to do away with the myths and political rhetoric. Forty new hospitals will not have been built by the next election, nor has social care been sorted and our colleagues in social care are in desperate need of extra support.

“Neither is the NHS awash with money, soaring inflation and ongoing COVID costs actually mean a real terms decrease in funding.

“Ultimately, we all want a brilliant NHS that ensures a healthy population and in turn a healthy economy, but for that wish to become real we are going to need a serious dose of political honesty and for our political leaders to be brave enough to tell the truth. It is time for a reality reset on the NHS.”

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PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

Why Equipping Returning Adult Learners With The Skills They Need To Enter The Social Care Sector Is The Best Solution To The Recruitment Crisis

By Jonny Rees, Head of Professional Development at the College Development Network (www.cdn.ac.uk)

The size of the skills gap in the care sector is startling – Skills Development Scotland estimates that 17,100 roles will need to be filled by 2024, while Skills for Care’s latest figures reveal that there are an average of 105,000 job vacancies on any given day in England. Filling that gap means the care sector needs to cast its net far and wide to find recruits.

Attracting the attention and interest of school leavers, and ensuring their parents are informed about the rewarding and potentially life-long career that can be forged in caring is indeed a valuable use of resources. Young people are a recognised and important stream of talent and skills for the sector.

However, it is essential that the care sector taps into the pool of adults who are either considering, or are in the process of, returning to education. They include people who may have left the workforce to start a family, people who have been sick or injured but have now recovered, or simply people who did not get the chance to study at college earlier in their lives and now want to gain the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to start a new career.

To help address the skills gap, Scotland’s further education colleges, with the help of Scotland’s national college skills agency, the College Development Network (CDN) recently developed and launched the “Introduction to a Career in Social Care” course, which can now be studied at 18 of Scotland’s 24 colleges.

MIXING THEORY AND PRACTICE Colleges work hard to tailor their courses to fit employers’ needs. Today, courses include plenty of case

studies, site visits, and extended work experience placements, so that students understand the roles within the care sector, which will help to reduce turnover and increase retention in the long run, helping to address the skills gap.

MOTIVATED BY COMPASSION Adults returning to education can bring a wealth of skills and experience to roles within the care sector.

Often, they’re motivated by their own experiences of care, whether it’s having been cared for themselves or having seen the high-quality support that relatives or friends have received.

Just like young people who enter college care courses straight from school, adults returning to education want to give something back to their communities. The pandemic has shone an even brighter spotlight on why it’s important to have a strong care sector.

LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER Having a mix of adults and young people in classrooms can change the dynamics of a course in very positive ways too. You can’t teach life experience, and so adults regularly act as mentors to school leavers often in an ad-hoc, informal manner, while young people – without falling into stereotypes here – will often help their older classmates with the digital skills that have become so important in so many roles within care homes and clients’ houses.

Recruiting adults isn’t about simply filling the void in entry-level jobs. Instead, adults will often bring with them experience from supervisory or management roles within their previous careers, helping to fill skills gaps at all levels throughout the care sector.

DEVELOPING LIFE-LONG LEARNING College lecturers can walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk because they’ve usually worked within the care sector. That means they have the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to help to develop the courses that care providers need to train their staff at all levels throughout their careers, helping businesses to “grow their own” recruits.

Being anchor institutions within their communities means that colleges are ideally placed to help fill the skills gap within the care sector. And adults returning to education are a key part of that mission.

International Day of Friendship: How a DecadesLong Bond Continues at Royal Star & Garter Close friends of more than 40 years, Stan and Fred now both live at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, where their relationship continues.

Stan Pell lives at Royal Star & Garter, where Fred Mosley is also a resident.

They are related through marriage, after Fred’s son Pete and Stan’s daughter Jayne got married.

They met through their children in 1980, and went on to develop a close friendship which has been able to continue at Royal Star & Garter, a care home which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

The International Day of Friendship takes place on Saturday 30 July.

Fred and his wife Dot, who passed away in 2016, and Stan and Maureen, who also lives at Royal Star & Garter, became firm friends after meeting through Pete and Jayne. They regularly went on family holidays, including two visits to Australia. Keen anglers Fred and Stan also loved going fishing, and had other shared hobbies, such as DIY and gardening.

Fred, 96, moved to Royal Star & Garter in 2020, and Stan, 91, joined him there the following year. Fred

joined the Army in 1944, and served in the Royal Pioneer Corps until 1954. Stan was in the Army for two years to complete his National Service between 1949-1951, serving in the Royal Signals.

Fred lives with dementia, while Stan receives general nursing care. The pair spend lots of time with each other in the Home and on outings. They are thrilled that their friendship is able to continue, according to Jayne. “Our parents met 42 years ago and have been friends ever since,” she said. “It’s amazing that their friendship has been able to carry on at Royal Star & Garter. Fred moved in first and said my mum and dad should move in too. It’s quite amazing and it’s lovely to see them still together. It’s great that this long and beautiful friendship is carrying on – they’re so happy at the Home.”

Royal Star & Garter Wellness Coordinator Mary Rogers says it’s an “absolute joy” to see the two together.

She said: “You can see there’s a genuine friendship there, they’re more like brothers. They share a very close bond and its lovely to watch. They have so much in common, and they like to sit and reminisce about the old days. They enjoy taking part in activities, such as bowling and curling, and they also love going on outings.”

Redcot Residents Bury Poignant Treasures to Create a Lasting Record for the Future At Redcot, Friends of the Elderly’s residential care home in Haslemere, Surrey, the residents have been marking not only the charity’s Royal Patron, Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but also commemorating the last few unprecedented years by burying their very own time capsule for future generations to discover.

Residents decided to fill and bury their time capsule, which is made of galvanised metal and measures 30 cm in length, as they all felt that due to the COVID pandemic and resulting restrictions, they saw so much change over the last two years in their everyday lives, that memories of this unmatched time needed to be commemorated and remembered. Coupled with The Queen’s Jubilee, everyone agreed it was the perfect time to leave their own perspective, on not only the world today, but what life was like at Redcot during the pandemic.

Commenting on the time capsule, Redcot’s Activities Co-ordinator, Amanda Snelgrove said: “I was chatting to our residents about our Jubilee celebrations and our conversation turned to reminiscing about how much they enjoyed the festivities, past royal celebrations and how life had changed so much for them over the last few years. We chatted further and the residents decided that they would like to a leave a lasting record of their thoughts, memorabilia, keepsakes and recollections of how things have changed for them during, and following, the COVID pandemic.

“I’d read about the oldest known time capsule – The Samuel Adams and Paul Revere Time Capsule – that can be found in a cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House. Supposedly, this time capsule was buried in 1795, which makes it the oldest known time capsule in the United States and possibly the world. Buried by

former Governor Samuel Adams – who was one of the founding fathers of the United States – and Paul Revere, I suggested our own time capsule and the residents thoroughly loved the idea.”

The residents thoughtfully chose what they wanted to go into their time capsule. Everyone was keen to pass on their experiences and stories to the people in the future so they would know, first hand, what went on at Redcot and what life was like over the last two years which, in their words, “have been like no other.”

Practical items such as facemasks, a lateral flow test, a plastic apron and blue COVID protection rubber gloves were included. “The gloves and lateral flow test symbolise two of the many safety measures of our residents’ lives at Redcot during the pandemic. Our Manager’s old iPhone also made the cut as mobiles became so much more important to our residents as they were one of the communication methods we used to keep everyone in regular contact with their families and loved ones,” added Amanda..

“The Redcot Time Capsule is now safely buried in our beautiful grounds, waiting patiently for the future to roll around and to be found.

All our residents thoroughly enjoyed creating and filling the time capsule and it’s great to know that what they so carefully put together will hopefully be found in years to come and give insight not only to the COVID pandemic years, but also to how they spent their days at Redcot, which is truly their home,” concluded Amanda.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 13

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Linked to Higher Dementia Risk Researchers from Sweden have found that people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had an increased risk of dementia. For people with this form of liver disease who also have heart disease or have had a stroke, their risk of developing dementia is even higher. The findings were published in the journal Neurology earlier this month.

Researchers looked at 30 years of national Swedish patient registry records. They identified a large cohort of people aged 65 and above who were diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – the buildup of fat cells in the liver.

These people were then matched with people without liver disease but are similar in terms of age, sex and city of residence at the age of diagnosis.

The researchers also looked at cardiovascular complications in these two groups of people, such as heart disease and stroke.

The study found that 5% of the people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were diagnosed with dementia, compared to 4.6% of the peo-

ple without liver disease.

Adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes, the researchers found that people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had a much higher rate of dementia.

Looking at the types of dementias, they found that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is linked to higher risk for vascular dementia (caused by reduced blood flow to the brain), but not for Alzheimer’s disease.

People with liver disease who also had heart disease or stroke had much greater risk of developing dementia.

Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This study found that having heart diseases or stroke may intensify the effect of liver disease on a person’s risk of dementia. This suggests that treatments targeting both non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases may help reduce the risk of dementia.

“Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is often underdiagnosed because people do not always display symptoms so this study could be under-

estimating the strength of the link to dementia.

“This form of liver disease and dementia share many common risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Future studies will need to explore the mechanisms underlying the link between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and dementia.

“This finding highlights the fact that our brains don’t operate in isolation from the rest of our body and improving our physical health can help to reduce our risk of dementia and support a healthy brain.

Current evidence suggests that being physical and mentally active, staying socially connected, not smoking, only drinking in moderation, eating a balanced diet, and keeping cholesterol and blood pressure levels in check can all play a part in improving brain health."

Find information and advice on brain health at www.thinkbrainhealth.org.uk

Salisbury Care Home’s Garden Party Boosts the Bridge Youth Project A summer garden party at a Salisbury nursing and residential home has raised more than £500 for city charity The Bridge Youth Project.

Residents and staff at Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge welcomed families, friends and community contacts for the occasion.

Fundraising was driven by the sale of arts and crafts items handmade by residents in the weeks beforehand along with plants and flowers they grew specially.

Ideal as small gifts, the craft items included greeting cards, bookmarks and decorated key rings.

Under the direction of Colten Care’s Music & Arts Partner Fiona Pritchard, a residents’ choir delivered the party soundtrack by singing and drumming along to popular Eurovision hits of yesteryear by, among others, Abba, Sandie Shaw, Lulu and Cliff Richard.

Braemar Lodge chose The Bridge Youth Project as its main charity this year under a Colten Care policy of enabling residents at all 21 of its homes to support good causes in the community.

Home Manager Jackie Cash said: “We always enjoy preparing and hosting our garden party. It’s a fun, social experience for our residents

and it helps us maintain community links. At the same time, supporting The Bridge Youth Project in their superb work in the community is both a privilege and a pleasure.”

The Bridge Youth Project works to raise young people’s aspirations and resilience through mentoring, emotional literacy and courses in social skills and wellbeing.

One of the people involved in the charity’s founding in 1994 was a former Braemar Lodge resident, Neville Jennings.

And making a personal visit to the home for the garden party was current chair of trustees, Bill Graham.

Thanking the home for hosting the party and raising the funds, Bill said: “The residents and staff at Braemar Lodge clearly put in a great deal of effort to make this occasion a success, and we are so grateful for all they are doing on our behalf.”

Among the beneficiaries of previous Braemar Lodge garden parties and year-round fundraising are homeless charity Alabaré, the Salisbury Hospital League of Friends, Salisbury Hospice, Salisbury Trust for the Homeless, Horatio’s Garden, Age UK and the Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices.

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PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

Legal Basics of Buying a Care Home: Key Points to Consider for First Time Buyers

By Thomas Golding, Partner and Joint Head of Care at Freeths LLP (www.freeths.co.uk) Buying a care home in the UK is a unique transaction. Not only is legal advice required on the corporate, real estate and employment aspects, but expert knowledge on funding options and practical experience in the health and social care sector is so important.

If you’re considering buying or investing in a care home, the Care Team at Freeths LLP (one of the UK’s leading and most prolific law firms in the Care sector) have put together a summary of the legal process for potential first-time buyers to consider.

1. CONSIDER FINANCE OPTIONS FOR YOUR PURCHASE Seeking funding for your purchase, either from a bank or other investment funder, can mean additional steps when buying your care home. Each funder will have different requirements that you might need to comply with, such as discharging any existing security over the company/property, providing personal (or cross-company) guarantees, and completing a Certificate of Title on the real estate asset itself. You might also need to factor in the time required for any additional searches required by the funder, such as mining, fire, technical or environmental reports. Where an investment funder is involved, this could have a significant impact on the structure of the transaction and may involve an opco/propco structure (whereby an intra-group lease is put in place) or a requirement for the investor to share in the equity of your business.

2. DECIDE ON HOW TO STRUCTURE THE TRANSACTION: ASSET OR SHARE SALE? Typically, care homes are operated by their owners through limited companies. As such, your purchase might be undertaken through a share purchase or an asset purchase. In a share purchase, the buyer assumes the assets, liabilities and obligations of the entire corporate entity, whereas for an asset purchase,

the buyer might purchase only the required asset (such as the property from which the care is provided together with the operational assets and employees) from the seller. Whilst the distinction may appear small, the tax, financial and regulatory implications (among other things) can differ greatly.

3. ENSURE TIME IS ALLOWED FOR THE DUE DILIGENCE Undertaking due diligence on corporate, tax, finance, operational or real estate aspects of your purchase is a key part of the legal process. However, when buying a care home, due diligence might also include anything from the home’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports, looking for any litigation or investigations brought against the home to full review of the employment or supplier contracts.

4. REGISTER WITH THE CQC If you have not already done so, you/the legal entity operating the home will need to be registered with the CQC before you can take over the care home. This can be a lengthy process, so should be factored into the process of buying a care home. The process of registration will be different depending on the structure of your purchase; if you are buying the shares of the seller’s operating company, the care home will already be registered with the CQC as a location from where care is provided - and the company you are acquiring will be the registered provider. As a result, the process can be quicker and more straightforward than applying for a brand new registration or adding the care home to your existing registration.

5. WATCH OUT FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY FUNDING Often, a care home might have residents who are funded by the local authority. As a buyer, you will need to ensure compliance with any contracts in place with the relevant local authority. ‘Change of control’ and ‘non-assignment’ clauses (among other provisions) are very likely to be present within these contracts, and can require consultation with your legal advisors to understand the implications of these arrangements before your purchase completes.

6. CHECK YOUR EMPLOYER OBLIGATIONS Particularly relevant if your purchase is structured as an asset sale, you may have some extra regulations to comply with. Where the transaction is structured as an asset purchase, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) will apply, to safeguard the care home’s existing staff.

As legal advisors to the UK’s major care operators, providers and developers, the Care team at Freeths LLP are experts in helping clients buy and sell care homes. Get in touch with Thomas Golding (Joint Head of the Care Team) for further information or a no-obligation consultation.

Penarth Care Home Brings In HUG Dolls For Residents To Increase Comfort And Replicate Human Touch The hug dolls have been a huge hit with residents A Penarth based care home has introduced a new initiative to help residents living with cognitive impairment, dementia and those in end-of-life care.

MHA Morel Court has brought in the HUG dolls following training sessions on how to use them.

The purpose of the dolls is to help comfort residents and replicate the same feelings they would get from hugging a relative or loved one.

The product is designed to be cuddled and has a beating heart within its soft body and they can also play music of your choice to intensify comfort levels.

June Mansell, community coordinator said: “We had the initial training session on how to use the dolls and we covered what the benefits were.

“During the sessions I was cuddling one of the dolls and I was very impressed with what they did.

“The dolls are weighted around the arm which gives you a strong hold and it genuinely feels like you are hugging someone.

“We have tried some of the dolls with residents and they do find them quite comforting and soothing.

“We are aiming to distribute the dolls across the home and will see where they get most use.

“Even though they're aimed at those residents who are living with dementia we will not restrict usage just to them, they are available for any of the residents to use.”

Mother & Baby Group Visit Care Home for Afternoon of Musical Rhymes, Reminiscence and “Pure Joy” A Hertfordshire care home has launched a brand-new initiative pairing adorable toddlers alongside residents to promote intergenerational connections throughout the community.

Foxholes Care Home, near Hitchin, recently teamed up with a group of local mothers and their loveable little ones to launch ‘Foxcubs’ – an initiative that enables residents to relive the most cherished memories of their adult lives – parenthood.

Upon meeting with the little bundles of joy, there was an endless supply of hugs, smiles and laughs at the family-run care home, as Foxholes’ residents sang rhymes, read stories and immersed themselves in plenty of bubblethemed activities alongside six first-time mothers in a day full of smiles and happy memories.

The initiative was first inspired by Foxholes’ Head of Engagement, Adele Querelle – whose 14-month-old daughter, Nellie, was the inaugural member of Foxcubs – after wanting to promote an activity that kept residents active and engaged while simultaneously benefiting like-minded mothers desperate to boost interactions for their children.

The family-run home decided to launch the playful project to coincide with Good Care Month, a campaign in Hertfordshire that aims to raise the profile of the social care sector throughout July.

Speaking of the decision to launch Foxcubs, Adele said: “When I first mentioned the idea of Foxcubs to the local mums they were just so keen to get involved, and they are all already excited to come back on a regular basis. From the get-go, you could see that the residents had this natural parental instinct, which comes so effortlessly to them. It was clear from seeing them interact with the children that the experience really provoked happy memories from bringing up their own little ones. They remembered all of the songs they previously sang to their kids, gave out advice and passed

on their array of knowledge to all of the mothers – which as a mother myself, proved to be invaluable.”

She continued: “Something that one of the residents mentioned, was that a lot of them don’t have family close by. Modern culture means that families increasingly live further and further apart – sometimes in different countries.

By doing something like Foxcubs, we’re looking to keep the younger and older generations connected – providing residents with that sense of belonging and purpose that can often go astray once their children have flown the proverbial nest.”

For children, intergenerational friendships can help improve communication and problem-solving skills, while for adults, they can reduce symptoms of depression and feelings of loneliness.

In addition, for first-time mothers, it can be difficult, and also extremely expensive, to find regular access to weekly baby classes. The initiative strives to bridge the gap between two generations where relationships are a fundamental part of their emotional and mental wellbeing.

Neil Gandecha, Estate Manager at Foxholes Care Home, said: “We’re really excited to see where Foxcubs can go, especially with it coinciding with Good Care Month.

From the first conversation I had with Adele, I knew this would be something our residents would love and want to immerse themselves in.

“Relationships, especially those formed with our children, are sacred, and the same is true in care homes.

We wanted to remind our residents what it’s like to connect and preserve the memories from their younger days interacting with the little ones, while also enabling local mothers to learn from the experiences of our inspirational residents. Every resident at Foxholes has lived a full, eventful life and we wanted that array of knowledge and wisdom to come to the fold.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 15

Hugh Myddelton’s Summer Fete brings the Local Community Together great job, not just on the day, but organising the event and getting everyone together.”

Ramona Stanciu, General Manager at the home, said: “Staff at Hugh Myddelton House are dedicated making sure that the home is a hub of the local community, and this event, along with all their hard work, has definitely paid off. It was a resounding success!”

Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Hugh Myddelton House in Southgate to enjoy a Summer Fete that was held in the home’s grounds.

Hugh Myddelton House hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including tombola stall, live enternainment from the amazing Morris, delicious BBQ and cakes prepared by our Head Chef and his team, who work hard making sure that a great time was had by all – it really was a team effort!

Staff at Hugh Myddelton House made everyone feel welcome and were delighted to see different generations having fun together. There were plenty of refreshments and cocktails, which were enjoyed by everyone who came to the event.

Resident, Elsie, said, “I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was surrounded by lots of great people, and the refreshments kept flowing.

The weather held out until we finished. Staff did a

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PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

Staff-Short Care Firms Have No Time For Training Connect2Care’s latest research shows how misconceptions around apprenticeships could be impacting their potential to fix industry-wide staff retention problems Following the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021 – when employees around the UK left their jobs in record numbers – a new survey has revealed that 100% of care managers continue to find it hard to retain staff.

Yet while almost 90% believe that further training investment would help with recruitment and retention, less than 40% of care businesses offer apprenticeships to staff at all levels. Over a third have been deterred from offering training opportunities for new and existing employees due to the time investment needed.

A further 37.5% of care managers are put off by the risk that an employee would leave after completing their training, even though more than 90% of people working in the sector have said they would be more likely to stay in a role if their employer invested in their training from the outset.

Commenting on the research, Jill Whittaker, Managing Director at Connect2Care, said: “Since the pandemic began, staff shortages have been rife across a wide range of sectors, culminating in the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021. And the care sector is among the hardest hit.

“Yet while most care operators see the value in training when it comes to attracting and retaining staff, too many believe they don’t have the time to invest in this. But with the sector continuing to strug-

unlock skills quickly and fast-track staff into positions where they can make a real impact. New flexible training models under consideration by the Government are set to make this process even quicker. For example, front-loaded training will be invaluable in helping apprentices to hit the ground running and operate efficiently for their employers from the very beginning.”

The study showed that most care operators are interested in flexible training options, with 75% of employers in the sector saying they would consider front-loaded training to help speed-up the process. Over 90% of employees in the field would be more willing to start an apprenticeship or training course if they could condense learning into a shorter period.

Connect2Care has released a toolkit answering common questions about apprenticeships, with advice on how businesses can maximise them through flexible training options. gle with staff shortages, they can’t afford not to.

“As well as playing a role in attracting and retaining valuable team members, apprenticeships have always been one of the best ways to

Find out which apprenticeship pathway will work best for your business with Connect2Care’s See the Opportunity toolkit, which can be downloaded for free.

Visit https://connect2care.net/resources/see-the-opportunity/

Cross Sector Hospitality Colleagues Embark on Tough Mudder Challenge to Raise Money for Two Industry Charities A team of energetic hospitality colleagues have come together, to take part in a challenging Tough Mudder assault course to raise money for, Hospitality Action and The Care Workers Charity.

The event, which takes place in South London on Saturday 24th September 2022 will raise vital funds for two industry charities who have given so much support to those working in the industry during the pandemic and continue to do so now.

Well-known names have signed up to the team including Neel Radia, immediate past chair of the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) and Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, Christopher Dean from Procurement for Care, Sophie Murray and Stuart Keown from Signature Senior Lifestyle, Emma Dean from Principle Care Homes, Oliver Stockdale from NYX London and Matt Nicholas from Cleverchefs.

Neel Radia who is leading the team says: “The idea came from a harmless conversation between friends. We wanted to do a challenge, that took us out of our comfort zones, whilst supporting two charities that do so much in our industry. We are all so nervous, and training has already started, for what will be an incredible experience, once we have complete”.

Giuliana Vittiglio, Head of Fundraising and Marketing, Hospitality Action says: “The past few years have been incredibly tough for UK hospitality workers and

as the cost-of-living crisis worsens we continue to experience a high demand for our support. We are grateful to the team for undertaking this gruelling challenge in our honour, and in turn raising funds for all those undertaking their own personal challenges’” Throughout 2020 and 2021, The Care Workers’ Charity supported thousands of care workers through the toughest of times processing 1214 crisis grants, 3865 covid-19 grants and over 100 funeral grants amounting to £3,061,619.00 in support for those who support others day in day out with little support themselves.

On top of the financial support, The Care Workers’ Charity realised the need for emotional support too and joined forces with Red Umbrella who provide bespoke mental health support and have put 68 care workers/managers through Mental Health First Aid training and provided 100 hours of mental health support/therapy with qualified therapists.

The Tough Mudder team, Hospitality Action and The Care Workers Charity would be very grateful for any support industry colleagues can give to help raise as much money as possible.

To sponsor please visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/toughmudder2022

Tour de Barchester – Care Home Staff Raise Thousands Through Mammoth Cycling Challenge Staff from Barchester Healthcare’s care homes up and down the country tested their mettle by taking on a mammoth 211 mile cycling challenge in intense heat. The route started in Bradford and finished four days later in London with the team fund-raising all the way. All money generated from the initiative has been donated to Barchester’s Charitable Foundation which supports older people and other adults living with a disability or mental health problems by helping them to connect or re-connect with others in their local communities.

Over four days, from July 5th- 8th, the team of care home workers and directors cycled from Yorkshire to London, stopping at 15 care homes and one hospital across all four of Barchester’s divisions. At every service, they were met with a rapturous welcome from staff and residents who had organised fund-raising events with all kinds of entertainment, from steel bands to fancy dress, chocolate fountains to residents on static bikes matching them mile for mile – the homes pulled out all the stops to show their support and help raise funds.

The total raised so far is over £15,000 with more still to come.

The core Tour de Barchester team of Simon McCall, Commercial Director, Genevieve Glover, HR Director, Tony Woollett, Recruitment Director and Shona Conway, Project Coordinator were joined by staff

members from different homes and divisions as the Tour passed through making the whole tour a fantastic Barchester team effort.

Shona Conway, Tour de Barchester Project Coordinator said: “I can honestly say I loved every second of the Tour. I am going to be saddle-sore for a while but, despite that and the heatwave conditions, it was a fantastic experience. We all loved touring around our services and meeting so many amazing members of our staff and their residents, everyone made us so welcome, and we raised thousands of pounds into the bargain. I can’t wait to do it all again next year!”

Dr Pete Calveley, CEO of Barchester, commented: “The team here at Barchester never ceases to amaze me. Their passion, drive and determination is so inspiring. To see our team members take on wonderful challenges like this, on top of their day jobs, fills me with pride. As Chairman of Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in this initiative and everyone who supported it. We will do so much good with this money, helping people cope with isolation and loneliness through very many grants that we will now be able to give to good causes all over the country.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 17

Fears Of A Recession Ring True As Data Shows Signs of Labour Market Struggles Concerns that a recession is on the cards look set to come to fruition – perhaps earlier than expected – with the latest data from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) revealing difficulties in the UK’s labour market.

While reports from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed small signs of economic growth in May following months of retraction, APSCo’s June research suggests that the economy is feeling the effects of Government uncertainty, a cost-of-living crisis and substantial skills shortages.

Overall, the data - provided by the global leader in software for the staffing industry, Bullhorn - shows a slowdown in hiring between May and June. With May a quieter month for hiring activity due to the bank holidays, a drop from May to June suggests hiring is on a downward trajectory in the lead up to the summer months – bucking the usual trend of June recruitment spikes ahead of seasonal drops in July / August.

The number of permanent jobs added dropped -12% month-onmonth in June, while contract positions fell -11%. Year-on-year comparisons show that permanent roles are on a downhill trajectory, down -2% between June 2021 and June 2022, though contract roles increased 5% in this period.

PRE-PANDEMIC COMPARISON PAINTS WORRYING PICTURE While the hiring market is clearly beginning to slow, pre-pandemic comparisons paint a worrying picture for permanent positions, with the number of permanent jobs being created dropping 9% between June 2019 and June 2022. This suggests that the stability of the country’s hiring market – and subsequently, the economy – is beginning to waiver.

Placements also dropped month-on-month for both contract and permanent roles, down -9% and -7% respectively. Although permanent salaries reported a 2% increase month-on-month, the annual -3% decline at a time when the UK is facing a cost-of-living crisis and rising energy costs is a concern.

Ann Swain, CEO of APSCo comments: “A slow-down in hiring following the post-pandemic boom was to be expected, but in the current market and with talks of a potential recession in the pipeline, this decline is of concern. The UK’s post-Covid economy has been hit with employment strikes, skills shortages, Government uncertainty and a cost-of-living crisis. With controversial changes to rules around using agency workers during strikes voted in and the country facing continued uncertainty alongside Governmental leadership changes, employers and the recruitment sector have been hit hard. Stability is crucial as we continue to navigate such an ambiguous market. As the trade body for the professional recruitment sector, we believe that there is more to be done to make the UK’s employment sector competitive on a global scale. With recruitment activity slowing, we could be at a tipping point that sets the country on a downward trajectory unless swift action is taken.”

Alpacas Bring Joy to Romsey Care Home Residents Residents at Durban House in Romsey have received a visit from a very different pair of guests recently – in the form of two South American alpacas.

The furry visitors dropped into the nurse-led care home at the end of June as part of an organised animal therapy session, and both residents and staff couldn’t help but lavish the loveable animals with attention.

Used to visiting care homes in the area, Guinness and Almond were taken into the lounge, where residents and their families were able to feed, walk, stroke, and interact with the four-legged friends from Alpaca Adventure in Dorset.

‘Animal therapy’ refers to the use of animals to help people with specific physical or mental health conditions, and it has become more and more popular in care homes over recent years. Lucy Harrison, General Manager at Durban House, says the benefits for residents, are huge.

She said: “Interaction with different creatures helps stimulate our residents’ brains and helps to keep them mentally active and engaged. Regular visits also mean the residents can create bonds with the animals and build up an emotional connection with them.”

Lucy added: “Animal therapy also helps to decrease agitated behaviours of

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residents who have dementia, as it helps them to remember and talk about past pets and animal experiences.

“Thanks go to Alpaca Adventure for bringing Guinness and Almond along today – it was an absolute delight to see the reaction on the residents’ faces. I know it will be the source of conversation for days and weeks to come.”

Wendy Williams from Alpaca Adventure said her animals always have a calming influence on the residents and are a perfect conversation starter.

She said: “Alpacas are very calm animals, which is ideal for elderly residents.

When we take them into care homes like Durban House, they always provide a reason to chat. I’ve heard many wonderful stories of animals and pets from years gone by.”

Durban House is part of Sears Healthcare and CEO Richard Adams is pleased to hear that the residents can have the opportunity to benefit from these special therapy sessions.

He said: “At Durban House, we are a nurse-led care home, so our approach focuses on providing a home from home for our residents while we meet their healthcare needs. It is heartwarming to hear that these two alpacas have had such a big impact here.”

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

Dementia Management Tool ‘Vera’ Launches on Apple’s AppStore Deploying the World’s Largest Music Catalogue from Universal Music Group Vera announces strategic collaboration with Universal Music Group, allowing its users therapeutic access to the world’s largest music catalogue

Music Health, a Music Wellness Technology innovator, has developed and launched Vera, an intuitive music intervention tool designed for the care of people affected by dementia. Through a strategic, industry-first agreement, Vera App users are able to access the entire catalogue from Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music-based entertainment company, to develop personalised music stations specifically designed to improve the lives of people living with dementia every day. As an exclusive launch partner, UMG brings a diverse and comprehensive global music catalogue to Vera users.

Vera is now approved by Apple for download via the AppStore in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, with the crosssector Music for Dementia campaign welcoming the launch to help improve the lives of people impacted by dementia. The launch is the culmination of Music Health’s rigorous three-year development process which involved global research and development of the underlying technology that allows Vera to curate the perfect song at the right time for every individual listener.

The announcement follows the launch at Universal Music UK of the Power Of Music, a report from UK Music and Music for Dementia, which outlines a blueprint to use music to help transform communities and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing. It includes a commitment from Universal Music UK to develop a dynamic online resource which will serve as a music and dementia information hub.

Grace Meadows, campaign director, Music for Dementia, says, “Research shows that music is much more impactful for people living with dementia when it holds meaning and is associated with moments from someone’s life. In our recently launched Power of Music report, which sets out how we can be harnessing the power of music more to support health and wellbeing, we emphasised the need for a personalised approach to embedding music in health and social care, and the Vera App helps carers to do that.”

The power of personalised music to affect a significant improvement in cognitive function for people in dementia care is evidenced by international scientists and neurologists, including award-winning neuroscientist and best-selling author, Daniel J. Levitin; the late physician,

best-selling author and professor of neurology, Dr. Oliver Sacks; and Ronald Devere, M.D., director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Ren Minghui from the World Health Organization, says, “While there is no curative treatment for dementia, the proactive management of modifiable risk factors can delay or slow onset or progression of the disease. I urge all stakeholders to make the best use of these recommendations to improve the lives of people with dementia, their carers and their families.”

Vera analyses the age of the dementia affected person, where they grew up, and how they react to certain music. It uses these criteria to autonomously curate the right songs at the right times to effectively manage the Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD).

More than 80 percent of people living with dementia experience BPSD, manifesting as agitation, aggression, depression, or confusion.

Vera stimulates the part of the brain responsible for long-term memory to help manage the impact of BPSD, easing the care routine of those living with dementia. Listening to personally significant music - all the noteworthy songs from our own life - is shown to effectively decrease the effects of BPSD helping to improve mood, cognitive function, motor functions and brain plasticity.

Vera curates songs from UMG’s unrivalled catalogue, the world’s largest, most diverse and culturally rich collection of blues, classical, country, folk, jazz, pop, R&B, reggae, rock ‘n’ roll, soul and soundtracks.

The songs are autonomously curated and played directly from the Vera app via speakers or headphones.

With more than 20,000 hours of observation and rigorous analysis, combined with research from the Global Centre for Modern Ageing, confirms that Vera has a significant positive impact on the quality of life of people dealing with BPSD. While not a cure, Vera is a tool that can temporarily improve the cognitive function and mood of the person living with dementia making it easier to care for them.

Stephen Hunt, Music Health co-founder, says, “We’ve built Vera to know and find the music that means the most and has the biggest effect for each person living with dementia. It acts like a music detective, that seeks out tunes that they used to love a long time ago but may have forgotten about, which their carers may have never heard of, and their families may not even know.”

Vera is a product of Australian collaborative innovation. Music Health credits Barossa Village, Dementia Australia, the Australian Department of Health and the Global Centre For Modern Ageing (GCMA) for helping realise the innovation since 2019.

The Department of Health provided a research grant in 2019, following Vera winning Dementia Australia’s Decoding Dementia competition.

“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to bring Vera to market thanks to our amazing partnership with Universal Music Group and the many care home and researchers that have made it possible. It’s thanks to their

early support for the concept that we’ve been able to deliver this foundational change to the daily lives of those living with dementia, here and around the world,” adds Hunt.

Michael Nash, UMG’s Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy, says, “From rigorous workouts to peaceful meditation to restorative sleep cycles, music is deeply integrated into numerous innovations promoting health and wellbeing. Now, scientists are finding that music is also a powerful tool for helping those suffering from the effects of dementia and memory loss. At UMG, we are working with a wide range of companies to develop therapeutical applications of music and we ’re proud to partner with Music Health on Vera to help improve the lives of so many around the world.”

Barossa Village, an aged care organisation, worked with Music Health to refine the app and validate the impact Vera has on people living with dementia. This included daily monitoring of the changes Vera had on the people being cared for at Barossa Village as listening sessions were integrated into the daily routine of care.

Findings from the studies showed an overall increase in quality of life for participants, especially after using Vera for several months. You can view a video of Barossa Village’s experience here.

“Vera provides playlists that are targeted and tailored to how each of our residents relates to their favourite songs. It’s an amazing innovation.

And family members love it as they can participate in a shared experience with mum or dad, grandad or nanna,” says Matt Kowald, General Manager, Integrated Care at Barossa Village.

Vera is currently in trials with BUPA, an international healthcare company headquartered in the UK serving more than 31 million customers across the world, as well as several of Australia’s most innovative health and aged care providers offering hospital care, residential care and community services.

Vera is available in the U.K. for GBP £69.99 for a 12-month care plan.

Visit www.veramusic.com for further details.

Cascade Care Encourages Greater Focus On Relationships, Sex And Health Education Residents living with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions at Cascade Care homes in Norfolk and Withernsea have travelled to Lincolnshire for an afternoon of meeting new people at the care provider’s latest friendship meeting.

The meetings enable residents to get together with others living at Cascade homes to practise their social skills in a relaxed environment.

Over 50 people attended the latest event, where residents enjoyed individual picnic boxes, played fun lawn games and took part in icebreaker activities designed to encourage conversation and socialising.

The meetings are part of Cascade’s commitment to providing relationships, sex and health education (RSHE).

Carol Ryan, director of education and lifelong learning at Cascade, said: “Forming relationships is a very important subject here at Cascade. The sexuality of people with disabilities is often ignored, neglected or stigmatised by society and, as a care provider, we have a responsibility to provide support for our residents to explore their own sexual identity and needs.

“The residents in our assisted living facilities are adults and have the right to have intimate relationships. We want to empower them to be able to do this if desired, encouraging them to feel more confident and comfortable about a subject many people find hard to talk about.”

Residents who attended the friendship meeting will now write letters and draw postcards and pictures to stay in touch with new-found friends.

As part of its focus on RSHE, Cascade also provides training for all its staff, enabling them to support residents to learn about friendships, intimate relationships and sexual health through conversations, worksheets and video content.

Carol continued: “There is often a lot of nervousness around the subject, but education helps to support our staff to feel confident to answer questions and deal with different situations, so that they don’t put themselves in positions where something could go wrong or where safeguarding is at risk.

“There is, however, a lot more that needs to be done in this area across the industry. It can be easy for homes not to deal with the subject and avoid it rather than provide guidance.

“That’s why we’re speaking about the work we’re doing at Cascade and encouraging others in the sector to join us, sharing our materials and expertise to create more openness and understanding around relationships and sexual health for those with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.”

As a result of Cascade’s focus on RSHE, the care provider has also been selected to take part in a pioneering new training programme to support staff in teaching residents, which if successful could be delivered nationwide.

The programme will be delivered by expert trainer Sue Sharples, who specialises in learning disabilities and delivers training courses worldwide. Cascade will be one of the first care homes in the UK to take part in the pilot scheme.

Sue Sharples said: “I’ve been working together with organisations Supported Loving and Skills for Care, alongside the CQC and the Department of Health and Social Care, to develop a course for social care staff on how best to support people with sexuality and relationships.

“Having had a lengthy and positive relationship with Cascade, and knowing how committed the team are to this area of work, I’m delighted to be able to involve them in the resource trial phase.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 21

Latest NHS Data Signals Pressure Across Whole Health and Care System Responding to the publication of the monthly NHS performance statistics and GP patient survey, Tim Gardner, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation said: ‘These latest figures highlight that the NHS is under severe and unrelenting pressures, with no sign of the respite that used to come in the summer months.

‘The alarm bell is sounding loudest in emergency care services, where patients are facing long waits for ambulances and in A&E departments. In June 2022, over

Chronic workforce shortages, a lack of bed capacity and delays in discharging patients are all causing these pressures. The latest GP patient experience survey, also published today, highlights the growing problems in accessing primary care, as demand for appointments rises steadily.

‘While the debate in the Conservative leadership contest focuses on cutting

130,000 patients waited more than 4 hours in A&E for admission to a hospital bed –

taxes, the next prime minister will need a coherent plan to address the pressures on

22,000 of whom waited more than 12 hours.

NHS and social care services. This includes investment in the NHS workforce and

‘Fundamentally this is a problem with the whole health and social care system.

expanding capacity in social care.’

Welsh Government Appoints Cwmpas to Drive Social Value in Social Care The UK’s largest co-operative development agency, Cwmpas, has been reappointed by the Welsh Government to support the transformation of services within the social care sector, by pushing forward the development of social value models into how care is delivered across Wales.

The vision is to ensure everyone understands what a social value model of delivery is, and why they are needed; how they deliver great social care and added value, achieve the best outcomes for people and communities in both the short-term and the long-term.

Importantly, social value models encourage strong collaboration with commissioners, providers and citizens working together to solve each other’s problems within communities. This approach aims to see care providers sharing solutions, resources, and costs, with care agencies actively engaged with community-based agencies and facilities.

Cwmpas’ engagement will help providers deliver outreach work that benefits people outside of formal care, supporting people to be active participants and contributors to their community. This will result in care activities significantly strengthening community well-being (and vice versa).

Key to supporting Welsh Government and its partners, Cwmpas will help strengthen regional arrangements for rebalancing the social care market by introducing more co-operatives, social enterprises and social value delivery models in the Welsh social care sector. Cwmpas will ensure the alignment of seven Social Value Forums (SVFs) across Wales, helping advise on their priorities and identifying support need-

ed to help them achieve the right results within communities.

This work will be reported back to a Task and Finish Group in order to help Welsh Government succeed in its policy to rebalance the care sector.

Commenting on the appointment, Donna Coyle, Project Manager, Co-operative Care and Support at Cwmpas, says: “There is a huge opportunity for the delivery of social value in social care to genuinely transform the sector and Cwmpas is delighted to be a part of this

strategy and is already working with partners such as Drive Wales and its ‘Drive Autism Eco Project’ to deliver social care with social value at its heart.

“Traditionally, there hasn’t been enough focus on achieving wellbeing for people, or on mobilising people’s opinions and ability in social care. There has been a lack of collaboration between relevant agencies and not enough importance placed on prevention or reduction on dependency on services. In addition, the scope for care activities to strengthen the whole community has been ignored. There needs to be a collaborative re-design of services in every community locality - using a social value model of delivery.”

The work of Cwmpas will support the aims of the Welsh Government’s Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The principles at the heart of the legislation help shape both system change and continuous improvement and provide a blueprint for Local Authorities to follow. The Act puts the promotion of well-being at the centre of social care delivery. It provides people accessing care with a voice to help shape their support and decisions affecting their life. It demands early intervention to prevent problems reaching a critical stage and heralds collaboration and strong partnership working between the organisations that support someone’s life.

Donna adds: “The building blocks are already in place within Wales thanks to Government legislation. What is needed now is the confidence to develop a social value system that is better for people and our communities and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

Two Thirds of UK Care Home Staff Admit Resident Quality of Care and Nutritional Needs are Being Overlooked Due to Outdated Procedures

A new, independent survey commissioned by eProcurement technology firm Zupa, has raised several concerns from care home professionals across the UK, with 86% admitting that vital aspects of care provision are suffering at the hands of outdated and time-consuming procedures, with many staff struggling to fulfil their day to day roles.

The new data also highlights several care management challenges that need to be addressed to improve staff retention, morale and the overall quality of residential care.

The study, which polled hundreds of care home professionals across the country, found that two thirds of care home staff (66%), admitted the quality of resident care and the ability to cater properly for dietary and nutritional needs, are some of the key areas being side-lined as a result of obsolete practices. The study also revealed that more than half (54%) of care home workers felt staff happiness was overlooked, and 44% of workers attribute the high turnover of staff in the care industry to low levels of pay.

Specifically, 40% of care home workers felt they couldn’t provide the quality of care that they would like to due to the time they spend on admin. Over half (52%) of respondents, agreed that care home inspections simply add further pressure to their role, and would welcome a way to improve this process. More than a third of care home managers (32%) also said that keeping up with time intensive processes like day to day menu planning, allergens management, and recording resident data around nutrition and hydration, worries them. A further 41% were understandably concerned about the rising costs of food, energy and inflation, while 30% of care home workers identified supplier issues, food shortages and running out of supplies as a growing concern.

Importantly, 63% of care home managers link much of their day to day concerns to the wear and tear stresses placed upon their teams.

Lack of staffing and resource also continues to be a worry for the sector, with 67% of care workers citing this as a key challenge. Only 6% of care home professionals said there is nothing that worries them in the day to day running of their care home.

Lack of time available to improve day to day quality of care is a clear issue. When asked what aspects of their working day they would spend more time on if they could reduce the amount of paperwork, more than half (56%) of care workers say they would like to improve the standard of resident care if they had more time in their day.

Likewise, almost half (49%) of care professionals said they would improve staff satisfaction, suggesting that reducing admin would free up more time to focus on staff morale and happiness. A further 49% would like extra time in their day to be more creative with resident social events and 42% of care home professionals said they would be keen to spend more time on individual care planning.

Ollie Brand, CEO at Zupa explained: “Caring for the vulnerable and elderly is time-consuming and demanding. It requires specialist skills and knowledge. This study highlights that care home staff are having to deal with multiple challenges with little resource, and only so many hours in the day.

There is also a direct correlation between what worries care home staff day to day and the quality of care they are physically able to deliver. Patchy reporting, outdated processes and a heavily reliance on manual updates, simply adds to the frustration and puts greater pressure on already stretched staff.”

This latest research highlights a clear relationship between what aspects of care are being overlooked and what staff would prioritise if they had more time in their day. Almost three quarters (73%), of care home professionals who said they would improve staff satisfaction if they had more time, also said staff happiness is side lined. A further 55% of those who would like to improve the quality of resident care with more time, also said care quality is overlooked due to time wasted on outdated processes.

Brand added, “Lack of staffing and resource is still a key concern for care homes. It’s clear that in many cases, that the adoption of automated, fit for purpose technology could help alleviate many of these day to day pressures and interestingly, those care professionals who said they would implement new technology if they had more time, are most likely to say that staff happiness, productivity of staff and quality of care are being side-lined.”

On Tuesday 28th June at 2pm, Zupa will be delving into the outcomes of this brand new study in an invite-only webinar and asking ‘Can technology help create smarter ways of working?’. CEO Ollie Brand will be joined by Mark McCarthy, former Group Director of Sanctuary Care and now Zupa CFO, to discuss how care homes can effectively use technology to enable their teams to spend more time on the things that matter most.

Register today www.zupa.com/webinar/ to gain valuable insight from like-minded care experts and discover new ways of freeing up time and resource.

Park House Care Home Mark Veteran Resident’s Achievement with Very Special Gift At Black Swan Care Group we see the value in celebrating the successes of our residents, so it warms our heart to see the amazing effort staff went too, to make our resident Donald’s day extra special.

Our amazing maintenance man Clive listened to the stories of Don’s time in the forces, working as part of the crew aboard The Destroyer (The Haydon) and decided to do something special for this amazing hero.

Clive contacted a friend who served in the Falklands to arrange a special project as well as his father who also served on Royal Naval Destroyers, providing Don with an authentic souvenir from his days as a serviceman. Clive

managed to get his hands on an original 1946 postcard of the vessel itself, the very ship Donald served aboard.

Preserving these memories and marking the amazing achievements of our residents is incredibly important to us, and we wanted to thank Clive for going the extra mile to ensure this amazing gift takes pride of place in Donald’s bedroom.

Donald was over the moon to receive this poignant piece of history. We wanted to take this time to say thank you to Leading Seaman Middleton for your service for our country. You are a hero.

All Nugent Care Homes And Services Reach Exemplary Good and Outstanding Ratings with Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Nugent has announced that all of its care homes, as well as their school and adoption services, has reached good or outstanding Ofsted or CQC ratings.

All of Nugent’s homes, services and schools for children, young people and adults who are vulnerable, are now seen as providing exemplary practice across the board.

Nugent now operates four children’s homes across the Liverpool City Region, with three being rated as Good by Ofsted.

Furthermore, Nugent has the only charity operated secure children’s home of its kind nationally and it has achieved an Outstanding rating.

Nugent’s adoption service is also now rated Good by the regulator, with Nugent House School recently inspected and awarded a Good rating (in all areas) by Ofsted.

Mirroring the success of children’s homes, all three of Nugent’s Adult Homes and Supportive Living Services across the Liverpool City Region are in Good standing with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Focusing on consolidation, growth and providing an top service in all of its homes, Nugent’s restructuring of its senior leadership team which took part in 2021, has helped to drive efficiencies across the board, with the team led by CEO Normandie Wragg, working to raise standards across the charity and the care sector in general.

Normandie Wragg, Nugent CEO, said: “At a time where trust in the Care sector has been eroded by reports of profiteering and substandard services, I feel it’s more important than ever to show people there are organisations you can rely on to provide high quality care in all areas.

“Our staff take great pride in all of our services and care deeply about the people placed in their care. These ratings are a testament to all the dedicated work, compassion and trauma-informed training undertaken by our leadership and staff behind the scenes throughout the last 12 months.

“Now that we've set our baseline standard of ‘Good’ we can turn our focus to achieving our ultimate goal of holding an ‘Outstanding’ rating across all of our services."

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Wall & Door Protection Reduce Your Operating Costs!! 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-

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 mantion 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.

Inclusive Furniture

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.

Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentry 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.

Frail & Thinning Skin Can Often Lead To Skin Tears Fragile or thin skin that tears easily is a common problem, especially among older adults. Our skin becomes thinner as we age, or as a result of sun damage and lifestyle factors. Thin skin bruises and tears more easily of course. Certain medications, such as long-term use of topical corticosteroids can also weaken the skin and the blood vessels in the skin Can skin tears be prevented? YES! Use Limbkeepers premium skin protectors!

So why Limbkeepers Protectors?

Limbkeepers arm sleeves, leg sleeves, and gloves help protect fragile, thin, bruised skin on arms, hands, and legs, from abrasions, skin tears, and injury from impact. Our non-compression arm protectors and leg

protectors provide seamless, form fitting, cushioned comfort and can be easily worn under apparel without bulk.

Our versatile products help to reduce injuries, allow you to continue daily activities and maintain quality of life and independence.

Made in the USA and supplied from the UK, they are sold in pairs and assorted colours at affordable prices.

Limbkeepers are available in regular or lightweight arm, forearm or leg sleeves.

Limbkeepers UK Ltd, Demontfort House, 7e Enterprise Way, Vale Park, Evesham WR11 1GS For more information or to buy go to www.limbkeepers.co.uk See the advert on page 7.

agement.

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.

07831 873355, email Call or Email NOW: admin@opeque.com or visit www.opeque.com See the advert on page 19 for details.

• Provide quality products for non-disabled and disabled alike.

• Consider the elderly • Make the products affordable • Make rental to events an option • Use sustainable products where possible We then thought we need to provide picnic benches and outdoor furniture for people who use wheelchairs. There is definitely a need for disabled, easy access outdoor furniture. All made robustly to take the knocks from wheelchairs and manufactured from sustainable wood from environmentally friendly sources. They also need to make the user feel inclusive.

WHY CARE HOMES? Not long ago we noticed that in our local park there was adequate seating for the non-disabled but none for the wheelchair-user, the more we looked the more we saw a complete lack of effort in complying with regulations and laws specifically brought in to counter this ignorance and discrimination.

We decide to act, our plan was: • Make our products both 'accessible & 'inclusive'.

• Design furniture with the wheelchair-user in mind • Act within both the Disability Act and the Equality Act

...because not only is it their legal duty under the discrimination acts people who happen to use wheelchairs also happen to enjoy sitting outside in fine weather, they are also appreciated in public places as well as private homes & gardens and places where care is a first priority Peter Cubbin Inclusivefurniture.com inclusivefurniture@gmail.com https://inclusivefurniture.com 07775717880 See the advert on page 19 for details.

Furniture That Improves Health For Residents… And Staff Mobility furniture has come on leaps and strides over the last few years. Gone are the dreary semi-functional chairs and beds of the past. Today’s generation of rise and recline chairs and adjustable beds look smart, last for years and are better designed and more comfortable than ever before. Even people without mobility problems are buying them, especially when they are made to measure, giving that perfect fit.

HOW DOES MOBILITY FURNITURE BENEFIT CARE HOME RESIDENTS? Research has found that elevating the legs – one of the main features of a rise and recline chair or adjustable bed – reduces swelling of stiff and painful joints and enhances healing of injuries and wounds.

In fact, experts have found that failure to elevate a limb can actually delay healing.

Another advantage of mobility furniture is that it helps care home residents sleep deeply and for longer stints, which we all know is crucial to quality of life, both physical and emotional. Why? Because it allows people access to a range of sitting and lying positions that traditional chairs and beds simply do not have.

WHAT ABOUT CARE HOME STAFF? Mobility furniture improves health of care home employees because it results in less lifting/weight bearing. Press a button on the rise and recline chair and it supports the user to their feet. Some adjustable beds have the same feature.

Most residents need to avoid pressure sores and

Terryberry - Be Recognised, Be Engaged Terryberry is a global employee engagement solutions provider, HQ in Grand Rapids Michigan with UK offices in Cheshire and Cardiff, we help companies of all sizes, across all sectors. A dedicated account manager is included as part of all our employee reward & recognition programmes, who are on hand to guide you through every stage of the process. We’ve helped companies such as Co-op, AstraZeneca, Coca-Cola, M&S, Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover & The White Company run successful Long Service Award and Employee Benefits schemes.

Visit our website: www.terryberry.com/gb to learn more about our 360 Recognition platform.

See the advert on page 21 for details.

again, mobility furniture helps by pressing a button on the chair or bed to gently ease people into different positions. The alternative is a member of staff shifting the resident to a new position, at risk to their own health.

Some adjustable beds and rise and recline chairs even come with wheels, a thoughtful touch for when residents struggle to walk between rooms. And many come with wipe clean upholstery in case of unfortunate spills.

All of these features reduce the workload for busy staff and improve the comfort of residents.

WORKING WITH EXPERTS Dr Rob Hicks, popular celebrity media doctor, acts as medical expert for Mobility Furniture Company.

“Mobility furniture can make life that little bit easier for people, particularly those who struggle to do things that we often take for granted, like sitting down and standing up,” Dr Hicks says. “It is great to be working with a forward-thinking company that celebrates improving quality of life for older individuals.”

AN UPBEAT APPROACH Mobility Furniture Company is one of the biggest mobility furniture companies in the UK. Its wide geographical spread of representatives takes furniture to care homes for managers, staff and residents to assess.

Call free today on 0808 265 1373 for a free brochure, or visit us at www.mobilityfurniturecompany.co.uk/sale

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 25

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES How Efficient and Compliant Is Your Laundry Operation?

When choosing dryers, it is notable that care homes are increasingly turning away from gas appliances due regulation changes and safety concerns. Changes to industry requirements can necessitate considerable investment in order for gas appliances to meet the current standards.

Forbes Professional advises care homes on all relevant WRAS and industry requirements and helps clients ensure complete compliance with the latest regulations. Many care homes would need to reconfigure their entire laundry room to enable the newly requisite two metre distancing between gas appliances and doors. When such issues are coupled with safety concerns and the increasing costs of running gas appliances, Forbes would generally recommend that electrical appliances should be the product of choice.

Miele’s new heat pump commercial dryers are particularly highly rated for their safety, functionality and energy efficiency. They do not require any make-up air, which enables the laundry function to be installed in the basement or in a central location within the care-home, and saves on costly vent-ducting. Miele's

Ecoplus technology guarantees that both energy consumption and drying times are kept consistently low.

Due to the effective interaction of the Miele filter system and the maintenance-free heat exchanger, fluff cannot clog the heat exchanger or adversely affect the exceptional drying efficiency.

Miele’s heat-pump tumble dryers’ employ a highly efficient and economical filter system and heat exchanger to keep run times low and enable an energy saving of up to 60% when compared to vented dryers.

Forbes Professional provides a range of options for commercial laundry equipment, including the PT 8337 and the Little Giant PT 7137 heat pump dryers. All of their Miele commercial laundry is available on a purchase, rental or lease basis, with access to a comprehensive service that includes installation, commissioning, user training, and a first-class repair and maintenance response. www.forbespro.co.uk Telephone 0345 0702335 info@forbes-professional.co.uk

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.

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 13.

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 per-

son’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 Otiomapp will show the current location.

Please get in touch if you would like to learn more about Otiom.

Call: 0131 467 5764 Email: Mail@pentlandmedical.co.uk www.pentlandmedical.co.uk See the advert on page 9.

Free Online PAT Testing Course BIOFROST Cold Therapy Gels for Drug-Free Pain Relief ®

Everyone can benefit from free training! Parker Bell offers a free online PAT Testing course, which is ideal Care Home Managers and maintenance staff. It gives you all the information about your legal obligations and responsibilities. It also covers practicalities such as: • Equipment needed • Full visual Inspection • How to do a PAT Test • What records to keep As a result of the pandemic, many have found their working environment has changed dramatically. You may no longer allow people/contractors on your premises, PAT Testing is straightforward to do and can be easily managed in house. Our free course will show you how you can PAT Test, and what’s more, the HSE say any competent person can do it!

How do you access the free PAT Testing Course?

It’s simple, just go to www.onlinepattestingcourse.co.uk. Here you will be able to access the course, you just need an email address to sign up. The course is made up of short modules and is simple to follow.

Who should do the course?

Probably everyone should do the course, as it shows you basic electrical equipment safety; which given the

amount of electrical equipment we now have in our homes makes sense.

Both employers and employees are responsible for inspecting and maintaining electrical equipment in the work place. So you should encourage all staff to do the course.

What equipment do you need?

Any competent person can PAT Test, however you will need to use a PAT Tester that give you and outcome Pass or Fail. It’s great if the PAT Tester has readings as well, but they are not essential.

How often should I PAT Test?

Frequency of PAT Testing is dependent on your Risk Assessment. You need to include the routine inspection & maintenance of electrical equipment in your Risk Assessment and the risk should determine the frequency. Factors affecting the frequency include: • What the electrical equipment is • How often its’ used • Where its’ used • Who uses it Want to discuss further?

You can call us on 01392 364933 or email sales@parker-bell.co.uk We are always happy to help!

See the advert on page 7.

Taking Care of Your Needs Passive fire protection needs to be at the forefront of all our minds but what is passive fire protection?

Passive fire protection assesses a building in detail, poorly maintained fire doors, voids in ceilings & service shafts and penetrations made in walls, floors or ceilings can become conduits through which fire and smoke can spread. By identifying these failures within the fabric of the building, specialist repairs can be made to reinstate the compartmentation of the building to maximise the time available to evacuate the property, and or prevent a fire from taking hold in the first place.

For many this remains a concern and knowing where to start can be stressful. It is important that you do your due diligence and you seek out a trained, competent, third-party accredited company to work with you and to discuss your needs.

We are often told how a client has struggled to secure the services of a passive fire contractor. We have found many companies would prefer to concentrate on large, long term contracts rather than smaller

BIOFROST® Relief and the BIOFROST® Active are natural topical gels that effectively relieve pain, reduce inflammation and diminish swelling without drugs and drug-related side-effects. Safe for people of all ages, including the elderly and disabled people, BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels work as standalone therapeutic modalities or alongside other interventions (i.e. drugs, physiotherapy, massage, etc.), providing affordable and long term cost-effective solution to pain and discomfort.

BIOFROST® Relief Cold Gel contains only natural

ingredients (i.e. ethanol, menthol, eucalyptus, peppermint, MSM) for instant pain relief and to activate body’s own healing. Benefits are better joint movements, lasting pain relief, comfortable sleep, fewer cramps, calmed nerve pain, reduced joint and muscular discomfort, less muscle fatigue, puffiness and swelling.

BIOFROST® Active is a fast-acting dual-action cold gel with heat sensation for relief of muscular and joint aches (i.e. upper and lower back pain). Enriched with 10 herbal extracts, BIOFROST® Active stimulates local blood flow, releases muscle tension and joint stiffness and combats chronic pain. Benefits include improved joint movements, greater mobility, pain relief in treated areas (i.e. back, neck, shoulders, knees), discomfort-free sleep, less cramps and stiffness.

CE marked Class 1 Medical Devices, the BIOFROST® gels are made in Finland by Viking Lab Oy. Distributed in the UK by Win Health Medical Ltd. Win Health Medical Ltd. / T: 01835 864866 / E: biofrost@win-health.com / W: www.win-health.com

properties. We realised very quickly that we had an opportunity to provide a bespoke service for each of our clients taking care of individual needs. Over time we have become specialised in working within a live environment such as residential accommodation.

When the project is complete, it does not mean the end of our relationship, UK Passive Fire Solutions is part of East Riding Group Ltd. We can offer many other services to you such as UK Pest Control Service and our Hospitality, Kitchen & Hygiene Products (HKHP) UK Passive Fire Solutions work with you from start to finish. Call or email today to get more information and receive your information pack; email info@ukpassivefiresolutions.co.uk or call: 01262 469872.

See the advert on page 6 for further information.

PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

CONTINENCE CARE Top Tips For Healthy Skin When Living with Incontinence Healthy skin is a physical barrier against the external environment. The pH balance of skin should be between 4.5 and 5.5 to discourage bacterial growth.

HOW TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A NORMAL PH BALANCE: • Prevent changes to normal skin pH by cleaning up quickly after each episode of urine loss.

• Choose mild skin cleansers, moisturisers and sealants.

• Be aware that perspiration, in combination with continence pads and briefs, creates an extra risk factor for skin problems.

DO’S AND DON’TS WHEN CARING FOR YOUR SKIN • Always use the pads prescribed for you and make sure that they are fitted correctly • Tell your nurse if your skin is wet when you change your incontinence pad • Tell your nurse if you have eczema or psoriasis or are prone to other conditions that affect your skin • Note the condition of your skin whilst using incontinence pads • Tell your nurse if there are any changes to your skin.

• This would include if your skin becomes red, sore or broken.

• Tell your nurse if you are using any ointments or creams

• Wash your hands before and after changing your pad • Don’t apply ointments or creams unless prescribed by your doctor or nurse.

• Don’t use talcum powder on your bottom or groin area. It can cause friction which may damage the skin and also affect how well your pad works.

• Don’t wear more than one pad at a time

Important advice Oil based barrier creams may reduce the performance of the pads. If barrier creams must be used, they should be applied sparingly and only on areas that require treatment. Used products should be disposed of in the appropriate manner, they cannot be flushed down the toilet.

The iD range of products is available to buy from www.id-direct.com or via Ontex - See the advert on page 7 for details.

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 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.

IQ CATHETER

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.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 29

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

Exclusive Antimicrobial Scrub Technology Launched

by Grahame Gardner and Micro-Fresh ®

Grahame Gardner has unveiled a brand new Micro-Fresh® scrub top and trouser range which uses leading antimicrobial technology to stay fresher longer.

The range, exclusive to Grahame Gardner, incorporates cutting-edge technology Micro-Fresh® to help keep healthcare workers safe whilst maintaining unrivalled comfort.

The garment fabric, which is 65 per cent polyester and 35 per cent cotton, is incorporated with innovative Micro-fresh® technology at point of manufacture. The antimicrobial technology not only kills 99.9 per cent of bacteria beyond 50 washes but is also proven to reduce the spread of human coronavirus by 99.2 per cent.

With wash resistant antibacterial protection, Micro-Fresh® also boasts odour prevention, providing longer lasting freshness for the wearer. The scrubs are hypoallergenic, gentle on skin and vegan friendly.

The exclusive scrubs will stocked available in two fits – unisex and female – and the scrub top will be available in six colourways: Oasis, Navy, Eau de Nil, Bottle, Smoke Grey and Blue 18 each with a classic contrasting white trim The trousers will be available in Navy, Bottle and Black.

Grahame Gardner will also offer all six scrub colours in their Made to Order range with a bespoke choice of trim colour.

The scrub top design features multiple pockets, including two waterproof chest pockets and a wearers right hand hip pocket, which also has a pen divide and an elastic loop for a clip-on hand sanitiser. The trousers have a

drawstring waist, and also side and a back pockets.

A range of Micro-Fresh® tie back scrub caps will also be available in the same six colours to complement the scrubs, plus two additional colours – Black & Royal Blue Sarah Lowe, from Grahame Gardner, said: “We’re so pleased to reveal our exclusive Micro-Fresh® workwear range.

“These innovative garments harness leading technology to create scrubs that combine comfort with unique antimicrobial technology that’s proven to kill 99.9% bacteria – even after washing! We know there is the market for them and are confident our customers will appreciate the benefits this garment development bring. It’s been great to build a really positive working relationship with Micro-Fresh® and look forward to that continuing in the future.”

Chris Mellor-Dolman, head of marketing & business development at Micro-Fresh®, added: “The move to working with a brand such as Grahame Gardner, who uphold the highest standards of protection and hygiene with products for use in controlled environments, dovetails wholly with our ideology here at Micro-Fresh®.

“It’s reassuring to know that Micro-Fresh and Grahame Gardner scrubs are making a significant difference, protecting the health & wellbeing of much-valued medical professionals.”

For more information, visit: www.grahamegardner.co.uk/micro-fresh

Eliminate Odours and Sanitise Rooms with MAG Ozone

15 minutes is all it takes to remove bacteria, viruses and unpleasant odours from indoor rooms and spaces. Don’t just mask bad smells, permanently eliminate them with the MAG Room Sanitiser. It’s safe, it’s sustainable, it requires no chemicals, plus it’s quicker and 3,000 times more effective than other cleaning methods.

Hygienic indoor air quality is seen as an essential part of every business and we all have a responsibility to look after our staff, visitors, guests and clients.

Monkeypox, Covid-19 and other airborne viruses will continue to come and go so regular air purification is important as nobody knows what the future holds.

As well as sanitising the air and surfaces in a room, MAG’s sanitising machine guarantees to remove odours however strong including smoke, cooking, alcohol, body odour and incontinence. It’s used by care homes, hotels, pubs, restaurants and thousands of businesses in the UK and across the world.

How does it work? Ozone is safely created and destructed within your preferred time frame. Simply wheel the ozone generator into the room that needs sanitising,

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 bene-

fits 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

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

plug in the machine, start the cycle, leave the room and when you re-enter you will be pleasantly surprised by the extra fresh fragrance. It’s very simple, completely safe and free product demonstrations are available across the UK. Ask about our 5 star feedback and testimonials. Andrew Morgan, Managing Director of Morgan Care shares “Great sales experience with a pre-order demo and very efficient order & delivery service. Would have no hesitation in recommending MAG Ozone”.

For more information contact MAG Ozone Ltd on 01353 883025 or sales@magozone.com Did you know the MAG Group also provides commercial washing machines and tumble dryers? Find out more at www.maglaundryequipment.co.uk (Link: https://maglaundryequipment.co.uk/product/ozone-sanitation/ mag-ozone-generator )

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL 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.

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.

Why Infection Control Is Just One of the Benefits of Outsourcing Laundry Care homes are facing many challenges, from infection control and Covid, to staff shortages and rising energy costs. Richard Page, UK Head of Care Homes at Elis (uk.elis.com), explains how making a simple change to how laundry is processed can have benefits that extend far beyond infection control.

How the laundry is managed can have a bigger impact on the care home than is sometimes realised. It may impact infection control standards and compliance but also staff availability, running costs and capital expenditure, how smoothly the care home can operate, the satisfaction of residents and families, space availability and even the quality of the bedlinen and towels.

While traditionally care homes often handled the laundry themselves, many are now recognising the advantages of outsourcing to a specialist, as is the norm in many other sectors, including the NHS and hotels.

Here are the top six ways that care homes can benefit from outsourcing to a specialist care home laundry provider, like Elis.

1 – INFECTION CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE It is essential to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control; an important part of care homes’ CQC inspection.

However, when laundry is done on site it can be difficult to consistently follow the strict procedures that help prevent cross infection and ensure compliance with the Department of Health’s HTM 01-04 regulation. Requirements such as the full segregation of clean and soiled items, the validation of wash processes and the stringent handling and transportation procedures can sometimes be difficult to maintain, especially when space is limited.

Outsourcing to Elis ensures immediate compliance, both now and in the future. With experience of working for hospitals and care homes across the UK and the world, Elis ensures that infection control is built into every process. It is accredited to the highest European standard in infection control (BS EN14065) and expert at laundry compliance, so care homes don’t have to be.

2 – RELIABILITY, SIMPLICITY AND PEACE OF MIND When a care home runs its own laundry it can be hard to avoid machine breakdowns, or even fires, and unexpected staff absences.

They all create extra pressure and make it hard to maintain standards.

With a network of laundries across the UK, each with multiple state-of-the-art machines, back-up facilities and stock and its own delivery fleet, Elis provides a guaranteed, reliable service, day after

day. The local Elis laundry collects soiled items, hygienically launders and maintains them and returns them to an agreed schedule.

Elis uses the latest technology in all aspects of its service, with tiny 2d Barcodes on linens and on special residents’ clothing bags, enabling meticulous tracking of items and meaning lost items are a thing of the past. Residents have their own dedicated bags, into which garments are placed, so Elis knows exactly where each resident’s items are in its fully tracked service.

3 – COST REDUCTION AND CONTROL Using the Elis service can be a more cost effective approach to care home laundry. It can free up care home capital, as there is no equipment or linen to buy and can provide efficiencies and cost savings because Elis operates on an industrial scale and passes savings on to customers. With competitive fixed priced contracts and no risk of unexpected laundry costs, the service also helps with cost control.

The usage of linens is tracked to provide complete cost transparency and there is flexibility to adjust quantities if demand changes.

Care homes can benefit from taking a look at their in-house laundry costs, including staff, water, electricity, gas, detergent, machine rental and breakdown costs and comparing with the cost of an Elis laundry service.

4 – FREEING UP TIME AND SPACE With staff shortages and illness, outsourcing laundry can also have the benefit of freeing up staff to focus on other tasks. It also significantly reduces the time that management need to focus on laundry.

It takes away the hassle and provides a simple, reliable solution.

The removal of in-house laundry equipment also frees up space for other activities or even for another bedroom.

5 – HOTEL QUALITY Items are provided on a cost effective rental basis, with no large up-front costs. High quality linen creates the perfect centrepiece for each resident’s room and fluffy white towels create a homely feel.

Bed linen and towelling are professionally finished using specialist driers, ironers and folders, to give a hotel-like quality, while every item of residents clothing is carefully washed and fully CQC compliant.

6 – EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY Elis is able to use gas, electricity and water more efficiently than individual homes, and so partnering with Elis means that care homes are choosing a more sustainable approach to laundry. Elis is Carbon Trust accredited and the first laundry and textile services company in the UK to state its intent to attain Net Zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Elis partners with thousands of care homes around the world.

From small independent homes and hospices to large care villages.

Elis provides solutions for linen and residents’ clothing, workwear and uniforms, chefs’ wear, table linen and kitchen cloths. Elis also provides washroom, mats and floorcare services.

For a trial without commitment email uk-carehomes@elis.com or call 0808 1969160 or for more information https://uk.elis.com/en/sectors/health-social-care/care-homes

CATERING FOR CARE

An NHS Chef’s Guide to Budget-Friendly, Nutritious, and Delicious Meals

Matt Willis, Co-Head Chef at Clacton Hospital, NHS Property Services (NHSPS) (www.property.nhs.uk) shares insight around the challenges of hospital catering, and how best to manage budgets while cooking delicious and nutritious meals for staff and patients.

Catering for hospitals comes with its challenges. It is often a balancing act between having nutritious, healthy meals, while also making sure they are within budget and not wasted. And most importantly, the meals must be enjoyable for patients and staff.

HAVING A SEASONAL MENU A big part of saving money and having a tasty menu is making sure meals are seasonal, freshly made and locally sourced. The patient menu is set by dietitians, so it must be adhered to for patients to get the nutrition they need. One way of ensuring this is cooking food from scratch. This can make a huge improvement to the quality of food. In our hospital, for example, making food from scratch allows us to significantly reduce salt out of the diets and ensuring that there are no pre-made or pre-packaged foods in every meal.

Using local suppliers is important, as the produce is fresh, and it is a more sustainable way of picking up ingredients needed for the daily menu. It is also great for altering the menu on the day – whether that is down to weather changes, or we have had requests to change up the menu. Ultimately, it is most important to provide people with the food they want. By going local, this can be done in a budget-friendly and sustainable way.

CATERING FOR EVERY NEED It is important to know who you are cooking for. With so many patients and staff, catering for all comes

with challenges – for example, there are 14 official allergens we need to consider. However, it also encourages creativity and to think more about what people want to and can eat. For example, providing an alternative menu is helpful, such as kosher, allergen-free, or needing softer foods. Ultimately, it is important to keep patients happy.

REDUCING FOOD WASTE Another important part of catering and sticking within budget is reducing food waste. In a hospital, if there are two portions left over on a counter, it cannot be saved for later and unfortunately it goes to waste. To prevent waste, we must consider portion control. This can be challenging as patients need a nutrient rich diet and to feel full for a sustained period of time. Where possible, always aim to prepare smaller portions, and if people are still hungry, recommend a snack like fruit or something to keep them going. In our hospital, I encourage the team to manage portion control – it is a crucial part of our training.

Leftovers can encourage you to be fun, creative and make simple foods delicious. Reducing food waste will also have a positive knock-on effect on budget, meaning that money won’t be wasted and can be continued to be spent on getting the best produce.

My top tips to reduce food waste and budget are: • Make a fish pie with leftover fish, with a quick sauce and mash potato ready for next day lunch service.

• I often put lamb in the slow cooker – if there is any leftover it works well in a lamb salad wrap.

• Leftover spaghetti Bolognese works a treat as a topping for jacket potatoes, or chili con carne! I also put it over chips sprinkled with cheese on top under the grill.

See our Catering for Care feature on pages 34-37.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 31

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

Food Procurement Experts, allmanhall are Helping Care Caterers Manage Rising Food Costs Here the causes behind significant food inflation and provide advice on practical ways care home catering teams can manage rising costs are explored.

“There are wide-ranging reasons why we’re currently experiencing such significant food inflation. Our global food supply chain comes with input cost factors that originate far beyond these shores” explains Oliver Hall, managing director of food procurement experts, allmanhall.

The Bank of England has revised its projections upwards, predicting that inflation will now peak at 10% towards the end of 2022. Upward pressure is expected this autumn as energy prices rise again and the full impact of harvest yields globally, and more specifically in Ukraine and Russia, become known. allmanhall’s apply such insight and understanding to managing suppliers, thus supporting care home catering teams with their food purchasing in these challenging times. As well as expert negotiations to mitigate the price increases and risk associated with food inflation, allmanhall’s hands-on, experienced consultants are able to offer care homes practical advice.

Coping strategies are key, addressing the things you can control:

- Select the purchasing approach that brings your care home maximum benefit - Undertake range management - Reduce your care home’s cost to serve - Increase your delivery values (add non-food items to your order) - Multi- and upskill your catering team - Reduce waste wherever possible - Review the efficiency of your equipment - Consider your care home’s menus and recipes - Review product specifications.

These steps will enable your catering budgets and food purchases to go as far as possible.

To learn more, go to https://allmanhall.co.uk/webinars Rachael Venditti from allmanhall will be talking on the topic of Food Inflation at the Care Home and Hospital Catering Forum in Haberdashers Hall, London on 13 June.

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

CATERING FOR CARE

Anglia Crown – Looking To Make Your Lives Easier As the better weather approaches it is perhaps a time that we can start to look forward again. Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit us all, those in the care sector have been at the forefront of the fight and Anglia Crown salute each and everyone of you who have been providing the best service you could throughout the crisis. Anglia Crown has been there beside you and will remain there to help you keep your residents happy and well fed.

Whilst the company maintained a rapid response team to react quickly to their customers’ needs during the crisis, they also allowed time to step back and see how best they could improve their offer for the care sector and beyond.

The company was also keen to recognise their 30th anniversary of championing choice with the release of their 2022 range of products. The range includes Crown Choice and Crown Advantage meals available frozen, with Crown Crown Choice also available as chilled products.

Company Dietitian, Ruth Smith, comments: “Whenever we update our product range, we always look to reflect current trends. There is a definite move towards plant-based foods which we have considered in these menus, which we believe will prove to be very popular.”

The company now offers over 70 vegan and vegetarian dishes, many have been accredited with the Vegan Society. This approach led to the company being named a Veggie

Wholesaler of the Year.

Another one of the initiatives was to create a menu cycle that can be readily adopted by any care setting, with the knowledge that the menu is nutritionally balanced and has been approved by a professional dietitian.

The two-week cycle offers something for everyone. Where a bulk service is required for resident dining, they have it covered, a similar menu using Crown Advantage dishes can be similarly employed. The specially designed menu is cost effective, as it has already considered the financial balancing that is always required in our sector and just as importantly, it also helps with any staffing issues that you might encounter, allowing properly trained Care Assistants to help with the complete delivery of the meals to your residents.

Mary Wedge, Business Development Manager at Anglia Crown concludes; “We needed to take fast action during the crisis, which led to a huge shift in thinking that has ensured that we could fully support our industry during this difficult period and beyond, whilst continuing to deliver on our vision – in driving excellence in residential and care home catering.”

The new range is now available. Visit www.angliacrown.co.uk for further details.

TME’s Colour Coded CA2005 Temporary Catering Facilities For Events & Kitchen Refurbishments Thermometer Range Ensuring that you have hygienic equipment in the kitchen and catering area can be easily achieved with TME’s colour coded CA2005 thermometer range.

We all understand the importance of equipment which is easy to clean and hygienic especially where food is cooked and prepared. It is also important to ensure that the equipment you have is accurate to avoid any risk of food being undercooked.

Our solution is the CA2005 thermometer and probe range, featuring our high accuracy CA2005 thermometer and a choice of up to 6 colour coded dishwasher-proof temperature probes to help you avoid cross contamination. Our CA2005-P kit, which

includes both thermometer and probe, can be picked up for a little as £65 and our CA2005-PK kit with thermometer and all 6 probes is only £125.

You can be sure you’re making the right purchase as all TME products are British built and our thermometers come with our Thermometer for Life pledge which means that you will never have to pay more than £35.00 to have the thermometer repaired or replaced.

See our products at www.tmethermometers.com or contact us on (01903) 700651 sales@tmethermometers.com for further details.

TME – When temperature matters

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

PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Silent Running Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions Tranquility in Care Homes 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:

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.

TO ADVERTISE IN THE CARER CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM TODAY ON 01202 552333 OR EMAIL SALES@THECARERUK.COM

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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 35

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Medpage Falls Management Products Medpage T/A Easylink UK have manufactured and distributed fall prevention and detection products for over 25 years. We specialise in products for one-to-one care, or small groups in a Care Home or Hospital. Our systems are robust, easy to set up and use, and have a proven track record in helping to reduce falls, in domestic and professional care establishments.

How can they help reduce falls?

Many falls occur when a person at risk from falls leaves their bed or chair, particularly during the night. By detecting an exit from the bed or chair early a carer or guardian gains time to attend and help the person, usually preventing the fall.

WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE

Medpage supply a diverse range of equipment for detecting bed and chair exit.

There are for example, simple bed alarms, chair alarms, or multiple use products for combining bed and chair monitoring, to allow the person to move from their bed to their chair. There are systems that use a cabled pressure mat sensor connected to an alarm controller, or pressure mat sensors with a self-contained alarm transmitter to signal a radio pager. Carer alarm notifications can be by a single or multiple user pager or alarm receiver, or an external alarm device.

You can find out more on the advert on page 11 or at www.easylinkuk.co.uk/product/ product-fall-detection

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

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

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 37

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Log my Care’s New Research Reveals The Sentiment In The Social Care Sector and Technology’s Place In Its Future

Log my Care has revealed the results of new research – The future of care: an analysis of job satisfaction and technology in social care.

Prompted by the reports of a sector in crisis, Log my Care disseminated a survey to better understand the sentiment of the social care workforce, if an exodus of care workers leaving the sector on the horizon and how technology can support them to stay.

The survey identified a workforce that was predominantly happy in their role. Reflecting these high levels of happiness in their jobs, only a small minority of respondents said they wanted to leave the care sector: • Respondents had an average happiness ranking of 7.9 in which 1 was ‘very unhappy’ and 10 ‘very happy’.

• Those in senior management roles appeared to be more satisfied (8.9) compared to those in frontline roles (8.2) or management positions (7.7).

• Only 4% of respondents said they wanted to leave the care sector.

Findings from the survey also revealed a workforce that is drawn to the sector for altruistic reasons: • 81% of respondents said that ‘purpose’ was ‘very important’ to them in their role, the most popular response from a predefined list.

• ‘Knowing that the job was done well’ was the most popular type of reward for respondents (56% selected this as their first choice) compared to a quarter (24%) selecting ‘money’.

• 83% of respondents reported that ‘passion for caring for others’ attracted them to the care sector, while more than three-quarters (77%) selected ‘making a difference’ as a reason.

• Factors connected to their own benefits were less important. With ‘personal development' (61%) and ‘career development’ (45%) bringing up the rear.

However, the stressors of the pandemic have exacerbated some of the unpleasant factors associated with working in social care: • Just under half (45%) of respondents reported that the ‘workload’ was the factor they disliked most about their role.

• 37% disliked their ‘work-life balance’ and 14% were unhappy with their ‘level of responsibility’.

When asked how digital they felt their workplace was already: • The majority (59%) said their workplace was a beginner when it came to digital with a long way to go.

• One-third of all respondents felt they were 'digital experts' (33%), using digital solutions in most aspects of their work, and only 9% identified as

complete novices.

There’s a positive sentiment towards the digitalisation of social care: • Two-thirds of respondents (67%) said they were 'super excited' about the increasing digitisation of the sector.

• Three-quarters of respondents (76%) felt that the care industry needs to become more digital.

Sam Hussain, Founder and CEO of Log my Care, comments, “The reports of the care sector in crisis are at odds with the incredible dedication and optimism voiced by many of our customers in our daily conversations. We wanted to dig a little deeper with this research — to understand the sentiment in the sector, why so many people were leaving it and what place technology has in supporting them to stay.

Although we were surveying an industry clearly in crisis, the passion and commitment of the people working in it is a light in the dark. We know it’s time for a change – with low pay, long hours and a lack of employee development coming up time and time again as the reasons our care staff are leaving. Technology can play a vital role in this change and by encouraging even the smallest care provider to go digital, we can begin to combat some of the problems highlighted by this survey.”

Scan this QR code to read Log my Care’s full report or read it online at https://tinyurl.com/4pxdfxex

‘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

Vayyar Imaging Secures $108M in Series E Funding Led

by Koch Disruptive Technologies Vayyar Imaging, a global leader in 4D imaging radar, has announced that it has finalized a USD 108 million Series E financing round led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), bringing the company’s total funding to over USD 300 million.

The new round includes first-time Vayyar backers GLy Capital Management and Atreides Management LP, alongside existing investors including KDT, Battery Ventures, Bessemer Ventures, More VC, Regal Four, and Claltech. To support investor outreach in China, Vayyar engaged China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC) as its lead financial adviser.

Founded with a vision of detecting early-stage breast cancer using RF technology, Vayyar has since

expanded its business into senior care, automotive, retail, public safety and other industries. The company provides solutions powered by its leading-edge system-on-chip, proprietary software stack, and breakthrough Machine Learning algorithms.

In the automotive space, Vayyar manufactures 4D imaging radar-based platforms that transform safety across the in-cabin, ADAS and motorcycle (ARAS) domains. The company’s ARAS platform is in mass production for deployment on Piaggio Group’s motorbikes, providing exceptional safety for the world’s most at-risk road users. Vayyar has also secured supply contracts with automakers from Japan and Vietnam and is in advanced engagements with almost every other OEM and supplier for both in-cabin and ADAS. In senior care, the company offers Vayyar Care, a unique remote monitoring solution, integrated with the world’s leading nurse call systems, that protects the aging population with automatic fall detection and data that drives predictive behavioral analytics. Vayyar recently signed a Joint Venture agreement with Haier subsidiary HCH Ventures, leveraging its senior care technology to address the 4 trillion yuan (625B USD) “silver tech” market in China. Vayyar has also established a large-scale partnership with Amazon for remote health, safety and security monitoring.

"KDT is excited to help further Vayyar’s vision to improve the health and safety of people’s lives at a global scale,” said Brett Chugg, senior managing director of KDT. “Their 4D imaging technology is transforming the medical, smart home, elderly care, and automotive markets here in the U.S. and around the world. We look forward to helping accelerate their continued growth.”

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 41...)

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/

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 39

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Vayyar Imaging Secures $108M in Series E Funding Led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39) After opening new offices in five additional territories, including Japan and China, Vayyar will continue to expand its activities across numerous verticals and introduce a family of Machine Learning-enabled imaging solutions that are being integrated with the world’s leading smart building, robotics, retail and public safety solutions.

"We are pleased and proud to progress our partnership with existing investors including KDT, as well as additional backers which are joining forces with us for the first time,” said Raviv Melamed, co-founder and CEO of Vayyar Imaging. "During a challenging period for the global economy, this new funding round is a ringing endorsement of our mission and a clear vote of confidence in the strength of our technology and the strate-

gic agility of our organization.”

With a strong sales pipeline and a world-class patent portfolio, Vayyar will continue cementing its leadership in core verticals, expanding its activities in additional industries, and increasing its physical presence across the Americas, EMEA and East Asia.

About Koch Disruptive Technologies Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) is a unique investment firm, partnering with principled entrepreneurs who are building transformative companies. KDT provides a flexible, multi-stage investment approach.

KDT works with companies that can help Koch transform its capabilities, disrupt existing businesses or expand into new platforms. KDT is a subsidiary of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held companies in

the world, with estimated revenues exceeding $125 billion and presence in over 70 countries. KDT helps its partners unlock their full potential by bringing Koch's full capabilities and network to them, structuring unique capital solutions and embracing a long-term, mutual benefit mindset.

About Vayyar Imaging Vayyar, the global leader in 4D imaging radar, supplies the world’s most advanced radar-on-chip platforms to gather life’s essential data, providing solutions for senior care, automotive, security, smart home, robotics, and more, while maintaining privacy at all times. Vayyar’s mission is to deliver the next generation of sensing technology that is miniature, affordable, and versatile enough to impact everyone’s lives, enabling a safer world.

Visit www.vayyar.com to learn more.

Cloud Finance Software That is Helping Care Homes Thrive Healthcare organisations face unique challenges from cost containment and multi-entity reporting to new billing models and product offerings and a cloudbased accounting system allows you to better understand your organisation and succeed in the future.

At Sage Intacct, we’re passionate about building accounting software that helps you better understand your business, maintain compliance, and succeed in the ever-evolving healthcare industry.

BUILT FOR HEALTHCARE

As healthcare grows in complexity, so does your organisation. You’re managing multiple locations and practices, navigating changing reimbursement methods, and initiating cost reduction initiatives, while manual processes are draining your productivity.

You need insight into your growing breadth of financial and operational data, and we’ve built our healthcare accounting software with you in mind. We provide compliant financials with continuous consolidation across multiple offices, practices and locations. Sage Intacct healthcare customers have increased profitability by 30% with better insight for informed decisions, realised 25% improvement in efficiency gains, and taken departmental reporting

from 10 days to 10 minutes.

REAL-TIME VISIBILITY AND INSIGHTS Sage Intacct’s real-time reporting allows you to understand and measure performance for both financial metrics and operational outcomes. Because every transaction in the system can be tagged with dimensions, finance professionals can sort, view, filter, and report on the specific information they need. With greater insight, our healthcare customers have reduced board budget reporting from three weeks to one hour and have improved revenues by 25% without adding additional headcount.

TRUE CLOUD TECHNOLOGY WITH OPEN API True cloud technology with open API As an innovator in the cloud space, Sage Intacct’s multi-tenant, true cloud foundation brings robust technology infrastructure to your organisation, without the high costs of managing servers. Our open API lets you connect to existing systems or those you are considering in the future. This means you can leverage key data from electronic medical records, payroll, budget, CRMs (including Salesforce), and other systems to track key performance indicators.

For more information on how Sage can help your business please visit: www.sage.com/en-gb/cp/intacct-carehomes/

Keep VIPs Safe at Home and Safe away from Home Button and box have been the traditional method of keeping Vulnerable Independent People (VIPs) safe at home, however, by continuing to install them in homes, you are inadvertently telling VIPs that they are only safe at home.

Oysta have developed telecare devices for VIPs to stay safe as they maintain an active lifestyle and passive sensors in the home to enable preventative care. VIPs should be encouraged to pursue an active lifestyle as movement is medicine. VIPs that remain physically active for longer are less likely to decline as quickly as they would if they are housebound.

Our Oysta devices and sensors link into our care platform, IntelliCare™. IntelliCare positions the care circle to provide preventative care as they receive insights and notifications when their VIPs activity falls outside of normal parameters. Likewise, in the case of an emergency, the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) has a full picture of the VIPs activity and location.

We are looking forward to showcasing our services to visitors at the Care and Occupational

Therapy Show in Exeter on 21 June. We are speaking at the show on ‘Movement is Medicine.’

Natasha Salway will show how mobile technology can play a big part in enabling VIPs to remain physically active for longer and providing them a safety net if their condition deteriorates.

Natasha will demonstrate how technology can remove isolation boundaries and cover how to ensure VIPs can be safe at home, or in a care home when pursuing an active lifestyle.

Natasha has hands-on experience of assistive technology, how it can benefit vulnerable adults, their families, and carers. She worked in Adult Social Care for 18 years, 14 years, specifically within the TEC, Assistive Technology and Telecare field.

Visit us at Stand 188 at the Care and Occupational Therapy Show, Westpoint Arena, Exeter 21st June 2022 for a free demonstration or if you’d like to speak sooner, get in touch today on 01295 530 101.

See the advert on the facing page for further details.

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE The Access Group Launches Support For New Care Providers With Care Foundations Access Health, Support & Care, a division of The Access Group, has launched Care Foundations, new software packages to support start-up home care providers in implementing the digital solutions they need to register, establish and grow their business.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid previously announced £150 million of funding to support digitisation in social care, with the aim for 80 per cent of social care providers to be using digital care records by March 2024.

Used by many of the UK’s leading care providers, Care Foundations is part of the Access care management software suite that helps new and growing care providers register and develop their business.

The solution is designed to help home care businesses seamlessly integrate specialist health and social care technology into their day-to-day processes. Ranging from essential to premium, the three bespoke packages include information on various aspects, including policies and procedures, recruitment, and care plans.

Steve Sawyer, managing director, Access Health and Social Care, explained that this platform would be a perfect introduction to digitisation. He said: “Access Care Foundations will make the road to implementing digital processes much easier for new and growing care providers. This tool supports the vision of the recent announcement from Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid and will make that transition to digitising care records much easier.

“Providing the best possible quality of care is clearly the main priority for providers. The aim of this tool is to simplify

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.

establishing a business as well as provide a space to continue elevating current processes with support and guidance.

Each package has different options that can cater to different levels of care, this means there is always an option for each provider depending on their business needs.

“If we have learned anything from the past few years, it’s that technology has massive potential to continue to innovate the health and social care sector. Moving forward it’s clear to say that this will become the norm for home care providers. It’s important we continue to create safer and seamless healthcare processes and we believe that can be done with technology.”

Access is currently offering exclusive discounts of up to 25% on Access Care Foundations for new start-ups and unregistered providers only pay for what they need to get registered. Each package is on an integrated system and contains tools which can monitor and improve care quality.

For care providers who might be unfamiliar with specific protocols and regulations, this tool provides peace of mind knowing experts are on hand to help.

For more information visit www.theaccessgroup.com/carefoundations

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 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

FINANCE, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

W&P Training W&P Training supply comprehensive sets of CQC care policies and procedures that are personalised to your business. Whether it’s Residential Care Homes, Domiciliary Homecare, Nursing Homes, Learning Disabilities or Supported Living – We cover it all.

RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME POLICIES Are Your Current Policies Up To Date?

There have been many recent changes to employment law, vaccinations, covid-19 guidance plus the CQC’s new strategy and regulatory approach. W&P’s team track these changes for you to ensure customers receive up to date CQC compliant documents.

DOMILICIARY HOMECARE POLICIES Over 130 comprehensive Domiciliary Care Policies and Procedures for Homecare /

Domiciliary Based Services that are researched and written to meet all the CQC regulatory, legislative and good practice guidance within the Health and Social Care sector.

CLINICAL PROCEDURES FOR NURSING HOMES CQC compliance for new and established Nursing Homes.

W&P’s clinical procedures include 70 comprehensive and up-to-date documents for your nursing home.

These clinical procedures complement our full set of Care Home Policies and Procedures.

SUPORTED LIVING / LEARNING DISABILITIES POLICIES Designed for Supported Living and Domiciliary providers that deliver CQC regulated activities to adults with Learning Disabilities and/ or Autism. W&P’s Policies and Procedures for Supported Living Services will assist with your CQC compliance.

Looking for Supported living Policies with NO Personal Care? Visit https://www.wandptraining.co.uk/policies-and-procedures/non-registered-carepolicies/ W&P’s policy and compliance team are constantly scanning and reviewing all the statutory websites and regulatory publications to track the very latest developments in the Health & Social Care Sector.

Policies and Procedures are updated every 4 months or immediately if there is a critical change to regulation, good practice guidance, case law outcomes or just feedback from customers.

To find out more about what we offer go to www.wandptraining.co.uk or see the advert on page 2.

Workforce Challenge - The Eden Alternative – A Modern, Proven Model of Care for Staff and Resident Wellbeing WHY DO THIS? The Eden model, is built on what people say they want, in a Home or a workplace, which therefore attracts residents and team members alike.

As an Eden Home builds its reputation upon the quality of life it offers to the people that reside there, it follows that occupancy improves.

As a programme that empowers staff and focuses on their wellbeing, It follows that staff retention improves.

With a positive culture, a motivated and dedicated workforce, It follows that positive innovation becomes more possible, sustainable and continuous.

When demand for services increase, it follows that viability improves.

As a cohesive cultural progression programme, it follows that innovation, modernisation and positivity increase.

The model is efficient, cost effective and the training is delivered by experienced practitioners in Care Homes.

Homes are very busy places, and the programme is therefore run on line for 1 hour per week for 6 weeks, and people can do this at work or at home.

The 6 weekly sessions are run online, with a workbook, with links for further optional reading or viewing and should not be a burden to busy Homes, teams and managers.

It is however effective. You can try without obligation.

It is designed to make business sense to providers.

It is designed to enhance viability.

It is designed to support recruitment and retention.

It is designed to motivate Care teams and is open to any individual to add their CV.

WHAT IS IT. It is a training programme which leads to accreditation and focuses in detail on 7 domains of wellbeing, 10 principles, and is particularly designed to address instances of loneliness, helplessness and boredom.

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

An inspiring approach to care As experienced Care Home practitioners we provide training to care home teams in sustainable innovation and positive leadership that empowers people to embed companionship, partnership working and vibrancy to build enriched quality of life into care homes.

Develop a culture of care with wellbeing and positive relationships at its heart, with our 6 week online training programme. Discover how to replace loneliness, helplessness and boredom with wellbeing, companionship, and meaningful activities, in just one hour of training a week.

Validated Eden Alternative associates can benefit from continuing support from our expert team.

Sign up today and join the care evolution

Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www.eden-alternative.co.uk

Geoffrey Cox The Eden Alternative

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 43

FINANCE, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT ELGee Specialists In The Training of Elderly Care and Those with Learning Disabilities ELGee Training can provide various training courses for people who work in the Health & Social Care sector.

ELGee Training is a local company with over 20 years of experience managing of and training in residential homes, care homes and domiciliary care organisations for the elderly and for those with a learning disability.

ELGee Training provides up to date and current information for your workforce based on the requirements of the regulating authorities, and all courses are delivered by qualified trainers. ELGee Training will write and deliver tailor made courses for your requirements, and could be courses that run ½ days or all day.

WITH THE ELDERLY IN MIND Courses aimed at our elderly carers, with courses ranging from Dementia Awareness to Moving and Handling.

Assisted Living Training caregivers to provide assistance with medication management, activities of daily living, engaging and coordination.

SPECIALIST TRAINING TEAM Specialists in the training of elderly care and those with learning disabilities.

For more information on our courses or to arrange a consultation with one of our training facilitators then please do not hesitate to contact us on 023 9237 3857 | 079 4994 0860 or visit www.elgeetraining.co.uk

Skills, Knowledge, and Confidence Delivered Online Covid19 reminded us all just how important the NHS and care home staff are to our society. We are grateful for their hard work and bravery, and feel honoured to support them through our Laser Care Certificate course and CPD short courses. Working in the care sector is certainly demanding, so our objective is to make it convenient and straightforward for workers to upskill and acquire confidence in the process.

The Laser Care Certificate course provides knowledge to cover every standard included in the official Skills for Care specification. Every lesson includes bespoke video tutorials specifically for the Care Certificate course, as well as reading materials and good practice examples. Furthermore, a mandatory quiz at the end of each lesson (which requires a 100% pass mark) ensures both competence and confidence. Managers are able to create their own accounts to enrol staff on the course and track their

progress. All of the content is accessible remotely via computer, smartphone or tablet, enabling care professionals to make progress towards the certificate in a way that suits their circumstances.

Additionally, Laser delivers CPD short courses to equip staff with highly-relevant skills and knowledge so they can tackle new challenges or progress in their career. Two courses in particular – ‘Causes and spread of infection’ and ‘Infection control and prevention’ – were very popular during the pandemic.

Unlimited use subscriptions are available at affordable rates, for organisations wishing to take advantage of a large number of short courses.

Whether you are an owner, manager, or independent learner, please don't hesitate to get in touch for a free demo of the Care Certificate course platform, and/or the CPD short course offering. The Laser Learning team can be contacted on info@lasersys.co.uk or +44 (0)1753 584 112.

Specialists in the training of elderly care and those with learning disabilities Our quality health and social care training services include.

• Moving & Handling • Dementia & Epilepsy Awareness • Risk Assessments ELGee Training provides up to date and current information for your

• Health & Safety Awareness

workforce based on the requirements of the regulating authorities.

We will write and deliver tailor made courses for your requirements, and these could be courses that run ½ days or the full day.

• Medication Overview & Infection Overview • Personal Centred Plans & Much More…

Our courses are second to none...

023 9237 3857 | 079 4994 0860 www.elgeetraining.co.uk

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109

FINANCE, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

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 healthcare 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?

• We have very minimal processing fees.

• We assist you to get a sponsorship license.

• Qualified and experienced candidates from overseas.

Tel: 01704 808227 www.jjcarerecruitment.co.uk admin@jjrecruitment.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

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

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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 109 | PAGE 45

INSURANCE FOR CARE

Is Your Care Home At Risk From Underinsurance?

They also noted that one in four firms had not made a material change to at least one Sum Insured in the last four years. The Sum Insured is the maximum amount of money that your insurance company could pay out in the event of a covered loss. With costs increasing in the construction industry, in raw materials as well as labour, checking your building sum insured is a great place to start.

CONSIDER BUSINESS INTERRUPTION COVER

A recent article, written by Aviva, one of our insurer partners has highlighted some startling figures on commercial insurance among businesses in the UK. Whilst your insurance may not be held by Aviva, the risks identified are likely to be reflected across many organisations and could be relevant to you and your care home.

You might not be aware, but underinsurance is often seen amongst small to medium sized businesses, and the pandemic has only intensified the threat. The reason for this is that to ensure long term survival, many businesses made changes to their operating models, which have not been reflected in their insurance cover.

According to Aviva’s data¹, only 20% of small and medium businesses had their policies changed in line with their new business models. This could mean that in the event of a claim, they may not receive the appropriate level of cover they now require, putting their business at unnecessary risk.

ARE YOUR SUMS INSURED AT THE RIGHT LEVEL?

Further, they identified that 40% of clients with Business Interruption insurance did not have an adequately set indemnity period. This is the maximum length of time your insurance company is obligated to make payments to cover the losses insured under the policy. When the maximum indemnity period has been reached, then claim payments will cease.

Business Interruption insurance covers your operational costs in the event of a crisis. If your business suffered a total loss claim, you need to consider how long you would need the cover to last whilst you rebuild or relocate. As a care home owner or operator, following a total loss event, the cover period required is likely to be long, as you’ll need to rebuild or refurbish your property. You will also need to relocate your residents whilst this is happening, which may also result in a temporary change in staffing and supplier requirements.

When cover is not reviewed regularly and doesn’t reflect new operating models, your business may be at an increased risk from gaps in cover and underinsurance.

what’s right for your business, bringing you peace of mind. We’re here to help you and your business succeed.

Barnes Commercial Insurance Broker 01480 272727 enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk

IS IT TIME TO REVIEW YOUR INSURANCE? There is no time like the present to take some time to review your insurance cover levels. With so much economic uncertainty driven by the pandemic and Brexit, we would advise making sure your risk management plans are firmly in place, which includes adequate insurance.

You should talk to an experienced broker who can help you to take a look at the bigger picture and ensure that you have the right insurance in place for your specific needs. As an independent commercial broker, with access to a wide panel of A rated insurers, we can advise on

¹ Data is based on Aviva held small to medium sized business, excluding fleet November 2021 – modelling 80% of the account and extrapolating the total.

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.