The Carer Digital - Issue #141

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

The announcement that the Government is to cut £250 million from its social care workforce fund has caused an uproar, rightly so in my opinion

The Government’s “People at the Heart of Care” white paper published in December 2021 said that £1 7bn would be allocated to social care reform over three years This included £500m investment in workforce £150m for technology and digitisation £300m to integrate housing into local health and care strategies and £70m to help local authorities to improve the delivery and standard of care

Editor Peter Adams

However an update yesterday (April 4) from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has committed just £250m to workforce, rather than the £500m initially promised

Part of the £500m was set to be dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing support for social care staff through initiatives such as counselling peer-to-peer coaching and “workplace improvements”

This is appalling Last week I commented on a conference I attended, and a particular seminar delivered by a doctor who highlighted the issues of mental health in social care and the staggering difference between support in the NHS and adult social care

It was not a criticism of care providers When one examines the two sectors one is a government funded single institution, with enormous resources, whereas the private social care sector comprises of about 18 000 various companies organisations etc who lack the structure and resources

I can see no mention of mental health and wellbeing in the Government’s latest plan

I think there is precious little I can add to the comments and reaction by sector leaders who have shared their views with us here at the Carer, other than join the condemnation and given what I have heard over the past two years and in particular last weeks conference I am staggered at the dismissive indifference to this important issue I have been in contact with several of the speakers at the Future of care Conference and am hoping they will share their considerable knowledge, experience and opinion with us!

Despite all of that I was very pleased to see that a recent survey revealed that almost 70% of the social care workforce want to remain in the sector

This echoes feedback I often receive when I meet with care workers at many of the trade shows seminars and events we attend

This makes the Government s rescission every more ludicrous With a sector constantly suffering staffing shortages one would think that more funds more support would be at the very top of any new “plan’

Once again we have received some wonderful and uplifting stories, and for next week please do share with us your Easter celebrations!

And please follow us on Twitter We have hit the magic 10 000 followers we are delighted to say and we want to get that up to 20 000! So please do follow us and encourage as many of your followers in the sector to follow us as well!

I can always be contacted at editor@thecareruk com

Government Sets Out Next Steps to Support Social Care

(CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

The allocations of over £2 billion previously announced funding include: launching a call for evidence in partnership with Skills for Care on a new care workforce pathway and funding for hundreds of thousands of training places, including a new Care Certificate qualification - aiming to increase opportunities for career progression and development backed by £250 million

£100 million to accelerate digitisation in the sector including investment in digital social care records so staff have the latest information at their fingertips to best meet the needs of those receiving care a new innovation and improvement unit to explore creative solutions for improving care such as supporting local authorities to reduce careassessment waiting times and using best practice from those areas where waiting times have already been cut by a third - backed by up to £35 million

• a

£1 4 billion Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund which local authorities can use flexibly including to increase the rates paid to social care providers or reduce waiting times

£102 million over 2 years to help make small but significant adaptations people need to remain athome stay independent and avoid hospital - including grab rails and ramps small repairs and safety and security checks

£50 million to improve social care insight, data and quality assuranceincluding person-level data collections and new Care Quality Commission assessments of local authorities to improve poor performance on social care and identify where further support is needed

Alongside these reform commitments the Better Care Fund which brings together health social care and housing to help older people and those with complex needs live at home for longer will increase from £7 7 billion in 2022 to £8 1 billion in 2023 and £8 7 billion in 2024

The total fund includes £1 6 billion to improve hospital discharge arrangements - £600 million next year and £1 billion the following year

BETTER USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Health Minister Helen Whately said: “Care depends completely on the people who do the caring - that’s over a million care staff working in care homes and agencies and countless relatives friends and volunteers acting out of the kindness of their hearts That s why this package of reforms focuses on recognising care with the status it deserves while also focusing on the better use of technology the power of data and digital care records and extra funding for councils - aiming to make a care system we can be proud of ”

“The government is also asking for expressions of interest from inte-

grated care systems to fund care technologies that focus on the quality of care and help reduce avoidable hospital admissions or which will support people to live independently WORKFORCE FUNDING CUT

The £250 million cut to the social care workforce reform fund has been heavily criticised by sector leaders The Independent Care Group (ICG) says the news comes at a time when the sector is in crisis and needs an increase rather than cuts in funding It is also calling for longoverdue plans for social care reform to be published straight away and not “within weeks”

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said “This is yet another cruel and unfair cut to the funding we need to provide help and support to older and vulnerable people

The sector is going through an unprecedented staffing crisis with 165 000 vacancies crippling our delivery of care We need every penny of funding and cannot afford to have £250m removed at a stroke like this

The Government insists that all promised funding will stay within the sector but we cannot believe a word they tell us anymore “WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT”

Charles Tallack, Director of Data Analytics at the Health Foundation, said ‘Today s plan is woefully insufficient to meet the challenges facing social care Thousands of people are going without the care they need, and the sector is struggling to recruit and retain enough staff People working in social care are among the lowest paid in society and more likely to live in poverty than other workers

Particularly disappointing is that government has watered down its already weak promises on social care workforce reform The introduction of a workforce pathway is no substitute for investment in pay and conditions Given that the government has already shelved plans to introduce a cap to protect people against catastrophic care costs today s announcement is yet another broken promise

Adult social care in England needs fundamental reform, including policies to address growing levels of unmet need for care, improve pay and conditions for staff and provide greater state protection against care costs Reforming social care will require additional government investment but it is not unaffordable If it chooses to the government can afford to provide better fairer and more generous care and support for vulnerable people in society This plan falls well short and continues the legacy of government neglect of adult social care

“REFORMS IN TATTERS”

Professor Vic Rayner OBE CEO of the NCF said “The People at the Heart of Care reforms are in tatters Yet again the government has repackaged and reduced existing promises of support and funding,

only to announce them as if they are new It has now been 16 months since People at the Heart of Care was first published and so far nothing substantial has been delivered in that time apart from delays and very significant reductions in the ambition of the reforms

At a time when the workforce is facing unprecedented recruitment and retention challenges and on the same day that the Hewitt Review recommends the creation of a workforce plan for adult social care it is unconscionable that the government would reduce workforce funding and axe all wellbeing measures The Hewitt Review calls for a shift towards prevention by Integrated Care Systems – this can’t be done without investing in adult social care The government’s actions so far do nothing to stop growing unmet need or to combat shrinking capacity in the wider system

MAJOR BLOW TO SECTOR

Sam Monaghan CEO charity care provider at MHA Said: This is another major blow for the sector £500m was never going to solve our problems completely but it was at least an acknowledgement of the pressures we face ”

“Recruiting and retaining care workers is becoming increasingly difficult There are approximately 165,000 vacancies across the UK, and the sector is losing people to industries such as retail and hospitality We need sustainable funding that can appropriately reward staff who are caring for some of our most vulnerable members of society Filling short term vacancies often means relying on agency staff which is hugely costly – at a time when we are also facing enormous increases in our energy bills

The Government has made a conscious decision to allocate its funds in this way but what choice do we have? If we leave roles unfilled we will be failing in our duty of care for our residents So yet again the sector is left trying to find a solution with one hand tied behind its back ”

ASSESSMENT FOR FURTHER SUPPORT

From April 2023, the Care Quality Commission will begin to assess local authorities to identify where further support is needed and help identify good practice This will ensure a continued focus on delivering quality care and improving services

New national data collection will also begin to provide better information on care journeys and outcomes bringing social care data more in line with NHS collections

As well as reducing the need for people to go to hospital the government is committed to reducing the time people stay in hospital with £1 6 billion being allocated over the next 2 years to improve hospital discharge, following the £700 million provided in 2022 to 2023

Critical Care: Recruiting International Workers in the UK Adult Care Sector

With almost 165,000 vacancies in the adult care sector unfulfilled care homes and home care providers are turning to the international workforce to plug critical gaps within their organisations However gone are the days when care homes could rely on the steady arrival of skilled workers from the EU to fill these crucial roles

Employers now face a myriad of specific immigration laws that make hiring from abroad more complex In the face of these new challenges there are important steps and hurdles

that care homes need to be mindful of when recruiting from overseas

STEP ONE - GETTING A LICENCE

If you re looking to hire skilled workers from overseas you will first need approval from the Home Office by way of a Skilled Worker Sponsor License (licence) Applying for a licence can be complex so it is important that you have a dedicated legal expert guiding you throughout the process Once you have secured a licence you can then sponsor skilled workers to carry out the necessary work within the UK

To secure a licence you will need to submit a suite of corporate documents including, for example, your latest annual accounts, corporate bank statement Employer s Liability Insurance Certificate and VAT registration certificate as well as your CQC registration Other pieces of evidence need to be disclosed such as confirmation that the company has robust HR processes in place that will ensure compliance with the strict reporting and monitoring requirements placed on all sponsor licence holders Care organisations also need to have appointed key personnel from within the business to manage the sponsorship system

On top of all these requirements a payment fee of £536 for small or charitable sponsors and £1 476 for medium to large sponsors is required

STEP TWO - GETTING KEY TALENT IN

It usually takes the Home Office around 8 weeks to process a licence but can take longer depending on the capacity of the sponsor licence processing team at any particular time and complexity of the particular application Whilst there is an option to fast-track the application it is subject to availability – and also costs an additional £500 When hiring more than one non-UK national the costs can start to quickly add up

Once a licence has been granted, potential new staff will need to meet several criteria to be able to work in the UK

This includes a minimum skill level, minimum salary level and they must meet an English language requirement As background checks are likely to be required for care staff roles they will need a criminal record certificate from their current country of residence and a tuberculosis test if they are from a listed country

Typically a skilled worker using this route will need to be paid a salary of £25 600 (rising to £26,200 on 12 April 2023) or the going rate for the role whichever is the higher However there are exceptions to this when an individual can be paid a lower salary This would include for example if the job is on

the Shortage Occupation List or if the individual qualifies as a ‘new entrant to the profession GETTING OVER THE LINE

The Government recognises the shortage in care home workers which is why it launched the Health and Care Worker Visa in August 2020 This visa allow medical professionals to come to the UK to do an eligible job within the NHS an NHS supplier or a role in adult social care

The programme fast tracks the visa process for those entering the UK gives access to support from a dedicated Home Office team and reduces visa fees, such as the exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge It s key that when hiring any overseas employee you are doing so through this visa programme

As with other visas applicants can stay in the UK on a Health and Care Visa for up to 5 years after which they will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or British citizenship thereafter, making the Health and Care Visa a pathway to settlement

Retention is as important as recruitment Making sure your existing overseas employees are applying for ILR or British citizenship is key to avoiding unexpected shortages and demand pressures

From February 15th 2022 a number of other care sector roles including care assistants and support workers were added to the Shortage Occupation List, meaning that applicants are able to be paid a lower salary and still qualify for a Health and Care Visa

THE JOURNEY AHEAD

Whilst these reforms are unquestionably helpful to the care sector in providing short-term relief we do not know for how long they will remain in place The shortage facing the industry increases month-onmonth so there may be more relief plans put in place to help stem the problem We re seeing this already in the form of an additional £15m from the Government to boost support for international recruitment within adult social care across this year and next

The UK’s immigration rules are complex and the application process can be overwhelming Speaking to a business immigration specialist before embarking on the process would be a wise step to ensure recruiting from abroad is a smoother process and avoid mistakes that may lead to a swathe of unnecessary costs fees and administrative burdens

Care homes and providers are working tirelessly to deliver the best care service to the UK population The Government must take further action to make foreign recruitment more accessible and cost-effective so that the industry is able to focus on delivering the world-class care that our country is renowned for

Learning Disability Super League Coaches Prepare for ‘Best Season Yet’

One of the UK’s biggest social care charities Community Integrated Care has shared their expertise with Rugby League coaches from across the UK, delivering a specialist training day and providing a valuable insight into the lives of players ahead of the upcoming Learning Disability Super League (LDSL) 2023 season

Community Integrated Care s LDSL is an innovative programme that gives people who have learning disabilities and autism the chance to play a specially adapted version of rugby league for the clubs that they love Representatives of Super League teams attended the CPD (Continuing Professional Development) workshop at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale for sessions led by the charity’s Partnerships and Communities Manager Craig Thomason

The LDSL aims to promote the development of skills, confidence and positive experiences and make a major statement about social inclusion This initiative is the first ever example of a professional sports league sharing its brand with a learning disability sports project

Developed in partnership with the Rugby Football League Super League and the national social care charity Community Integrated Care, the initiative has enabled more than 300 people to live their dreams playing at Anfield and St James Park Central to the training was how the coaches as a collective group can continue to improve players experiences in the LDSL as it prepares for its first two festivals of the season at Wigan and

Leeds on Saturday April 22

Craig Thomason explained

“Throughout the day we discussed why the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League was created and why there was a need for it; why these players can t access other forms of mainstream rugby league

“That helped everyone to realise how important this programme is to people, and how the LDSL has become a focal point for their lives We also discussed how much of a gateway it can be to other opportunities and how it can support the personal development of the people involved so they can live their best lives possible

The event was split into two parts – a morning focusing on the ethos and direction of the LDSL along with a review of the 2022 season and key focal points for the new campaign In the afternoon the coaches had access to autism and disability training, and how this can impact the work that they do at their respective clubs

Craig added We looked at how you can amend your coaching techniques to get the best out of your players and make our sessions present the most inclusive environment for the players We want to as coaches and support staff make the 2023 season the best we’ve seen ”

The 2023 Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League kicks off with festivals in Wigan and Leeds on Saturday April 22 and will again be part of the sport s Magic Weekend in Newcastle on June 3 and 4

Angela Barnes, Head of Business Immigration at Napthens (www napthens co uk), explains the key steps to take when hiring care home staff from abroad

Joint Plea of ‘Utter Dismay’ from Social Care Sector on Funding Cut

Social Care charities and not for profit organisations have made a joint plea to the Department of Health and Social Care to reconsider cutting funding for social care workforce development to £250m rather than the £500m outlined in its 2021 social care white paper, People at the Heart of Care

In a rare move key members of the social care sector have written to Helen Whately MP asking her to reconsider a copy of the letter can be seen below:

JOINT PLEA OF ‘UTTER DISMAY’ FROM SOCIAL CARE SECTOR ON FUNDING CUT

Dear Helen Whatley

We are writing to you as social care charities and not for profit organi-

sations who support over 10 0000 working aged adults with learning disabilities or autism in England and Wales

We are in utter dismay at the decision to cut funding for the social care workforce Adult social care is in a financial crisis that is set to worsen and with staff vacancies at the heart of the issue how could further cuts be the right choice at this time?

The government has said it focuses on recognising care with the status it deserves” but it is hard to see how this is reflected in today’s announcement After more than a decade of cuts we have a social care sector that is on a cliff edge for many providers this could be the final push The announcement today couldn’t be further from the ambitions within People at the Heart of Care

A larger better-paid social care workforce is not just a cost it is an investment Pay parity across the whole NHS and social care economy and an integrated health and social care workforce plan will not solve the

Residents From Local Care Home Visit Reigate’s Town Hall

who took them on a lovely tour of the building The building is a stunning example of Arts & Crafts architecture that originally housed the Town Hall Law Courts Police and Fire station It has ornate Art Nouveau features beautiful stained glass windows paintings by William Tatton Winter and many historic photographs on display

workforce crisis alone but it would help elevate the recruitment and retention pressures we face

We urge government to rethink this short-sightedness and renew the commitments made to the social care workforce so they are treated with the value and status that their dedication deserves

A briefing about our organisations is attached and we would be happy to discuss this further with you

Yours sincerely,

Tim Cooper CEO of United Response

Aisling Duffy, CEO of Certitude

Sarah Maguire CEO of Choice Support

Rachael Dodgson CEO of Dimensions

Sarah Burslem, CEO of Macintyre

Resident’s from Barchester’s Reigate Beaumont in Reigate were invited to the Town Hall for a behind-the-scenes look at the Grade II listed building, which was completed in 1901

Resident s and staff received a warm welcome from the Mayor, Councillor Frank Kelly and Paul

It was a special trip for some residents whom had never been in the building before, even after having lived in the area all their lives Patricia a resident said “The building is impressive from outside but you don t realise how beautiful the décor is on the inside It was a fun outing with a really lovely cup of tea and cake!”

General Manager at Reigate Beaumont Pramojil Kurian said: “A big thankyou to the Mayor for inviting our residents to the Town Hall this morning They really had a great time on the outing!”

Palliative Care and Severe Mental Illness: The Importance of Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration

By Hannah Cadogan, Lecturer in Nursing (Lived Experience), University of Roehampton London (www roehampton ac uk)

Adults with a severe mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia bipolar or psychotic disorders face stigmatisation, underrepresentation and have a life expectancy that is 10-20 years lower than the general population1 Often these adults enter into palliative care or end-of-life services much later in life as they tend to be diagnosed late due to difficulties accessing primary services2 and treatment or receive a lack of understanding of their symptoms by healthcare staff ultimately delaying end-of-life or palliative care discussions

Palliative care is provided to people in the last months or years of their life or to those diagnosed with incurable life-threatening illnesses3

It focuses on preventing diagnosing and treating individuals to improve their quality of life4 physically emotionally and spiritually during their final months

As someone with a lived experience of SMI and who cares for these patients, I know first-hand that these patients do not receive the same care as someone physically unwell SMI patients in palliative care are less likely to have physical health issues often preventing them from receiving the treatment they need causing them to die in intensive care units or emergency departments This lack of understanding is compounded by limited academic research addressing the needs of people with SMI in palliative or end-of-life care

Greater collaborative training between mental health and end-of-life services is vital for palliative care staff to understand how to care for SMI patients Currently healthcare staff are trained based on a specialism, preventing equal care for all patients and important considerations for those with SMI Nurses trained in mental health have limited experience with physical or end-of-life issues Equally palliative care staff have limited mental health knowledge and thus, they do not know how to respond effectively to the needs of patients with SMI leading to avoidance and inadequate care

Increased information sharing by all NHS staff including sharing the patient s history symptoms and general advice on how to best work with patients who have SMI, will help equip staff with the knowledge of how to react more effectively This is especially the case with patients who have a history of drug addiction and are resistant to the medication given in palliative care such as for the treatment of tuberculosis Greater information sharing and transparency are also a good practices especially for mentally well patients receiving palliative care caused by an incurable illness suddenly relapse due to past mental health issues

The presence of a psychiatric nurse in the palliative team would also be highly beneficial as they are already equipped with the right skills to care for SMI patients Psychiatric nurses are trained to address a patient s needs by reducing their mental stress, anxiety and increasing their physical and psychological well-being5 While not a common practice I have witnessed how helpful psychiatric nurses are in tending to the needs of patients supporting nurses when it comes to diagnosis and easing patients psychological symptoms during my time as a nurse at Chelsea Westminster Hospital from 2006-2007 This increased cooperation between psychiatric nurses and nurses within wards that focus on addressing a patient’s physical and psychological needs has been lost due to the adoption of new methods and insufficient funding Building this practice back into the NHS within a palliative care environment would ensure SMI patients receive the best care possible

While there is increased acknowledgement that more research into SMI patients must be conducted progress remains slow I cannot stress enough the importance of how better cooperation on training and skill sharing greater transparency and the reintroduction of psychiatry nurses are just some of the ways that can help palliative care staff provide more sufficient care for patients, both physically and mentally As someone with SMI and as a nurse that works in palliative care, it is vital that patients with SMI are given palliative care provision particularly as this is a group of patients who sadly presently die younger than the rest of the population

1 Barr ers to pall ative care for people with severe mental illness exploring the views of cl nical staff European Journal of Pall ative Care January 2018

2 A systemat c rev ew of palliat ve care tools and interventions for people with severe mental llness: https //bmcpsychiatry biomedcentral com/art cles/10 1186/s12888-019-2078-7

3 Pall ative Care for Term nally ll ndividuals W th Borderl ne Personality Disorder: https://pubmed ncb nlm nih gov/31188458/

4On the Margins of Death: A Scoping Rev ew on Palliat ve Care and Sch zophrenia: https //journals sagepub com/doi/10 1177/0825859718804108

5 Role of Psych atric Nurse in Pall ative Care: https //juniperpubl shers com/ ojnhc/pdf/JOJNHC MS D 555705 pdf

Social Care Workforce Funding to be Halved

Funding promised to develop the social care workforce in England has been halved, the government has confirmed

In 2021 the government promised at least £500 million for reforms to be spent on training places and technology over three years however that figure is now £250 million according to the Department of Health

Measures set out in the government s white paper on social care published in December 2021, include the creation of a new Care Certificate qualification and funding for hundreds of thousands of training places and also sets out proposals to speed up digitising social care records and make better use of technology such as smart speakers and sensors

The white paper also promised to invest at least £150 million in digitisation across the sector but the Department of Health and Social Care said the figure is now £100 million as £50 million has already been spent

ANGRY care providers say a Government cut in funding for the sector’s workforce is yet another cruel betrayal of a sector looking after the country s most vulnerable

The Independent Care Group (ICG) says the news comes at a time when the sector is in crisis and needs an increase rather than cuts in funding It is also calling for long-overdue plans for social care reform to be published straight away and not “within weeks”

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said:

This is yet another cruel and unfair cut to the funding we need to provide help and support to older and vulnerable people

The sector is going through an unprecedented staffing crisis with 165 000 vacancies crippling our delivery of care We need every penny of funding and cannot afford to have £250m removed at a stroke like this

The Government insists that all promised funding will stay within the sector but we cannot believe a word they tell us anymore

The sector is suffering demise by a thousand cuts and the people who will suffer most are the 1 6m people who cannot get care and the hundreds of thousands more who are finding they need help and support every day ”

It cannot be acceptable that government after government keeps on delaying reform to the social care sector,” Mr Padgham added “We are now being told that plans will be announced “within weeks” – how

many times have we been told that before? And that will just be the plan –we could wait months or even years for reform to begin

Meanwhile the number of people waiting for care now at 1 6m continues to grow and care and nursing homes and homecare providers are closing

On a daily basis people are having to sell their home to pay for the care they need and more and more people living with dementia are having to pay for care whilst others with equally serious illnesses get their treatment and care on the NHS

Caroline Abrahams co-chair of the Care & Support Alliance & Charity Director of Age UK said:

“With a fair wind these announcements might just about take us to social care base camp over the next couple of years but that s hard to swallow when millions of older and disabled people, and their unpaid carers, needed something far bigger bolder & more genuinely strategic to give them hope for the future The truth is the measures in this plan are generally quite modest and foundational, so although mostly welcome in themselves they aren t remotely enough to transform social care and that s what we needed to see today

“You just can’t provide really good care tailored to people’s individual needs & aspirations if you haven t got the staff to do it Government knows this as well as we do so it s all the more disappointing that they aren t taking action on care pay If there was one element that should have been in the Plan this was it United Responses chief excutive Tim Cooper said:

This comes just weeks after the sector pulse check report from Hft and Care England laid bare the financial and workforce pressures which have seen 42% of providers forced to close parts of their organisation or hand back care contracts

“The sector could not have been clearer that the workforce crisis leaves some of the most vulnerable in society at risk of not being able to access the support they need It is unthinkable that these concerns have been swept aside and is a huge retreat from what was already minimal advancement in a long-term reform for social care ”

The government urgently needs to increase their investment now to utilise and recognise the skills and innovation within the social care workforce before the social care system become unsustainable ”

Ex Ballerina Margot in School Ballet Recital Visit

Bushey House Beaumont Care Home resident was invited to St Hilda s school in Bushey to watch a ballet recital

Margot was herself once a professional ballerina and danced in the same ballet group as world famous ballerina Margot Fonteyn She was introduced to the audience and delighted them with tales of dancing all over the world She and Margot

Fonteyn were great friends and shared stories on how they constantly got confused who was being told off as they both shared the same name

Margot said I had a lovely afternoon watching the girl s dance all of whom are very talented and I do hope some will go onto study ballet

NHS to Social Care - A Nurses Stor y

Charlotte Baseley knew at just 4 years old that she wanted to be a nurse She became intrigued by a visit to the hospital to see her grandparents and was enamoured with the work the nurses were doing However it took Charlotte until she was 23 years old to feel confident enough to apply and begin her nursing journey in the NHS It wasn t easy she tells me I was considered a mature student and no one had much guidance for me Then I discovered an Access to Nursing course and the rest as they say is history

During her time as a newly qualified Junior Nurse Charlotte was unjustly subjected to a severely traumatic event that led to her suffering a mental breakdown Charlotte gave up nursing altogether while she took some time to process what had happened and piece her life back together After a short stint working in care homes Charlotte worked up the courage to apply to University and return to nursing I am not a victim I am a survivor I got myself together and gained my confidence back I got my nursing PIN back I got me back and I won ”

Charlotte got her nursing PIN back just in time to help the country and was back working for the NHS when Covid hit “It was the most intense and strange experience and the stress of the work load took its toll on me I wanted to go back to where I was happy and be able to care the way I love to Taking time chatting and getting to know the person you are caring for I’d recently moved to Devon and Hatherleigh Nursing Home popped up with a nurse vacancy I am all for taking signs from the universe I applied and here I am ”

A NURSING CAREER AT HATHERLEIGH

Could you tell me about your role at Hatherleigh? What is the dif ference between an NHS Nurse and a Social Care Nurse?

Here I can get to know people I m not rushed to process them through to discharge or to a ward When you have enough time to get to know someone you learn what they are responsive to I can take the time to engage in different ways which means events such as daily administration of medication which some people find upsetting is more successful

There’s paperwork responsibilities and policies like in all places but in Hatherleigh it’s person-centred In a hospital we try so so hard to be person-centred and take time with a patient but it s just not a luxury we could afford When you work on the wards you try to get to know patients and if they are staying long term you do your best But in Hatherleigh each Family Member is extremely well known

How did you find your first day at Hatherleigh?

I loved it and I was ready to come back for more It’s very inclusive you're new and everyone wants to know who you are what you do and how they can help you to settle in I was constantly told if you need anything just ask and you could tell everyone really meant it

How would you describe the team at Hatherleigh?

The most individual bunch of humans I have ever met with the biggest of hearts and passion for what

they do From the Domestic team - who can I just say are AMAZING and so diverse, will help however they can The catering team make sure everyone is looked after But the Carers - they work so hard and try to achieve the best possible care I would 100000% put my relative in this care home and sleep easy at night, which is no mean feat for a nurse

What suppor t do you receive from the team that you didn’t in an A&E environment?

Our manager Ashley - I can talk to her about anything I am a person If I have something going on and I feel it’s going to affect my work I can talk to her and she will solve it Her way of management makes all the difference in the world

Can you sum up our training in 3 words?

Unique fun informative

How has the team at Hatherleigh helped you to heal from your negative experiences as a Junior Nurse?

They have been SO supportive Faye one of our Care Practitioners has been the most supportive and is an amazing human I have big love for her Working in healthcare is part of what saved me This career gives you so much more than a paycheck It gives you purpose and reason

What is your favourite par t about being a par t of the Evolve family?

I can literally be myself Nursing can be very cliquey and I often felt not good enough Not in Hatherleigh - you are celebrated for who you are

What is your favourite par t about being a nurse?

The privilege of being a part of people s lives at such a delicate and vulnerable time

What is a piece of advice you would give to your younger self? Is there anything you would have done dif ferently?

You are enough and if you really want it - you WILL achieve it Honestly I wouldn t do anything differently Because it’s made me who I am, and I quite like me

What oppor tunities do you think nurses have in the care sector that aren’t available to them in the NHS?

There’s more training, more supervision and better career guidance They also offer more time to take on further education

How do you think Evolve suppor ts their team members to meet the goals they want to achieve and progress in the care sector?

I have expressed a desire to pursue further degrees in Dementia Care and Care of Senior Adults I feel this will be supported Ashley literally is on it with training and if you say you want certain training in a specific area she works with you to find a course and have encourages you to participate

What would you say to someone who is thinking about star ting out in the care sector but is worried they won’t be able to progress or have a “successful” career?

It s a common misconception that successful nurses are high up in hospitals only This is not true The care sector has so many clinical positions and speciality positions I have a good friend who has become clinical lead in the care sector and she's very happy Nursing is not a one size fits all If you want to succeed and progress then the opportunities are there

Finally, would you recommend a career in social care nursing and why?

YES! I finally found where I am most happy as a nurse in social care I can nurse be clinical but also be a friend a confidante and be part of a family I can look after people in my own timescale and take time where it s needed Nursing in hospitals is amazing but social care also has so much to offer If you want a career in it, talk to a nurse already there JOIN A CAREER IN SOCIAL CARE NURSING

If you re a Nurse looking for a career with progression and a solid support system that gives you more time to provide emotional support to the people in your care then Evolve Care Group want to hear from you

Local Care Home Workers Scoop Award For Their Compassionate Care

Two care home workers from Haywards Heath are celebrating this week after picking up top honours at the prestigious West Sussex Care Accolades

Dynamic duo Kirstyn Box and Ruud Oosterbaan, who are both wellbeing coordinators at Aria Care s Walstead Place Care Home were announced as winners in the Ancillary Worker category during a glitzy awards ceremony at the Chichester Park Hotel on Thursday 30th March

The West Sussex Care Accolades celebrate the important and challenging work that care workers do in providing support care and companionship to residents in retirement homes

The pair are much loved by the residents at Walstead Place and have created a biography of every person there in order to devise a resident-led activities programme

In addition to a jam-packed schedule of activities they also create special events such as the Woscars to give residents a taste of award season and the

opportunity to nominate staff for an award, as well as the Walstead Olympics, in which everyone takes part Jacquie Ferguson, home manager at Walstead Place, who nominated the pair said: I am so proud of Kirstyn and Ruud for winning this award but it doesn't surprise me at all Together they give joy and wonderment everyday to our residents

"The residents are always telling them they are the best They have written cards and letters to the fact Each meeting we have with the residents they cannot praise them enough; the families extend this praise also and they are very much loved in all they do The wider community of the church and other groups have all stated what a wonderful team they are together and they come as a package Kirstyn and Ruud put their heart and soul into everything they do - this award is so well deserved

Beaucare Select St Fillans Care Home For Activity

Afternoon as Part of 30th Anniversar y Celebrations

a colourful creation they could keep!

The people living and working at St Fillans would like to thank Beaucare for choosing St Fillans and facilitating an enjoyable afternoon for residents

Inspirational Care Home Resident

Living with MND Defies Prognosis and Publishes Book to Raise More Than £1,000 For Charity

hosted a celebratory event to mark his big achievement

The launch party held on 21st March was attended by members of Robert’s family friends and representatives from the West Surrey MNDA branch who came along to congratulate Robert on his inspirational accomplishment

Throughout the afternoon guests enjoyed a selection of speeches a congratulatory video message from Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Motor Neurone Disease Andrew

PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND ST YLISH TROLLEYS TO

Robert Murphy a care home resident in Camberley has raised vital funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) following the launch of his new book which he wrote over three years aided by cutting edge technology

The book of 21 poems entitled Reflections of a Life Well Lived, provides an extremely heartwarming and moving memoir of his life s journey and subsequent Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis in January 2018

His story covers his early days on the Kings Road in Chelsea defying his doctors’ 18-month prognosis following his diagnosis consequently allowing him to see his daughter Sarah get married, twice overcome Covid-19 and welcome his grandson into the world

Robert wrote the book using eye gaze technology a specialist and life-changing piece of equipment which converts minute movements of the eye into spoken words and allows him to communicate with others

To celebrate the official launch of his book the team at Signature at Camberley, where Robert has been a resident since early 2019

Lewer MP OBE, and book readings from Sheila Easey and Brenda Hill friends of Robert at Signature at Camberley

The emotional day concluded with a book stamp signing by Robert and final reflections from the inspirational man himself

Speaking about the day Girly Braga General Manager at Signature at Camberley said

It was an absolute privilege to host such a wonderful event and help in making Rob s dream of publishing his book of poems a reality He is truly an incredible person who continues to inspire us every single day Congratulations Rob!

Hewitt Independent Review of ICSs Published

Patricia Hewitt’s independent review into Integrated Care Systems (ICS) has been published the Government has today announced

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay commissioned Hewitt to chair the review in November 2022 asking her to explore how the oversight and governance of ICSs can best equip them for success

The review has identified six key principles that it believes will create the context in which ICSs can thrive and deliver These are: collaboration within and between systems and national bodies; a limited number of shared priorities; allowing local leaders the space and time to lead; the right support; balancing freedom with accountability; and enabling access to timely transparent and high-quality data

ICBs include representatives from local authorities primary care and NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts

The review covered ICSs in England and the NHS targets and priori-

ties for which ICBs are accountable including those set out in the government s mandate to NHS England

Drawing on the insights of leaders from across the NHS local government social care providers the charitable and the voluntary and social enterprise sector the review looked at how best to empower local leaders to focus on improving outcomes for their populations

Organisations representing patients as well as experts in academia and think tanks also fed into the call for evidence which received more than 400 responses

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

Integrated care systems are an important part of the government s plan to deliver more joined up and effective health and care services and to cut waiting times for patients one of the Prime Minister s key priorities for 2023

Ministers will review recommendations of this report in due course Chair of the independent review of integrated care systems Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt said

It was an enormous privilege to undertake this review published today

Integrated Care Systems represent the best opportunity in a generation for the urgently needed transformation that we need in our health and care system Everyone wants them to succeed

To fulfil their potential however we need not only to back our new structures but also to change our culture Everyone needs to change

and everyone needs to play their part

My recommendations are intended to help the health and care system make those changes – and I hope that ministers NHS England and others will feel able to take them forward

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation said:

I welcome Patricia s review and the recommendations she sets out

“While the foundations for Integrated Care Systems were set out in legislation last year what we now need to see is a cultural and behavioural shift to make the best of these new structures – something this review will help to instigate

It is testament to the Review team s tenacity and hard work that a wide range of ICSs have been involved in the consultation process and reflects on the importance of seeing the health of the nation as more than the health service but as integral to a healthy and thriving society

The focus on prevention is crucial for long term sustainability of both the NHS and more broadly to increase health and wellbeing of the population and something for which we have long been advocating

Through our ICS Network and its members we look forward to continuing to help enable joint working between ICS leaders as recommended in the review and ensuring that ICSs can work closely with social care providers

We hope to see the government endorse and accept all of these recommendations which are vital to the health and care system being able to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead

Local Care Home Partners With Local School For Enfield Intergenerational Project

Hugh Myddelton House Care Home in Southgate have teamed up with Merryhills Primary school for an intergenerational project connecting residents with local school children

Residents of Hugh Myddelton House run by Barchester Healthcare were delighted to be invited to visit Merryhills Primary school Residents travelled in the homes mini bus and were greeted by a group of students and teachers from Merryhills Primary, who laid on a lovely tea party to celebrate Easter afterwards they chatted and residents shared their childhood memories of Easter

The Enfield project began during lock down and encour-

aged students from local schools to get creative and reach out to older people in their community by sending letters and hand drawn pictures It was wonderful for residents and students to meet each other in person and make friends as part of the inter-generational scheme

Jade Shea general manager at Hugh Myddelton House said “Residents have really enjoyed sharing their stories with the young people; so many have incredible tales and they love hearing the adventures of the students The students seem to really enjoy their time together to they were sad when it was time for them to go back to class and asked if they could stay longer!

How Healthcare Workers Can Raise Concerns Without Fear of Reprisal

by Nicholas Hayes and Andrew Pepper-Parsons at Protect Whistleblowing charity (www protect-advice org uk)

The NHS is currently facing unprecedented pressure because of staffing shortages and funding cuts Healthcare workers are feeling overwhelmed, and patient health and safety is being put at risk

Consequently staff from the health sector feel obligated to speak up and Protect the UK s leading whistleblowing charity advised 350 healthcare workers on how to blow the whistle safely last year alone

It is vital that health care workers feel comfortable raising their concerns without fear of reprisal they are the eyes and ears for organisations regulators and the public But it s not always clear how to navigate the process

WHISTLEBLOWING LAW

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) gives workers protection against negative treatment from their employer after raising their concerns The protection applies where a worker, including primary care professionals has raised public interest concerns about specific types of wrongdoing

WHAT TYPE OF CONCERNS ARE PROTECTED?

Any matters that may affect the health and safety of an individual or breach of the law may fall within whistleblowing concerns In the health sector some of the examples we see include:

Poor clinical practice

Unsafe staffing levels

• Inadequate training

Culture of bullying and harassment

• Safeguarding failures

Fraud

It is important to note that you do not have to be certain that wrongdoing has occurred and hard evidence although helpful is not necessary to raise your concern You simply need to have a reasonable belief that there is cause for concern and provide information rather than just an allegation about the wrongdoing WHERE CAN I RAISE MY CONCERNS?

Internally

Approaching a line manager or supervisor with concerns is often a sensible approach and the law protects this approach whether a disclosure is made to a line manager or the Chief Executive

It is important to be able to raise concerns higher in the management chain However there will be times where the concerns are about the conduct of the line manager or they have failed to deal with concerns in the past so approaching this person would not be appropriate

This is where an employer s whistleblowing policy will be useful as it often explains the best person outside of line management to approach Following a policy is not a requirement though it s a guide on who to approach, there can be real value in approaching a manager or director you trust with concerns inside the organisation Many health sector organisations have Freedom to Speak Up Guardians who can support those raising concerns

Externally

Where the concerns have not been addressed or if you have little faith the concerns will be addressed internally e g because you are aware of other whistleblowers being victimised or ignored or maybe past concerns you’ve raised have been ignored you can go outside of your employer

The law protects whistleblowers who raise concerns with a regulator, an MP or – in some circumstances – even the media if they lose their job or are victimised for doing so https://www gov uk/government/publications/blowing-the-whistle-list-of-prescribed-people-and-bodies--2/whistleblowing-list-of-

prescribed-people-and-bodiesIf

you blow the whistle to a regulator

you must reasonably believe that your concern falls within that regulator’s remit and that the information you disclose is substantially true

An appropriate regulator in the health sector might be the Care Quality Commission or one of the professional health bodies- a full list of regulators can be found here

Disclosure to the media may be protected but comes with the strictest legal tests and is usually a place of last resort for disclosure

You must either reasonably believe that you will be victimised by your employer fear that evidence will be concealed by them or that your concern is exceptionally serious

https://www gov uk/government/publications/blowing-the-whistle-list-of-prescribed-people-and-bodies--2/whistleblowing-list-ofprescribed-people-and-bodies

WHERE CAN I GET ADVICE?

Getting early advice especially when you are considering those external disclosures is important and there are places that provide such guidance You can get support in raising your concerns from:

Protect s free and confidential Advice Line (020 3117 2520);

Your trade union or professional body;

Your local Freedom to Speak Up Guardian

If you have already raised public interest concerns in the NHS you may be eligible for the NHS Speaking Up support scheme

If you are concerned about wrongdoing it is important to know that there is legal protection and that you shouldn’t be treated badly or dismissed for doing so

Nicky Hayes is a qualified solicitor and Legal Adviser at the whistleblowing charity Protect Prior to oining Protect Nicky completed his training contract at an international law firm where he gained experience in Private Equity Employment Intellectual Property Data and Technology and Pro Bono which included a secondment to Protect

Andrew Pepper-Parsons is Head of Policy at Protect oversee ng the charities lobbying and research functions He s been with the charity since 2007 and holds a law degree from Solent University and MSc in Policy Government and Politics from Birkbeck College, University of London

As Energy Prices Surge, Wolf Laundr y Offers Assistance To Care Homes

Commercial laundry expert Wolf is tackling the cost-of-living crisis within the care industry by providing expert personalised advice comprehensive consumption figures and additional training

Barnsley-based Wolf Laundry has more than 30 years experience within the laundry sector and provides bespoke commercial laundry equipment across the UK to heavy users including care homes, universities and holiday parks

Recognising the energy cost pressure facing the care home market Wolf Laundry is working with clients to help them better understand usage and educate them about the cost savings that can be achieved by switching to gas

Wolf Laundry research showing figures for their Primus Dryer range reveals electricity rates reach £9 18 for a 24kg capacity load of laundry but, in contrast the same brand of the machine holding an identical capacity fuelled by gas was almost half the price costing £4 92

Joshua Brown Director at Wolf Laundry said: We aim to provide the most transparent information to help our clients make the best choices for them We cannot deny that right now gas is much more cost efficient but we’re working with customers to help them understand the options

We ve recently rolled out a training programme for the care home sector focusing on achieving optimal hygiene as efficiently as possible We’re working on a one-to-one basis with several care homes to help them find an efficient long-term solution

“We appreciate that our customers are making difficult choices about energy bills and trying to balance

that with long term sustainability targets Together we’re able to come up with bespoke packages to suit a client s particular business requirements and our customers are really welcoming this helpful and transparent approach ”

Providing a comprehensive range of the best commercial laundry equipment on the market, Wolf Laundry stocks washing machines, dryers, and finishing equipment as well as its own range of detergents and other products to assist with infection control

Joshua added: “In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and with spiralling energy costs the price of a load of laundry is increasing

“With care homes running on fine financial margins, ensuring each load of laundry is cost-effective can be one of key factors as to whether they can stay open or are at threat of closure It’s as stark as that ”

One of Wolf Laundry s care home clients have the Schulthess W range washing machines installed

Steve Holroyd Secretary of Warmest Welcome Care Homes said: The information that Wolf has provided us with helps us make the best choices and for us that s still electric but the consumption figures have shown us what else we should be considering right now in regard to how much each load of washing costs and how much that could change throughout the cost-of-living crisis

“With costs rising, we were able to consider everything very carefully to ensure that we can save money where necessary and ultimately have additional resource for other needs within the care home For further information call today on 0800 840 9598 or visit www wolflaundry co uk

G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution

Genee is a UK leading manufacturer of innovative affordable interactive technological solutions Genee plays an integral role across all major industries, including health care, to support patients residents and staff

Having supported Care Homes through the pandemic The G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution is one of Genee s most impactful solutions yet The solution includes; the G-Touch Interactive Screen Electric Mobile Trolley and a Wireless Battery Pack It’s portability, specially designed and simple to use interface, as well as its multitude of applications are specifically built for residents and staff in mind

Don’t just take our word for it The Dove Haven Care Grouphave said the following:

‘ We have recently implemented the Genee Interactive touch tables into our homes with great results!

Our residents really enjoy playing on the touch table singing karaoke as well as solving puzzles and completing quizzes individually or in a group environment We find the table really improves the mood of our residents and helps them work and play together around the touch table at the same time They are great in aiding our residents living with sensory impairment and encourages their general rehabilitation and independence We have been able to increase activity time and availability without increasing our staff s workload

The difference that these tables have made is amazing! Residents have embraced the technology and every day we find new ways to use it The benefits of the Interactive tablehavebeen shown to improve residents mood and greater physical social and cognitive activity and positively impacts on relationships with care staff friends and family With the table being portable it does not restrict where it can be used The service users are attracted to it due to the size of the screen and the portable aspect of it When service users are having 1:1 time with our activities co-ordinator other service users are watching and

wanting to get involved

The table is easy to use and can be used by all ’’

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

Interested to find out how affordable we are? Get in touch today and reference the code ‘#TheCarer’

+44 (0)1902 390 862

sales@genee-group com

www genee-group com

Taking Care of Fire Safety

By Rob Yates, Head of Building Products Fire Safety in the UK and Ireland for Siemens (www siemens co uk)

All buildings have their own specific requirements in terms of fire safety and risk assessments are the primary method of ensuring that a fire alarm system meets those needs Care homes are no different, although the nature of the elderly occupants and their mobility issues need to be a particular focus in selecting an appropriate method of protecting the occupants and the care home itself from the threat of fire

In the majority of buildings evacuation plans are a core element of fire safety procedures and while this is also true of a care home the fact that it may be impossible to evacuate some of the residents has a direct impact on the requirements outlined in the respective standards In BS5839-1, for example, the following clauses need to be considered

If occupants need assistance from staff to escape and there are more than 10 sleeping persons the system should be addressable

Residential care premises should be provided with automatic connection to Alarm Receiving Centres (ARC)

Signals to Alarm Receiving Centres cannot be delayed from residential care homes

ADDRESSING THE SPECIFICS

Given all of the above it is easy to appreciate that early detection of a fire incident is particularly important in a care home Many care homes operate with older conventional fire alarm systems Picking up on the first point, these need to be upgraded to addressable systems to enable the location of an incident to be identified quickly In doing so it is important to consider the options in terms of cost implications associated with this migration Some systems will require replacement of not only the devices but also reconfiguration of the wiring into a loop Others do not thereby offering considerable savings in installation costs

The ability to identify the location of an incident quickly can be further enhanced through powered floor repeater panels allowing the situation to be reviewed without needing to go to the location of the main fire panel The ever-increasing use of cloud-based technology (see final paragraph) can take this a stage further, with apps available which allow monitoring of fire safety on a mobile phone

In many applications delays in sending a fire alarm signal to an ARC are often deliberate to allow time to investigate to see if it is a false alarm or of a scale that can be tackled safely with a fire extinguisher However as is clearly stated in the British Standard this is not the case in a care home Turning to the issue of false alarms as indicated in the extract from BS5839-1 the requirement is for a

maximum of 1 false alarm per 20 detectors annually Obviously zero false alarms is an even better scenario in an application where an alarm can cause panic confusion and considerable disruption Systems are now available which will provide a guarantee of no false alarms with multi-criteria detection technology which detects a fire incident quickly without being impacted by deceptive phenomena such as toasters or steam Crucial to this is drift compensation whereby the sensitivity of the detector is automatically adjusted to reflect the build-up of dust or dirt, without, importantly, affecting response times

CLOUD-BASED TECHNOLOGY

Increasingly as in so many of our day-to-day activities the internet and the cloud are becoming pivotal in the latest fire detection solutions Digitalisation has made significant advances in terms of ease of use of fire safety systems User interfaces are becoming ever more graphics-based with the swipe click drag and drop approach so familiar from our mobile phones

Online portals can provide an overview of a care home’s fire safety, or, for those organisations operating a number of facilities, across all connected sites Multi-site dashboards can provide locations of all sites in one place, with a status bar indicating the respective status of each in real-time, with a simple colour-coded approach to identify sites where problems may be occurring

Interoperability is a phrase that has been around now for some time in terms of building management systems and it is gathering momentum as digitalisation increases This is the potential to connect multiple systems which can then compliment each other An example would be a CCTV camera able to zoom in on a fire location or record the operation of a call point while a lift can report return status or louvres can be automatically activated in the event of an alarm activation to aid smoke ventilation

Care homes offer their own specific challenges in terms of fire safety By understanding those challenges and adopting a fire safety approach which reflects them residents and the buildings themselves can be effectively protected

ROB YATES

Rob Yates is Head of Building Products Fire Safety in the UK and Ireland for Siemens He has over 30 years experience in the fire industry

Care Home Residents Enjoy Fantasy Tea Party

healthy Roselea House part of the Holmes Care Group, regularly looks for creative opportunities to entertain residents as part of its mission to provide outstanding care and support to the elderly Elsie Forbes, resident at Roselea House said: “The tea party was great fun – I ve always loved fancy dress and enjoy any excuse to get dressed up

Ruth Goodman, manager at Roselea House said: All the residents had a brilliant time at our tea party! The home looked incredible with the decorations and everyone got into the fantasy spirit

Increased Funding for Care Homes Providing Nursing

Residents at Local Care Home Enjoy a Visit from 17th Reigate (St Joseph’s) Scout Group

District Scouts said:

“Using the grounds for our annual Easter egg hunt provided a safe environment to explore and find the hidden eggs Including the residents in the activity demonstrated that you re never too old to enjoy Scouting or chocolate!”

General Manager Pramojil of Reigate Beaumont Care Home said “It is really great to be able to offer our beautiful garden to our local Reigate District Scouts for their Easter egg hunt and our residents loved interacting with the children

of Reigate

Raising

The

Offering innovative designs, all of the company’s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces, for safe storage and are easily transported and charged In addition, all of its Stair

Still No Widespread Adoption Of Digital Social Care Ser vices, Report

A new report has found that only a handful of councils housing and care organisations are delivering digital care in people s homes at scale to cut hospital admissions speed up emergency response times and reduce long waits for formal social care

Despite evidence that using technology in social care keeps people safe healthy and happy at home the report found no large-scale use of digital services There are isolated examples of activity but little integration within the broader social care and health ecosystem

Published by the TEC Action Alliance which involves over 30 care organisations such as are Care England Carers UK Housing LIN TEC Services Association (TSA) and Think Local Act Personal (TLAP), alongside technology suppliers the report Technology-Enabled Lives:

Delivering Outcomes for People and Providers examines barriers to widespread adoption

One issue is the conflict between shaping digital care around people’s needs and replicating services economically at scale

Over the past five months the TEC Action Alliance has heard evidence from a range of people who draw on care, along with frontline workers and leaders in care health housing and local government

Over 2 000 people were surveyed on their attitudes towards and use of technology enabled care (TEC) and focus groups held with individuals who have lived experience Research into housing associations councils and health bodies that use technology to integrate care services has been conducted

Results show that digital social care services reduce ambulance trips to A&E by 68% they help 85% of people remain at home if emergency calls are handled by TEC responder teams they cut emergency response times to 30 mins, and help to refer 40% of people to community services rather than formal social care (compared to 7% pre-pan-

demic)

Although survey results indicate a strong appetite amongst people of all ages to use technology in health and care - 86% said they are likely or extremely likely to use it in the future - evidence also shows this potential isn t yet being realised Only 18% of respondents currently use telecare or telehealth services and half of these people use it less than once a week Barriers include safety concerns a lack of confidence and perceptions that digital care is expensive

The report calls on care commissioners and suppliers to listen carefully to what people want and co-produce their services and products with individuals to ensure there is enhanced focus on personal needs

It also asks that health and care data is shared more widely with consent, to enable a joined-up response, locally In addition, the report

recommends that care technology is integrated within broader NHS plans around virtual wards and that funding is made available for preventative technology proactively supporting people at home rather than purely for hospital discharge

In the next stage of its work the TEC Action Alliance will identify how to bridge the divide between personalising and scaling services An action paper will be developed to evidence the relationship between engaging people who draw on care and delivering successful outcomes

Alyson Scurfield CEO of TEC Services Association (TSA) and co-chair of the TEC Action Alliance said: “At a time of immense pressure on NHS and social care services digital care services can put power in the hands of people helping them to self-manage their own health and live the life they want to lead We’ve found some pockets of good technology-enabled care but still no national adoption To address this we must understand how technology-enabled care can be better personalised and scaled ”

Clenton Farquharson MBE, Chair of Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) and co-chair of the TEC Action Alliance said: Currently we talk about digitising social care health and housing re-engineering systems and processes What I don’t hear about are ‘technology-enabled lives , where the ambitions and aspirations of the individual come first made possible by digital This paper is a welcome opportunity to rethink technology-enabled care and what people actually want from it It s a chance to step back from the equipment, solutions and systems and re-evaluate what really matters

Download the TEC Action Alliance report Technology-Enabled

Lives: Delivering Outcomes for People and Providers at https://tinyurl com/yc7enwf5

Royal Python and Corn Snake Seen in Clacton

On 28 March, residents and staff at the Diagrama run Edensor Care Home in Clacton were delighted to spend a couple of hours with two snakes

The Edensor nursing and dementia care home in Clacton welcomed two special visitors when one of the Care home’s Senior Carers brought in his two snakes

Kaa a Royal Python and Nemisis a Corn snake

The residents really valued the experience and enjoyed feeling the texture and warmth of the snakes and exploring more about these often misunderstood reptiles

Dale Gould Senior Carer Edensor Care Centre said “Bringing my two snakes into Edensor enabled our residents to have a very different experience and most of the residents really enjoyed meeting and holding the snakes Kaa my Royal Python and Nemisis the Corn snake are eleven years old and can live up to 30 or 40 years so hopefully the residents will enjoy a regular visit for many years to come Andrew Parlour, an Edensor resident with Alzheimer's said, "I used to own snakes myself, so this brought back amazing memories of my own snakes and I really enjoyed the experience of holding these beautiful reptiles "

Sabina Mach, Manager, Edensor Care Centre said, “It was great to see everyone’s reactions to the snakes Andrew in particular was so engaged talking about them and his past experiences with snakes brought about many happy memories from his life, which made the whole experience so valuable and worthwhile

It is hoped that Dale will bring in the snakes each month and that other reptiles including tortoises or lizards will visit the residents Sabina Mach Manager Edensor Care Centre continued, "The visit from Dale s snakes meant our residents were able to explore these amazing creatures up close and learn more about them Many of our residents have dementia and there are significant benefits to allowing people to reconnect with past fun memories Witnessing their interactions engagement and comments showed us just how many positive things our residents took from the experience Their smiles and reactions were priceless and they're already talking about the next visit and looking forward to it

Anchor Becomes First Care and Housing Provider to Be Awarded ‘Gold Status’ by Inclusive Employers

The accolade follows the Bronze award status Anchor achieved in 2020 and the Silver Award status achieved 18 months ago in 2021

The housing and care provider is only the third organisation that Inclusive Employers works with to achieve Gold status

Sarah Jones Chief Executive at Anchor said:

“While we know there’s always more we can do we’re absolutely delighted to have achieved Gold accreditation from Inclusive Employers, recognising us as among the best employers in the UK when it comes to equality diversity and inclusion

“For us to have done this only 18 months since we achieved Silver is a mark of the hard work and firm commitment of so many across the organisation to inclusion in the workplace ” Anchor works with residents and colleagues to ensure inclusion is part of their everyday approach and has been focused on creating a workplace where all colleagues can thrive Anchor has given particular effort on embedding its inclusion practices by ensuring leaders and colleagues understand how the whole organisation is responsible for making diversity and inclusion an everyday reality Anchor has also utilised the many resources and practices it has to further inclusion within the organisation

Teagan Robinson-Bell, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Anchor said: It s incredible to work for an organisation that not only cares about its colleagues and residents but shows a willingness to improve and embed a culture of inclusion I am thrilled to see Anchor’s progress to Gold after being awarded Silver 18-months ago It really demonstrates the organisation s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion

“We’re the first provider of care and housing to be awarded Gold and I ve really enjoyed watching our colleagues drive our diversity and inclusion agenda within their teams too We’re dedicated to being a truly diverse and inclusive organisation and this award recognises that commitment ”

Claire Williams Managing Director at Inclusive Employers organisers of the Inclusive Employers Standard said:

“Huge congratulations to the team at Anchor having received a Gold in their Inclusive Employer Standard assessment 2023 The organisation has demonstrated significant work and huge commitment to inclusion over a number of years starting by completing the Foundation Inclusive Employers Standard 2019, and then the full assessment on three further occasions moving through Bronze and Silver and now achieving Gold

“As only the third organisation to ever achieve Gold and the first in the care and housing sector this is a massive achievement and a fantastic example of inclusion return on investment – Anchor is a real role model for other employers with big inclusion ambition Well done!

International Dementia Research Project Launched

An international project led by the University of Stirling is to investigate how people living with dementia can be better included in decisions taken in their communities

Led by dementia expert Dr Richard Ward, a research team including specialists from Canada Germany and the UK will look at the benefits, challenges and outcomes of the participation of people living with dementia and unpaid carers in community development and related policy-making provision and practice

The team includes: Dr Ward of the University of Stirling; Professor Reimer Gronemeyer of Justus Liebig University Giessen and co-founder of the Aktion Demenz dementia-friendly communities network in Germany; Professor Alison Phinney co-director of the Centre for Research on Personhood in Dementia at the University of British Columbia; Dr Elaine Wiersma Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health at Lakehead University, Ontario; and Professor Andrew Clark of the University of Salford

Dr Richard Ward Senior Lecturer in Dementia at the University of Stirling said: Approximately two-thirds of people with dementia live in the community and this overall percentage is rising as care and support adopts a community focus in many parts of the world Yet people with dementia have been excluded from participating in their communities and historically have been overlooked by policy-making planning design and service provision

“The recent pandemic has shed light on this exclusion, showing that people living with dementia face disadvantages when accessing health and social care services Indeed around the world people with dementia have been afforded little influence over the handling of the crisis or its subsequent impact upon their care

and support

“We want to ensure that communities are inclusive of people with conditions such as dementia and through this project aim to generate evidence to guide much-needed reform to community-based services and support

Now widely recognised as a global health challenge, an estimated 50 million people live with dementia worldwide with that number set to rise by 152 million by 2050

The research, which is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada, DFG, German Research Council and UKRI s (UK Research and Innovation) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) will look at the potential of dementia-friendly communities and initiatives’ (DFCIs) – a movement recently introduced by WHO – to tackle exclusion share good practice and learning on an international scale In the long-term researchers aim to redefine public awareness and understanding of dementia by demonstrating the significant social contribution made by people living with the condition within their communities

Dr Richard Ward added: “In the wake of the pandemic, public spaces across the world are being reshaped in anticipation of other emerging global challenges so the timing of this research is significant

This new study will empower people living with dementia and unpaid carers to influence these changes as we aim to generate learning about the most effective and supportive ways that people with dementia can be involved in policy-making planning and commissioning at the community level

99 Year Old knits Over 100 Baby Hats for Ukrainian Babies

A resident at a care home in Lincolnshire has knitted a staggering 108 hats for premature Ukrainian babies as part of a charitable initiative organised by the local branch of The Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Louth and Inner Wheel is supporting the Hats for Ukrainian Babies’ appeal and is calling for local knitters to get involved The knitted baby hats will sent to people in Ukraine displaced by the ongoing war

When 99 year old Joan heard about the appeal she jumped at the chance to get involved Joan is a resident at Louth-based The Wolds Care Centre owned and managed by HICA Group a not for profit organisation that provides care services across Lincolnshire including Louth

Joan said: “The war in Ukraine is truly awful and I wanted to help and show my support I really enjoy knitting so when I heard about the appeal I couldn’t wait to get involved

It s been a challenge but a very rewarding one and I m so pleased I ve managed to make nearly 110 baby hats It’s certainly kept me busy!”

The Rotary Club has 40 000 members in over 1 500 local clubs in Great Britain and Ireland Members volunteer their time and talents to support good causes including promoting peace fighting disease saving mothers and children and growing local economies

Michaela McGlynn manager at The Wolds Care Centre said: “Joan is an amazing lady who is a very popular and likeable character within our home and her energy and determination to help others is an inspiration to all

It s no mean feat to hit treble figures in knitted hats She s done an incredible job and been extremely kind and resilient to knit as many as she has - a donation that will make a big difference to those in war torn Ukraine

Why the New Non-Domestic Rates Bill

Won't Solve the Business Rates Question

The New Non-Domestic Rates

Bill was laid before Parliament last week in the House of Commons and is expected to receive a second reading on 24th April

The Bill came about following the 2020 Business Rates Review and states that there will be delivery of More frequent revaluations

Administrative reforms to deliver a sustainable shorter revaluation cycle which will hopefully enable more accurate rating lists and enable the disclosure of more information to ratepayers about their business rates valuations • Measures to support decarbonisation and investment including a relief for low carbon heat networks and a new Improvement Relief so that from April 2024 ratepayers will not see an increase in their rates bill from qualifying improvements made to their property for 12 months

Support announced by the Government at Autumn Statement 2022 This includes a three-year Transitional Relief scheme The Bill removes the statutory requirement for revenue neutrality within transitional relief with the removal of downwards transition

• The Digitalising Business Rates project, which, we are told, will modernise the business rates system improve the targeting of rates relief generate better data for central and local government and help to improve business rates compliance

Improvements to the administration of business rates, including replacing RPI with CPI as the measure of inflation used in the annual indexa-

tion of the multiplier

Commenting John Webber Head of Business Rates at Colliers said “On the surface these changes look positive for all sectors We have long been fans of more frequent revaluations and the removal of downwards transition which will certainly help the retail and hospitality sectors in this current list- although ideally we would prefer annual revaluations if rates bills are to be a more accurate reflection of rental levels The relief for low carbon heat networks and the new Improvement Relief scheme are also in the right direction- although we would argue limiting the relief for only 12 months is unlikely to encourage long term investment ”

However on closer inspection Colliers has large concerns about the administrative burden put on rate payers with the new requirements for the annual provision of information and the duty to notify whereby businesses will not only need to confirm the physical details of the property on an annual basis but also provide updates on rents and lease information as well as trading information even where there have been no changes notifications Failure to do so could result in some serious fines or even imprisonment for false statements Now an additional 700 000 businesses who currently pay no business rates due to reliefs- many of these smaller retailers and hospitality companies will have to send information to the VOA in a bureaucratic exercise which won t result in any increase in the business rates tax take- just cause an administrative headache ” says Webber

John Webber continues Overall this bill represents a complete change around in terms of the obligations on the VOA – obligations which are now being put on the ratepayer

The new regime requiring annual notifications and duty to notify is backed up with penalties and onerous fines which could run into tens

of thousands of pounds with the ultimate sanction of imprisonment

Yet no similar obligations have been placed on the VOA to produce its assessments quickly and any timetable associated with transparency is silent The government has also said nothing about speeding up the appeals system or any timetable to achieve this ”

Webber is concerned this increasing burden will put smaller retail and hospitality businesses even more into the hands of rogue rating advisers who will claim to advise them through the paperwork

As Webber continues:

“Unless the government does something about the issue of rogue surveyors these new demands will give a green light to cowboy rating advisers taking advantage of businesses now even more unsure of how to negotiate the complex business rates system ”

“Meanwhile nothing has been said about tackling the real issue with business rates- that it is overburdensome and just too high a tax to be sustainable for businesses – it s a plus 50p in the £ tax Far from cutting business rates, as promised in the Conservative manifesto, this year’s list will show a general 7 1% increase in rateable value Even on the government s figures the retail sector alone will still be providing £6 7 billion in business rates in 2023/4 which is nearly a quarter of the overall business rates tax take, despite the fact that the gross value-added from retail to the economy is less than 10%

Unless the Government reduces the Multiplier to levels businesses can afford- say 34p in the £ -none of the above changes will make a significant improvement for businesses in these sectors ”

“We will be continuing our lobbying campaign among MPS as this Bill makes its way through Parliament

Care Home Hatches A Plan For A Chick-Filled Easter

Live Eggs-travaganza! As part of an Easter-themed sensory activity at Orchard Care Homes Green Lodge Billingham people from the home have been nurturing eggs in a live incubation station watching them slowly hatch over the past week Finally, five fluffy chicks have hatched with another five expected – ready for interactive Easter petting!

Research around animal therapy has shown that calm interaction with animals often results in a lower heart rate reduced blood pressure and can have a positive effect on pain distraction and relief Many animals offer unconditional affection and companionship which has many emotional benefits by helping people to feel connected in a way they might not always feel when con-

necting with other human beings

Debbie Burnett Manager at Orchard s Green Lodge says “The chicks have been an amazing addition to our home over the past week, with many coming down to the incubator to watch the chicks activity day by day We are now busy choosing names – with one of our ladies Pauline naming her favourite ‘Pollyanna’

“It’s been a lovely experience and one that we will remember for months to come We will be sad to see the chicks leave us but we know they will be well cared for by the organisers of this brilliant experience

It s great to see people connecting with the chicks and experiencing the hands-on sensory benefits

Local Care Home Presents Donation To Local Charity

Chorleywood Beaumont care home in Chorleywood recently presented Real Inspiration with a donation for £875 to by a 3D printer Real Inspiration offer Art and creative therapy Their programs include an element of creative therapy to develop a sense of self and build on self-esteem They also offer training in textiles candle and soap making for adults and young people that face physical or social barriers to employment or education To find out more visit www realinspiration co uk

The grant had been awarded by Barchester s Charitable Foundation a charity that helps older people and adults with a disability or mental health problems across England Scotland and Wales by offering grants to help people connect or re-connect with others in their local community

Natasha Rehman, Director at Real Inspiration said "We are so grateful to Barchester's Charitable Foundation It has allowed us to widen our activities and offer more certificates to our participants We ve made lots of exciting things together and we ve all really enjoyed it!"

Ramona Stanciu General Manager at Chorleywood Beaumont said: We are always keen to show as much support as we can to local charities Real Inspiration is a fantastic charity and offer great course and opportunities for people in our community They make beautiful things and I think it is lovely that they sell the items they make in order to fund free training and Art therapy ”

Bring Joy and Connection to the Lives of Older People

Alive Activities have been engaging Care Home residents training carers and connecting communities for over 13 years With person-centred care at the heart of everything they do all their offerings are tailored to the people that they work with Alive are experts in bringing meaningful engagement to older people From training to activity audits gardening to intergenerational links, find out how Alive can support you and your residents TRAINING

Alive offer a range of inspiring training courses on topics that they know to be essential in providing person-centred care Training from Alive will give your staff the confidence and ideas to cater for individual needs and interests They also offer bespoke courses, including coaching programmes which will be uniquely built with you to cater for your home s specific requirements In person or remotely a common theme throughout all of Alive’s training is encouraging the “whole-home approach” to activities; giving all staff the skills

Driving For ward Quality Care In The Not-For-Profit Sector

The National Care Forum (NCF) - the leading association for not-for-profit social care and support organisations – is calling on the government to honour its pledges to reform adult social care and listen to the voices of people accessing and working in it following the publication of the government’s ‘next steps for reform’ and the findings of the Hewitt Review

The government’s plans significantly reduce the promised support for the social care workforce and people drawing upon care by cutting the original £1 7bn set aside in its White Paper ‘People at the Heart of Care to £572m This includes a reduction of the £500m originally set aside for workforce training qualifications and wellbeing to £250m and the axing of the £300m set aside to provide more choice in housing and support options at the same time as announcing the Older Person s Housing Taskforce launch this Spring This all comes on top of the delay to the £2 2bn cap on care costs and the reduction in the fair cost of care money made in the Autumn Statement from £1 36bn to £486m

Responding to the announcement, Professor Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the NCF said:

The People at the Heart of Care reforms are in tatters Yet again the government has repackaged and reduced existing promises of support and funding, only to announce them as if they are new It has now been 16 months since People at the Heart of Care was first published and so far nothing substantial has been delivered in that time apart from delays and very significant reductions in the ambition of the reforms

At a time when the workforce is facing unprecedented recruitment and retention challenges and on the same day that the Hewitt Review recommends the creation of a workforce plan for adult social care, it is unconscionable that the government would reduce workforce funding and axe all wellbeing measures The Hewitt Review calls for a shift towards prevention by Integrated Care Systems – this can’t be done without investing in adult social care The government s actions so far do nothing to stop growing unmet need or to combat shrinking capacity in the wider system ”

The Chairs of the NCF Housing with Care Forum Rachael Byrne Executive Director Models of Care and Support, Home Group and Maxine Espley MBE, COO, GreenSquareAccord, said:

This change to funding for workforce is a disappointing backward step Workforce is the biggest challenge care providers face and rather than helping us to improve retention and recruitment this will

undoubtedly do the opposite The situation is compounded by the removal of the £300m investment promised to councils to build specialist accommodation for health and care There is a lack of recognition that ‘every decision about care is a decision about housing ”

Prof Rayner continued:

The announcements today completely undermine the original vision of person-centred reform People no longer appear to be at heart of the reforms and no attempt has been made to co-produce this new plan with either people working in adult social care, or those seeking to draw upon it Social care reform stays in the slow lane despite the promises made 16 months ago It is clearly time for a much more ambitious vision for social care shaped by those who draw on it and those who work so hard to provide it to enable independent lives - we need a rethink and we need action now not a diluted repackaging of disappointing announcements

NCF is calling for the government to:

Invest in adult social care to ensure it has sustainable funding and contributes to economic growth and social cohesion

Commit to a fully funded 10-year national workforce plan for adult social care which improves pay terms and conditions for the sector

• Think social care first when developing policy

Create a fair price for providers of all types of social care

Recognise the interrelationship between housing and adult social care policy

Recognise the benefits and experience of the not-for-profit sector and put in place measures to expand it

Take steps to encourage innovation in adult social care in the face of changing demographics and new technologies

• Rethink the structural arrangements for the integration agenda

Basingstoke Care Home Is Looking To Have Their Cake And Eat It!

Excitement is running high at Ashcombe House in Worting road Basingstoke where residents and staff have been cooking up a storm to enter parent company Barchester Healthcare s Easter Cake competition Details of the competition were announced earlier this year and the home has been busy coming up with what they hope will be a winning design

The competition is being run by Barchester Healthcare across its 250 care homes and private hospitals so the home has some stiff competition to beat Pride is at stake as chefs and residents at each of the homes across the country battle it out Judging will take place just after Easter and the winning cakes for each of Barchester s divisions will be announced at the end of April Staff and residents at the home put their heads together and donned their aprons to come up with a scrumptious cake that they think encapsulates the themes and flavours of Easter Ashcombes fabulous cake was a group effort and residents thought hard about the design and colours used to really bringing spring into a cake

Louise Lambert General Manager at Ashcombe said: We ve all had such a brilliant time taking part in this competition it has been such fun Our staff and residents love to bake so when they heard about the competition, they were all so excited to take part It has been a real collaborative process - thinking about the ingredients and the design Not to mention all the delicious different versions we have had to taste over the last few weeks, it really has been no hardship!”

Sally Chivers resident at Ashcombe House said: We all wanted to get involved in the cake competition – it would just be wonderful if our recipe was selected We had such a giggle coming up with the design and deciding what ingredients should go in I definitely think we ve got a winning recipe! We can t wait to find out what the judges think of our entry!”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active and provides a daily choice of engaging physical mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities

Caring Through Food

The Gloucestershire charity Lilian Faithfull Care has a big focus on food across their care homes in Cheltenham and Stroud A dozen chefs and their team of nearly fifty staff cook from fresh each day to provide tasty nutritious food for residents guests and staff

What is less known is the chef s expertise in providing for those on specialist diets including puree food for people who may have difficulty in chewing and swallowing, known as ‘dysphagia ’

There is a wide range of conditions in later life which can affect someone’s ability to chew and swallow food However with the right knowledge and skills many people can retain the pleasure in food and drink The catering team follow international dysphagia guidance adapting food and liquids to suit each person

Deputy Catering Manager and Nutrition Advisor Lucy Collins

explains There are lots of adaptions we can do to make sure the texture and thickness of food and drinks are suitable We always keep the adapted meals as close to the usual menu options as possible We start with the same fresh ingredients

There are a fantastic range of piping techniques for purees so that they reflect the original food This was one of the skills that Chef Oscar learnt during his apprenticeship at the charity I was surprised what you can do with it when you are taught properly how to pipe it

The beautiful presentation is not only important in the enjoyment of food and retaining of dignity at mealtimes but it is key in stimulating appetite and therefore improving nutrition

The team work together with the support from speech and language therapists when for extra advice and input is needed

Having the right adaptions made to food and drink mean residents can eat and drink with confidence benefit from a varied and appetising diet and continue to enjoy sharing a meal with others

Watch the video to see the team in action at https://youtu be/InhBPfJkVMc

Lilian Faithfull Care wish to express their thanks to Esther Clow videographer and editor for kindly creating this video for free

The Residential & Home Care Show 2023

The Residential & Home Care Show is making its annual return as the UK’s leadership event for delivering outstanding care at ExCeL London on 26-27 April 2023

The event offers two days of high-quality educational content the opportunity to speak to leading suppliers in the health and social care sector and explore what products and services suit your business needs It is a chance to regroup network with like-minded peers and equip you with solutions to current challenges seen within the sector The two-day event will be jam-packed with knowledge advice and inspiration

Free for all care professionals to attend the CPD accredited educational programme will be delivered over five theatres exploring a variety of topics including

Recruitment and retention:

Health and social care experts will provide you with advice on topics such as employee engagement and how to effectively recruit according to your business needs Explore digital marketing technologies overseas recruitment and the importance of staff retention

Workplace culture and staff wellbeing: understand how to adopt strategies and best practice models into your workplace culture to aid to development and confidence of staff

Digital transformation

You will receive insights and advice on how to make the most of the digital transformation process and implement an efficient cost-effective digital solution for your care home

Business development and regulatory updates:

You will be able to access sessions on planning and implementation of strategies that will help increase the profitability of your care home and hear updates from local authorities to ensure your business complies with the latest regulations

Integrated care systems:

You will gain a deeper understanding of how the NHS and social care services will be working together to provide a higher quality of care

Residents health:

There will be a variety of sessions dedicated to residents health including long covid diabetes and dementia care

REASONS TO ATTEND:

• Free for all care and healthcare professionals

Earn up to 12 CPD points

Take away practical advice and solutions that can be implemented into your own organisation

Join thousands of other Owners Directors, Senior Managers all under one roof and utilise the networking opportunities

Meet and talk with 200 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services

Build relationships between residential care providers nursing homes domiciliary care providers NHS local government the voluntary sector and suppliers

Learn from over 100 expert speakers who will share key case studies best practice examples and deliver important panel discussions with sector leaders and successful care business providers Register at www residentialandhomecareshow co uk/tcu23

The Value of Care Home Workers: Recognizing and Supporting Essential Staff

Article by Greg Whelan Product & Marketing Director Wellell UK Limited

for nurses

Working in a care home is a challenging job that requires physical mental and emotional strength Caregivers provide care for vulnerable elderly and sick people which can be stressful and painful at times In this article we will discuss the challenges that caregivers face at work and we will also look at how innovation and new products can help reduce the burden on carers care home-owners and managers, and contribute to the growth of the care home industry

Teams comprise of many elements that can help to make a team great the individuals within the team their passion for their chosen vocation the thought of helping others and feeling they have made a difference on a daily basis but also the systems and medical devices that can transform their daily duties; permitting them more time to care and less time on resource hungry processes especially at a time where care workers are generally in high demand across the UK with the much publicised staffing shortages

*According to the ONS there were almost 1 5m estimated open job adverts as a daily average during December 2022 Using data from the jobs search engine Textkernel it said healthcare accounted for almost 190 000 or 12 7% of all vacancies Healthcare also accounted for the two occupations with the largest number of job adverts nationwide with 31 870 adverts for support workers and 21 170

With such an undeniably high number of job vacancies in the sector the need for smarter systems that reduce the burden on each carer and the care homes in which they work, is essential for the future of the profession and the care home industry

Innovation is crucial for the future of care Manufacturers such as Wellell Inc can through their products help care home owners and managers to reduce the burden on carers with new tools to make their job easier and improve the quality of care for residents

With innovative products such as Wellells all-in-one Optima Turn Mattress”, offering automatic continuous patient turning for pressure injury prevention and healing the management of limited staffing resources can be made easier, helping to maintain those great care home teams and aiding staff retention Afterall a happy healthy workplace leads to a happy healthy workforce and as the ONS has identified the need for carers is outweighed by carers currently available in the UK marketplace

Empowering Positive Action Within Care – Care Roadshows 2023

Care Roadshows are returning in 2023 arriving in Glasgow Birmingham Liverpool London and Cardiff Registration is now officially open and welcomes senior professionals within the care sector particularly those working with older adults

Each show includes free access to an exhibition including between 40-60 exhibitors and entry into a series of seminar and panel discussions that cover topics such as dementia technology vs human connection and raising the profile of the care sector The events also offer fantastic networking opportunities and the chance to improve the performance of your care practice or business

Founder and Managing Director Emma Barrett shared “Care Roadshow has grown greatly since its launch back in 2011 The 2022 Roadshows reached record breaking visitor numbers and we are anticipating an even higher growth rate in 2023 ”

“This year, we’ve set our mission statement as empowering positive action within care It s about time we stopped talking about changes and started taking immediate action We hope to bring influential members of the care community together at our events in an intimate setting where positive conversations can take place

TRUSTED CARE STAMP

With over 100 events targeting the UK social care sector it is very difficult for care providers to choose which events to attend Broadway Events the company who run Care Roadshow have recently joined forces with CloserStill Media (who also run social care events) to launch a Trusted Care Event stamp The stamp indicates events that are focused on improving the sector and wanting to make an active difference within social care You can read more about this here

There is great anticipation for the release of the Care Roadshows 2023 programme Register for your free ticket here to be the first to know when programmes are relased

Dates of the 2023 shows:

Care Roadshows Glasgow – Hampden Park Stadium – 18th April

Care Roadshows Birmingham – Villa Park Stadium – 23rd May

Care Roadshows Liverpool – Aintree Racecourse – 25th May

Care Roadshows London – Epsom Downs Racecourse – 17th October

Care Roadshows Cardiff – Cardiff City Stadium – 14th November

Follow this link to find out more: www careroadshows co uk

Care South Partners with Lewis-Manning Hospice Care Through Care South’s Chairman’s 2020 Fund

Care South has announced a formal partnership with LewisManning Hospice Care which will mutually and equally benefit both Poole-based charities The partnership is being funded through Care

South s Chairman s 2020 Fund

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a charity helping people with lifelimiting illnesses and their families across East Dorset The charity delivers care and support for patients who have been diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses whilst promoting acceptance hope and peace of mind Lewis-Manning Hospice Care offers a range of important services which are run by an incredible clinical team

Care South s Chairman s 2020 Fund was set up as a way for the charity to show its support and appreciation to other charities and local not-for-profit individuals and groups who are important to Care

South’s care home residents, care at home clients and staff

Care South and Lewis-Manning Hospice Care have held an informal partnership for a number of years and have worked closely to support one another through a wide range of initiatives and events Residents from Care South s Dorset House care home in Poole were delighted to recently join Lewis-Manning Hospice Care at its ‘Muddy Dog Dash’ event that took place at Upton Country Park on 26th March Residents wanted to see the start line so they all sat near the action and watched the

runners take part in a warmup with some residents joining in with the lunging and stretching Others watched on excitedly and were delighted when runners brought their dogs over to meet them Once the participants were underway residents enjoyed a delicious lunch spread of sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks purchased from the tearooms whilst enjoying the Muddy Dog Dash event

Simon Bird, Care South s Chief Executive, commented:

This partnership is yet another way that Care South is able to support such an important local charity – and one which means so much to us all and supports us and residents in our care throughout the year As part of the partnership we have lots of interesting and exciting projects and initiatives planned as well as many more activities and events at our homes involving residents staff and volunteers from both charities, throughout the year ”

Claire Gallie CEO at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care added: “There

will enable us

Living the High Life! Local Care Home

Resident Completes Wish to Fly a Plane

A 93-year-old care home resident in Edinburgh has completed a wish – and she s now on a real high Elizabeth (Betty) Buckland a resident at Care UK’s Lauder Lodge on Wakefield Avenue took to the skies and had the opportunity to soar 2,000 ft above sea level

Betty often visited America on holidays during her younger years to stay with her family in Seattle and her cousin was a pilot who owned his very own aircraft During these summer holidays Betty sat alongside her cousin in his Piper PA-28 Cherokee plane – he occasionally even let her take the controls

The flying session took place as part of the Wishing Tree an initiative launched by Care UK which allows residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies they d like to try, places they’d like to visit or even activities linked to past careers This encourages residents to live fulfilling lives – from skiing to a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small

After Betty shared her happy holiday memories with the team and her dream to fly a plane once more the team wasted no time getting the wish off the ground and soon the day came for the flight

After the thrill of being up in the air in a Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Betty was over the moon to hear she would be reaching new heights – this time flying in a Cessna aircraft and soaring over Edinburgh at 150mph

They arrived at Royal Air Force Kirknewton in Edinburgh and after some training on the ground with the pilot Andrew (Andy) Reid whose mother-inlaw was also a resident at Lauder Lodge Betty took to the skies for a morning flight

Betty said: “It was a wonderful day and we had an amazing view of the Kelpies at Falkirk Being in a small plane again was thrilling and brought back so many happy memories

Anees Riaz, Home Manager at Lauder Lodge, said:

We love to go the extra mile for residents here at Lauder Lodge and our wishing tree is a fantastic way to understand what s really important to residents

Wickford Care Home Secures Funding for One Voice Choir

The Grange care home in Wickford have secured a grant from the Power of Music Fund a collaboration between The National Academy of Social Prescribing and The Utley Foundation, to support the home s One Voice Choir

Welcoming 15-20 residents on a week-by-week basis, the One Voice Choir provides positive and emotional benefits for residents at the care home provoking fond memories creating a strong sense of community and adding an exciting atmosphere within the home

With the additional funding the choir can expand its horizons with new shows, new venues, and new ways to entertain other care homes and organisations through the power of music!

The new Power of Music Fund aims to develop and deliver support to programmes that use music to enhance the health and wellbeing of communities The Grange care home has been awarded one of 100 grants earmarked for Dementia Choirs’ across the UK to help provide meaningful support and bring joy to people affected by dementia

The home applied for the grant at the end of January and were delighted when the acceptance email arrived to home s Choir Director and Wellbeing Lead, Catherine Sahadevan

Commenting on the news Wellbeing Lead Catherine said:

“I was in absolute shock and excitement when I received the news that our choir has secured one out of 100 spots across the country to receive a grant to support our wonderful residents The choir is such an important weekly activity in the resident s social calendar; it brings so many emotional and positive benefits, and a wealth of exciting opportunities in the community

The choir began five years ago and has grown in strength each year; there are many powerful memories associated with music and it has stood for so long because of the passion and dedication from myself and everyone in the home to empower our residents with the choir

The families will be so pleased to hear of the multitude of opportunities this extra funding will bring and will allow us to keep continuing to spread joy and community spirit; they really are an inspiration to all of us

Peyton Miles Communications and Relationships Manager at The Utley Foundation said: “We are thrilled to be supporting 100 choirs and singing groups through the Power of Music fund alongside the National Academy of Social Prescribing This small-grant fund is intended to support grassroots organisations and groups to create moments of musical joy for those living with dementia and their carers”

Residents at Bernard Sunley Energised by Their Regular Physio Sessions

At Bernard Sunley the Woking-based residential, nursing and dementia care home run by charity Friends of the Elderly residents have been thoroughly enjoying their twice weekly physio sessions which support and enhance their wellbeing

Namrata Singh has been delivering physio services to the Bernard Sunley residents since January 2022 as a self-employed external provider I am employed by the NHS as a Community Physiotherapist and am involved in the care for care home residents

It s wonderful to be able to deliver this key service to the residents at Bernard Sunley, as it’s extremely fulfilling and so rewarding to be able to work closely with all the residents to help support maintain and improve their mobility and wellbeing ” Namrata said

Since completing her BSC in 2005 in India and her MSc in 2009 at Sheffield Hallam University Namrata has worked as a Community Physiotherapist in the NHS, with a focus on working with the elderly

Namrata visits the care home every Tuesday and Thursday and hosts a variety of physio sessions from 12:30 p m to 5 30 p m “I provide the residents with 1-2-1 sessions focusing on mobility and transferring practices alongside strength and balance exercises I also deliver stretching classes and strength and balance exercise sessions in a group environment Namrata added

Andy Cumper the Registered Manager at Bernard Sunley said: “Mobility is a concern for some residents and their families Addressing this and meeting the need to support our residents wellbeing and improving their physical safety awareness is one of our main goals It is great to be able to offer this interactive, supportive and beneficial service to all our residents

“Physio sessions and activities are not only for athletes recovering from an injury For our residents, the physio exercises are focused on increasing strength and mobility and to support physical and mental wellbeing Physio helps our residents to build their strength improve their stability and as it is a group activity it is also a good social interaction ” Andy added

Residents at Bernard Sunley thoroughly enjoy participating in the exercise group and 1-2-1 sessions and appreciate the time Namrata spends with them “They really listen and take onboard any suggestions I make to help them Namrata added

“I enjoy all the services I deliver to the residents of Bernard Sunley as they are tailored to each individual and are personal-goal oriented I really appreciate working with the residents who have recently been dis-

charged from hospital or have been off of their feet for a while Their commitment and enthusiasm to get better and get back to their original physical baseline is inspiring to see and I feel honoured to be able to help them achieve their goals and be part of their wellness journey,” Namrata continued

One resident who has been working with Namrata on a regular basis has gone from strength to strength “When I started the physio sessions at Bernard Sunley one resident was struggling to walk with his walking frame However by taking part in the regular exercise and mobility practice classes he is much stronger and is able to take good supervised walks for longer distances with his frame now Namrata added

The physio sessions cover a wide range of exercises which Namrata tailors to ensure all individual abilities are covered The strength and balance classes involve seated manoeuvres and movements and include a warm-up session with stretching and breathing exercises for the cardiovascular system The stretching warm-up helps with muscle stretching before commencing the strength exercises which improve upper and lower limb strength ” Namrata explained Namrata continued; “All the residents tell me that they enjoy my sessions and I ensure that the exercises are fun interactive enjoyable and meet each individuals needs and abilities We have a bit of a tradition now as I always end each session with a fun activity we affectionately call The Ball Game It has become quite a favourite – and quite competitive – but is so good for co-ordination Sometimes residents try to play fast catch with me whilst others compete amongst themselves not only in The Ball Game but during the exercise classes too It s all very light hearted competition and everyone leaves feeling energised and in a positive frame of mind

Looking to future physio sessions at Bernard Sunley, Namrata added I would like to do an advance level strength and balance exercise session which would focus on those residents who are independently mobile but would like to further improve their balance ”

“We have seen many residents mobility improve since participating in the physio sessions and families often comment on the improvements they can see as well The daughter of one resident who improved his mobility after joining the home often says she can’t keep up with him now as he’s too fast for her and we have rejuvenated him! Andy concluded

Orchard Care Homes Raises Funds for ‘Heart Heroes’ Charities

Helping to boost charity coffers at The Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) based at Newcastle s Freeman Hospital Orchard Care Homes has helped one of its carers to raise a total £800 in memory of her beloved granddaughter

Grateful for the care and compassion given to baby Freya by staff who treat infant ‘heart heroes’ at the unit, Louise Hiles a care worker at Orchard s Archers Court home Sunderland rallied colleagues and friends last week to raise £400 in memory of her granddaughter The £400 raised at the charity coffee morning has been matched by the Orchard Care Homes group to total £800 in support of this vital heart unit

The sum raised was added to the £13 500 donated so far online as a tribute to baby Freya’s life who sadly passed away in February and will also support two other charities – Calli s Heart Campaign and The Sick Children’s Trust

Louise Hiles organised a coffee morning and prize draw event at the care home, where she works as an Activities Co-ordinator, to help raise awareness of the local heart unit which provides support and care for families of babies with cardiac health issues Sadly baby Freya who was diagnosed with a heart condition at 7 months old passed away in February

Supporting Louise at the charity drive were two of her colleagues who are also familiar with CHUF By co-incidence, carer, Paula Gwyn and Jackie Smith, senior carer, each have baby relatives who have been helped by the charity Paula s granddaughter Olivia has received treatment at the Children s Unit for her own heart condition

In addition Jackie s great nephew Finley is currently attending the Freeman Hospital for regular visits His family also continue to raise funds for CHUF who help so many families in the North East Jackie’s family are proud to have a heart hero Finley

The ‘heart hero’ babies spread joy at the event delighting staff with smiles and cuddles

Organiser of the event Louise says:

“I am so grateful to everyone at Orchard Care Homes’ Archers Court for allowing me to put on this charity event in memory of my precious granddaughter Freya and to help raise awareness of this amazing children s unit It s been a really difficult time for the family but I am thankful for the love and support from everyone who has donated to CHUF through the event in name of beautiful Freya and hope that the money raised will be able to help other babies with poorly hearts The dedicated work from staff at The Freeman Hospital and CHUF baby care unit has been exceptional and we are so appreciative of everything they have done for Freya Olivia and Finley and other infants in their care ”

Hayden Knight CEO Orchard Care Homes added:

When we heard about Louise s charity event and the motivation behind it, we felt compelled to match the money raised on the day

To have three of our care staff s infant relatives being supported by CHUF at the Freeman Hospital for heart treatments means it s a really personal cause to Orchard Our sympathies are with Freya s family and we hope that our donation in her memory goes some way to helping other babies with heart conditions ”

Paula Gwyn with her grandchildren

Freya

Continence Care in Residential Care Settings

Incontinence presents as a common problem for a considerable number of people in adult social care and describes an accidental or involuntary loss of urine or faeces

It is common among elderly people however many elderly people feel ashamed and embarrassed about incontinence concerns This can mean they are often very reluctant to ask for help For people who need incontinence help this can really impact the quality of their life and overall well-being

Women are more often affected by incontinence with 75% of those over 65 reporting urine leakages

For elderly people in care homes, 30-50% of them will need incontinence care 60-70% of people living with dementia or Alzheimer s disease will be incontinent Incontinence is a symptom of underlying problems which with assessment and investigation can be identified and treated Even when a remedy is not achievable optimum methods of incontinence management can produce social continence', helping to lessen embarrassment and maintain patient dignity

According to the British Geriatric Society the main causes of incontinence are:

Urge incontinence (detrusor overactivity) In this condition the patient is unable to prevent involuntary bladder contractions which cause urgency with little or no warning of incontinence The sufferer may respond to this urgency by frequent visits to the toilet day and night Urge incontinence is often made worse by anxiety or fast bladder filling for example after diuretic medications

• Stress incontinence (pelvic floor weakness) A small leakage of urine occurs on physical exertion such as standing lifting coughing or sneezing and rarely occurs during sleep at night This is the commonest cause of incontinence in middle aged women and is seen in some men after prostatectomy

Overflow incontinence (retention of urine) The patient will have a large post-void residual urine volume and may complain of continuous dribbling incontinence or symptoms like stress incontinence Recurrent urinary tract infections are common and the condition is made worse by constipation or anticholinergic medication

Overflow incontinence can be caused by diabetes and some types of nerve damage It also occurs in men with prostatic obstruction

Outflow obstruction This almost always occurs in men who may complain of difficulty in starting micturition, poor urinary stream and dribble after micturition, perhaps with a feeling of inadequate emptying

Functional incontinence (e g poor or painful mobility, loss of dexterity, impaired communication mental confusion and depression) Incontinence is due to inability to reach and use the toilet

Residents in long term care settings have special needs and the standard of continence care provided varies between each area and between homes and requires specialist products to help those suffering with continence issues

MANFRED SAUER UK

Since 1976 Manfred Sauer UK Ltd has provided a range of innovative urology and continence care products to help sufferers of urinary incontinence But unlike other providers their effective and user-friendly products are often designed and tested with input from end users and healthcare professionals

Listed below are some of their products all available on prescription

SHEATHS

Manfred Sauer offer five different types of urinary sheath to facilitate the drainage of urine away from the body into a drainage bag

LEG BAGS

Manfred Sauer supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities:

• Discreet Thigh Bag can be worn high up on the thigh area and hidden under clothes Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult

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

Children s Bag with smaller capacity and proportions

CATHETERS

When performing ISC you need something that is simple to use soft and flexible Manfred Sauer s IQ-Cath male female and paediatric single-use catheters are ready for use immediately and the protective sleeve on the male and paediatric catheters facilitates a no-touch technique

NEPHSYS BAG AND BELT SYSTEM

For people who have had a Nephrostomy NephSys can drastically improve their lives As well as providing a secure and sterile solution the system is comfortable and discreet

Contact Manfred Sauer s helpline team on 01604 595 696 or visit www manfred-sauer co uk for more information about each product or to order a free sample

MoliCare® Celebrates 40 Years of Incontinence Protection, Ever y Day

MoliCare® the global incontinence brand is celebrating 40 years of supporting people carers and healthcare professionals with solution-based pads pants and skincare products The product range has been designed to help the everyday needs of those living with incontinence and bladder weakness, with the care of the skin at the heart of the MoliCare® brand

Incontinence is a condition that affects 1 in 4 women in the UK For a condition which is so common there is still a sense of embarrassment and isolation that leaves people feeling lonely and unsupported In fact 68% of those living with incontinence feel that it has had a negative impact on their quality of life and just over half believe that urinary incontinence is a taboo subject Therefore it is vital that there is an increase in societal support as well as a wide range of simple solutions for people living with incontinence

MoliCare® has developed a range of pads and pants which feel like underwear Over the last forty years the brand has continued to focus on protection security, and comfort as the core criteria for its product performance MoliCare® believes in plain talking backed up by their healthcare professional expertise to create simple solutions for people living with incontinence

MoliCare® continually strives to address the needs of its customers; from nurses through to care givers family members and people living with incontinence

They have developed an easy to remember acronym - ‘SAS - to simplify the product selection process

S – Style There are various styles such as large and small pads, or complete pull up mobile pants to suit various levels of mobility There are also products for men and women based on anatomical differences and urine flow

A – Absorbency MoliCare®’ s droplet guide makes selection straightforward

S – Size, MoliCare® s in-depth sizing guide ensures that products selected are a comfortable and secure fit HARTMANN, the company behind MoliCare®, continues to invest in and develop in their products This

includes the introduction of new technology to the MoliCare® Premium Form range of large shaped pads that now features a new absorbent core known as ADL (Acquisition Distribution Layer) The ADL layer contains super absorbent polymers treated with Citrate which neutralise the urine, for better skin health In addition the ADL layer now features a new channel set within the pad to help to distribute urine Both innovations improve the feeling of dryness by over 70%, again demonstrating MoliCare® s commitment to skin care

As part of MoliCare®’s holistic approach to incontinence the brand has developed a range of specialist skincare products which are skin friendly pH balanced and are gentle on delicate sensitive skin Used together MoliCare® provides a complete skin care and incontinence management solution

Amy Jaworska MoliCare® B2C Channel Manager comments; as a global manufacturer and expert in the field of Incontinence and Bladder Weakness, we are delighted to be celebrating 40 years of the MoliCare® brand supporting people living with incontinence

MoliCare® invests in the research design and development of our premium incontinence products to ensure they meet the highest quality reliability and protection for people living with incontinence We also support loved ones carers and healthcare professionals alike with the right support for the people they care for, because the individual s wellbeing and quality of life is at the heart of everything we do

MoliCare® is a leading global brand of incontinence products manufactured by the HARTMANN Group MoliCare® works in partnership with Healthcare Professionals to develop clinically effective products advice and innovative Home Delivery service solution packages to meet lifestyle needs

For more information and to order please call 0800 028 9470 or Visit www hartmanndirect co uk/incontinence-products

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

CYBER SECURITY

Why You Should Consider A Cybersecurity Strategy In Your Care Facility

cure so review your current security strategy to ensure that you have the proper policies and best practices in place to meet any required standards or obligatory regulations This should include a review of your security operations network and data security to check that you are protected from exploitation and have prevention and monitoring procedures in place

Carry out a cyber security assessment to identify the types of attack that you may be vulnerable to and assess how prepared your business is to respond to an incident Consider your ability to detect malicious activity, the procedures you have in place to contain an attack and what your incident response process is

Create a best practice guide to help prevent your exposure to cyber threats and share with all employees This should include the use of strong passwords which are updated regularly Software and systems should also be checked regularly, and updates actioned when due The use of two-factor authentication when available should also be implemented

employees for a coordinated calm and fast reaction to an unexpected cyber event

Cyber attacks are on the increase and the healthcare sector is one of the most targeted industries According to a recent survey conducted by email security firm Agari 67% of healthcare organisations in the UK have suffered a cybersecurity incident over the last 12 months Of all healthcare cyber incidents in the last year 48% have been the result of malware or viruses introduced to the network by third-party devices

To help protect your care home or care facility from the threat of a cyber related incident we recommend putting a robust cybersecurity strategy in place to sit alongside your insurance programme You should create a cyber risk assessment and action preventative measures including a best practice guide This will help to reassure your employees customers suppliers and any third parties that you are as ready as possible in the event of a cyber threat

To identify areas of weakness or vulnerability you should assess the security of your information or data Prevention is always better than

Ensure you are following the most up to date guidance on GDPR and that your data protection officer has all the latest information It s a legal obligation of any business to ensure appropriate and proportionate security is in place to protect any personal data held, to safeguard the rights of individuals You must also report any data breaches to the ICO within 72 hours of discovery

Provide your staff with Cyber Security Awareness Training so they can spot suspicious looking communications understand how hackers get in and the importance of strong passwords Educating your entire organisation helps to minimise potential attacks and can also help to reduce internal security incidents It’s also a good idea to create a robust reporting procedure to ensure that all employees are aware of any potential or recent Cyber attacks

With more of us working from home, you should make sure your remote working methods are protected and procedures are adhered to by all

Put together a business continuity plan and share with key

Your immediate response to an event will be key to the overall impact on your business Consider how you will contact everyone that may have been affected as a result of a data breach to help retain your customer database customer confidence brand reputation and trust

Don t wait until you have experienced a cyber attack to put measures in place be proactive and help protect your business now We can help you to develop a robust cyber security strategy as part of your complete insurance programme managing your exposure to cyber risks

Speak to us about arranging cyber liability insurance or carrying out a cyber risk assessment by calling us on 01480 272727 or emailing enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker co uk

Find out more about cyber liability insurance at www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk/cyberliability

FOOD AND DRINK

Discover The Power Of Chefs’ Most Trusted Bouillon*

With 25 years' expertise in special diets and nutrition for the elderly Chef Preston brings you the latest insights on providing nutritionally dense dishes for residents

Meanwhile two Michelin-starred Chef Tom has developed a range of classic recipes with a modern seasonal twist, each utilising products from the Knorr Professional Bouillons range in a different way

Knorr Professional s Bouillons are available in Powder Paste and Jelly formats offering chefs versatility and flexibility in usage and application plus consistent depth of flavour every time

Chefs Tom Kerridge and Preston Walker have joined forces with Knorr Professional Bouillons to launch a new training hub for chefs This new online platform The Base contains exclusive recipes video tutorials and training tools that will help other professionals working in Care Homes to improve their skills in the kitchen

Anglia Crown - Popular Dishes for Ever yone

Anglia Crown offer a wide range of hot and cold desserts that are ideal for a wellbalanced, nutritional diet, including choices that do not contain gluten Our Crown Choice and Advantage ranges include some fifty-eight dishes, including our new 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 allowing for additional choice Items such as our Carrot Cake or Vanilla Cheesecake can be accom-

Chef Preston Walker said: I m so proud to be partnering with Knorr Professional Bouillons to create and share recipes and tips that will genuinely help improve the skills of chefs working in this exciting sector GET

panied 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

Nutritional Support for Effective Diabetes Care for Older People

Diabetes currently affects a whopping 4 9 million people in the UK And with the condition more commonly prevalent amongst the elderly population catering to those with medical conditions such as diabetes is incredibly important

Effective diabetes care for older people requires nutritional support to help maintain healthy blood sugar level and reduce the risk of complications However Bidfood has recognised through customer insight that catering for diabetes within the care sector is especially challenging as care homes continue to operate under tight budgets and are feeling the impact of rising food costs

Consistently creating nutritious and delicious meals tailored to residents’ individual requirements isn’t always easy especially when you are juggling time budgets stock levels and the skill level of your staff So to help navigate these challenges Bidfood has launched Caterers Campus an online learning platform exclusive to Bidfood customers that takes the hard work out of supporting your team – so you have more time to focus on your residents

Designed by our chefs for your chefs the specialist diabetes module includes understanding the causes and symptoms how to cater for diabetes as well as inspiration to help with menu planning all to aid and equip care home staff with the right information and guidance they need Made up of over 30 chapters the unit also features a knowledge test at the end to really make sure everything has sunk in

To accompany Caterers Campus we ve also devised a comprehensive guide to help carers support residents with diabetes Packed full of advice our guide will fill you with confidence when discussing diabetic care with your team members and residents

Bidfood’s Culinary Development Chef for the care sector Wayne Wright has put together a full seven day meal plan to help inspire those in the care setting when catering for diabetes Here are some of his top tips:

* Be careful with the carbs try to not overdo it by adding in too many

* Make healthy swaps like whole grain sweet potatoes wholemeal flour and lean cuts of meat

* Instead of adding sugar and salt for flavour add herbs spices lemon and lime juice

* Lastly, remember to keep an eye on the portion sizes

See the advert on the previous page for further information

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Gain Valuable Insight With Adveco For Gas To Electric Decarbonisation Of Care Homes

Care homes intending to replace existing gas-fired domestic hot water (DHW) systems with more sustainable electric technologies as part of a decarbonisation strategy should invest in data gathering first recommends hot water specialist Adveco

Live Metering is a simple to install non-invasive onsite service provided by Adveco that generates consistent six minute data 24 hours per day from existing hot water systems to accurately understand actual usage including critical peak demands and their profile shape Adveco s specialist engineers will visit to fit the meter and assess the site The data will then be processed and a report generated with design recommendations for a replacement system that meets the exact needs of the building

The most consistent issue we see in healthcare hot water systems is oversizing whether through lack of understanding of application design or concerns over providing suitable back up to ensure system continuity The result of oversizing is always the same, unnecessary capital costs for system supply and installation, and ongoing excess operational costs associated with higher energy demands and therefore greater carbon emissions As the

Is Your Care Home Ready for its 2023 CQC Inspection?

care sector seeks to adopt greener building operations, replacing old gas-fired systems with like-for-like electric is another guaranteed way to gain an oversized system If the replacement system is oversized operational costs climb as the price of electricity per kW remains high Should demand exceed a building s available amperage of electrical supply project installation costs will inevitably soar or even stall the project This can be avoided by understanding your actual hot water demands and designing the replacement to meet those specific needs This is why accurate data is so valuable

The recommended replacement design by Adveco will show carbon reduction and outline new operational costs Accurate to the actual demands of the property live metered designs avoid excess capital costs associated with oversizing and ensures operation within the limits of the existing electrical supply of the building

Organisations which opt to purchase the recommended replacement system from Adveco will receive a 50% refund on the cost of implementing the initial Live Metering service

Talk to Adveco about booking metering at your property https://adveco co/products/live-metering/ See the advert on page 6 for further details

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

T&S Grab Rails

As we age or face physical challenges our mobility becomes limited and basic tasks can become challenging Our company specializes in providing high-quality support rails in both stainless and mild steel catering to a wide range of

Our Animal World

Our Animal World is an educational and therapeutic mobile zoo providing both informative and therapeutic experiences for care homes disabled residencies hospices parties schools and events in Suffolk, Norfolk Cambridgeshire, Essex, North and East London

Laura runs all the sessions and is a fully qualified teacher with significant SEN experience and an Animal

Assisted therapist diploma

Animal visits to care facilities have shown specifically to decrease the agitated behaviours of residents who have dementia and can help combat depression ADHD schizophrenia loneliness autism and PTSD Therapy increases residents social interactions too

Our Animal World are set apart from other similar companies by their purpose-built van which houses 16 individual animal enclosures Each has their own

light source and heat source as required We can also add our 6m x 3m gazebo to the back to extend the spacethis allows up to 30 different species to be brought out in one go This allows Our Animal World to pull up anywhere without the need of going into a venue, although for most care homes we usually set up in a communal area such as a café or lounge

Our Animal World houses over 40 different species of animals including a variety of reptiles amphibians invertebrates mammals and birds We are insured for up to £10 million DBS checked exotic vet and council checked and licenced by Mid Suffolk District Council For the full list of animals or more information visit www ouranimalworld com email us info@ouranimalworld com or call us on 07519 340 788 See the advert on page 5 for details

For any care home, the laundry process is critical to maintaining stringent hygiene standards and is therefore service area that will be closely evaluated upon inspection by the Care Quality Commission In order to ensure that your care home has efficient and CQC compliant procedures in place Forbes Professional advises that imperatives go beyond the need for commercial laundry equipment that provides the requisite disinfection

The CQC state on their website that for care homes to achieve their Good rating there is an expectation of a designated room for storage and managing laundry They will also require that ‘laundry processes follow national guidance and correctly manage’ and clean ‘used and infectious laundry to minimise risk of infection Efficient segregation of clean and soiled laundry is essential at all times with a clean and dirty flow system to

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

Fire Doors are an imperative part of fire safety and are considerations of the design and maintenance of any building but especially residential Article 17 –RRFSO states fire safety provisions (includes fire doors) must be maintained in a suitable condition 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

Joerns Healthcare Ups the Anti with Next Generation Stand Assist

Joerns Healthcare s new Oxford Up is a uniquely designed active manual stand aid supporting assisted standing seated transfers and patient rehabilitation Previewed at the Moving and Handling People Conference and OT Show in the latter half of 2022 it commanded a lot of interest and positive review from those who matter

The Up will form part of the Oxford Professional series complimenting the already established Switch Journey and Ascend stand assist solutions Suitable for clients who require some assistance when standing but are able to participate and contribute effort to the process the Up can also be deployed as a useful rehabilitation aid

Manufactured using a combination of steel and aluminium framework the Oxford Up meets or exceeds all applicable design and regulatory standards and unlike other stand assist products it quickly and conveniently dismantles into three separate components This significantly eases storage requirements and facilitates onward transportation in the boot of a car

Reassembly takes a matter of seconds and the Up is ready for use again

Owing to its unique and robust design the Up successfully achieves a safe working load rating of 200kg (31st) Careful attention to component geometry including the single upright mast section, allows for a fully contained footplate, ensuring patients have no risk of toes overhanging the edge and potential conflict with the rear castors or foot opening pedals

Injury reduction fall prevention and ergonomic principles were fundamental considerations during the development phase A large multi-point push handle aids manoeuvrability for the care giver and the foot push pad a common feature on Oxford Professional series products provides a means of generating forward momentum when moving a patient Optimum positioning of the swing-away moulded seat pads and knee support help ensure comfort for the patient Adjustable leg opening allows closer access around furniture promoting improved patient positioning and general ease of use

High-grade castors offer excellent manoeuvrability across many floor surfaces and ensures a smooth and comfortable transfer for both the patient and carer The centralised singular upright mast when compared to comparative products with dual seat posts results in softer transitions over room thresholds and different floor types It effectively serves to dampen the vibration felt through the seat pads culminating in more comfortable and less disconcerting transfers for patients Where additional seated support is required the Oxford Deluxe Standing sling (With Clips) is fully compatible with the Up and available in three standard sizes: small medium and large

please contact

Surestop

Making a home safe secure and comfortable can be difficult for those with cognitive impairments long term injuries or medical conditions that cause mobility issues

One of the biggest risks to the home is water damage A brass stopcock is the last line of defence from water damage They are often inaccessible or in a hard-to-reach location What s more they are susceptible to seizing up If someone is unable to turn off their water in an emergency or when they leave their home even a small leak could cause significant dam-

Just Bowl

When residents enter a care home their daily routine inevitably changes and consequently several forms of physical activity are no longer possible One such activity that is synonymous with older adults is bowls Sadly for many residents when they enter a care home they will no longer be able to enjoy a roll up on a sunny afternoon However the Bowls Development Alliance is helping to change that by introducing Just Bowl into the care sector Just Bowl is a fun easy to play form of bowls that can be used in care homes rehabilitation centres and just about anywhere else Ian McCombes the Just Bowl Manager explains ‘We work with our partners to offer a bespoke training package which is supplemented by our exclusive equipment We provide aftercare support and guidance to ensure that Just

C&S Seating Ltd

C&S Seating Ltd have provided postural control equipment to residential homes, hospices, medical equipment services and NHS trust hospitals nationwide since 1991

With 9 different sizes of T-Rolls and Log Rolls in a removable and machine washable Waterproof Titex or Soft Knit material These rolls are used to control posture and position of the body in either supine or side lying Our Knee & Leg support wedges are available in 2 sizes

C&S Seating Ltd is the sole manufacturer of the

age to a property

Surestop is a unique device, which works on water pressure No electrics or batteries, enabling the safe management of water use With a flick of the switch, the Surestop instantly turns off the water to a sink toilet, bathroom kitchen, or the entire property

It is easily installed and a low-cost safety measure that should be considered in every property

The Surestop can be installed by itself or with a remote switch

The Surestop is WRAS approved and is limescale resistant so will never seize

A Surestop is peace of mind for you and your home

Telephone 0121 280 1685

Email enquiries@surestop co uk

Bowl is being utilised to its full potential

The team have also been working with Sheffield Hallam University to conduct research to identify what impact Just Bowl has had on residents The findings showed that Just Bowl encouraged inclusivity as 83% of the participants had a disability and 75% of the participants were aged 81-101 years of age It also helped to increase physical activity levels with research showing the average levels increased by 40 minutes per week Just Bowl also created a sociable and fun atmosphere as residents were able to bond whilst playing the game which subsequently lead to an improvement in mental wellbeing and happiness and a reduction in anxiety

Additionally the research established that exercise self-efficacy increased following participation in Just Bowl which suggests that participants felt more confident in their ability to be physically active

For further information on Just Bowl please visit us at UK Care Week at stand E40 or contact Ian on 07741873233 or ian@justbowl org

Alternatively see the advert on the front cover of this issue

Alternative Positioning Support – also available in two sizes which has removable side cushions and middle pommel for when more control of the abducted lower limb is required

Our popular and vibrant range of Soft Knit covers in a choice of 5 colours provide a softer alternative ideal for the colder seasons and are designed to fit snug over our waterproof rolls for maximum protection and comfort Contact us on 01424 853331 or visit www cands-seating co uk to request or download a brochure, pricelist or order form, request an individualised quotation speak to an advisor or to place an order

See the advert on page 19

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

have been trading since 1846 and have built up a reputation for superior value for money quality personalised and non-personalised items for many different outlets

We supply to Nursing and Residential Homes Schools

Scout Cub Guide and Brownie Groups as well as to the small or large business entrepreneur Our range of Designer name tapes add a professional look to garments crafts or other hobby items

Many of us have loved ones relatives or friends who need specialist care in a Nursing or Residential Home

Do you know someone who struggles to find shoes or slippers to fit? Cosyfeet the specialists in extra roomy footwear can help Wider and deeper than anything on the high street their British designed footwear is expertly crafted to fit and flatter extra wide and swollen feet

Now spring has arrived Cosyfeet s newest collection boasts a fabulous range of styles in a choice of delicate powder blues fresh florals and bright colours to see you through the season in style Get ready for the bright and breezy days ahead with supportive fabric styles so you can walk in cotton-soft comfort there s also a great selection of ontrend but comfy sandals Discover their new Sport

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

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy

Gels are natural drug-free topical cold therapy gels for muscular and joint pain chronic arthritic pain postactivity 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® Active Dual-Action Cold Gel w th Heat Sensat on comb ning cold with heat to treat back pain

BIOFROST® Relief provides instant pain relief and activates body’s own healing through an optimal combination 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

Skopos has 50 years experience of supplying specialist contract fabrics and soft furnishings to Care interiors With new collections launched each year many Skopos fabrics are antimicrobial coming under the umbrella of Skopos ProtectPlus including waterproof upholstery options (specifically for care) soil and stain resist fabrics and printed fabrics for all types of Care environments Skopos can offer a fabric-only service or a full service; with site measure product manufacture and installation The Skopos team produce approximately 25 000 made-up items each year including bed-throws cushions and pairs of curtains all manufactured by a highly-skilled team of machinists cutters and pattern makers; items that are delivered and installed into different contract environments

BIOFROST® Active is a dualaction 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 3

blackout/dimout fabrics

With a target reduction of energy consumption at the forefront of everyone s agenda Skopos are also pleased to have included a new wide-width double-sided blackout lining into their core offer As an optional choice on all Skopos made-up curtains the Reflection lining can be used in 2 different ways depending on the environment it is specified for On the most-part in the UK the lining will be used with the silver side facing inwards towards the room minimising any heat loss through the curtain With the silver side facing out the lining helps to reflect heat thereby keeping the room cooler The lining can facilitate a substantial reduction in energy bills

Skopos also offers a Bespoke design service for statement interiors that are unique to your environment or brand

In this busy environment clothes and personal items can easily get misplaced if they are not named otherwise this can become very stressful for the resident, relatives and the Care Home itself

Our woven clothing name tapes are extremely robust and are sewn on to garments to ensure that they stand the rigorous washing processes necessary Self-adhesive labels are easily applied to name shoes and books and make marking treasured items effortless to most other non-fabric items

We have recently introduced several new items such as magnetic name tags and personalised hi-vis jackets along with updated gifts such as personalised mugs and mousemats Check out the ad on page 9 for our offer code

Visit www cashslabels com

As with all Skopos prints customers are able to order designs across base-cloths for upholstery, curtains and bedding Qualities include waterproof upholsteries velvets drapery linen-effect qualities and

For samples of any of our collections www skoposfabrics com or see advert on page 5

Raising the Standard of Stair Climbing Solutions

The Stair Climbing Company is one of the leading providers of powered Stair Climber solutions, which have been specifically designed to assist those struggling with mobility and independence issues facing people with disabilities

The Stair Climbing Company offers an excellent range of compact easy to use powered Stair Climbers that are ideal for use in both home and commercial settings Offering innovative designs all of the company s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces for safe storage and are easily transported and charged In addition all of its Stair Climber s come with a two year manufacturer s warranty

The Stair Climbing Company maintains one main

mission; to improve quality of life, through its range of high-quality and custom devices with built-in seats

The safety and comfort of its customers is of the utmost importance to the company and it ensures that each wheelchair carrier model is designed to cater to individual customers specific needs and works with all stair types Furthermore the company provides Stair Climbers for all ages making them suitable for everyone and offers a free assessment for customers

If you would like to find out any more information please see the details below T 01787 379160

www thestairclimbingcompany com

See the advert on page 15

Consort Claudgen Includes Wi-Fi Enabled Heaters in LST Range

Consort Claudgen s low surface temperature heaters range now includes heaters that are Wi-Fi enabled These heaters connect directly to Wi-Fi and heating can be controlled from the digital control panel on the heater or Consort Connect app Features include a 7-day timer with 24 heating periods per day lock function open window detection and custom automations Users can also view the energy consumption statistics of all connected heaters Additionally LST heaters with Wi-Fi and occupancy sensor have a selflearning control ability which uses in-built

Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry Although these are designed to keep the workplace tidy and uncluttered they are more importantly built knowing the control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a priority for healthcare providers and who are employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies including hand hygiene cleaning training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem

As a result a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market including antimicrobial technology Angloplas range of dispensers are produced in the world s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is exclusive to Angloplas This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and

mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA E Coli Legionella Salmonella and mould by up to 99 99%

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

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

Haigh Engineering

Haigh Engineering is excited to share the success of the latest iteration of bedpan machine, Panaway DS, following its initial roll out across multiple healthcare facilities The feedback received from both users and facilities managers has been overwhelmingly positive and we are pleased to see that the Panaway DS is delivering great value for money through improving sluice room up time and the niche but critical matter of ensuring patient waste disposal compliant Users consistently commented on the Panaway DS s ease of use and dependability when it comes to disposing of medical pulp items and patient waste With the intuitive interface and easy-to-follow instructions sites can perform routine maintenance tasks in house reducing the need for specialist technicians allowing for more efficient timely and cost-effective maintenance Additionally the backward compatibility of the machine has made

the transition from older models seamless with little or no need for costly sluice room re configuring and staff retraining

Facilities managers have been particularly impressed with the Panaway DS s focus on ensuring sluice room up-time With simplified installation maintenance costs and Haigh's well known product reliability the Panaway DS helps departments hit challenging SLAs that are critical to keeping the ever present infection risks associated with waste management under control With the alternative being washing bedpans pots and bottles with steam and hot water high energy costs are meaning that the benefits of bedpan macerators have never been greater Haigh s online cost calculator has been an eye opener for many customers seeing just how many thousands of pounds a year they benefit from by using these types of machine instead on top of the core infection prevention benefits

Complementing Haigh s movables approach to sluice room equipment Panaway DS is proving to be the logical step forward for existing and new customers alike meeting the demanding needs of everything from busy NHS acute wards to private elderly care sites where immobile at risk residents require the highest standard of care The team at Haigh Engineering is looking forward to continued developments in providing our clients with the best for the sluice room

If you would like to find out Haigh's Panaway DS can improve your site please contact the team on info@haighmed com or call 01989 763131 - Option 2

www haighmed com

Buyer Beware Specify CHSA Accreditation

By Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (www CHSA co uk)

Buyers and users of cleaning and hygiene goods and services in the care sector need products that are fit for purpose They need to know product claims are legitimate, realistic and relevant and that ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’ They also want to do the ‘right thing’ and move towards environmentally and ethically sustainable solutions But those working in the care sector already have many challenges to deal with, including staff shortages, higher demand and tighter budgets Low-cost solutions are tempting but buyers lack the time, resources and expertise to audit their cleaning and hygiene suppliers and the products they manufacture and sell The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association represents manufacturers and distributors supplying cleaning and hygiene products in the UK Our Accreditation Schemes can provide the solution Our Standards, Your Guarantee

The commercial pressures we all face today are immense Interest rates have steadily increased in recent months and the Bank of England may have to go further to control inflation The war in Ukraine continues It’s impacting the cost of energy, which may have stabilised but is still relatively high This adds to the pressure on care homes, increasing their need for low-cost solutions At the same time it is hugely increasing costs for our members particularly our manufacturing members The opening up of the Chinese economy is also hitting prices Its growth rate may not have bounced back to pre-pandemic levels but the rapid opening up has put pressure on raw materials, driving up the cost

Balancing these economic pressures with delivering good quality fit-for-purpose products is not easy In the past the unscrupulous squared the circle by cutting corners A few sheets shorter or a little narrower with the soft tissue Thinner plastic for the sacks Lower absorbency for the cotton mops Our Accreditation Schemes were set up specifically to protect buyers of cleaning and hygiene products from this type of sharp practice and over the 26 years since the establishment of our first Scheme their impact has been impressive

There will always be rogue traders operating outside our Schemes who are more interested in making a quick buck than in trading ethically It’s a problem made worse by the pandemic, particularly when it comes to cleaning chemicals Extraordinary claims were made for these products, for example that they kept an area clean and sterile for days if not months The truth is different A product may keep a surface sterile for days but only in laboratory conditions with very specific testing protocols In the real world inhabited by people it’s not possible New methods of application were also developed Misting was proposed as quick and effective, but the truth is it is more suited to applying cleaning chemicals in operating theatres than care homes These claims are still made today

The fog created by these misleading claims is now being added to with all sorts of environmental claims that often amount to nothing more than greenwashing A typical example is claims of biodegrability Given the right conditions everything biodegrades into its natural elements but it could take thousands of years The claim means nothing without information on conditions and timeframe Chemical-free cannot be true because everything on earth is comprised of chemicals Non-toxic is meaningless The toxicity of a cleaning product relates to its effect on humans when in direct contact In the real world this depends on what they are for and how they are used For instance, toilet bowl cleaners tend to have higher levels of harmful chemicals than all-purpose kitchen cleaners but because of where and how they are used there is no increased risk to the user

How are hard pressed buyers in the care sector supposed to navigate these challenges and get fit-for-purpose product with good environmental credentials at the right price?

We can help Setting and maintaining standards is in the DNA of the CHSA We set up our first Accreditation Scheme in 1997 and now have six They are for manufacturers of paper-based products plastic-based products cotton-based products and cleaning chemicals for general manufacturers and for distributors of cleaning and hygiene products

The Schemes integrity is maintained by the Independent Inspector In 2022 he conducted more than 139 audits In the process, he inspected over 1,500 labels, tested over 507 product lines and physically tested 4 170 individual products

Every CHSA member has also signed the CHSA’s rigorous Code of Practice, which incorporates the Competition and Markets Authority s Green Claims Code It requires them to “maintain a high standard in the conduct of its business”

The combination of our Code of Practice and Accreditation Scheme membership means ever y member:

• Trades ethically and sustainably; Provides quality, fit for purpose products; and Makes sure what s on the box is what s in the box

Our advice to buyers who want to avoid these problems is simple ‘Be cautious ’

1 Be sceptical It if sounds too good to be true it probably is

2 Ask for supporting evidence The manufacturer should be willing and able to show you data sheets or other relevant evidence to support claims

3 Ask for the CE declaration and any other test reports to show conformance to specification

4 Buy from a reputable supplier with a track record

5 Finally specify CHSA Accreditation Our Standards Your Guarantee

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

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR

Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!

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

Benefits include:

Safer for patients; less work for staff

Bed and chair pads ava lable One monitor works with two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems

A variety of opt ons including: Call button Pager

Floor sensor mat

Wireless door/w ndow exit alerts

TREADNOUGHT ®FLOOR

Lotus Care Technology

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

Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining

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

Visit www lctuk com for details

MONITORING

Medpage Falls Management Products

Medpage is a family ran company with a huge heart and resources gathered over our 38- year trading history The majority of the technologies we design manufacture and distribute originate from enquiries received from healthcare professionals and personal family care observations Our product portfolio provides a wide variety of care solutions for epilepsy, dementia, senior care special needs and sensory loss

Our latest innovation currently in use in several Hospitals presents an effective fall monitoring detection and reporting solution The MPCSA11 is a complex software driven sensor monitor made to be user and operator friendly This device has already proven successful in hospital and care home trials by reducing patient falls while also reducing false positives from a safe

patient The device can monitor and interact with up to three sensor products: bed and chair occupancy pressure pads PIR movement detection sensors and proximity signal products

In use a patient or resident rising from their bed would be considered a falls risk but what if they are simply moving to sit in a chair close to their bed? A standard bed monitor would raise an alarm alerting care staff, who would arrive to find the person safely seated The MPCSA11 would only generate an alarm if the person was out of their bed or chair for a selectable time duration Learn more www easylinkuk co uk/mpcsa11

See the advert on page 5 got details

Silent Running - Tranquility in Care Homes

Quiet and calm care homes ensure that residents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment Similarly carers and staff find that they too benefit from reduced stress when working in a home where noise levels are kept to a minimum

There are many environmental factors that can affect those sensitive to their surroundings particularly those suffering from dementia these can be fluctuations in ambient temperature light and of course noise Repetitive and high levels of noise can originate from a number of internal and external sources for example telephones ringing loud conversations in corridors, and call bells sounding, often one of the largest contributors to increasing the levels of stress and discomfort

in residents

A published study by the University of Stirling stated that unanswered Nurse Call (Call Bell) alarms can be one of the most common causes of stress in dementia sufferers The University recommends fitting call alarms which alert nurses but do not resonate throughout the whole building Alarms can be particularly disconcerting as they may encourage the person with dementia to respond or investigate what the matter is At the very least the loss of sleep will compromise a person s ability to concentrate It can affect their attention levels and capacity to cope, as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers ” Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number of methods to reduce their impact in a care home These include zoning whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call In these circumstances dementia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one “zone” whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative zone Each zone can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required

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

Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less stressed also, this creates a happier workplace where morale is greatly improved, staff are retained and CQC ratings improve Clearly the positive ramifications of a quiet Care Home run deep Get in touch today to find out how we can help your home become a quieter calmer, and more tranquil environment

For more information email us at: info@c-t co uk

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Mainteno is a complete cost-effective CAFM software solution designed to simplify the day-to-day maintenance of any organization Whether you're managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process saving you time and money With Mainteno, you can keep everyone in the loop and archive all your communications and documentation in one place, allowing for total control of your organization's assets The software also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking for added convenience

Mainteno s interface was designed with practicality in mind allowing basic operation to be learned in minutes and making it easy to become a power user in just one afternoon Despite its elegant usability Mainteno is surprisingly affordable with no set-up fee or lengthy contracts

Mainteno adapts to any organization's maintenance needs and offers a FREE TRIAL so you can see how it can benefit your organization before committing Try Mainteno now and experience the time and cost savings it can provide for your facilities management With Mainteno, you can enjoy a complete CAFM software solution that simplifies your maintenance processes and saves you money, all while providing the flexibility and ease-of-use you need to stay productive

Visit www mainteno com

Digital Employee Recognition Scheme Increases Morale and Productivity

Terryberry offer an all-in-one benefits reward and recognition platform including milestone and service awards lifestyle savings salary sacrifice cycle to work 24hour GP helpline and pension contributions in an easy-to-use platform

It is commonly accepted that workplace morale is intrinsically linked to productivity and retention With the current cost-of-living crisis rocketing basic food and energy bills Terryberry is helping UK businesses ride the storm

The 360 Employee Recognition software and platform incorporates four aspects into one integrated digital hub: employee benefits milestones and service awards social recognition and wellness

The employee benefit section allows managers and HR staff to incentivise staff through a range of benefits from private healthcare life insurance and GP helplines employee perks such as retail discounts and wellbeing schemes such as cycle to work schemes

We all want to know we re doing a good job; positive recognition bolsters self-esteem and super-

chargers dopamine It s a win-win scenario: employees feel good will stay in their jobs and continue working hard Managers benefit from a happy workplace with staff who feel valued and will go the extra mile

The last section is wellness with Terryberry offering services to support an employee s physical mental and financial wellbeing Through support with Mental health and wellness to online gym classes and help with managing your finances

The 360 Employee Recognition software and platform offers HR departments and business leaders an integrated digital hub to look after the basics: everyday workplace morale with customised calendar events for Christmas Birthdays and retirement occasions This leaves more times for managers to come up with valuable team building sessions whether that s in the boardroom or in the pub!

To start prioritising your employees’ wellbeing today, see the details below

T +44 03448262008

www terryberry com/gb

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

workflows were a key factor in their decision to select PASS

Self sufficiency: With a relatively young IT literate workforce they were keen to work in an environment where they could make simple changes to their digital care management system inhouse without having to go back to the supplier each time

They therefore particularly liked the Document Builder function in PASS which gave them the option to build and customise documents and assessments themselves

THE IMPACT

everyLIFE technologies was founded on a passion for empowering care agencies to deliver the highest standards of personalised care easily and efficiently

Through a secure cloud-based digital care software solution PASS was designed with the input of the industry and now supports over 80 000 people With complete care plans, care plan tracking, care records and online as well as offline alerts we work to make critical data accessible secure and usable for your team

THE COURT NURSING HOME BENEFITS FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF PASS

As well as offering care for older people The Court Nursing Home also supports those with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions physical disabilities and sensory impairment Amongst their staff they employ four registered nurses

WHY PASS?

In moving from paper to digital Court Nursing was seeking a solution that would allow them to streamline their working practices and realise improved operational efficiencies

Flexibility: The powerful core functionality of PASS, along with its flexible approach that supports customisable alerts documents assessments and

With the introduction of PASS Court Nursing has benefited from:

Realtime access from within PASS to their service user s GP records without having to contact the surgery or pharmacy

All of their service users documents stored electronically together in one place

• Ability to create and populate documents from within PASS

• Creating their own bespoke documents

• The Smart Observations function within PASS, making use of the Fluids observations feature for example

"GP Connect has provided continuity of care between ourselves and the GP, giving us access to up to date notes regarding the care of our users

In short PASS GP Connect helps us to cut out the middleman meaning that as nurses we can work more efficiently giving us more time for direct patient care

Rebecca Knight Registered Manager For further information visit www everylifetechnologies com

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Don’t Get Lost On Your Digital Journey

The next 12 months is going to see big changes in the residential care sector With around 50% of homes still using a paper system to plan and record care, The NHS Transformation Directorate have big ideas which whilst exciting are daunting to those without the proper tools to make these ideas a reality

So where to begin? Finding the right software provider might appear to be the ideal starting point Will the provider meet all your requirements within budget and customise the software to fit with your own processes? It s only once you have made this decision that your journey will really begin

There is little information and guidance out there on how to implement a new system into a residential care setting, where do you start? As with any journey you need a route plan

unique to our customers and are committed to working together to provide the best service for them We understand that the care landscape is always changing and improving, whether via new processes or new technologies We keep up to date with what our sector needs to ensure we are providing the best and most cost effective service possible

Again, let’s ask: So where to begin? Now we know the answer Find a system provider who will share their experience and knowledge with you and get you to your final destination smoothly and safely

From implementing systems into homes for over 20 years we not only know how to help plan your journey, but we ll be there as your co-pilot too Every step of the way So jump on board and get ready to take off!

For further information on the Blyssful Cloud Care System visit www ablyss co uk

Getting Digitisation Right, Ever y Step Of The Way – Top Tips From The Access Group

Care providers across the UK are digitising their records and processes to free up time improve safety and care quality and even staff satisfaction

When selecting and implementing a piece of care software it is easy to be wowed and carried away by all the advanced features, the impressive analytics, the powerful automation and all the potential that unleashes

However, unleashing that potential requires successful selection, implementation and ongoing use of the system

Care providers often tell us that the involvement ‘buy-in’ and enthusiasm of staff across their care services was crucial to achieving this

Here are a few tips on what to do help you get this right at each stage of the process

SELECTING A SYSTEM:

People working in different roles can offer very different perspectives For example a care worker may spot potential flaws and issues or hidden benefits that might not be apparent to management until it is too late

Create a working group involving staff from different roles within your organisation especially those that will have day to day use of the system you are procuring

You don’t need to involve everyone of course, just at least one representative from each role in your service that will have direct contact with the system you are selecting

From these working groups, draw up a checklist of your must-haves and red flags from your new system It doesn’t need to be an overly complex or extensive piece of work that saps your time and causes delays You just need something that outlines:

What our key goals/objectives are – what we want to get out of using this piece of software

Any key functionality or features any system we choose must have

Any characteristics of a system that we feel would not be a good fit for us BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION:

Once you’ve chosen the right system it is crucial to communicate regularly and openly with everyone across your care services Make it clear why you are implementing this new system, which should come out of your list of goals and objectives

How will it benefit service users, your care service and staff themselves? How will it enable them to provide better care and make their jobs easier or less stressful?

Communication should be two way Be open to questions and concerns from staff Listen as they may have thought of a potential hurdle you haven t spotted yet Respond because often these concerns are shared by colleagues and addressing them properly will help people feel comfortable and confident about the change in ways of working

DURING IMPLEMENTATION

During the implementation of your software maintain the approach to communication outlined above You should also identify ‘champions’ people who are especially enthusiastic about the software and the change it brings Often it s best if champions are care workers especially when care workers are using the software directly

These champions should not only act as an advocate of the software to colleagues, but also as a person who can confidentially hear the concerns or challenges that people are having and work with management and/or the software supplier to address them

YOUR NEXT STEP:

If you want to learn more about the full range of care software available to you then we can help At The Access Group we provide a complete ecosystem of care management software with everything you need to improve efficiency safety and care quality in your services

Contact us for an informal conversation whenever you are ready

See the advert on the facing page for further details

The CAREAudits System

The CAREAudits compliance auditing tool is now being used throughout the UK and Ireland in numerous locations by all care service providers Carers and managers are checking everything from CQC Compliance and Safety to Medication Audits Training and Maintenance as well as service users quality and wellbeing

The system allows care providers to audit or check just about everything and manage all areas requiring actions (or non-compliances) in its Web Portal Encrypted date and time stamped evidence including photos is seamlessly auto attached and recorded in the system Management see in real time exactly were best to focus their attention and resources and how they are meeting their compliance requirements

The system has over 150 easy to use example audits to select from which you can easily add to or edit your own audits in minutes ensuring simple instant updates of ever-changing requirements App care 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 its own help text standard answers and standard actions required ensuring

The UK has seen a rise in Social Prescribing Services with many NHS Trusts and local authorities now offering services that connect patients with community activities and voluntary groups

Social prescribing is an alternative to traditional healthcare models, which aims to improve health outcomes by connecting people with the wider community It is also a preventative treatment that can be used alongside other treatments to reduce the need for medication

Social prescribing is one of the most effective ways to provide healthcare to people struggling with mental health problems and it s a practice that has been growing in popularity for the past few years However it s also a relatively new field and there aren t a lot of people who have been trained in this area

If you re looking for a new job or are planning to retrain a career in social prescribing this article will give you an overview of what s involved and how to get started

WHAT IS SOCIAL PRESCRIBING?

Social prescribing is a form of community-based health care that helps people with social or emotional problems improve their health and well-being It involves the assessment of someone's needs, matching them with appropriate services and then supporting them to use those services effectively

Social prescribing has been shown to help people access the right support at the right time and can help to reduce the use of acute services It also improves outcomes for patients as they are more satisfied with their care and experience fewer repeat visits to the hospital or A&E

Social prescribing is a way of helping people access services and support they need but may not know about or have the confidence to access alone It can be used as a treatment for people with long-term conditions or mental health problems such as depression or anxiety Social prescribing can also address loneliness and isolation amongst older people in the community

Social Prescribing is an opportunity for GPs and other health professionals to work with local organisations, such as community groups and voluntary organisations, to help their patients improve their health and well-being The aim is for patients to maintain good health by accessing meaningful activities and meeting their needs

There are three main components: the person who makes the referral; the link-worker who helps the individual choose what kind of help they need and where to find it; and the activity itself

One of the biggest challenges in social prescribing is finding people who are knowledgeable qualified and willing to do it It s also important that they have a good understanding of their local area as well as being able to work with other agencies and professionals

Social prescribers are trained to assess the needs of their patients and connect them with services that can help them address those needs

It s a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on not only physical symptoms but also mental health financial stability and other factors

If you re interested in becoming a social prescriber yourself there are three steps you should take:

1 Learn about social prescribing and its principles so that you can understand what it means to be a social prescriber and how it differs from other approaches to healthcare

2 Complete an accredited training course from Need2Succeed this will ensure that you know what your role as a social prescriber is and how best to serve your community

3 Look for opportunities within your area or network with others working toward similar goals this will help you build a support system while also helping others become interested in social prescribing themselves!

If you d like to learn more about our online distance learning courses or specialist training opportunities don t hesitate to contact us today!

Visit https://need2succeed co uk/national-qualifications/level-3-certificate-in-social-prescribing

& RECRUITMENT

Appreciating Our People

By Jarrod Kelly, Consultant and Trainer, Meaningful Care Matters (https://meaningfulcarematters com)

Without a doubt, the success of a team rises or falls on the people who make up that team Of course, there are other factors which can affect a team’s success; lack of resources, understaffing and a stretched budget to name a few I ve seen teams pull together in incredibly tough circumstances and hit goals or targets that seemed almost impossible I ve also seen teams who are over staffed and very well resourced yet they struggle to achieve even the most basic targets that their roles demand

In the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Dr Paul White found that 79% of employees who quit their job cite lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving Why is it then that so many managers and leaders fail to show meaningful appreciation to their teams? Well in my experience most are trying to show appreciation in one way or another but it is often completely ineffective A failure to understand how to appreciate people well can be frustrating for the leader and soul destroying for the team members

Here are four tips to help make sure your appreciation hits the mark

KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL

Some people respond well to a small gift but others just want to be told they’re doing an amazing job I know people who feel on top of the world when their boss sets aside a few minutes to have a coffee with them and show an interest in their life It won t be the same for everyone but an effective leader will take time to learn what makes their individual team members feel valued

MASS APPRECIATION HAS LIMITED EFFECT

Saying well done to your whole team is great and we should do it but it doesn t acknowledge the achievements or contributions the individuals have made In some cases where there are one or two lazy team members, it can actually lead to resentment from their high performing co-workers Why should lazy employees be rewarded in the same way as hard-working ones? Don t fall into the trap of thinking that a gesture of mass appreciation (like a staff Christmas party) will make the whole team feel valued

THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS

What works today will be less effective tomorrow

For example if you give your team members a £100 gift card at the end of the year to say thank you it’s likely to be well received the first year If you do it again the next year they’ll be appreciative but not as much as the year before By the third year they’re expecting that £100 gift card and it s now considered an entitlement rather than a bonus Make sure you mix things up so appreciation remains unpredictable and comes as an unexpected surprise rather than a scheduled entitlement

GIVE APPRECIATION, NOT JUST RECOGNITION

Recognition is given for a job well done What about appreciating someone for who they are not just what they do? This is much less common but so much more powerful It might sound like this; I so appreciate the enthusiasm and life you bring to the team We really value your energy, and the team would be poorer without you Comments like that don t just make people feel appreciated they buy loyalty like you wouldn t believe

Apprenticeships Partnership Could Help Create ‘Managers Of The Future’ For Care Sector

The co-founder of an award-winning management transformation programme believes a new class of apprenticeships could help create managers of the future for the care sector

Laura Ashley-Timms Chief Operating Officer of Notion, believes apprenticeships that increase people management capacity in learners could be transformational for the future of care sector management

Speaking at the start of National Apprenticeship Week Laura says: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) now requires a specific ratio of manager level staff to patients in each care setting But there is a shortage of care workers with the required Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care This reduces capacity in care settings which means hospitals are unable to discharge patients into those appropriate care settings which increases

demand for NHS beds If more care workers were able to access that qualification via an apprenticeship, it would increase care setting capacity and alleviate pressure on the NHS

“These areas are strategically important for the UK economy and for UK society as a whole Creating more and better managers, especially in the adult care sector has the potential to relieve pressure on the NHS Announcing their partnership Qdos Training Ltd and Notion have been working together to integrate STAR® Manager into their management and leadership apprenticeships that are the first to fully embed Notion’s innovative (and now research-backed ) Operational Coaching™ and management approach into selected Level 3 and 5 management and leadership apprenticeships

The partnership is initially focused on three apprenticeship programmes Level 3 Team Leader / Supervisor Level 5 Operations / Department Manager and Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care ”

Speaking of the partnership, Laura Ashley-Timms said

We ve always wanted to partner with a quality apprenticeship provider because we see apprenticeships as a powerful way of unlocking untapped talent and potential within organisations of all types Qdos

Do you have team members who struggle to work together?

Often it can seem team members are poles apart and have different objectives. As we ’ ve worked in the care industry over recent years, we ’ ve found the Ever ything DiSC tools to be a game changer for teams

Training is an exceptional provider and has a very impressive programme completion rate

Deborah Johnson Engagement Director at Qdos Training says of the partnership:

“We share Notion’s absolute passion to create the managers of the future Most of us are accidental managers and may not have ever been shown how to manage people let alone learned how to communicate in a way that invites the highest levels of collaboration in the workplace STAR® Manager is a unique approach that enables our apprentices to put into practice the people management and leadership theories they re learning The programme enables them to be more than just managers and instead become brilliant people leaders ”

STAR® Manager was recently subjected to one of the largest academic studies of its type The study carried out by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the Government s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy found statistically significant proof that the programme improves retention rates and transforms management capability at scale in as little as six months

Website: https://starmanager global/what-is-star/ Contact: hello@STARmanager global

Meaningful Care Matters can assist in developing leadership skills in a person- centred, feelings first, and emotion- centred way MCM is the only health and social care provider registered internationally as a partner with Everything DiSC It has Leadership Coaches ready to support individual needs in becoming aware of emotional intelligence factors to enhance leadership skills.

Ever ything DiSC helps people to understand themselves and appreciate the differences in other team members We may have different motivators and stressors, varying priorities, ways of interacting and working styles

Check out the three tools we can use to help your team work together in a more cohesive way

How

does it work?

Each participant completes an online questionnaire which then produces a comprehensive personalised report helping us to tailor the training to your team’s needs Contact us today to discuss how we can help you through individual coaching via Zoom or group training sessions in person using the Ever ything DiSC tools

Contact us today to find out how we can help your team admin@meaningfulcarematters.com

01273 242335

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PROFESSIONAL , TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Braemar Finance Business Barometer – Care Homes

Braemar Finance recently conducted its latest Business Barometer research which examines current Care Home sector trends and the view of business-owners about a range of issues, from the cost of doing business to recruitment and retention

In this piece, we get under the skin of the data to find out more

COST OF DOING BUSINESS

The cost of energy has had – by some distance – the most impact on Care Homes’ income with 56% selecting this option Staff pay rises (16%) supply costs (12%) and fuel increases (10%) are the next most cited

Unsurprisingly 89% of Care Homes said they were taking measures to reduce their energy use, including, in order of most popular measures:

Turning off the lights overnight

Replacing equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives

• Looking at alternative heating and energy sources

Lowering the heating

Changed energy supplier

Insulating your building

Unfortunately, a quarter of Care Homes confirmed that they had considered closing their business as a result of rising costs and 33% said that they had made redundancies because of the impact of rising costs

Seven out of 10 firms surveyed admitted to passing on additional costs to their customers either partially (60%) or fully (10%)

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Looking at staff vacancies and the impact of the recruitment and the retention crisis 61% of Care Homes replied that they currently have a

vacancy to fill the highest of all the professions polled A further 49% said they ve struggled to fill vacancies in the past 12 months

When asked how long it took to hire a candidate results indicate it typically takes up to four months:

Less than a month

Sixty percent of Care Homes say there is a skills crisis in the sector and a similar number are currently finding it more difficult to fill vacancies

Looking ahead to recruiting in the future, respondents said:

I won’t have a problem recruiting adequately skilled staff 33 50%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in my sector

43 00%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in my region

10 50%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in the UK

13 00%

THE UK’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The majority (93%) of Care Home businesses surveyed responded that they were either very (43%) or somewhat (50%) concerned about the UK s current economic performance Despite this 16% expected to expand in the coming 12 months against 21% who think they will contract; 62% hope to stay the same – only 1 5% think they ll close their door permanently

The Eden Alternative - What Is It?

The Eden Alternative is a modern philosophy of care designed to enhance the wellbeing of residents and staff in care settings the quality of their ‘lived experience and their fulfilment

It aims to build a truly positive culture; underpinned by close partnership working between residents the team and family members

How does it work? It provides training to Care Homes manage-

ment and staff and encourages Homes to train their own ‘in house trainers to run the training

Eden has been running in over 20 countries on 5 continents for nearly 30 years and started in the USA It began operating in the UK in 2005 Eden UK runs both face-to-face training and online courses, which both lead to the accreditation of candidates as Certified Eden Associates of which there are over 2,000 in the UK and 20 000 worldwide

The Certified Eden Associate Courses online course run over 7 weeks x 1hr each week using the same material as the 3-day Eden Associate courses and comprise 5 elements (online training with Eden trainers digital workbooks video clips assessment of learning and development of a project to develop implementing innovative ideas)

Over nine in 10 (91%) of respondents confirmed they d been impacted by rising inflation and 70% admit it s likely they ll apply for funding within the year

THE ENVIRONMENT

Despite the economic headwinds they re facing 67 5% of Care Homes are working to limit their environmental impact and 77 5% have considered climate change and other environmental factors within their business plans

82% believe that they can help tackle climate change and a further 18% believe they can achieve carbon neutrality by 2050

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Half of respondents are looking to invest in new technologies over the course of the next year and 65% of Care Homes stated they feel keeping up-to-date with modern technologies is a key differentiator for customers and a reason they may choose their Care Home over a competitor 80% of Care Homes are confident about being able to keep ahead of technological developments within the profession

Braemar Finance has been established since 1992 and offers a range of tailor-made finance solutions to the Professions, including Care, Dental, Veterinary, Optical, Legal, Accountancy, Medical, Pharmacy and Funeral

For more information visit https://www braemarfinance co uk/care

Courses run continuously and a new one starts at the beginning of each alternate month e g March May July etc

For Homes or Services that choose to become an Eden Accredited Home annual validations of how Eden features with the life of the Home/Service are undertaken In recognition of the progress achieved by the care provision, an award of Platinum Gold, Silver or Bronze can be achieved

Eden UK is based at 11 Plantation Terrace Dawlish Devon EX7 9DS and can be contacted on 01626 868192 or 07483359472

The key advantages to the Eden approach are:

• It improves occupancy

It improves recruitment and retention

It improves team and resident wellbeing

Geoffrey Cox LLb MSc ,

We shall at the Health Care Plus show at Excel London on 26th-27th April 2023