The Carer Digital - Issue #119

Social Care Vacancies Soar to Highest Level at

as Workforce Shrinks for the First Time

Peter

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

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Once again this issue we have received

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Social Care Vacancies Soar to Highest Level at 52% as Workforce Shrinks for the First Time

(CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

The average care worker pay is £1 per hour less than healthcare assistants in the NHS that are new to their roles

At the same time the demand for care has risen highlighting that social care is facing a complex challenge with recruitment and reten tion which will be impacting on the lives of people who need social care

TURNOVER REMAINS HIGH

Staff turnover rates within care roles remain high at 29% as approxi mately 400 000 people left their jobs However not everyone who leaves their job leaves social care with around 63% of people working in the sector having been recruited from other care roles Social care is still seeing high rates of turnover amongst the youngest staff with 52 6% of people under 20 leaving within 12 months

In the context of the national cost of living pressures, four out of every five jobs in the wider economy pay more than the median pay for care workers

The data demonstrates that social care’s ongoing recruitment issues present both a short term and long term challenge with workforce growth projections showing that employers will need to fill around 480 000 more posts by 2035

The report highlights the need to start to implement the People at the heart of care white paper which was published last year and to start releasing the £500m committed for the workforce in that white paper for skills and learning

A workforce plan for social care which identifies the numbers skills mix and innovations in delivery that are needed to meet growing demand and prioritises staff recognition, value and reward, is also required

SOCIAL CARE “ON IT’S KNEES”

The sector is warning the report is yet another “signal” of a social care system “on its knees” and if these figures start becoming a trend, it will be really hard to find the extra 480 000 posts Skills for Care sug gests the sector will need by 2035

Professor Vic Rayner chief executive of the National Care Forum said: We need the government to acknowledge the huge challenges facing the adult social care workforce The government needs to tackle the challenges head on and deliver a strategic workforce plan that addresses pay terms and conditions in a meaningful way

We are seeing the highest vacancy rate in adult social care since records began This is the result of chronic underfunding and a lack of workforce planning that has been years in the making

“The government should now prioritise improving pay by bringing forward a fully funded, strategic workforce plan for adult social care in

England This will not only benefit the people that deliver vital care but will also improve the lives of people that draw from it ” STATISTICS RINGING “LOUDEST ALARM BELLS”

ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “Billions have been wiped off local authority social care budgets in the past decade and providers are being squeezed as a result Here you have two reports that lay bare the crisis at the heart of delivering social care to older and vulnerable adults in this country

If as a country we value the profession of providing care and digni ty to people who need it then we need to address this right now

Report after report comes out and government after government does nothing

“The last figures we had from Age UK suggested that around 1 6m people aged over 65 can’t get the care they need I suspect that that figure will by now be nearer 2m or even more and with vacancies ris ing, the number of jobs falling and carers leaving the sector, that figure is going to rocket

“The statistic that should ring the loudest alarm bells is the one about those aged 55 and over retiring from the workforce The sector can t afford to lose any staff but particularly those with years of care experience under their belts They are especially difficult to replace

If that becomes a trend it will be really hard to find the extra 480 000 posts Skills for Care says we will need by 2035

He said the Government would blame providers for not paying staff enough

That is always the excuse and it is wrong Mr Padgham said The simple fact is providers are paying the workforce as best they can in the teeth of a critical shortage of funding Billions have been wiped off local authority social care budgets in the past decade and providers are being squeezed as a result

“More and more of them are ceasing to operate whilst the rest battle to survive and pay staff what they can

“The solution is what it has been now for a generation The Government needs to fund local authorities properly to deliver social care so that they can pay providers a fair price for that care and those providers can in turn pay a better fairer wage to those delivering care “ROOT AND BRANCH REFORM” REQUIRED

Martin Green chief executive of Care England said: A root and branch reform of the workforce is required which imposes a new reali ty This is necessary not only to address the immediate pressures but also the long term systematic issues

"With the government reporting a 38 year low in unemployment and the adult social care sector seeing an all time high in vacancy levels, change is needed now

"The sector needs to be reframed to make care a valued and proper

ly rewarded career

The sector requires a ten year workforce plan, akin to that of the NHS where career progression pay and rewards are identified

"We need to develop some clear skills and competency frameworks and a set of portable qualifications so that people can easily move between providers, and this must be done with a matter of urgency ”

REPORT “COMES AS A SURPRISE TO NO ONE

Karolina Gerlich chief executive of the Care Workers Charity said: It should come as no surprise to anyone that social care is struggling to recruit and retain staff when 50% of workers will earn within 30p of the national minimum wage in a role that requires individuals to take responsibility for the life and wellbeing of another human being

We hear constantly about sector reform training packages and technological innovation but we hardly ever hear concrete proposals which will improve pay We know most care workers find meaning in their work regardless of the pay but when working in care makes you more likely to live in poverty we have a serious problem No one can be expected to do such meaningful work at their own expense "

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM ISSUES

Skills for Care CEO Oonagh Smyth says: Social care is a fundamen tal part of all our communities, it supports people to live their lives every day and most people who work in social care find it incredibly rewarding Social care has a bigger workforce than the NHS construc tion transport or food and drink service industries and there are so many opportunities if people want to specialise or progress into man agement roles

“We must talk more about how rewarding social care is to work in so that we attract more people and we must make it easier for the people who love working in social care to stay by improving terms and condi tions and investing in their career development

This report highlights the immediate and longer term capacity issues in social care Data shows that while we are going to need 480 000 extra people working in social care by 2035 we already have 165 000 vacancies every day and the 28% of the workforce aged 55 or over may retire in the next 10 years

The People at the heart of care white paper had commitments to investing in knowledge skills health and wellbeing and recruitment policies to improve social care as a long term career choice The implementation of the commitments in that white paper have never been more important so that we can start to build the foundations to ensure that we have the workforce that we need now and in the future

In short our society needs a step change in how it values social care and the great people who provide it ”

Treating Complaints as Our Greatest Opportunity To Help Others

By Ali Al Mufti, Managing Director of Aria Care Home,

Complaints are commonplace in the care sector but how different settings and homes deal with them can be very dif ferent Here Ali Al Mufti owner of Aria Care Home in Newport South Wales, explains to The Carer how a friend’s complaint about his iPhone 4 left a lasting impression on him and how to deal with complaints that he has taken into his work in social care

Many years ago a friend of mine had a problem with his old iPhone 4 It was a fairly common problem with that specific model it never had signal So like millions of other people around the world, we headed into the nearest Apple store together to get it resolved But for anyone familiar with their ultra slick stores, you needed to book an appointment to be seen for any device faults

Upon arriving and presenting the problem you guessed it my friend was told he couldn’t be seen and would need to arrange a time to come back Within seconds he was asking to see a supervisor for such a ridiculous policy

We were ushered onto on a couple of high stools and wait ed for someone more senior to arrive a short while later He (let s call him Steve) leaned over from the other side of the desk and introduced himself, shaking both of our hands As my friend began his complaint Steve stopped him suddenly and said hang on let me come around that side so I can listen better He quickly swung around and sat on the stool next to us relaxed hands on his legs and again leaned in “That’s better ” Everything Steve did after that left an everlasting imprint on me 24 years old observing the whole thing and hooked on every word gesture facial expression It was a symphony of conflict resolution

His first words were, “I m very sorry ” Not, “I apologise” or “I’m sorry to hear that,” but “I’m very sorry ” A dif ference so minor it was perhaps unconscious but it was human It felt personal He continued to calmly explain the stores’ policy using words like “we” and “our ” He gestured with his hands, careful to explain each point clearly and in the most comforting tone imaginable careful to never once come across as defen

sive My friend and I sat there immersed in the marvel of a maestro at work

You have to remember that as a store or in our case a care home many complaints we often receive we ve heard thousands of times They re not new to us The longer we ve been in our role the more we risk being de sensitised to a complaint It’s easy to fall in the trap of treating a complaint about a resident’s cardigan shrinking the wash, for example, as no big deal

But what Steve taught me that day was that even though he s probably heard that exact complaint thou sands of times he still treated my friend like he was the only person in the world He sat with him listened intently spoke to him with compassion and empathy explained without being defensive and made sure he was heard

Ultimately when a person raises a complaint they want to know that they ve been heard That they re con cerns have been listened to Sure, there are mistakes that need to be resolved, the outcome is a vital part of the process but it’s often the easy part Going back to the shrunken cardigan example anyone can replace an item of clothing But the manner in which you do separates great people from great process High EQ from high IQ

Nowhere is this philosophy more crucial and sacred than in a care setting We don’t deal in smartphones; we’re dealing with human beings The lives of residents and their families Everything is deeply personal Nothing is trivial Everything matters and so is the way that we as care givers and care home managers deal with it

Apple spend millions of dollars on training their team this way and I was fortunate enough to get that education for free all those years ago That Apple employee managed to show a customer that they care about their troubles, however minor As care providers we need to show that a thousand times over in a compassionate, kind and sensitive way Body language, eye contact gestures and language are key Complaints are our greatest opportunity to help others They can cultivate relationships and reputations They re our time to shine to be the best version of ourselves

A complaints policy doesn t need to be exclusively about taking notes gathering evidence investigations outcomes and ticking the boxes as you go along It can and must be about one human being taking the time to listen to another

As for Steve he managed to squeeze my friend in an hour later and replaced his phone for free It was a masterclass in in emotional intelligence one that I m forever indebted that I got to witness for free

Former WRAF Air Ambulance Nurse Celebrates 100th Birthday Milestone with Card from the New King

A Lady in Pulborough has celebrated her 100th birthday at a local care home making her one of the first centenarians to be acknowledged by the new monarch King Charles III

Marjorie Nash was joined by family members residents and staff at Hillside Lodge care home in West Sussex for a party to celebrate the landmark occasion Helping to make the milestone event extra special arrived in the form of a birthday card from King Charles III Marjorie was born in Glasgow but spent much of her early life in the Outer Hebrides and Stornoway in the Western Isles of Scotland Looking back at those formative years she recalls watching the cutting and col lection of peat on the land the only fuel available to heat homes at the time

At the beginning of WW2 Marjorie joined the Women s Royal Air Force (WRAF) and got posted to London where she trained as an air ambulance nurse

She met her husband Bob towards the end of the war a mar riage that would last 70 years The couple moved to Wiltshire where Bob was originally from and went on to have three daughters one of which now lives in Australia

Marjorie puts her longevity and her resilience during difficult times down to her strong Christian faith

Theresa Shell manager at the Shaw healthcare operated care home said: It was so lovely to celebrate this wonderful mile stone with Marjorie and her family She is a big part of Hillside

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Pandemic’s Devastating

Impact on Mental Health of Health and Care Workers

A new report by the Qatar Foundation, World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in collabora tion with the World Health Organization (WHO) finds that at least a quarter of health and care workers surveyed reported anxiety depression and burnout symptoms Our duty of care: A global call to action to protect the mental health of health and care workers examines the impact of the COVID 19 pan demic on the mental health of the health and care workforce and offers 10 policy actions as a frame work for immediate follow up by employers organi zations and policy makers

The report found that 23 to 46 percent of health and care workers reported symptoms of anxiety dur ing the COVID 19 pandemic and 20 to 37 percent experienced depressive symptoms

Burnout among health and care workers during the pandemic ranged from 41 to 52 percent in pooled estimates Women young people and par ents of dependent children were found to be at greater risk of psychological distress significant considering that women make up 67 percent of the global health workforce and are subject to inequali ties in the sector such as unequal pay The higher risk of negative mental health outcomes among younger health workers is also a concern

Well into the third year of the COVID 19 pandem ic, this report confirms that the levels of anxiety, stress and depression among health and care work ers has become a pandemic within a pandemic said Jim Campbell, WHO Director of Health Workforce

This report follows landmark decisions at the World Health Assembly and International Labour Conference in 2022 that reaffirmed the obligations of governments and employers to protect the work force, ensure their rights and provide them with decent work in a safe and enabling practice environ

ment that upholds their mental health and well being Protecting and safeguarding this workforce is also an investment in the continuity of essential pub lic health services to make progress towards univer sal health coverage and global health security

“The increased pressure experienced during the COVID 19 pandemic has clearly had a detrimental impact on the health and well being of health and care workers said Sultana Afdhal Chief Executive Officer of WISH The pressure isn t new but COVID 19 has brought into sharp focus the need for better care for those who care for us This new report sets out policy actions that promote strengthening health systems and calls for global collaboration across governments and healthcare employers to invest in safeguarding the most valuable asset that our health systems possess, which is the people working within them ”

The report highlights 10 policy actions as a frame work for immediate uptake such as investing in workplace environments and culture that prevent burnout promote staff well being and support qual ity care This includes the obligations and roles of governments and employers for occupational safety and health

WHO recently published recommendations for the effective interventions and approaches to sup port mental health at work including those specifi cally for the health and care workforce which call for organizational level changes that address work ing conditions and ensure confidential mental health care and support as a priority Relevant to this framework, the WHO Global health and care worker compact provides technical guidance on how to protect health and care workers and safeguard their rights; it highlights that duty of care is a shared responsibility in every country

PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND ST YLISH TROLLEYS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS

LongCOVID

WHAT IS IT?

Where Are We Now?

this time we do not as yet have a clear answer 4 theories are right now predominent

Long COVID is a new long term health condition causing multiple symptoms affecting multiple organ systems Afteracute Covid 19 many people make a full recovery within a month If Symptoms last 4 weeks or more after sus pected or known Covid 19 then it may be Long Covid according to the new guidelines

Symptoms can affect any part of the body and can fluctu ate or new ones may appear many weeks later People of all ages and previous levels of health and fitness are at risk of experiencing the life changing effects of Long Covid including children and adolescents

There is no association with the severity of the initial infection In fact most patients presenting to a long Covidclinic may very well have had mild symptoms that did not need any admission to the hospital or intensive care unit

Therefore, this is a brand new medical condition for which healthcare professionals do not know the natural history so it is difficult to give a prognosis and when symptoms might resolve

HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) note that there are more than two million UK patients affected with this condition after an acute episode That is almost 3% of the UK population and there are more than 1 2 million who have had the symptoms for more than 12 months what we understand from this data is that it did not count those from care homes prisons hospitals university halls of residence and therefore when these are factored in it is possible the number impactedis much larger There are right now more than 200,000 healthcare and key workers such as carers also suffering and off work due to Longcovid

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

A study published in 2021 look at the kind of symptoms people have been reporting and this study looked at 3700 participants from more than 56 countries and they documented more than 200 different symptoms from the 10 organ systems in our body The same study found that after seven months of illness 45% of respondents reported requiring a reduced work schedule and 22% were not working due to their health The most common symptoms can be grouped into Physical: fatigue shortness of breath Palpitations bloating and stomach problems loss of taste and smell and pain

Cognitive: memory issues and concentration problems popularly called Brain Fog Mental: new onset anxiety and depression and PTSD like symptoms in people with severe infections needing intensive care

HOW DO WE DIAGNOSE IT?

At the time of writing this article there is no single blood test or scan that has been validated for diagnos ing long COVID so this is still very much a clinical diagnosis If you

firmed

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

There is a lot of

An overactivity in the immune cells system as a whole including the discovery of autoantibodies which may be causing some of the symptoms

Due to the close connections / links between the nervous and immune system, many parts of the nervous system especially the autonomic nervous system which controls breathing heart rate and digestion can also be abnormal after the COVID infection

Inflammation within the small blood vessels and micro clots that could be reducing the circulation to some organs causing the symptoms

4 Lastly it is thought that in some patients the virus or its fragment s remain present and repeated exposures can activate the immune system causing it to show symptoms there are some patients who are at higher risk of long COVID These include people who are having coex isting medical problems like diabetes, asthma and mental health issues It tends to be more common in women and those with autoantibodies or those coming from a deprived area If you have had lots of initial symptoms or being severely unwell then that is also a risk of being left with long Covid HOW DO WE TREAT IT?

As I mentioned earlier this is a new long term condition and at this time there is no cure or quick fix for the problem Thereare several treatment options however available with your GP or specialist LC clinic based on your symptoms The NHS in England have provided funding for 90 specialist multi disciplinary long COVID clinics to be established throughout the country and 15 dedicated hubs for paediatric long COVID These clinics can be in the primary care or secondary care NICE (National Institute of Health Care and excellence) and BMJ (British Medical Journal) have provided severalguidelines and review articles on managing and supporting people with long COVID They recommend that GPs should offer an assessment if symptoms are present for more than four weeks and investigate accordingly It is important to provide a personalised service as each patient may have a different set of symptoms which they need help The guidelines provide a wide variety of self management resources and provide GPs with the guidance on when to refer for more specialised investigations and support

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CARE PROFESSION

Like most key worker professions you may very well be aware of a close friend family member or co worker or patient impacted with a number of symptoms after the COVID infection The following points could be used as pointers and provide support to our patients and colleagues left impacted

1

It is best to contact your GP if symptoms have gone on beyond four weeks

2 It does not matter if you have tested positive or negative according to the COVID test Indeed for most of 2020 the public did not have access to testing and a number ofpatients were left with symptoms which are likely to have been due to COVID

3 The wait times for accessing the specialist LC clinics are long so it is best to start with self management resources while you are waiting These include the NHS approved Your COVID Recovery Long Covid SOS and Long Covid Support, support and advocacy groups for LC and finallyLongcovid Physio to understand more about the condition and find excellent resources

4 The Society for Occupational Medicine (SOM) has produced a new guideline supporting people on their return to work Link can be found here https://www som org uk/take planned approach managing long covid workforce new som guide

5 Vaccines have been quite useful in reducing the severity of the infections but do not prevent transmission nor do they seem to prevent Longcovid from happening in the at risk patient

Complaints About Social Care Increasingly Due to Funding Constraints says Review

The cost of providing care has become an increasingly common theme in the complaints made to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman over the past year

Highlighted in its Annual Review of Adult Social Care which covers both council and independent care complaints the Ombudsman said it is seeing more cases where councils are failing to provide care or are limiting care while using cost as the jus tification

In one case a family went from paying nothing for their elderly mother s care to more than £3 500 a month after the council changed the way it assessed people s contributions towards their care because of ‘budgetary pressures’ In another case a young adult s care and support needs were not met while two councils argued about who should foot the bill

Michael King Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

The issues we are investigating are neither new nor surprising but do indicate a system with a grow ing disconnect between the care to which people are entitled and the ability of councils to meet those needs

Care assessments care planning and charging for care have been key features of our cases this year and a common theme is councils failing to provide care or limiting it and justifying this because of the cost We appreciate budgets are becoming increas ingly stretched but authorities duties under the Care Act remain and we will continue to hold authorities to account for what they should be doing rather than what they can afford to do ”

Over the past year the Ombudsman has upheld

70 per cent of the cases it has investigated about adult social care a figure higher than the 66% aver age uphold rate across all areas it investigates

However since the last comparable year before the pandemic the Ombudsman has received 16 per cent fewer complaints about adult care as a whole

Significantly it has seen a 21 per cent drop in com plaints about care arranged and funded independ ently

Mr King added:

I m also concerned that more than a decade of rising demand and unmet need have left service users and their families disillusioned and feeling there is no point in making a complaint

“I want people to know that their voice matters What can at first appear a simple error affecting a single person can trigger a change in practice bene fitting many others We can and do use our powers to achieve the maximum impact from our investiga tions indeed despite the fall in complaint numbers we have made more recommendations to improve services than ever before ”

Over the past year the Ombudsman received 2,596 complaints and enquiries about adult social care however just 13% (340) were from people who arranged and funded their own care This compares with 3 073 complaints and enquiries in 2019 20 with 430 about independent care During the same peri od the Ombudsman made 631 service improvement recommendations compared with 596 in 2019 20 Service improvements can include recommenda tions to review or create policies and procedures staff training, improving communication with families and record keeping

WE NOW SUPPLY A WIDE RANGE OF FURNITURE

Chris Pickard is Crowned NACC

Care Chef of the Year 2022

Chris excelled across the board impressing the judges with his mouth watering menu of chicken ballotine with pistachio and basil stuffing swede fondant pea and spinach purée smoked pepper and tomato sauce followed by a dessert of banana and pecan frangipane tart with maple syrup crème fraîche

Head judge Steve Munkley said:

“As a newcomer to the NACC Care Chef of the Year competi tion I was astounded by the incredibly high standard of cooking from all the chefs The ten finalists performed really well and exceeded all expectations

Chris Pickard of Four Seasons Health Care has been crowned National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year 2022

Chris’s success was announced and celebrated last night (Thursday 6th October) in front of NACC members and guests at the NACC gala awards dinner held at the East Midlands Conference Centre Nottingham which is part of the NACC Training & Development Forum 2022

Brian Preston of Lister House Ripon and Justina Bajorinaite from Vegetarian for Life took second and third places respec tively

The exciting national final unfolded on Wednesday 5th October at West Nottingham College In just 90 minutes, the line up of talented finalists showcased their culinary skills and specialist knowledge to impress the panel of expert judges, led by Head Judge Steve Munkley

The judges were looking for clear nutritional understanding of the foods being used and how they support the needs of their clientele plus culinary flair through flavours menu balance exe cution, presentation, and hygiene and waste management best practice

“It was a closely fought final, which is evident in the fact that out of 500 marks, only 40 marks separated first and tenth place However, Chris is the deserved winner, excelling in both courses He showed an amazing set of skills and pushed himself to the limit in the time he had, producing a great mixture of flavours in his dishes He was absolutely focused on the task in hand and this, in my competition judging experience, is an important char acteristic of a winner ”

Sue Cawthray the NACC’s National Chair said:

“Congratulations to Chris Pickard, our NACC Care Chef of the Year 2022 What an incredible final it was! All the finalists really stepped up to the challenge They were impressive and inspiring and gave the judges a tough job in deciding the overall winner They should all be very proud of themselves

“This fantastic competition is so important for care catering as it is a real showcase and celebration of the exceptional talent and excellence of chefs in our sector something that can often be overlooked by the wider foodservice and hospitality industry Not only do care chefs provide delicious, uplifting meal experi ences, but they also contribute to the physical and mental well being of residents and customers and play a vital role in the provision of quality care It s essential that we continue to cham pion and spotlight this important contribution to society and give care chefs and care catering professionals the recognition they deserve ”

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Older People’s Mental Health in a Fragile Place

– But the Worst Maybe Still to Come

On World Mental Health Day 2022 Age UK is highlighting that older people are continuing to live with anx iety and depression in silence and are the age group least likely to receive any help

Older people’s mental health has been under recognised and under treated for many years and we know the winter months are often more difficult as colder weather seasonal infections and loneliness makes it a particularly challenging time Coming off the back of the pandemic we know many older people are still struggling with their mental health and are anxious about going out And now there are added worries

Millions of older people are heading into this winter worried about energy bills being able to keep warm accessing health services, and how to continue to afford food with prices rising so fast

The latest ONS data explored life satisfaction and feelings that the things older people do in life are worthwhile It showed

75% of people aged 70 and over and 75% of people aged 50 69 years were very worried or somewhat worried about the cost of living

52% of people aged 70 and over were very worried or somewhat worried about the new variants of coron avirus

• 33% of people aged 70 and over were very worried or somewhat worried about the effects coronavirus is hav ing on their life right now

Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa It is imperative that older people get help and treatment for depression and wellbeing concerns as well as for physical illness For example older adults with physical health conditions such as heart disease have higher rates of depression than those who do not have a serious health problem In addition, untreated depression in an older person with heart dis ease can negatively affect its outcome[i] making it even more important that anyone struggling with a men tal health problem speaks out and asks for the help they need

Older people respond well to NHS talking therapies However in 2021/22 just 5 6% of referrals to NHS

talking therapies were people over 65, despite making up nearly 20% of the population and being just as likely to experience common mental health problems The pandemic didn’t help of course, but in fact the proportion had already been declining for the previous two years before COVID 19 arrived

Age UK believes that severe mental health concerns can go unnoticed when they affect older people But data shows that eating disorders and self harming do affect older people in the community too

• For those that needed hospital care the figures show that admissions for self harming had risen among women aged 60 and over from 5 501 in 2015 to 7 515 in 2019

• Hospital admissions for eating disorders between 2015 and 2019 had nearly doubled among women aged 60 69 years and had more than doubled among women aged 70 79[vi]

Caroline Abrahams Age UK s Charity Director said: It s heart breaking to think that some older people may be experiencing anxiety depression or severe mental health problems and for one reason or another are not reaching out to get the help that they need and deserve

Reaching out for help and talking about mental health and wellbeing is not something most older people have traditionally done even though it is perfectly normal We all need help sometimes and feeling depressed or anxious should not be viewed as being an inevitable part of ageing Anyone feeling out of sorts for a few weeks should seek help from their GP or a friend or a family member NHS talking therapies have a higher success rate for older people than younger people but older people are typically under referred

The good news is that we can all do our bit to help though by reaching out to older relatives and friends for a chat over the phone or a face to face visit For anyone hard of hearing a letter may be hugely wel come For those online video calls offer a world of opportunities to stay in touch Simple actions like these can do more good than you will ever know

Growing old Disgracefully: Scotland’s Strongest Pensioners Celebrated for Zest for Life

‘Scotland’s Strongest Pensioners’ have been awarded for ‘growing old dis gracefully through a resident led April Fools campaign that saw them prank the nation

Earlier this year, residents at Renaissance Care launched their ‘Scotland’s Strongest Pensioner Championships’ and had a blast taking photos during fake training exercises inspired by the World s Strongest Man competition The group were pictured working towards personal goals and bests in the famous Vehicle Pull, the Hercules Hold and a variety of deadlifting challenges

The residents had been taking part in Summer and Winter Olympics initia tives across the group which improved the health and wellbeing of residents and saw them get competitive across the sports For April Fools Day they felt the perfect joke would be to take that one step further to find Scotland’s

Strongest Pensioner

Now the residents have been awarded with a Growing Old Disgracefully title at the NAPA Awards celebrating those who live life to the fullest and maintain a zest for life in their older age

Care home resident Robert Roy (81) took part in the joke and was pho tographed at Renaissance Care s Whitecraigs Care Home Robert said: We had a great laugh lifting the fake weights and pretending to pull the mini van along for our April Fools Day joke

“We are all really competitive and have been joking about who is the strongest so we wanted to have a little fun It s fantastic to now have been awarded for our prank we love to have a laugh in the home it s the secret to keeping young!”

Why Nursing Uniform Is Fit-For-Purpose

When it comes to workwear often the first garments to spring to mind are nursing uniforms Seen on TV dra mas and in person they are one of the most recognis able and utilitarian uniforms on the market

The style of nursing uniform doesn t change often as years of research have gone into finding garments that give the highest number of benefits to medics Whether it comes in the form of scrubs, tunics, dresses, maternity garments or trousers these uniforms are worn by nurs es doctors dentists vets surgeons and other associat ed professionals worldwide to offer the greatest protection

We recently caught up with Roma McLeod, Senior NHS Business Development Lead at Alexandra a lead ing uniform provider in the healthcare sector, to find out the top five benefits nursing uniforms offer medical pro fessionals

1 NURSING UNIFORMS HELP KEEP STAFF SAFE WHEN

integrity for several years through repeated harsh industrial laundering cycles This ability is essential for maintaining a clean sanitary medical environment

3. THEY HELP STAFF TO BE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE ACROSS JOB ROLES AND EXPERIENCE

The third benefit of nursing uniforms is that they help staff stand out from regular individuals and be easi ly identifiable to patients visitors and colleagues whilst presenting a professional image and helping staff to feel valued

Most NHS Trusts and private hospitals operate strict uniform dress codes because it s an easy way to sig nal who is a qualified medical professional For many patients seeing a uniformed medic with an ID badge will instantly instil a notion of familiarity and a sense of trust in that individual s professional capability The uniform can speak for itself and indicates that the wearer is responsible for patients health

Many hospitals also use uniform colours as a way to denote roles For example, a surgeon might be expected to wear light green scrubs whereas a matron might have to wear navy blue

Such a code saves time and further reassures patients and colleagues that they are speaking to the cor rect medic for the problem or task at hand

4 DESIGNED WITH THE WEARER IN MIND

Medical professionals are always on their feet making rounds from patient to patient The job is both men tally and physically demanding so their uniform needs to provide the required usability and comfort to the wearer, whether they’re sitting or standing for long hours

USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH MEDICAL PPE

Due to the nature of their work medical professionals are often at risk of being exposed to harmful dis eases and infectious substances so when their nursing uniforms are used in conjunction with medical PPE they act as the first barrier for infection control

Most nursing uniforms consist of garments (scrubs, trousers, tunics, and shoes) and medical PPE (gloves, face masks and aprons) These will adhere to strict standards for their durability and bacterial resistance

Most importantly, properly made uniforms are rigorously tested alongside user trials

2 NURSING UNIFORMS CAN BE THOROUGHLY CLEANED TO FOLLOW INFECTION CONTROL GUIDELINES

Due to the NHS infection control guidelines and to avoid cross contamination, many healthcare garments will have specific and tested laundry guidelines When followed these will help the longevity of the gar ments and ensure they can be washed time and time again

Medical uniforms also need to be washed at a higher temperature than normal clothing The UK Health & Safety Executive states that a 10 minute wash at 60ºC is enough to kill most microorganisms

Fortunately high quality nursing garments are created from durable fabrics designed to retain their

The size range for medical uniforms is extensive as it’s important that no one feels restricted and they can move freely When medical professionals are preparing for a long shift they do not need to be worrying about comfort Wearing a uniform takes the stress of picking comfortable clothing from them and allows them to focus on the job at hand

Most nursing clothing provides space for medical professionals to store their most needed tools and equipment close to hand Many nursing ranges feature pockets loops vents action backs and splits for greater access movement and flexibility ensuring the uniform confirms to the Occupational Health guide lines

5 THE AMOUNT OF CHOICE

There is a wide range of healthcare uniforms on offer for medical staff

Designers continually update their clothing designs to ensure they offer the maximum benefits for flexibil ity mobility and comfort for medical professionals in their daily roles

You can shop Alexandra s large selection of nursing uniforms here

A New Lease of Life as Weymouth Care Home Garden Gets Substantial Overhaul

Residents and staff at Care South’s Buxton House care home in Weymouth are rejoicing after its garden received a complete makeover

A major revamp has seen the grounds transform into a beautiful and tranquil space for residents to enjoy all year round The home is owned and operated by not for profit charity Care South who understand the importance of access to safe green outdoor spaces for residents and is committed to investing in its homes

Rachel Sohorye Peripatetic Home Manager at Buxton House said:

“Residents in our care have been excitedly following the renova tion work in the garden The outdoor space was in desperate need of some TLC, but now thanks to the investment we have a wonderful outdoor space for residents to enjoy along with their visiting family and friends They were so excited to get outside and explore our new garden their smiles say it all

Access to outdoor space is important for us all not least our eld erly residents and those living with dementia who need safe tranquil environments Being able to move around can help reduce tension and anxiety, whilst colour, touch and scent all help to calm and

ground residents Spending time in the great outdoors can also help awaken happy memories for residents This new garden will be a hugely important addition to our home ”

As part of the refurbishment the courtyard and sensory garden have been transformed There are now three different patio areas across the sensory garden providing plenty of seating areas for resi dents to relax in A new pergola provides a shady walkway with bench seating There’s also a water feature and raised aquarium accessible to all residents including wheelchair users which creates a soothing quiet space for calm and reflection A potting shed has been installed along with raised planters so residents can get their hands dirty and indulge in a spot of gardening The garden is accessible via wide, flat walkways

Commenting on the garden, John, a resident at Buxton House, said The garden looks fantastic and it was lovely to see the fish tank as I had many Koi fish at home before I came here I m really interested in fish and the design of the tank is good because everyone can see them It was also fantastic to help cut the red ribbon for the official garden opening ”

Oakland Care Recognised for ‘Gold’ Standard Workplace Culture

Care home provider Oakland Care has been awarded a ‘Gold’ accreditation from one of the leading global stan dards for people management Investors in People

Investors in People is an internationally recognised organ isation that has been dedicated to ‘making work better’ for more than 30 years Their work supports leaders employ ees, and companies to work together to create effective positive and thriving working environments

Oakland Care has been named as the latest organisation to join a 15 000 strong list of purpose driven organisations across 75 countries awarded an impressive ‘Gold status on their first attempt This was assessed against Investors in People s We Invest in People framework which seeks to understand how an organisation leads, supports and devel ops their employees

For Oakland Care, receiving the ‘Gold’ accreditation not only reflects their commitment to creating a positive work place culture where team members can thrive but more importantly how this commitment has been brought to life by championing their staff

responsibilities

This title is just the latest award

the provider has received,

roles

addition to the fantastic career and development opportuni ties on offer that are backed by competitive salaries

As well as this Oakland Care has further established themselves as the sustainability leader in the sector retain ing their status as the only carbon neutral care group in the UK These initiatives have helped to attract new team mem bers who are seeking a positive and purpose driven employ er while also bringing current team members together for a collaborative cause that creates a long lasting impact

Reflecting on their accreditation Joanne Balmer BEM Chief Executive Officer at Oakland Care said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded Gold from Investors in People on our very first attempt We do not take this lightly we know we could not have achieved this without the hard work and dedication of all our team members

I am incredibly proud of every single one of them They are true ambassadors of Oakland Care’s values Thank you all for your unwavering dedication towards our residents and for making Oakland Care an incredible place to work

Care we pride ourselves on our commitment to pushing the boundaries for delivering exceptional careers and we re working to ensure our team members continue to receive just this

“Nevertheless, we will not stop here

‘Concerning’ Links Between Former International Rugby Players and Neurodegeneration Revealed

Research conducted at University of Glasgow finds a group of former international rugby players are at around two and a half times higher risk of dementia and over 15 times greater risk of motor neurone disease (MND) compared to the general population Player position had no impact on dementia risk The Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry published the research

Prof Willie Stewart, a leading research figure in this field led the team, who compared health outcomes among 412 male Scottish former inter national rugby players and over 1,200 matched individuals from the gen eral population

They found that for former professional rugby players the risk of neu rodegenerative diseases is higher in a number of areas They are over 2 67 times more likely to develop dementia over 3 times to develop Parkinson’s, and over 15 times more likely to develop MND The actual number of people who developed MND was not available

Out of 421 rugby players, 121 died in the follow up period that lasted on average 30 years Rugby players have less risk of dying up to age 70 than the age matched controls The age of death was also higher at78 9 in rugby players vs 76 4 in controls

Unlike the FIELD study into football the research team did not find rugby players had less cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses compared to controls from the population

Our expert comment:

Dr Susan Kohlhaas Director of Research at Alzheimer s Research UK said: Rugby means so much to so many, it is a game that inspires, that brings people together from many cultures around the world, and one that is played by both men and women at all levels up and down the country But as with all contact sports it has risks While the benefits of physical exercise on brain and heart health are well known, multiple stud

ies show links between traumatic brain injury and the development of dementia Previous findings from this research team have also suggested that ex professional footballers are at increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases

“It’s concerning to see research now identify former male rugby players as being at increased risk of dementia and at particularly high risk of the neurodegenerative condition motor neuron disease The research team point towards head impacts during the careers of rugby players having a role in the development of the diseases, however quantifying the number of head injuries fell out of scope of this research study

“While this is the biggest study of its kind into former male rugby play ers there are still uncertainties over the exact size of the risk for exam ple since motor neurone disease is a rare condition there were no cases of MND in the aged match controls and so much larger studies are need ed to paint a clearer picture

“Research that points the way to understanding and minimising the risks associated with head impacts, and how to balance these against the undoubted benefits of physical activity and of playing rugby is chal lenging but essential At Alzheimer s Research UK we have outlined the most important priorities for researchers to complete the picture including studying the impact of head injuries in women at grass roots and in the modern game none of which were the focus of this research As the leading dementia research charity, we re already kick starting further research into brain injury and the long term risks of dementia with £500 000 of investment

“Interest in the links between participating in sport and risk of dementia is at an all time high Researchers, funders stakeholders and custodians of the sport must seize this moment to deliver new coordinated research to give every person the best possible chance of living a dementia free life ”

London Marathon Runner Inspired by Family Connection

Paramedic Charley Blow has broken a sweat at the London Marathon to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK on behalf of her local care home Signature at Westbourne

Completing the gruelling 26 2 mile run around the capital in four hours and 52 mins Charley s fundraising campaign has already got off to a running start Combined with cash donations she has raised more than £1 800 so far

Her race is far from over as she aims to raise at least £2 000 to support Alzheimer s Research UK s work and to show solidarity with the residents and car ers at Westbourne, who along with all 35 other Signature care homes have penned a partnership with the charity

Charley has a longstanding relationship with Signature at Westbourne, having worked there as a housekeeper at the age of 16 and later as a carer whilst studying to become a paramedic She still applies the dementia training that she received at Signature when supporting those living with the condition in the wider community

Charley s connection to Signature s care team has since developed further as her grandmother has been a resident at the home for the past five years

Witnessing how the care home s dementia care team has supported her grand mother spurred Charley on to ensure that others with a dementia diagnosis are like wise supported to live a happy and fulfilling life

Although she is a novice runner, she quickly seized the challenge of completing a marathon as an opportunity to showcase the work of both Alzheimer s Society and Signature

This fundraising initiative is not the first time that Charley has worked with Signature to make advance

ments in Alzheimer s care In 2012 she established Westbourne s memory café with the support of the Alzheimer’s Society to highlight the importance of providing a safe and supportive environment for those suffering with Dementia

Reflecting on her marathon run, Charley Blow said:

The marathon is an experience that will stay with me forever from being a com plete novice I can proudly say I have run the full marathon for a very worthy cause

“Watching my Nan and other residents thrive at Signature at Westbourne is testa ment to the fact that with the right support anything is possible following a dementia diagnosis

From taking her on skiing trips to enjoying the delights of sunny Bournemouth the supportive staff have worked wonders in helping her to regain both her confidence and her independence at 83 years young

“Dementia will affect everyone either directly or through a loved one and the Alzheimer’s Research UK work to combat this is an outstanding worthwhile cause ”

Commenting on Charley s fundraising drive Doina Tampu Ababei General Manager at Signature at Westbourne, said

Here at Signature of Westbourne we are so proud of Charley s fundraising work as well as the work that she continues to do with older people in our community Whilst our residents benefit from an exceptional living environment and activities programme we are very aware that others throughout the country struggle with their dementia diagnosis

By fundraising for Alzheimer s Research UK we hope to support others with the condition and to ensure that dementia residents live as independently as possible for as long as possible ”

Celebrating Success at Dormy Care!

More than 60 people came together in Bath last week (Wednesday 5th October) to celebrate the Dormy Care Awards

This event held annually is an opportunity to recognise their wonderful team members who have really made a difference and go above and beyond in supporting the ladies and gentlemen in their care homes

The staff finalists were nominated by colleagues peers residents and visitors in categories which included Exceptional Newcomer Award Community Engagement Award Excellence in Catering/Hospitality Award Promoting Fulfilled Lives Award Compassion and Dignity Award and Changing Lives Award

There was also a very special Spirit of Dormy Award who recog nises someone who really shines and reflects the Dormy Care values through and through

was won by Maggie Griffiths from Bramshott Grange and Christina Storrie from Pine Martin Grange who received

nominations from their colleagues and management for their compassion, dedication and commitment

As well as the winners being presented with an award all 26 finalists were presented with

tificate and a cheque to thank them for going above and beyond with the work they do

The ceremony also highlighted a very special event which took place earlier this year where Dormy had its own cook off competi tion that took place across all four homes and saw the chefs take on an opportunity to really showcase their skills To thank all the chefs who took part Dormy presented them with a certificate as well as a specially designed kitchen knife to take away with them

Chef of the Year category went to Ashley Davies from Brockington House for his exceptional dining experience

Helen Davies Parsons CEO of Dormy Care Communities shared her thoughts from this very special day;

“I am extremely proud of each and every individual who was a finalist yesterday These are all very special people who do excep tional things each and every day I am sure many like myself, found the stories humbling and emotional, hearing the passion and dedication from these incredible people and I cannot thank them enough for what they do ”

We hope everyone who is part of the Dormy Care family feels appreciated every day and that this is just another way to celebrate the amazing care and service they deliver

No More Targets or Risk Damaging Public Confidence in the NHS, Warn Health Leaders

Health leaders are urging the Government to introduce a ban on new targets for the NHS unless they are backed up by additional investment and capacity

With news yesterday that the NHS is facing a funding black hole of over £20 billion by 2024 and expecta tions that Government departments identify ‘efficiency savings’ NHS leaders are worried that patient servic es will become even more strapped for cash and waiting lists will spiral further out of control They warn that loading new targets onto stretched local services when existing targets are already not being met risks damaging public confidence in the NHS

There are over 6 8 million people waiting for elective procedures over one million people in need of spe cialist mental health interventions and over one million people needing support in the community against a backdrop of over 132 000 vacancies

The NHS is committed to tackling these challenges but leaders believe that the answer will not be found in politicians imposing oversimplified and unfunded targets that make convenient soundbites but have little bearing on reality These do nothing but demoralise frontline workers and raise public expectations at a time when satisfaction levels in the NHS are at their lowest point despite everything NHS staff are doing

In conversations with the NHS Confederation one leader of an integrated care system (ICS) said We are facing 200, 300 KPIs [key performance indicators] [which] all come with a project, a reporting requirement, other requirements which is a massive distraction from what you want ICSs to focus on We need the free dom and flexibility to decide our priorities locally based on what our population is telling us Some KPIs are helpful but they always trump local priorities and are enormously reporting intensive ”

The NHS Confederation is calling for a review of all existing national targets and as much as possible for local leaders to be given the opportunity to set specific priorities of their own which will improve the health care and wellbeing of their local communities

To enable this further the NHS Confederation is also urging political leaders to commit to a ten year freeze on further structural reforms to the NHS This follows the formal establishment of integrated care bodies in July as the 42 systems responsible for how health and care services and planned and commis

sioned across England

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said

“Health leaders understand that the Government and politicians may want to send a strong message about their expectations of the NHS but the worst thing they could do now is commit local services to a raft of new targets when it is difficult enough meeting existing ones This isn’t the NHS wanting to avoid accountability but about making sure we have a realistic set of performance measures

“The NHS has got local communities through the pandemic but it is now faced with eyewatering waiting lists huge staffing vacancies and a cost of living crisis which could see services struggling to stay afloat Any new national targets must reflect this reality and be resourced in full as targets without extra staff and investment will do nothing but deceive the public and demoralise NHS staff

“Also future NHS priorities need to be decided much more by the local systems that know what is best for their communities It is no longer necessary or appropriate for national bodies to draw up exhaustive lists of targets for healthcare systems and providers when there are leaders and staff closer to the ground who will do a better job

To give these systems a fighting chance of success they need to know that they will be given the time and space to deliver which is why a pause on any structural reform to the NHS for the next decade is vital We tend to have a major top down reorganisation every five or so years and we must avoid that or risk fur ther turmoil and being distracted from the more important issues we need to fix

Already the NHS has welcomed the delay to the Secretary of State s plan for primary care appointments to be delivered within two weeks until next April so that it can be funded as part of the new GP contract

Also the NHS has shown what it can deliver for its local communities when targets are set alongside ded icated investment and local freedoms having led the world beating Covid 19 vaccination programme and ensured that virtually everyone who had been waiting two or more years for an elective procedure received one

Community Sports Day with Doncaster Sporting Friendship Club at Runwood Homes

Ivy Court and Rowena House, operated by Runwood Homes, have welcomed a new community initiative from Home Instead Doncaster Sporting Friendship Club which develops residents emotional and physical wellbeing through sport

Taking place every month the friendship club is a perfect opportunity for resi dents from both care homes to connect with each other and relive memories of some of their favourite sporting past times

The residents kicked off the club with sporting hangman followed by various quizzes, sporting trivia, a tense game of bingo, and an old favourite, ‘spot the ball ’ They also enjoyed physical games such as target throwing and roll the dice Wellbeing Lead at Ivy Court care home Gail Walker said

“We are so happy to welcome the Doncaster Sporting Friendship Club to Ivy

Court and give the residents the opportunity to relive their old sporting memo ries Whether our participants are into sport or not it s important for them to be getting out making new lasting friendships and most of all have some fun ”

Through the sporting friendship club older adults who are isolated or living with dementia low mood or other long term conditions can find fun friendship and increased well being The club brings the community together and allows positive memories to be re ignited and for companionship to flourish

The sporting club is an important charity and social enterprise that uses the power of remembering and talking about sport along with physical exercise to tackle dementia depression and loneliness in older people

‘Celebrating Vegetarianism and Veganism’ Guide

National Activity Providers Association and Vegetarian for Life are delighted to announce a new partnership, beginning with the release of special activity resource to celebrate Vegetarian Month this October as well as World Vegan Month this November

Entitled ‘Celebrating Vegetarianism and Veganism the pioneer ing 27 page resource explores ways to support the wellbeing of vegetarians and vegans using care services and provides top tips to support the practice of Activity Providers

Research suggests that the number of residents following a vegan diet in UK residential care homes has risen by 167 per cent since 2014

There are currently more than 11 000 care homes for older peo ple in the UK The total number of vegetarians and vegans com bined is now estimated to be over 7 000 across both nursing and residential care

There are one or more vegetarians or vegans living in one in every five UK care homes

The rapid rise in vegan residents in particular has sparked NAPA and VfL to urge care facilities to be prepared if a vegan resident moves into the care setting and this is exactly where the new resource comes in Packed with food inspired activities ‘Celebrating Vegetarianism and Vegan’ has inspiring suggestions for art gardening cooking and more Vegetarian for Life the UK charity working on behalf of older vegans and vegetarians is pleased to sponsor the new guide

Amanda Woodvine Chief Executive, Vegetarian for Life says: Celebrating Vegetarianism and Veganism is packed with inspiring ideas to help your planning and is a

lovely way to make vegan or vegetarian residents feel included and to celebrate their lifestyle choice

“You’ll find hundreds more recipes on Vegetarian for Life’s website, along with many other useful publi cations from Veganising classic dishes through to nutrition

“And if this resource has breathed new life into your work you could sign up for further training with us or even funding to run a bespoke activity (see the back page of the guide) ”

Hilary Woodhead Executive Director NAPA says:

“NAPA encourages an inclusive approach to activity and engagement We support Activity Providers to develop their knowledge and skills in recognising difference and planning activities that are meaningful for every individual they support

This resource shares best practice and activity ideas related to providing activities for veg ns (vegetari ans and vegans); we hope it will support Activity Providers in raising awareness about the specific considera tions required to ensure an inclusive approach

“Over the last decade there has been a significant increase in the number of people adopting a vegetari an or vegan lifestyle For many people this goes far beyond diet it’s a way of life

It is important therefore that Activity Providers have the necessary information to support them in developing individual activity plans which meet the needs of a diverse group of people

Whilst food is often the first step it is important to recognise other issues of importance to vegetarians and vegans; the environment, beauty products, clothing materials and even activity supplies need to be considered too

“Special thanks to Vegetarian for Life; their support expertise and sponsorship has enabled us to make this FREE resource available for all care and support services to download

Do visit their website where you will find a range of resources to support you in your practice

To download the guide, visit https://vegetarianforlife org uk/blog/post/celebrating vegetarianism and veganism guide

Or https://vegetarianforlife org uk/files/NAPA Celebrating Vegetarian and Veganism Resource Pack 2022 pdf

Knight Frank’s Annual Care Home Awards, Recognises Four Winners and Raises £65,000 For Healthcare Charities

Knight Frank the leading independ ent global property consultancy, host ed its annual Care Home Awards last week recognising excellence in the sector while raising over £60 000 for charity

The awards were presented at Knight Frank s Healthcare Property Lunch on Thursday 6 October at The London Marriott Grosvenor Square The awards were judged by an inde pendent panel comprising Mike Parsons Andy Porter Bhavna Keane Rao Paul Hammerton and Melissa Magee

All submissions for the awards will form part of the Luxury Care Home Guide 2023, to be released early next year

The Luxury Care Home Guide 2023 lists the top 100 care homes in the UK

event raised

Keeping

for

This year’s winners of the Care Home Awards were:

Luxury Care Home Award went to Signature at Barnet Signature Senior Lifestyle Limited

Care Home Design Award went to Eden Grange Care Home Cinnamon Care Collection

Renovation Award went to Signature at Hendon Hall, Signature Senior Lifestyle Limited

Achievement Award went to Peter Van Herrewege PrimeLife for the work he has done in the sector

Other finalists included Beulah Vista Care Home, Loveday at Kensington, Deer Park, Wharfeside, Brownscombe Care Residences Rawcliffe Manor

Julian Evans Head of Healthcare at Knight Frank said These awards provide annual and much deserved recognition of excellence in the healthcare property sector This is a leading sector event and we were pleased to host such a notable group of sector experts who provided their insights on the future of healthcare property

are immensely proud that we were able to raise such a significant sum of money

the Matt Hampson Foundation and The Clocktower Foundation and contribute

worthy

some way to

Healthy for People Living with Dementia

Maintaining good eyesight can be a really important lifeline for people living with dementia and can help support the people who care for them

Zetun Arif, an ophthalmic director for Specsavers Home Visits in the Greater Manchester area, speaks to The Carer about how important eye tests are in helping people live well with the condition and about the service the teams offer to people living in care homes

Q Why is maintaining good eyesight so impor tant for people living in care homes, whether they are living with dementia or not?

Maintaining good vision really matters for all of us but it s especially important for care home residents because they are more likely to have limited mobility and may be at a higher risk of falls

Many of the things they may enjoy doing will involve good vision like watching television or doing puzzles or craft activities

Q. So that’s why regular eye tests are so impor tant for care home resi dents?

Sight loss can lead to people feeling really isolated and if a person is also living with dementia it can make them feel more confused

Regular eye tests allow changes in vision to be tackled quickly and can also detect other eye conditions (such as glaucoma or cataracts) which may need further treatment at an early stage

Q How can Specsavers Home Visits help?

Our home visits teams are trained to support people living with dementia and the people who support them They ll work with to deliver a personalised service to your residents delivered with kindness patience and a smile

Our optometrists

We

How

We

In

ment to those suffering from serious injuries or disabilities from sporting activity and The Clocktower Foundation

How Reviews Can Help Build Confidence in Your Care Home

hoosing a care home is understandably diffi cult both for individuals entering the care setting and their families

There are countless options out there meaning it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or worried about making the right choice Add the emotional toll of these decisions and it’s not hard to see why peo ple find it hard to pick a care home

So how do you make it easier for families to trust your care home and be confident that you provide the best care? One way you can build confidence in your care home is by collecting and publishing reviews from current residents and their visitors

Many care homes do not encourage residents and their guests to shout about the facilities and staff that make a residence special The average number of reviews on Google for 400 care homes in the UK was only four and often these reviews are several years old Fewer than 15 percent of care home residents or their families leave a single review in a year This is a missed opportunity that can have a huge impact on your care home and the residents staying there

WHY ONLINE REVIEWS ARE CRUCIAL TO FAMILIES SEARCHING FOR SOCIAL CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES

Word of mouth recommendations have always been highly regarded People are far more likely to trust an opinion from another person rather than a suggestion from an advert or a company

Now, word of mouth recommendations are taking place online Individuals share their experiences and tips on the internet in a bid to inform others and help them make good choices Care homes should embrace this trend, and use this as an opportunity to get the word out about their unique strengths

Clear informative online reviews for your care home are an invaluable way to promote transparency They increase your credibility as you prove that your institution is open and honest This in turn helps families to feel confident that their loved one is in safe hands The more information that is available and the more pos itive testimonials they read the more likely a family is to trust your care home

WHAT FAMILIES LOOK FOR IN CARE HOME REVIEWS

By Suman Saha, Co founder and Medical Director at Doctify (https://www

Families look for several different things in care home reviews, including:

Proof that the care home can provide the kind of care their loved one requires These needs could include care for dementia respite old age challenging behaviour stroke epilepsy speech impairment and more • Reassurance that their loved one will be safe in their new home

Evidence of high quality of care for residents

Kind, welcoming staff who can fulfil residents needs

Lists of different activities that keep residents busy and entertained, helping them to feel at home

Relatable stories from people in similar situations including residents and their families to help them understand what life in the care home is really like WHY REAL TIME FEEDBACK IS SO IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES

Families are unlikely to trust a facility that only has a few reviews from back in 2015, and for good reason Why would they encourage their loved ones to live in a setting with so many unknown factors?

Research shows that at least 40 reviews are needed for a person to trust a care home and 85 percent of people consider reviews that are more than three months old totally irrelevant Real time feedback gives residents a voice allowing them to talk about their own experiences

Reading these testimonies helps families make up their minds and feel secure in their choices as they should not have to leave their loved one s future up to chance Reviews can equip them with the knowledge they need to make the best choices and empower your care home to provide the best care possible HOW REVIEWS CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR CARE HOME

A consistent stream of reviews can enhance your brand presence online and increase conversion for potential customers Forget expensive and ineffective SEO tactics Google simply loves new informative content The search engine is more likely to reward brands that display up to date content that is always being expanded on

A strong online presence achieved through reviews can make it easier to recruit great staff who want to work at an excellent facility Positive reviews also boost team morale letting current staff know that their hard work has been noticed and encouraging them to keep it up

Reviews can even help to reduce the risk of a low CQC rating as you can identify areas for improvement before inspectors come in Achieving a good CQC rating is another way to reassure families that your care home is an excellent choice

Find out more about why online reviews are becoming so important for care homes at https //thecareruk com/why online reviews are becoming so important for care homes/

Local Care Home Hosts Free Professional Breakfast Meeting

Bushey House Beaumont Care Home in Bushey invited local professionals to their Networking Breakfast Meeting

The event took place on Friday 7th October professionals from various care and community organisations within the community had a chance to meet and network over breakfast served by head chef Avni and his team at the home The event was a great success and attendees included The Mayor and Mayoress of Hertsmere Cllr John Graham and Mrs Barbara Graham and The Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere Cllr Victor Eni Guests also had a chance to take a tour of the home and ask

any questions they might have about care Samantha Neal Customer Relationship Manager at Bushey House Beaumont said: “Bushey House Beaumont is keen to be part of the community and our Networking breakfast allows individuals from the care industry and local community to meet and connect with one another It’s a great chance to share experiences of working within the care sector, make new contacts within the community and of course enjoy our wonderful spread provided by our hospitality team!

Care Home GM Helps Former Schoolteacher Living with Dementia Play the Violin for the First Time in Years

A general manager at a Hertfordshire care home who has been reunited with his former schoolteacher has given back after helping the now turned resident remember to play the violin something he hasn t attempted in many years as a result of living with dementia

83 year old resident David Brown and Foxholes Care Home’s GM Neil Gandecha were reintroduced to each other at the Hitchin based care home following David’s many years of teaching English and French at the town’s Kingshott School

Mr Brown whom Neil credits as an inspiring figure for his own career development was the Head of English and dedicated 30 years of his life to teaching literature before retiring and later making the transition into care

What started as a student teacher relationship in the classroom has now transitioned into a heart warming tale of friendship and support proving that timeless friendships can be forged at any age any time and anywhere

Having arrived at Foxholes in 2021 David who has been living with dementia for several years, has maintained a lifelong love of music and was particularly talented with the violin

Inspired by the work of Dementia Friends an initiative launched by the Alzheimer s Society to transform people s perception of dementia Neil decided to utilise dementia therapy tools with David to help encour age reminiscence and communication through a collection of music memories and photos

While those living with dementia may forget to keep in regular touch with their hobbies and personal interests music therapy has proven to be one of the best ways to engage with people and stimulate memo ry recall helping to resurface memories that are never truly lost

Neil then organised for Kingshott School’s Head of Music, Alison Eales, a former colleague and close

friend of David to visit the care home

The emotive reunion involved a lunch trip allowing the trio to discuss and reminisce about old times at the school which brought back fond memories of David and Alison playing together in previous years

With the friendship between the two firmly rekindled Neil who noticed David would still light up during activities involving music at the home wanted to test whether the experience could prompt them to consider playing together again This led to David picking up the violin and effortlessly performing the iconic Bruce Springsteen song, ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ something he hadn t been able to do in years

Commenting on the performance Neil said: “To see Mr Brown and Miss Eales reconnect over lunch and perform a rendition together especially from a for mer pupil s perspective was a proud moment for me and my sister who also works at Foxholes To pay back our teachers a little with a moment of reminis cence and happiness was unforgettable Mr Brown who is now insistent that I call him David, played the violin as beautifully as I remember when I was just 10 years old!”

He continued: It s been so nice to see a familiar face and rekindle the great relationship we previously had I know music brings a great deal of joy to David which meant it was vital that I try to return the favour and make an important contribution to someone who had such a significant influence on my own life Friendships especially those formed in our school days are sacred and the same is true in care homes It’s good to remind people that friendships can blossom and withstand the test of time at any age any time and anywhere!

Alzheimer’s Society Collaborates with Government and UK Donors to Launch £4 Million Tech Prize

Alzheimer s Society has united with Innovate UK and Challenge Works to launch a new multi million pound competition a collaborative partnership of charity gov ernment and UK donors to find cutting edge technology that can help people with dementia live independently at home for longer The announcement comes as more than half of people surveyed who have close family and friends living with the con dition say such technology would help them feel less worried about family or friends with dementia

The new £4 34m Longitude Prize on Dementia calls for innovators globally to use artificial intelligence to create breakthrough technologies that learn from a person living with dementia adapting and compensating for their condition as it progresses and help people living with dementia maintain their independence and lead a fulfill ing life doing things they enjoy

In a new survey of people with close family and friends living with dementia 54% of people said they would be less concerned about their relative s safety if they had technology to help them live independently, and six in ten people believe that tech nology will become even more important in the future for managing dementia Kate Lee Chief Executive Officer Alzheimer s Society said:

“We know that people with dementia want to live independent fulfilled lives doing the things they love and our research shows that people feel that technology could play a crucial part in helping them live the lives they want

Most existing technology for people with dementia is designed to keep them safe or give their carers peace of mind But there are huge opportunities to harness cutting edge technology to help fill in the gaps in their brain and thinking as their condition progresses

“The results showed that many felt technology, like facial recognition, could help them communicate when their speech declines but would not be available in their loved ones lifetime however amazingly it already exists in the apps and smart technology we use every day We could repurpose the software of TikTok and WhatsApp to help people put a name to a face or remember a word The new Longitude Prize on Dementia will open up huge possibilities in this area making technology work for people living with dementia and their families ”

Contributions to the Longitude Prize from funders CareTech Foundation The Hunter Foundation and Heather Corrie will not only go towards a £1 million first prize but will also bolster wider support to give innovators crucial insight and expertise such as access to data collaboration with people with dementia and expert advice on product design and business aspects of the innovation

CareTech Foundation, a grant making foundation providing support to the social care sector hopes the competition will incentivise development into new technolo gies to help people stay independent in their own homes

Jonathan Freeman MBE CEO CareTech Foundation says

Dementia is a devastating disease that robs individuals of their identity and with the numbers of people diagnosed set to continue to rise, we know that getting care and support right is so important for our ageing population family carers and for everyone who works in social care That’s why finding innovative technology to revo lutionise the day to day lives of those living with dementia will provide timely and critical solutions At CareTech we have already invested in cutting edge technology which could transform the way we care for people and it will inevitably be a key part of how we all deliver the best care in the future Our decision to be part of this Prize was a no brainer and we are excited to see it unleash the potential of talented inno vators

There are 50 million people living with dementia globally, with around 900,000 in the UK and it is set to rise dramatically

The condition devastates lives causing people to lose memories relationships and their identity The dev astating condition could affect 153 million by 2050 Although there is currently no cure for dementia people with the condition can live well for years Hospital admissions have been proven to increase the rate of decline but the hope is that assistive technology can help people stay safe and independent in their home for longer A survey by Alzheimer s Society revealed 85% of people said they would want to stay at home for as long as possible if diagnosed with dementia

This prize invites global innovators to develop technologies that learn about the routines of people living with early stage dementia employing artificial intelligence and machine learning to adapt as their condition progresses bridging the cognitive gaps that develop with the disease

There are huge possibilities for dementia which are currently largely untapped The survey reveals that although some reported that loved ones benefitted from existing technology including monitoring devices (20%) GPS tracking devices (16%) and phone reminders (14%) over a quarter of people said their relatives didn t use technology at all (26%)

Delivered by challenge prize experts Challenge Works the £4 34m Longitude Prize on Dementia will award £3 34 million in seed funding and grants to the most promising innovators, with a £1 million prize awarded to the winner in early 2026 To find out more and enter the Longitude Prize on Dementia go to dementia longitudeprize org Entries close on 26 January 2023

101st Birthday Is Full Of Joy For Joyce

At Friends of the Elderly s residential care home The Lawn in Alton Hampshire the care team has been celebrating with resident Joyce Colley as she enjoyed her landmark 101st Birthday

For her extra special day The Lawn care team ensured Joyce had a birthday to remember They decorated the care home in an array of beautiful celebratory decorations and presented Joyce with a delicious 101st birthday cake The team also arranged a tasty afternoon tea party for Joyce and her care home friends and of course made sure everyone sung a resounding Happy Birthday To You to the birthday girl

Joyce grew up and went to school in Richmond Surrey a place famous for its Royal Parks celebrity residents and hidden gems including Marble Hill House and Pope s Grotto Richmond was also home to Richmond Palace a royal residence in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries where Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603

The team at The Lawn regularly encourage Joyce to reminisce about her incredible 101 years She recalled that growing up in the 1920s and 30s she would receive her pocket money on a Saturday and would then spend it on sweets at the local corner shop on a Sunday I didn t save my weekly allowance it burnt a hole in my pocket I loved my weekly trips to the local shop Being able to pick out a selection of sweets was a real treat ” said Joyce

Joyce worked as a Clerical Assistant and following her marriage to her hus band, Stuart became the proud Mother to two sons, Raymond and Paul “As a child I d always wanted a push bike but back then they were rather expensive so I never had one When my sons were growing up, Stuart and I made sure they had their own bikes but I still never had a go and mastered the art of cycling Joyce added

Talking about Joyce’s special day Alina Gutu the Registered Manager at The Lawn said: “Joyce is a joy to be around and reaching the grand age of 101 is something to be recognised and celebrated in style

Joyce brings a lot of fun and laughter to The Lawn and she s very creative Joyce s particular favourite

activity is arts and crafts her attention to detail and eye for how colours match and complement each other is a real skill ”

Joyce who was born in 1921 and has seen many changes over her lifetime and seen five Monarchs rule the country King George V was on the throne when she was born until his death in 1936 He was followed by King Edward VIII, King George VI the charity s late Royal Patron HM Queen Elizabeth II and now King Charles III

During her lifetime Joyce has also witnessed a vast range of inventions come into being From the creation of hearing aids, the television, talking films and heli copters to frisbees car seat belts microwave ovens mobile phones and the inter net the list is quite endless However when Joyce was asked what she believed was the most important invention to her she replied “the wheelchair” as now she finds it extremely useful

Joyce has been a much loved resident at The Lawn since December 2017: “I decided to come to The Lawn as I really liked the look and feel of the home I was particularly taken with the bedrooms and communal areas The activities are wonderful and everyone here is so friendly Joyce added

Alina continued: “All the care team wanted to make sure Joyce had a happy and memorable 101st Birthday She’s such a lovely lady who is a well loved friendly and caring member of our Lawn family We re all so glad Joyce enjoyed her very special day The care team, her care home friends and I all wanted to make it as special as possible for her as she really is very special to all of us

Joyce concluded “I have had a really wonderful 101st birthday, it’s been a love ly day I ve been totally spoilt and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed my wonderful afternoon tea party Everyone had a great time

“Someone asked me what I wanted for my 101st birthday I said to be 21 again so I could enjoy it all again

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Care Home Reaffirms Commitment to Staff

Wellbeing on World Mental Health Day

Surrey based maritime charity The Royal Alfred Seafarers Society, which cares for those living with Dementia in its Nursing Care Home in Banstead is continuing its investment in mental health and wellbeing support for its team this World Mental Health Day

The Society which already delivers mental health training to all staff, recognises the challenges within the sector and has committed to investing in further training and support for its team World Mental Health Day is marked on October 10 to help raise awareness of mental health issues and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health

Around one in six people in the UK suffer from mental health challenges[i] and a study from Carers UK revealed that 72% of carers said they had suffered mental ill health as a result of car ing[ii] The Royal Alfred is working to help tackle these high statistics within the sector by investing in mental health training for senior team members to help them to understand how best to support colleagues

The training helps team members to learn what specific triggers might cause mental health issues and how to spot warning signs amongst their colleagues

The Society conducts regular staff satisfaction surveys to help guide its mental health support packages

to ensure colleagues are happy in their roles and feel fulfilled The surveys also provide useful insights if there are any team members that may be struggling

Chief Executive of the charity Commander Brian Boxall Hunt OBE said: “The wellbeing of not only our residents but also that of our staff is an integral part of The Royal Alfred Seafarers Society’s ethos We want to ensure we have proper training in place so that our senior management team have an enhanced awareness of mental health issues and that they are equipped with the skills needed to support our staff who mean so much to the home and its residents

Our goal is always to make sure our colleagues feel appreciat ed and supported in their working environment which is not only of huge importance to the team but means we can maintain the high levels of care we provide for our residents

Alice Mitroi, Home Manager, said: “We know the importance of staff feeling supported and offering tools and services for those that may be struggling we are like a family here at The Royal Alfred so we all take extra care to look out for one another We know that mental health and wellbeing is just as important as physical wellbeing and it should not be underestimated or overlooked

Essex Care Manager Reaches Final of Awards

The Manager of an Essex care service which supports men with learning disabilities has been named a finalist in the East of England region of the Great British Care Awards

Ollie White, manager of The Orchards, in Thorrington, Essex, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Care Home Registered Manager category To be a finalist in this category, a manager has to demonstrate a high level of expertise together with exceptional skills in managing a care home They also need to be a manager who shows vision in developing person centred care and supporting staff to meet the ever changing needs of residents

The Orchards supports men with a learning disability and those who have complex needs and behaviours It is run by Cygnet Health Care, which sup ports individuals with mental health needs learning disabilities or autism Beatrice Nyamande, Operations Director, said several members of Cygnet Health Care staff had nominated Ollie as they are so impressed with the difference he makes to service users each day She added: “Ollie’s commitment motivation zest and drive for better and outstanding out

comes for both his staff and residents is so admirable and whatever the out come Ollie deserves a big applause ”

On finding out he had made the final Ollie said I was shocked to find out I had been shortlisted This nomination isn’t just for me, it’s for also for the resi dents and staff We are a team and there is no I in team it s a joint effort and I want to thank them all for taking the time to nominate me

I have had great guidance and support Beatrice has been with me every step of the way teaching me and sharing her knowledge with me This has helped a lot in my progression in being the best I can Thank you to every one

The Great British Care Awards are a series of regional events throughout the UK and are a celebration of excellence across the care sector The pur pose of the awards are to pay tribute to those individuals who have demon strated outstanding excellence within their field of work

The final takes place at an awards ceremony on Friday 4 November

Funding for Social Care to Solve Crisis ‘Won’t Scratch the Surface’, Warns Dementia Charity

Dementia charity Alzheimer s Society says the size and the scale of the problem in social care is ‘immense’ and people with dementia are being let down as thousands of families take on extra caring roles due to a workforce crisis

Off the back of a hard hitting report by the BBC supported by Alzheimer s Society s evidence on how people with dementia are being affected by failing social care Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Kate Lee told BBC Breakfast the Government need to pro vide a proper long term people plan for dementia

Currently 900 000 people are living with dementia in the UK but the charity’s analysis suggests that nearly 60% of those diagnosed with dementia are not getting the help they need with over half saying they’ve reached crisis point due to lack of care

The Government promised £5 4 billion would be allocated to social care reform over the next three years with £3 6bn to introduce a cap on care costs, and just £1 7bn promised for social care reform Of this only £500m is promised to be invested in the workforce Alzheimer’s Society says this is nowhere near enough to meet cur rent let alone future demand and is calling for sustainable long term investment underpinned by a clear plan for delivering the reforms that are needed

The Health and Social Care Select Committee called for £7bn per

year to be invested in social care in England as a starting point only stating even that will not provide further improvements that are urgently needed

People living with dementia account for more than 70% of care home residents and 60% of people receiving at home care There are currently 165 000 vacancies in social care

Responding to the BBC report, Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Kate Lee said:

‘The size and the scale of the problem facing social care is absolutely immense and people with dementia across the UK are being let down

My mum s living with dementia and it s the amazing carers that have kept our family going These are difficult jobs carried out by amazing people but it’s so hard to recruit for ’

We don t treat careworkers well enough they re overworked and underpaid If we continue to treat them like this they will burn out and find new jobs and unfortunately the proposed funding to fix this crisis won’t scratch the surface of what’s needed ’

In the report by the BBC Alzheimer s Society said those caring for people with dementia often did not understand their complex and personal needs and called for mandatory dementia training for social care staff

Alzheimer s Society Director of Research and Influencing Fiona Carragher said: We know currently that 3 in 5 people with dementia do not get the support they need once they have that diagnosis which leads to crisis in care

It s about delivering a visionary 10 year people plan not just stick ing plasters but really thinking about how we properly transform how we care for people into the future ’

Improving social care isn’t just important now it’s vital for future generations too, and in a rapidly ageing society, that has to be a priori ty for this Government ’

People with dementia have a huge stake in this and that’s why as ever we stand ready to work with Government to deliver the radical reforms which are needed ’

Alzheimer’s Society is calling for a ten year People Plan for social care to ensure careworkers are supported, skilled up, and retained, with better pay, mandatory training in dementia, and personalised care which puts people with dementia at its heart

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia chaired by Debbie Abrahams MP (with administrative support provided by Alzheimer’s Society) is currently focussing on issues around the care workforce with a report due out in the coming months

Charity Chair Reflects on Attending The Queen’s Funeral, with Care Home Veterans

One of the few privileged people invited to the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen has spoken about the poignant day with resi dents at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton

Royal Star & Garter Chair Major General Tim Tyler discussed the Westminster Abbey service and the historic days that preceded it following the death of The Queen, when he visited the care home on 26 September

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compas sionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia The Queen became its Patron in 1953

Major General Tyler was representing the charity at the state funeral and was one of only 2 000 mourners in the Abbey

He spent time at the Surbiton Home talking to fellow veterans, lis tened to their thoughts and feelings surrounding The Queen s death as well as sharing his experience of the funeral

And he gifted to the charity his Order of Service and ceremonial programme booklets received at the

Speaking afterwards Major General Tyler said: “Representing the charity and our residents at Her Majesty s funeral was one of the proudest moments of my life but of course it was also terribly sad and emotional At Royal Star & Garter we were lucky to have The Queen as our Patron for nearly 70 years I know residents here loved her dearly and are upset at the news of her death Spending time with them and sharing my experience of the funeral is important Air Force veteran Vera was one of the Royal Star & Garter residents who chatted to Major General Tyler She said: “Hearing what he had to say was fascinating and very interesting Major General Tyler was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1972 becoming a Colonel Commandant in 2005 He was appointed Director General Logistics (Land) and then Director General Land Equipment as well as Quartermaster General to the Forces before retiring in 2008

Nature Gives Life to Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2023

Dulux is celebrating two decades of Colour of the Year and has just launched its colour for 2023: Wild Wonder™ and four complementary versatile colour palettes that can be used to create stunning spaces across all sectors

Wild Wonder™ a soft gold with hints of green inspired by fresh seed pods and harvest grain is Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2023 Its upbeat glow connects us with nature, creating a sense of energy and positivity

As people search for support connection inspiration and balance in the world today, they re diving into the wonders of the natural world to find it Extensive research conducted by Dulux colour experts and inter national design professionals found that even with so many challenges ahead there was hope at the heart of global social design and con sumer trends

Marianne Shillingford Creative Director of Dulux UK says: Our rela tionship with the natural world feels more precious and precarious than ever As well as understanding the value of nature more keenly with climate change becoming a reality for all of us, we also feel the urgency of reconnecting with nature and the necessity of working with rather than against it “The earth and its materials have been inspiring humanity for cen turies Now is the time to put them centre stage and bring the outside in

We re re evaluating our relationship with nature and sensing the importance of learning from it not just about it We re understanding afresh that nature is the source of everything bringing us solace inspi ration materials and a myriad of blueprints for living That s why this year we’ve put the wonder of nature at the heart of our colour story ”

“Wild Wonder™ speaks to us in a language we instinctively under stand says Heleen van Gent Creative Director of AkzoNobel s Global Aesthetic Centre which chooses the colour Nature is what inspires us

and makes us feel better in our lives and in our homes That s why for the first time in 20 years our entire colour palette is inspired by the rhythms of nature ”

The name Wild Wonder™ was created on the basis that wild con jures up the freedom of nature and ‘wonder’ conveys the natural magic we see all around us Wild WonderTM is a positive natural tone that by connecting us with the natural world, can help us feel better in our homes

Four decorative paint colour palettes have been designed around Wild Wonder™:

Lush Colours beautiful forest hues that are inspired by the plant filled habitats of gardens and woodlands

Buzz Colours upbeat tones of pinks and ochres that capture the bustling biodiversity of a wildflower field or grassland

Raw Colours harvest shades that mimic nature s raw materials

Flow Colours warm neutrals and deeper seashore tones that bring a sense of fluidity and momentum

Lisa Pilley, Dulux Trade Commercial Colour Consultant, adds: “Wild Wonder™ and its four versatile colour palettes reflect the natural world and intuitively connect with nature s supply of substrates and materials whether structural or aesthetic As the world strives to re use rescue and build sustainably within commercial design programmes, placing humanity and environment at the heart of design is becoming increas ingly essential

“Colour can be transformational and guide occupants’ feelings and emotions This year’s Colour of the Year and associated palettes open opportunities to connect the natural world with our everyday lives in the built environment ”

The year 2023 brings two major milestones to the Global Aesthetic Centre Its ColourFutures™ trend forecast will celebrate its 20th anniversary while the team also reaches three decades of trend analy sis colour research colour design and art direction at AkzoNobel

The launch of Wild Wonder™ is supported by the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2023 Specifier brochure designed to inspire commercial design professionals working in all sectors from hospitality to health care

This brochure is part of Dulux Trade’s ongoing dedication to support ing specifiers with their latest projects and is part of a wider package of ColourFutures™ content The package includes design mood boards and advice videos that can be harnessed by professionals looking to create the perfect space in any setting using Wild Wonder™

To download the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2023 Specifier Brochure and for more information visit

www duluxtrade co uk/COTY23 and follow #CF23 on social media

Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2023 Wild Wonder™ and the palettes are available to specify

funeral, for residents to view and read through, across Royal Star & Garter s three Homes

Borough Care Celebrates Staff Excellence at Life in Colour Awards 2022

THE PRECIOUS GEM AWARD

Winner: Doulton Hamill Care Assistant at Bamford Close in Cale Green

ered the most significant changes and improve ments despite facing setbacks and challenges

Monday October 10th 2022: Residential care provider Borough Care celebrated its first in person staff awards night since 2019 with the Life in Colour Awards taking place on October 6th in Stockport

The winners were announced at a fun filled awards ceremony hosted by BGT semi finalist and All Together Now judge, Rob Bowden King

Borough Care employs over 700 members of staff across its ten homes in Stockport and two new luxu ry care homes in Staffordshire Through the hard work of its staff Borough Care's residents are encouraged and supported to live their best possi ble life whatever their age health or capabilities Instead of settling into a grey existence, they live life in colour

This year, The Life in Colour Awards generated an incredible 1 200 nominations across ten categories from staff, residents and their families the most nominations ever received Judges had the difficult task of shortlisting across the ten categories with individual awards handed out by CEO Mark Ward and the team awards presented by the Chair of Borough Care's board, Isla Wilson

With twelve care homes to maintain excellent standards of care in, not all members of staff could make it on the night With thanks to its suppliers Towergate Insurance Apetito Phil Ryan Flooring Claremont Catering ACS 247 Service & Maintenance Halliday Healthcare Matchstick Creative Scorah Chemist, Awareness Software, Barons Furniture, E Foods JTM service Ltd BFM (Staffs) Birchall Catering, Heatons Group and MDB Gas who donated over £3 000 in prizes Borough Care held a compa ny wide raffle for everyone who works there with a whopping forty prizes given away to staff From 2 x Manchester United v Aston Villa VIP Tickets to a 42 inch TV, to bottles of champagne there was plenty to celebrate!

THE LIFE IN COLOUR AWARD WINNERS

THE HELPING HAND AWARD

Winner: Katie Jef fries

Admin at Bryn Haven in Brinnington

This award was for the staff member who exhibits trust kindness friend ship and reliability and who has helped and supported their col leagues when they ve needed it most Katie, Admin at Bryn Haven received many nomina tions from colleagues and has been called a ‘star; Someone who is always willing to lend a hand and help out wherever and whenev er needed

This award was for the person who goes above and beyond, someone who is at the top of their game and who is the best at what they do no matter the time or circumstances Doulton a Care Assistant at Bamford Close received the most nominations of anyone in any catego ry, and has been called a true precious gem who residents adore and someone that goes above and beyond during every single shift

THE PCS CHAMPION AWARD

Bruce Lodge's Care Home Manager Megan was called ‘high energy’; ‘an influencer and ambassador for Borough Care by those who nominated her and is someone who has driven amazing improvements in her home in a short time

THE INSPIRER AND MENTORING CHAMPION

Winner: Hayley Weston

Home Manager Lisburne Court in Offerton

Winner: Amie Keats Senior Care Assistant at Lisburne Court in Offerton

This award was for the team member who is particularly brilliant at using our Person Centred Software throughout every shift, and encourages others to do the same Amie, Senior Care Assistant at Lisburne Court pro duces excellent PCS entries which are factual informative and person centred In fact they are so outstanding that they have been used in many Borough Care training ses sions

THE AMAZING ADDITION AWARD

Winner: Jis Johnson Senior Care Assistant at Shepley House in Hazel Grove

This award was for the person whose col leagues believe is their home’s top per forming new starter and someone who has performed remarkably well within their first months of joining the Borough Care team Jis who is a Senior Care Assistant at Shepley House has shown dedication and hard work that has not gone unnoticed He received lots of nominations that highlighted the positive changes he has made in the home since starting

THE GAME CHANGER AWARD Winner: Megan Lachevre

Home Manager at Lisburne Court in Offerton

This award was for a leader who has deliv

This award was for the leader or mentor who has made a signif icant difference to their team through their guidance and encour agement someone who has motivated staff and helped unlock their team s true potential Hayley, the Care Home Manager at Lisburne Court is passionate about her employees’ progress and is highly motivated in encouraging staff to gain training and qualification certificates

THE OUTSTANDING COLOURFUL CARE AWARD

This award was for the person who always pro vides exceptional individualised care and makes our residents smile the most The judges had a particu larly hard time choosing just one winner for this award The judges decided that there should be a winner from each home and head office

CARE HOME OF THE YEAR

Winner: Silverdale in Bredbur y

This award was to recognise the care home that has delivered the best results this year, including financial performance ratings and reviews Silverdale received an overwhelming number of nominations that talked about the team spirit com mon vision and one goal within the home There were over 100 nominations from staff, residents, and their family members

Leigh Cherie Jones, ALF at Cawood

Anita Case, Night Senior at Bamford

Ellie Whittaker, Senior Care Asst at Bruce Lodge

David Swindells, Day Senior at Bryn Haven

Heather White, Care Assistant at Meadway

Brahim Karak El Ghazi, Housekeeper at Reinbek

Chloe Pollard, Care Assistant at Shepley House

Amanda Palmer, Catering at Shoemaker Place

Lindsay Hadfield, ALF at Silverdale

Valerie Collins, Care Assistant at Wellcroft

Michelle Freeman, Purchasing & Procurement Manager at Head Office

THE STRONGER TOGETHER AWARD

Winner: The Catering and Hospitality Team

This award was to recognise the team that sup ports each other the most and works exceptionally well together to achieve great results

The Catering and Hospitality crew support each other as a whole team giving each other the motivation to ensure

Olga Walicka, Housekeeper at Hen Cloud

Laura Nelson, ALF at Lisburne Court

that they deliver an exceptional service so residents can Live Life in Colour across our homes every day

THE FAMILY CONNECTIONS AWARD Winner: Cawood House in Brinnington

This award was to recognise the team that sup ports both residents and their loved ones in any way they can Cawood was deemed a driving support for families, providing emotional support and practical help with residents

1 in 5 Residential Care Workers in the UK

Living in Poverty Before Cost-of-living Crisis

New analysis published by the Health Foundation reveals that staff working in care homes are far more likely to live in poverty and deprivation than the average UK worker Even before the cost of living crisis hit 1 in 5 residential care workers in the UK was living in poverty compared to 1 in 8 of all workers Many relied on state support to make up for low income from employment 20% of the residential care workforce drew on universal credit and legacy benefits from 2017 to 2020, compared to 10% of all workers

The report by the independent charity also finds that around 1 in 10 residential care workers experienced food insecurity living without reliable access to enough healthy food And 13% of residential care workers children lived in material deprivation where families are unable to provide children with essentials like fresh fruit and vegetables or a warm winter coat This compared to 5% of children in all working families

The Health Foundation is calling for additional investment and reform for social care to address low pay and poor working conditions The authors argue that little is being done to improve social care jobs in England compared to Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland They say the government should prioritise improving pay in a fully funded comprehensive workforce plan for social care in England and that broader policy to tackle poverty is also vital including on housing and social security

The Health Foundation analysis uses national survey data from April 2017 to April 2020 Since then a range of factors has impacted the social care system and its staff from COVID 19 to the cost of living cri

sis Government has recently provided considerable funding to help people with soaring energy bills But despite its 45p tax rate U turn its plan for growth will mostly benefit the richest households Without more support for poorer households and long overdue action to improve jobs in care life is set to get even harder for social care workers in the UK

Hugh Alderwick Director of Policy at the Health Foundation said:

‘Social care workers who are mostly women play a vital role in society but are among the lowest paid workers in the UK and experience shocking levels of poverty and deprivation Many cannot afford enough food shelter clothing and other essentials putting their health at risk

Sustained underfunding of social care has contributed to unacceptable pay and conditions for staff and major workforce shortages with vacancies in England rising by 52% last year This reflects political choices If government values people using and providing social care it must act to tackle low pay and insecure employment conditions in the sector

People on low incomes are most likely to struggle through the current cost of living crisis and poverty in the UK is set to increase Yet government’s plan for growth prioritises tax cuts over investment in public services with a further squeeze on public spending likely to follow

Full of Smiles: Hastings Care Residents Treated to an Afternoon Tea Experience at Luxur y Spa Hotel

Residents at a Hastings care home were recently treated to an afternoon tea experi ence at a luxury spa hotel to bolster overall wellbeing with the trip coinciding with the nationally celebrated World Smile Day Mountside Care Home a branch of ACI Care that specialises in residential, respite and dementia care were delighted to receive a complimentary afternoon tea experience for four of its residents gifted by the Bannatyne Spa Hotel Hastings Firm friends within the care home, resi dents Gillian (86) Sam (82) Richard (74) and Carolyn (68), recently redeemed the experi ence on World Smile Day where they delighted in the delectable treats served up at the hotel s unique Maxine s restaurant

Showcasing the importance of random acts of kindness staff were delighted by the residents response to the trip noting they were beaming and keen to chat about their end of the week excursion upon their return

Care home outings are vital to the wellbeing of residents, as they promote a sense of independence and freedom alongside providing an opportunity to meet and interact with individuals within the community

Discussing the importance of excursions, Shelagh Hazleton, who has worked as Mountside Care Home’s wellbeing coordinator for almost 9 years said: We were delighted to be approached by the Bannatyne

Spa Hotel Hastings to arrange a complimentary gift for our residents in celebration of World Smile Day

“At Mountside Care Home arranging activities and excursions both inside and outside of the home for the residents to enjoy is an important part of our culture of care For the past couple of years this has been difficult for us due to the restrictions imposed by COVID 19 Now though we like to take our residents to church weekly, alongside facilitating walks around the local area ”

Shelagh concluded We plan lots of events using the facili ties we have We are lucky to have a lovely garden, so we often hold our events outside (weather permitting of course!) and we are now able to invite friends and relatives which helps our residents feel like a part of the community and improves their physical and mental wellbeing

Speaking of the gifting, Daniella Rollison Best, Deputy General Manager of the Bannatyne Hotel Spa Hastings said: “An act of kindness is something anyone can give and will make a difference in all of our lives Bannatyne Hotel and Spa are delighted to be able to support this within our local com munity and hope to offer similar initiatives in the future

World Smile Day is celebrated every year on the first Friday of October This year World Smile Day is taking place on Friday 7th October with a theme of do an act of kindness help one person smile” The initiative is praised by schools, people organisations and associations attempting to improve the world by giving suppers, making recordings, and consider ing many more fun activities that can make a person smile

For The Cuppas That Show You Care

With lots of refreshing fruit and herbal blends as well as Original and black tea

Tetley has a solution for everyone when it comes to having a cuppa

Here at Tetley we understand the chal lenge of keeping your residents hydrated and the important role a quality cuppa can play

A significant 20% of care home resi dents are dehydrated1 which can lead to hospital admission This is easily preventa ble by keeping hydrated

EVERY CUPPA COUNTS

It can be hard to make sure your resi dents are drinking up to 8 glasses of water a day

the

daily water intake,2 making this the perfect comforting beverage to serve as a way of keeping on top of hydration

Whilst black tea remains a firm favourite among tea drinkers,3 having a range of tea blends including fruit and

is

and goes a long way in keeping your residents hydrated This way you can maximise the

As the nation’s

by

Tetley

the day by catering to

you will be bringing to them a

Operating

Whilst

are also

MORE THAN JUST TEA

Designed with care

It’s time for Action!

The war in the Ukraine has, amongst other things, highlighted our overdependence on fossil fuels With uncer tainty around fuel supply and mounting energy costs we find ourselves in a global energy crisis

Yet, in the midst of all this uncer tainty, it s clear there exists a momentous oppor tunity An oppor tunity to embrace and accelerate the deployment of clean technologies to help achieve energy security and ultimately arrive at net zero

The Challenge Facing the Care Sector

When it comes to climate change and the continued burning of fossil fuels business as usual is no longer an option Nursing homes and care homes provide a critical service ensuring patients and residents are cared for in a comfor table and warm environment The majority of facilities provide heating and hot water from fossil fuel boiler systems the fact is this must change As with ever y sector of society the care sector must become more sustainable But, when it comes to decarbonizing buildings and in par ticular heat there are significant challenges facing the care sector How do you decarbonise buildings rapidly cost ef fectively and without disrupting the critical service of caring for patients?

Enter the ActionZero EscoPod

The EscoPod Decarbonising Heat Rapidly & Without Disruption

The EscoPod is a patented, high temperature heat pump technology designed to replace traditional heating systems with a high ef ficiency and fossil fuel free alternative The EscoPod AZH ActionZero s dedicated heat pump system for the healthcare industr y, has been designed specifically to deliver heating (and cooling) to non domestic buildings in the healthcare sector including hospitals nursing and care homes

Not only does this technology replace the need for fossil fuels but it also produces multifunctional outputs that can be used for heating cooling and domestic hot water The EscoPod AZH also of fers significant energy ef ficiencies with savings of up to 70% and cost savings ranging up to 65%

Amongst the many benefits of this technology is the fact that it can be installed with minimal disruption i e , there is no need for costly building fabric or mechanical system upgrades which are typically required with conventional heat pumps This of fers many organisations a lifeline a realistic pathway to decarbonise their operations without enormous cost and business interruption

ActionZero describes themselves as a one stop shop They will manage a clients decarbonisation journey from end to end providing an af tercare package that includes Operations & Maintenance as well as ongoing per formance validation via data analytics

The EscoPod in action

Earlier this year ActionZero announced a par tnership with the Bons Secours Health System, the largest private hospital network in Ireland The ActionZero EscoPod AZH is currently being installed at the Bons Secours Hospital Tralee Co Kerr y with plans to expand the roll out of the technology across six other sites in the healthcare group

We are thrilled to partner with Bon Secours; an organisation that are showing commitment to climate change and taking definitive action to reduce their carbon emissions

The EscoPod AZH solution enables healthcare organisations to address the very significant challenge that is decarbonising heat and it does so while putting money in our customers pockets a win/win where commercial opportunity meets social good ’ said ActionZero CEO Denis Collins former global executive with IBM and previous chairman of IDA Ireland Regional Development

The Future is green

According to ActionZero COO Cormac Murphy ‘The EscoPod is coming to market at a time when companies are struggling to meet the increasing demands to decarbonise existing facilities We are excited to be part of the solution, supporting these businesses in their transition to zero emissions in a cost effective manner ’

To suppor t the ongoing development and expansion of its EscoPod product range, ActionZero opened an Irish manufacturing and research & development centre in May 2022 From here the company will design and manufacture their heat pumps before expor ting them to clients internationally This site will create at least 50 high value engineering and manufacturing jobs locally With plans to invest €3m in the company over the coming three years, ActionZero projects sales growth of €50m over the next two years

Get in touch

Act

Team at Townhal Summ t in

Suite Penrose Of fices Cork Photographer: David

ActionZero

Pictured

Ryan

Manager

Bon Secours

Connor CEO Bon Secours Tra ee Photographer Valer e O Su livan

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Hassle -and Stress- Free Bath Adaptations - Without Delay

Bath time it should be relaxing but if a client needs care support it is fraught with risk unless a major adaptation is undertaken

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

The core Aqua Liberty system uses suction technology to firmly attach to ANY bath 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

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

Jolly Trolley Brings Therapeutic Activity and Entertainment to Patients That Are Isolating

The Jolly Trolley® is an essential for any care establishment as it pro motes social interaction between the service users and their carers This innovative system is fully mobile and battery operated allow ing residents who may be unable to leave their rooms to also be includ ed w th ease 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 mag c!

Don t just take our word for it here are just some testimonials from our very happy Health and Social Care clients:

Chester Park Megan Allan

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

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 ”

Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentr

time

You

Activities The fact that we can upload what s relevant to the spe c fic Individual is so meaningful for that person and I can assure you we have shed some tears being able to be part of that res dents memory journey It has been an amazing add tion to our care home from staff and res dents thank you

Pennine NHS Trust Beech Ward we have been able to pro vide therapeut c activity & enterta n ment w th ease to patients 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 the front cover

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels for Drug-Free Pain Relief

ethanol

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

With

InVentry

Head

Yeoman Shield Fire Door Ser vices Taking the Guess Work out of Fire Doors

BIOFROST® Relief and the BIOFROST® Active are natural topical gels that effectively relieve pain reduce inflammation and diminish swelling without drugs and drug related side effects Safe for people of all ages including the elderly and disabled people

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels work as standalone therapeutic modalities or alongside other interventions (i

drugs, physiotherapy,

and

pain and discomfort

BIOFROST®

We pride ourselves on the quality of our Taiwanese

fleece and the range of over

colours we offer We have been in the fabric trade for over 50 years and manufac turing our fleece blankets for over 20 years

High volumes of our quality cosy fleece blankets are sold to the hospi tality nursery and pet sector This is due to the cost effectiveness of fleece along with the durability and washability The anti pil brushed sur face of the fabric lessens the bob ble effect found on many fleece fabrics of inferior quality

Co ordination to a theme is nor mally achievable due to our wide range of colours and contrasting or matching edging

ingredients (i

eucalyptus pepper mint

own healing Benefits are better joint movements last ing pain relief comfortable sleep fewer cramps calmed nerve pain reduced joint and muscular dis comfort less muscle fatigue puffiness and swelling

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

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

See the advert on page 5 for details

Ambassador Textiles

branding can be included in the man ufacturing process by adding a sewn in label

Alongside our regular fleece blan kets which are available in a variety of sizes we currently have several clearance fleece options available in our two most popular sizes

In keeping with our mission of the last 50 years along with all our other fabrics Ambassador Fleece Blankets offer great value for money backed up with the quality assurance and good service we have always offered

Please contact a member of our helpful experienced sales team on 0161 624 4167 or info@ambassador textiles co uk for information and pricing

advert

See

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

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

For a complete repair and protect service contact the team today frdp@yeomanshield com or visit www yeomanshield com or see the advert page 10

Free Online PAT Testing Course

Everyone can benefit from free train ing! Parker Bell offers a free online PAT Testing course which is ideal Care Home Managers and maintenance staff It gives you all the information about your legal obligations and responsibilities It also covers practicalities such as:

Equipment needed

Full visual Inspect on

How to do a PAT Test

What records to keep

As a result of the pandemic many have found their working environment has changed dramatically You may no longer allow people/contractors on your premises PAT Testing is straightforward to do and can be easily managed in house Our free course will show you how you can PAT Test, and what’s more the HSE say any competent person can do it! How do you access the free PAT Testing Course?

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

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

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

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

What equipment do you need?

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

How often should I PAT Test?

Frequency of PAT Testing is dependent on your Risk Assessment You need to include the routine inspec tion & maintenance

You

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/

Renray Healthcare

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

Ser ve Afternoon Tea in Style with Euroser vice

Renray

Telephone: +44 (0)1606 593456, Email: info@renrayhealthcare com www renrayhealthcare com or see the advert on page 3 for details

Raising the Standard of Stair Climbing Solutions

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

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

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

you would like to find out any

Consort Claudgen launches Consort Connect app

Consort Claudgen have launched Consort Connect app which allows users to have complete control over their heat ing remotely via their smartphone or tablet

The app is free and downloadable from Google Play or Apple Store It can control Consort’s Wi Fi enabled heaters and SL heaters connected to an SLPBWIFI wireless controller It gives quick access to four operating modes and provides a 7 day timer with twenty four heating peri ods per day It is easy to set up and users can configure the settings of all connected heaters on

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

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

50 Years of Design Excellence. 50 Years of Skopos

these new designs will be brought to life as prints perfect for Care Interiors available on a wide choice of Skopos base cloths

As with all Skopos prints customers will be able to order the Anniversary designs across base cloths for upholstery curtains and bedding Qualities include waterproof upholsteries velvets drapery linen effect qualities and blackout/dimout fabrics

Many of our fabrics are antimicrobial com ing under the umbrella of Skopos ProtectPlus

2022 marks the celebration of 50 years for Skopos fabrics! As a tribute to this milestone, throughout this year, we will be looking back at some of our favourite designs over this half century The 50th Anniversary Collection will see some of these authentic landmark designs reborn using contempo rary design production techniques The evolved designs will be developed in line with current trends for use within contract interiors today Each month

Skopos offer a full range of fabrics including upholsteries plus made to measure curtains bed ding and cushions for Care Interiors To request a quote for new curtains bed throws and cushions for Care please contact our sales team 01924 436666

For free samples of our Anniversary Designs please log onto our website www skoposfabrics com Skopos Fabrics Ltd are dedicated to design, serv ice and best performance Our full service or fabric only option provides choice for our customers, with expertise in design, make up (curtains, cushions and bedding), fitting and installation

Sustainable & Cost-Effective Hot Water For Care Homes

Care facilities typically exhibit significant but varied hot water and heating usage patterns which con tributes to the current 40% tally of UK greenhouse gas emissions generated by the built environment

To help achieve climate neutral building stock by 2050 the industry is being challenged to reduce opera tional energy use over all other measures By increas ing the use of renewable energy supply and prioritising on site renewable energy sources the hope it to reduce both carbon and bills

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

HOW DOES MOBILITY FURNITURE BENEFIT CARE HOME RESIDENTS?

Research has found that elevating the legs one of the main features of a rise and recline chair or adjustable bed reduces swelling of stiff and painful joints and enhances healing of injuries and wounds In fact experts have found that failure to elevate a limb can actually delay healing

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

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

Most residents need to avoid pressure sores and 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

WORKING WITH EXPERTS

Dr Rob Hicks popular celebrity media doctor acts as medical expert for Mobility Furniture Company

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

AN UPBEAT APPROACH

Mobility Furniture Company is one of the biggest mobility furniture companies in the UK Its wide 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

Sustainability comes with a cost Whether in the form of new build projects or and far more likely the refurbishment of existing yet ageing facilities under standing the necessary capital investment operational savings and payback periods is going to be key

Addressing the efficiency of domestic hot water (DHW) systems whether through the implementation of heat pumps solar thermal direct electric water heating or even simple modernisation of existing gas appliances helps care facilities meet sustainability goals in a practical and cost effective manner It also delivers improved year round conditions for staff and clients in care providing access to spaces better suit ed to delivering medical care and assisted living

For buildings already on gas and that rely on large amounts of DHW a large proportion of current UK care and nursing home properties solar preheat is the preferable option For new build properties the expec

Alliance

tation is for specification to default to a mixture of heat pumps and direct electric afterheat New system approaches including prefabricated packaged plant rooms also provide for better use of the spaces that already exist without the need to undertake expensive and disruptive building projects This is especially valid as demands for beds continue to increase, placing new demands on care facilities

Adveco can help achieve emission reduction targets

With more than 50 years of specialised expertise in designing, supplying, and servicing hot water systems to the nursing and care industry, Adveco is the single resource you need for independent expert technical guidance on choosing and developing bespoke sus tainable applications today to get you on the right path towards net zero operation

https://adveco co/sectors/healthcare/

PAPER HYGIENE

SIMPLE MEASURES MUG

CATERING FOR CARE

Dysphagia is a Difficult Diagnosis to Swallow

By Carla Bartlett, Director of Speech and Language Therapy (Social Care) at Cygnet Health Care and Dominique St Clair Miller Director of Speech and Language Therapy (Health Care) at Cygnet Health Care (www cygnethealth co uk)

The majority of us enjoy snacks, meals and drinks without much thought or effort, for some people living with dysphagia this can be a difficult and frightening experience with potentially significant conse quences on health and quality of life

Imagine that every time you are invited out for a meal you have to think about whether you will be able to chew and safely swallow the food on the menu Imagine that you are told it is not safe for you to eat your favourite food anymore as it is considered high risk for choking

Imagine that every time you are faced with eating food you feel tense and fearful you are terrified you might choke You barely have an appetite anymore and over time you lose weight when you don t mean to Imagine that every time you take a drink you cough and splutter so you avoid drinking to the extent that you become dehydrat ed and experience frequent urine infections This can be the reality for people living with dysphagia This is the reality for 560 million people worldwide At Cygnet Health Care Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) assess diagnose and formulate management plans to support individuals with different aspects of eating drinking feeding and/or swallowing difficulties The ultimate aim is to ensure safer swallowing whilst balancing quality of life with individ uals preferences and beliefs Our SLTs will seek support from other health care professionals where necessary They will also make recommendations based upon the difficulties an individual is experiencing Sometimes this will include positioning advice adaptive equipment specific oral motor / sensory exercises or swallow tech niques and food and fluid texture modification However for others simply managing the speed at which they eat or prompting them to take smaller mouthfuls and chewing for longer can be enough

There are also lots of things you can do to create an environment that is safer for eating and drinking Simple strategies like sitting upright, creating a calm environment, switching off the radio or TV and limiting conversation can make the difference for many individuals who require support

It is important that we raise awareness of this life altering condition and are alert to its signs and symptoms to ensure those diagnosed with dysphagia are able to continue living a full and fulfilling life

FIVE FACT BOXES

1 What is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia is the medical name for difficulties in swallowing Dyshagia puts a person at risk negative health consequences such as aspiration asphyxiation and/or choking malnutrition and dehydration which can all be life threatening If these risks are not managed appropriately people are at high risk of poor health hospital admissions and reduced quality of life

Dysphagia is secondary to a primary condition such as neurological disorders e g stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Wilson’s Disease, head injury; head and neck cancer e g laryngeal cancer; disorders associated with the elderly disorders associated with trauma e g smoke inhalation; tracheostomy; ventilator dependent individuals; and learning disability to name a few Dysphagia can also be drug induced e g side effects of medication, and arise as a result from the treatment of diseases e g radiotherapy

Swallowing may become difficult because the muscles and nerves used for chewing and swallowing become weak or uncoordinated Food or drink can go down the wrong way into the lungs instead of the stomach This could lead to serious conditions such as recurrent chest infections and aspiration pneumonia

2 Signs, Symptoms and Characteristics

Dysphagia is associated with an increased morbidity, increased mortality and a reduced quality of life People may experience the following signs, symptoms and characteristics which carry serious consequences:

• Coughing, throat clearing and/or choking when eating or drinking

multiple treatments to clear

Repeated chest infections or those that requ

• Difficulty managing specific foods textures or drinks e g excessive chew

spitting food out losing food from the mouth food and drink remain

in the mouth after attempted swallows

Refusal of food and drink

Anxiety around mealtimes food drink or when eating and drinking

Malnutrition e g losing weight weak skin hair loss

Dehydration E g Constipation strong urine UTI

Statistics

Dysphagia

difficulties with swallowing med cation

occur in all age groups

a result of a wide range of conditions

in the adult population dysphagia affects

of people with Motor Neurone Disease

of people who have had a stroke

of people with Parkinson s Disease

of people with dementia living in care homes

of people with a learning disability

difficulties can occur

between

to 19% of people with mental health illness where

4. Top 10 Safe Swallowing Tips:

and

effects of med

of the

you have

will provide specific guidance on how to make eating and drink

CATERING FOR CARE

Can Your Homes Afford Not To Work with Allmanhall To Mitigate Rising Food Prices?

As winter approaches care homes are faced not only with the spiralling cost of food but also extraordinary energy price increases Heating and eating will be very real challenges faced by many allmanhall are able to ease some of the pressure faced by care homes Through negotiations, tendering and supplier management on behalf of care caterers, allmanhall are delivering value and support allmanhall s benchmarks on food costs give average savings of 12% What s more additional categories such as janitorial and medical supplies recently showed savings of over 15%

The support goes further than that allmanhall provide advice on how to maximise catering budgets It s so important for care caterers to have information regard ing which products are stable and which are volatile when it comes to price movement allmanhall do exactly this For example having a greater proportion of stable products making up your residents menus will make it easier to manage the impact of rising prices

The mobilisation of the new catering suppliers and the transfer of existing ones to allmanhall was smoothly managed and supported expertly allmanhall s approach provides my team with reassurance and peace of mind ”

St Martins Care

There’s currently a harsh spotlight on homes without

strong procurement practices Despite chefs working tirelessly to cost recipes source the best value ingredi ents manage portion control and waste some will con tinue to struggle to produce food at a low cost without the experience of a procurement team to manage and negotiate price increases for them allmanhall also reduce the pressure on finance resources by consolidating billing and providing admin efficiencies and further savings Why not visit the allmanhall team on stand 8 at the NACC TDF to find out more? www allmanhall co uk

Delicious, Nutritious, And Safe Texture

Meals

Here at It’s Made For You Softer Foods, we believe that everyone should look forward to tasty, safe, and nutritious texture modified meals The It’s Made For You range is designed for the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework standards and includes valuable nutrition

from

Our range of meals have also been developed to ensure the nutritional content will meet the nutritional needs of your patients whilst they follow a texture modified diet Research has shown that up to 50% of people with dysphagia are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition There could be numerous reasons for this including a reduced appetite or the inability to consume large quantities of food in one sitting Our range of classic and mini meals can help to ensure your patients are getting the most nutritional value from the food they consume The use of pre prepared It’s Made For You meals can also be a practical time saver and bring peace of mind to the person with dysphagia The range includes over 80 tasty dishes including

chicken beef lamb fish and vegetarian recipes We also offer a tasty selection of lighter bites desserts and breakfast options as well as mini meals for those with smaller appetites

At It s Made For You we offer a delivery service that cares making it easy and convenient for our customers to eat delicious meals which can be delivered directly and safely to their homes This helps them if they cannot leave the house or go to the shops Plus people love to use our service as they can rely on a regular delivery of good quality and safe meals directly to their door by a friendly local Oakhouse Foods delivery driver Find out more at www Itsmadeforyou co uk

Anglia Crown – Offering You The Complete Package

The summer of 2022 will be long remembered as a hot one For many espe cially in the care sector perhaps it was a little too hot! As we are now moving towards autumn our thoughts are turning once again to those warming meals and the feeling of comfort that only good, wholesome food can bring

Our current range includes Crown Choice and Crown Advantage meals avail able frozen with Crown Choice also available as chilled products We are always looking to keep our dishes current and reflecting current trends which is why we are now offering more vegetarian and vegan dishes than ever before

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

We recognise that everyone is busy so we have crafted a menu cycle that can be readily adopted by any care setting with the knowledge that the menu is nutritionally balanced and has been approved by a professional dietitian

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

Mary Wedge Business Development Manager at Anglia Crown comments; “As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are proud to be a trusted partner with the care sector providing quality nutritious food 365 days a year We will con tinue to review our menus adapting to your needs whilst maintaining our vision of driving excellence in residential and care home catering

The current range is now available Visit www angliacrown co uk for further details or contact us on sales@angliacrown co uk

How Efficient Is Your Laundr y Operation?

Discover Girbau Laundr y Innovation at the Care Show

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

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

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

ing to combat counterfeiting and grey market activity

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

Visit www cashslabels com or see the advert on this page

Laundr yTec - Innovation and Support as Standard

replaced 3 x 37kg dyers and reduced the energy consumption from 210kwh to

This was a extreme case but when the laundry door is shut are you really aware what your dryers are costing you to operate?

Our LDR dryers can offer a return on investment that would make your head spin faster than on of our washers!

We can complete a free of charge energy survey

Can you afford not to investi gate what your laundry is costing?

See the advert below for fur ther information

CLEANING & HYGIENE

Partner Up for Healthcare Hygiene with GOJO at IPS 2022

GOJO experts in skin health and sur face hygiene will be exhibiting at Stand

37

Join GOJO THE INVENTORS OF PURELL™ and the hand sanitiser cate gory itself at the 14th annual Infection Prevention Society (IPS) conference stand 37 This year the event takes place at the Bournemouth International Centre from 17th 19th October 2022

At the show the team of GOJO Healthcare Support Managers will be offering support and advice on their total solution approach to infection prevention in healthcare facilities They will highlight the company’s ability to help hygiene standards across all areas and situations within hospitals and healthcare facilities

GOJO will showcase its role as a specialist partner in healthcare hygiene by focussing on three areas with specific need:

• SURGICAL WARDS

Meeting key hygiene norms is of the utmost importance in these envi ronments but the harsh products used to do so can really take their toll

on hands In contrast using PURELL Advanced Hygienic Hand Rub offers a gentler way to meet EN 12791 standard

• ACUTE AND GENERAL WARDS

GOJO provides a straight ‘out of the box’ solution for hand hygiene, incorpo rating dispensers, products accessories, and signage as well as training and on boarding support It also manages instal lations thereby reducing the staffing impact of changing suppliers

• COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES:

These environments often have radi cally different needs from what are tradi tionally catered for in healthcare packages GOJO takes these specificities

into consideration and offers specially adapted products for example locked dispenser units and foam sanitiser so they can only be opened by trained personnel in demanding environments, for example Its ‘train the trainer’ programme allows all staff to be trained on product use, whatever shift they work Personal formats can also be supplied so healthcare pro fessionals always have products on hand when they are needed even if

Countering Unseen Fire and Water Risks

Behind the scenes in a care setting the safety and wellbeing of service users partly depends on expert clean ing of kitchen and laundry ductwork as well as clean, safe water, ad Gary Nicholls, MD or duct cleaning and legionella risk experts Swiftclean, explains

No matter how healthy your kitchen kitchen extract ductwork must be regularly cleaned in order to remove the grease deposits that arise from cooking People often think that this grease layer must be really thick in order to pose a fire risk However the specification TR19® Grease which governs kitchen extract hygiene issued by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) requires for grease layer to be controlled with in an average of 200 microns This is about half the thickness of an average business card Anything more than this thin layer represents a significant fire risk The only solution to this problem is a reg ular complete removal of the grease layer by specialist TR19® Grease cleaning

A second frequently overlooked fire safety cleaning task is for removal of dust fibre and lint from laundry extract ductwork Tumble dryer fires are surprisingly frequent especially in their extract ductwork The drying process resulting a significant buildup of ductwork deposits which are highly flammable and should be regu larly removed to eliminate the fire risk Cleaning in accordance with TR19® also issued by BESA it s the most

effective way to remove these

their work is off site

Chris Wakefield Managing Director UK & Ireland GOJO Industries Europe Ltd comments: We know the key to increasing hand hygiene compliance is to ensure that the right products are available in the right places at the right time We are constantly innovating to keep people and places healthy This means formulating products that are not only effec tive at killing germs but that won’t irritate hands that must be repeatedly cleaned throughout a shift ‘Ensuring that the products are available when and where they are needed be that personal bottles of hygienic hand rub or dispensers positioned in optimal locations And last but not least developing solutions with the environment in mind For example from 2023 we plan to move to RPT refills; all collapsible refills will be made from recycled materials as well as being recyclable

‘Widely used in the NHS, PURELL® is a trusted brand in healthcare facilities around the world Our solutions encompass fast active, effective formulas that care for skin, state of the art dispensers, and specialist sup port such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accredited training mak ing us the ideal healthcare partner Come and meet the team at IPS 2022 to find out how we can support your facility ’

For a tailored effective total solution for your setting or for more infor mation on the benefits of partnering with GOJO please call +44 (0)1908 588444 email CustomerExperienceUK@GOJO com or visit www GOJO com

If you have a mechanical ventilation system you will almost certainly have fire dampeners installed where the ductwork passes from a side room to a corridor to reinstate the compartmentalisation provided by an internal fire resistant wall Fire dampness comprise a set of steel louvres which normally remain open to allow the flow of air through the ventilation system but which automatically close in the event of a fire to delay it spread These must be 'dropped tested' at least every twelve months, in accordance with BS: 9999, to ensure that they will close if needed Any that fail must be repaired and re tested

Ductwork cleaning and fire dampness testing a specialist task and should be conducted by technicians with appropriate competence and training

TR19® Grease contains advice that property manager should choose as a member of BESA's Vent Hygiene Elite (VHE) scheme to provide these specialist services VHE members like Swiftclean can also provide post clean certificate certification which insurers are increasingly expecting to see, especially in the event of a fire, to demonstrate the property owners or managers compliance with the regulations

Care must also be taken in ensuring that the water system is free from Legionella bacteria

The elderly and those with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to Legionnaire s Disease the potentially fatal disease caused by Legionella You are legally required to always have a current Legionella risk assessment, which must be updated if there are any changes at all to the water system, owner ship of the property or designated Responsible Person

The water system must be managed in accordance with L8 the approved code of practice issued by the HSE If you need any assistance which with legionella control you should choose a certified member of the legionella control Association to help you

Visit www swiftclean co uk for further information and advice

INTRODUCTION

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 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

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

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

RESULTS

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

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

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to the participants at DBTH for engaging in this trial and to the laboratory team who performed the necessary assays

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

Angloplas

REFERENCES

Lee Y Burgess G Rubino M and Auras R 2015 Reaction and diffusion of chlorine dioxide gas under dark and light condit ons at different temperatures Journal of Food Engineering 144 pp 20 28

For further information see the facing page

Salmonella

A New Frontier for Control of Winter Bugs

Carol Scholey (RGN, BSc (hons)) Liam Grimshaw (BSc (hons) MSc by Research)

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 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 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

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

For more details contact commercial@sebo co uk

CONTINENCE CARE

Top Tips for Managing Incontinence

FLUID INTAKE

Drinking sufficient fluids each day is essential for maintaining a healthy bladder If you don t drink enough your bladder will become overly sensitive You should try to consume at least

of fluids each day

DRINKS TO AVOID

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

HEALTHY EATING

Your diet should be balanced, not too high in fat, with plenty of fibre, and contain at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day Healthy eating is also important because being overweight can make bladder problems worse

SMOKING

There are a number of health risks associated with smoking

A smokers cough can place extra pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor, increasing your chances of experiencing stress incontinence

DEHYDRATION

If you don’t drink enough

INFORM YOUR GP

It is

bladder will become more

experiencing bladder

good idea

RECOMMENDATION: Keep a Bladder Diar y

Maintain a record of every time you experience bladder weakness

Note the activity you were performing at the time the types of beverages

the quantity you consumed

the extent of the leakage

intake

Limiting

water

The

actually increase the frequency of incontinence

Help To Manage Your Incontinence Issues Independently

Urinary incontinence affects millions of people in the UK Although a wide spread 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

COMFORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE

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 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

We supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities Perfect for being outdoors, and packed full of unique features and benefits you now have a choice when it comes to managing your incontinence issues

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

The Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult

• The Comfort Leg Bag range comes in variety of materials from velvet smooth real cotton and flock backing

• The Children's Bag with smaller capacity and proportions comes with a dis creet and secure twist tap that will not open accidentally while moving or out and about

3. IQ CATHETER

Thousands of people across the country must perform Intermittent Self Catheterisation (ISC) to effectively empty their bladder and having something that is simple to use soft flexible and easy to

4. NEPHSYS

For people who have had a Nephrostomy and tubes are already in place

NephSys system can

email helpline@manfred sauer co uk or visit www manfred sauer co uk

more information about each product or to

Revealed: How to Create Dementia-Friendly Documents, Posters and Signage DEMENTIA CARE

Dementia causes the loss of cognitive functions such as memory and reasoning It affects more than 55 million people worldwide with almost 10 million new cases each year Living with dementia can be extremely difficult given that its effects can vary by nature and severity from person to person

Alzheimer s disease, the most common form of dementia, is thought to contribute to 60 70% of cases worldwide Though researchers are working tirelessly for a cure it continues to evade them However there are plenty of ways that we can make life easier and more comfortable for people liv ing with dementia

Print specialists Solopress have taken a look at how you can improve your inclusivity by ensuring your documents posters and signage are optimised for people living with Alzheimer s

KEY FINDINGS:

• Reseach shows that the use of colours can help enhance the memory of people living with Alzheimer’s

Therefore bold contrasting colours can help to properly convey a mes sage but intricate patterns and colours can be confusing

Associating different shapes with different deas concepts or decisions within your design can make your message easier for people living with dementia to understand

• Sans serif fonts like Arial in size 14 and above are easiest to read block capitals are not recommended as these can be difficult to differentiate between

Pictures can be helpful to ensure your message cuts through

or

are preferred to

Avoid making your signage

confusing to people with dementia

• By using durable

COLOURS

Known to be one of the most

colour

has a huge effect on the human brain and has the potential to trigger emotions and memories In fact academic research has shown that the right colours can help enhance the memory of those living with Alzheimer’s one of the most common forms of dementia

Dementia can affect how a person views colours particularly how they differentiate between certain colours As a result, colours with a high level of contrast are easiest for people living with dementia to digest; for exam ple implementing bright or bold colours throughout the home can help separate objects

With this thought in mind use bold bright contrasting text when designing dementia friendly documents Ease of access comes first so avoid loud patterns and stripes; these designs can be confusing and dis orienting Think simple vivid colour combinations

SHAPES

Dementia affects people in different ways and can even cause halluci nations If your signage or text must differentiate between two distinct ideas choices or options shapes can be a good way to highlight the dif ference between the two concepts

Changing the overall shape of your signage is a subtle but effective way to create dementia friendly print Shapes associated with positive or negative feelings were found to reduce confusion amongst people with dementia, preventing them from becoming confused or lost in hallways containing those shapes TEXT

Given that dementia can affect one’s vision and ability to understand text any message used in your document must be as easy to read as pos sible Font sizes are crucial to ensure your work is easily readable with at least size 14 recommended If your content contains a lot of information, break it up into reasonably sized chunks so that it is simpler to digest Dementia experts in the NHS warn against using block capitals as these can be more difficult to read particularly as dementia can cause visual impairments Both upper and lower case letters should be used for read ability as some people living with dementia will be able to recognise the

shape of a word before actually understanding its meaning

Think about how your document will be viewed Alzheimer s Society recommends using sans serif fonts for websites or digital content as they are deemed more readable on screen Staying consistent with your fonts is also helpful multiple fonts can make the interface and content confus ing for someone living with dementia

PICTURES

Pictures can play a vital role in helping dementia patients to communi cate more effectively by encouraging further memory retention Looking at photo albums and family pictures has been proven to play a vital role in engagement for people with dementia reducing feelings of isolation and helping strengthen personal relationships

As a result implementing pictures throughout your work or signage can be a great way to stimulate readers brain functions ensuring that your message cuts through Pictures can be particularly helpful for people with late stage dementia given that word based communication may not be possible Dementia can strip people of the ability to properly read and speak so the use of pictures and images where possible can really help consolidate your messages

Glen Eckett Head of Marketing at Solopress (www solopress com) comments: “Dementia is an awfully cruel syndrome one which has the potential to strip people of their dig nity and personality However inclu sive design practices can go some way towards helping people living with dementia maintain some of their dignity With the above tips, any company can ensure that its resources are accessible and under standable for people living with dementia

Memor y Lane Games - Reminiscence Games To Trigger Positive Memories For Those Living With Dementia

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 tech niques 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 agitation all of which are so valuable in the care of those living with a condition which doesn’t have positive outcomes 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 professionally 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 communication 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 interactions generated by playing the games with those in their care and can even create person alised quizzes using old family photos and create questions such as “Mum where did you go on your first holiday?" or “Where did you get married?”

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 residents game play: highlighting changes in 7 clin ical 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 immediately 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

Helpforcarehomes@memorylanegames

Encouraging the Independence of Dementia Patients Through Colour and Design

colours make doors easier to see against the neutral tones on the walls In contrast staff areas and supply cupboards should be painted in the same colour as the walls so that they blend in and become less obvious helping to avoid any unauthorised access

Calming colours

For many, dementia can affect a patients’ ‘biological clock’ which means they often get confused when determining the time of day This means they can struggle to understand when it is appropriate to go to bed Incorporating calmer colours in the bedroom area, using blackout blinds, and adding softer golden lighting helps to instil a sense of calm and relaxation and encourages a more stable sleep routine that they can initiate themselves

Hazard perception

Implementing strategic design techniques can heighten the awareness of potential hazards and reduce occupant risk For example, if items such as radiators are designed using stronger colours that contrast against the walls, it will make them more noticeable and reduce the chance of them being walked into or leant against and in turn, minimise burn risk Features such as light switches and signage can also be more easily identified if a coloured border is painted around them

Promoting independence in individuals is essential to instilling a sense of self worth, and the colour and design of a room can play a significant role Here, Dawn Scott at Dulux Trade delves into how care home managers can best plan living spaces to make sure they are as effective and enjoyable as possible for those occupying them

According to the Alzheimer ’s Society, 70% of care home residents are thought to have dementia or severe memory problems It is therefore crucial that care home managers understand how colour and design can support those with the disease and place residents’ needs at the centre of interior designs

occupants’ wellbeing, care and crucially independence Here s how:

Consider colour and contrast to aid navigation

Up to 75% of people over the age of 75 have vision problems As we get older, our eyes become more opaque and this makes it more difficult to differentiate between hues It is therefore essential that contrasting colours are utilised in living spaces as they act as visual cues and ensure there are clear visual differences between surfaces

The Dementia Friendly Colour Palette advises that soft tones are used for main walls, with only small hints of colour to create a sense of calm (think 60YY 83/062, 70YR 75/075, 30YY 68/024 and 70RR 64/034) For feature walls like the front of the living room and kitchen serving areas make sure more saturated colours such as yellows (43YY 74/339), muted purples (70RR 43/104), muted oranges (38YR 40/290) and teals (50BG 19/144)are used to contrast with the lighter main walls as this makes them stand out and draws the eye for maximum visibility

When it comes to doors that lead to regularly used rooms like bathrooms and living spaces, bolder shades should be considered such as navies (52BB 08/128), sage greens (90GY 29/121) and burgundies (54RR 09/276) These

To aid wayfinding further, it’s important to avoid high sheen flooring as this can appear wet or slippery to dementia patients, meaning they may not feel comfortable walking across it Similarly, dark flooring can often be perceived as a hole, and bold patterns or stripes can give the illusion that the floor is not flat or unstable, creating a sense of anxiety amongst those using these spaces The best option is to keep floors plain and ensure that they contrast with the walls and skirting to keep all surfaces easily identifiable

Upholding their autonomy is key, but with so many complex needs, knowing how to sustain dementia patients’ independence can be challenging To help, Dulux Trade together with the British Research Establishment created a Dementia Friendly Colour Palette which aims to bring colour to every room both figuratively and literally

The palette was born out of years of experience in design and a wealth of dementia research and knowledge with partners from Loughborough University and the Halsall Lloyd Partnership also involved in its conception The evidence based design principles it is founded upon assure designers that it is optimised to create an environment that champions

Keeping memories alive

Arguably the most important way of allowing a dementia patient to retain their independence is through involving them in the process It is vital that their living spaces are a reflection of them by surrounding them with décor that inspires a sense of homeliness and nostalgia

We recommend using familiar or favoured colours For example, to recreate the front door of a childhood home by painting their bedroom door the same colour It is also important to include some personal items on shelving near the entrance, such as an old house number, family photographs or ornaments from their home so the resident can quickly identify it as theirs

For more ways to design living spaces for those with dementia, and to find out more about Dulux Trade’s offering for aged care and Dementia, visit: www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/en/content/occd

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Blaucomm LtdTelecommunications & Networks

Blaucomm s Nurse Call Mes i S i (NMS) i the market leading solution to remove the dependency on noisy nurse call panels and pagers through its intel ligent software which deliv ers the alerts straight to the care staff who need them

Care homes are rapidly introducing smartphones for digital care planning and eMar now, the same devices can be used to receive the nurse call alerts they need for the residents under their care

Furthermore Blaucomm NMS is deeply linked into Person Centred Software MCM, so call bell data is linked straight to care plans This unlocks a huge ben efit to care homes to enhance the staff performance with how they accept and respond to residents which ultimately promotes better response times and visibili ty for management to audit their performance

The best part is that Blaucomm NMS links into your existing nurse call system we work with all major brands such as Aidcall ARM Courtney Thorne C TEC

ENS Intercall Medicare

SAS and TeleAlarm

Care operators are con stantly recognising Blaucomm NMS for its relia bility and dependability to their care operations which is why we’ve been chosen time and time again over other solutions

Head of IT Trudi Harrow at WCS Care had this to say about Blaucomm NMS:

“We find Blaucomm is a genuinely fantastic compa ny with a reliable product

We have a range of nurse call systems at different sites and the NMS system integrates to them and allows us to compare response times between sites In addition the integration to Person Centred Software is revolutionary We would highly recommend this to anybody who wants to replace expensive pagers and silence those annoyingly loud nurse call screens!

To find out more about Blaucomm NMS visit www blaucomm co uk/healthcare

Medpage Falls Management Products

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

How can they help reduce falls?

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

Medpage supply a diverse range of equipment for detecting bed and chair exit There are for example, simple bed alarms, chair alarms, or multiple use products for combin ing bed and chair monitoring, to allow the person to move from their bed to their chair There are sys tems that use a cabled pressure mat sensor connected to an alarm controller or pressure mat sensors with a self contained alarm transmitter to signal a radio pager Carer alarm notifications can be by a single or multiple user pager or alarm receiver or an external alarm device

You can find out more on the advert on page 2 or at www easylinkuk co uk/product/ product fall detection

CALL AND FALLS

Silent Running - Tranquility in Care Homes

Quiet and calm care homes ensure that resi dents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment

Similarly carers and staff find that they too benefit from reduced stress when working in a home where noise levels are kept to a minimum There are many environmental factors that can affect those sensitive to their surround ings particularly those suffering from dementia these can be fluctua tions in ambient temperature, light, and of course noise Repetitive and high levels of noise can originate from a number of internal and exter nal sources for example telephones ringing loud conversations in cor ridors and call bells sounding often one of the largest contributors to increasing the levels of stress and discomfort in residents

A published study by the University of Stirling stated that unan swered Nurse Call (Call Bell) alarms can be one of the most common causes of stress in dementia sufferers The University recommends “fit ting 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 per

son’s ability to concentrate It can affect their attention levels and capacity to cope as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number of methods to reduce their impact in a care home These include zoning whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call In these circumstances dementia suffer ers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one zone whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative “zone” Each “zone” can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required

Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil envi ronment for residents Pagers have been around for many years are a relatively simple and cost effective measure in reducing the levels of noise and can be added to most Nurse Call systems Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps for care planning e medication etc Many Courtney Thorne clients are now utilising the “Go” app with their Nurse Call sys tem With the Go app nurse call alarms are delivered imme diately and silently straight to the handsets alerting the individual carers to all Nurse call alarms without creating any general alarm sound and rarely disturbing the rest of the resi dents in the home

Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less

Lotus Care Technology

The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for this at risk of falls Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining

Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has differ ent needs They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier Visit www lctuk com for details

stressed also this creates a happier workplace

greatly improved staff are retained and CQC ratings improve

tive ramifications of a quiet Care Home

the

Designed to combat the problem of residents who are inclined to walk undetected the Nurse Alert Mat can help protect

CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions

Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR

Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!

Upgrade your falls programme with the latest tech nology 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 simul taneously and support for many new wireless devices

Benefits include:

Safer for patients; less work for staff

Bed and chair pads ava lable

One monitor works w th two sensor pads

Integrates with most nurse call systems

of options

Wireless door/window

TREADNOUGHT ®FLOOR

SENSOR PAD

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

Features include:

Connects d rectly to most nurse call systems

High Qual ty anti bacterial

Large Size Pad: Measures

(sold separately)

Southern Care Maintenance Ltd – New Partnerships

As Southern Care Maintenance Ltd (SCM) mark their 35th anniver sary this year they contin ue to build upon their success with some excit ing new partnerships

As a specialist inde pendent company SCM offer supply, service and maintenance of a large range of systems and equipment across two Divisions Fire Alarms and Nursing Equipment throughout the south east of England

predictive care

Arquella offering AIDA

Assist an app based nurse call system the tool of choice for forward thinking care services

Person Centred Software the first fully mobile easy to use and market leading digital care management system with the ability to evidence over 50 care notes per resident per day

Priding themselves on their quality of service and first class customer experience SCM is delighted to be partnered with companies who share the same passion and enthusiasm to deliver the very best solutions, solutions which make pro viding care the focus and priority

Please mention THE CARER when responding to Padvertising.

mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.

Always looking to offer their customers the best solutions leveraging the most reliable technologies at competitive prices they are delighted to have recently partnered with Vayyar the world s most advanced care solu tion Vayyar Care provides touchless fall detection and rich activity data that enables personalised

See the advert on this page for further details or visit www southerncare co uk

How The Digital Revolution In Care Is Delivering The Best Outcomes For Residents

Technology is at the heart of the government s new health data strate gy which includes an aim to increase digitisation in social care by 2024 But why wait? At Bupa our digital transformation is already underway Digitisation is essential for the future Technology enables carers to spend more time on the most important part of the job; face to face qual ity care for residents Making processes more efficient with technology offers the opportunity to provide truly personalised care

One example of this is in dementia care where there are many opportu nities to incorporate technology For example Richmond Villages Willaston is a specialist village for people in the early stages of dementia where they re able to maintain a level of independence supported by homemakers At night residents are acoustically monitored and staff are alerted if there are unexpected noises or movement which might indicate someone is unwell or in difficulty

Technology has the power to change how we work in care settings more widely Care staff have always filled out paper notes throughout their shifts including details about medication wellbeing and feedback from the res idents As everyone will know it’s time consuming and inefficient and reduces the time that can be spent talking to residents and building positive long term relationships

But across Bupa Care Services we’ve introduced handheld devices which allow carers to record every interac tion with residents in real time freeing up capacity for real high quality care

It also means that staff can record more detailed up to the minute accurate notes with more information about each resident s mood what they chatted about or what activities they had been enjoying

G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution

Genee is a UK leading manufacturer of innovative technological solutions Genee plays an integral role across all major industries including health care to support patients residents and staff Having supported Care Homes through the pandemic The G Touch Wireless Care Home Solution is one of Genee s most impactful solutions yet The solution includes; the G Touch Interactive Screen Electric Mobile Trolley and a Wireless Battery Pack Its portability specially designed and simple to use interface as well as its multitude of applications are specifically built for residents and staff in mind

The G Touch Interactive Screen is an engaging resource for residents and staff Available in 55 ’ 65’’ and 75’ the touchscreen itself has durable and toughened safety glass that can be easily cleaned The large screen provides for spectacular viewings of videos TV shows and movies In addition the size of the screen encour ages residents to participate in interactive activities

With built in 2x15w front facing speakers and an HD video conferencing camera provides the perfect com munication tool to video call families, friends, and other care homes With the built in PC and Android 8 0 operating system, the user interface software is easy to use As soon as the touchscreen is turned on, the sys tem loads into a tablet style of multiple icons containing the software and Apps used daily without the need for a PC style login The included software also helps residents with health issues including Dementia and Alzheimer’s

A solution that benefits all! The Electric Mobile Trolley is better suited than a traditional wall mount or trol

By Rebecca Pearson, general manager for Bupa Care Services (www bupa co uk/care services)

Another step change is that this information can be accessed by residents’ families This helps build up a full picture of what life is like in the home and how their loved ones are doing day to day

There s no doubt that we re all getting more tech savvy, and why wouldn t we utilise it our care settings too? It s what families expect to see and increasingly it will be what our residents expect too

That s why it s so important that we lay the groundwork now But most importantly technology is helping our people get back to what they love Our people tell us they want more time to care That s why they came into this profession So it s up to us to make this happen

Compliance infection control and quality standards will always be top of the agenda Electronic medical records systems are designed to reduce the time it takes to administer medications safely and improve clinical outcomes with a joined up service that all health professionals can access This also makes it easier to refer back to previous notes to look for patterns with residents full medical history available at the touch of a button

All of our monitoring processes are also now stored in our digital quality and compliance solution which has been rolled out in each of our homes and villages It helps our home managers carry out quality monitoring and make swift changes to day to day processes if needed And regulatory partners can also be updated with the click of a button

But it s not just about quality or compliance There are a wealth of games apps and tools designed to support older people while making it fun and interactive For example for those with dementia a memory game app can help enhance the time they spend with loved ones

Ultimately it s the human connection that is at the heart of our digitisation journey As residents adjust to a new life and environment or deal with dementia it’s the people caring for them that bring fun and laughter back into their lives Technology allows us to foster this human connection and ultimately get more out of our time together

ley The mobile trolley can be electronically adjusted by height and offers 90 degree angle adjustment from horizontal to vertical ensuring easy accessibility at different chairs and wheelchair height The four lightweight and strong steel integrated castors include locking brakes for safety

The Wireless Battery Pack removes trip hazards and provides a helpful portable solution Simply add the lightweight battery pack to the trolley and easily move the touchscreen from room to room

The G Touch Wireless Care Home Solution comes with 5 years’ on site warranty as standard with no additional costs Our dedi cated team will bring the equipment to the care home assemble and install the solution and test everything on site We will also support you with free online training to ensure your Care Home gets maximum use of this incredible solution

in touch via:

(0)1902 390 862

group com

genee group com

TECHNOLOGY AND

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Monika Primed to Make Care Management Simple

In a care or medical setting staff have to juggle caring for residents and patients with proper hygiene checks medication management, and ensuring up to date records

With over 30 years’ experience, Monika is the expert in connecting teams and equipment Their flagship service, MonikaPrime, is a complete safety hygiene, and compliance management system which eliminates the need for manual paperwork Monika’s innovative temperature monitoring equipment simulates the temperature of the perishable goods and vaccines as opposed to simply recording the tempera ture of the air in the cooling unit providing greater accuracy for peace of mind

Regulations require certain substances to be stored at specific temperatures such as insulin antibiotic liquids and eyedrops Outside the required 2 8 degrees Celsius these medications can lose integrity making them ineffective and potentially harm ful; so having reliable and accurate temperature monitoring equipment is essential Staff can be nominated to receive alerts if the product moves outside a pre set safe

By Keith Hopewell, Director of Operations UK & Europe, Monika (www monika com/solutions/monikaprime/)

medication can be relocated before it loses integrity or be identified for destruction if it has become harmful This can also help identify faulty equipment, preventing the need for expensive repairs Alerts can be sent to any desktop, mobile, or Monika smart handheld PA device, all of which can access Monika’s cloud connected system offsite

This is ideal for managers overseeing multiple care homes as it enables comparison between the location helping identify potential staff training opportunities for maxi mum safety

As well as ongoing temperature recording Monika s system can be programmed to send audio and visual hygiene task reminders to staff These tasks are fully auditable with the system recording who has done what and when reducing the risk of human error and miscommunication Staff can therefore spend less time in administration and more time caring for patients

Visit www monika com/solutions/monikaprime for further details or see the advert on the facing page

Cloud Finance Software That is Helping Care Homes Thrive

Healthcare organisations face unique challenges from cost containment and multi entity reporting to new billing models and product offerings and a cloud based accounting system allows you to better understand your organ isation and succeed in the future

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

BUILT FOR HEALTHCARE

As healthcare grows in complexity so does your organisation You’re man aging multiple locations and practices, navigating changing reimbursement methods, and initiating cost reduction

while manual processes are draining your

You

and

Intelligent Care Software (ICS)

tal reporting from 10 days to 10 minutes

REAL TIME VISIBILITY AND INSIGHTS

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

TRUE CLOUD TECHNOLOGY WITH OPEN API

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

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

Care

was

The

designed built and is managed by nurses registered managers and care home owners

care and support care planning platform our policy app with over 200 high quality

and which also includes

supervision

includes

and training record

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

With eMAR mandatory training and a complementary care certificate coming in

there has never been a better time to get

https://careis net

see the advert on the facing

The CAREAudits System

CAREAudits apps and systems evolved via an associated company Kern Systems were Ken Newlove director and founding member had been developing and deploy ing paperless systems for EPoS and Finance in the private and public sectors since 1999

Back in 2014 the team had more than 50 years experience in IT and software devel opment as well as having been heavily involved in the third sector with a trustee of three charities a director of a business directly involved in the care market and a con sultant in a £10 million turnover charity and interim CEO and Chair at an adult hospice Working in the Care Sector the team recognised in 2014 the sector was becoming overwhelmed with adminis tration driven by ever increasing legislative compliance requirements and controls and pressurised by ever increasing costs The CAREAudits apps evolved from their desire to give something back to the Care Sector; to develop systems that genuinely reduce costs and increase efficiency as well as improving accountability and quality And above all a system that would be easy to install and use by everyone

THE CAREAUDITS SYSTEM

The CAREAudits app and Web Portal Auditing Tool is now being used throughout the UK and Ireland by all care service providers in numerous locations There are thousands of carers checking everything from CQC Compliance and Safety to Medication Audits Training and Maintenance as well as service users quality and wellbeing and now Corona Virus

Steve Smith regional manager at Care Homes UK says We were able to implement the system ourselves and

are now benefitting from management having all the information we need at our fingertips in real time wherever we are

The system allows care providers to audit or check just about everything and manage areas requiring actions (or non compli ances) in it s Web Portal Encrypted date and time stamped evi dence including photos is seamlessly auto attached and recorded in the system

Natalie Lawrence at Yorkare Homes says “It’s a paperless sys tem that runs alongside our existing client records system helping to make our whole operation paperless ” CAREAudits ensures management and staff are aware at all times of what needs check ing that it s been checked actions required by whom by when including full resolution management Each CAREAudit also scores the answers so management can monitor improvement Steven Tegart from Talbot Group likes reporting and says I wish all my other systems were as easy to extract data for management reports as the CAREAudits Excel links

The system has over 120 example audits to select from CAREAudits apps are extremely easy to use and care providers can easily add or edit their own audits in minutes ensuring simple management of ever changing requirements App auditors can use CAREAudits with virtually no training it s that simple The Care Auditor s Hands Free Operation guides the user through each audit each question and answer with it s own help text standard answers and standard actions required ensuring that the least skilled operative becomes the care provider’s expert Users can download the app for a free trial and be up and running with the full system in min utes

CAREAudits

part of the Care Plus Innovation Group,

Park, Hull,

7DY

Fill 100% of Your Staffing Needs with Care Hires

Care

Better cash flow for

focus

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

10 Reasons To Go Digital With Electronic Care Planning and Medication (eMAR) Systems

TIME

More time to care

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

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

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

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!

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

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 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

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

RETENTION

Improve staf f retention

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

PROTECTION

Protect your business

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

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

QUALITY

Improved quality of care

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

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 EVIDENCE

Demonstrate quality of care deliver y

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

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?

Digital care plans are the best way to achieve this!

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

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 serv ice at a glance

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!

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

, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

New Digital Right to Work Checks for British and Irish Workers

Employers will from 1 October 2022 need to adopt new digital right to work checks for British and Irish nationals or revert to cumbersome manual in person checks

It will says Gavin Webster at Vialto Partners (www vialto com) no longer be possible for employers to rely on virtual right to work checks introduced by the Home Office under its Covid 19 concessions for these individuals

The likelihood of inadvertently employing an undocumented worker is very low but the impact could be high If procedures are not properly fol lowed employers have no statutory excuse against employing an illegal worker and could face substantial fines and other sanctions

The Home Office’s right to work guidance was altered in April 2022 to allow digital identification verification for pre employment checks Back then, it felt slightly academic as the government had not certified any providers to conduct those checks Whilst digital certification isn’t mandato ry and indeed it is still possible to conduct physical in person checks the move is designed to give the Home Office and employers the reassurance that checks are well managed

Right to work checks reduce the risk of employing a person who does not have the right to work in the UK for instance where an earlier work visa has expired They are conducted in good time before or on the first day of employment and repeated when work permission is due to expire for example after three years of a Skilled Worker visa When conducted properly and in line with the Home Office s prescribed checks they also give employers a statutory excuse against a civil penalty of up to £20 000 per illegal worker in the event they are found to be employing someone illegal Without them an employer can be fined even if they had no chance of spotting that for instance a UK passport was a fake

While the risk of employing an illegal worker may be no higher for the care sector than others, the risk of detection probably is even where an employer had no chance of spotting a

document The care sector has always been of interest to the Home Office, more so than other health providers and

other

Historically, these checks have typically been

on day one of employment handing over a passport so they can check your face against the photo and then take a dated and certified copy

The global pandemic and resulting changing working patterns have seen right to work checks change Manual checks are no longer available for peo ple with biometric residence permits biometric residence cards or an e visa for example those with pre settled status or a frontier worker permit That means the vast majority of people who are neither British or Irish pass port holders need to be checked against the Home Office online service normally using a share code provided by the prospective employee

For UK and Irish nationals employers are currently still relying on the temporary ‘COVID 19 adjusted right to work checks which allow checks to be conducted via video call as opposed to in person, with original docu ments

That will change from 1st October 2022 however when it will no longer be possible to rely on this concession and the Home Office wishes employ ers to conduct these checks via an authorised Identification Service Provider with accredited Identification Documentation Verification Technology AI TECHNOLOGY

Since April several government certified technology providers have emerged including our own right to work app Many of these platforms use AI technology to scan and read documents together with selfie digital photo graphs of new employees and will automatically record the name and date of birth of the individual pictures and the date of the check Checks can easily be conducted from anywhere in the country Whilst the Government would encourage employers to use an authorised Identification Service Provider with accredited Identification Documentation Verification Technology it is not essential Manual in person checks can continue but for large employers working across multiple locations that will prove cumbersome and time consuming

The use of this technology does require the human touch Employers must satisfy themselves that a compli ant check was conducted, that the person in the selfie is not an imposter, and if names differ, they must establish why for example a recent marriage Checks must be retained for the length of employment plus two years

The Importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the Care Sector

PROFESSIONAL , TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Key Employment Considerations For Care Home Providers

By Lee Ashwood, Employment

With over a decade s experience of providing employment law advice to care home providers Lee Ashwood of Freeths sets out his five common employment law pitfalls

1 NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

Care homes are often inadvertently paying their staff less than the National Minimum Wage and so leaving themselves at risk of claims for compensation by their staff and of being fined

Whilst the principle of the National Minimum Wage is a simple one that someone who works for one hour is not paid less than a set amount for that hour s work the calculation for determining whether or not someone is paid the National Minimum Wage is complex The issue is compounded as care homes commonly provide their junior staff with an hourly rate of pay equal to or only a little above the National Minimum Wage

The calculation requires an understanding of precisely what constitutes time spent working This can be far more than simply the time someone is rostered on shift and may include for example time spent handing over before or after a shift working while on a sleep in or while receiving training

An understanding of what payments a member of staff is required to make that will reduce their pay when cal culating whether or not they are paid the National Minimum Wage is also required Here payments by staff for their uniforms or training fees for example need to be considered

2 WHISTLE BLOWERS

All care home providers work hard to encourage their staff to make it known when they have identified health and safety issues, have suspicions of neglect or abuse or have any other concerns about the provision of care at their care home

Having made their concerns known and so blown the whistle’, it is widely known that the law states that the staff member may not be subjected to any detrimental treatment as a result of them blowing the whistle’ However, commonly care home providers leave themselves at risk of such a claim as they fail to ensure that the whistle blower s colleagues who may well have taken umbrage do not stop treating their colleague fairly and

People

Our Greatest Asset!

By Amanda Bewert OT (Australia) | Managing Director, Meaningful Care Matters

I hear all too often about the shortage of skilled staff working within the health and social care sector All too often experienced and well thought of team mem bers burnout and leave the service or care sector com pletely This is felt more keenly as it is more than just needing to replace a staff member but it is the loss of that person’s skills abilities knowledge of the organisa tion systems and processes and knowledge about the individual needs of the people who are being support ed and cared for

When organizations and businesses consider their assists usually they list their tangible or fixed assets such as buildings and equipment but it is the human assets (people) that are the most important part of any

with respect 3 FOREIGN LANGUAGES

As care home workforces become more and more diverse, the likelihood of a language other than English being spoken in a care home increases Care home providers want the best for their residents in terms of com fort and safety of course

Sometimes this leads to an enforced requirement by a provider that English is spoken at all times by their care home staff or at least in certain circumstances However the law against discrimination is wide ranging and bans on speaking a language other than English in the workplace can often fall foul of it

4 POOR PERFORMERS

With care homes struggling to recruit and retain staff and care home managers already busy it is often easier to overlook a poorly performing member of staff than it is to deal with them Setting aside the potential risk to the health and safety of residents failing to deal with a poor performer can greatly affect the morale of their col leagues with them possibly leaving as well leading to allegations of there being a difference in treatment and so discrimination

However as employment law does not prevent poor performance being dealt with swiftly and efficiently care home providers have no reason not to act, having first taken advice

5 PART TIME EMPLOYEES

Time and again it is overlooked by care home providers that the law states that part time employees must not be treated less favourably than their full time colleagues because they are part time

This issue comes to light when, for example, care home providers reward their full time employees with addi tional time off, the right to refuse overtime or even the opportunity to choose their shifts In doing so, care home providers put themselves at risk of a successful claim for compensation from a disgruntled part time member of staff

GET IN TOUCH FOR ADVICE

As a specialist lawyer for the Care sector, Lee supports individuals as well as businesses of all sizes including many small medium or well known organisations He is an experienced litigator and provides pragmatic advice based on the objectives of his clients

organisation particularly when considering the health and social care sector WHY ARE PEOPLE THE GREATEST ASSET OF ANY SERVICE OR ORGANISATION?

They are the face of the service Ultimately people within your team are responsible the for the provision of care and services to the people you support They are integral to meeting not only regulatory compliance requirements but are also the face of your service and organisation

Engagement = Productivity The more engaged team members are the more productive they are too People who are satisfied challenged and motivated are far more likely to be engaged and committed helping the service and organisation to achieve their purpose and objectives

Skills and knowledge While all team members must possess specific competencies and skills related to their role some skills and knowledge are irreplaceable or take many years to develop This includes knowl edge of specific people being cared for and understanding of organisations’ cultures, systems, and work pro cedures

The message of being valued and respected doesn t come from memos sent to staff They watch to see if the leadership walks the talk Lip service can only go so far; management can t just say they value their work ers They must show it in real terms

If we understand that people are our greatest asset then we must ensure that we invest in their health and well being too In turn people who feel valued and appreciated will go the extra mile for the people we care and support, and the organisation

See the advert on this page for further information

TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Workforce Challenge - The Eden Alternative – A Modern, Proven Model of Care for Staff and Resident Wellbeing

WHY DO THIS?

The Eden model is built on what people say they want, in a Home or a workplace, which therefore attracts residents and team members alike

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

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

With a positive culture a motivated and dedicated workforce It follows that positive innovation becomes more possible sustainable and continuous When demand for services increase it follows that viability improves

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

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

Homes are very busy places, and the programme is therefore run on line for 1 hour per week for 6 weeks

and people can do this at work or at home

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

It is however effective You can try without obligation

It is designed to make business sense to providers

It is designed to enhance viability

It is designed to support recruitment and retention

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

WHAT IS IT

It is a training programme which leads to accredita tion and focuses in detail on 7 domains of wellbeing 10 principles and is particularly designed to address instances of loneliness helplessness and boredom

Geoffrey Cox

The Eden Alternative Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www eden alternative co uk

In Dire Need Of Experienced Health Care Assistant, Senior Carer Or A Nurse?

We

Recruitment has the large database of well

applicants with experience in the health care industry such as health care assistants, sen ior carers and nurses from overseas

also have

expert team of solicitors for the necessary legal proceedings

An inspiring approach to care

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

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

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

Sign up today and join the care evolution

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

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

Are You A Care Home Owner with Staff Vacancies?

As recently highlighted in the media there are current ly over 100 000 vacant roles in the care sector Some 78% of providers who responded to the exclusive survey car r ed out by the ITV News in conjunction with the UK Homecare Associat on sa d recruit ng carers is the hard est 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 L ncolnshire came to see me He knew I was an immigra tion lawyer He was distraught and on the verge of pack ng 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 Brit sh work force are ust 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 h s staffing problems have been solved

So how do we go about doing it?

The UK Imm gration system can be complex but with the right guidance can be navigated to benefit the care sector

In order to recruit foreign skilled workers, whether they are already within the UK or directly abroad your compa ny needs to be regulated by the UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration) This nvolves being licenced by the UKVI so that your business can successfully recruit foreign work ers without fear of being fined or breaching any immigra tion rules set by the UK governments stringent pol cies

Many potential employees are already w thin 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 spon sored by your company through your sponsor licence Th s would involve mak ng a complex application to the UKVI and in essence asking them for permiss on for you to employ the worker full time Once permission s grant ed, you then have the benefit of a full time employee tied down exclusively to your company for at least a 5 year per od This is often referred to as a Work Permit If you wish to employee multiple foreign workers then we would need to conv nce the Home Office to grant you an appropriate allocation under the terms of your licence Under th s licence you can also recruit carers and nurses from abroad

The solution to current staffing cr s s is clearly to recruit foreign workers and it is not as daunt ng as people often make out There are many special st firms of lawyers who can do the whole process for you and you can also save on hefty recruitment fees of employment agencies

If you urgently need staff then you should definitely consider applying for a UKVI sponsor licence n 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 solut on Harjap S ngh Bhangal is a Director at Immigration Specialist firm GLS Solicitors (Global Legal Solutions) and

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance