The temptation for staff to move sectors is the research states clear It is esti mated that 30 per cent of care workers (237 000 of the 790 000) are paid at or within nine pence of the minimum level If a care worker paid at this rate had been able to secure a job with Tesco in June 2022 they would have seen as a minimum an immediate 6 3 per cent pay increase
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 )
Social care providers are struggling to recruit staff as new research reveals that entry level supermarkets are generally paying better wages than care providers can afford to pay Kings Fund research examined the minimum rates paid to staff by the 10 biggest supermarkets in June 2022 and compared them to the rate paid to care workers in the independent sector (which employs the vast majority of care workers, around 790,000 in total) The results are, they say chastening, if not surprising For social care, the minimum rate for staff over the age of 23 in June 2022 was £9 50 the statutory minimum set by the national living wage It has been esti mated that around 50 per cent of care workers (which would equate to 395,000 of the 790 000) earn within 30 pence of the national living wage level Unfortunately for social care and the people it serves in June 2022 nine of the 10 largest supermarkets were paying more than this
T H E P U B L I C A T 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 W W W. T H E C A R E R U K . C O M THECARERUK THECARERUK Issue 113 THECARER UK
Care Providers Struggling to Compete with Supermarkets on Pay
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Peter Adams
Nevertheless, a tad disappointed I have noted that leadership candidate Liz Truss last night said that she would divert £13billion a year in the NHS to adult social care Ms Truss said she wanted to see this amount from the recent National Insurance rise diverted to local authorities to pay for older people s care as soon as possible She confirmed at a leadership hustings in Birmingham that she would fund the spend ing out of general taxation and cancel the NI increase which had been imposed by her rival Rishi Sunak, adding that she was worried that too much of the money going to the NHS goes towards diktats and layers of bureaucracy Given that the NHS has been a political football as long as I have been around I cannot see how and where can she could divert £13 billion But if she does become leader I hope that she is held to account on this pledge!
Editor
It seems an eternity in some ways since the country was “Clapping for Carers” every Thursday evening at 8 PM between March 26 and May 28 back in 2020 While the perception was that it was for NHS work ers it also included key workers such as adult social care/care workers Yet it beggars belief that care staff are leaving the sector to take better paid jobs at entry level in super markets If ever there was an example of how care workers are undervalued and unappreciated then this is it Earlier this year we reported that new findings by the GMB union found 88 percent of surveyed care home staff were thinking about leaving to find other work There is a shortage of staff in many sectors now par ticularly hospitality, but also other sectors too Inflation is rampant so a bad situation looks very likely to become worse This is by no means meant to undermine jobs and workers in other sectors but to be paid more for packing boxes or stacking shelves than for caring for our most elderly and vulnerable is the most saddest of indictments for any society And it is not as though the government hasn t been warned The amount of sector vacancies and a recent report by The Kings Fund really do speak for themselves However we along with many other publishers and leading sector figures and organisa tions have been highlighting the issues facing for years Now we are in the middle of a nationwide economic crisis and I suspect that there will be no money to stem or even reverse the exodus of staff from the sector If anybody wanted an example of the dedication and hard work and how much of a difference staff make to the everyday lives of the residents then look no further than pages 28 33 We in both our printed and digital issues highlighted one of great quintessential tradi tions “Afternoon Tea Week” I am sure the Ritz and the Dorchester would disagree with us but we couldn t think of a better place for anyone to celebrate Afternoon Tea week than a care home Afternoon tea is always a highlight in care homes whatever the day and that time that residents look forward to It’s the chance to socialise and chat And an opportunity to enjoy time with friends and visitors And of course it’s also important for boosting the calorie intake and hydration of care home residents But Afternoon Tea Week something that bit different A wonderful chance to “push the boat out and celebrate in style To add to the occasion we here at The Carer invited care homes up and down the country to share their celebrations with a luxury hamper as a prize in a care home We were absolutely overwhelmed not only the number of nomination but the activities and initiatives care homes undertook to celebrate this wonderful occasion! As you will see on pages 28 33 We have only included a selection but it is a wonderful reminder of life in a care home and a wonderful example of staff dedication The type of fun and enjoyment would not get packing boxes or stacking shelves!
PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
Once again I would take this opportunity to say thank you all the care homes who entered our Afternoon Tea Week competition We were once again overwhelmed with the number of entries, so very well done to you all Please do see pages 28 33 Where we have reproduced just a selection of the many photographs we have sent in and con gratulations of course to winners Hutton View care home in Brentwood very well done to you all Please do keep your stories coming in we are delighted to publish some delightful stories from various homes around the country from birthdays to fund raising, from bak ing to growing vegetables anything you would like to share please do send it to me editor@thecareruk com
Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!
Regular readers will know that a couple of weeks ago we invited both leadership can didates to share with our readers their policies/ambitions for the future of adult social care Of course, I do understand that both candidates’ time is in great demand They are around the country rallying support taking part in hustings and debates so I didn t hold out a great deal of hope
In April
The Carer reported that around 410,000 social care staff quit their jobs last year, leaving sector staffing shortages of between 105 000 160 000 Furthermore companies such as Amazon are offering golden handshakes of up to £3 000 to new employees and supermarket chain Tesco offers staff a minimum of 10 per cent discount on shopping with the average household s supermarket bill almost £50 a week in 2021 former care workers would have had another £20 or so a month in their pocket, on top of their wage
He said the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was in a “real sprint” to get ready for September and a decision to hire more overseas staff could not wait until a new prime minister is selected on 5 September
Compete
The health secretary has suggested more hiring for British jobs could take place in the Philippines India and Sri Lanka countries which Mr Barclay said produce more nurses than they need and also said the social care sector would benefit from hiring foreign workers who have nursing qualifications, but not a high enough standard of English for front line NHS work into non nursing roles
Inspired by the release of film director Baz Luhrmann’s biopic, Elvis, a local care home sent heartrates soaring with live music featuring greatest hits from the King of Rock n’ Roll Upton Bay Care Home in Hamworthy, Poole, enlisted the talents of professional singer, Steve Linn, to swoon the ladies with his covers of Presley’s biggest hits The heart he captured best was that of Joan resident at Upton Bay (pictured) with his rendition of The Devil in Disguise, perfectly tapping in to her riotous sense of humour “He could certainly hit the iconic low notes,” commented Joan “It was the right song for a girl like me!” “It was just fabulous to have everyone on their feet, truly enjoying Steve’s show manship!” commented Karen activity lead at the care home
ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: We agree with the health secretary that we need more overseas staff to ease the shortage but the truth is Home Office bureaucracy is strangling the process Care providers are waiting months to get their application for a licence to recruit overseas workers approved and in the meantime, care is suffering So whilst we applaud the health secretary for highlighting the issue he needs to get on to the Home Office and sort out the bottleneck otherwise a situation that is already dire will be critical this winter
Singer Leaves Care Home Residents All Shook Up
The report went on to say: “No wonder, then that the Health and Social Care Committee concluded that it was not just an improvement in hourly rates of pay that was needed in social care but a long term sustain able strategy which includes the prospect of pay progression professional development training and career pathways ’ There has however been no progress on delivering such a strategy in adult social care and no sign that the government is seriously interested in developing one The government’s impact statement on its adult social care reform programme has a whole chapter on the workforce that manages to avoid even once using the word ‘pay’ For the foreseeable future the opening of a new Aldi is set to be good news for local shoppers but bad news for the local social care sector and for the people who use its services ” MPs taking evidence into the crisis earlier this year heard of care home managers saying: I dread hearing Aldi opening up nearby as I know I will lose staff
LONG TERM, SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY NEEDED
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 3 (CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)
Struggling to with Supermarkets on Pay
Care Providers
Last month Skills for Care revealed that the number of vacant posts in social care had shot up by 55 000 in the past year an increase of 52% ANNUAL RISE OF £1,000 THIS YEAR
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said “We value the huge contribution to society which care workers make day in day out This is why we are providing at least £500m to workforce development training and wellbeing This is part of an additional £5 4bn investment into adult social via the health and care levy which will allow us to continue a comprehensive programme of reform Local authori ties work with private care providers to determine fee rates which should take account of wage costs based on local market conditions April’s increase in the national living wage means a full time care worker on the NLW will see their annual earnings rise by over £1 000 this year
“WORK AT PACE TO INCREASE OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT”
Mr Barclay told The Telegraph that he has ordered civil servants to ‘work at pace’ on proposals which will ‘significantly’ increase overseas recruitment in the NHS, and made this announcement as part of a warning that the NHS could face a triple threat of Covid seasonal flu and the cost of living crisis this winter
“GOLDEN HANDSHAKES”
Earlier this month
“CRITICAL WINTER”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay ordered civil servants to drastically increase overseas recruitment of NHS and social care staff before the winter
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM REPEAT DISPENSING
Another recent initiative to solve recurring communications challenges across the NHS was the introduc tion of The Discharge Medicines Service in 2021 which facilitates clear communication of in hospital med ication changes to a patient’s primary care providers A discharge summary is delivered to the community pharmacist ensuring modifications propagate through future prescriptions
Ser vices Across Care Settings
EPS
The way we prescribe medication in the UK lacks consensus Involving a medley of paper based and electronic processes in hospital and primary care prescribing currently relies on extensive oversight (and time) to avoid safety concerns
The current system also depends upon Summary Care Records generated by GPs which contain infor mation about a patient’s current medications and allergies These can be accessed by other healthcare providers including hospitals and pharmacies But while they’re an excellent resource they have potential gaps arising from failure to automatically incorporate inputs from other sources for example prescriptions from in hospital specialists or food supplements given to care home residents by a dietician PHARMACIES WORKING WITH RESIDENTS AND CARE HOMES
Good communication solves many problems: improving the care of our patients is no exception By eliminating manual processes and replacing them with a fully digital EPS (that incorporates electronic Repeat Dispensing in 100% of CCGs) we can reduce the burden on GP’s time and lower the risk of missed medication
Patient care pathways are complex spanning hospitals gen eral practices residential homes and the community Inadequate communication between these settings often leaves patients chasing their own medication, running the risk of serious errors
The NHS needs to solve this challenge through greater digi talisation and one excellent way to improve the safety of med ication management is to introduce a fully digital or even automated system for managing patients pharmacological needs
The result is safe dispensing of medication (the medicines stopped or altered are clearly communicated) and a smooth transition back to the community particularly for elderly or vulnerable patients who can t chase up missing medications
However, despite its merits, communication is largely one way there is little scope for pharmacists to contribute to in hospital care
The roll out of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) has improved accountability for safe prescribing in primary care settings It promotes visibility about the prescriber and nominated pharmacy and provides an opportunity for patients to choose the most convenient way to access their medication
In particular many patients take ongoing medication such as those to treat chronic conditions like hyper tension These are generally reviewed annually by a GP, but regular repeat prescriptions are needed more frequently Electronic Repeat Dispensing allows GPs to administer monthly prescriptions for up to 12 months These are stored securely on the NHS database and dispensed as directed without the need for patients to request repeats from prescribers However while EPS has significantly reduced the administrative burden on GPs freeing up time for seeing patients its uptake is currently variable (and often very low) across differ ent areas of the country
By Zeinab Ardeshir, a pharmacist with 17 years of experience and co founder of personalised pharmacy provider PillSorted (www pillsorted com)
MANUAL PROCESSES HINDER FULL INTERGRATION
Historically, care homes received regular Medicine Management Reviews, where a pharmacist evaluated the storage handling and administration of controlled drugs and other medications ensuring CQC stan dards were met in all homes The current Covid 19 pandemic acutely highlighted the lack of support in the event a resident needed urgent input and raised the question of how we can improve access to help going forwards
PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 Integrated Medication
CONNECTING HOSPITALS TO PRIMARY CARE
Distinct pathways for acute and regular prescriptions would streamline access to urgent medications while affording an opportunity to optimise stock levels and accurate administration records for repeat pre scriptions all managed using the electronic Repeat Dispensing Service Similar to an out of hours doctor acute prescribers could hold an inventory of common items to dispense on the spot (negating the inconven ience of having to locate an open pharmacy with a paper prescription) and create an immediate digital record of each prescription Alongside this, reinstating regular physical and virtual visits across care homes would empower care home managers and carers in the safe handling of medication and provide a forum for raising concerns extinguishing potential problems before they escalate into an emergency
Thousands of pharmacies and GPs are already connected to the EPS system At the click of a button pre scriptions are sent instantly saving the healthcare service time and money (not to mention the ecological benefit of fewer paper prescriptions)
Are Key to a Better, Safer Patient Experience
With vulnerable populations such as care home residents, health and medication problems can escalate quickly especially when exacerbated by poor communication between care providers and carer knowledge gaps
It s a system hampered by a raft of communication barriers creating problems and delays to the detriment of the patient experience
Looking to the future we have myriad opportunities to reinforce communication between pharmacies hospitals, GPs, and care homes Promoting patient well being is the very essence of people centric care We must use technology to inte grate prescriptions and dispensing to guarantee dependable services for patients By continuing to build an integrated, digitised network of hospitals, general practices, care homes, and pharmacies around our patients with the goal of developing a holistic approach to medication management we can provide reli able and safe access to medications improving their experience and alleviating pressure on a stretched NHS
Furthermore by using the Discharge Medicines Service to create a robust dialogue between hospital teams and pharmacies at the very start of a hospital stay rather than the end we can improve discharge efficiency and reduce the possibility of medication errors occurring
SOLUTIONS FOR A FULLY INTEGGRATED EXPERIANCE
Megan Fletcher Awards Berkshire
Care Home Resident for Completing a 22-mile Sponsored Walk
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We are incredibly grateful to all our hard working care staff and are doing all we can to help them contin ue to offer the highest standards of care
A DHSC spokesperson said Our new international recruitment taskforce is considering innovative ways to boost staffing numbers within health and adult social care Health secretary Steve Barclay is also looking to make it easier for regulators to check international quali fications so that staff can begin working more quickly It comes, however, just two weeks after concerns were expressed over NHS staffing in England when an analysis of workforce figures found the health service may be becoming over reliant on recruits from abroad ‘As part of this we will work with the sector and recruitment experts to examine how to recruit staff from overseas more effectively into adult social care ’ The DHSC said that the aims would be to reduce bureaucracy and ensure ‘timely efficient safe and effective overseas recruitment to meet the needs of the sector
Sharon Fletcher Activities Coordinator at Lord Harris Court and judoka Megan Fletcher s cousin states: Michael s commitment to raising money for Sports Relief Move 22 has been a marvellous achieve ment We walked many laps of the local surroundings and logged every mile each day The public family friends res idents and the staff of Lord Harris Court all encouraged Michael and supported his challenge I am very proud of Michael who never gave up and was up and ready to go every morning We both enjoy keeping fit and at the same time helping others do so Judo gold medal winner Megan Fletcher says: “It was an honour to present Michael with his medal today A lot of dedication and hard work went into walking his 22 miles with Sharon It was lovely to meet him and con gratulate him on his achievement What a legend!” Megan Fletcher’s next visit will take place next year She is planning to talk about her career and bring along her newest accomplishment: a baby due in January By then she will be visiting a brand new care home set in the grounds of the existing Lord Harris Court whose name is yet to be revealed
There is no doubt that there is a need to take action in relation to the social care workforce An interna tional workforce has always been a fundamental and valued element of the delivery of frontline care, with colleagues welcomed from across Europe and a wide range of other countries and efforts to support and streamline current approaches to international recruitment would be welcome However, there is much work to be done to make this accelerated push a meaningful reality for employers and critically for those who are choosing to come and work and support the care sector Fundamental issues for those staff coming to the UK around pay housing transport and ensuring a supportive recruitment and employment experi ence must be addressed if this is to be a success In addition, the recent changes to the Shortage Occupation List which is enabling this approach for frontline care staff have only be amended on a tempo rary basis This has to be made permanent immediately This has to be part of a much wider strategic approach to the long term sustainability of the workforce which includes better pay, terms and conditions It is imperative that alongside this move is a streamlined long term People Plan for the sector that brings meaningful long term relief to the care sector
New proposals are being considered by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) for a interna tional recruitment drive to boost staffing numbers across the health and social care sector
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 5 Health Secretar y
Our new international recruitment taskforce is considering innovative ways to boost staffing numbers within health and adult social care ‘As part of this, we will work with the sector and recruitment experts to examine how to recruit staff from overseas more effectively into adult social care Professor Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the The National Care Forum (NCF) commented
Judo Gold Medal Winner
Considering Overseas Care Sector Recruitment Drive
Michael Holdstock a 78 year old resident at RMBI Care Co Home Lord Harris Court in Berkshire has recently completed a 22 mile sponsored walk for Sport Relief Move 22 an initiative from Comic Relief The money raised over £200 will help to tackle inequality improve mental health and help young people to survive and thrive This goal motivated Michael to succeed with his challenge which he completed by daily walks supported by the Home’s Activities Coordinator To celebrate this outstanding achievement, Lord Harris Court got in touch and invited Commonwealth judo gold medal winner Megan Fletcher The famous judoka, who studied at The Emmbrook School in Wokingham, presented Michael with his winner medal which was engraved as a memento of his impres sive contribution “I will be quicker when I tackle my next chal lenge as I will do it wearing my Speedos! he says with a laugh
Simon Noah Etkind
We know that uncertainty can be highly distressing and that some people really struggle to say what care they want or to plan ahead when the future is uncertain The Total Uncertainty approach could help patients carers and healthcare staff to bridge gaps between their experiences of uncertainty We hope that it will be useful in establishing understanding that will make it easier to negotiate a person centred plan for care,” says Dr Simon Noah Etkind, lead author and Academic Clinical Lecturer in Palliative Care at the Primary Care Unit
Psychological and existential uncertainties: uncertainties were also gen erated in the psychological domain
Funding
Similar uncertainties about illness care and the future are experienced by older people with multiple advanced chronic illnesses (multimorbidity) and by their carers and healthcare professionals according to new research from the Primary Care Unit at the University of Cambridge The research holds promise for supporting the holistic care of those with advanced multimorbidity
The next steps, explains Dr Etkind, are to work out how the model could be applied in practice to incorporate cultural differences in attitudes to ill ness and end of life and to find ways of communicating uncertainly more effectively Improving communication of uncertainty could greatly improve how people experience their illness and care
Reference
Contact: Lucy Lloyd Communications Primary Care Unit
A new model called Total Uncertainty based on the research sum marises the ways that uncertainties are experienced The aim is to support shared understanding between patients carers and healthcare profession als and ultimately to facilitate improved person centred care “Uncertainty exists within almost every clinical encounter for those with multimorbidity
The researchers hope that the new Total Uncertainty model will help patients carers and health professionals to develop a shared understand ing of the uncertainties they are experiencing and apply this understanding to make joint plans for an unpredictable future
Simon Etkind is funded by a Health Education England Academic Clinical Lectureship and Stephen Barclay is funded in part by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration East of England (ARC EoE) programme Sarah Hopkins is jointly funded by The Dunhill Medical Trust and British Geriatrics Society Find out more Palliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam)
The Experience Of Uncertainty In Advanced Multimorbidity
PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 For 10% discount on all woven and niron-on ametapes, add CARE2022 at the checkout! Valid to 31/10/2022
The researchers conducted an analysis of available research on uncer tainty focused on the illness trajectory of older people with two or more advanced illnesses (multimorbidity) The team s analysis included qualita tive data from 40 different studies with 1147 participants conducted in Europe North America and Australasia Participants were mostly health care professionals and patients, with a smaller number of carers The research team led by Dr Etkind identified five themes within which uncertainty could be experienced: ‘appraising and managing multiple ill nesses ; fragmented care and communication ; feeling overwhelmed ; ‘uncertainty of others’ and ‘continual change’ They developed the Total Uncertainty model from their research pictured in the attached graphic It rep resents the ways that patients carers and healthcare providers might experience uncertainty across these themes: Physical uncertainties patients carers and health professionals experienced uncertainty as they attempt ed to unpick the complexities of multiple illnesses Often each additional health condition added an addi tional layer of complexity Healthcare professionals for example reported that the standard guidelines did not always apply when it came to treating frail patients with many illnesses
One study commented that “For some participants the impact of uncertainty was overwhelming resulting in an experience of powerlessness and confusion ” Clinicians commented on not knowing where to start and not having an obvious best decision One said: He’s got like 30 things wrong and he’s on a ton of medications ”
Practical uncertainties: the research revealed that multimorbidity was synonymous with complex care but that care was often fragmented Patients were frequently unsure who was responsible for each aspect of their care
Jiaqi Li John Louca Sarah A Hopkins Isla Kuhn Anna Spathis, Stephen I G Barclay: Total uncertainty: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of experiences of uncertainty in older people with advanced multimorbidity their informal carers and health professionals Age and Ageing 18 August 2022 https://doi org/10 1093/ageing/afac188
Social uncertainties: the uncertainty of others was important Some patients noted that professionals and carers were uncertain as to their (the patient’s) ability to function and did not trust their physical abilities They sometimes thought that health professionals were uninformed and uncer tain about their patient’s needs Continual change finally experiences of uncertainty inevitably changed with the course of time as illnesses changed Some uncertainties fluctuat ed greatly or could be episodic relat[ing] to symptoms aspects of care changes in provision or decision making
This report makes for worrying reading The more prevalent long COVID becomes the more of a risk it poses not only to the health of the Northern Ireland population but also the ability of our health service to function properly a service that is already under immense pressure
Increased funding for research and infrastructure Preventing long COVID in children Support for health professionals to identify and treat long COVID
Residents at Fordham Car Show
For Loganberry Lodge residents Mike Betty Paul and Roy a trip to the Fordham Car Show was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with their interests and memories Annually the Fordham Car Show in Colchester raises money for selected chosen charities with different types of vehicles on display from all eras including static and stationary displays
The call comes as BMA publishes its new report Addressing the health challenge of long COVID The report states that while vaccines reduce the likelihood of developing long COVID, there remains a ‘significant bur den of long term illness from COVID 19 which is likely to increase as more people contract the virus This in turn will heap more strain on already severely under pressure health services
Loganberr y
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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 7
The home has a close relationship with the FANZ charity network who kindly provided transport for the residents to the show Sinead Whelan, Wellbeing Lead at Loganberry Lodge, said: When we were presented with the opportunity to be involved in this year s Fordham Car Show we could not turn it down Many of our residents have a vast history with car and motor vehicles for one reason or another so we knew this event would benefit them great ly I want to thank FANZ network the event organisers and all the staff and the community for making this event happen for our resi dents ”
More Needs to be Done to Address the Effects of Long Covid A Trip Down Memor y Lane
The report also calls for a “more consistent provision of long COVID care” so that people do not have to wait unacceptably long times to access treatment In Northern Ireland some patients have reported waiting up to 36 weeks for an appointment at a long COVID clinic In addition, of more than 1,900 people referred to the clinics in Northern Ireland just over 600 had had an appointment by June 2022
Funding and resources to establish multidisciplinary services
“Doctors and health service staff are at higher risk of getting COVID through the course of their work This means needing to take sick leave to prevent the spread of infection and many developing the symptoms of long COVID This exacerbates the current health service workforce crisis as colleagues have to cover the resulting staffing gaps when delivering care to the most sick and vulnerable in society ”
“Increased funding and independent workforce planning will be, as with all health services, the key to their success and will go some way to ensuring there is less variation in waiting times for treatment said Dr Black for Lodge
It can be incredibly difficult for people with symptoms of long COVID to carry on working to full capacity, or even at all In light of the current workforce crisis the Department of Health must do all it can to make sure the right support is in place for frontline health service staff living with the long term, debilitating impacts of having caught COVID 19 in the course of their work That includes adjustments to help them return to work an adequate compensation scheme and the extension of COVID 19 sick pay provisions ”
4
Improved financial and wider support for people unable to work due to long COVID
3
More needs to be done to address the effect long COVID is placing on people’s health and health services
From January 2022 to June 2022, ONS figures showed a sharp increase in prevalence of self reported long COVID in the UK from 1 5 million to two million people Of these many are frontline healthcare workers who, because of the debilitating symptoms of long COVID, which vary from fatigue through to heart palpita are unable to work Dr Tom Black chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland Council said:
Improved support and compensation scheme for doctors and health care workers who have long COVID
Dr Black said more needed to be done to support doctors and frontline healthcare workers with long COVID
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When the opportunity was presented to the Wellbeing Lead Sinead, arrangements were made with event organisers to ensure residents had chairs and a gazebo in a prime location, with access to all the best areas of the show Residents had access to their favourite vehicles and discussed their memories with the Loganberry Lodge team and their family
6
The report calls for immediate action to help improve the understand ing treatment care and support of people with long COVID across the UK including: Detailed data collection on the prevalence and presentation of long COVID
tions
A much loved woman living in Inverness has celebrated her 105th birthday at Culduthel Care Home and has shared her secret to a long and happy life A good wee dram was one of the reasons centenarian Marjorie Stuart attributes to her longevity Plenty of laughter and keeping active were some other explanations she credits for her 105 years Now living in Culduthel Care Home part of the Meallmore group Marjorie Stuart née Campbell, turned 105 on 1 August 2022 She is the oldest resident in the care home and commemorated her milestone birthday with friends and family, where four generations were present Marjorie was born in 1917 and spent her childhood and adulthood in the small Scottish village of Conon Bridge Marjorie was educated at Conon Bridge School and later Dingwall Academy before she began a career in the Civil Service as a Secretary Marjorie later married the local vet James and together they had two children Hamish and Deidre Marjorie now has many grandchil dren and great grandchildren Denise Scott care home manager of Culduthel Care Home said: “Marjorie is an amazing lady and it was an absolute honour to cele brate her 105th birthday with her and her family here at Culduthel 105 is an incredible age and it was great to see the joy on her face as 15 of her friends and family joined her to mark her special birthday “Marjorie continues to live a very full life and her positive outlook and can do attitude stands her in good stead She also tells me that the occasional wee dram has helped her through her 105 years! I hear J&B Scotch Whisky is her favourite ” Marjorie s daughter Deirdre said “My mum had a lovely get together for her 105th birthday which was made perfect by the staff at Culduthel There was a great buzz about the home and it was so nice to celebrate all together on the patio in the sunshine “My mum lives an amazing life she’s a great story teller and is very sociable She’s impressive as she continued curling up into her eight ies and now enjoys catching up on live sport on TV with a good whisky Slainte to you, mum!”
The five finalist teams selected from the Care Innovation Challenge creative weekend spent the morning of 10th August presenting their ideas for innovation in social care to Alice Ainsworth Deputy Director Adult Social Care Technology Policy Team NHS Transformation Directorate at the Department of Health and Social Care s Victoria Street office Minister of State for Care and Mental Health Gillian Keegan said: We are investing £5 4 billion to reform social care and end unpredictable care costs so people can access affordable care when they need it at least £150 million from this will go to driving digital transformation in the sector “When technology is embedded seamlessly into care and support services it can be transformative enhancing the quality of care and helping people to live more independent, fulfilled lives That is why the innovative ideas generated by the contestants in the Care Innovation Challenge are vital in demonstrating the power of technology to transform the care system NHS Transformation Director Alice Ainsworth thanked the teams for all their efforts so far saying “All the ideas are viable solutions for reform We are looking forward to working with you to see how your innovations can improve the outputs for people needing social care Team Star are offering the idea of local re ablement and assessments with housing for people living with dementia Team CHIP s idea is a cashless solution for adults with learning disabilities to support independ ent living Team Myghty’s innovation is an app to foster employee recognition and team working to improve staff retention Team Care Tech Guide presented a well developed idea focused on accelerating digital transformation in care Team Fall Free s idea is a solution to prevent falls and fractures in older people
Mentors include representatives from Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) through their National Co produc tion Advisory Group (NCAG) ensuring that people with lived experience are an integral part of creating solutions and from the sponsors which include RWK Goodman, QCS, Person Centred Software, Marrgo Home Instead Hilton Nursing Partners Hallmark Foundation Greensleeves Care Care Matched Care Management Matters, Care Friends BRAN Investment, Borough Care and apetito Ideas Are So to Transform the Care System”
Important
The five finalist teams will be showcasing their ideas at The Care Show, the largest care event in the UK, on 12th 13th October at the Care Innovation Hub NEC in Birmingham The winning team will receive £1 000 in prize money media coverage and further mentoring to develop their idea
“A Good Wee Dram” the Secret to Long Life for Scotswoman
PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 Can't wait for the next edition? Read all the latest stories online at: www.TheCarerUK.com Sign up to get the latest stor ies and our WEEKLY DIGITAL EDITION delivered directly to your email at: www.thecareruk.com/signup
Professor Vic Rayner OBE CEO of the National Care Forum (NCF) who ran the Challenge said “It is great to see how the teams have all been developing their ideas since the weekend using their prize money and supported by our amazing mentors We have more support planned to help accel erate their ideas between now and the final at The Care Show including a number of webinars access to helpful resources and fur ther mentoring I can’t wait to see how the ideas continue to progress The teams and Vic then met Tom Parker, Deputy Director Health & Social Care at Public UK to explore how their ideas can be accel erated Tom said “You are the people who are key to create change in social care
says Minister
“Innovative
The findings of the survey present a stark and worrying picture of the sector: funding and workforce crisis is leading to a reduction in the amount of provision available whilst also driving high levels of concern over the future viability of services
Nearly half of providers say they have considered exiting the market in the past 12 months
Professor Martin Green Chief Executive of Care England says: “The report highlights the stark and worrying picture within the South East with concerning workforce trends and an increasingly bleak funding landscape increasing pressure on local providers Providers in the South East face particular pressures from the high costs of living and housing in the region, but the reality is that these are not issues isolated to the South East Care England would echo the recommendations of the report and call on Government to work at both a national and local level to ensure the future viability of the care sector
Care Englandhas today joined with the South East Social Care Alliance (SESCA) to express significant concern at the findings of a report on the stabili ty of the adult social care market Over the course of two months (May and June), SESCA invited providers across the South East to complete an online survey looking at key market stability drivers for the adult social care sector including workforce costs and income, future viability, and priorities moving forward
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Erica Lockhart Chair of The South East Social Care Alliance says: The results of this survey should be a major wake up call that action is needed now Care Associations across the South East are becoming increasingly concerned about the continuing plight of their members Concerns about their ability to continue operating and providing care are at very high levels and as it stands, no support is coming that must change ”
The report makes a series of concerning findings: Staff are leaving the sector faster than providers can replace them with 83% of providers finding it more diffi cult to replace staff than in the past 38% of those leaving their role are exiting the Adult Social Care sector Competition from other sectors / NHS & low morale are the driving forces
Rebecca Pritchard Chief Executive of Surrey Care Association says: “Our members tell us they are facing unprecedented pressures with many of them genuinely concerned about the sustainability of services Our members talk about the distress they feel when they can t deliver the care people need Many have seen staff leave for similar roles but better terms and conditions in the local authority or NHS or in local retail jobs We talk about integrated care systems but integration won’t work when there isn t equal pay for equal work We believe that social care should be seen as an investment in the lives and wellbeing of our communities and populations and that investment is needed urgently ”
The workforce crisis is leading to a reduction in the amount of care available in the South East Funding increases for Local Authority / NHS funded clients have not kept pace with actual cost increases 45% of providers in the South East have considered exiting the market
Martin Green continued: “Last week Care England called on the Government to curb the workforce crisis as our own analysis unveiled the extent to which the Covid 19 pandemic has exacerbated the reliance on agency staff reaching a point of unsustainability for the sector It is now incumbent upon those at the top to go beyond the devolu tion of responsibility to Local Authorities and seek to stabilise the sector with a strategy and funding pack age that goes beyond the £500m being generated via the Health and Social Care Levy ”
It is highly unusual for NHS leaders to comment on energy prices But such is the strength of concern that the NHS Confederation on behalf of NHS leaders across the country have penned a letter to the Chancellor calling for price rises to be limited and for targeted support for those individuals and families most in need Matthew Taylor chief executive of the NHS Confederation said: The country is facing a humanitarian crisis Many people could face the awful choice between skipping meals to heat their homes and having to live in in cold damp and very unpleasant conditions This in turn could lead to outbreaks of illness and sickness around the country and widen health inequalities worsen children’s life chances and leave an indelible scar on local communities
NHS Leaders Make ‘Unprecedented Move’ Urging Government to Act Now on Rising Energy Costs or Risk Public Health Emergency
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 11
A garden party organised by a Bognor Regis based care home had family members from four generations attending MHA Greenways organised the garden party for staff and residents and had plenty of activities and entertainment on the day
Joanne Mitchell activity coordinator said: “The garden party was very special, and we had a great turnout We had family members of the residents as well as staff coming in with their children which was great to see “The residents really enjoyed it and I think it was nice for them to con nect with people outside of the home
“The money raised will go towards the amenity fund for which we already have some ideas so the contribution from everyone is highly appreciated
“These outbreaks will strike just as the NHS is likely to experience the most difficult winter on record NHS leaders have made this unprecedented intervention as they know that fuel poverty will inevitably lead to significant extra demand on what are already very fragile services Health leaders are clear that unless urgent action is taken by the government this will cause a public health emergency ”
The weather was great and everyone really enjoyed themselves
Garden Party at Bognor Regis Based Care Home “Brings Four Generations Together”
There was a cake and tea sale as well as refreshments a raffle and a children s entertainer The home managed to raise £163 which will go towards the amenity fund to help the home organise activities such as day trips for residents
NHS leaders from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are warning of rising numbers of people falling sick and worsening health outcomes across the country unless the government takes urgent action to limit further energy price increases They fear a widening of health inequalities and worsening health outcomes for people living in communities with the highest levels of deprivation if individuals and families are driven further into poverty because of excessive energy costs
In the letter NHS leaders say that rapidly rising energy prices along side other cost of living pressures will leave individuals and families across the UK facing impossible choices, such as either heating their homes and reducing spending on food and other essentials They warn that if people are forced to live in cold homes and if they cannot afford nutritious food, then their health will quickly deteriorate They are very concerned that widespread fuel poverty will increase the already high number of annual deaths associated with cold homes estimated at around 10,000 a year
The NHS is already facing what many are predicting to be one of the toughest winters on record due to the high demand on health servic es combined with predicted high levels of flu, norovirus and potentially further Covid outbreaks NHS leaders warn that a failure to restrict energy price hikes will make the situation worse by increasing demand on already pressured health and social care services As well as lead ing to more sickness and illness they warn it will have a major impact on mental health and wellbeing and in social care NHS leaders want the government to set out a more targeted and detailed support package for those households who need it most in advance of the decision on the new energy price cap next week With bills expected to go up by 82%, they warn that the government s cur rent policy of providing £400 between April and October paid in monthly instalments will fall far short for those most in need even alongside the one off payments for recipients of Universal Credit, dis ability benefits and the winter fuel allowance
Beatrice Fraenkel chair of Mersey Care NHS Foundation trust said “There is a strong correlation between rising energy prices and the health and well being of the communities we serve and belong to In turn this has a significant bearing on the increased demands placed on our health services If people are unable to afford to adequately heat their homes or eat well they are increasingly likely to fall ill and require the care of the NHS which is already under significant pressure Whilst we as employ ers are doing all we can to mitigate against the situation this crisis is proving a real challenge for our staff personally and professionally Jeremy Vanes, chair of Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation trust said: The population my organisation provides mental health services for is amongst the least wealthy in the UK with over 45 per cent of people living within the lowest income bands We anticipate some will even struggle to keep their homes in the year ahead such is the affordability crisis Unquestionably this situation will have wide health effects, and further support should be well tar geted” Living in fuel poverty will mean a drastic uptick in respiratory condi tions, undernutrition and even hospital admissions in children
“Some families had their grandchildren and great grandchildren so the party managed to bring four generations together
Vulnerable older people living in cold conditions are also particularly at risk of heart attacks stroke and falls
“The children's show allowed the parents to chill out and have a bit of time for themselves and mingle with other parents
A decision on the energy price cap is expected on 26 August with the latest estimates suggesting that the cap could go as high as £4,200 by January NHS leaders predict that if households are not safeguarded from unaffordable energy price hikes it will fall to local NHS and social care services to pick up the pieces, with increased hospital admissions and demand on GP surgeries A&E departments ambulances care homes and other social care services
Waterproof infinitely mouldable vacuum posture cushions are attached to provide shaped support abduction and stabilisation exactly where needed head torso hips seat In this way, the carer’s hands are freed to safely concentrate on intimate care, whilst minimising risk from stretching and weight bearing over the bath
‘One in a Million’ Peggy Celebrates Her 100th Birthday at Oldbur y Grange Nursing Home
Under the Government s new legislation it stipulates that not only will food waste need to be presented separately for collection i e , not mixed with general or other wastes but that when it does leave the site, it should be sent for recycling or composting
Additionality with fewer waste collection vehicles needed this also carries with it vast environmental benefits, such as a reduction in trans port related carbon emissions As a result this helps to create a green er less polluted planet not only for present but future generations too If care homes want to go one step further and recycle their food waste on site dewatering or drying equipment can be used in conjunc tion with an on site in vessel composter too creating a resource that can be used in any gardens or growing plots
The way care homes in England deal with their food waste is set to change in 2023, under the new UK Environment Act legislation Here Huw Crampton sales manager at organic waste solutions firm Tidy Planet (https://tidyplanet co uk/), delves into what the new law means, how it will affect care homes, and how to be compli ant
For many care homes in England, the daily food waste that’s gener ated on site is often disposed of together with general waste or the material is sent to sewer by a a digestion, waste to water system, or traditional macerator
Hassle -and Stress- Free Bath Adaptations - Without Delay
Of course each individual care facility will have its own needs when it comes to selecting the most suitable solution, but it is important for all organisations to know the changes are coming alongside how to best prepare for them Ultimately England s care sector may not yet be ready for the new laws however yet is the key word here There is still time to evaluate existing practices and implement new methods that are compliant as well as support an improved level of environmental and financial sus tainability Care Homes Aware Of The Impending Food Waste Legislation?
Are England’s
AAT GB has developed a unique solution that can eliminate the need for that major adaptation of replacing the bath and all the cost, delay and disruption that entails It can be in place within 10 working days (subject to T&Cs) Aqua Liberty provides a safe, supportive pressure free option It forms perfectly and exactly round the bather to hold and support them safely There is no need for the carer to try and support them to suspend them safely during the execution of intimate hygiene care
Importantly, the Aqua Liberty system is easily removed from the bath to allow its use by everyone else in the household The cushions themselves can be removed from the base to provide correct postural support stabilisation and abduction wherever else required for daily life The Aqua Liberty system stows compactly away freeing up often restricted space in the bathroom for other users
Ultimately each care home will need to take a stance on the best solution for its own individual setting whether that’s dewatering or drying its food waste to reduce the volume and weight before it s col lected or even composting it on site WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS?
Oldbury Grange Nursing Home in Bridgnorth hosted a special 100th birthday celebration for resident Marjory Honick, known as Peggy, last weekend Friends and family of Peggy wanted to mark her 100th birthday with party to remember with 25 guests celebrating in a gazebo on the front lawn Peggy s birthday highlights included a surprise visit from her nieces Philippa and Pamela and being reunited with family mem bers who had travelled from Australia She was delighted to see them all Staff at Oldbury Grange Nursing Home say that Peggy is ‘one in a million and helped decorate the gazebo with rose gold 100th bal loons, banners, flowers and bottles of bubbly to celebrate with her friends Born in Smethwick and later living in Handsworth where she worked as a company secretary for the Medicines Evaluation Board and met husband Henry Victor Honick, who was on the Board of Directors Together they had four children Peggy has been at Oldbury Grange for three and a half years and enjoys completing crosswords and puzzles in her spare time Her tip for reaching 100 is to play by the rules always do the right thing by others and live life to the fullest”
Says Peter Wingrave AAT Director: Aqua Liberty is a game changer for supported bathing At a fraction of the cost and with none of the delay and disruption of replacing a standard bath for a specialist design Aqua Liberty provides a safe supported stable answer for client and carer alike ”
PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
The core Aqua Liberty system uses suction technology to firmly attach to ANY bath
FOOD WASTE DISPOSAL COMPLIANCE IS SET TO CHANGE FOR THE SECTOR
However as of 2023 these practices will no longer be permitted and this is something important the care sector needs to be aware of in order to prepare ahead of the deadline
Bath time it should be relaxing but if a client needs care support it is fraught with risk unless a major adaptation is undertaken
Lisa Bradley General Manager at Oldbury Grange said It was a pleasure to host Peggy’s 100th birthday party over the weekend, we certainly had the weather for it! Peggy is a wonderful lady and always shows compassion and consideration for others We were delighted to be able to share her celebrations alongside her friends and family ”
In essence this valuable product should not be destined for landfill where it omits harmful gases into the atmosphere instead it should be harnessed for its true resource potential That means if a care home s food waste disposal practice includes any of the non compliant methods it will need to seek out and imple ment an alternative process so that it avoids any penalties from the Government
Adds Jane Turton Mencap home manager: Aqua Liberty has been the ideal answer for us as a care team The resident who needs it is now relaxed in the bath It is quick and easy to fit and remove It stows away compactly too That is really helpful in a bathroom that is used by other people and already includes a raft of assistive equipment We still have room to move ” Find out more about Aqua Liberty and book your free no obligation assessment here: https://www aatgb com/aqua liberty/
There is no denying that the shift in how care homes approach their food waste management will present its challenges as is the case with all change However, there is a wealth of opportunities for the sec tor to take advantage of too For instance by decreasing the weight and volume of food waste via dewatering or drying methods this consequently lowers off site disposal costs helping to safeguard already stretched budgets from unexpected, inflated charges at the end of each month
to
The Alzheimer s Society has responded to news that the average waiting time from referral to dementia diagnosis has increased to 17 7 weeks
Behind these statistics are potentially thousands of people missing out on months and months of vital support and treatments that could relieve their symptoms and enable them to stay independent for longer
“These are the repercussions of dementia diagno sis services being chronically underfunded and overlooked with regional inequalities only getting worse We welcome the newly announced ‘national dementia mission on research which offers hope for the future The Government must also help people affected by dementia now by delivering £70m that will help clear backlogs improve waiting times and reduce local variations in diagnosis rates ”
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The memory assessment services audit also revealed a decrease in early stage drug prescrip tions in 2021, suggesting more people are receiving their diagnosis later and therefore missing early access to drug treatments to help relieve symp toms Dementia diagnosis rates have dropped across all three nations due to the pandemic and are stagnat ing at around 62% far below the national target of 66 7% Alzheimer s Society has been campaigning to return the rates back to pre pandemic levels
The National Audit of Memory Assessment Services in England and Wales conducted between January and August 2021 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and supported by Alzheimer’s Society has revealed the average waiting time from referral to dementia diagnosis has increased to 17 7 weeks up from 13 weeks in 2019; with waiting times across services nation wide ranging between 0 and 104 weeks (two years), compared to 3 and 34 in 2019 This contrasts starkly with the huge drop in the number of people waiting more than two years for routine procedures in England falling from 22 500 people at the start of 2022 to fewer than 2001
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 13 +44 (0) 1787 379160 info@thestairclimbingcompany.com www.thestairclimbingcompany.com
in
Face Up to a Two Year Wait for Diagnosis
The audit was published just days before the Government announced the launch of a new nation al dementia mission’ in honour of the late Dame Barbara Windsor that will include a further £95m for dementia research funding Dementia is the biggest killer in the UK and cur rently there are 900 000 people in the UK living with the condition set to rise to one million by 2025 James White, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns at Alzheimer s Society said: This audit paints a bleak picture for dementia diagnosis in large parts of the country On average there has been a 4 month increase in the wait for a diagnosis which means in some areas there are now people waiting up to two years to be diagnosed with dementia
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Tim Morris, Managing Director of communications provider, Cymphony (www cymphony co uk), believes that introducing communication technology to the business frontline could not only relieve carers of the additional pressure of their day to day job but significantly improve the experience of new customers and existing residents and their families Relieve the reception bottleneck Communication for care providers is vital Providing a consistent and personalised experience accompa nied by an accessible avenue for communication can make all the difference to your customers and their concerned family members Outsourcing your telephone answering service is the perfect way to do this
Why Care Providers Shouldn’t Shy Away From
Another benefit of a telephone answering service is that you only pay for the time you use so no sickness or absences to deal with This makes a 24/7 telephone answering service perfect for care businesses looking to provide a consistent service and reduce the workload on their already stretched team Capture more valuable job candidates
One of the residents John Reed went to the school and spoke about his time growing up and how school plays a very important part in your life Ann Callan activity coordinator said We did do something like this before but the response we have had from residents this time around has been phenomenal
“John told the children all about his time in school and explained in school you need to remember to work hard be kind and you will go far
Our team of Optometrists and Optical Assistants are a wonderful group of people dedicated to looking after the eye care needs of some of the most vulnerable and isolated individuals in society It’s not only the clinical training that enables them to gather the results they need but it’s their kindness patience, experience and skill that leaves patients with a smile Using objective assessment techniques which don’t rely on responses from the person being examined are a key part of providing eye care to those with communication or cognitive difficul ties and these techniques allow us to provide suitable spectacles and an assessment of the health of the eyes for everyone, regardless of their ability to communicate We provide training for our staff on dementia and how to successfully communicate with those living with cognitive impairment and we always take our lead from carers who know the individuals best
Q. How af fordable is this ser vice, par ticularly in the current cost of liv ing crisis? The main service we provide for care home residents is an NHS fund ed sight test free for those people over 60 or on state benefit who are unable to attend their opticians unaccompanied, due to their mental or physical health We carry a broad range of spectacle frames to suit most shapes styles sizes and budgets from £19 and we share the same pro motions and discounts that you see at Specsavers on the high street
Outsourcing your telephone answering service is also a cheaper alternative to hiring a full time member of administration staff By using a telephone answering service you can eliminate the worries of recruitment training, payroll and all the other costs associated with employing members of your head office team
Give customers instant connection through live chat Live chat is one of the most effective ways of streamlining customer communication It will not only improve your internal efficiency but also provide a better customer service experience for your customers Live chat can be a really useful tool for promptly addressing problems that a customer might be facingon the channel of their choice whether that be on your care app website or social media pages Customers and their families now expect instant responses, and care providers that fail to offer functionality conven ience and responsiveness will fall by the wayside Of course not all live chat services are created equal Unlike Cymphony s human led service many rely on impersonal AI (bots) often leading to infuriating loops of inappropriate or unhelpful responses When outsourcing your customer communications I recommend care providers find a communications provider that offers real human operators Due to the isolation and uncertainty caused by the pandemic, it has never been more important for care providers to be attentive to a customer s individual needs Using a person alised and human approach instead of AI systems provides this service especially when interacting with customers carers or family members A soft empathetic and most importantly human approach in the care sector is crucial when dealing with sensitive issues When outsourcing your customer communications ensure that the provider you choose will eliminate these frustrating and impersonal interactions by getting to understand your business not just regurgitating answers to your FAQs Outsourcing telephone answering or implementing live chat is yet another way to ensure your business delivers a consistent message to all your customers across all of your platforms
Missed calls and voicemail messages are never a positive experience Telephone answering service technology can help care companies eliminate this outcome without compromising on the personal touch
All the residents really enjoyed thinking about what to write and had some lovely messages for the pupils
Maintaining good vision is a key part of any person s quality of life, but perhaps more so for care home residents because they often have limited mobility and so most of their hobbies and pastimes will involve visual tasks Sight loss can be very isolating and for those already struggling with memory problems or dementia any confusion and disorientation is exacerbated by impaired vision This can lead to a loss of engagement in social activities and sometimes increased risk of falls Providing reg ular eye care can minimise or even eliminate these issues for people living in care homes allowing them to enjoy being able to do the things they want to do
Q In care homes some patients have more complex needs and may str uggle to communicate, including those who suf fer with dementia How do you deliver your eye health ser vices in these circumstances while also keeping the patient feeling comfor table?
Jason Scaife, Specsavers Home Visits director and optometrist, based in Cardiff speaks to The Carer about the services Specsavers can offer to care homes
Why Maintaining Good Vision and Eye Health is Important for Your Residents
A stretched workforce only has time to concentrate on the basics of its function For carers that means tending to residents with little to no extra to resource to give to new customers and concerned families For any business, offering the basics in customer service is not enough Care providers must find a way of giving good experience without adding to an already stretched workforce
“We are always looking for ways to get the residents involved in the local community and this was a great way for us to do this
Communication Technology During Difficult Staffing Times
As a sector dealing with over 120,000 unfilled vacancies1, ensuring that your recruitment process is engaging and easy for prospects to navigate is key By providing 24/7 access to your business you can keep candidates motivated and engaged This is a critical step to develop a sense of loyalty and connection with a soon to be employer This also tackles the problems associated with DBS checks which can take on aver age six weeks (but often much longer) by which time many successful recruits might have accepted anoth er role outside of the industry
Q We know hygiene and safety is a top priority, par ticularly since the pandemic What precautions do you take to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the patients you visit in care homes? We take our responsibility as healthcare professionals seriously and we are conscious that Optometrists have to get very close to patients when examining their eyes We continue to wear PPE we’re maintain ing Infection Prevention and Control measures and we still take a Lateral Flow Test before each care home visit Our Infection Prevention and Control policy is continually updated in line with guidance from the NHS and the College of Optometrists to ensure that we are always pro viding care in the safest and most appropriate way Care homes can be confident that we are still operating at a standard exceeding that rec ommended by the profession in order to protect them and their resi dents
See the advert on the facing page for details
Q. Why is it impor tant for care home residents to maintain good vision and eye health?
So regardless of your teams availability customers and their concerned family members have constant access to your business
PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
Care Home Sends Advice Cards to Local High School
A Cramlington based care home has been reconnecting with the community by sending advice messages to pupils at a local high school Residents at MHA Harwood Court wrote their advice messages on a piece of paper which were then sent to pupils in year 10 at Cramlington Learning Village
“The pupils were really engaged and asked John a lot of questions which he was more than happy to answer It was a very pleasant experience and one we hope to continue moving forward
“John really enjoyed speaking to the pupils and when we were about to leave, I could see a few tears
Q. Can you provide a bit of a sum mar y of the ser vices provided to care homes? At Specsavers Home Visits our aim is to improve the lives of those who can t leave home unaccompa nied through better sight and hear ing We serve many different types of care centre from community houses to residential homes, to dementia specialist nursing homes and everywhere in between We provide routine sight tests using equip ment similar to that in a high street store but specifically designed to be portable and for use in the home; we supply NHS and privately funded spectacles; we deliver and fit them in person and provide after care for all our spectacles We tailor our service to best suit each care home some prefer us to come and see two or three residents who are new to the home or have reported vision problems; others prefer us to come for a whole day and provide routine sight tests to every resident who would like one as long as they re due We will of course attend to see just one individual who is having problems When we supply glasses to care homes we engrave each frame with the patient’s name, which can really help busy care staff to know who the glasses belong to if they are left lying around the home
The home provides residential and residential dementia care and made sure they personally went to deliver the messages which were well received by pupils
More than 126 million COVID vaccines have been administered by NHS staff and volunteers since the first COIVD 19 jab was delivered outside of clinical trials to Maggie Keenan in Coventry in December 2020
PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
The JCVI and MHRA have stressed that the original vaccines also continue to provide great protection and people should come forward regardless of vaccine offered
Extensive planning for the rollout is already underway and local areas have already booked adult care home residents in for their vaccine to ensure they can get protected at the earliest opportunity As with previous campaigns, the oldest and most vulnerable will be called forward first, with people able to book in online or through 119 for as long as it has been three months since their last dose
Following the updated advice from the JCVI on Monday the NHS has now set out plans for the next phase of the COVID 19 vaccination programme the largest and fastest vaccine drive in health service his tory Set to start during the week of 5 September, NHS staff will begin vaccinating care home residents and people who are housebound The National Booking Service will also open that week ahead of the wider rollout due to start on the 12 September with the NHS inviting those who are most susceptible to serious illness from COVID 19 and those aged 75 and over to book an appointment from that week
The kindness room has already hosted a 1980s themed film week complete with popcorn and ice cream for the authentic cinematic experience The concept for the project came in 2019 when newly appointed manager Wan Nowakowski together with the ‘Friends of Deerswood’ community group decided it was time to come up with some creative ideas to help improve the environment for residents and their visiting loved ones Brian Baker, a volunteer and ‘Friends of Deerswood’ community group member who has been spear heading the project said: “At its core it’s about designing an environment that promotes Shaw healthcare’s key values; wellness happiness and kindness We focus on activities and pastimes to promote healthy minds, well being, creativity, and enjoyment
With retail most affected by inflation rates and consumers cutting back spending due to the cost of living prices Citation saw a huge rise of 426% of SMEs in this sector looking for help on how to go about making redundancies
One of these areas that businesses must look at before making any decisions is how much staff redun dancy will cost There are many factors to consider when costing this up, such as an individual employee s length of serv ice age and salary and this can lead to confusion amongst business owners To help employers make the best decision for their business, Citation has created a redundancy calculator to ensure firms have all the core information An employee would also be due notice pay which again could be a significant sum espe cially if they have longer service Gill McAteer director of employment law at Citation said: These are very challenging times for businesses with inflation of goods and services including the ener gy crisis and economic uncertainty causing worries for firms of all sizes but in particular SMEs Gill continued: Whilst some of these figures particularly in the care sector could be attributed to factors outside of the cost of living and inflation such as funding the pandemic and Brexit threatening business via bility, the current economic situation is accelerating business decisions on how they will cut costs ”
The NHS will become the first healthcare system in the world to use the next generation bivalent COVID vaccine when it kickstarts the autumn booster rollout in early September
The NHS will contact people when it is their turn to book in for the vaccine you do not need to contact the NHS
The NHS will continue to advise local sites to allow immunosuppressed patients to self declare and attend walk ins to make getting the extra protection as easy as possible
As inflation continues to surge and worries around an incoming recession grow, SMEs are starting to brace for widespread redundancies new research from Citation (www citation co uk) has found Despite it being a decision most employers don t take lightly the employment expert which specialises in SME advice saw a 184% increase from June to July* in the number of inbound queries from employers look ing for advice around redundancies
Last month alone, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found that more than a quarter (26%) of UK busi nesses cited “inflation of goods and services prices” as the main concern for their business and with infla tion likely to rise further this statistic is likely to move the same way
Crawley Care Home Unveils New ‘Kindness Room’ as Part of Project to Improve the Environment for Residents
Well over four in five eligible people received a spring booster earlier this year and the NHS urged those
Around 26 million people across England will be eligible for an autumn booster in line with guidance set out by the JCVI
NHS to Roll Out Variant Busting Booster Jab from September Ahead of Winter
Great care starts with thoughtful spaces filled with joy It s what the kindness room is all about “The kindness room marks the third innovate space following the cre ation of the wellness room an area for hairdressers pampering doctor and nurse visits, and the ‘happiness café’ which allows for coffee morn ings and celebrations
The NHS will offer people the new next generation bivalent vaccine where appropriate and subject to sufficient supply being made available to the NHS
When the time comes I would strongly encourage anyone who is invited to take up both an autumn booster and flu jab, to do so as quickly as possible it will give you maximum protection this winter”
As many as 3 000 sites are expected to be part of the rollout including GP practices and community phar macies, with new sites joining the programme all of the time
This was followed by the manufacturing sector at 165% and, surprisingly, the care sector at 168%
As financial pressures continue to build and more businesses look at the tough decisions they may be required to make to navigate the uncertain economic climate Citation is warning that firms need to consider all options before opting to make redundancies
Gill continued: Although it is not taken lightly by businesses as they look to build resilience redundancy is a common measure used Whilst it can be an effective way to cut costs there are other options out there that should be considered first ” “Not only do business leaders owe it to their workforce to look at all options before redundancy, it can often end up costing them more in redundancy packages than if they looked at other potential options such as a temporary change in working hours reduced hours or changes to terms and conditions Whilst worries around redundancy seem to be affecting all industries the employment experts have noticed higher rates in specific industries
Deerswood Lodge care home in Crawley has announced the introduc tion of a new ‘kindness room’, as part of a wider project to improve and enhance the environment and overall experience for residents and visi tors Residents at the Shaw healthcare run home in West Sussex have been making the most of the exciting new space which has been trans formed from an old smoking room since the middle of June It provides residents and their loved ones with a space to enjoy a myri ad of home entertainment and take part in talks and other social events They ll be able to watch televised sporting events and immerse them selves in the home cinema experience thanks to a brand new 85 inch television
Health and social care staff will also be eligible to get the autumn booster in line with JCVI guidance and in order to ensure NHS staff are protected all providers are being asked to ensure their staff are offered the autumn jab co administering with the flu jab where possible
people to get that dose before the end of July in order to ensure enough time had passed to optimise the protection an autumn booster would provide over winter
The NHS will also being rolling out the flu vaccine and encouraging eligible people to take up the offer from the first of the month where possible Eligible individuals may be offered the flu and COVID jab at the same time, with the doses approved to be co administered Local systems will roll the flu jab out in a way that works best for them
Councillor Amanda Jupp cabinet member for adults services said “The Kindness Room is an excellent innovation by the staff at Deerswood Lodge and it will undoubtedly add to the friendly environment whilst enabling residents to enjoy the connection of shared experiences in an enhanced and homely atmosphere ”
The autumn booster campaign is among a package of NHS measures to prepare for winter including ramping up bed capacity and increasing the number of 999 and NHS 111 staff to deal with any additional pressure
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said “The NHS was the first healthcare system in the world to deliver a COIVD 19 vaccine outside of clinical tri als and will now be the first to deliver the new variant busting vaccine when the rollout begins at the start of September Our fantastic NHS staff have worked incredibly hard to deliver 126 million doses to date and behind the scenes they have once again been preparing to deliver the latest phase with the same speed and precision as we have had throughout the rollout
The fourth and final area in Deerswood’s transformational journey is being marked by the rewilding project The outside space will take shape over the coming year and will include the planting of a small orchard a vegetable patch and sensory trail It will also provide opportunities for schools and local community groups to explore and enjoy Deerswood Lodge is a modern care facility made up of nine self contained living units that opened in 2006 It caters for a wide range of care purposes including dementia care respite and residential care as well as specialising in physical disabilities and sensory impairments
Perfect Storm Could Lead to Care Sector Redundancies – Employment Expert Warns
We were also treated to an amazing feast by our fantastic kitchen team, with chef Caroline even com ing in on her day off to provide an amazing buffet complete with dessert counter and refreshments throughout the day This was a truly special day where residents and their loved ones were able to spend time taking part in activities like boules raffles and our Guess the Number of Coffee Beans in a jar game! We were lucky enough to be donated a number of prizes for our raffle by local businesses and would like to extend our gratitude to each and every person who donated a prize All proceeds from this event will be going to the Priscilla Bacon Trust to support them in building a state of the art hospice for people throughout Norfolk living with Cancer We wanted to also thank our amazing team at Chiswick House who went above and beyond to ensure that this event was an unforgettable experience for our residents you always go the extra mile and we appreciate everything you do
We also know that older people are particularly vulnerable to loneli ness and social isolation As people age they might leave the workplace, become less active or mobile live further away from their relatives and family and friends might pass away In fact, according to Age UK, around 2 million people over the age of 75 live alone and around 1 4 million peo ple say they are often lonely This was also hugely compounded by the pandemic with many older people forced to isolate because of the increased risks to their health
Staff were excited to surprise the George V dementia unit who had recent ly voted to get a pet in a poll The residents were shown pictures of a cat, a rabbit and fish and chose the former overwhelmingly Dodger comes from a litter of three and her siblings are in popular demand
Proving that love is love at any age, over the weekend (Saturday 13th August) a group of residents from dementia specialist Belong Atherton, flew their flag at Wigan Pride championing their support of older people in the LGBT+ community in the town s annual parade
Beechwood Care Home in Wishaw has an energetic new occupant Little kitten Dodger arrived on International Cat Day and has made an immediate impression on smitten residents
Loneliness is now thought to present as great a risk to our health as obesity or smoking, with social isolation being linked by research to seri ous medical conditions such as high blood pressure heart disease a weakened immune system anxiety depression cognitive decline and Alzheimer s disease
Staff regularly seek out opportunities to ensure residents keep their minds and bodies active including a weekly activities programme Sandy Dickson, resident at the dementia unit said: I named her Dodger because despite dashing about she always avoids everything I adore having her in the home, she’s given me one of her nine lives Catherine Togneri, Service Manager at Beechwood Care Home said: Dodger has been the perfect addition to the dementia unit all our resi dents and staff have fallen in love with her We can t wait for her to grow up alongside us ”
Those of us who work with older people have been aware of this issue for many years but due to changing societal structures and increasing public sector budgetary restraints, proposed solutions have often been forced to take a back seat However, the adversity of the pandemic has also bred innovation, and a number of new digital platforms are now being set up to combat loneliness among older people While many people become less physical ly active as they age and illness or disability might constrain people s mobility that doesn t mean they have less desire to be socially active or enthusiastic about joining activities
We are overjoyed to be able to share the amazing time residents of Chiswick House Care Home had cele brating their 2022 Summer Garden party with loved ones and we were delighted to raise a grand total of £215 67 for the Priscilla Bacon Trust Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic we ve seen the impact of lockdown and isolation period on our res idents staff and residents loved ones Whilst we ve done everything we can do to keep families up to date throughout the last two years it was never going to be the same as regular indoor visits Which is why we are incredibly proud to share the news that Chiswick House have had their first friends and family event bringing together residents their loved ones and the families of residents who passed on across the last two years This was a wonderful opportunity for our residents to spend quality time with their friends and family, whilst enjoying top class entertainment from our wonderful performers Trev Budgie Walton and his part ner Karen who perform as the wonderful group Trevanion
The Belong Atherton party marched side by side with the community sporting their vibrant outfits whilst spreading joy and happiness for what has now become an annual tradition for residents In preparation for the event, the village’s popular weekly creative crafts afternoon open to local people saw participants design the brightly coloured banners which were showcased for the occasion, meaning that those who couldn t attend such as for health reasons were still represented
Belong Atherton Celebrates Fifty Years of Pride
Combatting Loneliness In The Elderly With Digital Connection
It shouldn’t be that once we reach a certain age our interests and social life dramatically stop We should be using all the tools at our disposal to combat loneliness among the elderly and digital tools are an impor tant part of that work
The loneliness epidemic can be ignored no longer and digital platforms provide an opportunity for con nection and engagement which can have an invaluable impact on someone s life The key advantage of platforms like these for older people, particularly those with mobility issues, is the ease of access You can join a class community or event from the comfort of your own home We ve seen the success of online communities and forums like Silversurfers or Gransnet and at ProMedica24 we work with the digital events platform Mirthy Older people are adopting tech rapidly, closing the gap with younger generations who had previously been much more advanced in terms of their digital understanding and usage However there are still mil lions of people over the age of 55 who are not online and we must work to make sure they are not being excluded digitally For those of us in the caring community our role is to support people to set up and use these platforms We must provide access to the technology they need like fast Wi Fi or dongles, and help ing them reach other individuals who share their likes and interests
Chiswick House Care Home Celebrate VIP Summer Garden Party Raising Over £200 For Priscilla Bacon Trust
Cheeky Girls Kim Calland added: We all had a wonderful time celebrating Wigan Pride again this year; it was fantastic to see so many people from different backgrounds come together Inclusivity diversity and individuality are very important to us at Belong and this was a perfect opportunity to celebrate our values with the Wigan LGBT+ community ”
Dementia Unit Residents Treasure Their New Lodger, Dodger
Other residents have been casting an envious eye towards the dementia unit and the home may soon be overrun with kittens Beechwood is part of the Holmes Care group which operates homes across Scotland
By Grzegorz Wrzosek, Country Manager for Promedica24 (https://promedica24 co uk/)
Customers and support workers from the Mealhouse Lane care vil lage celebrated this year’s sunshine energy and vitality theme at the event which also coincides with fifty years since the UK s first Pride hosted in London in 1972 Kim Calland experience coordinator at Belong Atherton said: This year’s Pride is especially important as our customers have lived through decades of law changes evolving attitudes and eventually acceptance of LGBT+ people in society They wanted to attend the event and be part of it so we ve made that happen for them
The highlights of the afternoon ranged from parade celebrations meeting and mingling with Wiganers drag artists council and emergency services representatives, as well as singing and dancing to live music including a special performance from 2000s pop duo
Many leaders in social care already use technology to assist clients, from watches which can monitor falls to medication management products Supporting emotional and social wellbeing is as important and the care industry must invest in this area to enable the older people we work with to continue living life to the fullest
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See www zupa com for further information
Visit https://patientsafetycongress co uk/programme 2022 for more information about the 120+ speakers and 40+ sessions across 10 streams in the programme and click here to sign up to attend
PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
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
Two Thirds of UK Care Home Staff Admit Resident Quality of Care and Nutritional Needs are Being Overlooked Due to Outdated Procedures
The 2 day annual meeting provides a welcome opportunity to demonstrate best practice innovation and renewed efforts to drive forward the nationwide commitment of putting safety and quality at the heart of patient care Around 1 000 delegates from across the sec tor are expected to attend The Congress also coincides with the much anticipated appoint ment of the first Patient Safety Commissioner for England (September 2022) as well as over 700 new Patient Safety Specialist roles across the country
And Dr Henrietta Hughes OBE newly appointed as the first Patient Safety Commissioner will reveal her immediate priorities for the new role
Speaking to the HSJ earlier this month, Dr Hughes, commented; “I was really keen to see what we could do to actually put the patient voice at the absolute heart of how we make decisions in healthcare how we design healthcare but also how we listen to people when things go wrong Others due to speak include former Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Ted Baker; NHSE Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for Improvement Professor Charlotte McArdle; and Health Foundation Chief Executive,
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 pro fessionals said there is nothing that worries them in the day to day run ning 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, sug gesting 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 pro fessionals said they would be keen to spend more time on individual care planning Ollie Brand CEO at Zupa explained: Caring for the vulnera ble and elderly is time consuming and demanding It requires special ist skills and knowledge This study highlights that care home staff are having to deal with multiple chal lenges 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
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 work ers attribute the high turnover of staff in the care industry to low levels of pay
As part of the line up of key speakers Commons Health & Social Care committee Chair Jeremy Hunt former Secretary of State turned patient safety campaigner will share his views on how reducing avoidable deaths can be done while saving money reducing backlogs and improving working conditions National Director of Patient Safety Dr Aidan Fowler will provide a long awaited update on the NHS Patient Safety Strategy three years after its launch looking at progress and new priorities through the pandemic period
Jennifer Dixon
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
A new independent survey commissioned by eProcurement technolo gy 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
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 ”
Former Health Secretar y Joins Impressive Line-Up of Speakers at the HSJ Patient Safety Congress, Next Month
Residents and guests at Chorleywood Beaumont care home in Chorleywood enjoyed a performance from Albert s Band the Royal Albert Hall s resident engagement ensemble Albert’s Band performed medleys from their “Songbook Tour” and told tales about The Royal Albert Hall and some of the famous singers who had entertained there over the years Their Songbook included songs by Fred Astaire The Beetles Shirley Bassey and Ella Fitzgerald Local nurse and Chorleywood resident Adeyinka Aroyyewun nominated Chorleywood Beaumont to receive a visit from Albert s Band as part of their com munity outreach project Adeyinka and her neighbour Lilian attended the event and joined in the singing and clapped along as the band performed their finale song We ll meet again by Vera Lynn General Manager Ramona Stanciu said “Our residents and guests had a wonderful day singing along with the wonderful performers We are very grateful to Adeyinka for the nomination We do our best to provide a wide range of activities and entertainment at Chorleywood Beaumont as part of the lifestyle enrichment programme for residents and this was one of our favourites!”
As reported in the HSJ (29 07 22), organisers of the HSJ Patient Safety Congress are pleased to confirm that three of the UK s most influential figures in the field will be speaking at the event which is taking place on 15 16 September in Manchester Central The Congress is the only event of its kind which brings together stakeholders from across the health and care spectrum to debate the most critical patient safety issues sharing practical solutions to enable progress, in line with the national Patient Safety Strategy
The programme includes: pioneering case studies; platforms to exchange ideas with peers to find ways to best support staff welfare including the implications and impact of long covid on patient safety; exploring the opportunities of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs); updates and insights from the Patient Safety Commissioner as well as first hand reflections from Patient Safety Specialists And new for 2022 delegates will also be able to join sessions look ing at specific safety concerns in high priority service areas such as women’s healthcare digital health and care & safety in non acute set tings as well as ‘hands on demonstrations such as CPR training in the exhibition hall Shaun Lintern Sunday Times Health Editor who will once again be chairing the event comments; We have to be realistic that the NHS has faced some huge challenges over the last two years and there fore, a real aim of the Congress is to present a programme which brings together speakers and experts from right across the health sys tem as well external contributors who will look at some of the big issues engaging with our audience and suggesting positive ways for ward “Everybody has a role in patient safety whatever their position or level within their organisation and this Congress really is for every body ”
96 year old Maisie Riley resident at Chorleywood Beaumont said I love music and I love to dance The band played some of my favourite songs The classics never go out of style!
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 run ning out of supplies as a growing concern
The Royal Albert Hall Visits Local Care Home for Musical Extravaganza
DESPITE its reputation for being a condition that cannot be cared for in a supported living setting, National Care Group has successfully empowered Jideofo Onono an individual born with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS), to live a full and happy life losing more than eight stone in bodyweight PWS is an incredibly rare medical condition affecting around one in 15 000 children in the UK which causes a wide range of physical symptoms as well as learning difficulties and behavioural challenges Many people born with the con dition are institutionalised due to the challenges it presents the most prevalent being insatiable hunger which often causes extreme weight gain In the case of Jideofo, the condition led him to consume inedible items However, since moving to Chosen Care in Gloucestershire part of leading provider of support services for vulnerable adults National Care Group colleagues have supported him in leading an active life to help achieve his results through diet exercise and 24 hour care Kathy Howitt registered manager at Chosen Care said: We re incredibly proud of Jideofo and his remarkable journey When he joined us, he was extremely overweight, due to his condition, and would con sume items such as shampoo as he wasn t able to control his hunger Our team has worked with Jideofo s doctors and dieticians to implement a structure that has brought his weight down to 146kg with activities like cycling gym visits and long walks “Through harnessing Jideofo’s potential we have seen the most significant changes in his quality of life and have helped him to achieve his personal goals From going swimming at the local leisure centre to embarking on days out to Bristol and getting his first tattoo Jideofo now has the tools and support to fully enjoy life as part of the community ”
Person centred care is the ‘buzz’ word of the social and care sectors Everyone knows about it; every one supports it, and apparently everyone does it But if that’s the case then why is it not the everyday lived experience in our care culture? MCM recognises that individual well being is not an ‘individual’ matter Our relationships with the peo ple places and things that have shaped our life journey make us who we are and sustain our sense of per sonhood Engaging in moments experiences and activities that resonate with who we are and meet our needs for love attachment belonging agency occupation comfort and attachment makes life meaning ful Individual ill being occurs when these relationships are undermined and life lacks meaning and pur pose when such connections are absent in our daily lives Meaningful relationships make us feel secure free and able and help us to feel at home in ourselves Having a diagnosis disease cognitive or physical impairments does not take these feelings away from us it just makes these relationships matter even more Nurturing these person centred relationships is there fore key to sustaining individual well being and developing an emotionally resilient culture of care Collaboratively; we can achieve improved care cultures which are meaningful without compromising compliance and best practice A culture where people are Free to be Me Do you dare to be different? We do www meaningfulcarematters com Email : admin@meaningfulcarematters com Phone: 01273 242 335 See the advert below for further details
challenge presented by living with others as food con sumption is more difficult to monitor However to com bat this colleagues at Chosen Care successfully identified and introduced another person they support as a housemate to Jideofo which has been a great success Kathy added: “Encouraging Jideofo and every person we support to engage with others is hugely important and being able to live with a housemate marks a great step in Jideofo’s progression Having lost so much weight he is now waiting for an operation to remove his excess skin through the NHS Once the procedure is complete his next ambitions are to ride a horse and take a holiday to France; aims that our team will support him with every step of the way James Allen chief executive of National Care Group said: “Our colleagues always go the extra mile for the people we support and Jideofo s incredible success is the perfect example of this, as well as our progression model of care Within the adult social care sector it s often suggested that the needs of individuals living with PWS cannot be met within supported living settings however as we have proven with Jideofo that is simply not the case I hope this serves as an example to other support providers of how individuals with a range of complex needs can be given the support they require to unlock their full potential with the right approach and team, and we can t wait to see Jideofo continue to thrive
One of the reasons many individuals living with Prader Willi Syndrome face being institutionalised is the
Adult Social Care Provider Goes Above And Beyond In Support Of Prader Willi Syndrome
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 21
Dare to be Different
RAF Officers Join Royal Star & Garter
The three course meal was attended by officers from the Army and RAF and Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) from the Defence School of Healthcare Education at Birmingham City University Military Student Nurses from both the Princess Mary s Royal Air Force Nursing Service and the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps also attended the event which took place on Tuesday 16 August The guest of honour was Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Commanding Officer of the Defence School of Health Care Education
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 person alised approach to embedding music in health and social care and the Vera App helps carers to do that ”
As an exclusive launch partner UMG brings a diverse and comprehen sive 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 cross sec tor Music for Dementia campaign welcoming the launch to help improve the lives of people impacted by dementia
The event was open to all residents at the Home Guests and staff dressed in black tie or uniform and residents were also given the option to do the same The Home was decorated in the red, white and blue colours of the RAF Residents and guests were entertained by the Boogaloo Girls singers and enjoyed a champagne and Bucks Fizz reception A re enactment historian was also present with WWII clothing and artillery from both World Wars Student nurses helped the Home’s catering staff serve lunch which concluded with the traditional loyal toast with port Home Manager Jamie Stubbs said: “It was amazing to capture the essence of this important RAF tradi tion at our Home To many of our veteran residents maintaining a link to the military is hugely important in supporting their sense of personal history self esteem and wellbeing I’d also like to thank all our guests for making this such a special and memorable afternoon for the resi dents and staff, especially the student nurses who volunteered to help serve lunch Peter, an RAF veteran and resident at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull said: “It was a very special afternoon I really enjoyed it It was great to have lunch with military personnel who looked very smart in their uni forms I hope we have more of these military events in the future
The power of personalised music to affect a significant improvement in cognitive function for people in dementia care is evidenced by interna tional 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 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 liv ing with dementia Listening to personally significant music all the note worthy 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 con firms 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 tem porarily 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 for gotten about which their carers may have never heard of and their fami lies may not even know ” Vera is a product of Australian collabora tive 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 Michael Nash, UMG s Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy says, “From rig orous workouts to peaceful meditation to restorative sleep cycles, music is deeply integrated into numerous innovations pro moting 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 organisa tion 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
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
“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 experi ence 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 com pany 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 com munity 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
PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
Apple’s AppStore Deploying the World’s Largest Music Catalogue from Universal Music Group
Veterans at Battle of Britain Dining In Event
Vera announces strategic collaboration with Universal Music Group, allowing its users therapeutic access to the world’s largest music catalogue
The Battle of Britain Dining In evening is one of the key dates in the RAF calendar, and is marked at bases throughout the country It is a celebration of the Royal Air Force s history and also commemorates the Battle of Britain which took place in the skies over this country in 1940 Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia It also has Homes in Surbiton and High Wycombe
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
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 enter tainment company to develop personalised music stations specifically designed to improve the lives of people living with dementia every day
The lunch at Royal Star & Garter took place ahead of Battle of Britain Day on 15 September
Dementia Management Tool ‘Vera’ Launches on
Royal Star & Garter has hosted a Battle of Britain lunch event for res idents at its Solihull Home
The Seize the Day initiative encourages residents to re experience activities or events from the past or to do something they would like to do for the first time
Adele Querelle Head of Engagement at Foxholes Care Home commented “Partnering with activity providers like Hitchin Lavender fields is an integral part of our diverse care offering
Residents at a Hertfordshire care home recently enjoyed a ‘magical’ trip to the famous Hitchin Lavender fields to help promote mental and physical wellbeing by stimulating the senses Attended by 10 residents and four staff members from Foxholes Care Home, near Hitchin the day out was hailed a great success as residents experienced the powerful sensory aspects of the lavender fields including the smell, touch, and sight of the plants Since its official opening in 2012 the 30 acre field has become the UK’s largest pick your own lavender farm being regularly visited by photographers Instagrammers locals and more As Foxholes’ residents strolled through the fields they were reminded of iconic film scenes with many reminiscing about their childhoods while others opted to pluck some lavender to create mini bunches for family members
After the success of the trip Foxholes is determined to ensure a further collec tion of enjoyable days out are in the pipeline, with future events set to incorporate the local Hitchin community Neil Gandecha Estate Manager at Foxholes added: “Following the success of our recent ‘Foxcubs’ initiative we ve already reached out to local mothers in an effort to schedule more sessions with talks of a future mother/baby exercise group in the works too ” We d also love to continue developing our Gentlemen s Lunch Club with plans to take the club on the road and have days out on walks or the golf range If the demand is there we ll aspire to fulfil that and much more the possibilities are endless ”
Designated Member Sian Gwenllian said: I believe that eliminating profit from the care of looked after children and young people is vital to driving
forward improvements in the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens Working with Welsh Government Plaid Cymru looks forward to seeing a new framework in place which will remove profit from the care of children looked after, as part of our belief that reversing outsourcing in the public sector should be supported where possible Other areas being consulted on include:
Chief Social Care Officer for Wales, Albert Heaney said: We want to listen to the voices of those using social care services in Wales so we can shape legislation and services around their care and support needs The responses to this consultation will help us strengthen care and support ensuring the voice of our citizens care experienced young people and their carers is heard
Julie Morgan has launched a consultation on improving the experiences for many people using health and social care services
The consultation will seek responses on pro posed legislation to support the commitment to eliminate profit from the care of children looked after This is a key element of the Co operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru The initial focus of the proposals is on the private provision of residential care for children, alongside independent sector foster care The Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru share a vision for the future care of children in Wales to be provided by public sector charitable or not for profit organisations and for public money invested in the care of children looked after to be spent wholly on services that deliver better experiences and outcomes
Proposals to extend the definition of a ‘social care worker’ to include all childcare and play workers, to rein force Social Care Wales support for the sector
The consultation will run until the 7th November 2022
Consultation on Improving Social Care Ser vices
Deputy Minister for Social Services
Two residents at a Knutsford based care home managed to relive moments from the past thanks to an initiative run by the home John Chrimes and Tina Challis live at MHA The Willows and are keen bike enthusiasts with both having owned and been around bikes during their younger days
Care Home Takes Residents to Famous Lavender Fields to Stimulate the Senses and Boost Wellbeing Residents at Care Home Fulfil Dream of RevvingMotorbike Again as Part of Seize the Day Initiative
Launched
• Enabling access to Direct Payments for adults eligible for Continuing NHS Healthcare to allow them to decide how when and by whom their care needs are met
• Considerations of whether the duties to report children and adults at risk of harm abuse or neglect should be expanded to apply directly to individuals within relevant bodies
“By working together we can improve our health and social care system for everyone now and in the future and better support people to maintain their independence
Amanda Drayton activity coordinator at the home is a member of the Bikers Church and arranged for two members of the group Michael Davies along with her son Daniel Drayton to visit the home with their motorbikes Amanda said I am a biker myself and once I started talking to both John and Tina about bikes I realised we had similar interests “I asked them if they would like me to invite the Bikers Church to the home and show them their bikes and they were both very happy for me to do so “They really enjoyed the day, there was a lot of biker banter and they both had a massive smile on their face “They both said to me they never thought they would get a chance to do this once they moved into a home so I am very happy for them both John loves the mechanical side of bikes and was talking to both Michael and Daniel about the engines and how the bikes have changed from when he had one Things like revving the engines taking in the distinctive engine smells and sounds was a common theme of the day and there were plenty of smiles from both “I am hoping to arrange something like this again and ask other residents what they want to do Both Michael and Daniel had a lot of fun it was nice of them to come down and they definitely made John and Tina very happy ”
The traditional English feel of the trip was so inviting and provided a perfect opportunity for our residents to get out and immerse themselves in the British sunshine Seeing the smiles on residents’ faces highlights just how important it is to keep them engaged with stimulating activities For some time now the Hitchin Lavender fields have been high on our list of best things to do in Hertfordshire this summer and we were delighted with the overall experience we got on the day! 91 year old resident, Una Bracey, said: I thought the trip was a magical experience and a fantastic day out for everyone involved It was a pleasure to enjoy the day out with so many fellow green fingered enthusiasts The flowers were beautiful the food was excellent and the company was even better I can t wait for our next visit it was definitely an experience worth losing a wheel on my wheelchair!”
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 23
Changes to improve how Social Care Wales supports and regulates the social care workforce and how Care Inspectorate Wales regulates and inspects services Ms Morgan continued: I am determined that we continue to improve the quality of experience for everyone who uses our social care services This consultation sets out how our proposals will help us to deliver our wider vision for the care and support available to families children and young people And will further strengthen the voice and control of disabled and seriously ill adults and their carers better supporting people to maintain their inde pendence I look forward to engaging with all those who have an interest in continuing to improve our health and social care system
Dressed in a black and white polka dot dress one resident was so caught up in the excitement of pruning the lavender and enjoying the scents and smells that she even lost one of the wheels to her wheelchair an experience she recalls as being totally worth it as she got into the spirit of attempting to capture the per fect Insta worthy image
Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said: Our ambition is to redesign how we look after children and young people and eliminating private profit from the care of children is a key component of this Children are at the heart of everything we do and they have told us that they do not want to be cared for by privately owned organisations that make a profit from their experience of being in care Profits should not be made from caring for children facing challenges in their lives Plaid Cymru
• Locate the soiled utility room close to point of care to avoid long transport routes
HARD PRESSED care staff at a Yorkshire care provider are getting a helping hand to cope with the ongoing cost of living crisis
One Stop Company Director Dan Wilson said: One Stop is delighted to partner with Saint Cecilia s Care Group on this discount scheme When local businesses work together everyone benefits and we are very proud to be supporting the care group s staff and helping them to cope with the rising cost of living
Clean hands on clean goods should be the dominant rule for all working procedures
Infections Program Ava lable at www ahrq gov/ha / ndex html accessed June 2022 i European Centre for D sease Prevent on and Control 2018 Healthcare associated infections Clostr d um diff c le nfections ECDC Annual epidem o og cal report for 2016 https //www
Good ventilation is required to keep the room cool and dry and to help remove odours
Caregivers can be exposed to splashes and aerosolsiv during manual cleaning of bedpans and urine bot tles or when emptying waste, which can lead to caregiver illness or cross infection with residents For this reason having an efficiently designed sluice room flusher disinfector and an efficient waste management process are key to minimise the risk of cross infection
i Ahrq gov 2021 AHRQ s Healthcare Assoc
THE PLANNING OF A SLUICE ROOM
As part of this attend training forum and based on The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) s version of Ready Steady Cook Vs Saturday Morning Kitchen chefs from the NACC will focus on creating a selection of mood enhancing ‘plant based’ recipes that will be accompanied by a range of delicious gluten free dishes
Floors and walls should be made of a water resistant material along with surfaces which are easy to clean and disinfect
OF COURSE WE CAN T FORGET MC NIGEL BARDEN Nigel Barden is a food and drink broadcaster who works on the Simon Mayo Drivetime Show on Greatest Hits Radio and previously on Scala Radio He was also on air with Simon and Chris Evans on their Sony Gold award winning BBC Radio 2 shows for 12 years and he’s worked with Robert Elms on BBC Radio London for 25 years He specialises in promoting British ingredients and artisan producers par ticularly in his role as chairman of judges for The Great Taste Awards, Farm Shop & Deli Awards World Cheese Awards British Cookery School Awards Deliciously Yorkshire and host of the National Fish & Chip and Ice Cream Alliance Awards Nigel hosts the Chef Demo Stages at Tom Kerridge s Pub in the Park’ festivals in Marlow Bath Leeds Knutsford Chiswick Warwick Tunbridge Wells & St Albans Carer Acts to Help Staff Fight Cost-of-Living Crisis
COLIN WHEELER JAMES Culinary Director, Ground Up Cookery School European Development Chef IMCD Over 30 years as a professional chef has seen Colin work in a variety of dif ferent roles from charter yachts and boutique hotels to leading contract catering companies before moving into manufacturing for a leading distributor in the food industry Having grown up on a small island in the Inner Hebrides Colin has always been surrounded by the finest seasonal and foraged ingredients compelled to make the most of them
As one of the most common sources of pre ventable harm healthcare associated infections are among the leading threats to resident safety and are common costly and often fatal Good infection prevention practices are vital to keeping residents and healthcare staff safe So choosing the right equipment for human waste disposal processes is essential to min imise the transmission of preventable infections
It has already increased pay for its 200+ staff in recent months and now pays above the Real Living Wage which is above the Government pre scribed National Living Wage But Mr Padgham said he would like to pay staff more but needs the Government to fund social care better We are doing what we can and with initiatives like the One Stop dis count card we are trying to help,” he said We regularly provide bonuses when we can and staff gifts like ham pers, especially during the pandemic But care providers operate on very tight margins and in our case we rely very much on the price local authorities pay us to provide people with care Due to government funding cuts the price that local authorities pay has been squeezed and squeezed in recent years leaving all care providers like us unable to recognise and reward our amazing staff as well as we would like to “That is why we continue to campaign for the Government to fund social care properly so that we can all pay our staff better
Eliminating the need for manual cleaning flusher disinfectors effectively empty clean and disinfect receptacles such as bedpans urinals and commode chair pans
The NACC Friday Morning Kitchen Is Back!
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Planning the workspace is crucial when designing a sluice room, it should be equipped with a collection point for soiled goods a hand washbasin, a flusher disinfector, and storage for clean goods These are the four cornerstones to maintain good infection control routines
BOOK YOUR PLACE ONLINE HERE THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO PICK UP SOME TOP TIPS, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ON ESSENTIAL INGREDI ENTS AND THE BEST WAY TO INCORPORATE THESE INTO YOUR MENUS DOWNLOAD THE DELEGATE BROCHURE HERE Please return your completed booking form to info@thenacc co uk
Automated operation features such as infra red door operation (as shown in Figure 1), to avoid contaminating the device exterior, can help to reduce the risk of cross contamination while delivering highly effective cleaning and disinfection results A well planned sluice room along with a good hand hygiene programme, are both key to an effective infec tion control program
the Ar o Typhoon™ flusher d s nfector PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 Efficiencies
must
The Scarborough based Saint Cecilia s Care Group has joined forces with a local supermarket chain to introduce a discount card for its 200+ workforce The care group’s owner says he is doing all he can to support staff but the Government needs to help social care When staff join the company they will receive £250 worth of One Stop vouchers whilst existing staff are to receive £100 worth Then they will all be able to use a discount card to get 10% off in any of the One Stop chain of 17 shops
Saint Cecilia s Managing Director Mike Padgham said: With the cost of living crisis these are difficult times and we wanted to do what we can to help our staff “We are really pleased to be joining up with One Stop to launch this immediate bonus followed by the discount card
It is wonderful to have two local businesses supporting each other to get through challenging times ”
The hand washbasin should be placed close to the entrance and equipped with d spensers for soap and d s n fectant disposable paper towels and a waste paper bin The mixer tap should be easily operated touch free or w th an arm / elbow Plan for sufficient power supply hot and cold water inlets and su table drainage for the flusher disinfector s nk and slop hopper (optional)
LOUISE WAGSTAFFE Director, Delicious by Design Louise is a culinary entrepreneur and experienced chef with over three decades of experience of the food industry She is currently Chef Director at Delicious By Design established in 2009 She works with major manufacturers to support schools and Healthcare In 2021, the Craft Guild of Chefs named Louise as one of 44 Culinary Heroes for her extraordinary work during the Covid pandemic Louise graduated from University College Birmingham in 1992 with the award as top stu dent of the year She lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and two children
Minimising caregiver exposure to human waste during its disposal in the sluice room is fundamental
In the sluice room some additional considerations are as follows:
Saint Cecilia’s has a nursing home, two care homes and a day care cen tre in Scarborough a nursing home in Whitby and a care home in Pickering
for care caterers
References ated ecdc europa eu/s tes/default/fi es/documents/AER for 2016 C diff c le 0 pdf accessed June 2022 i Arjo Cl n cal Wh tepaper Flusher D sinfectors Reduc ng the risk of cross contam nation 2019 iv Knippenberg Gordebeke G 2012 Bedpans and healthcare associated infect ons Hospital Hea thcare Europe Hosp ta Hea thcare Europe https://www hosp ta healthcare com/news/bedpans and healthcare assoc ated nfect ons/ accessed June 2022 Figure 1 © 2022 Ar o show ng in Sluice Room Design
The product was introduced to the microbiologist and Director Infection Prevention & Control (DIPC) our Facilities management team and Health and Safety advisor The process of using the product needed to meet the needs of facilities and Health and Safety and the approval of the DIPC that the product had a successful kill rate to reduce HCAIs DBTH did plate assays to ensure its efficacy and when satisfied, trialled Peracide™ on two wards to test its efficacy and ease in use
Tips
INTRODUCTION
Carol Scholey (RGN, BSc (hons)) Liam Grimshaw (BSc (hons) MSc by Research)
A further donation of £1 50 for every care provider who attends a session within the People, Workforce & Wellbeing Theatre A Care Workers’ Charity Shop Your chance to support your charity by buying “Choose our carers” t shirts and pin badges The Care Workers Charity are delighted that the Care Show is so supportive of the sector and giving back to the industry they serve We have been a long term supporter of the Care Show, the main event for care providers to attend and delighted that we have such a strong presence when carers need our help more than ever ” Karolina Gerlich, Chief Executive Officer, The Care Workers’ Charity
Consolidate your buying to save time countless hours are spent dealing with many different suppliers to buy everything a care home needs: phoning one, meeting another online and offline Wippet has more than 30 suppliers and 50 000 products all in one website Each order only needs 1 basket one login and you get one invoice saving you tine that could be spent better elsewhere Save time with automatic reordering another load of time is easily wasted doing the same things week
NEW FEATURE AREAS
Sponsorship opportunities are still available Contact m corbett@closerstillmedia com for more details Go to https://rfg circdata com/publish/TheCare22/?source=thecarerPR to register your complimentary pass to attend the Care Show or head over to our website
From this data routine cleaning CFU counts with Peracide™ can be predicted Since there were slightly fewer CFUs than the pre clean it can be predicted that Peracide™ will lead to a cumulative effect over time as shown in Figure 2 Predicted cumulative effect of daily cleaning with Peracide This emphasises the absolute importance of regular routine cleaning and shows that Peracide™ is effective both in short and long term use
DISCUSSION
On the 12 and 13 October, Care Show at the NEC Birmingham will welcome back thousands of managers, directors, c suite level and owners from home care providers, nursing homes and care homes through its’ doors One of the main focus areas at the Care Show is all about you the people Without a committed workforce without solid leadership and without those looking to improve quality of care the sector would struggle
The Care Show is Dedicated to the People Who Care the Most
Overall, it was found that the ClO2 based disinfectant was almost entirely ineffective and was not suitable for use There are many possi ble reasons for this It could be a case of error in preparation as the for mulation can be difficult to use correctly or that the solution was no longer efficacious as there is no indicative mechanism for the user It may also be an issue with the ClO2 based disinfectant in solution ClO2 exists as a gas which readily diffuses out of liquid solution with a diffu sion coefficient of 0 145cm2s 1 at room temperature (Lee, Burgess, Rubino and Auras 2015) On the other hand, Peracide™ was considerably more effective and had lasting effect in a high traffic environment Peracide™ coming in a simple tablet form is easy to use is indicative of efficacy and is sta bilised in solution This accumulates to an easy to use visibly effica cious disinfectant with cumulative effect that supports long term infection control
In recent years, the need for rapidly efficacious, high level disinfec tants has increased as HCAIs have become a significant issue HCAIs negatively impact the patient recovery, turnover and average cost by increasing the length of patient stays increasing costs associated with care increasing pathogenic effects and increasing the risk of spread to another patient MATERIALS AND METHODS
A new dedicated educational campaign has been cre ated around the people in care Covering leadership motivation self belief recruitment retention personal health and mental health across the two days the Care Show team want to let those in care know there are people and companies out there who can help improve your day to day life With people at the heart of the show the team have also decided to strengthen its partnership with The Care Workers’ Charity and will be offering A donation of £1 50 for every care provider who attends the show
As an alternative to a ClO2 based disinfectant Peracide™ was selected Peracide™ is a broad spectrum biocide, reacting to produce peracetic acid in situ which is a high level disinfectant that boasts strong oxidizing properties Peracide™ is extremely effective against a wide range of healthcare associated pathogens including spore form ing Clostridium difficile, MRSA, Norovirus, Legionella, E Coli, Pseudomonas etc and will work to destroy established biofilms Peracide™ is both safe to use and environmentally friendly and is suit able for high level sanitising and disinfecting on porous and non porous surfaces Unlike other disinfectants Peracide™ is minimally affected by organic matter Upon breakdown Peracide™ is completely biodegradable producing carbon dioxide water and oxygen Two side rooms on the same ward were selected The occupants were of similar admissions reasons and neither of which had any alert organisms so did not occupy the room for isolation purposes
in week out With Wippet once you’ve selected the products you regularly need you can add them all to your basket in a couple of clicks to re order the next time And of course you can change quantity or cancel any items at checkout Request a quote as they say if you don t ask you don t get With Wippet s RFQ (Request for Quote) func tion you can contact any of our suppliers and ask if they can do a better price for you If you need help using it see our bonus track below! Buy bigger and less frequently Often buying larger amounts of the regular products you need but buy ing them less frequently means you can either get a better price or save on delivery costs or both! There are minimum order values for free delivery on most products on Wippet and if you don t know Bonus track find somebody to help you Wippet’s chat function is on our site to help It usually has a real person answering your queries but if nobody is available it’ll store your question until the earliest moment we can answer it We have a dedicated team of Customer Success Managers eager to help you get the best out of Wippet So, if you’re buying for a residential home and you want to see how Wippet can help you fight inflation and save valuable time, just get in touch Our Customer Success Managers can help over the phone online or may even be able to come to your home to show you first hand how to make the most of Wippet Hope to hear from you soon! www wippet com
RESULTS
PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
In the transfer of an NHS Trust from one disinfectant to another there are many factors to con sider from ease of use to effica cy against healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) For many years Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust (DBTH) used a chlorine dioxide (ClO2) based product as their universal one application quick kill rate disinfection solu tion When the supplier announced it was to cease pro duction they had to find a replacement solution Whilst scoping the market it was found that most trusts were using chlorine based disinfectants or a different brand of ClO2 based disin fectants Most other solutions were complicated in their mechanism or required a cleaning and disinfecting clean (two stage), which would be time consuming Information was sort from the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) to see what products were commonly used throughout the country and this is where DBTH were informed about Peracide™ an in situ peracetic acid (ISPAA) based disinfectant After further discus sion with the company, it was agreed that a trial should take place to confirm the claims of the product
The results show that there is no cumulative effect of cleaning from the ClO2 based disinfectant as the counts at the end of the day were no different from before or after the clean The ClO2 based disinfec tant showed approximately no efficacy overall In comparison Peracide™ showed good efficacy to begin with and an overall reduc tion prior to the next clean
REFERENCES Lee, Y , Burgess, G , Rubino, M and Auras, R , 2015 React on and diffus on of chlorine d oxide gas under dark and light cond tions at d fferent temperatures Journal of Food Eng neering 144 pp 20 28 For further information see 40
Introduction of Peracide™ from Sky Chemicals to Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust
When it comes to inflation and the rising costs of providing care the summer of dis content will all too soon become the win ter of despair Plus with 10% vacancies in the care workforce we all have to do more with much less time So here are five tips from wippet com for fighting inflation and beating the clock just pick and choose what works for you: Compare prices many suppliers will rely on their customers not looking around for the best prices But if you always do what you’ve always done you always get what you always got On Wippet we have a price comparison function Once you’ve registered and logged in at wippet com you can select a number of items to compare clearly on a page making sure you get the best available value
Getting back to mass gatherings can be overwhelming and this year the Care Show will feature a Quiet & relax room off the show floor allowing delegates to gather their thoughts and have a chance to look through the programme and floorplan in peace More networking opportunities were requested and this October the Care Show will launch the Beer and Bubbles Bar welcoming delegates to come and socialise with each other share updates or just enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly for attending the show
Why are you thankful for working in the care sector? The Care Show will feature Gratitude Wall where everyone is encouraged to write what they are grateful for Your team your manager being able to help others? All the answers will be shared after the show to show the impact each and every one is having on social care Mike Corbett Group Event Director said “The support we had at last year’s Care Show was phenomenal and we have decided to help and give back to the industry we are privileged to serve We listened to all the feedback from last October and keen to make sure we actioned all the points made, so we can offer the best experience to everyone involved”
Cleaning had not been performed on either side room with Peracide™ prior to this test The results show that the ClO2 based disin fectant showed no effect at the intervals measured
Five to Fight Inflation and Beat the Clock
page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to the participants at DBTH for engaging in this trial and to the laboratory team who performed the necessary assays
We are delighted to announce that Hutton Vi Afternoon Tea Week competition which we lau tessentially great British traditions All that we asked was for care homes around ebrations and send us some photographs of you That was it! We wanted to encourage care homes to tap i delicious treats to help bring a bit of elegance a day” And you did us proud We were truly overwhe hundreds we are delighted to say! (And it did ta Once again we are sorry we could only pick o the nominations were truly wonderful and inspir dedication care homes around the country took occasion! So very well done to you all and very well do see a selection of your very special celebrations Carer Readers Celebrate Housteads Residential Care Home, Shef field Hunters Down Care Home, Huntingdon Silverpoint Cour t Residential Care Home, Canvey Island Wentwor th Cour t Nursing Home, Cheltenham Kings Lodge Nursing Home Puddingstone Grange, Plumstead Nor folk Lodge Care Home ...Hutton View Care Say Hello to the Winner of the Carer’ PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
ew care home Brentwood is the winner of our nched to celebrate one of our finest and quin the country to tell us about their tea week cel ur events nto the British Tradition of afternoon tea and nd pomp to an otherwise unremarkable time of elmed the nominations we received, and sent ke us some time to plough through them all)! ne winner, it was the most difficult of choices rational demonstrating the time effort care and to make afternoon tea week that extra special ne of course to Hutton View Care Home and s over these and following pages! Afternoon Tea Week 2022 Sowerby House Care Home, Thirsk Torkington House, West London Woodland View Care Home, Droitwich Spa Worplesdon View, Guildford Leycester House, War wick Shaw Healthcare Head Of fice Home in Brentwood ’s Afternoon Tea Week Competition… THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 29
Amherst Cour t, Chatham Ashfields Care Home, BHeanor elmore Lodge, Lymington Runwoodhomes Windmill House, Wymondham Cobbett House Warminster Laurel Lodge Care Home, Nor wich Haywood Lodge Care Home Studley Fair way View Care Home, CNottingham heaney Cour t, Desborough Kettering Carer Readers Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week 2022 PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 Carer Readers Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week 2022 Nor folk Lodge, Hunstanton Br yn Edwin Hall Residential Care Home, Flint Bridgehaven, Canterbur y Welland House Care Centre, Malvern Southborough Nursing Home, Surbiton Nightingale Lodge Care Home, Hunstanton, Nor folk
The benefits of using Polycarbonate over glass are endless Not only does it eliminate opportunities for injuries which can occur during glass breakages, it also ensures a safer environment that we know is important within the care sector as well as the hos pitality industry Polycarbonate whilst being lightweight is also a great insulator of hot or cold liquid It serves as a thermal barrier to protect the user s hands from hot or cold contents whilst keeping the liquid at the desired temperature for longer
Manufac tured in the UK Euroser vice trolleys are an attrac tive and prac tical alternative to clinical aluminium trolleys given that antibacterial spray can be used freely to sanitise them
“Afternoon tea is a great social occasion for residents, bringing them together with the opportunity of meeting others for a chat dance and singalong It can improve their nutrition and hydration as it’s a great way of getting calories and fluids into their diet Everyone loves a scone whether it s sweet or savoury! We ve recently created an afternoon tea guide espe cially for carehomes complete with a tempting set of inspiring recipe ideas printable activities decoration ideas and top tips for throwing the ultimate summer cel ebration The menu builds on trend flavours into the afternoon tea occasion, with the aim of inspiring chefs with traditional dishes that have a modern twist For example katsu in a Spam Katsu Sando and sriracha in a Sriracha Prawn Vol au Vent It offers everything from bite sized snacks to substantial sandwiches and of course irresistible sweets like Lemon and Raspberry Scone with Lemon Curd Cream or our Black Forest Gateau Pots The menu works not just for the jubilee, but will bring excitement to any afternoon tea occasion You can find the guide here: https://view bidfood co uk/the queens jubilee recipe guide/ We’ve have also developed a range of afternoon tea inspired cocktails to go with the recipes created by our Unity Wines and Spirits team For example Strawberries and Cream Bakewell Sour A Messy Chase and the Cucumber Martini Find them here: https://www bidfood co uk/blog/4 afternoon tea inspired cocktails/ Freephone: 0800 917 7943 w w w.euroser vice uk.com sales@euroser vice-uk.com Visit the website at w w w.euros er vice uk.com to see the full range.
Maximise the opportunities to maintain hydration levels by offering our wide range of flavoured tea alongside black tea With tea counting towards the daily fluid intake and the recommended water intake being between 1 5L to 2L our range will help you make sure your residents stay hydrated FOR THE LOVE OF TEA Tetley is the nation s favourite tea brand2 and No1 in the foodservice sector 3 We ve been serving quali ty cuppas to the nation for the past 185 years
Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents!
We have
pack today: www tetleyfoodservice co uk/channels/care Sources: 1 Open Access Government (2022) Erad cat ng dehydration n the elderly with Aquarate openaccessgovernment org 2 Kantar World Panel No of Households Buying Dec 2019 3 Kantar World Panel L52W to Apr l 2022 Enjoy Afternoon Tea with Cuppas That Show You Care Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives! Euroservice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care products to residents How about a delicious snack/pastry trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple? Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents! Visit the website at www euroservice uk com to see the full range Ser ve Afternoon Tea in Style with Euroser vice Make Tea a Special Occasion with Bidfood's Afternoon Tea Guide Safer Drinkware and PCatering roducts for Staff and Residents THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 33
BBP Marketing is a family owned company based in Mirfield, West Yorkshire established in 1882 BBP is recognised leader in the design and manufacture of reusable drinkware and catering products We have a large range of styles & sizes and continually expand our range in order to meet our customer s needs Why use BBP Marketing? We understand the importance of taking care of our planet which is why we take pride in our prod ucts being reusable as well as recyclable at end of life They are machine washer safe virtually unbreakable and can last a lifetime Not only are our products helping the environment they are also designed with you in mind Whether it be a bowl with easy grip handles either side for better stability or a plate with cover to keep your food fresher for longer we strive to make products that are suitable for everyday use
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You may have seen already our patient water jug designed specifically for the NHS in hospitals around the United Kingdom We worked closely with the NHS Nursing Team and in turn successful ly created a product that meets the needs of both patient and staff We always welcome the opportu nity to work with clients who hold new and exciting ideas that fill a gap in the market Branding logo printing and further bespoke work can also be implemented upon request How do we purchase? We have a reputable list of distributors across the globe who can supply our products along with other complimentary items to suit your needs Please ask your distributor for our products or email us and we will be happy to recommend a suitable distributor See the advert on the previous page for details
MORE THAN JUST TEA Designed with care professionals and caterers in mind, the Tetley Hydration Handbook and Hydration Help Sheet offer insight and advice to help keep residents hydrated in all care environments! a range of POS specially designed care activity pack materials available to encourage drinking opportunities some at the same time activity
How about a delicious snack/pastr y trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple?
Operating globally we source buy and blend the finest tea leaves so you can promise residents a deliciously refreshing cuppa with every sip Whilst we are tea masters are also environmentally conscious and committed to operating our business in a way that supports the people and environment it touches With every Tetley cuppa you and your residents drink you’re helping us in reaching our sustainability and environmental goals
PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND ST YLISH TROLLEYS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS
we
and have
With lots of refreshing fruit and herbal blends as well as Orignal and decaf black tea Tetley has a solution for everyone celebrating National Afternoon Tea Week! Here at Tetley we understand the challenge of keeping your residents hydrated and the important role a quality cuppa can play A significant 20% of care home residents are dehydrated1 which can lead to hospi tal admission This is easily preventable by keeping hydrated EVERY CUPPA COUNTS
With our range we have a tea that suits every one of your residents’ needs throughout the day As well as choice Tetley provides a familiar feeling of comfort for residents to help them feel more relaxed and settled For the love of tea, for the love of Tetley
fun
Who are BBP Marketing Ltd?
Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives! Euroser vice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care produc ts to residents
and
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The training available on myAko com helps healthcare workers to better understand the impact of dyspha gia and how to help those in their care The nurses training helps them support Speech and Language Therapists with remote dysphagia assessments without the need for face to face visits Utilising remote teleswallowing techniques helps to reduce current NHS waiting lists and nurses and carers are able to improve early diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia
myAko
DYSPHAGIA PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
The incidence of commonly occuring elderly neurological diseases in the older population are stroke (45 78%) Parkinson s dis ease (75 100%) and Alzeimer’s disease (90%) Swallowing involves six cranial nerves and over 26 pairs of muscles, with the oesophagus opening within a fraction of a second of airway closure It is therefore unsurprising that everyone has experienced at least one incident where just a slight incoordination of the swallow has caused coughing and choking as food and drink enter the airway It is therefore to be expected that dysphagia occurs in approximately 35% of the normal aging elderly population owing to weakness in the muscles for swallowing Furthermore, it has been reported that up to 74% of residents in care homes will present with swallowing difficulties of some description
AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
It is imperative for care staff to be able to quickly and effectively screen for dysphagia as a delay in doing so may have devastating effects It is a care worker s duty to ease the struggle presented by dysphagia; not only to avoid the possibility of death but to simply ensure that a resident s later life and emotional well being is as comfortable and content as possible Visit www myako com email help@myako com or call 01202 283383 for further details
Meals are often the highlight of the day in a care home, but when you have dysphagia and struggle to swallow the risk of choking and food or fluid entering your lungs can present a real challenge and even make the meal itself a danger In fact dysphagia is a common reason for hospital admission Nor is it a problem that is limited to the elderly dysphagia can affect people of all ages However it doesn t have to spoil mealtimes which can still be a pleasure as well as safe as long as meals are prepared and pre sented in the right way Just pureeing meals can reduce their nutritional content and the dish may end up being less appetising to the eye This is where specialist ranges of texture modified dishes can help for example Simply Puree which is available through Bidfood This range is created especially for people living with dysphagia and each dish is consistent in the nutritional content it provides, and compliant with IDDSI textures
larly monitor their intake very closely with a nutritional assessment and weekly weight check to ensure they are not losing weight and are getting enough nutrition and fluids Make sure those who are preparing food are fully trained and aware of the risks associated with dysphagia as well as the correct way to prepare modified consistency foods, and to thicken flu ids for patients who need this To help with this Bidfood have put together a new e learning platform called Caterers Campus which is a fun and interactive training resource that takes the hard work out of supporting your team The modules are aimed at helping them consistently create nutritious and delicious meals that are tailored to residents individual requirements There are seven modules available which include one on Dysphagia and IDDSI as well as Fortification Hydration Dementia and Cost Control amongst others You can find more information about it here: https://www bidfood co uk/caterers campus/ Bidfood have developed the programme exclusively for their cus tomers to help their teams learn in bite sized modules in a way which works for them anytime anywhere on any device Knowledge is checked on completion of each module, and each person taking a mod ule gets a certificate of achievement for their records but if it s not a pass it s not a problem you can take it again! There are also no sign up fees for the programme
Develops Dysphagia Online Courses For Carers
Don't
MOVING FORWARD
Dysphagia is the term used to describe difficulties swallowing Difficulties may range from a decrease in chewing ability to food and drinks going onto the lungs causing aspiration pneumonia and death Dysphagia is a common feature of many congenital and acquired structural and neurological difficulties It is not possible to provide accurate figures regarding the prevalence of dysphagia, as it is often unrecognised and underdiagnosed Dysphagia affects approximately 8% of the global population Although swallowing diffi culties are seen in the paediatric population, the greater incidence is in adult client group
Swallowing difficulties are common in people residing in care homes Early identification assessment and management by care home staff may result in a decrease in the incidence of pneumonia and death Therefore, it is important for staff to be aware of the signs of dysphagia and what to do in order to prevent further deterioration in a resident s condition Dr Elizabeth Boaden is a fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and has spent over 30 years working to improve the quality of life of those living with dysphagia Dr Boaden has created a set of courses on dysphagia These courses have been researched and developed for the benefit of all healthcare workers and nurses and are due to be available on myAko com
WHAT IS DYSPHAGIA?
Let Dysphagia Ruin Your Resident's Mealtimes
The International IDDSI Diet Standardisation tool is a global standard providing terminology and definitions that describe the texture of modi fied food and thickened liquids used for individuals with dysphagia of all ages in all care settings and for all cultures The Simply Puree IDDSI guide is a free easy to use tool to help you understand and cater for the different IDDSI textures You can find it here https://tinyurl com/bdz2kktx This is a great online tool which not only gives a refresher on IDDSI lev els for chefs who are already knowledgeable about dysphagia, but it’s also a great learning tool for those with less experience who may be new to the industry It takes you through the journey of how to adapt a range of different dishes to meet all levels within IDDSI the cooking blending and serving processes that ensure a dish is safe for residents with differ ent needs This makes dining a fun and sociable experience for those liv ing with dysphagia covering all their needs from nutritional to hydration It means they can get involved with all meal occasions which is good for their wellbeing and presenting really appetising dishes will of course encourage them to eat more Many of those living with dysphagia find it difficult to consume enough calories throughout the day so you may need to fortify recipes to max imise the calorific value of each spoonful An easy way to achieve this is to switch water for full fat milk or cream, melted butter or oil sauces gravy, honey or juice for dilution It s important to ensure that dishes are visually appealing too so it helps to make up modified consistency foods sepa rately and then pipe them onto the plate while still hot so that you can serve them immediately If you are diluting or pureeing food it’s also important to use stronger flavours so that the food is still flavoursome As with any dish do a taste check before you serve to make sure it meets the same high standards you aim for with the rest of your menu When it comes to caring for those living with dysphagia its key to regu
Fire Doors are an imperative part of fire safety and are consider ations of the design and maintenance of any building but especially residential Article 17 RRFSO states fire safety provisions (includes fire doors) must be main tained in a suitable con dition and working order If you are the Responsible imperative you appoint a competent person to assist in meeting your duties under the fire safety order to ensure fire safety measures including fire doors are kept in working order
Ltd Win Health Medical Ltd / T: 01835 864866 / E: biofrost@win health com / W: www win health com See the advert on page 5 for details
Many care homes would need to recon figure their entire laundry room to enable the newly requisite two metre distancing between gas appli ances and doors When such issues are coupled with safety concerns and the increasing costs of running gas appliances
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 sched ule 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
For a complete repair and protect service contact the team today frdp@yeomanshield com or visit www yeomanshield com
Mobility furni ture 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 com fortable than ever before Even people without mobili ty problems are buying them especially when they are made to measure giving that perfect fit
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
Forbes would generally recommend that electrical appliances should be the product of choice Miele s new heat pump commercial dryers are par ticularly 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 con sumption and drying times are kept consistently low Due to the effective interaction of the Miele filter sys tem 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 economi cal 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
The Stair Climbing Company offers an excellent range of compact, easy to use, powered Stair Climbers that are ideal for use in both home and commer cial settings Offering innovative designs all of the company s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces for safe storage and are easily transported and charged In addition all of its Stair Climber s come with a two year manu facturer s warranty
BIOFROST® Relief Cold Gel contains only natural ingredients (i e ethanol, menthol, eucalyptus pep permint MSM) for instant pain relief and to activate body s own healing Benefits are better joint move ments, lasting pain relief, comfortable sleep, fewer cramps calmed nerve pain reduced joint and mus cular discomfort less muscle fatigue puffiness and swelling
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 pur chase rental or lease basis with access to a compre hensive 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
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
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
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 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 unfortu nate spills All of these features reduce the workload for busy staff and improve the comfort of residents
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
Renray Healthcare
See the advert on page 19 How Efficient and Compliant Is Your Laundr y Operation?
BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels for Pain Relief
The Stair Climbing Company maintains one main mission; to improve quality of life through its range of high quality and custom devices with built in seats The safety and comfort of its customers is of the utmost importance to the company and it ensures that each wheelchair car rier model is designed to cater to individual customers specific needs, and works with all stair types Furthermore, the company provides Stair Climbers for all ages making them suitable for everyone and offers a free assessment for customers If you would like to find out any more information please see the details below T 01787 379160 www thestairclimbingcompany com See the advert on page 13
Drug-Free
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 rele vant WRAS and industry requirements and helps clients ensure complete compliance with the latest regulations
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 peo ple BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels work as stand alone therapeutic modalities or alongside other interventions (i e drugs physiotherapy massage etc ) providing affordable and long term cost effec tive solution to pain and discomfort
AN UPBEAT APPROACH Mobility Furniture Company is one of the biggest mobility furniture companies in the UK Its wide geo graphical spread of representatives takes furniture to care homes for managers staff and residents to assess Care home managers owners and staff know what their residents need says James Mitton Managing Director of Mobility Furniture Company “When we visit care homes we always gain valuable insights about real life situations for which our company can make a differ ence Working with these key members of staff we find solutions for residents and care home employ ees that make life more comfortable for everybody involved ” Call free today on 0800 810 8726 for a free brochure or visit us at www mobilityfurniturecompany co uk/sale
Yeoman Shield’s Fire Door Services can help to take the guess work out of fire door maintenance by providing fire door inspections condition reports remedial work and fire door installation all carried out by FDIS and/or FIRAS accredited team members Having a good maintenance routine will dispel some needs of fire door replacement therefore being more cost effective ation of Yeoman Shield Fire ction products can also be nancially beneficial by halt ing impact damage from the start eliminating many repairs in the future and again will extend door lifecycles Installing Yeoman Shield door protection products such as door protection panels, door edge protectors and PVCu glazing bead units will not affect the integrity of the fire door as all products have been tested in situ, to the current standard required Vulnerable frames and architraves can also be protected from impact with Yeoman Shield to pre vent dangerous splintering and splitting as well as abolishing the time consuming repetitive need for repainting
The Stair Climbing Company is one of the leading providers of powered Stair Climber solu tions which have been specifi cally designed to assist those struggling with mobility and independence issues facing people with disabilities
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Raising the Standard of Stair Climbing Solutions Furniture That Improves Health For Residents… And Staff PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 Yeoman Shield Fire Door Ser vices Taking the Guess Work out of Fire Doors
Chester Park Megan Allan, Activities
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 vis ited 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 6
Rising temperatures will heat waste producing pro found odours from bins
Opeque can assist in reducing energy bills comply ing with legislation, managing health and safety and achieving a sustainable operation
The increase in temperatures and heat exposure to the waste allows bacteria to grow faster and odours to intensify Although loose waste is often affected first captured and contained rubbish will soon follow in emitting stronger odours
Hi, where are you from? Asking where someone is from is such a common opening question for a stranger and universal small talk Where we live and where we come from is fundamental to most people s sense of self identity and history and perhaps that s why it s a powerful topic in reminiscence therapy Reminiscence therapy involves simple techniques to help those with memory loss or dementia to recall their memories This can improve self esteem and provide a sense of fulfillment improve mood and reduce agita tion all of which are so valuable in the care of those living with a condition which doesn’t have positive out comes It’s where the founders of Memory Lane Games started when they decided to make games for their elderly Mums to enjoy using their favourite old photographs After quickly realising they were onto something, the Memory Lane Games app now delivers profession ally curated reminiscence and speech and language activity games across a range of topics such as music, film food, hobbies and pets All of our games are designed to be frustration free and encourage com munication and socialisation not to test SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL
Beneath its simplicity the Memory Lane Games app is a powerful tool Carers, families and friends are able to enjoy inter actions generated by playing the games with those in their care and can even create personalised quizzes using old family photos and create questions such as Mum where did you go on your first holi day? or Where did you get mar ried? In addition to our popular free app (available in the usual app stores) we serve international care home groups with a SaaS platform enabling alerts based on their resi dents' game play: highlighting changes in 7 clinical data sets which are all game play related and have been established in our RCT Clinical Trial (underway) This data can be used to alert early interventions needed to address potential health issues like mini strokes or urinary tract infections for example The benefits to users and care homes are immedi ately evident Improved resident and staff wellbeing, improved quality of family visits and a differentiated care home business If you would like to create a Memory Lane Game for your residents or to find out more about us please get in touch or download the app for FREE from the usual app stores
page
Odorous Waste Inspired FREE Anti-Litter Pack
or
Over years Opeque has worked with various indus try sectors from tyre manufacturing to laundries schools to hotels and hospitals to care homes optimis ing their manufacturing procedures and facilities man agement Applying industrial engineering principles we address productivity, resource efficiency quality con trol 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
Call Email NOW: 07831 873355, email admin@opeque com or visit www opeque com
The fact that we can upload what is relevant to the specif c Indiv dual is so meaningful for that person and I can assure you we have shed some tears being able to be part of that residents memory journey It has been an amazing addition to our care home from staff and res dents thank you Pennine NHS Trust Beech Ward we have been able to provide thera peutic activity & entertainment with ease to pat ents that are isolating To see what the Jolly Trolley® can do for you, call us for a free demonstration on 0800 093 8499 See the advert on page 1
Jolly Trolley Brings Therapeutic Activity and Entertainment
The pack consists of posters social media content and an infographic leaflet The posters and social media posts have 4 different designs all of which are targeting hotspot litter areas or problems these include dog waste Flytipping and littering in areas such as beaches and streets All the material is FREE to use and Cromwell wel comes anyone to download and use the material helping to reach their goal of a cleaner greener and more resourceful planet, this new anti litter pack is a step towards this sustainable vision View, download and share FREE from Cromwell’s website www cromwellpolythene co uk/free downloadable anti litter pack/
ANTI LITTER PACKS
The Summer season is upon us with lighter nights and warmer weather No matter what season we enter waste is guaranteed and must be handled appropriately however the change in seasons should prompt us to take additional waste management steps
At Cash s, we aim to capture, reinforce and communicate our clients brand equity through qual ity 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 promo tional 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 counterfeit ing 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 accu racy 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 acces sories Visit www cashslabels com or see the advert on page 6
The Jolly Trolley® comes complete with its own videos quizzes karaoke and other content, but personal music photos and films can then be added from a USB stick to really bring out the magic! Don t just take our word for it here are just some testimonials from our very happy Health and Social Care clients:
Summer Litter
See the advert on page 23 for details Reduce Your Operating Costs!!
The summer season not only sees a rise in temper atures but also a potential increase in litter levels as more people venture outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather Not only is public waste emitting unpleasant smells, it can attract unwanted pests such as flies, insects, birds and vermin Whilst these pests could be a potential hazard to the public, the litter could also be a threat to local eco systems and wildlife
Cromwell are proud to be an independent, family run group, committed to the recycling, manufacture and distribution of polythene and compostable mate rials In their aim to be the most resourceful company in plastics Cromwell has developed an anti littering promotional pack free to download and used by all developed specifically to help educate and deter lit terers
Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name”
Helpforcarehomes@memorylanegames com See on 4
The Jolly Trolley® is an essential for any care establishment as t pro motes social interaction between the service users and their carers This innovative system is fully mobile and battery operated, allowing residents who may be unable to leave their rooms to also be included w th ease
the advert
Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentr y
After attending some recent Care Industry Conferences it was interesting to hear how some of delegates are confident and have an understanding of the importance of Passive Fire Protection However many are still unsure of what is required and what they should be asking and expecting from a contractor We recently attended a care home; the owner had commissioned a very detailed Fire Compartmentation (Passive) report but in appointing a contractor they failed to ask vital questions When we inspected the work, it was clear to see the work was poor quality, had been incorrectly installed and large areas of work had been left incomplete Unfortunately, the owner didn t ask for a scope of works detailing what was going to be done and how It should have asked how the work was going to be recorded so that they could demonstrate if required to local authorities or assessors at future assess ments/surveys that the work had been correctly installed Also they failed to check if the contractor was UKAS third party accredited Care must be taken when appointing a contractor to complete these specialised works As a UKAS third party accredited company we will always make sure we understand your requirements and that you understand the service we are going to provide We catalogue every repair and installation, taking multi ple images of each stage The product details and how it was implemented/installed will also be recorded When the works are completed you will receive a detailed report of each and every item repaired accompanied with a certificate of confor mance 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 or see the advert on page 9
Memor y Lane Games - Reminiscence Games To Trigger Positive Memories For Those Living With Dementia PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Know What You Are Asking From Contractors Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising. lease mention THE CARER when responding to advertising. THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 37
SCENTS OF SUMMER
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
COMFORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE
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 pH balance of skin should be quickly after each episode of in combination with continence risk factor other conditions that affect sore
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
urine loss Choose mild skin cleansers moisturisers and sealants Be aware that perspiration,
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
Wash your hands before and after changing your pad
•
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
The Comfort Leg Bag range comes in variety of materials from velvet smooth, real cotton and flock backing
Impor tant advice Oil based barrier creams may reduce the performance of the pads If barrier creams must be used they should be applied spar ingly and only on areas that require treatment Used products should be disposed of in the appropriate manner, they cannot be flushed down the toilet
Thousands of people across the country must perform Intermittent Self Catheterisation (ISC) to effectively empty their bladder and having some thing 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
Don t apply ointments or creams unless prescribed by your doctor or nurse
Urinary incontinence affects millions of people in the UK Although a widespread problem in continence 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
pads and briefs creates an extra
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 3 IQ CATHETER
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,
or broken • Tell your nurse if you are using any ointments or creams
Help To Manage Your Incontinence Issues Independently CONTINENCE CARE Healthy skin is a physical barrier against the external environment
The iD range of products is available to buy from www id direct com or via Ontex See the advert on below for details
Top T i ps For Healthy Skin When Living with Incontinence PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
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
The Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult
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 2 LEGBAGS
4 NEPHSYS
Since 1976 Manfred Sauer have provided a range of innovative urology products to help suffer ers 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 so lutions 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 1 SHEATHS
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 development cycle has included laboratory and on ward testing to validate effectiveness and user acceptability Peracide has been tested against C difficile spores 027 modified BSEN 13704, MRSA, Klebsiella Pneumoniae Modified BSEN 1276 and Norovirus EN 14675 among others
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PERACIDE INCLUDING TRIALS, TRAINING AND DEMONSTRA TIONS CALL US NOW www percacide co uk info@peracide co uk 0114 278 0222 Colour Activated Disinfectant Tablets
Peracide is an effective and rapidly stable sporicidal tackles the transmission of C and other the result of many years continuous development, testing and col laboration with Prof Peter Wilson and Dr Shanom Ali of UCHL laborato department
PERACIDE, ward trial and Laboratory testing was performed by Environmental Laboratory at University College London Hospitals NHS foundation trust Available via NHS Supply Chain Product Code: Peracide 3g: MFB1002 or Peracide 6g MFB1005
Other features and benefits include the following: Destroys C difficile 027 spores in 30 seconds Remains active over 24 hours Fragrant non pungent odour
Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry Angloplas range of dispensers are pro duced 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 infec tion by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the prod uct 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 click ing Hospital Health and Hygiene or by using the Quick Response code
disin fectant tablet that
microbiological
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 www.percacide.co.uk info@peracide.co.uk 0114 278 0222 Win the battle on Infection Control With a new generation of disinfection technology 10 reasons to change to Peracide Kills all known microorganisma including C difficile spores, E coli, MRSA, Legionella, Norovirus, Klebsiella, Influenza and many more 2 Innovative Colour Activation System Greater oxidiser than Chlorine and Hydrogen Peroxide Clean, disinfects and deodourises in one operation Works in the presence of organic salt Environmentally friendly, biodegradable, non toxic and non corrosive Safe for use on patient mobilitiy and shared equipment Non sticky and leaves minimal residue Full microbiology test report Long lasting solution 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VAPOURISED HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (VHP) & UVC Available via NHS Supply Chain Product Code Peracide 3g: MFB1002 Peracide 6g: MFB1005
ry
HAI Peracide is
A prominent novel feature is its built in colour indicating system that alerts the user with a change of colour of the solution when it can be used and alerts them again with a second change of colour when it cannot be used and should be discarded
Unaffected by organic soil Biodegradable, non corrosive, non toxic Superior cleaning property • Higher efficacy than comparable chlorine based solutions Peracide is benign; it does not present any adverse risk to the environment or the user It can be used on porous and non pours material; and suitable for use in trigger sprays buckets microfiber cloths and mops for safe disinfect ing of beds washrooms and floors surfaces & medical equipment computers & office equipment
difficile
Angloplas Dispensers Help Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection
The integrated wand and hose mean that cleaning above the floor and reaching into awk ward places is easy The computer can also advise when the bag needs changing or when there is a blockage and the multiple access points and cassette style brush roller make the XP easy to maintain Of course once dirt is picked up it is essential that it is retained in the vacuum cleaner and not released back into the air
The Health and Safety Executive states that we never assume that any dust is safe and that all uncontrolled dusts are potentially hazardous
Virtually all the dust and dirt which is picked up by an XP vacuum cleaner is safely trapped in the high filtra tion bag, which can be sealed and hygienically dis posed of The filtration of the XP has been independently tested by the DMT Test Institute in Germany to filter 99 97% of particles of 0 3 micron Above this particle size the filtration level is very close to 100% Many professionally cleaned facilities operate 24/7
For
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 41
• Hot & Cold domestic water services • Pipework flushing & disinfection • Tank cleaning & maintenance • Legionella risk, sampling, lab testing • Attention to individual apartments • Communal areas / toilets / showers • Restaurants / Cafés • And Heating System flushing Water Treatment & Legionella Specialists 01925 758995 enquiries@msbhygiene.com www.msbhygiene.com M.S.B. Hygiene M S B Hygiene Ltd has over 25 years experience in Water Treatment and operate throughout the UK Our Engineers have the skills & expertise to carry out water systems risk assessment sampling cleaning and disinfection Our samples are taken to UKAS accredited laboratories for testing Certificates of disinfection and sam pling are provided upon completion We are members of the Legionella Control Association and are CHAS (Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme) accredited We provide a highly professional but friendly serv ice together with comprehensive & straightforward advice we aim to be easy to do business with We’d also like to think we are “the 4th emergency service” for your water treatment & legionella control needs 01925 758995 enquiries@msbhygiene com www msbhygiene com Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising. lease mention THE CARER when responding to advertising. SEBO XP – Power with Responsibility
The XP range of upright vacuum cleaners from SEBO are ideal for these health conscious times They feature independently proven filtration, hygienic dirt disposal using sealable bags and are exceptionally quiet and light to use Clearly a vacuum cleaner s number one task is to clean
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL
The XP range harnesses the power of an on board computer to measure performance on the floor and continuously adjust the floor head to the optimum cleaning height completely automatically The power ful brush action pulls the vacuum cleaner forward so that the pushing force required to manoeuvre it is close to zero helping to make it light and easy to use for extended periods but also giving deep cleaning performance
It is therefore not always possible to vacuum when no one is around In these cases low noise levels are imperative Although there are regulations limiting the sound power level that a vacuum cleaner can reach subjectively the sound generated can still be unpleas ant, even where the vacuum cleaner meets the regula tions SEBO sound engineers have successfully muted the harsh frequencies to which the human ear is sensi tive This has the result that with any form of back ground noise, the sound from the XP virtually disappears, making it suitable in many cases for day time cleaning Indeed in any situation where low noise levels are important the XP range is ideal Last but not least at SEBO we believe that vacuum cleaners should be built to last and should be easily repairable Our vacuum cleaners are built to be durable and reliable; to have a long service life using few replacement parts Component parts are identified with the material they are made from so that they can be recycled more easily when their service life is over more details contact commercial@sebo co uk
For further information www biobax co uk or call 01484 868
EZISAN converts approved and certified water based sanitizers fluids into “semi dry spray mist” and there is no waste These fluids are also known to be gentle to the skin
The key solution is that it is truly “NO TOUCH” unlike most other systems Environmentally friendly fluids and big savings on single use plastic bottles, we estimate Ezisan saves 85% single use bottles over Alcohol Gel and 69% in cost or £624 per year Designed and Manufactured in the UK with supply chain localised wherever possible this will reduce our carbon footprint by minimising transportation We intend to be carbon neutral by 2025 Recyclable materials are used as much as possible we also try to minimise plastic packaging and be envi ronmentally aware of every aspect of the manufactur ing process
See the advert below for further details A Revolutionar y Hand & Small Object Sanitizing System For Care Homes FOR ALL THE LATEST HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR VISIT WWW.THECARERUK.COM
BioBax of Skelmanthorpe West Yorkshire has acquired Cheshire based Aqua Air as part of a strategic move to expand its range of environment friendly cleaning products and solutions The acquisition follows a peri od of growth for BioBax with increased demand from cus tomers looking to buy more eco friendly products including Zybax microbiological products and Meleco the magic eraser Kate Pawson and Dominic Barnes started BioBax in 2019 to develop and grow the Zybax and Meleco brands which are now 22 years old BioBax products are manufactured in house at their state of the art facil ity in a rural setting in Huddersfield “Aqua Air is the perfect partner for BioBax”, said Kate Pawson, Sales and Marketing Director, “they have very similar values to BioBax’s I am looking forward to meeting Aqua Air s customers and work ing with them over the years to come Aqua Air Ltd was founded in 1994 by Barry Bladon and latterly co owned with his son Simon Barry has obsessively developed each one of the Aqua Air products to respond to the specific cleaning challenges and needs of their clients with the result that each product offers added performance rela tive to the competition Each one of their Xtra range of cleaning solutions is designed manufac tured and bottled in the UK contains biodegradable compo nents and packaging and avoids harsh chemicals which can dam age skin and surfaces Barry Bladon said: “It has been key for us to join forces with a company who share our philosophy and passion for solving our customers cleaning BioBax already have a strong reputation for the supply of environment friendly cleaning products and expanding the Aqua Air portfolio with a range of kitchen, hospitality and janitorial solutions and cleaning machines will mean that BioBax and Aqua Air customers will now benefit from the expanded range of world class products and service
visit
EZISAN CAN ELIMINATE THE USE OF EXPENSIVE, MESSY AND MOSTLY IRRATATING GEL HAND SANI TIZERS
THE PROBLEM: There are many issues with using WET or gel sanitisers and upon entry to many build ings, you are met with various sanitising options, usual ly a gel or liquid dispenser paper towels and a bin this often gets “messy” and needs regular topping up cleaning and tidying This can also be a slip hazard
Most Alcohol gel sanitizers are also known to irritate the skin especially for regular users like NHS staff care workers Sufferers of eczema and other sensitive skin conditions are also well documented The real financial cost to business and public venues are sub stantial we also have to factor in the fact that staff have to maintain and replenish the current method the man hours wasted are a genuine cost
The Solution: EZISAN uses a semi dry sanitizing spray mist” to help solve many of the problems, you simply place your hands into the mist rub them together and turn them over this will effectively sani tize the majority of bacteria, viruses and other germs
970 Cleaning Specialists BioBax Acquire Aqua Air HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
EZISAN have invented a “NO TOUCH” sanitizer sys tem in response the worldwide coronavirus pandemic to improve hygiene and assist the prevention from cross contamination EZISAN will help to improve the process and convenience of hand sanitizing it also reduces contamination on mobile phones keys, credit cards and other small household items that can be passed through the sanitizing mist
t co uk Silent RunningTranquility in Care Homes NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 43 • Nurse Call Systems • Fire Alarm Systems • Door Access • Staff Attack • CCTV • Infection Control • Dementia Care • Electrical Contracting w w w. L C T U K . c o m 0 8 0 0 8 4 9 9 1 2 1 s a l e s @ l c t u k . c o m 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 INCLUDES A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE Nurse Alert Mats 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
Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil environment for residents
www.nursecallsystems.co.uk
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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 dis turbing 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 rami fications 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 more information email us at: info@c
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
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 sys tems Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps for care planning e medication etc
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 recom mends “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
Quiet and calm care homes ensure that residents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment
Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a num ber 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, demen tia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one zone whist less vulnerable resi dents live in an alternative zone Each zone can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required
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 bed side in a doorway or other locations to monitor per sons 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
Fall Savers® are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years
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 per son 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 con tained 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 13 or at www easylinkuk co uk/product/ product fall detection
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 ava l able One monitor works w th two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems A variety of options ncluding Call button Pager Floor sensor mat Wireless door/window exit alerts
for hard surface floors See the advert on this page for further details or visit www fallsavers co uk Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 Medpage T/A Easylink
The NurseAlert pres sure 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 dif ferent and has different needs They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into considera tion the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier Visit www lctuk com for details
Medpage Falls Management Products
Lotus
High Quality ant bacterial Floor Sensor Pad Large Size Pad Measures (L) 91cm x (H) 61cm Options (sold mesh UK have manufactured and dis tributed fall prevention and detection products for over 25 years specialise in prod ucts 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
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Care Technology FOR ALL THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR VISIT WWW.THECARERUK.COM
Healthcare organisations face unique challenges from cost con tainment and multi entity reporting to new billing models and product offerings and a cloud based accounting system allows you to better understand your organisation and succeed in the future
Steve Russell adds HxCare from Positive Solutions will raise the bar for healthcare technology in the sector and ushers in an exciting new era for the care home community Positive Solutions has led the way for the last 30 years in the design supply and management of robust patient medication record systems Bringing that expertise and pedigree to the care home sector those adopting HxCare can expect a product that delivers exceptional value per formance and enhanced compliance and safety standards ”
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 con solidation 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 effi ciency gains, and taken departmental reporting from 10 days to 10 minutes
Positive
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
The team at Positive Solutions have given specific attention to extensive auditability at the click of a button whilst workflows have been designed to increase efficiency, remove errors and provide full traceability It will offer robust reporting which will be invaluable for both CQC and Care Inspectorate purposes
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
Steve Russell Positive Solutions Chief Commercial Officer comments “Critical to the product develop ment of HxCare has been a commitment to making the user experience as intuitive and easy to use as pos sible Simple menus and navigation facilitate adoption training and roll out to care providers irrespective of their technical literacy ”
Solutions Launch New eMAR Solution – HxCare TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 45
Sage Intacct s real time reporting allows you to understand and measure performance for both finan cial 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
It is estimated that around 80% of care homes in the UK are still using paper based Medication Administration Records (MARs) to do their rounds The delivery of medication in this way is prone to error as well as being cumbersome for both care homes and community pharmacies HxCare aims to digitise workflows reduce errors and free up care providers to spend more time delivering care to their residents Designed to be truly mobile HxCare will be tablet based and has been developed with significant input from care homes around the country HxCare features will include medication and round management scanning for booking in with automated ordering linking into a full stock management system
REAL TIME VISIBILITY AND INSIGHTS
Positive Solutions are set to launch an innovative cloud based medicines management system, HxCare, which will be showcased in October at the Care Show Positive Solutions are the leading provider of PMR solutions to the community pharmacy sector For 30 years their innovative software has helped automate workflows increase efficiencies and enhance patient safety whilst many of the 2 500 pharmacy sites they support already work with care homes across the UK
HxCare also has an extensive product development roadmap and Positive Solutions are keen to involve users in shaping that roadmap with a feedback function for customer development requests HxCare will be showcased at the Care Show at the NEC in October (stand B20) where care home owners will be able to see the product first hand and register their interest sign up for the pilot or pre order for launch
Cloud Finance Software That is Helping Care Homes Thrive
For more information on how Sage can help your business please visit: www sage com/en gb/cp/intacct carehomes/
For more information on the benefits of HxCare, visit the webpage at www positive solutions co uk/hxcare/
“Our team have worked closely with care homes across the UK for two years to ensure that HxCare offers the functionality and benefits missing elsewhere with a strong focus on intuitive user interfaces and declut tered workflows With an exciting roadmap of new developments already scheduled, HxCare is set to trans form eMAR for years to come ”
BUILT FOR HEALTHCARE
Furthermore digital allows you to determine who can access and what via permission controls Staff only see what they need to see based on their role AutumnCare has a number of tools that assist in maintaining security and confidentiality including this lock screen func tionality for use in medication administration rounds!
CONTROL
Better Control Controlling paper based systems can be an onerous job It generates reams of paper that can easily be lost copied and potentially fall into the wrong hands Digital care systems are safe and accessible maintaining the security and confidentiality of your data This is difficult to achieve with paper because sensitive information must be locked away when not in use per GDPR
RETENTION Improve staf f retention
Digital care plans are the best way to achieve this!
More time to care
VISIBILITY Improved visibility Electronic care systems ensure that managers have real time access to notes and information to instantly understand the care provided and help identify changes that need to be made to improve the quality of care
Additional cost benefits include savings on printing paper stationary and confidential waste bin collection These costs all add up very quickly and are enhanced by the savings in the administrative overhead
On an electronic care system it is much easier to see what is going on if you are contacted out of hours or on the go A digital system allows you to log in remotely to see what has been happening across the entire care service at a glance
The most considerable cost saving that going digital can provide is time While the amount of time saved will vary between service types and roles this alone makes going digital worthwhile
Additionally providing smart tools like care planning and eMAR soft ware to reduce the administrative burden will decrease staff stress
PROTECTION Protect your business
Carers never have enough time to care but going digital can provide more There are so many time consuming tasks such as writing care notes completing paper assessments filling in charts preparing handovers and countless other administrative tasks
Because any changes can be affected at the point of care updates become a true reflection of the care (rather than a delayed update at the end of a long shift) This information is then easily accessible by other system users sup porting a personalised care experience
QUALITY Improved quality of care
Contact Chris Sharman Email c sharman@autumn care Call 0800 009 2121 Website uk autumn care
AutumnCare provides specialist digital care planning and eMAR soft ware enabling providers to migrate to a digital system and providing the foundations for outstanding care We can walk you through what is required step by step, as well as provide training and support every step of the way To realise all of the benefits above, plus many more, get in touch with us today
Staff recruitment and retention remain long standing challenges for the care sector, and many factors contribute to the successful retention of staff Morale is a crucial factor in retaining staff Using electronic care sys tems to change the focus from the administration to the delivery of care helps stage engage more with service users
EVIDENCE
Demonstrate quality of care deliver y
It is challenging to manage analyse and keep data and there is a lack of security Going digital with your care planning and eMAR can significantly reduce your risk
TIME
Using inbuilt alerts ensures that nothing is missed whether that’s a care plan change or a fall report Using an eMAR will help reduce medication errors and ensure that the 6 Rs are always met Going digital also allows the collection of data at the point of care which can be analysed to identify trends and risks and demonstrate corrective action
AutumnCare Mobile allows staff to perform clinical assessments and capture notes at the point of care for increased accuracy and care recipient involvement
While the delivery of person centred care is paramount care providers must also provide evidence of the care they deliver and regulatory bodies actively encourage the use of technology
AutumnCare contains a customis able Dashboard to provide Managers with a snapshot of what is occurring across the care service at any point in time USERS Happier ser vice users Last and by no means least, going digital can make your service users happier Digital systems enable you to spend more time caring and less time on administration There are benefits to happy service users including positive reviews from family and friends which may help grow your service
WONDERING HOW TO GO DIGITAL?
If you’re unsure of how to get started in your digital transformation AutumnCare can help!
Furthermore going digital reduces paper use and the carbon footprint of regular deliveries Therefore going digital can help you become more environmentally friendly RISK Reduced risk Manual systems carry many risks
Going digital can automate many of these tasks and enable recording care interactions in real time ensuring nothing is left undocumented and saving time that can be better spent providing care
10 Reasons To Go Digital With Electronic Care Planning and Medication (eMAR) Systems TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
Social care is a highly regulated industry and going digital can help you safeguard your business With multiple regulatory bodies such as the CQC CIW, Care Inspectorate, RQIW, Local Authorities and Safeguarding Teams, not to mention families and the justice system Any of whom can make enquiries or perform inspections at any time and without notice Going digital makes it easy and efficient to evidence the quality of care you provide In addition as a digital system has a complete audit trail you can be assured the information you are providing is accurate and com plete COSTS Costs and environment
With pre built assessments covering all aspects of health you can get to know your service users intimately But it s not just health; other characteristics such as emotion likes/dis likes and how they correspond to a wide range of activities can be record ed
For example the CQC states that the care provider should look to embrace technology that helps monitor care delivery During an inspec tion under the Effective key line of enquiry (KLOE) question E1 3 asks How is technology and equipment used to enhance effective care and treatment delivery and support people s independence?
- Care Home Software You Can Rely On
738100
The challenge associated with supporting and funding the care for an ageing population continues to escalate According to Age UK the num bers of people aged 85+ in England increased by almost a third over the last decade and will more than double over the next two decades And these people need care and support; by their late 80s more than one in three people will have difficulties undertaking five or more tasks of daily living unaided and between a quarter and a half of the 85+ age group are frail With current care services under extraordinary strain it is estimated that 1 in 8 people are caring for loved ones, many with increasingly com plex needs and this number will continue to increase, creating huge financial and mental stress for often geographical distant family members Combine that with the implications stress has on family members quite often their health decreases and the dual cost therefore on the NHS Of course most people don t want to go into a care home; according to Age UK 97% of the population would like to receive care in their own home But the funding gap in social care predicted by the Local Government Association to reach £3 5 billion by 2025 is creating a devas tating knock on effect on the NHS with thousands of elderly patients stuck in hospital when they are well enough to go home because there is nobody to look after them With the cost of delayed discharges now at almost £290 million per year the Chief Executive of the Health Service Amanda Pritchard said that despite the delays of discharges the priority is to tackle backlogs that have inevitably built up in the face of rising Covid infections ”
One of the most fundamental roles that technology must play in the future is to enable carers to undertake their primary function care! This means minimising the admin burden they face and instead releasing car ers to spend more time with VIP’s This stretched resource is under huge pressure to meet escalating care needs, and yet carers are still compelled to spend upwards of 20 minutes in a 30 minute patient visit filling in man ual forms In addition to the sheer waste of essential one to one patient time, this paper based information is simply not stored in a way that enables easy sharing with other stakeholders from other carers to health providers and family members Technology has a huge role to play in improving the quality and per sonal aspect of care Imagine being armed with real time data to ask the right questions and ensure the VIP receives the right type of care on your visit Data can play a huge role in the quality of care; data insights give you historic information which helps but real time data with predictive and preventive capabilities is where we need to be aiming With the adoption of easy to use apps proven to reduce the adminis trative time spent by up to 75% Combining a simple user interface with voice recognition an app not only minimises the admin burden but also makes it easy for carers to record more personal patient information such as patient mood, important dates including birthdays or the anniver sary of a spouse s death which can then support a far more personal care experience In addition, this technology ensures the carer’s report is automatically shared not only with the local authorities and/or care agency but with the individual’s family members addressing one of the huge causes of stress for those tasked with overseeing the care of a loved one stress that often leads to time off work or ill health
In this way the traditional challenges of information sharing between agencies can be overcome and ensure the most up to date medical and personal facts are always available to those who need them
(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) Predictive Technology, Can It Really Help Reduce Care Costs? Article supplied by Karantis360 (www karantis360 com) TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 47
call
Care Control
Unlike NHS healthcare, adult social care in England isn’t free While some of our loved ones will be eligible for local authority support when they re older others won t qualify or you may feel they need more care than they re offered It s no secret that we re all living longer In 10 years time the number of people aged over 85 will have risen by nearly half in England alone and the population of 65 to 84 year olds will have increased by more than a quarter over the same period Therefore covering the cost of care for our parents or other family members is a growing concern While we can t predict what the future holds we all want those we love or even ourselves to have access to the care we need to live well in later life Being able to plan ahead for this means getting to grips with typical home care costs and nursing fees as well as understanding how local authorities assess needs As anyone who has had to navigate the social care system will already know, it’s a daunting task and isn’t always straightforward and things are set to change when a new cap on the cost of care paid over a lifetime comes into force in 2023 in turn addition al hurdles are likely to occur Helen Dempster Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Karantis360 discusses this concerning topic further
Developed by an award winning care home in Devon our unique software for care homes provides a modern and highly effective solution for nursing homes and care organisations Delivering an all in one solution our care planning software is used by more than 30 000 carers in the UK daily A proven success in both nursing and residential home settings, we aim to help your care home deliver the best care possible efficiently simply and cost effectively Our software mod ernises your office processes and completely digitises your paperwork and care plans If you’d like to learn more about how our care management software could benefit your business please us 01822 to speak with a member of the Care Control team and book your personalised demo today!
on
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
REAL TIME COMMUNICATION
HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY ASSIST? Useful technology like Radar Healthcare can assist staff turnover issues by increasing efficiency and boost ing morale Radar Healthcare partner, ECL said: ‘By streamlining the compliments logging process, the number of com pliments logged rose from 9 per year to 1 500 per year! Being able to communicate this level of engagement from our service users has had a hugely positive effect on morale and encouraged our team to always strive for better performance
SUPPORTIVE TECHNOLOGY
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Staff retention is a significant challenge in the care sector making it even harder for the existing work force to keep up with the ever growing demand Skills for Care predicted that by 2035 the care work force will need to increase by a minimum of a third, to keep up with the ageing population and demand for new carers In the same report, it was estimated that staff turnover within social care is 30 4% To put this into perspective approximately 23% of independent sector workers have a turnover rate of less than 10% This prominent level of shift indicates that organisations within the care sector are struggling to find and retain suitable candidates Working in care comes with many challenges and an insufficient number of workers within the industry creates problems for both service users workers and organisations Ongoing issues within the sector have meant that care providers have needed to adopt a range of new strategies to support and retain their employees Technology especially over the COVID 19 outbreak has proven to be extremely successful within the healthcare industry It has shown how embracing paperless methods can improve organisation boost work ethics and morals encourage communication and reduce the number of hours completing admin
Intelligent Care Software (ICS)
THE IMPACT OF STAFF TURNOVER
TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE PAGE 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 Predictive Technology, Can
Staff in y
Retention
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 train ing record apps and our audit app which templates all the essential audits and includes a record of inspection visits
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
the Care Industr
become preventive as opposed to reactive And, the smart use of technology means organisations have a chance to rethink the way care is delivered, better matching care to specific patient needs Would a patient be better served by shorter daily sessions plus continuous monitoring? With a 24x7 system that monitors and picks up abnormal behaviour the care ecosystem has a chance to operate in a very different preventive and personal manner whilst alleviating the pressure of carers to be there physically CONCLUSION
Maintaining and tracking records of employees’ training appraisals supervisions and compliance require ments shows that an organisation values their individual workers and is invested in supporting and retaining them Technology can also significantly alleviate the daily administrative pressures faced by those working in the care sector as one partner of Radar Healthcare said Our evolution of health and safety and quality would n t have happened without Radar Healthcare We haven t grown our team yet we re doing about 60% more than we ve ever done before thanks to the software www radarhealthcare com
From releasing beds to the pressure on carers and the extended family it s time to tackle the social care ecosystem in its entirety We cannot keep using the NHS as an expensive care home Technology is now advanced user friendly and cost effective enough to make a real differ ence People want to stay in their own home and it is widely believed they are healthier and happier in that familiar environment By leveraging tech nology carers are equipped to provide an increasingly personalised care experience and minimise the administrative burden; while family mem bers are relieved to have immediate information on their loved one s health and well being And the technology makes financial sense for local authorities enabling just a handful of individuals to remain safely and happily at home rather than in a care facility justifies the investment in new technol ogy; while for the NHS the ability to address bed availability will unleash vast resources What is truly exciting is that this is just the start; from IoT to AI we now have the chance to better understand patient activity to intervene early even predict potential problems to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and allow more patients to stay safely at home for longer It Really Help Reduce Care Costs?
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
High staff turnover can be incremental to an organisation s service and reputation It can lead to lower levels of patient satisfaction increase the number of risks to both employees and service users and make meeting CQC (Care Quality Commission) and Care Inspectorate standards even more challenging The care industry is extremely valuable to our economy contributing over £50 bn to the UK economy and equating to 5% of all employment It is vital for the wellbeing of our ever growing and ageing population that the high turnover rate is minimised In addition a high staff turnover means there needs to be a larger investment in recruiting training and retaining quality employees But how can technology help take some of the pressures off both providers and employees?
If these innovative solutions are combined with IoT based sensors, the care ecosystem can be extended to provide a 24 hour safeguarding serv ice Using AI powered tools carers can track habitual behaviour and spot changes in real time allowing them to intervene when it is needed thus alleviating the burden on caregivers and families alike Its real time nature provides a platform for the complete digitisation of healthcare bringing together local authorities healthcare providers NHS Trusts ICS s general practitioners registered nurses and care homes Real time accurate information will not only make the social care model more transparent by including family members but will also enable it to
In these challenging times threats to care workers / healthcare professionals has increased Fuelled by frustration of not being able to have in person appointments or having to wait an eternity for a consultation attacks on staff are sadly becoming more frequent In these situations urgent assistance is critical and the systems used have to be quick secure and reli able KAM Systems have developed a range of solutions that can be easily adapted to suit GP Surgeries, Health Centres, A&E, Rehab Clinics and other Care Settings These can be quickly and easily implemented from a simple push button on the wall to a Pager with built in attack alarm & location
TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE PAGE 50 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
Anthropos s Connected Care Platform uses a set of discreet passive sensors to monitor a range of daily activities of older people in their homes giving care providers the intelligence to make better informed decisions
The business which employs 43 people many at its HQ in Leven Fife is marking its 30thyear in busi ness by releasing a major upgrade to its security technology The advancements will provide even greater protection for healthcare staff working in a variety of high risk settings including hospitals men tal health facilities and correctional facilities The launch of P2 comes at a critical time for the healthcare sector A 2022 YouGov survey found that 67% of healthcare workers experienced physical abuse in the last 12 months while 20% reported being subject to violence once a week Hospital staff need advanced reliable and effective security solutions to meet their complex needs Daniel Waring CEO of Pinpoint said: “Over the last 30 years, we have continued to develop and enhance our systems to ensure we deliver the very best results for the workers who need it most I am incredibly proud to be able to launch the P2 System on our 30th anniversary”
Connected Care Platform Anthropos has announced it will be partnering with Vayyar Care the global leader in 4D imaging to strengthen Anthropos s capabilities in pas sive fall detection Every year there are over 22 000 emergency hospital admissions resulting from falls among people over the age of 65 according to Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) Managing falls is a high priority fo p technology focuses on both fall detection and analysing potential risks of this common scenario
-
Fife Firm Unveil New Staff Safety Alarms
As Violence In Healthcare Settings Surges
A family owned business in Fife has announced significant upgrades to its award winning staff safety systems which can be found in all NHS healthcare Trusts across the UK as well as Ireland and the US Pinpoint the leading provider of staff safety sys tems, was initially set up to address increasing rates of violence toward hospital workers which had an impact on staff morale absenteeism and retention
More information about the new collection can be found on Pinpoint s website at www pinpointlimited com
The Pager has multiple alarms push button rip cord tilt and is waterproof Once an alarm is initiated, within a few seconds a message can be discretely delivered to colleagues so that they can respond The message will contain the exact location of where assistance is required All alarm activity is logged for audit purposes Call today on 0330 321 1040, visit www kamsys tems co uk email sales@kamsystems co uk or see the advert on page 11
Peace of Mind is One Thing Security is Another
Anthropos Partners With Vayyar Care To Boost Fall Detection Capabilities
The benefits of the new partnership include: Reduction in fall risk as more information can be collected on a person s behaviour Vayyar Care sen sors gather data not only on falls but also on behav ioural risk factors such as decreasing mobility enabling true fall prevention • Additional intelligence to equip carers with detailed insights This means carers can better advise on how to create a safe home environment and build more effective personalised care plans Minimise the risk of older people sustaining sec ondary injuries such as pressure sores as carers are alerted immediately when a fall occurs so help is sent sooner For families this adds another layer of reassurance
As with all Anthropos packages customers will be able to define the version of the rm that they need based on the care outcomes that they want to achieve However as a minimum end users are advised to have at least two Vayyar sensors deployed around their homes Stuart Barclay UK Sales Director at Vayyar Care says: rowing older population is vy and expects best in class systems to support their health well being and lifestyles Person centred care must have technology at its core including new solutions that deliver round the clock passive fall detection while maintaining dignity privacy and independence “Vayyar Care is thrilled to partner with Anthropos a company that aligns perfectly with our vision and ability to support connected data driven care ” Paul Berney CMO at Anthropos says “Market research proves there is a strong demand for passive falls detection It is often the case that people don t want to wear a device or just forget to put it on or charge it up The Vayyar Care solution provides rapid fall detection with zero involvement from the older person After completing extensive testing with Vayyar we re satisfied that together we will provide everyone with a reliable and accurate solution Anthropos takes pride in its constant innovations to deliver the best connected care including partner ships with companies such as Vayyar Our aim has always been to help older people to stay well inde pendent and happy in their own homes for longer the integration of Vayyar Care only strengthens this Vayyar Care is available to all future Anthropos customers For more information please visit: https://anthropos io/our technology/
Harpal Momi Managing Director of KAM Systems says It is a sad reflection of the current times that care staff are being threatened and in some cases attacked The solution we provide is completely wire less and can be installed quickly with minimum of dis ruption Staff using the system are reassured and have peace of mind that help is always on hand ” Anti Vandal / Anti Ligature Call Points make them suitable for mental health environments
The new Vayyar Care partnership integrates touchless radio frequency sensing tech nology enabling Anthropos customers to provide fall detection without requiring older people to put on wearable devices
Visit https://www wandptraining co uk/policies and proce dures/non registered care policies/ 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
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
The Laser Care Certificate course provides knowl edge 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 confi dence Managers are able to create their own accounts to enrol staff on the course and track their progress
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
T : 0121 794 1532 or
SUPORTED LIVING / LEARNING DISABILITIES POLICIES
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
Looking for Supported living Policies with NO Personal Care?
Skills, Knowledge, and Confidence Delivered Online W&P Training W&P Training supply comprehensive sets of CQC care policies and procedures that are
Covid19 reminded us all just how important the NHS and care home staff are to our soci ety 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 objec tive is to make it convenient and straightforward for workers to upskill and acquire confidence in the process
To find out more about what we offer go to www wandptraining co uk or see the advert on page 2
It can be tempting to think that once the Care Certificate has been achieved it s the end of training
uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare co uk Why Train Beyond the Care Certificate? EDUCATION AND TRAINING PAGE 52 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
All of the content is accessible remotely via comput er smartphone or tablet enabling care professionals to make progress towards the cer tificate in a way that suits their circumstances
Two courses in particular ‘Causes and spread of infection and ‘Infection control and pre vention’ were very popular during the pandemic Unlimited use subscriptions are available at afford able rates for organisations wishing to take advan tage of a large number of short courses Whether you are an owner manager or inde pendent learner please don t hesitate to get in touch for a free demo of the Care Certificate course plat form 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 personalised the CQC’s practice guidance within
the Health and Social Care sector
CLINICAL PROCEDURES FOR NURSING HOMES
698553 W : www stepuptrainingandcare
The Care Certificate can demonstrate that staff have the minimum level of required training Training to Level 2 and beyond will therefore improve abilities to cope with the challenges pre sented by working in a difficult sector Obviously one of the most significant challenges was dealing with Covid but there will be new and different challenges ahead However it is the clients who will benefit from the improvement that additional training will bring Whilst these may include advances in the treatment of dementia or changes to the legislative framework there will undoubtedly be any number of other issues that will create new and complex problems that need to be dealt with So if you think the Care Certificate completes all the training it might be time to think again So why choose Step Up Training and Care? We provide training services that will build implicit trust leading to confidence by clients looking to use your services At Step Up Training and Care we know people are busy work long hours and that a set 9 5 timetable will not work for most care homes and providers We can tailor our learning programmes to meet individ ual needs time our training to meet business com mitments, working shift patterns and around family life Zoom Boom is here to stay and we can accommo date teaching and learning through blended learning such as classroom remote assessor based one to one training sessions Our trainers have personal experiences of working in the health and social care sector hence our flexible approach We empower people to learn Training beyond the Care Certificate Can you afford not to? 07384 co
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
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 proce dures complement our full set of Care Home Policies and Procedures
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
training programme Discover how to replace loneliness, helplessness and
with wellbeing, companionship, and meaningful activities, in just one hour of training a week Sign up today and join the care evolution Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www.eden alternative.co.uk
Validated Eden Alternative associates can benefit from continuing support from our expert team WHY DO
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
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
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 bore dom Geoffrey Cox The Eden Alternative Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www eden alternative co uk
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 apprentice ship or training course if they could condense learning into a shorter period
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 train ing from the outset
Workforce Challenge - The Eden Alternative – A Modern, Proven Model of Care for Staff and Resident Wellbeing
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 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 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
THIS?
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 relationships heart, online boredom
At Step Up Training and Care we offer: • Tailored learning journeys and programmes • A flexible blended approach of one to one, in house, classroom, practical assignments and online assessment methods • Training that will lead to higher quality of care delivery • Training led by tutors and assessors who are specialists in health and social care • Level 3 diplomas that are accredited to Highfield Qualifications T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk STEP UP Training and Care 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
Find out which apprenticeship pathway will work best for your busi ness with Connect2Care’s See the Opportunity toolkit which can be downloaded for free Visit https://connect2care net/resources/see the opportunity/
WHAT IS IT
When demand for services increase it follows that viability improves As a cohesive cultural progression programme it follows that inno vation, modernisation and positivity increase
with our 6 week
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 wellbe ing It follows that staff retention improves With a positive culture a motivated and dedicated workforce It fol lows that positive innovation becomes more possible sustainable and continuous
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 53 EDUCATION AND TRAINING
at its
It is however effective You can try without obligation
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
Connect2Care has released a toolkit answering common questions about apprenticeships with advice on how businesses can maximise them through flexible training options
JOB APPLICATION BUILDER
Control - All-in-One Recruitment System PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT PAGE 54 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
EASY SHARING Increase your job exposure and attract the best candidates With one click post your job on our very own integrated careers website FindMeACareJob co uk You can even share your application form on multiple job boards, social media channels and your website No more copy/pasting job specs! If you’d like to learn more about how our recruitment module could benefit your business, please call us on 01822 738100 to speak with a member of the Care Control team
SMART SCREENING
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 par ents 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 knowl edge skills and experience they need to start a new career
TALENT POOLS Fill roles faster by streamlining the hiring process of all your talent pools Become more efficient as processes are automated Gain greater visibility of available talent across all vacancies with our simple scoring system
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
Enter
By Jonny Rees, Head of Professional Development at the College Development Network (www cdn ac uk)
Save time and build your own job application with Care Control s custom form builder and store templates ready for the next vacancy
Why Equipping Returning Adult Learners
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 With The Skills They Need To The Social Care Sector Is The Best Solution To The Recruitment Crisis
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 stud ies 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
CANDIDATE AUTOMATION
By using our all in one recruitment module organisations will be able to clearly evidence to regulatory bodies their full recruitment process
Automate the entire hiring journey Easy to use tools such as interview sched ules and onboarding workflows enable you to improve processes reduce time to hire and greatly enhance the candidate experience There s more! Your new employees profile will automatically be created on your Care Control hub!
MOTIVATED BY COMPASSION
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
Never lose track of a candidate again! Seamlessly track candidate interaction as well as request references and complete full DBS checks all stored within your candidate’s profile
Care
Here at Care Control we are empowering customers to execute a more structured hiring process to improve efficiencies and overcome the challenges that recruitment presents
JJ Recruitment has the large database of well qualified applicants with experience in the health care industry such as health care assistants senior carers and nurses from overseas We also have an expert team of solicitors for the necessary legal pro ceedings and advices WHY JJ? We have very minimal processing fees • We assist you to get a sponsorship license Qualified and experienced candidates from over seas Tel: 01704 808227 www jjcarerecruitment co uk admin@jjrecruitment co uk In Dire Need Of Experienced Health Care Assistant, Senior Carer Or A Nurse? THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113 | PAGE 55 PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT Global assists clients throughout the U K who specialise in the healthcare sector to achieve their objectives of purchase development and refi nance We have organised over £1 8bn for clients in the past 30 years providing clients with competitively priced funding to refinance existing debt, ease cashflow and develop businesses further From helping clients make their first purchase through to allowing groups to grow significantly in size we assist at every stage of your business expansion Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements Call us on 01242 227172 or e mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance net Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising. lease mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.
STEPS TO MITIGATE RISK
As recently highlighted in the media there are currently over 100 000 vacant roles in the care sector
In order to recruit foreign skilled workers whether they are already within the UK or directly abroad your company needs to be regulated by the UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration) This involves being licenced by the UKVI so that your business can successfully recruit for eign workers without fear of being fined or breaching any immigration rules set by the UK governments stringent policies
• at least 20 minutes when working more than six hours a day
co uk Are You A Care Home Owner with Staff Vacancies? PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT
Identify workers whose salaries are close to NMW; keep a record of hours worked for all employees, this is a legal obligation and would need to be provided if HMRC ever come calling; each pay period whether that be weekly or monthly consider the hours worked by the workers in question and calculate whether it sits above NMW include deductions made from salaries for things like un form or training as these can inadvertently reduce a worker s salary below NMW
uk
The NMW regulations are com plex so you should and always take professional advice if you are unsure about how to calculate the NMW Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR): Unhelpfully there is a dif ferent legal definition or time worked” under the NMW regula tion and working time under the WTR
• 11 hours uninterrupted rest per day; and 24 hours uninterrupted rest per week (or 48 hours uninterrupted rest per fortn ght) Employers must also take all reasonable steps to ensure average working time does not exceed 48 hours per week (judged over a 17 week reference period) and there are heightened obligations for night workers While employers are able to agree an opt out from the 48 hour working week if a worker is regularly working over 48 hours per week then it could cause concerns that the worker is not receiving adequate rest breaks under the WTR With workers often being asked to work longer hours due to the current labour shortage in the sector it is sensible for employers to have renewed focus on these issues
Some 78% of providers who responded to the exclu sive survey carried out by the ITV News in conjunction with the UK Homecare Association said recruiting carers is the hardest it has ever been Many describe being at a breaking point Out of the respondents 95% said they are unable to take on all the new clients in need of their help 2 years ago a relative of my friend with care homes in Lincolnshire came to see me He knew I was an immigration lawyer He was distraught and on the verge of packing it all in The issues? ’We can’t find the workers nobody wants to work full time as they will lose their tax credits’ the British workforce are just not interested nobody wants to relocate to the sticks to work for us His plea “Harjap help me” my solution? ‘have you thought about recruiting foreign workers? Or students already in the UK who are already working part time in the sector? he did it and today his staffing problems have been solved So how do we go about doing it? The UK Immigration system can be complex but with the right guidance can be navigated to benefit the care sector
A R E Y O U A C A R E H O M E O W N E R W I T H S T A F F V A C A N C I E S ? G E T I N T O U C H N O W ! Apply for a sponsor licence allowing you to employ foreign workers Fill your staff vacancies with skilled foreign workers Switch your part time foreign student employees into full time work permit holders Let us help you to navigate your recruitment and immigration needs We have access to skilled workers already in the UK ready to be employed by you CONTACT US : 020 8571 6889 0121 525 8899 I N F O @ G L S S O L I C I T O R S . C O . U K W W W G L S S O L I C I T O R S C O U K
Buckle in for a whistle stop tour of some of the current employ ment law considerations business es in the care sector are grappling with including some tips on how to avoid an HMRC National Minimum Wage investigation and your obli gations to your workers in respect of their working hours With ongoing staffing shortages in care homes there is a height ened risk that workers will be working extra hours to ensure that residents and vulnerable service users cared for properly This cre ates legal risks for employers regarding payment of the national minimum wage and under the Working Time Regulations
CONTACT
National Minimum Wage (NMW): One glance at the current news headlines is enough to see the ongoing issue of the disparity between wages and the cost of liv ing However little attention has been given to the substantial rise in the NMW which came in April or the cost and risks this may cause employers
National Minimum Wage and Working Time: The Legal Issues
For those aged 23 & over NMW now sits at £9 50 per hour This means that the NMW does not only cause concern for employers in relation to hourly paid workers now anyone engaged on a salary of around £20 000 £24 000 who is regularly working extra hours could now pose an NMW risk Workers need to receive the NMW for each pay period they work meaning that if they are paid week ly they need to receive at least NMW for all the hours they work each week All hours worked in addition to a worker s contracted hours will be considered when calculating if NMW has been paid so it only takes a few additional hours to cause problems
PAGE 56 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 113
Many potential employees are already within the UK on various types of visas however and may already be working part time (20 hours a week) for you in order to work for you they would need to be successfully sponsored by your company through your sponsor licence This would involve making a complex application to the UKVI and in essence ask ing them for permission for you to employ the worker full time Once permission is granted you then have the benefit of a full time employee tied down exclusively to your com pany for at least a 5 year period This is often referred to as a ‘Work Permit If you wish to employee multiple foreign workers then we would need to convince the Home Office to grant you an appropriate allocation under the terms of your licence Under this licence you can also recruit carers and nurses from abroad The solution to current staffing crisis is clearly to recruit foreign workers and it is not as daunting as peo ple often make out There are many specialist firms of lawyers who can do the whole process for you and you can also save on hefty recruitment fees of employ ment agencies If you urgently need staff then you should definitely consider applying for a UKVI sponsor licence in order to employ qualified foreign workers and help your business grow No business should be turning away / down work due to a staffing problem which has a solu tion Harjap Singh Bhangal is a Director at Immigration Specialist firm GLS Solicitors (Global Legal Solutions) and is often seen on Sky News BBC News and is referred to as the Immigration Guru US: 020 8571 6889 0121 525 8899 info@glssolicitors co www glssolicitors
By Tom Draper, Employment Partner at Freeths (www freeths co uk)
The key difference is that the definition of working time for WTR purposes is wider Working time for WTR includes time where the employee is at the employer s dis posal such as where a worker is on call if the worker must be at a set location such as the workplace Under the WTR employers must ensure that their workers are provided with the following rest breaks:
