The Carer Digital - Issue #128

Merry Christmas from everyone at The Carer!

Credit, where credit is due The NHS, which is currently the subject of intensive debate and scrutiny, has performed a magnificent job as we see with our front page lead story

Every care home in England has been visited to provide boosters and vaccines for Covid and Flu 15,000 homes, with 88% of eligible residents now have had a Covid booster

Although we are approaching three years since the start of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns the consequences will forever live on in our memories

As editor I received stories and examples numerous times a day of the heartache, the lack of support, the intolerable position staff were put in the burnout and mental health issues which followed I have as regular readers will know often referred to a seminar I sat in on in 2021 where operators and staff were asked to share their pandemic experiences

To say (as I have said before) that I was humbled and moved beyond words is an understatement

As part of my duties we exhibit at almost all the care trade shows and we get to speak to providers staff industry organisations leaders and spokespeople and I know only too well the hard work dedication and sacrifice they make but if ever that was to be questioned? Then I think back to that October seminar when the sector opened its heart

How I wish that a government minister was in the room that day

So this is a huge step in ensuring that it never happens again Visiting 15 000 care homes and administering boosters and vaccines in such a short space of time in the middle of current staffing issues is remarkable - well done!!

That said, the government has changed its mask and outbreak guidance, which again our lead story confirms Care home providers can now make their own risk based assessments

Is this a good idea? Personally (and would welcome feedback) I think it is Compulsory masks will add their own communication difficulties in particular for those with hearing problems, and there is no doubt that they prohibit the ease in which care staff can communicate, forge and develop relationships with residents Furthermore as opposed to government directives which as we know proved cata-

strophic when it decided to release Covid infected patrons into care environments to free up hospital beds, the change in guidance now allows for “professional judgement” recognising those with the skills ability and wisdom to manage their own individual environments/settings

I was also shocked to see that care home insolvencies have increased by 52% in just one year

We produce a title for the hospitality and licensed in trade which is also experiencing a huge increase in insolvencies both sectors operate on very narrow margins and it is clear that providers are are struggling with soaring operating costs inflation energy costs and rising interest rates

I do not think there has been a more “perfect storm”

The article highlighting this (see page 15) states that these insolvencies are leading to “additional stress” on the NHS as hospitals cannot free up beds by releasing patients to care homes

Given the current strife in the NHS one would think that supporting the care sector also means supporting the NHS - solving two crucial issue in one stroke

On a side note we here at the CARER would take this opportunity to thank all readers contributors and valued advertisers without whom we would not be able to publish

Thank you all for your support confidence in us kind comments and keeping us all updated with all the news, views, and professional comments sharing your highs and your achievements which we have and always will be delighted to share

So a very merry Christmas to you all!!

NHS Visits Ever y Care Home to Offer Vaccinations Ahead of Christmas

(CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

The NHS covid booster campaign kicked off in care homes on 5 September in order to prioritise the most vulnerable before expanding the offer and so far more than 16 8 million people have had a covid booster

Anyone who was unable to get their vaccine for any reason is still able to get the booster either through a team returning to a home or via their GP or the National Booking Service

The NHS is also urging those eligible to get their flu vaccine as the latest stats show hospital admissions are up week-on-week and higher than covid in the most recent week for the first time since the pandemic began – although both are continuing to rise

RESURGENCE OF FLU AND WINTER ILLNESSES

NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said “While we have seen a resurgence in flu and other winter illnesses this year there are still around 6 000 patients in hospital with covid and that is why it has been so important that we protect those most vulnerable to the disease with a booster including people who live in care homes

“I am delighted that our dedicated NHS staff have been able to go into every care home in England in the last 12 weeks to make sure residents are protected ahead of Christmas, meaning they can spend much needed time with family and friends without the anxiety of spreading covid and its potential consequences

It is fantastic that so many residents are already up to date with their jabs and I’d encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible as we head into colder months where we notoriously see increased illness and hospitalisation especially among the elderly NHS director for vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: “Care home residents are among those we prioritised at the start of this rollout to make sure our hard-working teams of vaccinators could get to as many care homes and provide protection to as many residents as quickly as possible

We have now visited every care home to offer life-saving protection from covid just in time to make sure loved ones can spend time together this Christmas and I would urge anyone eligible but yet to get their jab to book an appointment now

“STEPPING UP TO PROTECT THOSE AT RISK”

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: Once again NHS staff have stepped up to protect those most at risk from Covid and flu visiting every care home in every corner of the country to offer lifesaving jabs

“Our vaccination programme is progressing at pace with nearly 17 million eligible people coming forward for their Covid booster and more than 19 million flu vaccinations administered to date

“I want to thank the health and social care staff who’ve come forward for their jab and I want to encourage those who ve not yet done so to roll up their sleeves and get the vaccinations they need to give themselves and those they care for the best possible protection this winter”

Those who are eligible to receive the Covid-19 bivalent vaccine include those aged 50 and over frontline health and social care workers, and those deemed at risk because, for example, they have either a weakened immune system a learning disability or are pregnant CARE WORKERS “PARTICULARLY AT RISK”

Health and social care workers and unpaid carers are particularly at risk from catching flu and Covid-19 and passing them on to the people they care for so it is vital anyone with a frontline role comes forward to keep those they care for safe

The latest data also shows flu infections and hospitalisations are on the rise and health leaders are urging those eligible to join the more than 19 million who have received their flu vaccine

The number of patients with flu in general and acute beds every day last week was at 1 162 up by almost two thirds on the week before (712)

Patients experiencing the most serious illness for flu was also up, with 87 patients in critical care beds – almost 50% higher than the previous week (60)

MASK GUIDANCE IN CARE SETTINGS UPDATED

As the NHS rolls out its care home“Christmas” vaccine measures, guidance on the use of face masks in all care settings and on outbreaks in care homes has also been updated to give settings the flexibility to ensure ongoing COVID-19 measures are proportionate

Previous guidance stated that face masks in care settings should be worn at all times and that care homes should seek advice from a local health protection team in the event of COVID-19 outbreak, but this preChristmas change enables providers to further utilise their own skills and knowledge on appropriate measures

Now (As from Thursday 15 December), providers can make riskbased decisions on when face masks are used and care homes can initiate their own outbreak risk assessments to make decisions about which outbreak measures make sense for their individual settings Decisions around masks will be based on factors like the risk to specific individuals if the setting is in an outbreak or the preferences of the

individual receiving care Support remains available from health protection teams and other local partners for care homes when needed

Testing guidance has also been streamlined for small care homes to reduce the number of tests staff and residents need to take in the event of an outbreak This alongside new flexibility for rapid response testing in these settings is in line with the latest public health advice

Social care settings will continue to be equipped with free personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep staff and people receiving care safe over winter and protected against COVID-19 where necessary

DARKEST DAYS OF PANDEMIC “THANKFULLY BEHIND US”

Minister of State for Care Helen Whately said: The darkest days of the pandemic are thankfully behind us But it doesn’t feel like that for people living in care homes or being cared for at home when many of the people they see are still behind a mask

So much of what we communicate is through our expressions our faces, and our smiles – especially for people who are deaf or hard of hearing Many rely on lip reading and face masks don t make the job any easier for care workers either

“That’s why we’re making this change We want care agencies and residential homes to decide what s best for the people they look after I hope this means thousands of people who are looked after by care workers will get to see a smile this Christmas

“Care providers are now able to adopt a risk-based approach with decisions on the use of face masks balanced with the risk of infections spreading and considering any risks or benefits that arise from their use Care homes can make use of new flexibility in the updated guidance on outbreak management and in all circumstances should ensure visits between loved ones are supported with each resident able to have at least one visitor even in an outbreak Outbreak measures should only be implemented if at least 2 of the cases of COVID-19 are linked and should be proportionate to factors specific to the care home such as if it s well ventilated, easy to keep some parts isolated and how vulnerable people in the home are to COVID-19

“Providers should continue to ensure adherence to guidance and be able to evidence this to the Care Quality Commission when asked

People receiving care can ask for staff to wear face masks and staff should of course work in whatever way will make the person they are caring for most comfortable

“Vaccination remains the best defence against flu and COVID-19, and with both viruses circulating this winter it is vital that all those eligible –including care workers – come forward to top up their immunity and protect themselves and those they care for

The Mental Health Pandemic in Carers

The mental health awareness campaigns days and initiatives don t seem to help many depressed stressed and burnt-out carers

Currently there s a mental health pandemic among those who care for our loved ones Long days nights and weeks seem to blend into a never-ending loop

The Mental Health Foundation stated that "71% of carers have poor physical or mental health The figure may come as a shock but if you were to speak to a carer they would assume the percentage would be higher

Care agencies and care homes need to do more to look after the workforce that enables us to keep functioning Who would look after our grandparents parents siblings aunts uncles and old friends without the carers work? We couldn't continue working if they weren t there to do their job

A1 Care (www a1care co uk) claims that one of the critical reasons carers are struggling right now is due to the lack of staff within the industry For many years now and especially since the pandemic fewer individuals have chosen to become a carer

The current turnover rate in social care is approximately 31% and rising, which is more than double the UK cross-industry average of 15% 60% of those who leave their job leave care altogether In the past few years 50 000 carers have left the industry leaving over 165 000 jobsfigures released by Skills for Care

If the industry were inundated with carers they would thrive and there would be less overtime, more time off and a more manageable workload Despite the benefits of being a carer such as good pay flexibility, opportunities to build long-lasting relationships and being in a fulfilling role many are choosing a 9-5 which they can do from home So what can they do?

As most care agencies and care homes struggle to gain applications

from within the UK we suggest having a programme to hire from overseas Offer visa sponsorship and go the extra mile to attract suitable candidates by providing a relocation package

What your relocation package should include:

Support with relocation for the carers families

Paid plane ticket and airport pick up

Temporary housing until they can find a permanent residence

On-call assistance for any issues or support they may need

An introduction to the area they will be living in and a warm welcome into the community

By providing an attractive and valuable offer care agencies and care homes will be able to recruit the excellent carers they need

More carers mean a more manageable workload and more time to focus on quality

Which then will begin to tackle the current carers physical and mental wellbeing They will be able to work more reasonable hours have time for themselves and their family and most importantly rest

55% of carers reported to The Mental Health Foundation (www mentalhealth org uk) that they suffered from depression due to their caring role Care agencies and care homes need to implement these hiring measures to decrease this number and significantly save many carers from burnout

For all of the carer employers reading this there are many warning signs you can look out for among your carers Spotting these signs will lead to immediate support, as opposed to a carer being afraid to talk out and further burdened

Signs you can look for:

Being down

Less talkative and unenthusiastic

• Significant tiredness

Poor concentration or mistakes in their day-to-day work

• Withdrawing from people

Constantly worried

• Frantic and stressed

Lack of confidence

We know hiring overseas is a lengthy process, so we suggest doing these 5 things to support in the meantime

Appoint a mental health representative within the workforce

Introduce a scheme where they can talk to a wellbeing counsellor at the company's expense if needed

• Offer paid mental health days where they can take the day off Remind them of their fantastic work and reassure them their workload will get easier

Encourage them to participate in wellness activities such as walking yoga and meditating

Right now carer employers need to lead the way with the change in the industry Too many have let their workers struggle

Small steps every day can lead to change

Eventually, with these turnarounds, we won't need to resort to drastic measures yet focus on the upkeep

Let's stand together to take care of our carers

Generations Come Together for Playgroup Sessions

Members of the Crewe community are being invited to a new intergenerational playgroup designed to bring people together and promote relationships between all ages

‘Across the Generations' stay-and-play is aimed at parents guardians and their little ones offering them the chance to spend some quality time with older people residing at Belong Crewe care village on Brookhouse Drive Hosted by the not-for-profit care provider the free monthly sessions have been made possible thanks to a partnership with St Andrew s Church

Launched last month the meet-ups have already seen children up to the age of five years (and their grown-ups) sharing in activities with Belong residents including interactive storytelling singing and making music and arts and crafts Many have embraced the simple pleasures of playing together with toys, enjoying snacks and getting to know one another

One mum said: "I love this initiative so much and I'm going to take some of the craft ideas to do [at home] with my little boy! Keep up the great work everyone!" Another parent added: "What a great idea for all generations " Leading the gathering Jess Butler experience coordinator at Belong Crewe said: Forging connections

with the community is a big part of what we do as well as supporting our residents, and they've loved spending time with our little guests - some of them don t have grandchildren and vice versa and their interactions and conversations have been wonderful to see and hear "

The launch is Belong Crewe s latest venture welcoming local people and follows its recent Christmas Market and Elf Bingo Earlier in the year the village held events for Bonfire Night, Armistice Day and Silver Pride, the town s annual LGBT+ celebrations especially for the over 55s Jess Butler continues: "Across the Generations is proving popular so far, and we re really pleased to be able to offer this invaluable service especially given the current economic climate In addition our village facilities are open to the general public to use - many have been getting together in our onsite bistro for a warm space to meet friends for a coffee Everyone is always welcome here "

Across the Generations playgroup takes place once a month at Belong Crewe, Brookhouse Drive, Crewe, CW2 6NA For more information or to book a place for the next session on January 19th 2023 contact Jess Butler by calling 01270 561200

Big Christmas Lights Switch on at Woodside Lodge Care Home in Bransgore

the year There were homemade mince pies and

shortbread Christmas biscuits warming hot chocolates and mulled wine! We were joined for the evening by our local vicar The Revd Dr Ben Sargent who blessed our home and residents and officially lead the count down for our lights to be switched on! It was so wonderful to have our whole community together and share the magic of Christmas with our beautiful lights! It’s been a difficult time over the last few years it makes us appreciate these times of togetherness all the more

Camden Mayor Thanks Care Workers for Long Ser vice

a

Service

“It

Court ”

The

Both services are operated by Shaw Healthcare on behalf of Camden County Council

On Wednesday 14th December Woodside Lodge Residential Care Home in Bransgore, held our Big Christmas Lights Switch on event! It was a wonderful evening for all our residents, staff and loved ones We held a food drive for our local food bank the New Forest Basics Bank we ran a tombola and Christmas dinner raffle in aid of the Alzheimer s Society We sold calendars made from photos taken by our staff and chosen by our residents throughout

A Camden care home and extra care facility has hosted a staff celebration to show thanks to staff and recognise a combined total of 443 years of service

The Mayor of Camden councillor Nasim Ali OBE cabinet member for Health Wellbeing and Adult Social Care councillor Anne Wright and councillor Kemi Atolagbe – as well as CEO for Shaw healthcare Russell Brown – were some of the guests who gathered at Maitland Park Care Home and Gospel Oak Court to thank staff for their hard work and commitment to the services

celebrations included welcome drinks of Bucks Fizz and mulled wine and certificates and chocolates presented to each staff member, with

a special mention to support worker Stephen Cullimore Stephen joined Maitland Park over 20 years ago and during his time at the home gained

diploma in Dementia Care Awareness

manager at Maitland Park, Benjamin Oni, said:

has been a wonderful afternoon and we are delighted to welcome the mayor and many other special guests I am very proud of the team here and it is wonderful to see them being recognised and thanked for their dedication to both Maitland Park and Gospel Oak

New Report Calls for Urgent Action to Reduce Social Care Workers Pay Gap

‘Social

“Unfair To Care 2022’ a new report commissioned by NCF member Community Integrated Care in partnership with Korn Ferry has revealed that social care workers are undervalued by more than £8,000 compared to their exact equivalents in the NHS and that at current rates it will take more than 23 years to arrive at equal pay ’ The report warns that without urgent action this crisis is set to escalate for more than a generation

The 2022 edition of Unfair to Care reveals that social care support workers would need a 41% pay rise – equalling £8 036 – to have parity with their direct equivalents within the NHS Band 3 Healthcare Assistants It would take 23 years for current rates of uplift to deliver parity with the NHS The report demonstrates that modern frontline social care requires complex technical and emotional skills to effectively support people who commonly have complex medical and behavioural needs, proving that social care is significantly undervalued

Commenting on the report Professor Vic Rayner OBE CEO of the National Care Forum – the leading association for not for profit care and support organisations said

“This is a really valuable report building on the benchmarking work delivered last year by Community Integrated Care It brings together insights from across the care and support sector which highlight, yet again the level of skill needed to be a care and support worker and just how demanding it is to provide high quality person centred care and support

Unfair To Care also offers some very powerful stories from care and support workers highlighting how difficult it is to remain in a job they love because of the current low levels of pay and the rising cost of living The public perception research by Ipsos shows that the public believe in the importance of our social care workforce to society and all the evidence in this report shows the urgency of investing in that workforce now addressing the current pay disparities and longer-term planning for the future of this essential workforce ” The full report can be found at www unfairtocare co uk

Christmas is Coming - Your Chance to Win a Luxur y Hamper

Yes Christmas is coming and we here at THE CARER are offering care homes the opportunity to win a luxuRY SCoTTiSH HAmpER packed with festive goodies!

Remember afternoon tea week? We do! That wonderful and quintessentially British tradition so loved in care homes This year we put up an Afternoon Tea Week” prize inviting care homes to share the celebrations for afternoon tea week with us

We were overwhelmed with the response we received we are delighted to say care homes all over the country sharing their activities menus stories and celebrations which filled 5 pages in our digital issue at www thecareruk com/carerdigital114

With the lucky winner being Hutton view care home in Brentwood

So we are launching our Christmas competition and once again a delightful luxury Scottish festive hamper is waiting to be delivered to a care home who pushes out the boat to celebrate Christmas All you have to do is briefly tell us what you did at your home to celebrate Christmas menus and decorations details of any festive events you held Christmas fundraising activities or details of the homemade traditional tasty delights you create with a couple of photographs and perhaps quotes from residents and we will pick a winner!

That’s it! We will be picking a winner on Friday December 30 and hopefully will be dispatching a luxury hamper to a lucky winner the very same day! Simply email your entry to nominate@thecareruk com

How to Give Your Staff a Tax-Free Christmas Bonus

By Andrew McGain, Director, Sherlock & Co Chartered Accountants (www sherlockandco uk)

The voucher must not be a cash voucher or be exchangeable for cash

The recipient must not be entitled to the voucher through the terms of their contract

The voucher cannot be given as a reward or performance incentive

The voucher cannot be provided as part of a salary sacrifice arrangement

Not only are vouchers that meet these conditions free from any Income Tax liability but their cost is a taxdeductible expense for the business It does not matter where you buy the voucher from so you are free to pick something your staff will like You might choose a popular high-street shop an online outlet or a voucher that they can spend in multiple places to allow them to choose for themselves

THERE LIMITS TO HOW MANY VOUCHERS I CAN GIVE?

ARE

There are no limits on how many vouchers you can give but there are some limitations on how many staff members and directors can receive For employees there are very few restrictions and they can enjoy essentially unlimited trivial benefits each year (that meet the above conditions) but they cannot receive more than one per day

For directors of companies with five or fewer shareholders, there is an annual limit of £300 per tax year on the trivial benefits they can receive These businesses are referred to as “close” companies and this £300 limit extends to anyone who lives in the same household Nevertheless this means that directors can enjoy up to six £50 gift vouchers each year without incurring any additional tax liability

under tax law Unlike cash bonuses or goods trivial benefits are not subject to Income Tax although there are some conditions that you must meet when giving vouchers to ensure that they qualify as trivial benefits If the gift vouchers meet all of the following restrictions it will be considered a trivial benefit Each voucher must cost a maximum of £50

For these reasons vouchers that qualify for the trivial benefits exemption can be a good way to offer bonuses throughout the year What is more trivial benefits are discretionary which means that you do not have to give them to every employee You can give to one employee a group or your entire staff - just remember you cannot give them in recognition of hard work without incurring a tax liability and this may be more difficult to prove if you give them to only a few select recipients

With all of this in mind we hope that you take advantage of the trivial benefits exemption and give a generous, tax-free Christmas bonus to your staff this year

Residents from The Fremantle Trust’s Ser vices

Help Raise Funds for Charities at Carolfest

This year residents from Lewin House Fremantle Court and Icknield court baked creatively decorated and wrapped almost 200 gingerbread men for The Mayor’s Carolfest held at St Mary s Church on Sunday 11th December These were a huge hit with the carollers who packed the church along with choirs scout groups local schools and a brass band Despite the very cold temperatures the church was warm and full of festive spirit

Fremantle Trust s employees Sue Faulkner Cathy Charles and Mandy Horne dressed in gingerbread outfits handed out the residents creations Generous donations were made towards the Mayors chosen Charities Aylesbury foodbank the

10 tonne appeal Challenge and Emmet s Genies appeal for funding to build a ‘Wish Village’ for terminally ill children

A young girl spent time pondering on what gingerbread man to choose and said they all look so good it s hard to pick one and your residents are very clever and kind”

Joy resident from Icknield Court said It s a wonderful way of helping the local Community and its been great fun too I do admit to tasting a couple for Quality Control purposes

The Trust s Services were publicly thanked by compare Des Kay and applauded by the carollers The residents have already agreed to sign up for next year’s Carolfest with even more delicious creations Watch this space!

Now in its 10th year The Alzheimer s Dementia & Care Show is the UK s leading event for care providers, healthcare professionals families and carers This is an unmissable event for those wanting to learn from leading experts find practical advice and support resources help and information develop a better understanding of dementia and further professional skills

The show features a fully accredited CPD conference programme with talks from leading experts family carers and people living with dementia alongside professional advice clinics dementia and care exhibitors and unique individual training opportunities you won’t find at any other event Held at The Business Design Centre London on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th March the doors open at 9 30am each day and close at 5 00pm on Friday and 4 00pm on Saturday One-day tickets are from £18 00 online £23 on the door

For further information and tickets visit www alzheimersshow co uk At the show - NEW for 2023

Full Dementia interpreters Course–Training2Care: Free taster sessions are offered to visitors who will have their ability to speak see hear and move impaired to begin to recognise the many forms communication may take for a person living with dementia Only at this event Training2Care are offering individuals the full 1-hour workshop to allow you to experience the complete experiential practical session

Full Virtual Dementia Tour & Training

Experience – Training2Care: As well as free ‘taster’ sessions, this is the only event where visitors can book the complete training as an individual –an 8 minute immersive experience followed by 75 minute de-brief –a must do experience for anyone involved in caring for people with dementia

Dementia and Care matters Theatre: The main theatre hosts keynote speakers on range of topics as well

as chaired daily Question Time panels

Talks Hub: A range of practical talks covering dementia and care topics from professionals and exhibitors

CpD Accreditation: Certificates available to professional attendees

Admiral Nurses & Alzheimer’s Society Advice Clinics: Free 25 minute 1-2-1

New Analysis Demonstrates Stark Pay Inequalities for Social Care Workers

Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) are calling on the Government to urgently address stark pay inequalities faced by care workers as new analysis shows the scale of unfair and unequal pay

Care workers are a lifeline for many disabled people enabling people with often high-level and complex needs to live full and independent lives

Yet the report – prepared by VODG member Community Integrated Care in partnership with Korn Ferry – has found that care workers earn almost £8000 less than their NHS exact equivalents Without action the report has calculated it would take an entire generation to achieve equal pay during which time the social care staffing crisis will continue to escalate

The new analysis arrives amidst chronic and widespread staff shortages in the social care sector, exacerbated by an unprecedented 52% increase in vacancies this year alone The report lays bare the challenges of care providers constantly firefighting to deliver support whilst facing around 165 000 vacancies nationally The reality of care workers being underpaid for their crucial work have hugely significant knock-on effects for disabled people who face gaps in their support as a result

Rhidian Hughes Chief Executive VODG said:

Social care is all about people Care workers provide support that enables disabled people to live full and independent lives and provide an essential lifeline for so many people and their families every day

“It is unacceptable that care workers continue to face unequal and unfair pay At a human level it is wrong and at a strategic level it is wrong It is simply impossible to achieve good recruitment and retention in a sector where care workers will be effectively working for free for the last three and a half months of 2022 in comparison to their NHS equivalents

As we face a cost-of-living crisis – where domestic prices have more than doubled and food prices have increased by more than 13% – care workers cannot afford to be underpaid Nor should they be The chronic staffing shortages in social care will continue to escalate until the Government takes action to address the root cause of the problem – unfair and unequal pay “We warmly welcome this report – the recommendations contained within it are right and they are achievable We call on the Government to take action now to bring this situation to an urgent resolution ”

Schoolchildren Enjoy Christmas Carols and Snowball Fight with Hamble Heights Residents

Little schoolchildren brought some festive cheer to Hamble Heights residents by singing a host of Christmas songs and enjoying a snowball fight Pupils from Whiteley Primary School visited the residents at Encore Care Home’s Hamble Heights care home in Fareham to perform a host of festive favourites while donning Santa elf and reindeer hats for the residents to sing and dance along to Afterwards to whoops and cheers from the kids the residents started an indoor snowball fight with the children using soft toy snowballs which saw the home filled with shrieks of laughter Afterwards, the children chatted to the residents about what they had been learning about at school in lessons, what they were looking forward

to over the festive season and what they had put on their lists to Father Christmas

Vanessa Duggan Wellbeing Manager for Hamble Heights said:

“Our residents loved welcoming the children in to sing and dance to boost the festive mood Christmas is always a special time for our residents as they enjoy putting up the decorations around the home They also look forward to tucking into a host of tasty treats and getting crafty to make gifts for their relatives so the wonderful performance from the Whiteley Primary School pupils was the icing on the cake for them ”

Navigating the Cost of Living Crisis Without a Cost to Care Standards

Sadly we are all too familiar with hearing that our care sector is under pressure and that we are facing a challenging time as predictions point towards a recession At a time when we have 165,000 unfilled vacancies across social care, and staff retention is as much of a focus as recruitment we are also facing higher costs for energy and essentials that aid us in delivering the care that residents need Now more than ever we need solutions that can save both time and money, reducing the admin workload of stretched staff and helping budgets go a little bit further

As in many other areas of our modern lives, technology has a big part to play in helping to navigate the cost of living crisis without compromising standards of care Care home administration software has the ability and potential to benefit care providers at all levels of the organisation but especially care home managers and carers Where the needs of residents are paramount solutions to saving time and costs need to be found elsewhere in the care home environment, and one area where few would argue would be in reducing the administrative burden The adage time is money can feel overused but it still rings as true now as when it was coined While we all find ways to make budgets go that little bit further, saving time can be a highly effective way to achieve this Utilising software capabilities to streamline the workload frees up staff to focus on the delivery of care instead of time-consuming admin Automation within software can also make normally time intensive tasks such as filling gaps in the rota much quicker [FH2] It’s easy to underestimate how much time can be saved as each individual saving seems so small but taken together shortening these repetitive tasks can have big implications Direct messaging of staff from the rota, for example, is saving CoolCare customers about 11 hours per month alone – that s nearly 1 5 admin days per month per care home Identifying these gaps earlier also prevents the need for emergency staffing from agencies which can come at a premium – stressing

already tight budgets

by Fiona Hale, Managing Director of CoolCare (www coolcare co uk)

From a business perspective ensuring that care providers time aren’t monopolised by admin makes a lot of sense Staffing is one of the biggest investments and costs for any business so having technology in place that helps them to perform their role more effectively is a wise investment on its own Where care home management software can automate and reduce admin, carers have more time to spend with residents, helping to deliver compliant staffing requirements If a member of the team needs to spend hours in an office on admin tasks then additional team members are needed to ensure compliance adding extra cost to a shift which could otherwise be used to help with energy and food costs

The cost of living crisis is not only affecting care home staff at work Where home financial pressures are mounting, the stress can make it hard to focus fully on work, no matter how hard an employee tries Capabilities and integrations within care home administration software to enable earned wage access give staff the ability to use their pay in a flexible way which works for them and their own financial situation Having access to forward rotas and vacant shifts also allows them to pick up additional work and money when needed Supporting staff through the crisis is also of benefit to staff retention encouraging them to stay with the business and ensure standards of care are maintained for residents long-term and avoiding the need for recruitment in the midst of a staffing crisis Technology has a key role to play in helping the care sector navigate the current financial climate Whether that s through reducing the admin burden streamlining roles or offering greater staff flexibility and benefits However it’s just as important to tackle the challenges together enabling staff to feel supported in their roles so that we weather the storm together and continue to deliver exceptional care

Fiona Hale is the Managing Director of CoolCare Centred on admin made easy, its services are aimed at making operating care homes easier more efficient and more profitable Following three decades of care home administration software development, CoolCare knows what good looks like – and it seeks to help care homes love their admin by making it simple Its intuitive design drives higher staff confidence and increases the impact of digital adoption while CoolCare s user-friendliness is legendary making it the software of choice for some of the UK’s leading care home operators

Redcot Resident Juliet Celebrates Her 100th Birthday with A Pre-Christmas Party

The

fun-filled

Juliet who was born in Ludhiana the most populous and largest city in the Indian state of Punjab has been a resident at Redcot residential care home for two and a half years Juliet spent the first six years of her life growing up in India before moving with her family to the United Kingdom “My Mother lived in India for a long time and both my Father and Grandfather worked for the Indian Civil Service I remember India being extremely hot and full of snakes! The snakes used to curl themselves around door handles which always gave me a fright Juliet said Juliet has always loved music and whilst at boarding school in Eastbourne, her favourite childhood hobby was the Music Club but her favourite lesson was literature I love music and thoroughly enjoy the musical activities and quizzes at Redcot I was born in 1922 the same year as quite a few Hollywood musical stars such as Judy Garland Doris Day Cyd Charisse and Ava Gardner Juliet added Growing up, Juliet recalls that she received a ten bob note – 50 pence in new money – for her pocket money My pocket money didn t last long I usually spent it on sweets she added Later, Juliet studied Modern Languages and Logic at Bedford College and when she was 18, she was called up and joined the Army Juliet – whose role was in translations - was posted to Bletchley Park which during the war was the world's best kept secret and a key part of the country's war effort against

have anyone to share it with Over half of the elderly in the UK aged 75 and over, live alone and their isolation and loneliness is only amplified at Christmas

It’s no secret that loneliness amongst the elderly is an ever growing problem Most of us cannot fathom getting through a single day without speaking to another human being but over 1 4 million elderly individuals in the UK can go for days at a time without any interaction with other people Understandably this can have a detrimental effect on their mental health and wellbeing

Following their time in Canada the couple returned to England

raised their family having two daughters

Chatting about her 100 years Juliet believes that for her the best years were 1946 through the 1950s and that being in the Army during WW2 was very important She said “I didn’t complain I was honoured to be doing such important work for my country I didn t question anything I just got one with what I d been asked to do

“Reaching 100 is quite an achievement I’m the same age as the BBC and was born the year they discovered The Tomb of Tutankhamun I also heard that 1922 was the year that water skis were invented; but I have to say that I think the best invention of my lifetime has to be the Smartphone Juliet added

Jan Daly the Registered Manager at Redcot said: Juliet is a lovely lady who is very popular with her care home friends Everyone at Redcot wanted to make sure Juliet had a wonderful 100th Birthday and we re so glad she enjoyed her day Juliet is a real character and always joins in with the activities, she s very special and we wanted to show her just how special she is to all of us

“I’ve had a lovely 100th Birthday,” said Juliet, “It’s been wonderful I was asked recently what important lessons I d learnt during my lifetime I answered not to be afraid be confident and to just be yourself and I think that is exactly what I’ve done ”

for the Homeless, and other individuals nominated by local food banks, charities and the general public This scheme has played a crucial role in spreading awareness amongst the younger generation and encouraging people of all ages to come together as a community to help

Abicare Services said they would like to thank everyone who has helped, and wish them all a very Merry Christmas

At Friends of the Elderly’s Redcot residential care home in Haslemere Surrey the care team has been pulling out all the stops celebrating Juliet Fuirer’s landmark Centenary Birthday Juliet s milestone day began with gifts balloons and a very special card from Buckingham Palace, but it didn’t stop there

Birthday Girl was whisked away by her family for a delicious lunch and when she returned Juliet enjoyed a

birthday party, complete with a scrumptious birthday cake with all her care home friends

Germany It is where the team of codebreakers - who included Alan Turing - cracked the German Enigma and Lorenz Ciphers

Juliet married her Husband Fernand a Cabinet Maker at St Christopher s Church in Montreal having moved to Canada after the war The pair honeymooned on the Gaspé Peninsula a peninsula along the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River that extends from the Matapedia Valley in Quebec into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence

where they

Photo by Theo Hitchcock

Picture this It s 7 o clock on Christmas eve The stockings are out the mince pies are ready for Santa and the carrots are peeled for the reindeer Excitement bubbles through homes nationwide in anticipation of the (very secret) arrival of the jolly, old man in his red hat, with mum and dad warning that he d better not trample snow through the house Christmas is undoubtedly a time of cheer and excitement for many and perhaps most importantly it is an opportunity for families to come together However sadly for many elderly people this is not the case Christmas is just another day because they don’t

That s exactly why Abicare Services have launched their Wrap a Gift for a Senior campaign The scheme returns after a two year break following the pandemic and is a way to encourage local communities to come together to support their elderly citizens This Christmas, the public have been able to donate any gifts they like at one of Abicare Services’ various drop off events around the UK or any of the company offices The company has then got plenty of extra hands involved including children and staff from Chafyn Grove School in Salisbury and volunteers from both the company and wider community to wrap the presents in time for Christmas The gifts have then been distributed to elderly and vulnerable adults around the UK This includes some Abicare clients residents of the Salisbury Trust

With the recent announcement that made com is going into administration1 and further layoffs at Meta Group and Twitter, the worry over job loss may grow in a variety of industries

Life insurance broker Reassured has taken a closer look at different industries and ranked the most secure sectors looking at redundancy rates over the last 10 years

Looking at the past 10 years the top sector for job security is human health and social work This industry has a redundancy rate of 1 43, closely followed by education with a rate of 1 49

Public admin and law also appear to be the third most secure sector, holding a redundancy rate of 1 77 But then there is a substantial drop with job security rates sitting at 3 51 and 3 61 when it comes to professional scientific and technical roles and the agricultural fishing and utilities sector But things are looking up for the agricultural industry as

it has the least amount of redundancies compared to any other sector in 2021

Looking at the years from 2011 to 2021 the public administration and defence sector saw the biggest decline in redundancies in fact, in 2021 the sector saw 68 2% fewer redundancies Construction saw 65% less job loss, however scientific and technical jobs (21 8%), manufacturing (20 1%) and hospitality services (19 5%) have seen the least changes over the 10-year period

The UK s best areas for job security

It would appear that Northern Ireland is the best location to seek secure employment with a redundancy total of just 7 579 Even though the Northeast experiences nearly double the number of redundancies (14 663) the region comes in second closely followed by Wales with 15,218 jobs made redundant

Scotland (26 431) and the East Midlands (28 473) are regions with fewer redundancies Considering the population in each region Northern Ireland still shows the lowest redundancy rate (2 55), closely followed by Scotland with a rate of 2 81

Wales also had one of the lowest redundancy rates (3 00) and so did Yorkshire and The Humber (3 31)

A spokesperson from Reassured commented on the research: With rising costs many companies are experiencing significantly higher outgoings, potentially resulting in changes to a company’s structure

Unfortunately this can subsequently affect the employees if job cuts are required Whilst income protection insurance cannot protect against redundancy it can cover you if you are injured or too ill to work This reassuring safety blanket could help many people in the UK ”

After

Anne

Brexit Making “Severe Challenges”

Even Harder for the NHS and Social Care

Research by the Nuffield Trust evaluating the impact of Brexit reveal that our decision to leave the European Union has “only added fuel to the fire of severe challenges facing health and social care in the UK today, making people less healthy and widening health inequalities

The warning comes from the Nuffield Trust think tank which has published the most up to date look at the impact of Brexit on the UK s health and care services The ongoing monitoring work funded by the Health Foundation covers the impact on the NHS and social care workforce medicine and medical devices supply and the economic cost and reveals negative effects across these areas

Shutting off the ‘relief valve’ of EU migration has put additional pressure on staffing challenges in a health and care system which has relied heavily on EU and international recruitment and without an effective domestic training and retention plan The impact has been felt most on efforts to recruit care workers dentists and specialist doctors

Meanwhile pressures on the supply of medicines and medical devices have steadily increased since the EU referendum While other countries have also seen shortages this seems to be especially prolonged in the UK, likely because of the currency depreciation and trade barriers associated with Brexit Health and Brexit: six years on finds:

Recruitment of dentists and social care workers from the EU has been left uncompensated by increased recruitment drives from the rest of the world The number of dentists joining the UK register has halved since the EU referendum vote and since the introduction of more stringent English language testing and has not recovered There has been no marked uptick in care worker recruitment with international recruitment of care workers virtually stopping in spring 2020

Brexit has made longstanding recruitment challenges for specialist doctors worse in several specialities facing ongoing shortages including anaesthetists and heart and lung specialists

The UK saw a 100% increase in cardiothoracic surgeons across the five years leading up to the EU referendum This yearly increase has fallen to 5%, while the rise in anaesthetists is down to 5% yearly compared to 20% before the pandemic

The rapid increase in recruitment of doctors and nurses from the rest of the world is not sufficient to address ongoing shortages and should not be seen as a replacement for proper workforce planning and efforts to recruit and retain staff domestically

Since the end of the transitional period, recruitment from World Health Organisation designated ‘red list countries has expanded rapidly Between October 2019 and March 2022 there were sharp increases in staff from red list countries, including Nigeria, Ghana and Pakistan This suggests an increase in active recruitment drives raising ethical questions and opening the system to abuse

While the government and pharmaceutical industry averted immediate disruption to patient care from difficulties in the supply of medicines after leaving the single market there have been a greater level of shortages across the board since the UK s departure and indeed before it Serious Shortage Protocols allowing pharmacists to dispense a different product were intended to be a rare emergency response but in fact

more than five have been in effect for most months since the UK left the single market

The government has had to accept more increases in price on medicines, such as Prozac as pharmacists have been unable to find them at the usual price The number of concessions granted has on occasion risen fivefold to over 100, up from below 20 before the pandemic While similar increases have been seen in other countries including France and Germany instances have been unusually sustained in the UK and proceed the pandemic

Due to the Northern Ireland Protocol a growing number of medicines are being approved only in Northern Ireland or only in the rest of the UK This is gradually splitting off the Northern Irish medicines market from Scotland, England and Wales

There is a strong correlation between livings standards and health which will be impacted by falling living standards driven by rising inflation and the fall in the value of sterling Brexit risks particular economic consequences for areas of the country where industries are more affected by trade barriers and may worsen embedded health inequalities following austerity Brexit has compounded the already severe difficulties faced by the NHS and social care confronting recovery from the pandemic and the economic shocks of the cost-of-living crisis and the Truss government mini-budget

However there are some levers within the UK s power to help address Brexit challenges The government should do more to ramp up domestic training and supply of health and care workers, and use narrow opportunities for competitive advantage to counter fluctuations in availability of medical devices and medicines Nuffield Trust Brexit Programme Lead Mark Dayan said “It is undeniable that the NHS has faced three of the most difficult years in its history The health and care sector is still reeling from the effects of a global pandemic and is now grappling with rising cost pressures The effects of Brexit appear to have added to the severe challenges and problems the NHS currently faces

The economic hit of Brexit combined with the worst cost of living crisis for a generation is reducing living standards creating additional need for health and care Meanwhile a slowdown in EU and EFTA recruitment is making shortages of urgently needed care workers dentists and specialist doctors even worse

“The UK has also apparently taken the worst of a period of medicines shortages which has swept across Europe The fall in the value of sterling around the EU referendum and the trade barriers erected since are probably major factors in our unusually consistent and longstanding problems supplying vital products

Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law at City University of London, Professor Tamara Hervey, said:

We urgently need an honest national conversation about the post-Brexit context for medicines equipment and devices supply and NHS staffing The health sector, generally speaking, would like a closer relationship with the EU s standards There are potential benefits from a looser relationship with the EU but capitalising on them would involve courageous political decisions Instead we have drift and fantasies

The position in Northern Ireland is particularly worrying where political game-playing seems to be put ahead of the health of the population

Six Plus Benefits to Support and Reward Staff in the Care Sector

In this time of austerity many employers including those in the care industry are struggling to attract and retain staff Against this backdrop many employers are looking at ways in which they can support and reward staff without creating either huge costs for themselves or large tax bills for their employees

There are many ways in which to help staff, which add value and at the same time give the employer a competitive advantage in the market Understanding what could be available as well as the possible tax consequences is a good starting point for employers

Regardless of the amounts involve employers should remember that d giving employees cash will always give rise to a PAYE and Class 1 NIC liability This means that for many employers they must be innovative in their thinking Against that backdrop we consider what the possibilities are and how this may have an impact for employees These are just some of the ideas that employers may wish to consider There are potentially more areas for consideration but currently these are amongst the most popular

1 FESTIVE AWARDS

Topical now festive awards can be provided tax-free if they meet the criteria for the trivial benefits exemption To meet the criteria the award must:

Not be performance related

Not be a contractual entitlement

• Be non-cash

Not exceed £50 in value (including VAT)

a gift at Christmas Easter and summer

2 DISCOUNTS

3 WELFARE COUNSELLING

its employees is exempt from tax

The exemption is tightly drawn and not all types of welfare counselling should be exempted from tax Examples of exempt counselling include:

stress problems at work

• managing finances alcohol and other drug dependency

• career concerns

4. FREE STAFF MEALS OR DISCOUNTED MEALS ON SITE

For some employers it has become important to ensure that staff are getting at least one meal a day be that breakfast lunch or dinner The provision of free meals to staff could be tax-free if the following conditions are met Meals are provided on site

Free or discounted meals are available to all staff on that site

Meals are provided on a reasonable scale

If this is something you wish to consider it would be worth confirming that the way in which meals are provided meets the exemption criteria

5 INTEREST FREE LOANS

Employees may have short term money issues To avoid the need for employees to enter into pay day loans some employers are offering interest free short-term loans Employers can make interest free loans of up to £10 000 without giving rise to a benefit in kind However if any part of the loan is written off no matter how small a taxable benefit arises and Class 1 NIC is due The granting of loans does of course mean that there are additional cash flow issues depending on the amount of time over which an employee is allowed to pay back the outstanding balance so any desire to help employees in this way must be balanced against the cost and administration associated with the granting employee loans

6. SALARY SACRIFICE ARRANGEMENTS

– ELECTRIC VEHICLES ETC

Salary sacrifice arrangements can help make benefits more affordable for employees be that pension salary sacrifice cycle to work and electric vehicles Such benefits can be very attractive for staff and employers alike, but caution must be taken with any salary sacrifice arrangements as the amount sacrificed must be deducted from salary when considering whether National Minimum Wage ( NMW ) has been paid This is likely to mean salary sacrifice arrangements are not appropriate for many care home workers They may however be attractive for home manages or head office staff although it remains vital that employers continually assess salary including deductions salary sacrifice etc to ensure that they are paying at least NMW to their employees

As described there may be opportunities for you to offer additional benefits to support and reward your employees but caution must be exercised if these benefits are to be provided tax-free

National Charity Honours Campaigners for Commitment to Volunteering

A group of healthcare campaigners from across the UK have been recognised by national charity Parkinson’s UK The annual volunteering awards celebrates their commitment to championing people living with the condition

The Healthcare Professionals with Parkinson’s Campaign volunteers are doctors nurses and other healthcare professionals who all have Parkinson’s They lent their time, energy and experience to push for change within the NHS and reach impacted communities across England Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland

In April to coincide with World Parkinson’s Day the group played a key part in bringing Parkinson s UK s Get It On Time campaign to life and took it to their workplaces They were all determined to inspire their colleagues to improve healthcare information and services for people with Parkinson’s For people just like them

The campaign spanned social media and emails as campaigners shared a video with CEOs of all the acute hospital trusts in England and the CEOs of health bodies in Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland The video highlighted how critical it was for people with Parkinson s to get their medication on time and asked for a pledge of support

Grace Ogden Campaigns Engagement Lead at Parkinson s UK said:

“The Healthcare Professionals with Parkinson s Campaign volunteers have a real pioneering spirit We are so grateful for their passion and enthusiasm and the doors they have opened Each of the group s volunteers were proactive in seizing the pledges of support They offered resources, introduced the health bodies to Parkinson s UK and set up meetings It was a concerted effort to find contacts and collect local data And it worked 50% of acute hospital trusts and boards signed up to the campaign pledge and the group have made vital inroads in new areas

The campaign has really got hospitals focused on improving Parkinson s care For example thanks to volunteer Tincy, the hospital where she works has chosen Get It On Time as one of its quality improvement projects Hospitals are now agreeing to share good practice reaching out to people with Parkinson s and healthcare professionals to see how they can help Crucially, they re changing things for the better ”

Group member Dr Jonny Acheson was one of the key drivers behind the campaign “It is only when you are diagnosed yourself and you feel the impact of a delayed or missed dose ” he said “That’s when you realise the importance of people in hospital with Parkinson’s getting their medica-

tion when they need it I firmly believe that NHS bodies across the UK can solve this issue by taking a whole-hospital approach in educating staff that these medications are time critical and should be given at the very latest 30 minutes from when they are due

“We are in the unique position to advocate for those people who can’t advocate for themselves This is our driving force our motivation a simple change in practice to give them a chance to get the care they need and get them back home where they belong Every effort must be made to keep someone with Parkinson’s at their baseline; it is critical to their quality of life

We were thrilled when all the Chief Nursing Officers in England Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all pledged their support All five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland pledged becoming the first nation to do so A real highlight was watching the BBC1 programme Nurses to see a newly qualified nurse s alarm remind her that her Parkinson s patients needed their time-critical medication at that precise moment

“This award is special to our group because this campaign is making a real difference and we feel that Parkinson’s is well and truly on the national agenda ”

Jonny s achievements in volunteering led him to securing a role with the Parkinson s Excellence Network in September They help health and social care professionals provide better support for people with Parkinson s every day

Emma Cooper, Interim Director of Community and Participation at Parkinson s UK, said:

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do across all areas of the charity s work We had almost 100 nominations this year which shows how creative driven and vital volunteers are to the Parkinson’s community I’d like to thank all the Healthcare Professionals with Parkinson’s Campaign Volunteers for everything they do in their own time to support people affected by Parkinson s

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and an estimated 145,000 people are currently living with the condition in the UK With more than 40 potential symptoms everyone s experience of Parkinson’s is different These symptoms, such as lack of sleep, anxiety and stiffness can be hugely debilitating and impact everyday tasks As yet there is no cure But we are getting closer to a major breakthrough in research to deliver better treatments and volunteers are helping to bring this day forward

Authored by Caroline Jones, tax director with extensive knowledge of employment tax across private, public and third sector organisations and Vicky Robertson, tax principal and healthcare specialist, working with elderly and specialist care businesses to provide joined up tax advice across the spectrum of taxes of BDO (www bdo co uk)

People With Dementia Face ‘Perfect Storm’ as Rising Costs Mean One in Ten is Cutting Care and Support

People living with dementia are facing a ‘perfect storm’ of rising care and living costs that will leave many stranded in their own homes over Christmas, warns Alzheimer’s Society

The charity reports that amongst those struggling with cost of living pressures, nearly one in seven is cutting down on vital social activities, and one in ten is cutting down or stopping

While the cost of living crisis impacts almost everyone people with dementia face additional pressures as many have to pay for their own care unlike those with other conditions that are treated by the NHS

A new Alzheimer’s Society survey of 1 166 people affected dementia from across the UK reveals that fees have risen on average £1 200 a year for residential care home care and day care, and that people with dementia spend a lot of time at home an average of 22 hours a day In a bid to reduce costs, one in four who are struggling with the rising cost of living are retreating into one room to save on energy bills leaving them at risk of devastating isolation which could see their condition worsen

said:

‘The rising cost of living has left people with dementia facing a perfect storm of rising care costs leading many to reduce their crucial care services and social activities, while also struggling to heat their homes

‘For people with dementia cold and isolation can have a devastating impact on their condition leaving them at real risk of crisis this winter ’

Christmas for most of us is a time of joy and togetherness but for far too many people living with dementia it will be desperately lonely this year, with many isolated in their own homes

No-one should have to choose between heating their home or getting the care they need, but as people with dementia face rising care costs almost one in seven are choosing to reduce or even stop vital social activities and one in ten have reduced or stopped using social care ’

One in four people who are struggling with the rising cost of living are retreating into one room to save on energy bills

We were disappointed that Government has delayed the care cap for two years, which would have set an £86,000 limit on what people contribute to their own care This was a first step towards tackling crippling care costs, at a time when people with dementia are facing even bigger bills

‘We appreciate the additional investment for social care announced recently by the Chancellor but as we approach the difficult winter ahead we need a long-term solution to fix our broken care system and deliver the quality, affordable care people with dementia deserve ’

The findings also reveal many people with dementia will spend most of their time indoors over the festive season, meaning they will need to use more heating and lighting to stay safe and well

More than half (53%) of those surveyed who live in their own home said they either don’t leave home at all or go out for less than an hour a

day

45% of people living with dementia who live alone said they never go out

Spiralling care fees are also forcing many to cut back on other essentials Living fees have risen by an average of £23 20 per week (£1 206 40 a year) for people with dementia in sheltered housing supported living a residential care home or nursing home with more than one in ten (12%) facing a weekly rise of more than £40 (more than £2 000 a year)

Meanwhile fees for support services such as private home care services support groups and day care for people with dementia have increased by an average of £22 91 per week (£1,191 32 a year), with one in seven (13%) facing a weekly rise of more than £40

The survey also revealed:

• Two in five households with someone living with dementia said they have struggled to pay at least one bill in the last month

• One in four say they have struggled to pay their utility bills

One in five have struggled to pay for food and drink

Dementia is one of the main causes of disability later in life, ahead of cancer cardiovascular disease and stroke

Two-thirds of care costs are currently being paid by people with dementia and their families either in unpaid care or in paying for private social care This is because unlike the NHS social care of which people with dementia are the biggest users is means-tested

NCF Publishes Impact Report 2021-22

• We took over the Care Innovation Hub – a hackathon-style challenge Creative thinkers entrepreneurs and leading experts from the sector including people with lived experience came together for two days of idea generation and prototype trialling Professor Vic Rayner OBE CEO National Care Forum said Thank you to all our members and partners who have worked with us over the last year As this report clearly shows, there has been a huge variety of work going on to support advocate promote and transform social care in communities up and down the country and not for profit care has been at the heart of it ”

I am extremely proud of the work that the team at NCF delivers and I know they did it from a place of passion and commitment spurred on by the inspirational work of members and the absolute drive to ensure that everyone who requires care receives it in the way that they want and when they need it Social care matters to us all

The National Care Forum (NCF), has announced the release of its Impact Report 2021-22

Anthony

Kate Lee Chief Executive Officer at Alzheimer s Society

Lights, Carols, Action: Research Reveals The Nation’s Festive Favourites

than seeing a pantomime (12%) and 30% of the nation prefer Christmas carols to modern Christmas pop or rock songs

When it comes to the battle of the carols Silent Night comes in at number one as the nation s favourite (31%), followed by We Wish You a Merry Christmas (21%) O Come All Ye Faithful (14%) O Little Town of Bethlehem (12%), and Hark the Herald Angels Sing (12%)

Peter Bond 72 who lives at Anchor s Cambray Court in Cirencester reflects on the magic of singing especially at Christmas:

“I’ve always enjoyed singing I’ve done it for over 50 years I have never performed professionally I do it because I enjoy it and because I want to give back It s therapeutic for me and I always encourage others to join in and enjoy singing too I m a proud member of Anchor s Together Choir which meets every month, and it lets me pursue my passion and share it with others I m looking forward to a festive singalong for #CarollingAtChristmas ”

SPREADING COMFORT AND JOY

Anchor is calling on the public to get #CarollingAtChristmas and host their own singalong using Anchor’s downloadable lyric sheets

With the festive season in full swing new research commissioned by Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for people in later life reveals the role of singing in marking the festive season and in spreading comfort and joy

In response Anchor is launching #CarollingAtChristmas by hosting a festive singalong for residents colleagues and loved ones and encouraging the nation to host their own singalongs with friends and family STEPPING INTO CHRISTMAS

Anchor s research uncovers the moments that truly make us feel festive Hearing festive songs is one of the nation’s favourite ways to mark the start of the festive season (31%) topped only by putting up the tree or decorating for Christmas (40%) and seeing festive lights go up (33%)

Carols are such a centrepiece of the festive season that they outshine many other festive activities People are twice as likely to be looking forward to singing or listening to festive songs and carols (24%)

At a time when 3 3 million people in Britain are chronically lonely –and with 1 4 million older people reported to feel lonely around Christmas time – Anchor is encouraging the nation to harness the power of singing to spread comfort and joy this festive period

Seven in 10 (70%) people say singing brings people together, with 67% recognising how it helps different generations bond Furthermore Anchor found it’s not just social wellbeing that singing can improve Sixty-nine per cent of the nation say music benefits their mental health and wellbeing – rising to 72% of older people

Asa Johnson, Service Improvement Manager at Anchor, says: Our research clearly shows that singing is a core part of our nation s festive traditions We see the power of music every day in bringing joy to our residents – whether they re singing in one of our Anchor choirs or welcoming singers and local schoolchildren to sing at our homes

“As England s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life we re in a great position to nurture and support colleagues There are always fun and interesting activities taking place across Anchor locations and colleagues enjoy making a positive impact

on our residents lives - #CarollingAtChristmas is a great example of this

“We’re calling on the nation to join in the fun and host their own singalong with loved ones using our downloadable lyric sheets and there s no better time than during the festive season ”

To mark #CarollingAtChristmas Anchor is hosting a virtual singalong for its residents colleagues and loved ones including a recital from Anchor s Together Choir – which brings together residents and colleagues from across the country – and special guests Thames Ditton Junior School in Surrey Anchor has created downloadable lyric sheets featuring much-loved Christmas carols so people can host their own singalong and join in the celebrations online using #CarollingAtChristmas

#CarollingAtChristmas is one of the many ways Anchor is marking the festive season Across the country colleagues and residents will be coming together to enjoy Christmas meals tree decorating Christmas cake decorating competitions and a Christmas card competition

Residents at Southport Home Make Trip to Community Event and Visit Christmas Light Switch On

mulled

There

“One

A team of residents and staff members from MHA Connell Court made the short trip to Birkdale to see the

“Elly,

“Birkdale is less than 10 minutes away from us which meant even residents whose mobility isn t the best could get into a wheelchair and attend

“It s always nice for residents to go and visit events such as this one as it enables them to stay connected with the community

We even had some residents who are not huge fans of going out making the trip and that was nice to see

Residents at a Southport home had the opportunity to visit and see a Christmas Light Switch on ceremony

Christmas Light Switch on ceremony

wine and mince pie stall as well as plenty of others

was also some live music for visitors to enjoy as well as rides for the daredevils

Jennifer McCulloch, admin manager said: It was a spontaneous trip, but one that the residents really enjoyed

of the care assistants spotted what was happening and that’s how the idea came about

a senior care assistant then got on the case and started planning the event

Care Home Insolvencies Jump 52% in a Year as Running Costs Spiral

Insolvencies involving residential care businesses have increased 59% in the past year from 56 to 85, as they struggle to cope with mounting debt servicing costs and steep rises in energy bills says Mazars the international audit tax and advisory firm

Rebecca Dacre Partner at Mazars says:

The margins which care homes operate to have always been relatively thin Now rising costs are pushing an increasing number into insolvency

“A lot of care homes had taken on significant levels of debt on the properties they own all of which has become much more expensive to service as interest rates have risen ”

Many care providers have simply been unable to cope with surging energy and food prices increasing the basic costs of care combined with increased staffing costs in a sector where costs cannot easily be cut much further

One issue which has been frequently raised is the difficulty of discharging vulnerable patients from hospitals due to a lack of space in care homes

Rebecca Dacre adds:

The residential care sector is vital to looking after the most vulnerable people in our society It s deeply concerning to see care homes closing their doors in a sector which already has a massive shortage of provision and which has seen occupancy levels return post pandemic

More insolvencies in this sector are said to be leading to additional stress on the National Health Service as patients who could otherwise be discharged to care homes remain in hospital beds

Care businesses are expected to be hit hard by rising energy costs Soaring energy prices are predicted to cost the care sector an additional £2bn per year which will place more care homes into financial jeopardy Many care businesses also have large mortgages on their properties The recent interest rate rises will be creating further costs on any floating rate debts they have secured against their properties It will also prove increasingly difficult for care homes to be able to refinance their debt at an affordable rate

Residential care businesses are also struggling with a worsening labour shortage exacerbated by Brexit reducing the supply of care workers Vacancies in the care sector have surged 52% in the past year * with care businesses struggling to hire and retain staff This is pushing care homes to hire healthcare professionals from more expensive agencies

Research by Knight Frank shows care homes with lower care ratings are less profitable than highly-rated ones One major reason for this is that care homes rated as inadequate are not permitted to take on any new local authority-funded residents, leading to lower occupancy levels

Residents Enjoy Christmas Crafting with Stacey Solomon for BBC Show

spot of Christmas crafting

The luxury care home in Brentwood welcomed the TV star as millions across the nation tuned in last night at 8pm to see the home’s colourful creations As part of her show, Stacey was joined by residents Christine Everard Lori McClauchan Elsie Booth June and Ron Miller as they showcased their skills

The group produced three different crafts which included knitted pom-poms festive sewing and homemade Christmas cards Working with the local Age UK the cards created have been sent to recipients the charity supports in the community

Commenting on Stacey Solomon’s visit, Ellie Cairns, Client Liaison Manager at Signature at The Beeches said: We were thrilled to have Stacey Solomon come and spend time with us for a

It was great to see our residents join in the festive spirit and to see the positive impact crafting and other creative activities have on their wellbeing Ensuring the community could enjoy our creations was equally important and recognises that giving back to others is a key part of Christmas

Stacey built a lovely bond with our residents and she is more than welcome to come back anytime to visit the friends she has made at the Beeches

June Miller a resident at Signature at The Beeches said: “It was wonderful to get involved with Stacey and create crafts together We had a lovely day together and look forward to hopefully seeing her again soon

I hope the viewers enjoyed our contribution to Stacey s show ”

Signature at the Beeches residents joined forces with Stacey Solomon to produce creative Christmas crafts as part of her Craft Your Own Christmas show

Record £19bn for Scotland’s Health and Social Care

Health and Social Care services will receive the highest ever budget settlement over the next year, paving the way for sustainable public services in Scotland

The £19 billion package will help tackle the immediate pressures caused by the pandemic and a tough winter while supporting the delivery of health and care services that are fit for the future

The Scottish Government has it says, surpassed its commitment to ensure every extra penny it receives from the UK Government is spent on health and social care, meaning an extra £1 billion will be available to improve front line services and help fund the NHS pay deal for 2022/23

Health Boards across Scotland will receive a 6% boost in funding as part of the Budget – bringing their total budget to £13 7 billion which includes over £9 billion to give staff a fair wage

Social care and integration will also benefit from £1 7 billion in funding over the next year This will help deliver vital reforms of social care continue work towards creating the country’s first National Care Service, and improving conditions for care workers – by funding a £10 90 Real Living Wage for adult social care workers in commissioned services

The Budget will the Scottish government says, “continue to support prevention and early intervention, as well as the provision of quality community care providing :

More than £1 2 billion for mental health services to provide record staff numbers that provide more varied support and services to more people than ever

Over £2 billion to deliver and improve primary health care services in the community enabling dental reform and supporting crucial GP services through investment in multi-disciplinary teams and targeted assistance to support system £160 million to address the public health emergencies and reduce the avoidable harms associated with drugs and alcohol

Fully restoring the budget for life-saving procedures such as thrombectomies – which remove blood

clots – despite the need to make a short term reduction to tackle the inflationary pressures faced by the whole UK

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said Frontline workers are the foundation of our health and care services and I am extremely grateful for them for getting us through the pandemic and facing-down one of the toughest winters in NHS history

“This historic settlement took some difficult decisions, but we are steadfast in efforts to address the immediate pressures on health and social care services, and support fair work and pay

I want health and care services that are fit for the future – a future where Scotland continues to be the best place for health and care workers and where everyone gets the care that they need where and when they need it

John Watson, Associate Director of the Stroke Association in Scotland said: The stroke community in Scotland was united in alarm over recent cuts to the thrombectomy programme and we therefore welcome this renewed funding of a life-saving, and cost-saving service The Cabinet Secretary has now given us his assurance that the commitment to a national round-the-clock thrombectomy service remains

We look forward to continuing this positive discussion with the aim of a clear timetable for delivering one of the most effective and cost-saving procedures available to us Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland Chief Executive Jane-Claire Judson said:“We welcome that the Scottish Government has listened to stroke survivors charities and health professionals and restored funding for developing a national thrombectomy service This cost-effective and life-changing procedure can make a huge difference to stroke survivors ensuring many more are able to walk again talk again and live their lives to the full

We now need to see work on setting up a 24/7 national service restart as a matter of urgency and a timetable for delivery so that every stroke patient who needs it gets the best chance of living life to the full ”

From Housekeeper To Residential Care Manager

– Career Progression At Athena Care Homes

It was the hours that

I was a single mum so the hours were ideal explained Flavia who joined in May 2010 as a housekeeper before Athena Care Homes took over the site

She would work from 8am to midday weekdays sometimes taking on longer shifts at weekends when she had childcare covered

Since then she has progressed through the company and now runs the residential community at the Kings Lynn home

“It was brought to my manager s attention that I really enjoyed talking to the residents when I was cleaning in the rooms and I really did I said I wanted to do more so I was encouraged to apply to become a carer something I never would have thought of previously ”

Flavia was given induction training and later studied for her NVQ Level 2 in adult health and social care while working with Athena She has also completed leadership courses, end-of-life training and the CHAPS scheme

With the support of her colleagues and managers at Athena Flavia has in more recent years passed her NVQ Levels 3 and 5

Denis Debuts in Time for Christmas

Christmas is a time for coming together, for giving, and for sharing the happy occasion with those close to us and for one Atherton man this year s lead-up to December 25th may be his most special moment yet Denis Ratcliffe 89 has enjoyed his debut performance at his home Belong Atherton entertaining fellow residents with festive favourites on his electric organ Customers and colleagues at the Mealhouse Lane care village were joined by the organist’s son Christopher to sing their hearts out to Jingle Bells Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and White Christmas before giving their much-loved musician and friend an emotional applause to complete the evening s proceedings

Kim Calland, experience coordinator at Belong Atherton and the event’s organiser said: Since Denis moved into his new home with us he s not stopped practising on his organ I thought it would be nice to share his talent with everyone by helping him put on his first show He was so happy when I approached him and he couldn t stop talking about it!

During this time she became team leader then community lead before going on to work as a regional trainer for Athena travelling across East Anglia to work with staff at all five of our residential and nursing homes

When the pandemic hit, travel was restricted and she returned to base at Amberley Hall where there was a vacancy a residential care manager

The mum-of-two feels privileged to have been given these opportunities and to have been able to continue her career with Athena

She said To have been approached by different managers and encouraged to take the next step has always felt so rewarding, it shows the management recognise the work we do

I am happy here it feels like a family The company has really invested in me and my development throughout my career in care ”

Group Operations Director Katherine Foley said: We are proud to be able to support our colleagues as they progress in their careers and offer ongoing training and support to enable them to do this At Athena our moto is ‘Our family caring for yours’ and while that applies to each and every one of our residents it also applies to our team members ”

receive 24-hour support Denis commented: “It’s my favourite hobby and I wanted everyone to experience the joy that can come from such a wonderful instrument; I’ll admit I was a bit nervous beforehand but I m happy with how it went and I m looking forward to performing more shows in the future ”

Kim added Christmas is a time for giving and we re really pleased to help Denis to fulfil a dream He’s part of our big Belong family and we invited everyone here to support him and we ve loved sharing in his passion – what a magical moment!”

Other events in Belong Atherton s yuletide festivities programme include visits from brass bands theatre performers and young singers from nearby Rowan Tree Primary School The village recently welcomed the community for its annual Christmas Market showcasing artisan gifts from local independent traders, delicious treats in the onsite bistro, and a visit from Santa Claus himself

Middlesbrough Fan Who Lives at Stainton Based Home Visits Riverside Stadium as Part of Seize the Day

A resident at a Stainton based home got the opportunity to watch his beloved Middlesbrough FC play live something he didn t think would happen again Bob Winward lives at MHA Montpelier Manor and is a huge Boro fan and was very quick to suggest going to the game when asked by staff what he wanted to do for his Seize the Day experience

Prior to moving into the home he would visit the Riverside Stadium for all the home games

The Seize the Day initiative encourages residents to re-experience activities or events from the past or to do something they would like to do for the first time Bob was accompanied to the stadium with activity coordinator Steve Moran and witnessed a 2-1 win for Middlesbrough over Luton Town

Kelly Deane acting home manager said “Bob really enjoyed his trip to the stadium and despite the weather he couldn t wait “He was over the moon when he came back and couldn't believe what had happened Due to his mobility issues he was always worried he may not be able to watch Middlesbrough play live, but we made sure that wasn't an issue for him

Here at MHA Montpelier Manor we have a close connection

Peacock the former Middlesbrough

who will be visiting the home soon “I reckon Bob will enjoy that as Alan was a very popular player during Bob's younger days

“Watching Boro win would have been the icing on the cake for Bob and we are all made up for him

Having learnt the piano at age six, Denis recalls his teacher introducing him to the organ sparking his love for the instrument and in particular the cinema organ a common sight throughout the nation s picture houses in the 1920s and 1930s More recently, the former bank manager and national serviceman also presided as a choirmaster in Formby Merseyside before moving to Belong in early 2022 to

first attracted Flavia Hansell to the job of housekeeper at Amberley Hall Care Home back in 2010

with Alan

player

C hristmas is Coming!

C hristmas is Coming!

It's as simple as that! We will be picking a winner on Friday, December 30, and hopefully will be dispatching a luxur y hamper to a lucky winner the ver y same day!

Research Looks at Making London Leisure Venues

More Accessible for People with Dementia

New research released by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) looks at how the experiences of people with Dementia could be improved when using London arts sports health and wellbeing venues and services

The research looked at venues and services selected by people with Dementia including BikeWorks All Ability Cycling Club, The London Eye River Cruise The Churchill Theatre and ZSL London Zoo and was funded by City Bridge Trust

People living with Dementia took part in research visits to the venues and services highlighting what works well and suggesting ways that people with Dementia might better access them

Ellen Fruijtier Senior Researcher at RiDC who leads on the project says:

It s vital that venues and services are accessible to all and with a growing number of people with additional access needs and Dementia we wanted to explore what venues in London were important for people living with Dementia and learn from their perspective about how access to these venues can be improved

As a result of the research RiDC has also developed tips and advice for people with Dementia and their carers wanting to make similar visits

A group visited BikeWorks All-Ability Cycle Club in

Guildford served as the care home’s guest of honour and was on hand to turn the care home’s Christmas lights on

Signature at Camberley s celebrations saw them welcome Bramshill Beaver Group who helped residents by decorating Christmas crackers

Signature at Moorlands Lodge in Hindhead counted on the experience of

Pamela Bleach who was celebrating her 92nd birthday and was on hand to switch on the home s Christmas lights

tiatives might be made more accessible for people with Dementia in order to contribute to their ability to be active and mobile within communities

Clare Morris from For Brian an organisation that works closely with Bikeworks to ensure they are inclusive for people living with dementia, supported participants to take part She says:

“These brilliant clubs are designed for people with learning, physical or sensory disabilities to enjoy cycling on different kinds of adapted cycles Participants found that they work well for people with dementia because they are drop-in and they take place on the same day and time every week They provide a rare opportunity for increased independence mobility and help people access green space

In west London there is a new Ride Side by Side cycle taxi It s exciting that a UK wide cycling club for people with dementia is beginning to take shape

The report recommends that the initiative is expanded to further enhance wellbeing relationships and quality of life for those with Dementia and their carers

The research also included the London Eye River Cruise which was visited by a group of people with Dementia from Ashford Place, a charity providing practical support to those with Dementia and their carers

Further information on the project RiDC s tips and the reports can be found here:

www ridc org uk/news/research-looks-making-london-venues-more-accessible-people-dementia

the sound of Christmas carols with mulled wine flowing and a tasty selection of homemade minced pies

Commenting on the celebrations at Signature at Moorlands Lodge, birthday girl Pamela Bleach, said: “It was lovely to celebrate my birthday and to bring in at Christmas at Moorlands at the same time! Seeing everybody in such good spirits made the day particularly special ”

Celebrations at all 36 Signature care homes across London and the south east proved particularly poignant as it marked the first anniversary of the operator s new enlarged family of care homes

It came following the integration of 20 former Sunrise and Gracewell care homes into the newly formed Signature Senior Lifestyle brand in December 2021

Commenting on Signature Senior Lifestyle’s first anniversary Kay Cox Chief Operating Officer at Signature Senior Lifestyle said:

“Just as families and loved ones come together over the Christmas period we felt it was a wonderful opportunity for our family of care homes to unite at Christmas

Signature

an array of Christmas carols before the big lights switch on

Signature

The first of its kind, KYN BICKLEY will provide a pioneering approach to care which prioritises the individual – rather than categorising by age or condition Created with the highest standards of personalised, holistic care, KYN BICKLEY will challenge the industry s one size fits all model providing residents with a home that considers physical, emotional and existential health Before any resident moves in KYN takes the time to get to know them understanding their personality and passions as well as their individual needs They use this to create a bespoke approach for each resident developing a personalised care plan with a dedicated nurse senior carer and support team who share their interests and take care of them like family The highly personalised care team will provide support as and when required, allowing residents to dictate their own lifestyle as they always have Emphasis is placed on giving residents autonomy for instance with no set schedule to adhere to (including mealtimes) and an atmosphere that promotes individual pursuits alongside plenty of opportunities to socialise, building a community and a sense of home Even the detail of staff uniform has been considered to ensure they appear are presentable but approachable promoting a homely environment

KYN commissioned leading British interior designer Nina Campbell and renowned art curator Adam Ellis

“Over the last 12 months we have welcomed wonderful new residents and talented team members to our homes Whilst each home has its own community, we have a shared bond that spreads across more than 2,000 residents and 3 500 colleagues

“The light switch on is also an important opportunity to reflect on cherished residents whom we have sadly lost throughout the year and to pay a special tribute to them ”

Wormwood Scrubs Park to investigate how cycling ini-

Care home that pioneers individualised approach to care to open in Bromley in February 2023

KYN BICKLEY will challenge industry s one size fits all model with a household approach that combines personalised care whilst encouraging autonomy and promoting residents passions and interests

Features styling by British interior designer Nina Campbell and renowned art curator Adam Ellis specially landscaped sensory gardens and nutritionally balanced menus created by top chefs

Innovators in later life care KYN will be launching a brand new care home in Bromley in February 2023

to create chic and authentic spaces that in turn give residents a vital sense of belonging With 86 private bedrooms a cinema and a spa KYN BICKLEY also offers spaces such as

Caroline Naidoo Managing Director

resident

at Parklands Manor in Chertsey enjoyed

at Rosebery Manor, in Epsom was packed to the rafters as it welcomed the Sing Choir a 30-piece choir that hosted a carol concert at the home

Signature at Bagshot Coombe Hill Manor Esher Pembroke House

Purley Reigate Grange and Virginia Water’s lights were also turned on to

Care England Welcomes Care Support Energy Discount

Care England has welcomed the announcement from the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy that many of those who draw on care or support will receive a £400 discount on their fuel bills through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Additional Fund or £200 for those using alternative fuels

Professor Martin Green Chief Executive of Care England says: We are grateful to have received this support measure from Government, at a time when the care sector is balancing a multitude of financial pressures whilst maintaining high-quality care and support Care England has worked closely with Government to ensure this level of support was actualised The payment will be paid directly to residents and we now await the details of how this funding will be operationalised to ensure it reaches the individual or organisation incurring the increased energy cost We will continue to work closely with our members to ensure it becomes a tangible benefit to those who incur the increased cost ”

The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy announced details for how people in England, Scotland and Wales without a direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier, including care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation will receive a £400 discount through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) Care England has questioned the definition of wholly or partly self-funded to ensure those entitled to funding receive it and has asked for clarity on how this payment is to be passed on to the entity paying the increased cost of energy Online applications will open in January for England Scotland and Wales who are eligible for the £400

EBSS Alternative Funding to submit their details Payments that meet the eligibility criteria – including people who get their energy through a commercial contract will be made by Local Authorities in Great Britain This is likely to include care home residents

The Government is also providing a further £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help those households in Great Britain who use alternative fuels such as biomass or heating oil to meet energy costs this winter Those eligible for the AFP support in Great Britain will receive payment automatically via their electricity supplier in February with no need to take any action Those who need to apply for the AFP, for example, because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier will be able to do so in February through the same GOV UK portal as the one that will be used to apply for support under the EBSS Alternative Funding scheme

Martin Green continues: “The Government support for the care sector on energy has been welcome and this represents another measure to ensure that the profound effect the energy landscape has had on our sector is minimised We are however saddened to learn that any further support measures will not be announced until January 2023 contrary to the previously envisaged December 2022 announcement The energy crisis has been immense for adult social care, where the disproportionate impact of energy price rises is threatening the existence of care providers nationwide As of today there is one short-term energy deal on the table so this delay only hampers care providers efforts to take advance of the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme which is due to end in March 2023 ”

Thornton-le-Dale Care Home Revives Christmas Giving to Local Pensioners

The

Chef Sean Carty prepared the festive feasts which were served up by The Hall management team The entertainment was Michael Buble tribute singer Lee Hutton with karaoke and background music from DJ Lynne of AvA Entertainment supported by her husband Terry The seasonal atmosphere was completed with a flurry of snow as the

community shared stories and reunited after two years apart Diane Hagen, manager at The Hall, said: “It’s wonderful that we were able to revive this magical tradition, with friends from Thornton-Le-Dale joining us to celebrate Christmas over a meal and a raised glass or two!

It was lovely to catch up with people we ve not seen in a long time These lunches are a social gathering at a time when it can be lonely for those on their own Previously we’ve had singletons meet and become couples, so there’s even romance in the air!

“As an organisation that provides care to the elderly we believe it is important to give opportunities to spend time with others in the community especially at Christmas

“We’re delighted that we’re now back in a position to be together again and we’re already looking forward to next year ”

Legionella Sampling: Part 2 - Technique & Chain of Custody

Last week we looked at the planning process required before any samples are taken This week we get down to the ‘nuts and bolts’ of bottle filling

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Our headline belies the importance of good sampling techniques As with poor planning poor execution can also undermine the entire sampling exercise

With so many possibilities such as a single pillar monoblock thermostatic mixing valves (TMV) sequential mixer blending taps showers outlets etc your water sampling technique will vary depending on the type of outlet sampled and specific methodologies described (as per standards such as BS8554:2015 and BS7592: 2022)

Single Pillar & Monoblock (non-TMV) Outlets - Hot and cold supply should be sampled separately Moreover, sampling blended waterfrom a mixer tap not comprising a TMV is not indicated Thermostatic Mixing Valve (TMV) Taps- When sampling from a TMV blended tap; water samples should be obtained from the outlet with the outlet lever set to the mid-point NOTE; With a fail-safe TMV the sampler has no control over the dispensed water temperature as this is controlled by the TMV itself It is impossible to obtain a sample comprising solely hot water, as some cold water is blended into the hot water to reduce temperature and prevent scalding Showers - Consideration should be given to ensuring shower waters are captured accurately and safely (when systems are contaminated with aquatic pathogens) as such food-grade bags may be used to funnel water into the sampling container whilst minimising the dissemination of aerosolised water droplets

Sampling should be completed by a suitably trained individual, this may be your in-house competent person or an appointed contractor With either individual, you should ensure they are competent to take samples i e where is the evidence they have been trained The individual should have received suitable microbiological sampling such as Legionella training to ensure samples are taken aseptically and with no occurrence of contamination when sampling

When filling sample containers it is important to use bottles dosed with sufficient sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate (STP) to neutralise any residual chlorine (or copper/silver) that may have been collected in the sample Failure to do this may result in the receipt of false negative test results - as residual chlorine may continue to disinfect the water sample whilst in transit to the laboratory

It is also a recommendation that samples from (chlorine) disinfected water systems should be taken no sooner than two days and no later than seven days after disinfection (HSG274 Part 2 paragraph 2 132) This

By Roy Sullivan / Authorising Engineer [Water], Water Hygiene Centre Ltd (www waterhygienecentre com)

ensures that the samples taken are an accurate representation of the water system and not a confirmation of biocide strength

WHEN TO TAKE PRE OR POST-FLUSH SAMPLES?

To determine the need for pre or post-flush water samples consideration must also be given to the part of the water system in question: BS7592:2022 section 7 4 1 gives definitive guidance

For routine monitoring purposes only pre-flush samples should be taken and, where possible, these should be taken from unmixed outlets Pre-flush samples should be taken with no disinfection or adjustment of devices or inserts to obtain a reflection of the water as it is used

NOTE 1: Post-flush samples are not suitable for routine monitoring

NOTE 2 Pre-flush samples allow for the determination of the colonization of a particular outlet This is the type of sample that is most representative of the risk to individuals and is the only sample necessary Whenever possible when post-flush samples are required these should be collected from individual taps rather than mixer taps so that the samples are representative of the water flowing around the system and do not just contain localized contamination of the outlet(s)

Section 7 1 5 says: “NOTE: A post-flush sample without disinfection is water collected after water has been run to waste for a prescribed length of time or until a particular endpoint has been reached (e g a temperature measurement) Any legionellae in this type of post-lush sample could be derived either from the outlet itself or from the water supplied to the outlet

These samples are not recommended due to the difficulty of interpreting results ”

In the case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa only pre-flush samples should be collected from compliant or previously unaffected systems –

following the requirements of HTM 04-01 Part B – Appendix D

HOW

SHOULD YOU STORE AND TRANSPORT YOUR WATER SAMPLES?

Once water samples have been collected these samples must be handled, stored and transported appropriately with consideration for the differing requirements of the microorganisms of interest

• Legionella samples - While steps can be taken to minimize the risks of changes in the microbiological characteristics of samples, samples should be analysed as soon as practicable preferably within 24 h but not more than 48 h of the sample being collected If sample analysis cannot be commenced within 48 h of collection, the client should be advised of this and the possible effects on sample results

• Pseudomonas samples – if they cannot be processed by the laboratory within 2 hoursof being taken they should be refrigerated and should be processed by the laboratory within 24 hours to ensure the samples remain reliable

Any deviation from these prescribed storage & transportation criteria may impact the accuracy of the result being reported by the laboratory

CHAIN OF CUSTODY

The chain of custody associated with water samples for microbiological analyses must be understood - to ensure that all samples are suitably received and processed by the test laboratory and that the results reported by the laboratory are correctly cross-referenced to the outlets sampled

Chain of custody therefore refers to the paperwork trail to be completed on the water samples sent to the laboratory Upon request UKAS-accredited laboratories will provide such paperwork in advance, so that sampling points/locations identified in the organisational sampling plan can be entered into this paperwork along with details of the microbiological test(s) to be completed by the laboratory

Once the paperwork has been prepared all that remains to do is to update the fields with such details as time of sampling the temperature of sample etc

A copy of this paperwork should be retained and a copy must accompany the samples sent to the laboratory so that they can be booked onto their system and processed within the correct timeframe

The benefit of using a clear chain of custody paperwork is that this minimises the need to capture lots of information on the sample bottle(s) Therefore sample bottles can simply be labelled with a unique identification number sequence and legibly cross-referenced against the supporting paperwork

NEXT TIME

Upon successful receipt of the samples the test laboratory will take responsibility for the chain of custody and in Part 3 we discuss the various microbiological diagnostics that can be used for the analysis of water samples – including traditional microbiological tests rapid (molecular) diagnostics and the merits and limitations of both

Oakland Care’s Joanne Balmer Named Industr y Leader For ESG

Indicative

The

The awards are highly sought after with members of the care sector submitting nominations to recognise the industry s most influential leaders across six key areas

On this occasion Joanne Balmer was named the inaugural winner of the newly introduced ESG Champion award, honouring an individual who has demonstrated exemplary commitment to deliver positive change on environmental, social and governance issues in the sector

Since joining the luxury care home provider in August 2019 Joanne has successfully navigated the provider through the COVID-19 pandemic overseen the opening of new care homes and helped pioneer Oakland Care’s sustainability agenda She received a British Empire Medal in the 2021 Queen s Birthday Honours List for her services to social care during COVID-19

For Joanne and Oakland Care 2022 has proven to be yet another success Under her leadership, Oakland Care were named as a ‘Top Employer’ – the only social care provider on the list This achievement was testament to the provider’s excellent policies and practices to support the wellbeing of its people in addition to the fantastic career and development opportunities on offer

in social care and beyond This culminated in the successful launch of a new strategy promoting green initiatives across their eight care homes in October

Reflecting on her award, Joanne Balmer BEM said

I am extremely honoured to receive this award which represents not only a huge personal success but is also a testament to the industry-leading efforts of all those I work alongside at Oakland Care

As I reflect on my journey I am proud we have shown what is possible for care homes across the country Whether that be for the people who work in social care residents we support or even the real contribution we can make towards wider global issues At Oakland Care we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible on environmental social and governance issues and I look forward to maintaining Oakland Care’s position as an influential leader on these topics ”

Nail Bar, Spa Room, Cinema and Orangery to support those living at home to live com-

fortably The care home offers residential nursing dementia, respite and palliative care for up to 46 people

During the lead-up to Christmas Burford House has released photographs to showcase its grand interiors and team spirit as they start to enjoy the Christmas festivities

With a few weeks to go before New Year, the home looks forward to celebrating at the resident and team Christmas Party

Joanne Balmer BEM Chief Executive Officer of Oakland Care has been honoured for her unwavering commitment to the care sector after being named as the ESG Champion at HealthInvestor’s Power Fifty Awards

HealthInvestor Power Fifty is one of the most established nights in the health and social care calendar For over a decade, this prestigious award ceremony has brought together leading individuals from across the industry in celebration of their effective and inspiring successes

that shape the backbone of Joanne’s leadership strategy

of this Oakland Care were awarded a Gold accreditation at their first attempt from one of the leading global standards for people management Investors in People in October 2022 This reflected their commitment to a positive and purpose-driven workplace culture where team members can thrive Meanwhile Joanne has pioneered Oakland Care s position as the sector s sustainability leader retaining their status as the only carbon neutral care group in the UK for the second year running and achieving Level 3 certification by Green Mark the highest grade awarded by the sustainability specialists Through inclusive and effective green initiatives they have brought team members and residents together for a collaborative cause that creates a long-lasting impact

Homecare Association Announces the New

ices the experience of the workforce and providers ability to comply with the legal requirements placed on them

“Low fee rates from councils and the NHS lead directly to homecare workers receiving poor pay and terms and conditions of employment It’s hardly surprising there is a shortage of homecare workers as fuel prices remain high and many are struggling to pay their household bills

It

hour) a wage equivalent to NHS Band 3 with 2+ years experience (£11 85 per hour) the London Living Wage (£11 95 per hour) and a competitive labour market wage rate (£13 64 per hour) of between £26 79 and £31 55 per hour Many providers are already paying above the national minimum wage some as high as £15-17 per hour, but this is only possible with hourly fee rates to match Homecare Association’s CEO Dr Jane Townson said:

Too many local authorities and the NHS continue to commission homecare at fee rates far below the true cost of delivering care Persistently underestimating providers costs risks diminishing the availability of serv-

Without adequate investment in homecare by central and local government providers will be unable to maintain and grow the workforce to meet rising demand Over half a million older and disabled people are already sitting on council waiting lists, unable to access the support and care they need At least 13,500 people are stuck in hospital ready for discharge, of which 1 in 4 are waiting for homecare Delays in discharging people back home are contributing to lengthening ambulance response times and waiting lists for NHS treatment of over 7 million which affects all who need medical help

Whilst the significant investment in social care made in the Autumn Statement was welcome it falls short of what is needed to develop strong sustainable homecare services fit to meet current and future needs “We call on the government to recognise the value of homecare and the vital role it plays in enabling people to live well at home With adequate funds for home-based and community support we could help to extend healthy life expectancy reduce inequalities take pressure off the NHS and reduce costs for the health and care system

Sanders Senior Living Home Celebrates 100 Years of

Eve Belle care home in Wickford, operated by Sanders Senior Living, were honoured to present care home resident Gwen with a framed badge for her dedication to the Wickford s Brownie Guides over the years and to celebrate 100 years since the service began The celebration was attended by family, friends, and members of the Wickford Brownie Guides to mark the special occasion

During Gwen s time as a Brownie she walked 30 miles to fundraise towards providing a brownie’s mum with a motorised car Gwen has also dedicated much of her life to the Brownies and led the 1st Runwell

Brownie Guides

Brownie pack

Arrianne Concepcion Home Manager for Eve Belle said: We were delighted to invite the Wickford District Brownies into Eve Belle to celebrate and commemorate such a special occasion – 100 years of girl guiding in Wickford is such a wonderful achievement, and we’re so proud of Gwen for being part of this movement To celebrate with the Brownies Gwen s family and our community of residents in the home was really special; a huge thank you to all who attended ”

Noroviruses: Outbreak Management and Disinfectant Choice

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)

A CHANCE TO LEARN FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Alongside

programme of speakers and topics will be announced in the coming weeks

GOJO experts in skin health and surface hygiene were recently exhibiting at the 14th annual Infection Prevention Society (IPS) conference, where healthcare professionals were invited to join GOJO THE INVENTORS OF PURELL - and the hand sanitiser category itself on stand 37!

The team of GOJO Healthcare Support Managers offered support and advice on their total solution approach to infection prevention in healthcare facilities highlighting the company s ability to help hygiene standards across all areas and situations within hospitals and healthcare facilities

GOJO showcased 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 on-boarding support It also manages installations thereby reduc-

ing 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

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 their work is off-site

Chris Wakefield Managing Director UK & Ireland, GOJO Industries-Europe Ltd comments: ‘We know the key to increasing hand

hygiene compliance is to ensure that the right products are available in the right places at the right time We are constantly innovating to keep people and places healthy This means formulating products that are not only 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 fastactive 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

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

By James Derham (BSc (hons)), Liam Grimshaw (MSc by research, BSc (hons))

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 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

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/

Registration for The Cleaning Show 2023 will open on 1st November 2022 To register your interest to attend

CLEANING, HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

known as BESA This means that after we ve completed your TR19® Grease compliant clean we can provide certification to demonstrate that you have done everything required of you to protect the users of your premises

There

In the event of a fire, certification will help to demonstrate that you have not been negligent If there should be a fire, and particularly if residents are harmed or negligence is proved, the Responsible Person can face legal proceedings and even if convicted a custodial sentence If you cannot demonstrate TR19 Grease® compliance your buildings insurance provider may also refuse to pay out following a fire

And don t worry about disturbing your residents

ll work with you to establish a time frame to perform your TR19® Grease clean when your kitchen is not being used and your residents are safe elsewhere

For The Cuppas That Comfort

As we enter into winter, we know people seek warmth through the enjoyment of hot beverages with tea remaining the most popular pick on the list of wintertime beverages 1

At Tetley we’re here here to support your staff and residents to feel cosy with a comforting cuppa As the UK s No 1 tea brand in the foodservice industry 2 we are dedicated to going beyond simply providing delicious tea solutions we aim to support all our customers with useful tools, tips and resources to help with your day-today operations

CUPPAS THAT COUNT

Current research shows that 20% of care home residents are dehydrated,3 and this is becoming a leading cause of hospitalisation Therefore, understand just how important it is to keep residents healthy and hydrated while also making the experience enjoyable and the challenge this can face for care providers Did

know? Tea counts towards your daily water intake 4 and so aids with rehydration! Offering resi-

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 We are also environmentally conscious and committed to operating our business in a way that supports the

At It’s Made For You, 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 It s Made For You are proud to be Gold Sponsors of IDDSI Our range of meals have been developed to ensure the nutritional content will meet the nutritional needs

Research has shown that

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-

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 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

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels for Drug-Free Natural Pain Relief

bination of natural ingredients including ethanol menthol eucalyptus peppermint and MSM Reported benefits of BIOFROST® Relief include lasting pain relief, improved joint movements comfort during sleep fewer cramps calmed nerve pain reduced joint and muscle discomfort and faster post-activity recoveries

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

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are natural drugfree topical cold therapy gels for muscular and joint pain chronic arthritic pain, post-activity muscle tension general aches and overuse disorders Easy to use and fast acting, BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels relieve pain reduce inflammation and swelling without drugs and drug-related side-effects

BIOFROST® Gels: BIOFROST® Relief Cold Gel for pain relieving cold therapy

• BIOFROST®

BIOFROST®

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 implementa-

BIOFROST® Active is a dual-action fast-acting cold gel with heat sensation for effective relief of muscular and joint pain Containing 10 natural herbal extracts (i e Arnica Burdock Roman Chamomile Garlic Watercress Ivy White Nettle Pine Rosemary Menthol) BIOFROST® Active relieves chronic pain releases muscular tension loosens stiff joints and effectively treats back pain Benefits of BIOFROST® Active include easier joint movements, effective pain relief in treated areas discomfort-free sleep fewer cramps and reduced post-activity muscular and joint fatigue

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are usable standalone or alongside other pain relieving therapies (i e medication, physiotherapy, etc ) BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are suitable for people of any age including elderly and disabled people living independently or in nursing care

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are Class 1 Medical Devices made in Finland Win Health medical ltd: T: 01835 864864866 / E: biofrost@win-health com W: www win-health com See the advert on page 5

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 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

ation of Yeoman Shield Fire ction 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

tion 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 expectation 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

Visit https://adveco co/sectors/healthcare/ or see the advert on page 15

Penile Retraction and Incontinence

As

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

With

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS

Facing Soaring Energy

Facing unprecedented energy costs and an increasingly pressing climate crisis care home operators are all aiming to minimise energy consumption According to the Carbon Trust the care sector spends over £400 million on energy each year and after heating and lighting it is irrefutable that appliances are a main contributor to this figure For any care home, laundry is a key service area and one that is absolutely critical to maintaining infection control Thankfully, whereas you can’t turn down the heating in a care environment, or turn off the lighting there are ways in which you can significantly reduce the energy consumed by your laundry function Forbes Professional helps care home operators source the most energy water and user efficient laundry solutions whilst advising on all relevant WRAS and industry requirements When choosing dryers, it is notable that care homes are increasingly turning away from gas appliances due to increasing running costs and safety concerns This is all the more notable now that changes to industry requirements are necessitating considerable investment in order for gas appliances to meet the current standards Forbes would generally recommend that electrical appliances should be the product of choice with heat pump dryers enabling astounding cost and energy savings Miele’s new heat pump commercial dryers are particularly highly rated for their safety functionality and energy efficiency They employ a highly efficient and economical filter system and heat exchanger to keep run times low and enable an energy saving of up to 60% when compared to vented dryers Additionally these heat pump dryers do not require any make-up air

which enables the laundry function to be installed in the basement or in a central location within the care-home and saves on costly vent-ducting Due to the effective interaction of the Miele filter system and the maintenance-free heat exchanger fluff cannot clog the heat exchanger or adversely affect the exceptional drying efficiency

With regards to washing machines only a commercial washing machine will suffice in a care environment as only these machines will meet the WRAS requirements for Fluid Category 5 Forbes recommends using Miele commercial washing machines as they are highly energy and water efficient whilst delivering both thermal and sluice disinfection As an illustrative example based on an electricity cost of £0 34/kWh and three machines being used four times/ day for five years, Miele machines can realise a running cost saving of £9 529 when compared to another industry brand

Auto-dosing equipment also provides a great solution for ensuring that the right amount of detergent is dispensed for each cycle; minimising waste optimising the wash cycle and saving both money and time

Forbes Professional provides a range of options for commercial laundry equipment including auto-dosing equipment as well as Miele commercial laundry machines All of their products are available on a purchase rental or lease basis, with access to a comprehensive service that includes installation, commissioning, usertraining and a multi award-winning repair and maintenance response

Working

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

Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions

Fall

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

Medpage Falls Management Products

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

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-

Lotus

stressed also this

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

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

Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

The UK is embracing a new era of data-driven social care reform Digitisation and datafication are enabling enhanced visibility, unlocking a new paradigm of proactive person-centred care How is data enabling this transformation what are the stumbling blocks and what strategies are necessary to create a new digital roadmap that leads to better outcomes?

Stuart Barclay, uK sales director of fall detection and remote monitoring supplier Vayyar Care recently chaired a live roundtable discussion with key players in the social care sector to explore the power and potential of technologyenabled care

Four of the field’s leading providers and thought leaders explored the key factors driving change in social care The conversation brought together Alyson Scurfield, CEo at TSA, paul Berney, Cmo at Anthropos, Claire Aldridge, Strategic Contract manager at millbrook Healthcare Group and Tim Barclay CEo at Appello to share their visions for the future and how they are leveraging data to truly transform care

STUART BARCLAY:

Thank you all for being here Alyson, can you tell us about the need, demand and market readiness for data-driven social care and digital transformation?

ALYSON SCURFIELD, TSA CEO:

First I d like to thank Vayyar Care for bringing us together for this important discussion I’m delighted to be here

As part of the advisory body for technology-enabled care in the UK I’m passionate about the power of data to transform care, enhance lives and deliver better outcomes for people and communities Using data to provide better care is at the heart of what we do at TSA We’ve been talking about this since early 2019 pre-COVID and identified three cornerstones – data people, and partnerships – as the key drivers of transformation to enable true preventative care We ve had a bird s eye view of the process of change that’s impacting services and communities across the UK

We learned that we’re data-rich but intelligence-poor We need to give people relevant data insights that they can use to make more informed decisions and carry out better care planning not only for family members and frontline workers, but also to allow care recipients themselves to play an active role in managing their own self-care Technology is delivering better outcomes for people It’s the glue of transformation and we’re starting to prove it

Data can drive better outcomes, enabling people to live longer independently in the place of their choosing The scene is set for true health and social care reform

STUART:

Let s talk about the journey from analogue to digital How are reactive legacy solutions and devices falling short when it comes to falls management?

We recently conducted a survey of social care providers that identified falls management as the primary drain on resources 69% of respondents said that falls are the most common reason for responder visits But more than a quarter of those callouts turn out to be false alarms putting a huge strain on staff

A big part of the problem is that the vast majority of fall detection solutions on the market aren t practical Take cameras for example Most care users do not feel comfortable with video cameras invading their privacy at home

CLAIRE ALDRIDGE, STRATEGIC CONTRACT MANAGER, MILLBROOK HEALTHCARE GROUP:

In the past caregivers had to deal with so many false alarms especially when it comes to fall detection Reactive legacy solutions like buttons and cords are useful only if they re within reach and the resi-

dent is conscious mats are often unreliable and break frequently and wearables have to be charged, while the care user must remember to put them on

At Millbrook we ve recognised that historically the sector hasn t been using data as smartly as we could and that’s something we’re keen to address That s why we re partnering with companies like Vayyar and Anthropos, who share our vision, so that we can start leveraging data to get the best outcomes for our service users and help them feel secure about using the technology

We ve adopted a digital-first approach meaning that we re phasing out all analogue devices Our goal is to start leveraging data to get the best outcomes for our service users

We want to capture the full benefits of technology to overcome the problem of false alarms and use it to predict and prevent crises

It s an exciting time right now and there s plenty of new tech coming on board We want to be sure that Millbrook is at the forefront of change and innovation in the sector

ALYSON:

False alarms have made people weary – and wary – of technology that wastes valuable time and resources With all new technologies we need to give people confidence that they meet rigorous standards and have fully proven themselves

TIM BARCLAY, APPELLO CEO:

The transition from analogue to digital has been going on for the past seven years One of the good that the TSA and the industry s momentum have helped us to understand is that this isn’t just about replacing a device that signals analogue with a device that signals digital It s an opportunity for a step change to business models service models, and the outcomes you deliver because there is so much more power and capability in a digital environment We have more digitally connected customers than anyone out there and proven solutions to choose from We ve put digital infrastructure into more than 25 000 apartments and scores of case studies of people who were considering the journey and now have accessed proven innovative solutions

We ve gone out of our way to make ensure that we are as interoperable as possible We have transition models both commercial and technical to help the transition from analogue to digital We re not just moving from one box to another – that would be missing the point The transition to digital can deliver services in a more effective personalised, and meaningful way for the end user, and that doesn’t mean at a higher cost You can deliver better services at a lower cost through more intelligent use of the digital capabilities that technology-enabled care has to offer

STUART:

Our survey also revealed that 90% of service providers acknowledge that frontline staff are spending too much time on administrative tasks More data should really mean less paperwork for staff What s more 88% of providers agree that more data about how long users spend at home and their activity would help deliver more personalised care And that leads to our next topic: outcomes How can we use data smartly to reduce the burden on overworked caregivers and ensure better care?

TIM:

It s worth contextualizing the word data It s not reams of information that need to be analysed It’s data delivered simply and sensibly Data is machine-driven pieces of insight that can be easily shared in a digital form

We must be able to deliver single nuggets of information that care providers can act on Simple messages like “I m OK”, clearly delivered on a dashboard, can make an enormous difference to the productivity of frontline staff

PAUL BERNEY, CMO AT ANTHROPOS:

It’s the job of the connected care platforms like Anthropos and others to process manage and analyse the data Ultimately care providers are only interested in the intelligence that will allow them to make better-informed care decisions

They re only interested in the end product – the insights That’s our job and we do it best when we know the desired care outcomes Then we know what insights we need to identify We take the data and divide it into four basic categories: environment daily routine and behaviour patterns physiological wellbeing and safety and security Then we take all that data and turn it into intelligence But we can only do that when we know what the goals are what insights we need to provide and what actions are required When you have a platform can reveal behavioural changes you can step in and take preventative

action Then you can make a real difference to someone s life no matter stage of the care journey they’re at

STUART:

You touched there on the importance of the joined-up care journey Ultimately, it s collaboration that enables the delivery of person-centred predictive care According to our survey almost 80% of service providers agreed that sharing behavioural data is critical to unlocking personalised outcomes We need to change the norm so that we can start working together cohesively as suppliers to support service providers in collaboration with TSA But let’s get more specific

What insights have been unlocked by the behavioural data you gather and how do you share them with key stakeholders?

PAUL:

We re good at integration and that s because we understand the importance of working together I’ll give you an example We got an alert that showed that a resident hadn t started her morning routine within half hour of her regular pattern, and then the data revealed she had been up several times to go to the bathroom This is a person with long history of UTIs so the platform could identify this wasn’t the norm for her and sent an alert It s then up to the care provider to decide if it’s necessary to take action or just to keep an eye on them

STUART:

You re absolutely right Data sharing is the key to cohesive meaningful and fruitful partnerships between technology suppliers platform providers and frontline caregivers Sharing behavioural data that reveals mobility physical and mental health and potential medical conditions is critical to unlocking personalised care and optimising outcomes That applies both to overall care management and to the risk factors of falls

PAUL:

Exactly and that s why our customers want Vayyar Care Managing falls more effectively through better communication is at the top of our priority list when it comes to care management

Passive falls monitoring is so important because we all understand the drawbacks of wearables

We want to give people confidence that they re buying into a system that’s gone through exhaustive evaluation and testing, because if you re going to make a care decision based on data you need complete confidence in the quality of that intelligence

ALYSON:

Achieving the best results through focused insights and intelligent data sharing is all about partnering with the right people Collaboration is paramount in terms of providing better outcomes We want to help people feel secure about using technology as a reliable resource and that s a team effort We re partnering with leading tech and platform providers like Vayyar Care and Anthropos who share our vision and want start to using smart tech much more wisely We need to guarantee that our partners deliver the best quality adhere to the highest safety standards and like us, are committed to putting the service user at the heart of everything they do Above all we re committed to the quality standards framework which includes ethics and continuous quality of care

Come visit the TSA website We ll put you in touch with organisations that have loads of case studies to show how we’re making this possible We also have a list of certified members that we can guarantee are delivering this partnership approach and are delivering quality service

STUART:

Well that brings us to the end of our roundtable on how data is transforming social care I d like to thank you all for being here and sharing your insights and experience As the social care sector expands, it’s clear that local authorities across the UK need to embrace new sensor technologies leading-edge platforms and above all fresh best practices if they’re going to continue to put people at the heart of care

If you d like to discuss any of the issues raised in this roundtable or connect with any of the contributors please email Stuart Barclay directly:

stuart barclay@vayyar com

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

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

PROTECTION

Protect your business

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

RISK

Reduced 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

RETENTION

Improve

staf f retention

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

EVIDENCE

Demonstrate quality of care deliver y

While the delivery of person-centred care is paramount care providers must also provide evidence of the care they deliver and regulatory bodies actively encourage the use of technology

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

AutumnCare contains a customisable Dashboard to provide Managers with a snapshot of what is occurring across the care service at any point in time

WONDERING HOW TO GO DIGITAL?

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

Website uk autumn care

Virtual Reality Technology Helps Residents Take a Trip To Some Of The World’s Most Beautiful Places

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

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 introduced 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 ”

Intelligent Care Software (ICS)

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 manage-

ment 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

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

Christie & Co Analyses Transactional Healthcare

Market In Inaugural ‘Care Market Review’ Report

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has today launched its first Care Market Review 2022 report which analyses the transactional healthcare market in the UK: looking at buyer appetite transactional activity and investor demand local authority fee increases and the funding landscape It also includes an operator survey which gives an insider view on occupancy and agency staff usage from some of healthcare’s leading operators

TRANSACTIONAL ACTIVITY

Christie & Co reports strong demand for care home opportunities throughout the UK with a 78 per cent increase in completions from 2020 to 2022 and deal numbers significantly ahead of pre-pandemic levels This year offers sat at an average of 101 per cent of asking price underlining that strong investor appetite with competitive bidding is commonplace Christie & Co noted however that with the changing macro-economic landscape the trend moving forward will be driven by a number of factors including the availability of capital and the alignment of vendors pricing expectations relative to prevailing market conditions

New instruction levels increased by around 30 per cent from 2020 to 2021 and they continue to grow as operators capitalise on the buoyant market conditions and strong values achieved

The company notes that its most active buyer type over the past five years has been independent operators with one or two homes which, on average transacted on 41 per cent of deals in the sector So far in 2022, corporate operators and investors have made up 33 per cent of deals while first-time buyers made up just 7 per cent – a fall of 9 per cent since 2018 which is reflective of the increasing funding challenges for first-time buyers the regulatory burden of the CQC and the increase in quality, higher value stock on the market Thanks to a competitive marketplace and the increased use of technology in care homes which can allow for some operational work to be conducted remotely buyers are increasingly looking further afield with almost half (48 per cent) of deals in 2022 concluded to buyers who live over 100 miles from their target business A large number of deals were concluded in and around urban centres yet there has been an increase in the number of care homes transacting in rural and coastal areas

CLOSED CARE HOMES

Over 1 500 care homes ceased trading between 2015 and 2020 This was not solely linked to CQC ratings, as over 40 per cent of care home closures in 2020 had ‘Good’ ratings and were closed for a range of reasons, including margins and cost pressures

A record 31 per cent of the care homes Christie & Co sold in 2021 were on a closed basis – 56 per cent of these were sold for ongoing healthcare use whilst 26 per cent were sold for residential conversion The number of closed care homes sold dropped to just 13 per cent in 2022 however an increasing proportion (80 per cent) of these closed homes were sold to care home providers

LOCAL AUTHORITY FEE RATE INCREASES

When analysing local authority fee rate rises across the UK in the fiscal year 2022/23 Christie & Co found that fee increases fall short of inflationary cost pressures in the sector There was a large disparity between fee increases throughout the UK from 3 1 per cent to 12 8 per cent with an average residential fee increase in England of 5 4 per cent and nursing fees rising by 6 8 per cent Going forward the company expects the burden on the self-funded client base to increase OPERATOR SENTIMENT

SURVEY

Christie & Co interviewed a cross-section of local and regional

providers in the UK to gain insight into some of

operational challenges they re facing

With resourcing placing a huge strain on care home operators 52 per cent of respondents said that they have a widespread use of agency staff Those that have obtained a sponsorship licence to recruit staff from abroad have been able to tap into new markets for their recruitment needs and this has been successful for many However with over half of providers still having to use agency staff to fill their rotas business costs are increasing further

While 43 per cent of operators said occupancy has returned to prepandemic levels for 57 per cent occupancy is still recovering There is a wide variation in occupancy trends across the UK with many smaller regional operators saying that their homes are largely back to pre-pandemic levels and larger providers generally reporting lower overall average occupancy rates Positively though the majority report good enquiry levels which suggests that occupancy rates will continue to re-build during 2023

FUNDING LANDSCAPE

The report concludes with a look at the funding landscape written by commercial finance specialist Christie Finance which has seen 8 33 per cent fewer funded deals in the sector this year as operators look to their portfolios to expand or restructure existing debt The average loan size increased by 5 8 per cent, which suggests that funding in the sector is evolving to provide more refinance to buy or expand

First-time buyers making offers on care businesses fell from 48 per cent in 2021 to 45 per cent in 2022 due to the perceived difficulties in raising finance This area of the market has been more challenging as the recognised lenders retrench to service existing operators with proven track records

Rob Kinsman Regional Director – Care at Christie & Co comments

“The last couple of years have presented the sector with huge operational challenges but it is heartening to see that investor appetite has fully recovered We have confidence that the entrepreneurial nature of the sector will ensure the transactional market continues to thrive despite the growing economic headwinds ”

To read the full report visit www christie com/newsresources/publications/care-market-review-2022/

the

PROFESSIONAL , TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Care

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?

By hiring overseas staff through the Sponsorship Licences Government Initiative (We can help you if you don’t have a Sponsorship Licence yet)

WHY WOULD THE STAFF BE COMMITTED AND LOYAL?

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

PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS

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

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 WORK WITH US?

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

HOW WE DO THIS?

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

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 obligat on 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 Alternat ve Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www eden-alternative co uk

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