The Carer Digital - Issue #122

T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S Issue 122

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

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“Enough is Enough” Parliament Holds Debate to End Isolation in Care

MPs across the political spectrum held a debate (Thursday October 27) calling for the creation of a new legal right to ensure people can maintain contact with their family in health and care settings.

An alliance of MPs is supporting the right for a care supporter to be enshrined in law which is being led by Rights For Residents and John’s Campaign, and the charity the Relatives & Residents Association.

The debate follows research from a survey of over 650 families which highlights how isolation in care is continuing to cause harm.

The call to End Isolation In Care went, the campaign says, to the heart of power.

In an emotional debate in Parliament, MPs across the political spectrum made

powerful pleas for a new law. It would ensure people who need care can be supported by a relative or friend when using health and care services. Calling for an end to the “scandal” of isolation during the pandemic, MPs said ‘enough is enough’.

The chamber of the House of Commons, so familiar as the main stage in the festival of politics, was stunned to silence as MPs shared their own personal stories of being separated from relatives. Bringing tears to eyes, Dan Carden MP spoke of his father’s isolation in hospital when being treated for cancer. His mum said, “the trauma of my husband’s death—and in particular the neglect he experienced in his final weeks of life—remain with me”.

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3...)

PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

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

There are always occasions when decisions made in good faith become wrong with the benefit of hindsight or, as was once pointed out to me, “mature reflection”.

I think one most difficult and contentious issues in my time as editor of THE CARER is the COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular the restrictions and isolation residents had to endure when loved ones were effectively banned from visiting.

As our lead story highlights, when one examines the debate one can see and be very sympathetic to both sides.

I said at the very height of the pandemic that care homes were caught between a rock and a hard place.

I am open to correction, but if memory serves, when the pandemic broke and the UK entered its first national lockdown in response to the covid-19 pandemic on 23 March 2020, the government published guidance setting out restrictions on care home visiting shortly after, in April 2020.

The guidance said that “family and friends should be advised not to visit care homes, except next of kin in exceptional situations such as end of life.” It added that, “alternatives to in-person visiting should be explored, including the use of telephones or video, or the use of plastic or glass barriers between residents and visitors.”

In July 2020, the Government’s advice was revised to permit limited visits to care homes, and in October further guidance was published, which applied only to areas under the Medium (Tier 1) alert level, which stated: • the first priority must remain preventing infections in care homes [however] care homes can now develop a policy for limited visits […] on the basis of a dynamic risk assessment which takes into account the significant vulnerability of residents in most care homes, as well as in compliance with obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998, as applicable.

• [The decision on whether or not to allow visitors] is an operational decision and therefore ultimately for the provider and managers of each individual setting to make. [The] decision should be based on the advice from the [director of public health], as well as any additional advice or guidance from the local infection-control lead from the CCG, and the [Public Health England local health protection team] It was this confusing guidance which compounded very difficult situation. While some may argue that the registered manager of each care home would be best placed and responsible for setting a visiting policy for that care home, on the basis of a “dynamic risk assessment”, that placed an intolerable burden of responsibility on individuals at one of the most difficult times in modern history, which has led to the anger and anguish fami-

Editor

Peter Adams

lies are now expressing when they were denied access to loved ones.

Once the decision was made to release untested patients into care environments, the subsequent disastrous consequences were inevitable, and it put care environments right in the firing line.

Care homes were then desperately trying to minimise fatalities and prevent the spread of Covid. It was at that time an impossible task, and without adequate guidance managers in homes had to do what they felt was best in the circumstances.

The anger and anguish relatives feel is, of course, quite understandable. To be denied access to a loved one, never to have been there or held a hand as they passed away, is truly heart-breaking and must never be allowed to happen again.

I would draw your attention to page 8. I was delighted this week to have been invited to the House of Lords for the launch of a Meals on Wheels campaign.

A vitally important initiative any time, but given the current economic climate it is more important than ever. Particularly as malnutrition leads to more older people going into hospital and subsequently bed blocking, places and intolerable burden on the NHS and adult social care generally.

The government is looking to free up beds ahead of any potential flu/Covid spike this coming Winter season and so it makes sense to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are adequately nourished so as to prevent hospital admission. So please do watch out for more on this initiative. We are very much hoping to engage as much support as possible.

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

I can always be contacted at editor@thecareruk.com

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 3

“Enough is Enough” - Parliament Holds Debate to End Isolation in Care (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3...)

DEVASTATING IMPACT OF ISOLATION Opening the debate, Mr Carden said: “After much delay due to circumstances out of our hands, I am grateful that we now have the opportunity in this Chamber to debate this incredibly important issue” “People across the United Kingdom are still having to face their time in hospitals, care homes and other care settings completely alone and detached from the people they hold dearest. They are some of the most vulnerable and frail people in our society; some of them will be nearing the end of their lives. The devastating impact of this isolation and of denying contact with loved ones affects those in receipt of care and also their loved ones. It is difficult to imagine, unless we have personal experience, the anguish, pain and stress of not knowing when we will next see our loved one—our husband, wife, mother or father—and repeatedly asking ourselves, “Are they okay? Are they comfortable? Do they even know that I care?”

“That same anguish and pain is experienced by the individual receiving care, not understanding why family or loved ones are not able to visit.

Shirley from my constituency said: “My father forgot I was his daughter during the period I was unable to visit. When I was finally able to visit, my dad was unrecognisable. It broke my heart. He has never recovered.”

PROBLEMS “STILL CONTINUE” Speaking of her father’s death to a stroke, Tracey Crouch MP said “I was glad that he had died long before the pandemic, because while no one wants to see their parent or loved one lying on a bed—a thin, pallid skeleton—saying their final goodbyes, blessings or apologies hours before their death, nor should they be denied that right.”

Ms Crouch said: “Tragically, during the pandemic, and in some cases still today, many of my constituents and others around the country were denied visiting rights, whether that was to care, to celebrate or, sadly, to say goodbye. We should pause for a moment to cast our minds back to the start of the pandemic in early 2020, when the virus was ripping around communities, transport systems, offices, retail places and, of course, health and social care spaces. It was killing people in large numbers, especially the most vulnerable in society. People were frightened and our understanding of the virus was limited. We went into lockdown and isolated our loved ones because we thought that it was the kindest and safest thing to do. We all understood why.”

“When I looked back through my casework files in preparation for the debate, I found hardly any complaints about limited access to relatives in the first lockdown, because in a Blightyesque spirit, we got on with it and found alternative ways to communicate with those we could not ordinarily see. Many of us here stamped our feet about care workers not getting enough personal protective equipment and rightly included them in our doorstep clapping, because they were heroically looking after their residents when family and friends could not visit any more.”

“We understood the fear that if one resident caught the virus, it could be devastating for the entire setting, and the duty of care that they held. But then lockdown ended, the summer arrived, the virus declined, our understanding of it improved and our hopes of going back to see residents in health and social care settings were raised— yet when I looked at my casework, I saw that that was when the problems began, and, unfortunately, they still continue.”

So I call upon the Minister to get tough on any care homes that block residents from seeing visitors. There should be severe consequences for those who continue to blight the lives of those in care, and they should face fines or legal action.”

We are failing vulnerable members of our society and it simply cannot be allowed to continue

NEVER AGAIN

Daisy Cooper MP spoke of the “huge power imbalance, which cannot be right” as families fear speaking out: “they are terrified of being labelled a troublemaker, of being stopped from visiting their loved ones altogether or of their loved ones being evicted.”

These powerful testimonies highlighted the harm, distress and misery isolation continues to cause to so many families. Following the political turmoil of the past few months, the newly re-appointed Care Minister, Helen Whately, promised she was ‘on the case’. In her first day back in the office she had “commissioned work on what I can do to sort this out…I do not consider the status quo acceptable”. With winter fast approaching, there is not a moment to lose. We will continue pushing for this new legal right until we achieve change. Contact with relatives and friends is not an optional extra, but a crucial part of delivering good care.

Liz Saville Roberts MP described only touching her mother’s hand once during the critical six weeks after her first stroke: “health authority infection policy vetoed family bonds of love as a health hazard to be minimised”.

Esther McVey MP said “It has been deeply distressing to hear the stories that have been told in this debate. Human beings have rights, including the right to education, the right to healthcare, the right to bodily autonomy, the right to equality and the right to private family life, free from Government interference, to be able to spend time with their loved ones. It is a sad fact that all those rights came under attack during the covid lockdowns, but we have moved on from those lockdowns, and the covid restrictions have ended, so it is deeply harrowing to discover that it is not the case for some.”

“In the stories we have heard today, in the stories I have heard from my constituents and in the stories highlighted in The Sunday Times, I am horrified that, seven months after the removal of official restrictions, care home residents are still being denied visits from their families and friends. It needs to be mentioned that some care homes are open and allowing visits, but others are not and continue to prevent family members from seeing one another.”

“That is simply inhumane. It is beyond cruel. Isolation and the loss of social contact has a devastating impact on physical and psychological health. Without the support of family and friends, health outcomes are poorer, as residents lose hope and sometimes even the will to live, and they often refuse treatment. For residents with dementia this is especially devastating, as they do not understand why their relatives have not been to see them. Many also have serious sensory impairments, and for them physical touch and communication with family members might be all they have left.”

“I am more concerned that this situation is concealing neglect and abuse. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on pandemic response and recovery, I heard from campaigners back in April, and more recently, who warned of widespread and shocking safeguarding issues involving medication, hydration, hygiene and a lack of basic care. Families must be allowed full access, to support, protect and advocate for their loved ones when they need it most.”

FAILING VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY Ms McVey added: “What can be done to end this unnecessary suffering once and for all? It is now beyond urgent that care homes, local authorities, the UK Health Security Agency and the CQC stop blaming each other for these appalling failures of policy and take action. Rather than requiring new legislation, we need to uphold existing laws. Article 8 of the Human Rights Act and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 should have protected against this situation ever arising. Instead, that legislation is being wilfully misinterpreted as an excuse to keep people isolated in care homes; sometimes they feel as though they are prisoners.

STATUS QUO “NOT ACCEPTABLE”

“NOT EASY FOR CARE HOMES” Helen Whatley who was recently reappointed as care Minister said: “I was questioned by Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights about this very topic. On visiting, I said: “I want to get to a position where it is as normal as possible. This is something to come back to in the future, particularly if family members and residents feel that the situation is not working as they would want it to. Clearly, family and residents do indeed feel that the situation is not working.”

I understand that things are not easy for care homes. I understand the staffing pressures caused by the recent increase in covid—and flu, which many residents are vulnerable to. The majority of care homes are allowing normal visiting and, as hon. Members said, many care homes totally recognise the importance of visitors.

“However, we cannot continue to have a situation in which families and friends are struggling to see loved ones in care homes. That is why I have already commissioned work today—it was my first commission since my appointment—on the steps that I can take to sort this out. On the question from the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle), I cannot announce legislation here and now at the Dispatch Box, but I have commissioned work on what I can do to sort this out. I assure all hon. Members on the Chamber and all those listening to the debate that I do not consider the status quo acceptable, and I am on the case.”

PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

QCS Host "Future of Care" Discussion at Care Roadshow With more people than ever affected by dementia in the UK, and the numbers continuing to rise, the care sector is facing a critical challenge. A panel discussion at the recent Care Roadshow London, brought together five individuals, all with experience supporting people with with dementia, to discuss the future of care.

QCS Dementia Champion Jackie Pool, who chaired the panel, asked: “in our quest to help people live well for longer, she asked, “what are we in the care sector doing now, and what could be doing?”

A lively discussion followed a moving account by Nula Suchet, author of “The Longest Farewell: James, Dementia and Me”. She talked about her husband’s early onset of dementia aged just 57 and how it affected them both.

The initial diagnosis of Picks Disease, an aggressive form of dementia. was given by an expert. “He was so cruelly hard about it,” she said. The couple were told the condition was “quite far along”, that there “was no cure”, and that ‘it isn’t a nice journey, She was also told that although there is help out there, it wasn’t available for the stage that James was at.

Nula quickly realised there was no clearly defined roadmap or care path for them to follow, which made her all the more determined to fight the dementia every day.

Picking up on Nula’s story, Jackie asked the panelists: “How can services ensure that there is a care partnership with the person living with dementia, with the person’s family and close others and within their teams?”

Psychologist Dr Kellyn Lee, CEO & Founder of WISER Health and Social Care, and creator of Material Citizenship, said that after a diagnosis, it’s important to develop a pathway, a clear social care plan – while keeping in mind the trajectory of dementia can be different for each individual.

“We need to provide support for carers so they are prepared for what’s going to happen,” she said. She added that “the pathway should include ‘identifying objects’ that have meaning for the person – from a favourite coffee cup to hair straighteners (which are often refused for health and safety reasons).

“My argument is that actually the environments we create are causing problems, as we see the person living with dementia as incapable of still doing things. For the care experience to be better and for people living with dementia to live well, care providers need to incorporate care pathways from the beginning, and right the way through.”

Jackie agreed, saying that not allowing personalisation of spaces is a way of thinking that has to be challenged.

Rishi Jawaheer, director of The Jawa Group and Care Vision was moved by Nula’s story and said her husband James was fortunate to have her love and support.

But, he said, across his care services, many people don’t have a partner, don’t have that support. “We see many people on their own, going through the dementia journey completely alone, and that causes a lot of stress,” he said.

“What happens with dementia is that we cast people out, we forget about them. So many people are dying of loneliness. And that is one of the things we try to combat, to fight against.” He went on to say that

he sees the future of dementia care focusing on the connection between people.

Dr Rosie Mead, CEO Musica Music and Wellbeing, agreed, saying how ‘care partnerships’ are important.

Much of her work in care homes is supporting care partners to embed music into dementia care, as well as bringing family members in too, as part of the conversation.

Jackie went on to talk about the importance of person-centred care, but added that “if we’re not careful, that becomes something we say, and not what we do. We need the combination of good values and training and skills to achieve excellence in care,” she said.

“My feeling is we need a mandatory dementia care qualification to really pull us forward, she added.

Rosie felt that rather than an actual qualification, a mixed approach would be better. She felt that some knowledge and theory was necessary, but then advice on how to put it into practice. Providers also have to consider how that is monitored too.

Kellyn felt that many dementia awareness courses were more a box ticking exercise. But carers often lack confidence. “Often care staff say, ‘I don’t want to work with people with dementia because it’s too hard’.”

Rishi picked up on the perception of carers and training. He wanted to see more positive coverage in the media about the ‘amazing things that go on in care home’. And, as he does with his staff, communicate with carers that they are up there with the most important people in society, such as teachers and doctors and nurses.

He also added that he felt the future of dementia care lay not in relying on an overseas workforce, as many providers do, but tapping into young people locally. But there’s a lot of change and learning that needs to take place.

He felt it was important to ‘change the perception’ and communicate that “you can have a career in social care, you can work your way up to management, and engage with technology. This is what we want to see on the department of health adverts rather than making cups of tea.”

An audience member added that there is a whole world of research about dementia care, and as a provider, he would love to tap into that.

Jackie talked about her work with the QCS Dementia Centre, a resource that contains the latest research papers on dementia care. She said that with each of the articles, she has added discussion points about what ‘we can take from this, what can we learn from It and implement.”

Kellyn agreed and felt that academic research and knowledge in the field of social care doesn’t filter through and therefore often has no impact. She is already doing this with Material Citizenship and her company is planning to work with other academics to turn relevant research into training programs, to deliver to the social care force.

She added that “the social work force is valuable and do an incredible job without the resources, without the training, without the support of the Government. It’s about time we started to turn this knowledge into something we can utilise.” She felt it was time to pause with the research and time to innovate.

If you are interested in attending face-to-face seminars and speaking to sector experts, you can find out more about the Care Roadshows here https://www.careroadshows.co.uk/. Their next event is in Cardiff on 17th November 2022! Our Head of Social Care Content, Lindsay Rees, will also join a panel to discuss the future of social care.

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

The London Childrens Ballet Comes To Local Care Home Residents and staff at Southgate Beaumont care home experienced an afternoon of joy when The London Children’s Ballet came to visit.

London Children’s Ballet was founded in 1994 to give talented young

cious spread of sweet and savoury treats after the show.

General Manager, Beatrice Godfrey said, “Our residents had a wonderful day and they were mesmerised by the wonderful performers.

dancers a unique opportunity to perform as part of a professional ballet pro-

We do our best to provide a wide range of activities and entertainment

duction. In 2003 the LCB2 Touring Company was formed in order to bring the

at Southgate Beaumont as part of the life enrichment programme for

performances to those who may be unable to attend a theatre performance.

Residents at Southgate Beaumont were blown away by The L C B performance of Anne of Green Gables, and watched in awe as they danced through this heartwarming story of Anne, charming her new home and community with her fiery spirit and imagination.

Residents then enjoyed meeting the dancers and everyone enjoyed a deli-

residents, and are always keen to bring live performances to our lovely home!”

"One resident in particular who loved the performane was Barbara Warne who had currently traveled the world as a ballet dancer herself.

"We made sure she was sat centre stage to enjoy every second of the show."

Yeovil Mental Health Support Service Becomes a CQC Provider A mental health support service based in Somerset has become a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered provider, meaning it can now offer a wider scope of care to its patients, including ‘personal care’.

Enable Support Services in Yeovil became a CQC registered provider in September and is working towards carrying out regulated activities which include personal care – helping with hygiene, dressing, eating as well as giving medication.

The mental health support service works with people with mental health, learning disabilities, autism and sensory needs in the South West of England by providing community support services as well as supported accommodation.

Enable Support Services has now been able to work with a wider range of clients, particularly those with supported living requirements who may require a higher level of specialised personal care.

CEO of Enable Support Services Angie Lyons-Redman said becoming a CQC provider is a huge milestone for the organisation and they will be able to care and provide support for so many more people within the local community.

Angie added: “This is a huge step for Enable Support Services. We can now provide more tailored and specialist support, and we can manage a wider range of clients, particularly those who need higher levels of support in our supported accommodation.

“Before becoming a CQC provider we had to direct clients to a separate care provider to receive personal care or medication, but now we can provide this it means we can offer so much more continuity for our clients.

“We can support them with day-to-day activities, including helping them to get dressed, taking medication, eating, the list goes on.

“This is a huge achievement for us and I am so glad we will be able to support so many more people.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 5

Care England Urges “Save Our Sector” Care England has this week written to the newly appointed Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, calling for the Conservative manifesto promise to ‘fix social care’ to be delivered in his premiership.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “Care England welcomes the Prime Minister to his new role.

Speaking for the first time outside of No.10, Mr. Sunak spoke of his intention to ‘deliver’ the Conservative manifesto promises from 2019. Now in office, he is presented with a unique opportunity to finish what his predecessors started and enact the long-overdue reform of the sector promised by his party during the 2019 election, and ‘fix social care’ once and for all. Following a turbulent couple of months at the head of Government, it is vital that the new Prime Minister steadies the ship and places social care right at the top of his agenda. The stabilisation of the adult social care sector should be the Government’s priority in the coming months to secure the future of the nation; for the individual receiving support and care, the staff member and the taxpayer.”

Care England’s open letter to the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP outlines many of the immediate pressures facing the sector, namely those relating to reform delays, energy, funding, and the workforce.

Among the points made in the letter are: • Reform delays – Any delay to the £1.36bn funding provisioned for the Fair Cost of Care to address historic underfunding of social care and move fees closer to a Fair Cost of Care will have catastrophic effects. The original timeframe for reform introduced by the 2019 election-winning Government must be respected.

• Energy – The Energy Bill Relief Scheme, while offering much-needed short-term stability to care providers, does not represent the long-term strategy needed to support the sector through the ongoing energy crisis. To withdraw the current measures of support after 31 March 2023 would be an immense oversight by the Government. It must be ruled out as a matter of urgency, with more substantial measures implemented as soon as possible.

• Funding – The adult social care sector has been chronically underfunded by central Government for far too long. Current funding provisions are insufficient and the Government must commit to substantial increases in funding to stabilise the sector and enable it to move towards a sustainable footing.

• Workforce – Despite being the social care sector’s greatest asset, it is currently in a rapidly worsening crisis. Care England urges the Government to introduce a fully funded workforce plan.

Martin Green continues: “The issues currently facing social care are immense in both scale and severity and must be addressed as a matter of urgency if the sector is to be saved. Issues around reform, energy, funding or workforce in isolation would be enough to push a provider over the edge: all four simultaneously is catastrophic. Care providers deliver essential care to many of society’s most vulnerable; Mr. Sunak has the opportunity and responsibility to ensure these individuals, and the high-quality care they receive, are protected in the long and short term. Care England is looking forward to building on our long history as a critical friend to Government, and assisting in a pragmatic government response that is needed to save our sector.”

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PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

Burnout – What It Is and How To Deal With It thing. In fact too much stress, again like too much of most things, can actually be psychologically and physiologically harmful. Too much stress leads to burnout, and burnout if left unchecked, could be a risk factor for developing further physical and mental health difficulties.

SO WHAT IS BURNOUT?

National Stress Awareness Day takes place on Wednesday 2 November. Dr Seb Thompson, Cygnet Health Care’s National Psychology Lead for CAMHS Services, takes a look at stress in the workplace, how it can result in burnout and some of the things we can do to combat burnout.

So here is the thing – stress in the workplace can be a good for us! It can help us focus, increase productivity and contribute to a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, self-esteem and general well-being. That is, if the stress levels we are experiencing are at just the right levels: high enough to be motivational and low enough not to be debilitating.

Too much stress however, like too much of anything, is not a good

Burnout is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a condition resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The symptoms of it typically fall into three categories: • Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion • Increased disconnection from work or increased cynicism and negativity • Reduced professional efficacy In other words, it’s when we feel chronically tired, jaded and fed up with what we are doing at work. It’s when we have lost that motivation and drive to make a difference. It’s when we become more irritable, more difficult to be around and ultimately less productive.

Burnout isn’t something which typically just happens, it is something that creeps up on us and it can often be other people that notice the first signs of it rather than ourselves. It is therefore important for everyone to be aware of the possible beginnings of burnout both in ourselves and in those around us. After all, burnout doesn’t just go away – we need to actively take a step back, analyse what is contributing to our feelings and then take practical steps to address the underlying factors.

WHAT CAN WE DO IF WE THINK THAT WE ARE SUFFERING FROM BURNOUT?

Ultimately it’s the little things that make a difference. If burnout can creep up on us slowly then we need to make some changes when we start to notice its presence. These changes could be both things inside and outside work than can then add up to combat burnout and will hopefully begin to give us more control overall.

Although different things will work for different people, some tips if you start to notice burnout could be: • Try and analyse what the cause of the burnout is and then problem solve what might help • Prioritise what needs to get done now and what can realistically wait • Make sure you always finish work on time – don’t take it home with you • Actively schedule in activities you enjoy outside of work • Book in that annual leave you have been meaning to take • Set boundaries with others and know your limits • Make sure you get enough sleep • Practice self-compassion – look after yourself • Reach out and ask for help – talk to people you trust at work At Cygnet Health Care, we know that working in high pressure environments can be stressful at times, which is why the company set up the StRaW (Sustaining Resilience at Work) Peer Support Programme that is aimed at supporting people in building their resilience and promoting psychological wellbeing in the work place.

StRaW can help detect and prevent occupational health issues and boost psychological resilience. We have practitioners placed across all services who can offer individual management plans to support those who need it. The programme can be accessed by individual staff and also via a referral from a service manager.

Ghostly Greetings as Winchester Care Homes Stage Halloween Treats for Children Residents and staff at two Winchester care homes laid on games, craft sessions and ghostly garden trails as spooky treats for visiting children.

The bone-chilling fun at Colten Care’s Abbotts Barton and St Catherines View featured costumes and decorations guaranteed to give everyone goosebumps.

Eight young visitors, all children of team members at Abbotts Barton in Worthy Road, had to navigate an array of hanging spiders, cobwebs and skulls as they made their way round the home’s garden.

Kirsty Sawyer, Companionship Team Leader, said: “Our residents and colleagues decorated the garden in advance and put in as much hocus pocus as possible.

“We invited the children to dress up and join us on a hunt around the garden for witches’ hats with letters on that spelt out a spooky word to win a goody bag of treats.

“The children then enjoyed a hot chocolate and toffee apples with our residents.”

For grandmother and resident Jillian Cambrook, the chance to welcome the children was especially pleasing.

She moved to Abbotts Barton during the Covid pandemic at a time when visiting arrangements were restricted.

Jillian said: “We really got into the spirit of Halloween and I loved watching the children running around the garden and enjoying themselves.

“It’s something I hadn’t seen in the garden before. I would love the opportunity to welcome them again in the future.”

At St Catherines View, Colten Care’s dedicated dementia care home in Stanmore Lane, residents welcomed a Halloween visit from nearby Tops Day Nursery and Pre-school.

The fun included a craft session in which residents and visitors designed and decorated Halloween masks.

There was also the chance to take part in games and have a run-around in the garden.

The children were each given flowers picked from the garden which they loved smelling and showing to the residents.

Evie Airs, Companionship Team member, said: “It was amazing to see how meeting the children lifted our residents’ moods and made them so happy and excited. Halloween provides a great form of reminiscence.”

Resident Maggie Green said: “It was wonderful to see the children. They’re just little rays of sunshine.”

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 7

Concerns Raised About Changes to Registration Requirements for Internationally Trained Healthcare Staff The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee raised this concern in its 15th Report after considering the Draft Dentists, Dental Care Professionals, Nurses, Nursing Associates and Midwives (International Registrations) Order 2022.

The Order amends the General Dental Council’s (GDC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) requirements for the registration of internationally trained healthcare professionals by removing certain prescriptive elements of the registration process from legislation. The amendments are intended to address the difficulty in recruiting sufficient dentists to the NHS, and for both the NMC and GDC to make use of internationally recognised qualifications. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) told the Committee that the Order is to prepare for a broader reform of the GDC and NMC’s registration procedures.

The report notes that the summary of the consultation response provided in the Explanatory Memorandum (EM) indicated that many respondents supported the introduction of the changes but voiced concern that high registration standards should be maintained so as not to compromise public safety.

The Committee expressed its regret that the consultation analysis has yet to be published and echoed the safety concerns, especially in ensuring

high standards of verbal and written English in any healthcare professionals registered under this new process. Other instruments in this week’s report were also criticised for not publishing details of the consultation outcome which allow the Committee and Parliament to assess the nature and degree of the concerns expressed by those affected by the legislation.

Baroness Watkins of Tavistock, Member of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee said; “While we note that the Order makes changes to simplify aspects of the registration process for international healthcare professionals so as to address issues including the current NHS dental recruitment crisis, we found it regrettable that once again the consultation analysis has not been published yet, thus impeding our ability to determine fully whether specific safety concerns raised have been addressed.

“Care must be taken to maintain appropriate safety standards so that any applicants recruited under these revised processes are proficient in both verbal and written English; and competent to operate in all healthcare environments, including emergency situations without impacting public safety.

“We have suggested that the House seek reassurance from DHSC that the concerns raised by the professions will be addressed.”

WE NOW SUPPLY A WIDE RANGE OF FURNITURE

PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

Meals on Wheels – We Are Stronger Together HEAT OR EAT – A SERVICE UNDER THREAT Sadly, over the past 10 years the availability of Meals on Wheels, has come under threat in the UK. In 2019 the NACC reported that over 50% of local authority had shut down these essential services, a casualty of social care funding cuts as it is shamefully not considered to be a statutory service. This level of funding has never recovered.

Neel Radia Comments: “Meals on Wheels week, and raising awareness of its immense value has never been as important as it is today, as we brace ourselves to see even more meals on wheels providers face closure this winter at a time when the country is in a cost-of-living crisis and so many vulnerable and elderly will have to make the souldestroying decision this winter, on whether to heat their home or eat.”

BED BLOCKING:

The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) launched their Meals on Wheels Week with an afternoon tea at the House of Lords yesterday today. The event, hosted by The Baroness Pitkeathley OBE, was designed to highlight the significant impact Meals on Wheels has across our society.

The NACC started campaigning for the provision of meals on wheels week over 25 years ago to raise awareness of the immense value the meal service provides to those who are vulnerable and elderly, enabling them to remain independent in their own homes; keeping them healthy and hydrated with a daily nutritious meal, and providing an essential preventative support mechanism that reduces costly malnutrition related admissions to hospital, that are currently adding an unnecessary strain on the NHS. Speaking at the event, Baroness Pitkeathley said: “ I am delighted that you are having not just a day but an entire week to celebrate Meals on Wheels. So often these preventative services are the first to be cut which to anyone who takes an interest in social care will know is totally the wrong decision to make.”

Neel Radia, NACC Lead for Meals on Wheels said: “This service represents more than just a meal and should never be underestimated.

The service plays a vital role in providing people with nutritional support: essential for health and wellbeing as well as ‘safety’ wellbeing checks and social contact. We should all be striving to assist vulnerable people in remaining well, healthy and happy in their own homes – meals on wheels are vital in helping us to achieve this.”

The NHS and Health and Social Care are suffering a bed-blocking crisis. The NACC believe that one straightforward way to alleviate the situation is to invest in support services including meals on wheels allowing those leaving hospital to return to their own home with the vital support needed.

Sue Cawthray, the National Chair of the NACC, said: “Health and Social Care is in its biggest crisis ever with real staff shortages as we see 165,000 vacancies alone in care and catering staff shortages continue to rise too.

Like so many areas of the social care sector, meals on wheels requires greater government funding to support older and vulnerable people living within our communities.

Malnutrition in older people continues to be on the rise, there are more people malnourished than other health conditions. The Meals on Wheels service supports those at risk, protects the NHS and allows providers to not only deliver a vital meal, but in some case that all important knock at the door or a daily ‘check-in’ which is vital to people’s wellbeing.

We have to be a strong voice not only as an association but we must continue to work with other national organisations within the public sector. Please be assured the NACC will continue to fight the battle to raise the issues we face in care catering with those key decision makers, today and everyday until we make progress and get the result we need. Please do not let the vulnerable in our communities this winter chose whether to heat or eat!

Further events this week include:

VIP ON WHEELS - WEDNESDAY 2ND NOVEMBER This popular Meals on Wheels Week activity returns! There’s no bet-

Carer Editor Peter Adams with Baroness Pitkeathley OBE and Neel Radia

ter way to convey the value oeals on Wheels than seeing it in action and the impact it has on service users. VIP on Wheels is a fantastic opportunity to invite local MPs, VIPs and dignitaries to experience a Meals on Wheels delivery and celebrate the service and the immense value it adds to the lives of those receiving it.

INTERNATIONAL MEALS ON WHEELS WEBINAR – THURSDAY 3RD NOVEMBER Hosted by Neel Radia NACC Meals on Wheels Officer, for the UK and Madison Grech, CNM, Continuing Education Director for CSNM, this international online seminar will include speakers from partners from the UK, Canada and Australia.

During this session, experienced operators from across the globe will be discussing Meals on Wheels Operations. They will share case studies from our own processes and learn from each other.

For further information visit: https://www.csnm.ca/viewEvent.html?productId=7977

FRIDAY FRIENDS – FRIDAY 4TH NOVEMBER A special day is planned to highlight the importance of social eating and how it helps reduce loneliness and social isolation. Friday Friends will bring people in our communities together to share the joy of food and time. This will see lunch clubs, day centres and care homes inviting the local community in for afternoon tea.

This simple, small gesture is sure to have an immense impact.

Local Carers Celebrate 35 years of Service with Shelburne Lodge Care Home This week Shelburne Lodge care home in High Wycombe celebrates two members of their team who between them have 35 years of service. Celia Charles, carer at Shelburne Lodge has received a prestigious 25 Year Service Award and Nisha Choonattu Mathew, carer at Shelburne Lodge received a prestigious 10 Year Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare.

Celia and Nisha, both carers at Shelburne Lodge have worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years. To thank them for the hard work and commitment Shelburne Lodge held an afternoon tea to celebrate their achievements.

Jane McFarlane, Employee Services Director at Barchester said: “I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Shelburne Lodge has achieved this milestone. It is dedication like this that ensures our residents are provided with a happy place to live.”

Estelle Adriaans, General Manager of Shelburne Lodge care home said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 35 years of loyal service with Celia and Nisha. They have demonstrated their dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year. I speak for all of us here at Shelburne Lodge when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with both Celia and Nisha!”

Lakeland Dairies Festive Cocktail Competition Open For Entries Following the success of last year’s inaugural Lakeland Dairies Festive Tipples cocktail competition, the contest has returned for 2022 and is now open for entries.

Jean Cattanach, marketing controller Lakeland Dairies comments: “We had a truly fantastic response to last year’s competition. We were so delighted to see care homes enjoying a fun and entertaining Christmas activity using our deliciously versatile Millac Gold Double, that we have bought it back for a second year. In 2021 we awarded Russell Churcher Court care home first place for their beautiful drink collages and exceptional creativity, and we can’t wait to see what exciting ideas this year’s competition will bring.”

THE CHALLENGE Lakeland Dairies have teamed up with wellbeing specialists NAPA, to provide an engaging festive cocktail competition for care home residents. Together they are challenging care homes to host a cocktail party, whilst at the same time encouraging residents to participate through designing their own cocktail.

successfully overcome some of the enormous challenges faced by care caterers when fortifying drinks, namely that of how to devise recipes which are high in protein and still delicious to consume.

PROTEIN & CALORIES

Email: competitions@lakelanddairies.com Full terms and conditions https://bit.ly/3xW0ttL

INSPIRATION

The winning entry will receive a Lakeland Dairies activity pack, including a cocktail shaker, Relish Aqua Paint set and a case of delicious Millac Gold Double. Every entry will also receive a helpful roll of piping bags.

To support care caterers even further, Lakeland Dairies have also released a fortified recipe and activity resource, Fortified Focus: Festive Tipples. The resource demonstrates how to deliver fortified food and drink in a delicious, appetising, and engaging way.

It is packed with delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktail recipes. The drinks are fortified with Lakeland Dairies 100% Dairy Skimmed Milk Powder, which is full of the goodness of milk and recommended by dietitians for fortification because it has the ideal combination of protein and calories.

ENTER

FORTIFIED COCKTAIL RECIPES

Simply ask residents to draw, paint, or make their cocktail and email the designs to Lakeland Dairies by midnight on the 4th December 2022

Each recipe has been carefully created by Lakeland Dairies, a registered dietitian, and a specialist care home chef. Together they have

WIN

Dietitian Rachael Masters who worked on the project comments: “As dietitians, we promote 100% dairy skimmed milk powder for fortification because of the protein content. An ideal milk powder for fortifying would have at least 50 calories and 5g protein per heaped tablespoon (15g)” Lakeland Dairies 100% Dairy Skimmed Milk Powder exceeds dietitian’s ideal requirement from a milk powder for fortification, as it has 55kcal and 5.5.g of protein in a single heaped tablespoon.

Lakeland Dairies creates professional dairy products for chefs which have been carefully crafted and treated to have great taste, and to provide a longer life for added convenience in busy kitchens. With a proud heritage in dairy farming, Lakeland Dairies is a 100% farmer-owned and managed dairy co-operative, whose products are made from highquality milk from the lush green pastures of its 3,200 family farms.

Claim the free fortified recipe and activity resource here https://bit.ly/3xW0ttL Every entrant who requests the guide will receive a free roll of Millac piping bags F lakelanddairiesfoodservice T @lakelandFS #festivetipples

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 9

Govt Carer Recruitment Drive is Welcome… …but no substitute for proper reform says sector

A Government recruitment drive for adult social care is welcome but is merely an attempt to patch up the sector rather than tackle the underlying crisis, campaigners warned today.

The Department of Health and Social Care today launched its annual recruitment drive to encourage people into a career in social care.

The recruitment campaign highlights the emotional rewards that a career in care can bring and celebrates the way staff across the adult social care sector empower the people they support to live fulfilling lives. It also emphasises the importance of needing to have the right personal qualities to begin a career in care, while showing the training and progression opportunities that are often available, along with the option to work varied hours that fit around them. All of these aim to help tackle the concerns many potential applicants have about taking up care work, and importantly motivate them to apply for jobs in their local area today.

The DHSC first launched the national adult social care workforce recruitment campaign in 2019 with the aim of supporting the sector in recruiting high-quality candidates. During the last campaign period (Oct 21-Mar 22) the advertising had a significant impact. Post-campaign tracking showed an increase in campaign recognition and consideration of a role in adult social care amongst our target audience.

Whilst welcoming the move, the care provider organisation, The Independent Care Group (ICG) warned it would not tackle the elephant in the room which is the poor pay of the social care workforce.

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “Anything that helps us tackle the shortage in social care staff is welcome.

“But it won’t tackle the underlying cause of the 165,000 vacancies in social care, which is a shortage of funding that goes back more than 30 years.

“And it is disingenuous of the Government to lay the blame for poor staff pay at the feet of providers when its chronic and relentless underfunding of social care has made it impossible for those providers to afford to pay staff much above the National Living/Minimum Wage, however much they want to. They must be able to pay staff at least on a par with the NHS. “The Government must address the poor pay of the social care workforce by reforming and properly funding the sector. It can start by injecting the minimum of £7bn extra a year into social care the Chancellor has previously said was needed.

“Then maybe we will be able to properly pay those working in social care and make it a profession people will want to join rather than going to work in a supermarket or online shopping warehouse.

“Efforts like this are sticking plasters when this, as William Beveridge

said in 1942, is “a time for revolutions, not for patching”.

The ICG is concerned as the crisis in social care deepens and providers warn repeatedly that the sector is in danger.

A financial impact assessment, commissioned by members of the CQC Market Oversight Scheme, yesterday warned that care providers fear the sector is on the brink of collapse.

Mr Padgham added: “Here we see yet another terrifying report, from the Government’s own care watchdog, warning of the imminent collapse of the social care sector because of the dire financial state it is in.

“At the moment the sector is suffering death by a thousand cuts because it is seeing smaller care and nursing homes and home care providers closing and handing back contracts.

“But it can only be a matter of time before we see a big provider close with the same frightening impact the collapse of Southern Cross had back in 2011.

“Maybe then the Government will take some action. My fear is that they won’t and it will only be when the loss of social care provision brings hospitals to an absolute standstill that ministers will wake up to the crisis on their doorstep.”

The ICG says more than 30 years of neglect and underfunding has left social care on the brink of collapse, with Covid-19, chronic staff shortages and the cost-of-living crisis turning the situation critical. Care and nursing homes are closing and homecare providers are handing back undeliverable contracts.

At least 1.6m people are living without the care they need and there are 165,000 job vacancies in the sector.

It has written to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor calling upon them to give social care at least an extra £7bn a year.

The ICG has called for root and branch reform of the social care sector.

It has launched its Five Pillars of Social Care Reform, setting out what it believes are the actions required to save the sector.

The five pillars are: • Ring fence a percentage of GDP to be spent on providing social care to those who already receive it and the 1.6m who can’t get it • Create a unified National Care Service, incorporating health

and social care • Set a National Minimum Wage per hour for care staff on a par with NHS • Set up an urgent social care task force to oversee reform • Fix a ‘fair price for care’ cost per bed and cost per homecare visit.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 11

CQC State of Care Report Highlights Immediate Need to Get a Grip on Staff Retention, says BMA Responding to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) annual assessment of the state of heath and social care in England, released earlier this month, which found that the system is ‘gridlocked and unable to operate effectively’, Professor Philip Banfield, BMA council chair, said: “This is a notable and timely condemnation from the regulator that oversees all health and care services in the country – which rightly concludes that despite the best efforts of dedicated staff, the system is failing the very people it should be caring for.

“As the CQC itself notes it is nigh-on impossible for staff to provide good care in a gridlocked system, where people cannot be discharged from hospital because there are no care home spaces, or are forced to wait hours on end in the back of an ambulance because A&E is full of people waiting for a bed on a ward. This means ambulances are queuing outside hospitals rather than reaching those in need of immediate lifesaving treatment.

“These shortfalls are hitting the poorest communities hardest, further widening the unacceptable health inequalities that we currently have in this country.“As the report outlines, the mismatch between demand and capacity is down to workforce – with staff leaving due to plummeting morale, and poor pay and working conditions. We need immediate action rather than more dithering on the retention crisis. This must include reversing the real-terms pay cuts doctors have experienced for more than a decade, ending the pension tax trap forcing senior doctors to limit their clinical work or retire early, reducing bureaucratic targets, supporting continuity of care, and investing in services so that staff can deliver the standard of care that patients deserve.

“At a time of severe economic instability and recent threats to cut public spending, reports like this underline the unmitigated disaster it would be to further deprive the NHS and care services of the resources they need – for staff, for patients and for the health and therefore the wealth of the nation.”

Remembrance Day - Please Let Us Share Your Stories!

As we approach Remembrance Day, this year there will once again be a national focus on ceremonies and services being held up and down the country, both on Remembrance Sunday November 13th and also on Friday the 11th November 2022 at 11am.

Remembrance Sunday is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.

We remember the Armed Forces, and their families, from Britain and the Commonwealth, the vital role played by the emergency services and those who have lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism.

We will wear a poppy with pride and as a display of our respect for all those who have served their country and their nation to help uphold the rights, we can today sometimes take for granted.

For the residents of our care homes, this is of course a particularly important day of the year, we have in recent years been proud and humbled to have been able to share stories and tributes to our nation’s finest! in fact last years 3-page can be seen here https://issuu.com/thecarer/docs/the_carer_digital_77/26 Most care homes will be planning to have their own service and pay tribute, and we would be delighted to share them.

What are you planning in your care home? Have you got a remembrance service planned? Do you have a resident whose story you like to share?

We would love to hear about the events you have planned by sharing them, in our printed issue our weekly digital issue, on our social media, so please do send stories, pictures & comments!

Please email me editor@thecareruk.com

PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

We Must Do More to Acknowledge and Value Care Workers

By Marina Glaves, Registered Manager at Beechy Knoll Care Home in Sheffield

The care sector has faced huge pressures over the last two years. The covid pandemic, staff shortages and the cost-of-living crisis have all taken their toll on care homes, residents and their families and, in particular, our care home staff who have been on the front line in extremely difficult circumstances.

Times are hard for many people but, now more than ever, we need to take the time to support these dedicated and professional workers. This is why everyone at Beechy Knoll Care Home has been delighted to take part in a pilot project with Support Social Care Heroes (SSCH), an organisation which aims to preserve, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of those working in social care.

We all know, but sometimes forget, that care work is essential for our society and for the vulnerable people who need our help. Carers and other social care staff are part of a highly skilled and professional workforce yet they are often low paid and overworked. At the moment it’s not unusual for a carer to be under enormous pressure at work as well as struggling to pay the bills at home. The long, sometimes stressful or sad, hours combined with low income means that they rarely take the time to care for themselves.

SSCH was established to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the 1.54m professionals working in social care in the UK. We were asked to be involved in the pilot programme earlier this year and we jumped at the chance. All our care staff have been through the nightmare of the last couple of years and we loved the idea of an organisation which would reward their continued hard work and sacrifices.

Since the start of the pilot, SSCH has provided initiatives to improve the lives of our staff. This has ranged from wellbeing days, massage sessions, health and fitness advice and mental health coaching sessions, to receiving regular fresh fruit deliveries and smoothie workshops for the staff - this was such a success that one of the resident’s family members bought a smoothie maker for the home.

SSCH has also provided funding for a ‘wellbeing pod’ for the home’s garden so the staff have a space to relax. We already have a visitor pod for residents and their visitors so this is a really welcome addition for staff. We’ve also had the opportunity to enter the monthly SSCH ‘employee of the month’ awards which has been great for the spirit of the team.

As part of the programme, I have taken a 12 week wellbeing course for managers which has been brilliant for learning how to support my own wellbeing as well as that of the team.

Everything has been funded by SSCH and, in the coming months, we will soon have voluntary fitness sessions and a dedicated counselling room for staff to help them with their mental and physical health.

I’ve been working in the care sector since 1975 and we’re currently under pressure like we’ve never known. Sometimes we feel attacked from all angles and we need mental strength to navigate day-to-day life.

Since starting the pilot, staff have told me that they feel more valued and cared about. I’m so pleased we were asked to be involved because it really is a wonderful bespoke initiative for those working in social care.

I hope we can continue to care for our care staff and that the programme is rolled out across the country.

Bield Host New Ceremony to Celebrate Employees Going the Extra Mile EMPLOYEES at a Scottish housing provider came together to celebrate the dedication and hard work of their staff over the last two years.

Bield Housing and Care hosted a Staff Awards Ceremony to recognise and reward the staff members that went above and beyond their normal duties and kept morale high despite the ongoing challenges.

Eight awards were presented with the winners of seven of these chosen by a judging panel. The judging panel comprised of six members of staff from across the organisation and one Board member.

The People’s Choice Award was determined by Bield employees and the general public with over 200 votes cast in an online poll. The winner of this award was announced on the night via a pre-recorded video message from well-known Scottish actress and comedian Elaine C Smith.

The ceremony took place at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh with over 60 employees across all areas of the organisation in attendance.

Bield’s Chief Executive, Dr Lynne Douglas, said: “All of our teams have worked tirelessly over the past two years, overcoming exceptional challenges. Hosting our first ever Staff Awards Ceremony gave us a chance to bring together our employees from all across Scotland and recognise and celebrate their incredible efforts and achievements.”

The awards ceremony took place the day before Bield’s AGM and Staff Conference. The latter events offered members, employees and the Board opportunities to discuss the issues facing the housing and care sector and outline future plans for the organisation.

Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible and high quality housing solutions and support for older people. Bield Housing and Care has around 180 developments across Scotland, providing independent living for those over 55 years old.

Birmingham Care Home Colleagues Raise £250 for Alzheimer’s Charity Residents at a specialist care home in Birmingham have raised £250 for Alzheimer’s Awareness at a recent charity walk.

Colleagues and residents at Otterburn care home in Birmingham have raised money for national charity, The Alzheimer’s Society, by completing a 3.5km in the local area.

The Birmingham Memory walk in Sutton Park took place on 17th of September with thousands of walkers in attendance. The Exemplar Health Care home supports adults living with complex needs including those living with dementia, so this walk held particular sentimental value for all involved.

As part of Exemplar Health Care’s ethos to empower residents to do the things they love, the staff at Otterburn joined the residents to take part in the charity walk to raise money for a cause close to their hearts.

Six members of staff and four residents attended the charity walk in Sutton Park,

Birmingham. The £250 raised went directly to the Alzheimer’s Charity to support those living with dementia both now and in the future. Senior health care assistant, Claire Huckerby, who attended said: “It was a fantastic day to support a fantastic charity. We would definitely want to do this again!”

Naomi Jones, home manager at Otterburn care home, said: “Our staff and residents walked to raise funds and awareness for a charity that is close to all our hearts. It was a brilliant day all round. Staff supported residents to make it around the 3.5km track in aid of a worthy cause.

“We turned up in style with holographic glitter tattoos and tied coloured ribbons to wheelchairs to make a bigger impact! We finished the walk by celebrating with coloured powder paints and silly string which we all found rather fun. Both our staff and residents had a brilliant day!”

HC-One Wins ‘Inclusion Award’ at the NAPA Member Activity Awards HC-One have been named as the winners of the ‘Inclusion Award’ at the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) Member Activity Awards 2022 which took place on Friday 7th October 2022 at a virtual award ceremony.

The NAPA Member Awards celebrate excellence in activity provision, and recognise individuals and teams who show innovation, creativity, outstanding commitment, and a skilled approach to prioritising wellbeing.

The ‘Inclusion Award’ was presented to HC-One due to promoting inclusion, equality, diversity and celebrating individuals of different backgrounds. HC-One’s approach to activities and engagement is truly inclusive, inspires others to think creatively and ensures people know that they matter. Judges felt inspired by the organisational approach to HCOne celebrating Black History Month, recognising the contributions and achievements of those with African or Caribbean heritage, introducing taster sessions for Residents to broaden their food palettes so they can experience food from other cultures, encouraging

teams to challenge negative stereotypes and have shone a light on the achievements of black Colleagues and Residents.

Lawra Baumane, Quality of Life Specialist at HC-One commented: “I am delighted that HC-One has been chosen as the winner of the ‘Inclusion Award’ at the distinguished NAPA Member Activity Awards 2022. HC-One provides a range of wellbeing activities that are truly inclusive for Colleagues and Residents from all cultural backgrounds. Our Colleagues are dedicated and work hard to enhance and prioritize Residents’ wellbeing and quality of life.

“Colleagues working across our care homes at HC-One have truly gone above and beyond to provide the kindest care to Residents living in our care homes and support to Relatives and those within the local community, supporting our mission to be the firstchoice care provider in each of the communities that we serve.”

PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

Coping with Food Inflation offering, costs can be reduced by: • Following the seasons • Flexing your recipes • Swapping brand to own label where appropriate • Considering the drained weight of tinned goods • Increasing in-house production • Making use of technology

brings down your cost to serve.

OPERATIONAL PRACTICES Now is a good time to revisit how your catering team is operating, with a real focus on the financial outcomes. There are three key areas to look at:

MULTI AND UPSKILLING YOUR TEAM TO INCREASE EFFICIENCIES

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

As catering operations continue to face rising food prices, Hayden Hibbert, Client Relationship Director at allmanhall (https://allmanhall.co.uk/) looks at three key areas where caterers could become more efficient and thereby make significant cost savings.

According to Hibbert, “Reworking the menu offering, reassessing how the supply chain is managed, and revisiting operational practices could all have a positive financial outcome for catering operations.”

Recipes and menus Using smart and effective recipe and menu engineering can make a big difference when it comes to food costs. Without changing the

How the supply chain is managed can definitely help to ease food inflation costs. There are three different things to focus on: Your approach • Tendering • Operating dual supply • Consolidating your suppliers • Range management Undertaking a review of product lists can enable you to achieve focused buying lists, comprised of the products needed to operate effectively and reducing your ‘tail’ (the lesser needed / non-essential items). Sometimes a more focussed approach can make small savings very quickly.

WHAT’S YOUR COST TO SERVE? This is the cost for a supplier to make a delivery. It can be brought down by limiting the number of deliveries you have each week or by increasing the value of each delivery. The other thing you can look at doing is reducing the need for your supplier to split cases, which again

By reviewing and improving your team’s skills it is possible to enhance kitchen practices and impact costs. Also, a chef who is skilled and motivated will be willing and able to cook food, which can be more cost effective than using pre-packaged products. Whilst training may feel like an unnecessary expense, a cost-benefit analysis will show the results will soon pay you back.

WASTE REDUCTION As well as an environmental issue, food waste can be a big cost.

Whether this is kitchen waste or waste from meals, addressing it can save money and support more sustainable practices.

EQUIPMENT Using modern equipment can really drive cost efficiencies. When did you last consider your capital investment strategy with regards to equipment? Like spending on training, the benefits could quickly outweigh the outlay.

Food inflation is a reality. Hibbert comments, “allmanhall aims to help its clients in theses testing times, be it by negotiating down proposed price increases, advising on product alternatives and range management, or mitigating risks.”

Newcross Healthcare Launches Voices of Care Podcast Newcross Healthcare are bringing together wisdom and insight for a new podcast series on the challenges and solutions that could lie ahead for the sector.

Voices of Care: The Podcast – available across Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube – invites leaders from NHS Trusts, Health Boards and care associations, as well as experts across recruitment, development and strategy, to share their thoughts on how they can work together to enable the workforce of the future.

Hosted by non-executive director and author of the LaingBuisson Healthcare Market Report, Suhail Mirza draws on his experience to facilitate a conversation that seeks a new innovative approach.

“We don’t have all the answers, but we’re willing to ask the questions,” says Suhail. “I think that’s what makes this podcast series such an opportune project. It’s a chance to listen and understand common issues, as well as share the thoughts and successes of those at the forefront of care.”

Suhail will be joined by luminaries from across NHS, social care and the private sector including Roisin Fallon Williams, Professor Martin Green, Dr Jane Townson, and Neil

Carberry. Each guest aims to share their thoughts to build a collaborative response to the current challenges as well as the future needs of the sector.

A recent YouGov survey commissioned by Newcross Healthcare identified areas where urgent action is required such as recruitment, carers’ wellbeing, rate of pay and the changing demands of public health. Current findings suggest over a quarter of care workers are likely to leave the sector within the next 12 months with understaffing, low pay, and lack of recognition being notable reasons for leaving.

Speaking on the first episode launched on Tuesday 1 November, former CEO of NHS England Sir David Nicholson says: “Most of the levers that we will need to improve our overall position are in our own hands.”

“Recruitment, retention, the way we support and help our people, the way we train and educate them – all of those things are a critical part of it.”

Tune in to hear the full discussion and subscribe to Voices of Care wherever you get your podcasts.

Bewitching Tricks and Spooky Treats at Local Care Home Barchester’s Hugh Myddelton House care home, in Southgate was a den of ghoulish activity as the home’s spooky Halloween Party got into full swing.

Residents and staff got in to the spirit of things by decorating the home, icing spooky biscuits and cupcakes prepared by the home’s chef and holding a pumpkin

General Manager, Jade Shea cackled: “Our staff and residents love any excuse for a party! The home looks fantastic with all the decorations and our head chef did us proud with lots of spooky treats – we’ve all had a brilliant time.”

carving competition. Also, we welcomed Anna and her group of toddlers into our

Jean resident at Hugh Myddelton House said:

home and enjoyed singing, playing games and having a chat about Halloween.

“It has been such a fun day. It was wonderful to see everyone go to so much effort

Residents and staff admired children’s lovely costumes and everyone was delighted

to get into the Halloween spirit. I really enjoyed the pumpkin carving competition,

to treat the children with some delicious sweets.

decorating spooky designed biscuits and spending time with the little children.”

Virtual Reality Technology Helps Residents Take a Trip To Some Of The World’s Most Beautiful Places From sky diving in Dubai to a tour of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Care Home Residents in the UK are living their travel dreams. Residents in Advinia Health Care homes, Newcarron Court, Longwood, Braemount, Hillview, Netherton Green and Parklands, have been travelling around the world from the comfort of their armchairs thanks to Oculus, a virtual reality technology.

The VR headset offers Residents the opportunity to visit renowned tourist sites whilst sitting comfortably in their Homes. The headsets track head movements, allowing the wearer to explore a 360-degree representation of an environment just by looking around. The view experienced by the headset wearer is also displayed on a tablet, so Carers and family can share and chat about the content, which might include places familiar to the resident or parts of the world they’ve never encountered before.

Advinia Health Care (www.advinia.co.uk) says the introduction of virtual reality technology is in response to the impact the pandemic has had on residents who have expressed their desire to travel around the world. In response, Advinia intro-

duced Oculus to enhance the life of the residents, especially those living with dementia.

Dr Sanjeev Kanoria Founder and Chairman of Advinia Healthcare noted that “It is wonderful to hear how these experiences have allowed the Residents to reminisce with their families and each other, and enabled them to become more engaged and involved, particularly during these challenging last couple of years.”

Reminiscence therapy is proving to be particularly effective for people living with dementia, and this is a fantastic example of how we can utilise modern technology to help them to unlock treasured memories and engage with others.,” he further explains.

Advinia is one of the UK's largest care providers and has for some time now been engaging in groundbreaking technological advancements to provide the best care for residents. With a vision to create a better everyday life for its residents, Advinia continues to explore the ever-present opportunities that technology provides to make life for the elderly more enjoyable.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 15

Westminster Chaos Risks Worsening NHS Winter Crisis Chaos in Westminster has led to vital ‘rescue money’ local authorities and the NHS desperately need to avert a winter crisis being held up in government departments rather than being released to the system.

Health leaders are concerned that the longer these delays continue, the less local services will be able to put this investment to good use, leading to thousands more elderly and vulnerable patients occupying hospital beds they do not need to be in because they are medically fit to leave. It will also mean primary care and ambulance staff having to pick up the pieces because of the absence of more adequate support to help people in the community.

It is one month since the government announced its Plan for Patients, which included a £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund. The fund was designed to “help speed up the safe discharge of patients from hospital this winter to free up beds as well as helping to retain and recruit more care workers.”

However, leaders across the NHS and local authorities are yet to see a single penny of this investment or any official detail on how it will be allocated.

Although peak demand for emergency care services is not typically seen until January, already the NHS is running very hot with average hospital bed occupancy standing at 97%, performance against the four-hour A&E target dropping further due to high patient volumes, and ‘category 1’ ambulance call outs being a fifth higher in September than before the pandemic.

This is against the backdrop of there being 132,000 vacancies across the NHS, 165,000 vacancies across social care, and over 7 million people on the waiting list for elective treatment.

Health leaders need to see this investment released without any further delay. This will allow hospitals to put in place contracts with social care providers that support people who are medically well enough to recover at home, and for local authorities to explore and possibly increase the pay of their care home and domiciliary care workers, as well as recruit more staff at a time when many are choosing to work in other industries that offer more competitive salaries.

The NHS Confederation is calling on the new secretary of state for health and social care to make it an

immediate priority to cut through this blockage and Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “Currently, only two fifths of patients in hospital are able to leave when they are ready to do so, including due to problems accessing social care, yet health leaders still do not know how and when the £500m winter rescue funding will be released to the system. So close to winter, this is unbelievable.

“Leaders across the NHS and local authorities are yet to see a single penny of this investment or any official detail on how it will be allocated.

“We have a new Prime Minister who health leaders hope will bring stability to the government and unblock the policy paralysis that has consumed Whitehall. Vital public services and the communities they serve are currently paying the price of this political chaos.

“Firstly, this funding is needed because it will get people who are medically fit out of hospital at pace so that they can recover at home and not deteriorate further. Secondly, it is needed to help the NHS become even more productive as hospitals beds occupied by patients who should not be there then lead to waits in emergency departments worsening, more ambulances queuing up outside of hospitals, elective procedures having to be cancelled, and primary care getting more overwhelmed by people’s health deteriorating in the community. Thirdly, it is needed as a way of hopefully increasing the pay of some of the poorest in our communities in domiciliary care to undertake a vital service at a time when they will be needed more than ever.

“If people are forced to say in hospital a moment longer than they need to when they could be back at home or being cared for in a community setting, this is not only detrimental to them but a really inefficient use of finite and very stretched NHS resource.”

“Without the immediate release of the Adult Social Care Discharge Fund, the prospect of a winter crisis for the NHS is extremely high and so, the government really does need to act now.”

Remembrance 2022: Veterans’ Charity Launches ‘They Gave Their All for Us’ Campaign Royal Star & Garter has launched its 2022 Remembrance campaign.

‘They gave their all for us’ highlights how young some of the charity’s residents were when they joined the Armed Forces, and looks at how Royal Star & Garter is able to give back to them each day through its award-winning care.

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, and has Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe.

The campaign features residents from across its Homes. They include Solihull resident Annie, who has affectionately been known all her life as Nanza. She was 20 when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1943, and worked as a Wireless Operator, learning Morse code and helping decipher coded German messages.

Connie also served during WWII, joining the Women’s Royal Naval Service at the age of 17. Her husband was in the Army and part of the unsuccessful mission to secure the bridge at Arnhem in 1944. As a result, Connie, who is now living with dementia at the Surbiton Home, still attends Liberation Day services in the

Netherlands.

Jim, who lives in High Wycombe, signed up to the Navy at 15, in 1959. During his 12-year career, he “chased hurricanes” in the Caribbean. There he would help rebuild communities devastated by tropical storms.

Pauline Shaw, Director of Care at Royal Star & Garter, said: ”A lot has been said about service and sacrifice since the death of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen.

These are traits seen within our Homes. The people we care for were willing to risk everything for the good of our country and the world we live in. They gave their all for us, and in their times of need, we are now here for them. At Royal Star & Garter we give back every day and thank them for everything they did, with our loving care.”

To see more about Royal Star & Garter’s Remembrance campaign, learn about other residents and donate to the charity, please go to https://starandgarter.org/gavetheirall/

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The Growing Awareness of Mortality Among Younger People “Young adults hold a valuable contribution to make in the sensitive and essential area of caring for the terminally ill and elderly, which we should continue to recognise and encourage” Clare Hogan has delivered and developed courses, classes and Death Cafes, is an expert in classical and operatic technique, and has a keen interest in helping those suffering from anxiety and/or stage-fright. Her latest book, Performance and Purpose in Death and Dying, is out in November 2022 in ebook and paperback from Free Association Books.

In my experience facilitating Death Cafes over several years, I have frequently been both surprised and gratified at the numbers of young people in attendance. In fact, they comprise the greater part of the group every time. I certainly didn’t anticipate this at the outset; I rather imagined middle aged to older age groups showing the most interest. I have learned an enormous amount from the younger generation during these encounters (no two of which are even similar!) and this has caused me to consider and try to identify the nature of their capacity to offer a truly valuable contribution to the challenging issues of grief and palliative care.

I have pinpointed five areas that I feel spotlights some of the distinctive features that a younger generation have to offer and think this might provide a clearer view for consideration. With this in mind, I will number them as follows, but not necessarily in order of importance, which is wholly dependent upon circumstance.

1. I became repeatedly aware in the Death Cafes that younger people are not only solely concerned with their own experience; their interest in and curiosity about dying and death ranged far beyond their own personal doubts and fears. Many have some experience of losing someone close, but some have none at all, and yet often ask the same questions and exhibit similar levels of empathy and compassion.

2.With the elderly in particular, the sense of immortality in the young can often form a ‘bridge’ which bypasses

so much tentative communication and fear of inappropriateness. This is why older people in palliative care are drawn to youth (as are those not in care) – they are spirited, immune, natural and more open. The terminally ill patient can sometimes enjoy this recollection.

3.To have entered the care profession, someone must possess qualities of empathy, sensitivity, awareness, humour, and compassion, because without them it would be impossible. Given this, what young people may lack in experience they gain in enthusiasm, energy, and a lack of cynicism.

4.They can be so empowered by encouragement and assumption – that they know how to be and what to do, and that not knowing is absolutely alright, just ask. This process is natural among extended families in many other cultures who function by instinct, experience, and love.

5.Training is not only necessary but vital, and so is trust, support, and intuition. The younger generation are an enormous asset in palliative care and can have a natural affinity with the end of life process in its various forms.

The apparent remoteness between the old and the young can actually assist in leap-frogging barriers that seem to separate them. They are often closer than is realised and this can be fostered and encouraged for the benefit of all.

I have also been both surprised and at times humbled by the younger generation’s insight into and conscious awareness of the grieving process. A singer/songwriter I teach (17 years old) has composed a series of songs covering the five stages of grief, which he is in the process of recording for public release next year. Another student who was enduring a painful break-up with her boyfriend revealed that they both navigated the grieving process with as much on and offline support as was available. This would not have occurred to me at their age!

We all need instruction, guidance, and support in the sensitive and essential area of caring for the terminally ill. My suggestion is that young adults have a particularly valuable contribution to make which we should continue to recognise and encourage.

Care Home Cheers on Housekeeper Playing for England at the Rugby League World Cup An Oulton care home cheered on one of their colleagues playing for England at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup which kicked off on November 1st.

The team and residents at Anchor’s Oulton Manor care home on Wakefield Road cheered on Leeds Rhinos and England Prop Dannielle Anderson, who works as a housekeeper at the home and lined up for England for their first match in this year’s Rugby League World Cup. Anyone who knows women’s rugby, will know about Dannielle but they might not know about Dannielle’s superfans at Oulton Manor!

Dannielle is a beloved figure at the home and regularly chats with residents about Rugby and playing for Leeds. The residents also love watching her play and the home shows matches whenever they can so residents can cheer Dannielle on! Dannielle’s colleagues are also big fans too, some of them even went to Elland Road to watch Dannielle playing in this year’s Challenge Cup! With all of this year’s World Cup being broadcast on the BBC, Anchor’s Oulton Manor is ready to cheer Dannielle and England on every step of the way! The home will be broadcasting all of England’s matches and everyone is looking forward to getting out their flags and scarves and watching some cracking rugby.

Resident Mary White, 95, is really looking forward to watching the World Cup, saying: “It’s absolutely wonderful! I can’t believe we’re going to get to watch our Dannielle playing in the World Cup! “I’ve loved watching Rugby all my life and getting to chat to Dannielle about it is great fun. It’s a lovely bonus to living at Anchor’s Oulton Manor! We’re all really excited for the World Cup, come on England and come on Dannielle!”

Dannielle said: “I’m really looking forward to the World Cup especially after it was delayed last year. I can’t wait to get started and have everyone cheering us on! I really enjoy working at Anchor’s Oulton Manor and its lovely to chat to the residents and spend time with them. A little chat goes a long way, and we all enjoy talking about rugby!

“I’m so proud to be playing for England, hopefully we will go all the way to the final! It’s also massive for Women’s Rugby that the games are all available to watch on the BBC. It’s great for the sport and it means all my friends at Anchor’s Oulton Manor can watch and give us all the support they can.”

Iraq Veteran Gets VIP Treatment at Soldiering On Awards Ceremony Iraq War veteran Stephen Vause was a guest of honour at a glittering Soldiering On Awards ceremony after winning a prestigious prize.

The 35-year-old, a resident at Royal Star & Garter, won Soldiering On Awards’ Inspiration category in 2021. A gala dinner was due to take place in December that year but was postponed due to Covid.

The black-tie dinner brought together the finalists and winners from the 2020 and 2021 Soldiering On Awards, as well as announcing the winners of 2022, at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel on Thursday 27 October.

Army veteran Stephen, who suffered traumatic head injuries in a mortar attack while serving in Basra in 2007, won the coveted Inspiration award in a public vote, after raising thousands of pounds for Help for Heroes from his room at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, with the support of care staff.

He attended the dinner with his father James and staff from Royal Star & Garter, a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

The event was hosted by ITV news presenter Lucrezia Millarini and adventurer and former Army reservist Jamie Hull. Guests included House of Lords Deputy Leader and former Defence Minister The Rt Hon. Earl

Howe, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer MP, and Chief of Defence People, Lt Gen James Swift OBE. Former England football captain David Beckham also provided a video message praising all finalists which was played during the ceremony.

Afterwards, Stephen said: “It was a privilege to be at the Soldiering On Awards. The room was filled with people whose inspiring stories demonstrate huge courage and bravery. It felt amazing to be part of that.”

Stephen, whose injuries left him using a wheelchair and communicating using a tablet, undertook a gruelling 60-mile virtual London to Brighton cycle ride at Royal Star & Garter during the second lockdown, in early 2021.

With the help of Royal Star & Garter staff, he completed the challenge on his adapted static bike in six weeks, raising more than £5,000 for Help for Heroes.

His Soldiering On Awards success was praised by the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said: “Stephen has shown remarkable courage in dealing with his injuries and great fortitude in raising money for Armed Forces charities. I take my metaphorical hat off to him for his latest fundraising exploit. I am full of admiration for him.”

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism launched The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism to assist health and care staff caring and supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people has been launched following a long campaign.

The training is named after Oliver McGowan, who died in 2016 after being given antipsychotic medication, despite warning that they were unsuitable for him, highlighting a lack of understanding of the needs of people with a learning disability or autistic people. Oliver’s mother Paula successfully launched a campaign to make training on caring for people with a learning disability and autistic people mandatory for all health and care staff.

This innovative training has been developed from the beginning with expertise from people with a learning disability and autistic people as well as their families and carers.

The first part of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is now ready to be accessed following a two-year trial which involved 8,300 health and care staff across England.

Participants found there has been an increase in their knowledge, skills and communication with autistic people and people with a learning disability after completing the training.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training will provide staff with the right information to make reasonable adjustments as well as challenging their preconceptions of autism and learning disabilities.

Greater knowledge of learning disability and autism will ensure that care and support can be better tailored to suit people’s needs and is expected to lead to better interactions and outcomes and fewer incidents of inequality and avoidable deaths for people with a learning disability and autistic people when they need to receive care.

The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a requirement that regulated CQC registered service providers must ensure their staff receive training on learning disability and autism that is appropriate to their role.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, which has been developed in partnership with Health Education England, Department for Health and Social Care, Skills for Care and NHS England, is ready for staff across the health and care sector to access today.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training comes in two tiers and is designed so staff receive the right level of mandatory training.

The first part, the elearning package, is required for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training and is now live.

Tier 1 has been designed for staff who need general awareness of the support autistic people or people with a learning disability may need, while tier two is for people who may need to provide care and support for autistic people or people with a learning disability.

All staff will complete the one hour and 30-minute elearning package, which includes learning from autistic people and people with a learning disability, their carers, family members and subject matter experts.

Those completing Tier 1 will then be required to take part in a 60-minute online interactive session, while those completing Tier 2 will be required to attend a one-day face-to-face training session co-delivered by trainers who have a lived experience with learning disability and autism.

These sessions are expected to be available from early 2023 and have been designed to offer people with a learning disability and autistic people employment opportunities as part of the delivery team.

Mark Radford, Chief Nurse at Health Education England and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer (England) said: “The introduction of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning and Disability is a vital step forward in ensuring that people with a learning disability and autistic people receive the right levels of care that are appropriate for their needs.

“Following the tragedy of Oliver’s death, Paula McGowan has tirelessly campaigned to ensure that Oliver’s legacy is that all health and care staff receive this critical training. Paula and many others have helped with the development of the training from the beginning.

“Making Oliver’s training mandatory will ensure that the skills and expertise needed to provide the best care for people with a learning disability and autistic people is available right across health and care.”

Paula McGowan OBE said: “I take comfort in knowing that the death of my teenage son Oliver has resulted in a positive change as a direct consequence, something which will resonate with many and is deeply meaningful to me.

“I have been humbled to observe all health and care colleagues working collaboratively to strive for this change. There is more work to be done, but the journey has now started, and I truly believe we are on the right trajectory to achieve better health and care outcomes for neurodivergent people.”

Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “Thanks to the campaigning and determination of Paula McGowan, from today health and social care staff will begin to have access to The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to better meet the care and support needs of people with a learning disability and autistic people.

“What happened to Oliver was a tragedy – this training is a vital next step to address existing health inequalities for autistic people and people with a learning disability, providing them with the right care and support in health and care settings.”

Tom Cahill, NHS director of learning disability and autism, said: “The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training provides a real opportunity to ensure staff working across the NHS have a greater understanding of the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability and are able to make the necessary reasonable adjustments that support patients and ensure they receive the best care possible.”

Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive of Skills for Care, said: “The launch of the elearning package for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is an important development in helping people access essential training and help reduce inequalities for people with learning disability and autistic people. We have been working collaboratively with partners to ensure that this training package means people who work in health and social care are equipped and feel confident in supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Simon Gregory, Medical Director for Primary and Integrated Care at Health Education England, said: We know that health outcomes and life-expectancy are worse for people with a learning disability and this is a serious concern for us. GPs and General Practice teams all have a responsibility to support people with a learning disability and autistic people. The Oliver McGowan training is an excellent resource to help us give great, equitable care.

Sustainability, Cobotics and Hygiene Habits The Cleaning Show returns to London to highlight the latest trends and technologies transforming the cleaning industry Over the past two years, the cleaning industry has been thrown into the spotlight, and has proudly and professionally taken a frontline position as it demonstrates best practice in cleaning and sanitation processes. At the same time, consumers and business owners have developed a growing appreciation of the industry’s role in keeping people and places safe. With the pandemic firmly in the rear view mirror, and the ‘new normal’ transitioning into a familiar rhythm, the continued importance of enhanced cleaning regimes is clear.

It's against this backdrop that The Cleaning Show 2023 returns to ExCeL, London, from 14-16 March 2023 to demonstrate the very latest advancements in cleaning technologies and provide unmissable learning and sourcing opportunities for the cleaning and hygiene sector, which together with the waste industry is one of the biggest sectors in the UK, worth nearly £59bn and employing 1.47m people.

The show, organised by the British Cleaning Council and Quartz Business Media, is set to attract more than 100 cleaning suppliers, with the likes of Jangro, Numatic, Makita UK, Karcher UK, Nilfisk and SC Johnson Professional among those confirmed to exhibit. And, with more than 7,000 senior cleaning professionals set to attend from across the contract cleaning, facilities management (FM), healthcare, hospitality, retail and public services sectors, it is no surprise that the event has become the largest and longest running exhibition in the UK dedicated to cleaning, hygiene and facilities management.

A CHANCE TO LEARN FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS Alongside a growing list of Europe’s leading cleaning suppliers confirmed to showcase their latest technologies and innovations on the show floor, The Cleaning Show Conference will also return. Welcoming the industry’s leading experts, the conference will offer a place to discuss and debate the big issues affecting the sector. A full programme of speakers and topics will be announced in the coming weeks.

Also returning after a successful debut in 2021, the Cleaning & Support Services Association will once again host the CSSA Innovation Showcase. The dedicated pavilion is designed to highlight and celebrate the industry’s most innovative cleaning products, services and initiatives. Among the big trends anticipated to take the spotlight, the theme of sustainability will return to help operators minimise their impact on the planet. Cobotics and the evolution of robotic technology to support the cleaning process and tackle the ongoing resources challenge will also play a key role alongside healthy buildings, where the Internet of

Things (IoT) enabled dynamic resource applications will transform operations.

With a focus on creating the Future of Cleaning, businesses and organisations operating throughout the industry can enter their innovations via the CSSA website by 30 November 2022. Prior to The Cleaning Show, the CSSA will hold an Innovator's Pitch with a panel of leading industry experts who will review and interview all entrants and select those to be exhibited at the Innovation Showcase itself. For further information on submitting an entry, visit https://www.cssa-uk.co.uk/.

Speaking about the CSSA Innovation Showcase, Paul Ashton, Chairman of the CSSA, said: “The CSSA Innovation Showcase represents the Future of Cleaning and provides genuine insight for our members and the wider industry into how we can use innovation to create positive change. We specifically focus on highlighting ways our membership can tackle the operational challenges being faced with the evolution of customer demands. There is no doubt that technology has a key role in the future provision of safe, clean environments.”

Jim Melvin, Chairman, British Cleaning Council, said: “The importance of the work of the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector – which is one of the ten biggest industries in the UK - has been highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic, with cleaning and hygiene operatives continuing to play a vital, frontline role keeping keyworkers and the public safe, healthy and well.

“The Cleaning Show brings the industry together to celebrate our crucial work, as well as reflecting on key issues, the latest trends, and the most exciting innovative and technological developments.

“We’re very excited to welcome both new and returning exhibitors to the ExCeL, London where the latest product launches will come to life. It’s an unmissable three days of exciting networking opportunities, with a hotbed of education for visitors to enjoy.”

Paul Sweeney, Event Director, The Cleaning Show, added: “As we look ahead to our return to London, we’re excited to bring the industry back together as we embrace and explore this new normal for the cleaning industry. Cleaning professionals have now firmly taken their place in the public eye, with consumers increasingly acknowledging and excepting that places of work and public areas are cleaned with the utmost care. The show will help cleaning professionals discover the latest technologies to help their businesses do this in the most sustainable and effective way.”

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The Political Vacuum Surrounding Care Cap Reforms Pose A Domino Effect For Local Authorities

By Julie Tyas, Senior Social Work Consultant, Access Health, Support and Care (www.theaccessgroup.com)

The last few weeks in politics have been somewhat tumultuous and there’s a subsequent domino effect in health and care, with Jeremy Hunt privately brieing on an expected delay to the care cap reforms under Liz Truss’ leadership, and then an entirely new leader appointed just days afterwards. And with these changes, there’s a fresh dose of uncertainty for local authorities and care providers on whether or not the changes will be going ahead or if the months of preparations have gone to waste.

At the moment we can only assume that Rishi Sunak will retain plans for the care cap since they were initially introduced when he was chancellor. However, this is not enough to provide local authorities with the clarity they need, especially when we consider the scrutiny the government is under with regards to public funding. Plus, Jeremy Hunt, who retains the chancellor position, delayed similar financing reforms back in 2015, which ended up being scrapped, and all but announced the same for these reforms a couple of weeks ago.

It means that if the reforms are to remain a priority, a delay is highly likely.

DEATH BY TORTURE We’re hearing from our customers that a delay to the care cap would be welcomed – to a point – as it would provide some muchneeded breathing space in what has been an intense preparation period. However, it’s not without its concerns too. It’s currently unclear how long the delay might be, and if any additional support will be provided.

What is needed now more than ever is clarity. By which I mean clear guidance on timelines for each of the different elements of legislation change between now and the deadline (whenever that will be), details of funding streams to help authorities deliver these milestones, and any wider recognition or support to address the national workforce challenges in the care sector that are hindering implementation.

Otherwise, we risk the process turning into ‘death by torture’ for councils that are left not knowing how to plan for the next 12 months and beyond and indeed for citizens who will still have no clarity over how they will be expected to fund their social care in the future.

DOMINO EFFECT As it stands, councils are operating with strapped resources, most of which are being funnelled into care cap preparations. This means other services, which are just as important, are getting less attention, or in some cases, being put on hold. For example, new funding was announced in the summer, as part of a wholesale shift in the way children’s social care is delivered, and there is a desire among our customer base to improve these services. Yet, sadly, staff don’t have the bandwidth to respond as they normally would due to the care reforms.

An ambiguous delay to the changes will only postpone this kind of work further, creating a domino effect with other services being sacrificed due to the resource and investment required in preparing for the necessary reforms. A lack of clarity on the care cap will only result in extended uncertainty across these other services, for providers and individuals.

If a detailed care cap roadmap is put in place, then local authorities can look to co-manage services, rather than the choose between one or the other. This roadmap should include clear funding for the different priority areas, such as demand modelling and management, investment in technology, and staffing.

Doing so will enable greater investment in the workforce, to help create some of the necessary additional capacity to adequately deliver on the intended changes for citizens. However, this will only help with decisions about appointing staff to fulfil immediate projects, when councils need to be empowered to think more long term, to how they can incentivise people to join the profession, whether it’s through subsidised university places, work-based training programmes, or an

increase to the minimum wage.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM A delay to the reforms also means a set-back to the fair cost of care assessments, which are expected to be introduced at the same time.

Many local authorities are predicting the cost of care to increase, as in, they will be paying more per person to care providers, placing an additional financial burden on their budgets. Yet, they don’t know if they have an opportunity to ‘work towards’ the difference in cost or they need to meet it head on.

What’s more, a delay will impact councils’ ability to capacity plan – if they don’t know how their funding will change it’s extremely difficult to budget for the workforce accordingly.

As part of the clearer guidance from government, there should be a commitment to agreeing the fair cost of care assessments promptly, so that councils can plan for any funding gaps with as much notice as possible. However, it is unlikely that local authorities are going to be able to afford the jump in cost overnight. Therefore, government will need to build-in flexibility to increase their payments over time, or it will simply place another burden on councils that will be near impossible to address.

RETHINK AND REVISE Local authorities – alongside their delivery partners (such as Access) - have been working tirelessly to prepare for these reforms. And a delay of 12 months or more without any further direction and funding will be a huge disservice to these teams and the amount of tax payers' money invested from across local government.

For all involved, it feels like they're now having to continue in a political vacuum and take a huge leap of faith into the unknown.

The change of leadership provides the new cabinet with an opportunity to rethink the approach to rolling out the care cap, and specifically, respond to the concerns from local authorities and provide the muchneeded support and clarity to bring about successful change.

We can all withstand a delay, as long as there’s merit to the revised timeline and plans, with sensible milestones to work to between now and then, and enough funding to support the workforce to reach them.

West Midlands Academic Health Science Network and Digital Innovators Launch Skills Programme, To Nurture Young Healthcare Innovators The West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) has launched a new cohort of the Digital Innovators Skills Programme in collaboration with Digital Innovators (DI).

Announced at ‘’The Ideator” event at iCentrum, Birmingham, on 7 October, the Digital Innovators Skills Programme aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by bringing together education providers, businesses and young people to solve some of the healthcare industry’s most pressing challenges.

The 30 participating students will, through expert guidance and cross industry collaboration, develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed and excel in their careers as healthcare innovators, while gaining exposure to potential career pathways within the sector.

The programme is also anticipated to benefit businesses within the West Midlands, by providing collaborative opportunities to develop innovative solutions to business and industry challenges, while accessing a diverse pool of young talent.

During the “Ideator” workshop, facilitated by the DI team and WMAHSN representatives, the participants were introduced to a series of industry challenges, such as Public Health (vaping and ecigarettes) and Digital Technologies (remote monitoring and health inequalities) to solve in teams and present back at the end of the programme in a “Dragon’s Den” style pitch.

The WMAHSN team and students on the Digital Innovators Skills Programme will continue to collaborate over a series of 13 weeks to develop their ideas into a proof of concept or minimum viable product.

Speaking of the programme, WMAHSN’S Commercial Enterprise Lead (Digital Health Innovation), Reena Sidhu said: ‘’It is our goal to provide alternative routes to employment and unlock young people’s potential, hence why we are proud to partner with Digital Innovators to launch this new programme in the West Midlands.

‘’It was inspiring to see so many talented students come together at the ‘Ideator’ event to share their innovative solutions on solving some of healthcare’s most complex problems. We are now looking forward to working with these young people and watching their thoughts and ideas flourish into viable products that will help to benefit the health of our region.’’

Mick Westman, CEO and Founder, Digital Innovators, added: ‘’Through expert guidance, and specialised training, the Digital Innovators Skills Programme will be key to help our young innovators unlock their potential and achieve their career ambitions. We are excited to be working closely with these talented students and the WMAHSN team over the next 13 weeks to watch their ideas grow and become a reality. ‘’Although the programme is currently being delivered in the West Midlands, our ambition is to expand it outside the region, thus benefiting young people, businesses, customers and education providers nationwide.’’

Following the successful introduction of the Digital Innovators Skills Programme to the healthcare sector, the second stage of the partnership will see the launch of the Junior Incubator.

For more information about the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network and to get involved in the programme, visit: www.wmahsn.org

AKW Extends its Range of Bidets to Meet Market Needs Managing toilet hygiene independently is one of the key concerns of those who need carers and for many, using the toilet safely is one of the most important things they do each day. That is why AKW, a leading provider of bathroom accessibility solutions, has extended its bidet range to ensure even more end users’ clinical and financial needs are met.

Seat-like attachment bidet - AKW offers the Side-Entry Bidet that has been designed for installation on existing toilet pans and features an external side-entry water feed. This flexibility means the bidet can be easily removed and re-installed on another pan if required in the future. However, for a longer-term seat attachment bidet solution, AKW also offers its Bottom-Entry Bidet that has been designed specifically for use with select pieces of sanitaryware from AKW’s Navlin and Navlin Doc M collections and has a bottom-entry water feed.

Flexible fitted bidet - AKW has designed a flexible height Rise & Fall bidet. The height of the pan can be set to meet everyone’s needs, promoting toileting independence. The easily adjustable toilet pan seat height (410mm-610mm height range from

finished floor level to top of bidet) can accommodate users of different heights, needs, and ages, and the fold-up arms allow for ease of access (that support up to 18.8st (120kg) each). This bidet also facilitates wheelchair transfers and can help users safely navigate around the bathroom.

Ergonomic and contact-free flushing - The AKW Bidet Collection also includes a wide, ergonomic bidet seat for optimum comfort. An infrared sensor flush addition is also available for use with AKW’s Navlin and Livenza Plus raised push button flush cisterns, to enable contact-free flushing where required.

AKW’s Bidet Collection offers users an extensive range of competitively priced, high quality bidet options that provide modern, discreet toileting solutions.

To find out more download AKW’s latest bidet range visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk/document/akw-bidet-collection-brochure/ For more information contact AKW on 01905 823298, Email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk See the advert on the facing page for further details.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 21

The Forgotten Sector - Call to Support Learning Disability Providers Care England has called for action to address the challenges experienced by providers of care to individuals with a learning disability and autistic people.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “The report makes for a sobering read and underscores the real pressures facing independent sector providers of care to individuals with a learning disability and autistic people. These providers have been largely overlooked in all Government policy proposals pertaining to sustainable reform, specifically the adult social care charging reforms in England. It is wholly unacceptable as learning disability and autism providers represent around 50% of Local Authority social care spending for half the number of residents in care. With most Local

Authorities having put their money into domiciliary care and older person residential care as a result of the Fair Cost of Care exercise, these specialist providers have been left to pick up the pieces and are paying the price. There is no roadmap to secure the financial sustainability of this critical part of the adult social care sector.”

The Cordis Bright report has revealed that independent care and support providers are reaching a financial tipping point which risks denying people with learning disabilities and autistic people their right to decent, fulfilling, and stable care.

Martin Green continues: “These funding challenges are deep-rooted and systemic and have very real implications on those who require care and support in the

community as well as the workforce itself. In a recent survey run by Care England, 10% of learning disability and autism providers said they were looking to hand back packages of care to Local Authorities, with 75% of providers saying the fees paid by Local Authorities were too low to sustain provision, with agency costs cited as the primary issue catalysing unviability. There are people behind these numbers and the current finance package being offered to these providers needs to improve. As a matter of priority, the Government must set out immediate measures to secure the financial stability of learning disability and autism providers, as well as a longer-term plan to ensure the sector flourishes in supporting people to live the lives they deserve to lead.”

£40,000 Grant Boosts Wellbeing of Veterans Broughton House Veteran Care Village in Salford has been boosted by a £40,000 grant towards the care of heroes who served in the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.

The financial support has come from the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity in partnership with Greenwich Hospital.

The grant has been awarded through the RNRMC’s Through Life Pathway programme to improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of veterans living at Broughton House, and towards providing counselling and welfare benefits advice to those living in the community through its Armed Forces Support Hub. The RNRMC is a long-standing supporter of Broughton House, which has been redeveloped in a £12.5m scheme to create the UK’s first Veteran Care Village.

Broughton House has cared for more than 8,000 veterans since it opened its doors to the ex-service community in 1916. It has been transformed into a modern complex featuring a 64-bed care home and independent living apartments, an array of modern facilities, a museum and the hub.

Mandy Lindley, the RNRMC’s director of relationships and funding, said: “Broughton House provides excellent care for Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans in the north west, and the RNRMC is pleased to support this service once again.

“Ensuring that our elderly veterans enjoy dignity, care and comfort is part of the RNRMC’s core commitment to the Royal Navy community, and our continued partnership with Broughton House is an important part of this.”

Among the beneficiaries of the RNRMC’s backing is Broughton House resident Andrew Dinning, 78.

He enlisted in the Royal Marines when he was just 17 and rose to the rank of major, serving in the 3 Commando Brigade, which deploys troops from Royal Navy ships to conduct operations on land.

Andrew said: “My favourite thing about Broughton House is how the staff motivate us every day with quizzes and activities and encourage us to join in. They are a delight to be with and make sure that the home and our days here are really great.”

Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans who suffered life-changing injuries while serving in Afghanistan are among those to have received help from Broughton House’s Armed Forces Support Hub. Jim Legard, a support officer at the hub, said: “I’m in regular contact with them and have helped in relation to their benefits and medical assistance by signposting them to the relevant agencies, liaising with them and filling in forms.

“As a support hub, we try to be there for veterans whenever they need us, be it just as a friendly, nonjudgemental ear, or to provide practical advice and support.”

Karen Miller, chief executive of Broughton House, said: “We are incredibly pleased to once again be receiving a grant from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital to enable us to continue to support our residents who served in the Royal Navy or Royal Marines.

“Our new Veteran Care Village allows us to provide care of the highest quality to the ex-forces community, and support from armed forces charities such as the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital is crucial in ensuring that our work can continue. We are eternally grateful for their continued support.”

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

Oliver’s Campaign Will Transform Autism and Learning Disabilities Training In Social Care

By Barry Price, QCS (www.qcs.co.uk), Specialist contributor I want to tell you a story of an extraordinary young man. His name was Oliver. The tale I am about to share with you was originally written by his parents, Paula and Tom, and if you want to read it in full, please visit Oliver’s Campaign website.

Let me begin by telling you about Oliver. Oliver was not an aspiring captain of industry, a political leader, a writer or a painter. Nor was he a musician, an actor, or a celebrity with a large social media following.

Nevertheless, Oliver McGowan was exceptional.

Oliver was remarkable because despite developing hemiplegia, epilepsy, a mild learning disability and later on a diagnosis of high functioning autism at an early age, he saw the best in everything and everyone. He never let his disabilities stunt his ambitions.

Against the odds, Oliver passed his GCSE and BTEC examinations. He went to college. His academic talents were matched by his sporting achievements. He was an extremely accomplished athlete.

But, perhaps one of Oliver’s most rewarding moments came not in the classroom, or on the sports field, but in the sterile surroundings of his neurologist’s office. It was there that Oliver was given the uplifting news that he would be able to live a normal independent life with only a little support required.

MEDICATION But, tragically, after suffering from a series of partial facial seizures, he was admitted to hospital. A raft of tests were carried out and Oliver was sent home. However, bizarrely, the doctors prescribed antidepressants, when he wasn’t depressed. The side-effects of the medication led to Oliver suffering more seizures and when he returned to hospital a few months later, the doctors elected to prescribe anti-psychotic medication, despite Oliver showing no signs of mental illness or psychosis.

At this point, Oliver’s parents became very worried. They believed that his doctors had failed to take into account the fact that he was autistic and were therefore in fact prescribing entirely the wrong medication. It was only when a bed in the psychiatric ward could not be found that the doctors decided to stop administering the anti-psychotic medication. Once the drugs were out of Oliver’s system, his mood greatly improved and he had far fewer seizures.

SEIZURES However, a further bout of seizures meant another hospital stay, where Oliver was again prescribed anti-psychotic medication, despite the fact that the negative side effects had been recorded in Oliver’s medical records. Again, Oliver’s mood deteriorated and his seizures increased.

Hospital staff did not understand Autism or Learning disabilities A stay in a specialist adult hospital yielded no better outcome. The hospital staff did not understand Autism or Oliver’s Learning disability, nor did they listen to Oliver’s parents or a Learning disability nurse.

Instead of getting to the root of the issue, doctors prescribed anti-psychotic medication, while the staff used physical restraint, which made Oliver feel scared and isolated.

After yet more seizures, Oliver was admitted to a different General Hospital. He was intubated and developed pneumonia. Astonishingly, despite it being written in red ink on his medical records, and Oliver stating to doctors that he did not wish to take anti-psychotic medication, doctors gave it to him anyway. The seizures continued, but now they were much worse than they had ever been. Oliver’s parents asked the doctors to conduct a brain scan. His doctors initially refused, but two days later they changed their minds and sent Oliver for a scan. The neurosurgeons diagnosed Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, a side effect of taking anti-psychotic medication.

Oliver was now paralysed, he could not speak, eat or drink without a tube and was on a life support machine. A week later, Oliver’s family had to make the awful decision that no family should ever have to make. With a heavy heart, they gave the doctors permission to turn off Oliver’s life support machine.

CAMPAIGNING FOR CHANGE Having experienced so much grief, anguish and sorrow, Oliver’s parents, Paula and Tom, were determined that nobody else should have to suffer like Oliver did. His death had highlighted a terrible truth to them.

It demonstrated that the vast majority of social and health care professionals did not understand autistic people with comorbidities, nor did they know how to support them.

Having supported individuals with Autism, Learning disabilities and complex needs for many years, I have seen the monumental struggles that they and their families face. Often those in secure services are misunderstood. Like Oliver and his parents, they are constantly fighting the system to receive the right support.

Doctors and care workers supporting people with Autism and Learning disabilities fail to grasp the complexities of the condition. Too often, the personality disorders and obsessive behaviours that are sometimes associated with Autism and Learning disabilities, lead to them being wrongly sectioned under the Mental Health Act, when their needs should be met through the Autism Act 2009 and the Equality Act 2010.

CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER TRAINING Paula decided to take action to right this wrong. She is very much a trailblazer and took it upon herself to lead the campaign for better training. Soon after Oliver’s death, she set up Oliver’s Campaign and has dedicated her life to championing the rights for autistic people and those with Learning disabilities. One of her greatest achievements to date has been to impress on government ministers the importance of her campaign. The UK government responded by commissioning the Learning Disability Mortality Review Programme (LeDeR). As a result, health and social care staff in England receive a package of training around Learning disability and Autism awareness.

The training now available to social care has been transformational.

In 2021, the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism, was trialled in the health and social care sector. Under new government requirements, all Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered providers must ensure that employees receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role.

and international benchmark for training workers in education, health and social care settings to support people who are distressed.

But, perhaps one of the most invaluable training resources is STOMP. When you consider, according to Dimensions, that even after Oliver McGowan’s death, over 35,000 people with learning disabilities and autism are still being inappropriately prescribed psychotropic medication, STOMP, which stands for ‘Stopping Over Medication of People with a Learning Disability, Autism or both with Psychotropic Medicines’, is a resource that every provider should embrace.

Closely connected to the inappropriate prescription of anti-psychotic medication is the incorrect placement of people with Autism and Learning disabilities in Assessment and Treatment Units (ATUs). A decade has passed since Winterbourne View scandal, which exposed “a systematic failing to protect people or to investigate allegations of abuse”.

If there is one positive to come out of the scandal, it was the Transforming Care programme. It aims to improve care and services for people with Learning disabilities and Autistic people by reducing inappropriate admissions and length of stay for those in ATUs and secure hospital settings.

Despite the creation of the Transforming Care programme around 2,000 people with Learning disabilities and Autism remain trapped in long-stay settings.

IF WE DON’T UNDERSTAND AUTISM AND LEARNING DISABILITIES, WE CANNOT PROVIDE THE RIGHT SUPPORT The key question that providers must ask themselves is who is coming into the service, what is their life history and what are their needs and requirements? This information needs to be documented and recorded in the initial assessment and forms the foundation for a person-centred care plan, which should be constantly updated as the person’s journey in the service progresses.

Crucial to the process is not just understanding the often complex needs of the service user, but also knowing how those individual needs are going to be addressed. That means creating a training matrix, underpinning it with analysis, and supporting care planning and training policies.

CQC REQUIREMENTS DON’T GO FAR ENOUGH

QCS

However, in my role as a consultant to Quality Compliance Systems (QCS), the leading provider of content, guidance and standards for the social care sector, I believe that the CQC requirement is far too vague.

It leaves too much room for interpretation in my opinion, and in doing so, potentially puts those with autism and learning disabilities at unnecessary risk. I believe the guidance should be changed. Instead of stating that employees should receive training “appropriate to their role”, it should go much further and include anybody who comes into contact with a person with Learning disabilities or Autism as part of a wider training programme.

When I worked as a Registered Manager in Supported Living services, I extended Autism and Learning disability training to encompass everyone in the service. It paid off too as it gave non-clinical staff such as handymen, cleaners and administrators, who were in regular contact with the service users, the confidence to observe and report anything to frontline teams that they considered unusual. I found that creating a wider circle of support was not only hugely effective, it visibly improved the safety and the wellbeing of service users. Moreover, this approach paid dividends with friends, families and anyone else in the person’s support network. It meant that they had a much better understanding of that individual’s needs.

QCS, the organisation that I consult for, has created this key infrastructure so that providers can embed a robust and highly effective culture of training and learning into the services they manage.

Providers should reflect on additional training over and above Autism and Learning disabilities that is required when supporting individuals with supplementary needs and health conditions. Those include communication, epilepsy, mobility, medication and where needed (in some cases) restrictive practices, which are driven by person-centred care and positive behaviour support principles. In short, there is so much more required when providing training based on the needs of individuals. Most importantly, this needs to be built into an organisation’s training needs and analysis plan.

For Oliver, tragically, the comprehensive package of training that services now have access to, came too late. However, his family can take comfort from the fact that their tireless campaigning and activism has changed social care for the better. At the very heart of this profound and lasting reform is a brave boy who saw only opportunity in every challenge he faced.

With special thanks to Oliver’s Campaign in documenting Oliver’s life story. If you want to read Oliver inspirational story in full, please click here: https://www.olivermcgowan.org/home

TRAINING But, compliance aside, there is a much bigger point around best practice to be considered too. With the CQC requirement now incorporated into the Health and Care Act 2022, a code of practice that would standardise training has yet to be published. However, there is no shortage of training available for providers.

BILD, which was formed by Professor Gerry Simon in 1971, with the aim of creating a society where everyone could enjoy the same right and opportunities, offers over 20 different training programmes.

NAPPI UK, which trains workers in non-abusive psychological and physical intervention, offers a number of workshops, while the Restraint Reduction Network, which actively campaigns to reduce the reliance on restrictive practices and ensures that people’s human rights are respected and protected, is another invaluable training resource.

The Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards apply to all training that has a restrictive intervention component. It is a national

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES To find out more about how you can access QCS’s care planning and training policies and its Training Matrix, contact its compliance advisors on 0333-405-3333 or email: sales@qcs.co.uk.

Restrain Reduction Network https://restraintreductionnetwork.org BILD https://www.bild.org.uk/workplacedevelopment/ NAPPI UK https://www.nappiuk.com Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Trial https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/learning-disability/olivermcgowan-mandatory-training-learning-disability-autism

Lilian Faithfull Care Resident Gets a 100th Birthday Card from The King!

Muriel gets Royal Mail from The King! Muriel turned 100 in September, and has now received a birthday card from King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. Muriel who lives at Royal Court care home in Cheltenham said, “I love it and I’m so glad it’s a picture of them both. What a handsome man King Charles is.“ Muriel is one of the very first to receive the card!

The first birthday cards from The King and The Queen Consort were delivered this week to those celebrating their 100th and 105th birthdays across the UK. Kelly Richardson marketing and fundraising manager at Royal Court said: “ It was such a lovely surprise for Muriel today and she’s proudly displaying it in her room.

We’re so pleased for her.”

PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

TV Presenter Jennie Bond Shares Anguish at Cost of Living for Carers TV presenter, journalist and former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond has shared her anguish at the cost of living crisis and its impact on unpaid carers.

Drawing on her own experiences of caring for her mother, Jennie explained her shock at reading statistics from Carers First’s Lighten the Load campaign which finds that as the cost of living crisis worsens in the UK, those looking after a family member or friend have been amongst the hardest hit.

“I was horrified to see the results of the Carers First survey: nine out of ten carers losing sleep because of the cost-of-living crisis, a third regularly going without food, and many experiencing severe mental health troubles and depression,” said Jennie.

“I do know just a little bit about caring, because I helped look after my mother during her many years of dementia. I know how lonely and desperate you can feel. And that’s why it’s even more important that carers find out about the support and financial help that is available. It’s never enough but, surely, every little helps.

“And that’s the message that Carers First are trying to get across, to lighten the load for the thousands of unpaid carers across the country.

Let’s do all we can to spread that vital message.”

The charity Carers First works directly with, and for, thousands of carers across Essex, Hackney, Haringey, Lincolnshire, Medway, Newham, Southend-on-Sea, and Waltham Forest to provide personalised information and tailored support in the way that suits them: online, on the phone, or face-to-face in their local community.

They have launched a campaign to support carers in getting help making ends meet this winter.

Lighten the Load aims to raise awareness of the financial support available to carers and increase the number accessing that support.

The campaign is a response to a survey conducted by the charity which found that more than nine out of ten carers are worried about the cost of living.

The survey also revealed that nine in ten of carers are losing sleep because they are worrying about how to afford the basic essentials, and more than half are already in debt, or will be soon, owing to their caring responsibilities. A third are going without food on a regular basis.

Alison Taylor, Chief Executive at Carers First, said: “Many carers are under great financial pressures with soaring energy, food and housing costs, and this is negatively impacting on their physical and mental health. We want to make sure carers get the support they need to make ends meet this winter.”

TV presenter Kate Garraway has also recently raised awareness of the financial struggles of unpaid carers, quoting the Lighten the Load campaign ahead of her win at the National Television Awards for her documentary ‘Caring for Derek’.

Carers First surveyed over 1,000 unpaid carers in August to find out how the rising cost of living was affecting their lives. The survey found that: • Nine in ten of carers (93%) are worried about the rising cost of living.

• 93% are losing sleep because they are worrying about how to afford the basic essentials.

• Over half (52%) of carers are already in debt, or will be soon, owing to their caring responsibilities.

• One in five (21%) carers not accessing financial support didn’t realise that help was available to them.

• A third of carers have already significantly changed their food shopping habits, and many are already going without food on a regular basis.

• 33% of carers are not going out in a bid to save money, leaving them even more lonely and isolated.

• 15% of carers are now experiencing severe mental health and depression.

The charity has created a dedicated section on its website promoting the information, tools and resources to help carers maximise their income and make their money go further. Carers can sign up to a free email series ‘Financial Support in Five Steps’ which breaks down information about financial support into simple, straightforward guidance. This includes claiming benefits, grants, discounts, help with paying household bills and budgeting.

The charity is also promoting support available from partners including Discount for Carers, the Legal and General Care Concierge service and Anglian Water.

To find out more about the campaign, visit www.carersfirst.org.uk/LightenTheLoad/

Salutem South West Shortlisted For National Care Award Salutem Care and Education has been shortlisted for the South West employer of the year award for its work in the region, including successfully turning around failing services in the region.

The prestigious national award recognises employers’ commitment to care and how this is achieving success in delivering an excellent service.

Salutem has more than 17 services for individuals with complex additional needs and disabilities in the region and is currently supporting Cornwall Council with a change in operator for an additional 13 facilities for adults with autism.

In September 2021, Salutem acquired Fox House and Buttermill Cottages following inspections by health and social care watchdog, the Care Quality

Commission (CQC), which deemed the homes’ services as ‘inadequate’.

Since the services were taken on, Salutem has employed an additional 279 workers across the two homes, improving the conditions and services for the individuals they support.

John Godden MBE, CEO at Salutem Care and Education said: “We are honoured to have been shortlisted for the Great British Care Awards as we continue to strive for excellence across the organisation.

“By treating our staff well, we believe that our values are better transmitted across all our services, providing our users with the best possible care.

“Even if we do not win the award, I am very proud of all the staff, who have worked very hard, for us to have been shortlisted in the first place.”

Worcester Care Home Residents Take Flight Over The County In Exciting Helicopter Ride Residents at The Belmont in Worcester took part in a helicopter flying experience to prove that nothing should stop you from doing something that your heart is set on.

Earlier this year, both residents were presented with the question about what their dream would be; both residents said to fly high and see the

ries and sentimental meaning.

At the end of session, they received certificates of achievement, which they proudly showcased in their home.

Registered Home Manager for The Belmont, Sandie Preece, said: “Our two wonderful residents are living with dementia and when we asked them if

world from above. The team made this dream a reality, by organising a

they had a wish, both residents wanted to see the world from high above. To

day in the skies.

grant that wish for them and see the delight in their faces when they took

Flying over Eastnor Castle and the Malvern Hills, the 20-minute flight was a memorable moment for Christine and Tanya.

The day was not only a new and exciting experience for both residents, but one of reflection, flying over many sights that invoked strong memo-

off was truly lovely to see. Our Belmont wishes are in place for all of residents to make, and we try our hardest for them to come true. We are so pleased that we could fulfil this wish for them both and want to thank everyone involved for making it such an enjoyable experience.”

Barchester’s Charitable Foundation Appoints New Trustee Barchester’s Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of a new trustee to its board; Shannon Cullen, who brings a wealth of experience from her current work in Barchester’s Queens Manor Care Home in Edinburgh, and her voluntary work in the community.

Established in 2000, the aim of Barchester’s Charitable Foundation is to help older people and adults living with a disability or mental health problems in local communities across the country. The charity provides grants to improve mobility and quality of life, and each year the Foundation distributes over £150,000 to individuals, small community groups and charities across England, Scotland and Wales.

Shannon joined Barchester Healthcare in May 2021 as Head of Lifestyle and Enrichment at Queens Manor and was quickly promoted to her current role of Senior Head of Lifestyle & Enrichment in August 2021.

During Shannon’s time at Queens Manor, she has supported and led local community initiatives and been at the forefront of a number of projects aimed at

enhancing community engagement within the Edinburgh area, which benefit both the residents and staff at Queens Manor and the wider community. One of the most recent projects involved setting up the ‘Queens Manor Emergency Services Hub’ – the home identified a lack of out of hours facilities for the emergency services and has offered the use of the Queens Manor café as a base, providing a safe, warm and welcoming environment for team members to rest, grab a coffee, a bite to eat and refuel both physical and mentally.

Shannon comments: “I have always had a strong interest in helping others. From a young age, I volunteered at the local primary school, I was a member of my town’s Christmas campaign, then I was on my high school’s volunteering board before going on to represent the school in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YTP).

“As I have always helped and volunteered in my local area, I believe that being part of the Barchester Charitable Foundation as a Trustee is a great next step for me, not only will I be helping people locally – I will also be assisting in a larger geographical area and truly helping enrich the lives of those in need.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 27

Calls for an Older People’s Commissioner in England Made in House of Lords speak on behalf of 11 million people aged 65 or over if formed today.

Ageing Better and Independent Age are campaigning for the creation of Within a decade it would support an even larger proportion of society as an Older People’s Commissioner for England. this age group is projected to increase by an additional 2 million by 2032.

The position would have official powers to investigate issues around As our ageing society becomes more diverse, different experiences of later ageing and later life such as growing poverty, gather information and make life must be brought into the heart of government and action taken to public bodies respond to their findings, alongside influencing relevant poliensure that the stark inequalities relating to poverty and healthy life cy and legislation. A commissioner could help create a more strategic expectancy are eradicated. vision across departments to meet the opportunities and challenges of an “The idea is also popular. A YouGov survey commissioned by Ageing ageing society and hold government to account to deliver on that vision.

Better in March 2022 shows that over two-thirds of adults in England would It would build on the success of similar roles in Northern Ireland and support the appointment of an independent commissioner for older peoWales who have been benefiting from having an independent champion ple. working to improve older people’s lives for more than a decade.

“Wales and Northern Ireland have benefitted from commissioners’ advoThis week, our campaign received a boost when Lord Foulkes of cacy and strategic vision for years to help improve the lives of older peoCumnock asked His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have ple. Introducing a commissioner for England could help people across our given to the appointment of an Older People’s Commissioner for England. country age better and end the existing unequal experiences of ageing.

Baroness Stedman-Scott, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, responded on behalf of the government. Image: House of Lords 2017 / Photography by Roger Harris / © Parliamentary Copyright The Commissioner could advise on the creation of a government strategy for our ageing society and ensure that activity is co-ordinated across government.

She said that the government have no plans to appoint an Older People’s Commissioner for England.

“It’s very encouraging to see the House of Lords discussing this topic. An Older People’s Commissioner However, following a direct request from Lord Foulkes in his follow-up question to the response, Baroness could give older people a real voice that reflects their views and experiences, particularly for those at greatStedman-Scott did express that she is happy to meet with a delegation of Lords representatives and releest risk who are often overlooked. The Commissioner could also challenge negative stereotypes around vant organisations. ageing, instead highlighting older people’s diverse experiences and the contribution they make to society. A Dr Carole Easton, Chief Executive for the Centre for Ageing Better, said: society that is better for ageing is better for everyone.”

“Introducing an Older People’s Commissioner for England is a timely measure. A commissioner would

Stars of Social Care Enjoy Wonderful Knight as Sir Bryn and Wynne Sing Impromptu Duet Opera star Sir Bryn Terfel and top tenor Wynne Evans treated the stars of social care to an impromptu duet during an awards ceremony.

Appropriately, they gave a rousing rendition of the classic song, If I Can Help Somebody, at the prestigious Wales Care Awards.

It starts with Sir Bryn, who hails from Pant Glas in Gwynedd, singing the famous song a cappella before the two vocal powerhouses bring the house down with the stunning duet.

The event – dubbed the Oscars of social care – made a comeback this year after a Covid-enforced break since 2019.

Radio and TV presenter Wynne, aka Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV ads, was the host of the glittering ceremony, sponsored

by Ontex Healthcare, at City Hall in Cardiff.

His big mate, Sir Bryn, was there to present his foundation’s awards for promoting the arts in the sector.

But he also sprang a huge surprise on Wynne who has been the event’s regular MC for many years.

Sir Bryn joined Julie Morgan MS, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, in presenting him with a special award for boosting the nation’s mental health by keeping spirits up with his popular Radio Wales show.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales and founder of the Wales Care Awards, said: “We felt it was in our gift to really recognise somebody who keeps us motivated every day if we’re tuning in and has made the Wales Care Awards his own.”

A dumbfounded Wynne responded: “I am utterly, utterly shocked.

Every day we go on air and my mission is to make Wales smile by lunchtime. We’ve created this very tight community and it’s spreading all the time. Thank you very much for this, it’s really fun.”

First Minister Mark Drakeford was also among the VIP guests and he thanked the army of front line social care workers for their incredible efforts during the pandemic.

He said: “I think of all of you, every single one of you and all your colleagues and all the organisations which you belong to, who every day and every night were there to make sure that some of the most

vulnerable people in our community, people who may not have seen any other human being that day but there was always somebody where they could have that conversation, that they would know who was there to care, who was prepared to carry on even in the most challenging of circumstances, to do the jobs that you do and which make us the country that we are in Wales.”

Later Julie Morgan also presented the Dignity in Care award, sponsored by the Welsh Government.

The gold award was won jointly by senior care support worker Denis Mulcahy, from Ucan Care Ltd, Hillside in Pontypridd; care practitioner Claire O’Kelly, from Springbank Nursing Home in College Road, Barry; ex-Benedictine monk Jeremy Nixey, the founder of My Care My Home, which has a base in Pontypool and Natasha Williams, the activities and fundraising manager at Meddyg Care which has homes in Porthmadog and Criccieth in Gwynedd.

There were also special awards for the deputy minister and Albert Heaney CBE, the Welsh Government’s Chief Social Care Officer for Wales, for their support to the social care sector during the pandemic. .

Mario Kreft added: “Without any doubt, all of the countries have looked to Wales for leadership in the pandemic in the care sector.

“The support that we’ve had has been second to none in all of those countries and I think it’s great credit to the leadership in Wales.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mike Slator, of Osborne Care Holdings, for his years of service to Care Forum Wales and the sector generally.

The Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation Wales Care Award went to Kate Woolveridge, from Cardiff, a professional singer, vocal animateur and musical director with over 30 years’ experience, the co-founder and Artistic Director of Forget-me-not Chorus.

She was quick to emphasise the award was for all of the team at Forget-me-Not chorus, a charity which organises joy-filled singing sessions for people with all forms of dementia, as well as the families, friends and the professional staff looking after them.

Kate said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted for the team and that all the work we do has been recognised in this way.

“The power of singing is inspirational and life changing for people

with dementia. We’ve got community chorus’, hospital chorus’ and care home chorus’ and our latest Calon chorus, which is for those bereaved by dementia covers the whole dementia journey and we’re most proud of that.”

The blue riband Spirit of Care Award went to a caring couple who scooped a golden double on the night.

Husband and wife team Cynthia and Morton Webber, of Ebbw Vale, have opened up their hearts and their homes to vulnerable adults for more than three decades and continued to devote themselves to caring for others even after enduring a life-changing car accident.

After the ceremony, Cynthia said it was one of the most emotional and enjoyable nights of her life.

She said: “We were on cloud nine all weekend. We knew we had been shortlisted in one of the award categories but then when we were presented with two golds, it was just unbelievable.”

According to Mario Kreft, the ceremony was all the more poignant because of the Covid pandemic and what front line staff had endured.

He said: “I would like to pay a heartfelt tribute to all the wonderful people who work in social care after they rose magnificently and courageously to meet the unprecedented challenges they have faced over the past couple of years.

“We have always recognised their true value and hopefully now the rest of Wales is also aware of how lucky we are as a nation to have them providing care and safeguarding our most vulnerable people.

“Our finalists are the best of the best and are here representing the whole social care workforce who all deserve a big pat on the back.

“There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists will receive a gold, silver or bronze Wales Care Award.

“I trust that they will continue to inspire those around them as role models and encourage others to aspire to even greater heights in the months and years to come.

“In the words of the powerful song, Heroes of our Heart, written by the acclaimed poet Mererid Hopwood and sung by Sir Bryn Terfel, let the Diolch last forever.

“We take our hats off to them.”

It’s time for Action!

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

Yet, in the midst of all this uncertainty, it’s clear there exists a momentous opportunity. An opportunity 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 comfortable 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 every sector of society, the care sector must become more sustainable. But, when it comes to decarbonizing buildings, and in particular heat, there are significant challenges facing the care sector. How do you decarbonise buildings rapidly, cost effectively, 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 efficiency and fossil fuel free alternative. The EscoPod AZH, ActionZero’s dedicated heat pump system for the healthcare industry, has been designed specifically to deliver heating (and cooling) to non-domestic buildings in the healthcare sector, including hospitals, nursing and care homes.

ActionZero Senior Leadership Team at Townhall Summit in the Sky Suite, Penrose Offices Cork. Photographer: David Keane

The EscoPod in action Earlier this year, ActionZero announced a partnership 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. Kerry with plans to expand the roll out of the technology across six other sites in the healthcare group.

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 offers significant energy efficiencies, with savings of up to 70% and cost savings ranging up to 65%.

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’.

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 offers 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 aftercare package that includes Operations & Maintenance, as well as ongoing performance validation via data analytics.

‘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.

ActionZero partners with Bon Secours Health System in group wide deal to reduce carbon emissions.

Pictured: At the announcement from left, Paul Foley - Group Director of Supply Chain Bon Secours, Denis Collins - CEO ActionZero, Cormac Murphy- COO ActionZero, Gerry Ryan Manager of Facilities & Maintenance Bon Secours, TJ O’ Connor - CEO Bon Secours Tralee.

Photographer: Valerie O’ Sullivan

To support 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 exporting 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 To find out how you can start the process of decarbonising your nursing home today, call ActionZero today on +44 2045 090626 or visit www.actionzero.com/carer

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath officially opens ActionZero's new manufacturing, R&D centre in Tralee along with ActionZero CEO Denis Collins Photographer: Cleary’s Photography – Photography Services Tralee, Co. Kerry

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

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,

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.”

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/.

Jolly Trolley Brings Therapeutic Activity and Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentry Entertainment to Patients That Are Isolating The Jolly Trolley® is an essential for any care establishment as it promotes social interaction between the service users and their carers.

This innovative system is fully mobile and battery operated, allowing residents who may be unable to leave their rooms to also be included with 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 magic!

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, Activities “The fact that we can upload what is relevant to the specific Individual is so meaningful for that person and I can assure you we have shed some tears being able to be part of that residents memory journey. It has been an amazing addition to our care home – from staff and residents – thank you.”

Pennine NHS Trust - Beech Ward“we have been able to provide therapeutic activity & entertainment with 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.

Yeoman Shield Fire Door Services Taking the Guess Work out of Fire Doors Fire Doors are an imperative part of fire safety and are considerations of the design and maintenance of any building, but especially residential. Article 17 – RRFSO states fire safety provisions (includes fire doors) must be maintained in a suitable condition and working order.

If you are the Responsible Person, it’s 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.

The implementation of Yeoman Shield Fire Rated Door Protection products can also be in the long term financially beneficial by halting 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 prevent 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 training!

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

How do you access the free PAT Testing Course?

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

Who should do the course?

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

amount of electrical equipment we now have in our homes makes sense. Both employers and employees are responsible for inspecting and maintaining electrical equipment in the work place. So you should encourage all staff to do the course.

What equipment do you need?

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

How often should I PAT Test?

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

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

See the advert on page 11.

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

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

time, but it ensures an even faster sign in during repeat visits.

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

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

Head to our website: www.inventry.co.uk or see the advert on page 9.

CareZips Classic Adaptive Pants for Older and Disabled People ®

CareZips® Classic are patented, easy dressing unisex adaptive pants especially developed for older and disabled people experiencing problems associated with continence, mobility, mental function and cognition. Suitable for persons living in care institutions, receiving care at home or enjoying independence in their own homes, CareZips® Classic serve equally well those who need assistance with dressing and those who can dress themselves independently. Comfortable and stylish, preferred by the users and favoured by their carers, the CareZips® Classic are truly transforming practical challenges posed by assisted dressing!

CareZips® Classic feature unique patented 3-zipper system, which opens the front of the pants from the waist to the knees for quicker access during toileting, continence pads changes, cleanliness and refreshing. The forward positioning of the two side zippers lessens pressure on sensitive hip areas and helps to eliminate discomfort. The third zipper facilitates simple full frontal opening for faster and more dignified diaper changes, catheter adjustments as well as personal cleansing and hygiene routines.

CareZips® Classic have many benefits for the older and disabled users: • People who can dress themselves enjoy the practical functionality and versatility of the CareZips® Classic adaptive pants, day long comfort and easy care.

• People who depend on assisted dressing appreciate the quick and easy dressing process with less stress

Ambassador Textiles We pride ourselves on the quality of our Taiwanese Anti-piI fleece and the range of over 50 colours we offer. We have been in the fabric trade for over 50 years and manufacturing our fleece blankets for over 20 years.

High volumes of our quality cosy fleece blankets are sold to the hospitality, nursery, and pet sector.

This is due to the cost effectiveness of fleece along with the durability and washability. The anti-pil brushed surface of the fabric lessens the bobbleeffect found on many fleece fabrics of inferior quality.

Co-ordination to a theme is normally achievable due to our wide range of colours and contrasting or matching edging stitch. Own branding can be included in the manufacturing process by adding a sewn in label.

Alongside our regular fleece blankets which are

and greater dignity achievable with CareZips® Classic.

Furthermore, CareZips® Classic offer practical gains to the carers, helping them provide better care, whilst reducing physical efforts and time required to dress and to toilet the patients.

Carers welcome the ease of dressing facilitated by the design of the CareZips® Classic, namely the unique patented 3-zipper system that allows quick dressing and undressing as well as quick access to the crotch area during diaper changes. CareZips® Classic enable the carers to dress dependent patients faster and change diapers quickly in a dignified manner that is less embarrassing and less stressful for the patients, whilst less challenging and time saving for the carers.

CareZips® Classic are unisex and fit both men and women perfectly. Made in 6 sizes in 3 elegant, yet practical colours (i.e. black, charcoal and navy), the CareZips® Classic feature modern tapered fit at the ankles for an effortlessly tidy look. CareZips® Classic adaptive pants are made from a breathable moisturewicking 4-way stretchy crease-free and easy-care durable fabric that guarantees practical usability, smart appearance and all round user satisfaction.

CareZips® Classic – the perfect adaptive pants for comfort, convenience, functionality and style!

CareZips® Classic from Win Health Medical – 01835 865866 – www-win-health.com 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.

See the advert on page 5 for details.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 31

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

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

Whether you require a fast efficient delivery of quality

furniture or a full room installation and fitting service, we have the experience and resources to handle your contract.

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

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

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

Raising the Standard of Stair Climbing Solutions The Stair Climbing Company is one of the leading providers of powered Stair Climber solutions, which have been specifically 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 commercial 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 manufacturer’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 carrier model is designed to cater to individual customers’ specific needs, and works with all stair types. Furthermore, the company provides Stair Climbers for all ages, making them suitable for everyone, and offers a free assessment for customers.

If you would like to find out any more information, please see the details below: T 01787 379160 www.thestairclimbingcompany.com See the advert on page 9.

Furniture That Improves Health For Residents… And Staff

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

HOW DOES MOBILITY FURNITURE BENEFIT CARE HOME RESIDENTS? Research has found that elevating the legs – one of the main features of a rise and recline chair or adjustable bed – reduces swelling of stiff and painful joints and enhances healing of injuries and wounds. In fact, experts have found that failure to elevate a limb can actually delay healing.

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

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

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

Some adjustable beds and rise and recline chairs

even come with wheels, a thoughtful touch for when residents struggle to walk between rooms. And many come with wipe clean upholstery in case of unfortunate spills.

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

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

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

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

“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 difference. Working with these key members of staff, we find solutions for residents – and care home employees – that make life more comfortable for everybody involved.”

Call free today on 0800 810 8726 for a free brochure, or visit us at www.mobilityfurniturecompany.co.uk/sale

Serve Afternoon Tea in Style with Euroservice Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives! Euroservice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care products to residents. How about a delicious snack/pastry trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple?

Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents!

Visit www.euroservice-uk.com or see the advert on page 5.

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

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

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

50 Years of Design Excellence. 50 Years of Skopos

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 contemporary design production techniques. The evolved designs will be developed in line with current trends for use within contract interiors today. Each month

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.

Skopos offer a full range of fabrics including upholsteries, plus made-to-measure curtains, bedding 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, service 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 contributes 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 operational energy use over all other measures. By increasing the use of renewable energy supply and prioritising on-site renewable energy sources the hope it to reduce both carbon and bills.

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 understanding 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 suited 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 Online Here at Alliance Online we are a company that have been operating in the care home and wider catering sector for over 23 years, we stock over a total of 20,000 products we understand the demands and needs for a care home especially in the upcoming Winter. As the care home sector starts to stock up for the upcoming winter, we believe that we can deliver certain necessities that will help cover and enhance the care home experience that many will be going through.

CHURCHILL SIMPLE MEASURES MUG Preventing dehydration and accurately measuring the amount required. An example of an essential that a care home should be considering is the Churchill Simple Measures Mug that is designed to help care workers with being able to judge the perfect amount

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 sustainable applications today to get you on the right path towards net zero operation. https://adveco.co/sectors/healthcare/ that is needed rather than trying to accurately measure by eye. It doesn’t need to be said the potential issues this can cause in terms of dehydration and precise drinking amounts.

PAPER HYGIENE From janitorial to paper hygiene and all inbetween, Alliance Online can help any commercial care home with providing the necessary tools and appliances for the upcoming Winter. It has happened on numerous occasions where a care home will run out of something they didn’t even know they were short on; this is why it is crucial that correctly restocking the appropriate aspects of a care home are achieved in due time. One of these sectors that will often be understocked is paper hygiene. Toilet paper, hand towels or facial tissues are used in abundance in the care home sector and need regular restocking.

For more information on our product lines, or to see how we can help you and your business, contact us on 01270 252 333, email us at hello@allianceonline.co.uk or visit our website www.allianceonline.co.uk or see the advert on page 8.

PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

CATERING FOR CARE Anglia Crown – Adding Warmth to the Colder Months ing for additional choice. Items such as our Carrot Cake or Vanilla Cheesecake can be accompanied by whipped cream, garnished with seasonal fresh fruit.

Our hot desserts are high in energy, our hot portions of 170kcal and above provide energy and protein dense options and when served with custard provide over 250 kcal per serving. Our cold desserts of 250 kcal and above also meet the energy guidelines in the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Nutrition and Hydration Digest (2017) requirements.

The autumn and winter months are a busy time for anyone in the care sector and it is important that all residents have a chance to enjoy warming, nutritious food at every mealtime.

Mary Wedge, Business Development Manager at Anglia Crown comments: “In our experience, many of the residents look forward to the desserts. They often represent familiar comfort foods and, even if they cannot face the main course, will often go straight for the pudding.

Anglia Crown offer a wide range of hot and cold desserts that are ideal for a well-balanced, nutritional diet, including choices that do not contain gluten. Our Crown Choice and Advantage ranges include some fifty-eight dishes, including our new, autumnal warming Ginger Chocolate Chip Sponge and delicious, comforting custard that goes with almost any hot dessert.

Our Crown Choice cold dessert includes the perennial favourites such as Chocolate Cake, whilst our Crown Advantage range also offer ‘reduced sugar’ desserts. All individual Crown Advantage desserts come in packs of eighteen, whilst the Crown Choice desserts come in packs of 3 and 6 allowing accurate portioning and cutting down on any potential waste.

Many of the Anglia Crown dishes can be teamed up with fresh fruit, allow-

VEGAN SUITABLE CHOICES At Anglia Crown we pride ourselves with the array of vegetarian and gluten free dishes that we offer, including an impressive range of desserts.

This was recognised with us being named at the Vegetarian Wholesaler of the Year 2022 at the VfL Awards for Excellence in Veg*n Care Catering.

All the Anglia Crown hot desserts are suitable for vegetarians, Most of the Anglia Crown vegan products have been registered with the Vegan Society, including some thirteen of the dessert dishes.”

Anglia Crown are here to help take the strain out of your menus throughout the year. Visit www.angliacrown.co.uk for further details

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 challenge of keeping your residents hydrated and the important role a quality cuppa can play.

A significant 20% of care home residents are dehydrated1 which can lead to hospital admission. This is easily preventable by keeping hydrated.

EVERY CUPPA COUNTS It can be hard to make sure your residents are drinking up to 8 glasses of water a day. Tea counts towards the recommended 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 herbal options, is important and goes a long way in keeping your residents hydrated. This way you can maximise the opportunities to maintain hydration levels throughout the day by catering to different dayparts.

As the nation’s favourite,4 by serving Tetley to your residents, you will be bringing to them a familiar taste, helping them relax and settle. For the love of tea, for the love of Tetley.

FOR THE LOVE OF TEA Tetley is No.1 in the foodservice sector.5 We’ve been serving quality cuppas to the nation for the past 185

years.

Operating globally, we source, buy and blend the finest tea leaves, so you can promise residents perfection with every sip.

Whilst we are tea masters, we are also environmentally conscious and committed to operating our business in a way that supports the people and environment it touches. With every Tetley cuppa that you and your residents drink, you’re helping us in reaching our sustainability and environmental goals.

MORE THAN JUST TEA Designed with care professionals and caterers in mind, the Tetley Hydration Handbook and Hydration Help Sheet offer insight and advice to help keep residents hydrated in all care environments!

We have a range of free POS and merchandising material available to reassure residents that you serve the much-loved taste of Tetley while having physical drink prompt reminders for staff.

Sources: 1. Open Access Government (2022), “Eradicating dehydration in the elderly with Aquarate”, openaccessgovernment.org 2. NHS (2021), “Water, drinks and your health”, nhs.uk 3. Allegra Project Tea UK 2019 4. Kantar World Panel No. of Households Buying Dec 2019 5. Kantar World Panel L52W to April 2022

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 35

CATERING FOR CARE The Positive Impact of Food and Nutrition on Alzheimer Sufferers October is Alzheimer’s awareness month. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and accounts for around 60% of dementia diagnoses in the UK. Alzheimer’s Research UK suggest that around 69% of care home residents have Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have also found that symptoms may only start 10 years after disease onset and will gradually worsen over time.

Over time, symptoms can have an impact on nutritional intake. Those with the disease may forget to eat or drink, not recognise that they are hungry, thirsty or full, or struggle to remember how to swallow. This can have a significant impact on the quality of life and overall physical health of a person, and a common outcome is malnutrition.

Care home caterers are integral in supporting residents with dementia, as food and nutrition can have a positive impact on those suffering with the disease. By ensuring that food is as palatable as possible, appealingly presented and warm when served will encourage appetite. Caterers can

also respond to any difficulties in swallowing by offering appropriate texture modified meals, following the IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) framework.

For those who have been identified by nursing staff as ‘at risk of malnutrition’ through poor intake, Rachael Venditti RNutr from allmanhall, the leading independent food procurement specialist suggests the following would be of benefit: • Create a ‘high energy, high protein’ menu for those identified at-risk of malnutrition which uses fortified meals, snacks and drinks with added cheese, milk powder, butter and cream • Use full fat foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese • Consider offering a smaller portion as an option at mealtimes for those who find large meals overwhelming and who would benefit from a ‘little and often’ approach • Offer enticing snacks along with the tea trolley such as cakes and biscuits

• Ensure that a high energy pudding is on offer twice daily such as sponge and custard or ice cream • Ensure that additional snacks are always available for those who may find themselves hungry between meals or overnight • Dementia UK has helpful hints and tips to use as a reminder regarding supporting those with the disease such as: • providing foods with different tastes, smells and colours to stimulate their appetite • using plain coloured plates so they can see the food easily • trying adapted cutlery for people with dementia • offering a menu of finger food which can be accessed for those who struggle at mealtimes • always offering a drink alongside meals to encourage fluid intake

Can Your Homes Afford Not To Work with Delicious, Nutritious, And Safe Texture Modified Meals Delivered from It’s Made For You 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 regarding 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 ingredients, manage portion control and waste, some will continue 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. www.allmanhall.co.uk

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.

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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 37

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS

How Efficient Is Your Laundry Operation?

With soaring energy costs and the care sector’s increasingly stringent hygiene and safety requirements, it has never been more critical that care providers establish appropriate laundry operations. It is important to note that, upon inspection by the CQC, domestic machines will not suffice within any care home as they fall short of the necessary guidelines for waste disposal and infection control. New commercial laundry machines can enable significant savings in both water and energy consumption whilst adhering to all applicable industry guidelines. Notably, heat pump dryers can consume up to 70% less energy than standard dryers, making them a hugely popular, and considerably more cost and environmentally efficient choice.

Forbes Professional is a family run company, established in 1926, that provides Miele’s commercial laundry from our expansive nationwide infrastructure. Our large network of in-house field engineers allows us to deliver a multi-award winning localbased service to both small care homes and national care operators. We have a solid understanding of the industry requirements and our dedicated account managers deliver a consultative service from complimentary site survey to on-going service sup-

port.

Clearly, within any healthcare environment, hygiene is of paramount importance and our Miele commercial laundry and dishwashing equipment ensures full compliance with all WRAS and QCQ stipulations. With both sluice and thermal disinfection to kill viruses and bugs, our equipment eliminates any risk of cross contamination.

We make it our business to ensure that all clients fully adhere to the industry regulations, whilst providing a solution that is tailored the individual requirements. For a small operation, or where space is of a premium, Miele’s Little Giants deliver on every level.

They offer the utmost in utility, flexibility and product quality, whilst providing a stackable option to minimise their footprint and allow for easy scalability. Our Complete Care package gives access to premium brands with no initial capital outlay, comprehensive user training and support and a same/next day engineer response. www.forbespro.co.uk info@forbes-professional.co.uk 0345 070 2335

Discover Girbau Laundry Innovation at the Care Show

Girbau offers energy efficient, high productivity laundry equipment for efficient in-house laundry operation with control of turnaround times and quality of finish.

Visit Stand F51 at The Care Show, NEC Birmingham, 12-13 October to discover Girbau’s innovative new GENIUS Series Internet-enabled wash-

ers with Sapphire software for remote performance and disinfection monitoring.

Designed to lower water and energy consumption while boosting productivity, Girbau GENIUS washers offer unmatched durability and a high degree of programmability, together with high-speed spinning and automatic chemical dosing. Additional features include robust chassis design, high water extraction, gentle Care Plus drum and an easy to use 10-inch colour user interface.

Girbau’s Sapphire remote-control software gives easy, flexible and versatile control. You can manage the laundry, compile production reports and analyse data remotely in real time from any device. In healthcare settings, Sapphire can be used to configure washers to operate and record the use of thermal disinfection programs.

Girbau laundry support services include site surveys for refurbishment projects, laundry design and production of full M&E CAD drawings.

Girbau can also advise on machine choice, clean and dirty area demarcation, disinfection, safe handling and operating procedures.

Maintenance and servicing remain key considerations for operators of on-premise laundries. With a team of company-trained engineers and direct access to the factory for spare parts, Girbau is able to respond quickly to any urgent customer calls with high levels of first-time fixes.

Girbau UK’s service operation supports on premise laundries for every type and scale of business from single premises to nationwide multi-site

operations.

Girbau UK was recently awarded We Invest in People - Silver Accreditation by Investors in People.

Tel: 01462 427780 Email: sales.uk@girbau.com Website: www.girbau.co.uk

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name” At Cash's, we aim to capture, reinforce and communicate our clients’ brand equity through quality and innovation, from design to distribution.

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

ing to combat counterfeiting and grey market activity.

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

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

LaundryTec - Innovation and Support as Standard For 10% discou nt on all woven an d iron-on nametapes, ad d CARE2022 at the checkout !

Valid to 31/10/20 22

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

In these times of uncertainty with everyone facing ever increasing energy costs , do you really know how much it costs to operate your laundry dryers? Energy efficiency has advanced enormously of the past few years and our Lavamac LDR350 has a connect load of 26.4 kWh. Many older dryers are rated at a minimum of 36kwh.

Replacement of two of older machines can offer a hourly saving of a minimum of 20kwh which based of a 8 hour working day of 160kWh daily!

Recently we supplied 3 x LDR490 24 kg dyers and

replaced 3 x 37kg dyers and reduced the energy consumption from 210kwh to 90kwh!

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 investigate what your laundry is costing?

See the advert below for further information.

LaundryTec Ltd offer a unique approach to laundry equipment

We don’t want to replace equipment or sign you into a long-term agreement.

LaundryTec want to support your existing equipment, through PPM, Gas Safe Compliance and Quality emergency support.

Quality, Innovation and Support

BEFORE

We are also Lavamac distributors

www.laundrytec.com

0151 317 3127

AFTER

info@laundrytec.com

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 39

CLEANING & HYGIENE Partner Up for Healthcare Hygiene with GOJO at IPS 2022 GOJO, experts in skin health and surface hygiene will be exhibiting at Stand 37 Join GOJO, THE INVENTORS OF PURELL™ - and the hand sanitiser category 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 environments, 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, incorporating dispensers, products, accessories, and signage, as well as training and onboarding support. It also manages installations, thereby reducing the staffing impact of changing suppliers.

• COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES: These environments often have radically different needs from what are traditionally 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 professionals 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 cleaning 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 within 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 regular 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 regularly removed to eliminate the fire risk. Cleaning in accordance with TR19®, also issued by BESA, it's the most

their work is off-site.

Chris Wakefield, Managing Director UK & Ireland, GOJO IndustriesEurope 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 effective 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 support such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accredited training making 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 information on the benefits of partnering with GOJO, please call +44 (0)1908 588444, email CustomerExperienceUK@GOJO.com, or visit www.GOJO.com.

effective way to remove these.

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, ownership 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.

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

CLEANING & HYGIENE Introduction of Peracide™ from Sky Chemicals to Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust Carol Scholey (RGN, BSc (hons)) Liam Grimshaw (BSc (hons) MSc by Research) INTRODUCTION In the transfer of an NHS Trust from one disinfectant to another, there are many factors to consider from ease of use to efficacy 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 solution. When the supplier announced it was to cease production, 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 disinfectants. 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 discussion 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 disinfectants 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 forming 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 suitable for high level sanitising and disinfecting on porous and nonporous 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 disinfectant 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 possible reasons for this. It could be a case of error in preparation as the formulation 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 diffusion 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 stabilised in solution. This accumulates to an easy to use, visibly efficacious disinfectant with cumulative effect that supports long-term infection control.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 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 disinfectant showed approximately no efficacy overall. In comparison, Peracide™ showed good efficacy to begin with and an overall reduction prior to the next clean.

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

REFERENCES

Lee, Y., Burgess, G., Rubino, M. and Auras, R., 2015. Reaction and diffusion of chlorine dioxide gas under dark and light conditions at different temperatures.

Journal of Food Engineering, 144, pp.20-28.

For further information see the facing page.

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

Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is exclusive to Angloplas. This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product, reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA, E Coli, Legionella,

Salmonella and mould by up to 99.99%.

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

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

A New Frontier for Control of Winter Bugs It’s important to protect your residents from the rising rate of infections during the winter season and Peracide is the ideal solution.

Peracide is a colour-activated in-situ peracetic acid disinfectant tested to over 70 EN, BS EN and ASTM standards. It’s even tested to kill COVID-19 at 1000ppm in only 30 seconds in soiled conditions.

It was developed with the help of Prof.

Peter Wilson and Dr. Shanom Ali of UCLH microbiological laboratory and has been tested to kill all known pathogens including: • Pseudomonas • Norovirus • E. coli • Legionella • Streptococcus Pneumoniae • C. Difficile Peracide is a powerful dual-action oxidising agent that targets proteins, peptides and amino acids of all pathogens, whilst surfactants clean and remove soil, making it perfect for cleaning and disinfecting in 1 easy process. This versatility means it can replace other products and be safely used any-

where, including washrooms, kitchens and on any surface including stainless steel and fabrics. Peracide is also recommended for use on equipment such as commodes, bed frames and mobility aides. It produces no toxic by-products, so it’s safe for both your users and the environment.

Peracide’s innovative colour-change system makes it easy for users to see when it is active. The solution turns purple to show peracetic acid is being generated, pink when the solution is ready to use, and clear when ready to be disposed of. This ensures no solution is wasted or used while inactive.

Here are two of our satisfied customers: “The staff are very happy with it!” Jayne, Ravenstone Care Home “The colour system works really well.” Nikki, Aucklands Rest Home Available via NHS Supply Chain – Product Code: Peracide 3g: MFB1002 or Peracide 6g: MFB1005 and via Bunzl FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TRIALS, TRAINING AND DEMONSTRATIONS CALL US NOW www.peracide.co.uk info@skychemicals.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 41

CLEANING & HYGIENE

SEBO XP – Power with Responsibility The XP range of upright vacuum cleaners from SEBO are ideal for these health conscious times. They feature independently proven filtration, hygienic dirt disposal using sealable bags and are exceptionally quiet and light to use.

Clearly, a vacuum cleaner’s number one task is to clean. The XP range harnesses the power of an onboard computer to measure performance on the floor and continuously adjust the floor head to the optimum cleaning height, completely automatically. The powerful 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 awkward 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 filtration bag, which can be sealed and hygienically disposed 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%.

www.percacide.co.uk info@peracide.co.uk 0114 278 0222

Win the battle on

Infection Control

With a new generation of disinfection technology 10 reasons to change to Peracide 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 unpleasant, even where the vacuum cleaner meets the regulations. SEBO sound engineers have successfully muted the harsh frequencies to which the human ear is sensitive. This has the result that with any form of background noise, the sound from the XP virtually disappears, making it suitable in many cases for daytime 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

1

Kills all known microorganisms including C. difficile spores, E. coli, MRSA, Legionella, Norovirus, Covid-19, Influenza and many more

2

Innovative Colour Activation System

3

Greater oxidiser than Chlorine and Hydrogen Peroxide

4

Clean, disinfects and deodourises in one operation

5

Works in the presence of organic salt

6

Environmentally friendly, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-corrosive

7

Safe for use on patient mobility and shared equipment

8

Non-sticky and leaves minimal residue

9

Full microbiological test report

10

Long lasting solution

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

Available from

Peracide Product Code: 3g MFB1002 or 6g MFB1005

or Sky Chemicals

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

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 1.5-2 litres (or 6-8 glasses) of fluids each day.

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

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

SMOKING There are a number of health risks associated with smoking.

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

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

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

RECOMMENDATION: Keep a Bladder Diary Maintain a record of every time you experience bladder weakness.

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

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

The iD range of products is available to buy from www.id-direct.com or www.ontex.com

Help To Manage Your Incontinence Issues Independently Urinary incontinence affects millions of people in the UK. Although a widespread problem, in-continence remains a taboo topic. Embarrassment often stops people from talking about it, let alone feeling able to access products and services that can help them. So, without the correct help and support, the problem often remains unsolved, which has a negative impact on people’s lives.

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 discreet 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 SelfCatheterisation (ISC) to effectively empty their bladder and having something that is simple to use, soft, flexible and easy to lubricate is essential. That’s where our IQ-Cath shines, plus, new for 2022 are male/paediatric and female single-use hydrophilic catheters which are immersed in saline and ready for immediate use.

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

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

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

DEMENTIA CARE

Revealed: How to Create Dementia-Friendly Documents, Posters and Signage 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 living 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.

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 example, 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 disorienting. Think simple, vivid colour combinations.

KEY FINDINGS:

SHAPES

• 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 message, but intricate patterns and colours can be confusing.

• Associating different shapes with different ideas, 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. Photographs are preferred to drawings or artists’ versions.

• Avoid making your signage using reflective materials – reflections can be confusing to people with dementia.

• By using durable materials, you can ensure the long-term efficacy of your sign.

COLOURS Known to be one of the most powerful tools of communication, colour

Dementia affects people in different ways and can even cause hallucinations. If your signage or text must differentiate between two distinct ideas, choices or options, shapes can be a good way to highlight the difference 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 possible. 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 readability, 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 confusing for someone living with dementia.

PICTURES Pictures can play a vital role in helping dementia patients to communicate 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 dignity and personality. However, inclusive 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 understandable for people living with dementia.”

Memory 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 techniques to help those with memory loss or dementia to recall their memories. This can improve self-esteem and provide a sense of fulfillment, improve mood and reduce 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 personalised 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 clinical data sets which are all game-play related and have been established in our RCT Clinical Trial (underway). This data can be used to alert earlyinterventions 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 stores.

Helpforcarehomes@memorylanegames.com

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.

Photo credit: BRE

Photo credit: BRE

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

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 evidencebased design principles it is founded upon assure designers that it is optimised to create an environment that champions

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.

Keeping memories alive

Photo credit: BRE

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.

Photo credit: BRE

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-aged-care

PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Blaucomm Ltd - Telecommunications & Networks Blaucomm’s Nurse Call Messaging Service (NMS) is the market leading solution to remove the dependency on noisy nurse call panels and pagers, through its intelligent software, which delivers 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 benefit to care homes to enhance the staff performance with how they accept and respond to residents, which ultimately promotes better response times and visibility 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 constantly recognising Blaucomm NMS for its reliability 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 company 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

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

Care technologies have advanced at an amazing rate over the past decade. The digital age is a place where we all live and all use technology as a familiar part of our daily lives. At Medpage we have harnessed these advancing technologies into products to support Social Care and Independent Living.

Medpage brand products are designed to provide affordable, user-friendly, care support products for domestic and professional care.

Our new wristband activated door egress alarm is a perfect example of how advanced technologies are transformed into a system to safeguard people prone to wandering.

Simple to install, suitable for single or multiple residents, the system allows residents to remain mobile, while providing an alert to carers if they attempt to leave the building through a monitored door. Further details available at www.easylinkuk.co.uk search Doorwatcher.

Medpage have supplied Care, Residential Homes, and Hospitals with fall prevention and detection alarms for more than 25 years. From basic bed and chair exit detection alarms to more complex cordless sensor pad systems with nurse call integration, we supply quality systems that deliver cost effective performance.

Our new sensor pad controller the MPCSA11 has been included into numerous falls management projects, in Hospitals and professional care establishments. The system, already proven to reduce care costs, allows a patient with mobility to transfer from their bed to their chair or to visit their washroom, without alarm notifications to carers, providing the transfer is completed within a selectable time. Failure to return within the selected time will result in alarm notification to carers, either by pager, nurse call trigger, or ward wall mounted alarm receiver.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 47

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Silent Running - Tranquility in Care Homes Quiet and calm care homes ensure that residents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment.

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

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

stressed also, this creates a happier workplace where morale is greatly son’s ability to concentrate. It can affect their attention levels and improved, staff are retained and CQC ratings improve. Clearly, the posicapacity to cope, as well as being detrimental to their overall state of tive ramifications of a quiet Care Home run deep. Get in touch today to wellbeing. Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and find out how we can help your home become a quieter, calmer, and buzzers.” Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number of more tranquil environment. methods to reduce their impact in a care home. These include zoning For more information email us at: info@c-t.co.uk whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call. In these circumstances, dementia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one • Nurse Call “zone” whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative Systems “zone”. Each “zone” can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required • Fire Alarm Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil enviSystems ronment for residents. Pagers have been around for many • Door Access years, are a relatively simple and cost-effective measure in reducing the levels of noise, and can be added to most Nurse • Staff Attack Call systems. Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more • CCTV Designed to combat the problem of residents commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps who are inclined to walk undetected, the Nurse for care planning, e-medication, etc. Many Courtney Thorne • Infection Alert Mat can help protect residents especially at clients are now utilising the “Go” app with their Nurse Call sysControl night that are at risk of falls and accidents. tem. With the “Go” app, nurse call alarms are delivered imme• Dementia Care When connected to a Nurse Call system or the diately and silently straight to the handsets, alerting the mobile Floor Sentry Monitor it will then alert individual carers to all Nurse call alarms without creating any • Electrical staff, sounding the alarm with a small amount of general alarm sound and rarely disturbing the rest of the resiContracting pressure thus enabling staff to investigate. dents in the home.

Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less

Nurse Alert Mats

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

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

Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining

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

Visit www.lctuk.com for details.

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

INCLUDES A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE

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

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

PAGE 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

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

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR

Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!

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

Benefits include:

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

Wireless door/window exit alerts

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

An optional anti-slip mesh reduces the potential for slippage on hard surface floors.

Features include:

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

Southern Care Maintenance Ltd – New Partnerships

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

As Southern Care Maintenance Ltd (SCM) mark their 35th anniversary this year, they continue to build upon their success with some exciting new partnerships.

As a specialist independent 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.

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 solution, Vayyar Care, provides touchless fall detection and rich activity data that enables personalised,

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 providing care the focus and priority.

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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 49

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

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

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

Technology is at the heart of the government's new health data strategy, 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, quality 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 opportunities 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 residents. 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 interaction 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 encourages residents to participate in interactive activities.

With built-in 2x15w front facing speakers and an HD video conferencing camera provides the perfect communication 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 system 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-

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 dedicated 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.

Get in touch via: +44 (0)1902 390 862 sales@genee-group.com www.genee-group.com

PAGE 50 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 51

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Monika Primed to Make Care Management Simple

By Keith Hopewell, Director of Operations UK & Europe, Monika (www.monika.com/solutions/monikaprime/) 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 temperature 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 harmful; 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 temperature range, so

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 maximum 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 organisation and succeed in the future.

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

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

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

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

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 managing servers. Our open API lets you connect to existing systems or those you are considering in the future.

This means you can leverage key data from electronic medical records, payroll, budget, CRMs (including Salesforce), and other systems to track key performance indicators.

For more information on how Sage can help your business please visit: www.sage.com/en-gb/cp/intacct-carehomes/ Care is was conceived, designed, built and is managed by nurses, registered managers and care home owners.

The ‘CARE is’ suite includes care and support, care planning platform, our policy app with over 200 high quality policies which are updated regularly and which also includes our supervision, appraisals and training record apps and our audit app which templates all the essential audits and includes a record of inspection visits.

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

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

PAGE 52 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

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 deploying 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 development 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 consultant 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 administration 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-compliances) in it’s Web Portal. Encrypted date and time stamped evidence including photos is seamlessly auto attached and recorded in the system.

Natalie Lawrence at Yorkare Homes says “It’s a paperless system 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 checking, 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 minutes.

CAREAudits apps are a part of the Care Plus Innovation Group, Priory Park, Hull, HU4 7DY Info:- visit www.careaudits.co.uk email apps@careaudits.co.uk or call Ken Newlove operations director on 01482 238887

Fill 100% of Your Staffing Needs with Care Hires Care Hires was founded to help Care Providers solve their staffing problems by making it easier to work with Staffing Agencies.

Now the Care Hires platform is in use all over the UK, helping Care Providers to reach: • Complete control over agency spend • 100% Shift fulfilment • 100% Staff compliance • Reduced administration costs • And much more…

The Care Hires system is a neutral vendor platform where we source and manage agencies on your behalf to make sure whenever you need, you can find fully qualified professionals with just a few clicks. No more calling multiple agencies, sending out a flurry of emails, and having to coordinate the responses. Just post your vacancy, and your bespoke selection of agencies put forward pre-vetted workers meeting your requirements The hours saved on hiring are matched by significant reductions in admin time, including: • Consolidated invoices - instead of paying dozens of agency invoices covering each service or shift, make one payment to Care Hires.

• More accessible communications - by providing agency staff with our free mobile app, they can easily access

their work rota and be updated in real-time about changes to their hours.

• Easier timesheet management - using the Care Hires app, staff can clock in and out and send their timesheets for approval without the delays and bureaucracy of paper-based solutions.

• Better cash flow for agencies - because of the easier and faster timesheet management, hours worked can be processed and billed to the client more quickly, helping your cash flow.

We make finding staff and running your business more straightforward, but what else?

Although we focus on delivering quality rather than solely looking for direct savings, because we help streamline the rates your agencies charge and save your office team so much time, we can still deliver huge returns: • An average of over £8,000 saved per site on administration • Over £1.2 million saved so far on agency spend For just one customer, we identified over £500,000 of annual agency savings, on top of efficiency improvements.

Can you afford to miss out on this amount of money? Contact Care Hires for a free demo, and in as little as 12 weeks from contract, you could eliminate all the headaches that come from being under-staffed.

Visit www.carehires.com or see the advert on the facing page.

PAGE 54 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

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 functionality for use in medication administration rounds!

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 complete.

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.

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 staff 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 systems to change the focus from the administration to the delivery of care helps stage engage more with service users.

Additionally, providing smart tools like care planning and eMAR software 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/dislikes and how they correspond to a wide range of activities can be recorded.

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, supporting a personalised care experience.

EVIDENCE Demonstrate quality of care delivery

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 inspection, 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 service at a glance.

AutumnCare contains a customisable Dashboard to provide Managers with a snapshot of what is occurring across the care service at any point in time.

USERS Happier service 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 software, 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.

Contact Chris Sharman Email c.sharman@autumn.care Call 0800 009 2121

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 55

PROFESSIONAL, 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 followed, 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 mandatory, 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 fake document. The care sector has always been of interest to the Home Office, more so than other health providers and some other sectors.

Historically, these checks have typically been undertaken manually and in person – imagine being sat with HR

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 people with biometric residence permits, biometric residence cards, or an evisa, 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 passport 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 documents.

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 employers 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 photographs 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 compliant 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 Upskilling and staying on top of best practice and techniques is essential in the Care sector as it directly impacts on safety and standards. When you invest in CPD, you’re ensuring care workers have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to carry out their role safely and provide the best possible care. Having gained qualifications and landed a job in the care industry should be the start of the learning journey, rather than the end of it.

There is a strong link between CPD and staff retention and motivation. CPD is mentioned in the NHS Long Term Plan as a strategy to motivate staff to stay in role and equip them with the skills to advance their professional practice. Skills for Care found that 94% of employers with a low staff turnover cited ‘investing in learning and development’ as one of the main activities contributing to workforce retention.

Online learning is now the expectation for learning and development at work,

and an affordable and accessible alternative to in-person training. When you’re looking for online resources, it’s advisable to seek out a reputable provider with endorsements from leading organisations in the sector.

Laser Learning is a Skills for Care endorsed provider of online CPD short courses and The Care Certificate course. Our course materials are written by industry experts (including care home managers) and cover the knowledge needed for every standard in the Care Certificate and a wide range of CPD topics, such as Infection control and prevention, Dementia and communication, and Supporting adults with learning disabilities.

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

PAGE 56 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT Key Employment Considerations For Care Home Providers

By Lee Ashwood, Employment Director at Freeths LLP (www.freeths.co.uk) 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 calculating 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 members burnout and leave the service or care sector completely. 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 organisation, systems and processes, and knowledge about the individual needs of the people who are being supported 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 comfort 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 colleagues 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 additional 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 knowledge of specific people being cared for and understanding of organisations’ cultures, systems, and work procedures.

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 workers. 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.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 57

PROFESSIONAL, 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 workbook, with links for further optional reading or viewing and should not be a burden to busy Homes, teams and managers.

It is however effective. You can try without obligation.

It is designed to make business sense to providers.

It is designed to enhance viability.

It is designed to support recruitment and retention.

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

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

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?

JJ Recruitment has the large database of well qualified applicants with experience in the healthcare industry, such as health care assistants, senior carers, and nurses from overseas. We also have an expert team of solicitors for the necessary legal proceedings and advices.

WHY JJ?

• We have very minimal processing fees.

• We assist you to get a sponsorship license.

• Qualified and experienced candidates from overseas.

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

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

PAGE 58 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122

PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Are You A Care Home Owner with Staff Vacancies?

As recently highlighted in the media there are currently over 100,000 vacant roles in the care sector. Some 78% of providers who responded to the exclusive survey, carried out by the ITV News in conjunction with the UK Homecare Association said recruiting carers is the hardest it has ever been. Many describe being at a “breaking point”. Out of the respondents, 95% said they are unable to take on all the new clients in need of their help.

2 years ago a relative of my friend with care homes in Lincolnshire came to see me. He knew I was an immigration lawyer. He was distraught and on the verge of packing it all in. The issues? ’We can’t find the workers’….’nobody wants to work full time as they will lose their tax credits’….’the British workforce are just not interested’…’nobody wants to relocate to the sticks to work for us’…

His plea “Harjap help me”….my solution? ‘have you thought about recruiting foreign workers? Or students already in the UK who are already working part time in the sector?’….he did it…and today his staffing problems have been solved…

So how do we go about doing it?

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

In order to recruit foreign skilled workers, whether they are already within the UK or directly abroad, your company needs to be regulated by the UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration). This involves being licenced by the UKVI so that your business can successfully recruit foreign workers without fear of being fined or breaching any immigration rules set by the UK governments stringent policies.

Many potential employees are already within the UK on various types of visas however, and may already be

ARE YOU A CARE HOME OWNER WITH STAFF VACANCIES?

GET IN TOUCH NOW! Apply for a sponsor licence allowing you to employ foreign workers

Fill your staff vacancies with skilled foreign workers

Switch your part time foreign student employees into full time work permit holders Let us help you to navigate your recruitment and immigration needs

We have access to skilled workers already in the UK ready to be employed by you.

CONTACT US: 020 8571 6889 0121 525 8899 INFO@GLSSOLICITORS.CO.UK WWW.GLSSOLICITORS.CO.UK

working part time (20 hours a week) for you, in order to work for you they would need to be successfully sponsored by your company through your sponsor licence.

This would involve making a complex application to the UKVI and in essence asking them for permission for you to employ the worker full time. Once permission is granted, you then have the benefit of a full time employee tied down exclusively to your company for at least a 5-year period. This is often referred to as a ‘Work Permit’. If you wish to employee multiple foreign workers then we would need to convince the Home Office to grant you an appropriate allocation under the terms of your licence.

Under this licence you can also recruit carers and nurses from abroad.

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

If you urgently need staff then you should definitely consider applying for a UKVI sponsor licence in order to employ qualified foreign workers and help your business grow. No business should be turning away / down work due to a staffing problem which has a solution.

Harjap Singh Bhangal is a Director at Immigration Specialist firm GLS Solicitors (Global Legal Solutions) and is often seen on Sky News, BBC News, and is referred to as the “Immigration Guru”.

CONTACT US: 020 8571 6889 0121 525 8899 info@glssolicitors.co.uk www.glssolicitors.co.uk

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance Global assists clients throughout the U.K. who specialise in the healthcare sector to achieve their objectives of purchase, development and refinance.

We have organised over £1.8bn for clients in the past 30 years, providing clients with competitively priced funding to refinance existing debt, ease cashflow and develop businesses further.

From helping clients make their first purchase through to allowing groups to grow significantly in

size we assist at every stage of your business expansion.

Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements, I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements.

Call us on 01242 227172 or e-mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.net

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 122 | PAGE 59

PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT Care & Nursing Staff Turnover – Eliminated! Commitment – Increased! the appropriate qualifications and checks that exceed the required UK

By hiring overseas staff through the Sponsorship Licences Government Initiative. (We can help you if you don’t have a Sponsorship Licence yet)

percentage will not work out but that is where we come in.

Firstly, we preselect the staff that we feel will blend into the culture of your organisation. Secondly, we will supply you with the tips that ensures a better settlement procedure for overseas staff. Finally, we are at hand through the continual coaching and mentoring program to identify ‘sticky areas’ and work with you on getting a mutually beneficial solutions.

WHY WOULD THE STAFF BE COMMITTED AND LOYAL?

WHY WORK WITH US?

from the first day the employee comes to work ready to hit the road

According to the legal arrangement of their visa (right to work in the UK) all these overseas staff are obligated to stay at your organisation for 3-5 years otherwise they lose their immigration status and are liable for deportation to their country of origin.

This makes them committed and legally bound to stay and work with you

Purer Health Care Agency has been specially designed to help reduce the high staff turnover and its associated cost and disruptions as well as help overseas candidates obtain a better economically enhanced life. This way we serve a business, social and economic purpose.

running.)

PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS

We have conducted a robust background screening conducting Criminal Checks, Identity Checks, Work Reference Checks and Family History Checks. Hence all our staff have been prequalified and have

Imagine a situation where you would have little or no worries about staff walking away and having a team that are very committed to your organisation.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

Someone might say this sounds too good to be true. What happens if the staff is not happy? The reality of the matter is that a very small

HOW WE DO THIS?

Five Things To Know About Data Breaches Data breaches involve unauthorised access or the disclosure of sensitive, confidential or otherwise protected data. This may be personal information, such as health or financial accounts, trade secrets, or intellectual property. There are currently strict regulations in place in the UK to protect data and reduce the risk of a data breach occurring.

However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and businesses should be aware of what they need to do if a data breach occurs.

Aisha Akhtar, a Solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial team, and James Martin, an Associate Solicitor in the Commercial Dispute Resolution team, at Blacks Solicitors (www.lawblacks.com), share their advice on data breaches, and what businesses need to be aware of if a data breach claim is brought against them.

GDPR AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION According to Aisha, Article 32 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) outlines and establishes the minimum level of security that an organisation must have in place to protect personal data. She comments: “Within this, there is a specific emphasis on the ability to protect against Personal Data Breaches which is defined by Article 4 of the UK GDPR. Failure to protect against this can attract maximum fines of up to 4% of the annual worldwide turnover, or £17.5 million. This is dependent upon which figure is

standard to safely and effectively function as Nurses & Care Assistants.

Here are some more advantages of working with us: - No Flights/Travel Obligation.

- No Accommodation Obligation.

- 1 Week induction and orientation course for all staff (The idea is that

- Free continuous personal development mapping for all staff.

What next.

Give us the opportunity to help you eliminate your staffing issues by reaching us on: T: 0203 287 5125 E: ukadmin@purerhealthcareagency.com W: purerhealthcareagency.com

higher.”

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A BREACH James Martin advises that there are a number of things that potential defendants can do in the event of a data breach: “While there are actions that businesses can take, this will very much depend on whether the alleged breach is accepted, or if the allegations are disputed.

“If there is a breach, there is a right to compensation as set out within Article 82 of the UK GDPR. The level of compensation will depend upon the circumstances surrounding the alleged breach and the information that has been released. The Court will also consider what effect, if any, the breach has had on the affected party. For example, a breach related to the sharing of medical or financial records will be regarded as serious.”

When it comes to actions that can be taken, James advises: “In all types of cases, due to the complex issues involved, it would be advisable for any Defendants to obtain legal advice at an early stage. Where it’s accepted that a breach has occurred, it would be beneficial to try and reach a compromise with the affected party(s) at an early stage to avoid having to incur the costs of dealing with litigation.”

HOW TO AVOID A BREACH Aisha advises that there are a number of key initiatives that can be put in place by employers to mitigate the risk of a data breach: “Organisations must have in place physical, organisational and technical security measures to ensure adequate protection. There should also be an emphasis on ensuring employees throughout the organisation are trained on what is expected of them when handling personal data, and training logs can be kept to document this.”

When it comes to the security measures that will enable businesses to control data and how it is shared, Aisha adds: “Organisations are expected to carry out regular tests of the security measures that are in place to identify any areas of weakness. If an area is identified, the measures should be updated accordingly.

“When acting as a data controller, it’s important to note that businesses will remain ultimately liable for any acts or omissions of any processors who are appointed. From a due diligence perspective, basic checks can be undertaken to ensure that the processor can keep the personal data protected in line with the standard set by Article 32 of the UK GDPR.”