The Carer Digital - Issue #142

Dementia & Alzheimer’s Leading Cause of Death in England and Wales

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

I was rather saddened to report on our front page story that dementia and Alzheimer’s are still the biggest cause of deaths in England and Wales

That probably extends worldwide, but we recently received figures from the Office of National Statistics highlighting that while Covid deaths have dropped out of the top five leading causes of deaths in England and Wales dementia and Alzheimer’s remains the most common cause and is, in fact, up 10 4% on the previous year

Editor Peter Adams

I also noted in lead article that a survey by Alzheimer’s Research revealed that that 2 in 10 people are unaware that dementia is even a cause of death

Unfortunately, that is not surprising I suspect only those with experience of a loved one dementia and all those involved in healthcare would be aware that it is the biggest cause of deaths

What is surprising, and this is only my “tenpenneth”, is how little this has been reported in the media Even where it has been reported, it seemed that the fact that Covid deaths had fallen overshadowed the fact that dementia and Alzheimer s deaths had increased

According to the Alzheimer’s Society of the top ten causes of death worldwide dementia is the only one that can’t be cured stopped or even slowed down and by 2040, it is estimated dementia will cost the UK economy £94 1 billion

There is no doubt in my mind of the public are more aware of Alzheimer s and dementia now than I was back in 1986 when I took my mother to our local GP to be told “it’s all part and parcel of growing old” She was 63 It was an immense battle then to get the condition recognised and the correct treatment

And while we are far more aware nowadays, it is rather alarming a 20% of the public are unaware that it leads eventually to death

We are seeing enormous initiatives to raise the profile and support those suffering with dementia and Alzheimer s and their families I was really heartened to see the news today a pub landlady in Manchester who runs events for people affected by dementia, who said she started the group when she had nowhere to take her mother for care

Sharon Mattin launched Forgotten Regulars Dementia Group at the Union Arms in Tyldesley Greater Manchester eight years ago

Up to 100 people with dementia and their carers now go to the free monthly lunch

which features a singer Ms Mattin said she loves "how our group has brightened the lives of others"

I watched the news report this morning and it was as much uplifting as it was heart-breaking

We produce a title for the hospitality licensed on-trade sector and am very much hoping that we can encourage more people in that sector to get involved with their local communities and do something similar so please do watch this space

Thank you kindly for your Easter celebration stories (see pages 16-18) One part of my job that I do enjoy! At a recent seminar earlier this month it was highlighted how mainstream media relish in printing negative stories about the sector and overlook the uplifting ones

We recognise here at THE CARER all the hard work and dedication care and nursing homes put in into entertaining the residents, with meaningful activities that help with overall well-being

So please do keep them coming - we are always delighted to reproduce them!

We are also exhibiting later this month at the Residential & Home Care Show (see page 20) at London’s Excel on April 26 and 27 so please do pay us a visit - we always welcome feedback!

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

Dementia & Alzheimer’s Leading Cause of Death in England and Wales

(CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

The other causes in the top five were ischaemic heart diseases (59 356 deaths and 10 3% of the total); chronic lower respiratory diseases (29 815 deaths 5 2%); cerebrovascular diseases such as strokes and aneurysms (29,274 deaths, 5 1%); and trachea, bronchus and lung cancer (28 571 deaths 5 0%)

COVID NO LONGER IN TOP FIVE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH

Covid-19 has dropped out of the top five leading causes of death in England and Wales for the first time since the start of the pandemic, data has revealed Coronavirus was recorded as the main cause of death for 22 454 people in 2022 or 3 9% of all deaths registered making it the sixth leading cause overall

In both 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 was the leading cause of death, with 73 766 deaths (12 1% of the total) and 67 350 (11 5%) respectively

DEMENTIA & ALZHEIMER’S DEATHS UP BY 10.4%

By contrast dementia and Alzheimer s disease was the leading cause in England and Wales in 2022, with the total number of registered deaths increasing by 10 4%

The other causes in the top five were ischaemic heart diseases (59,356 deaths and 10 3% of the total); chronic lower respiratory diseases (29 815 deaths 5 2%); cerebrovascular diseases such as strokes and aneurysms (29 274 deaths 5 1%); and trachea bronchus and lung cancer (28,571 deaths 5 0%)

Commenting on the new data Samantha Benham-Hermetz Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer s Research UK said: “These statistics are a stark reminder of the terrible and far-reaching effects of dementia on our society Our most recent survey showed that 2 in 10 people are unaware that dementia is even a cause of death, yet last year it claimed nearly 66 000 lives in England and Wales alone And despite its devastating impact and in contrast with other leading causes of death like heart disease or cancer, there are still no treatments available on the NHS that can slow or stop it

As the impact of the pandemic recedes we must learn from the lessons of Covid-19 and speed up progress in finding new ways to treat, diagnose and prevent dementia At Alzheimer s Research UK we will keep working tirelessly to achieve this and to make sure it stays at the top of the national agenda ”

COVID DEATHS FALL BUT CASES HIT “RECORD LEVELS”

The figures come after Covid levels hit record highs in England and Wales last year, with the emergence of new variants driving the estimated number of weekly infections to 3 9 million in early January and 4 4 million at the end of March

The success of the vaccination programme has been credited for the fall in Covid-related deaths last year helping to both reduce the number of infected people who go on to become seriously ill or die

Vaccines were first rolled out across the country in early 2021 with booster “shots” then made available to older and vulnerable groups

Millions of people are also set to receive a spring Covid booster jab from this month (April) An estimated five million people in total are eligible for the vaccine booster up until the end of June including those aged 75 and over and anyone aged five and over who is immunosuppressed CARE HOME RESIDENTS

PRIORITISED

Care home residents were prioritised and began receiving their booster jabs at the beginning of the month (Monday April the 3rd) With the booster programme now underway in England all other eligible people can now book their online with the first appointments com-

mencing the week of 17 April

NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said As a society we are learning to live with covid but for many it is still a virus that can cause serious illness and hospitalisation, and so it is still really important that those at greatest risk come forward and boost their protection in the coming weeks

There are still around 8 000 people in hospital with covid according to the latest data and the NHS has now treated more than one million covid inpatients since the pandemic began

So if you are over 75 or you have a weakened immune system please come forward as soon as possible to book a covid vaccine this spring so you can enjoy summer with peace of mind ”

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH

Commenting on the latest statistics Sarah Caul ONS head of mortality analysis said the figures represent a “significant change” in the leading causes of death since the beginning of the pandemic

“For the third year in a row, we’ve seen more males than females dying a reversal of the trend since the 1980s ” she added

Some 292 064 male deaths were registered in England and Wales last year compared with 285 096 female deaths The leading cause of death in males was ischaemic heart disease with dementia and Alzheimer s the leading cause in females

This is “probably due to females living longer on average than males ” Ms Caul said

When the data for 2022 is broken down by age and sex, Covid-19 was the third leading cause of death among males aged 80 and over, however this is the only group in which the virus appeared in the top five

EXCESS DEATHS "ABOVE 5-YEAR AVERAGE"

The overall number of deaths registered last year in England and Wales was 577 160 lower than both 2021 and 2020 but 6 2% above the five-year average with more than 30 000 extra deaths

The ONS says 33 747 deaths in 2022 were considered to be excess deaths but they believe Covid-19 only played a minor role in last year s figures

Instead they believe seasonal viruses like flu the impact of the summer heatwave, pressures on the NHS, and access to medical services, would have contributed to last year’s excess deaths

Social Care Fund for Hospital Discharges

By

INTRODUCTION

In January 2023 the government announced an additional £200 million fund to speed up hospital discharge, for ICBs to fund maximum stays of up to four weeks per person in care homes and other settings with wrap around support with the money to be spent by the end of March

The aim of course is to reduce the number patients in hospital with no medical need to be there: In December 2022 more than 13 000 beds out of a total of around 100 000 hospital beds in England were occupied by patients who were medically fit for discharge and bed occupancy was above 95 per cent for adult general and acute beds, well above the maximum threshold of 92 per cent set by the NHS to maintain patient flow Delayed discharge not only reduces the availability of hospital beds for newly admitted patients, but also brings additional risk that patients may acquire infections in hospital from longer stays and makes it harder for people to regain their independence after leaving hospital increasing their need for post-discharge care

IMPACT?

This funding is on top of the £500 million adult social discharge fund announced in September 2022, which involved a twin-track route where £200 million would go to local authorities and £300 million to ICBs but was announced before the impact of that first tranche of extra funding has been assessed Equally with the new £200 million discharge fund having to be spent by 31 March 2023 it is too soon to really see the impact this has had

Initial suggestions from local authorities are that the funding helped maintain safe staffing levels in social care during the grant period whilst also helping to discharge patients from hospital

Nevertheless the time-limited nature of the fund does restrict its impact on the wider underlying issues within social care most obviously the workforce challenge with 1 in 10 posts now vacant affecting pre-discharge assessments and identifying and securing placements for patients in need

The number of patients remaining in hospital overnight who no longer meet the criteria to remain still averaged 13 771 in February 2023 a 9 4 per cent increase from the 12 589 patients in April 2022

There may be a more significant impact from the government adult social care policy paper “Putting People at the Heart of Care published on 4 April 2023, though the dominant initial response from the sector was to decry the apparent reduction in funding for the social care workforce from amounts previously committed

It may also be misleading to see on social care

services as the main problem Of the patients stuck in hospital at the end of 2022 only 37% were due to waiting for social care services; problems with social care provision have never accounted for the majority of delays (in February 2020, the NHS was solely responsible for 60% of the delays in discharges)

Diagnosing the key problems for delayed discharge is challenging as the dataset collection has been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic However, rather than simply seeing social care as to blame there clearly needs to be a collaborative long-term plan for social care and hospital including coordination of assessments of post-acute care needs organising discharge to assess (D2A) pathways and ensuring people without complex needs are discharged rapidly LEGAL ISSUES?

The idea that they might be swiftly moved out of hospital into block booked residential homes might have a positive effect on delayed discharges but there is a risk that it is not an appropriate placement for that individual’s care or rehabilitation needs (fewer than 5% of people discharged from hospital actually need 24hour bedded residential care)

In some (but not all) cases we will be dealing with the discharge of a patient who lacks capacity to make a decision for themselves about their discharge destination, in which case there is an issue about whether such a discharge could be said to be in the patient s best interests (among the available options) per the Mental Capacity Act 2005

And in some of those cases there is a question whether such a discharge placement may amount to a deprivation of the person’s liberty (DoL) requiring authorisation under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS if a registered care home) which strictly speaking should be put in place before their discharge there, including, if appropriate, an opportunity to challenge that DoLS authorisation before any move if it is contested either by the patient or by family / others on their behalf

For patients who lack capacity for the relevant decisions the same problems of proper MCA compliant best interests decision making and (prior) authorisation / challenge of any DoL may also arise in the context of any move onward from the initial residential placement whether to another residential setting (perhaps closer to home) or back to the person’s own home if and when an appropriate dom care package can be arranged

Capacity or not, in a great many cases, there will be a risk of people staying in those residential placements much longer than is appropriate or necessary

Whilst assessments of care needs were to be done within the four weeks a patient was in a residential care home the £200 million fund does not provide for a person still being at the care home after the four weeks The guidance to providers apportions ongoing funding responsibilities to ICBs or to local authorities depending on what stage the assessment has reached at the end of the four weeks, but the fund did not cover long-term care needs following completion of a Care Act or CHC assessment

Aside from any concerns about ineffectiveness and insufficiency of the fund, there may also be unintended consequences which raise legal issues

Aria Care Launches with Adventures in Wonderland

ing the transition to Aria Care It was lovely to have both the Mayor and Mayoress, as well as staff and residents – including Violet – from Bradbury House with us to celebrate the occasion

The official launch was followed by tea parties taking place in each of Aria s care homes across the country including Bradbury House

The home hosted a ‘New Beginnings’ afternoon tea including sandwiches scones and sweet treats and was decorated with bunting and balloons Local singer Brian Shaw performed for the team and residents

Kirsty Allen, home manager at Bradbury House, said: “Thank you to all of the team that were involved in bringing the party together and for making it such a fun day for our residents

It was a very important date for Aria Care as the group recently celebrated its official launch with special guests 100-year-old local care home resident Violet McFarland, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester – and no-one was late

The launch took place at Aria Care’s support office in The Crescent Severalls Business Park on Monday 13th March and featured an Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon tea with a pack of cards several Mad Hatters Tweedledees and Tweedledums and White Rabbits all making an appearance in fancy dress

Colleagues were joined by the team and manager from Bradbury House care home in Braintree, including Violet, who cut the ribbon alongside Mayor of Colchester Councillor Tim Young Award-winning team member Corrinne Collis who was named Carer of the Year at last year s National Care Awards was also there for the celebration

Caroline Roberts CEO of Aria Care said: The whole team embraced the Alice in Wonderland theme which added to the success of the event It was a great opportunity to bring everyone together as one team and thank them for the hard work dur-

Violet was absolutely delighted to have been involved in the support office party the day before and to meet the Mayor and Mayoress and this was just the icing on top of the afternoon tea cake It was a brilliant way to mark the launch and toast to new beginnings and an exciting future ”

Caroline added: Aria Care reflects our commitment to providing excellent care and delivering a quality lifestyle to the elderly people in our communities We are delivering a service which our residents and families can trust We feel our new motto Care from the Heart reflects this dedication ”

Ben Troke, qualified mediator and solicitor at Hill Dickinson (www hilldickinson com), specialising in the law and ethics around the delivery of health and social care

Government Unveils Taskforce Chair to Boost Older People’s Housing

The government has launched its long-awaited Older People s Housing Taskforce (OPHT) to help improve accommodation options for the elderly

The new taskforce to help improve housing options for older people will be headed by Professor Julienne Meyer

Professor Meyer a leading expert in care for older people will chair the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, spearheading work to support the growth of a thriving older people s housing sector across the country

The taskforce will work across housing heath and care sectors to drive an increase in the volume and range of housing options and make recommendations to the Government

The appointment was unveiled as part of the government s Adult Social Care Implementation plan published by the Department of Health and Social Care today

Housing Minister Rachel Maclean said: Making sure older people can access the right homes that meet their needs later in life is a government priority And by unlocking more housing for older people we can also have a hugely beneficial impact on their health and wellbeing

I am very excited to have Professor Meyer leading this taskforce as we radically improve the choices available to older people whether that s retirement housing or support to help people live independently for longer

Older People s Housing Taskforce Chair Professor Julienne Meyer said: I am delighted to be leading the taskforce, an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of older people Working between housing, health and social care will be critical to its success and I m looking forward to advising government on proposals that give older people more choices in later life

Local Care Home Residents Celebrate 70 Years Together!

A couple from Shelburne Lodge care home in High Wycombe have celebrated 70 year s of marriage Ruby and Leslie Tack grew up in the same village Holmer Green and both went to Holmer Green School and that s where their love bloomed Ruby and Leslie married and built a lovely life together Leslie had a shed where he liked to do woodworking and Ruby loved Tamble beading and created beautiful bead work for wedding dresses When asked “What is the key to a long and happy marriage? Ruby said “A husband that doesn’t argue!” Ruby also said There is no point to arguing we do everything

together We lived in the same village went to school together and we have been together since When asked the same questions Leslie said he agreed with Ruby!

Residents and team members came to together to celebrate the couple s special anniversary The home arranged a lovely afternoon tea a home baked cake and a few glasses of fizz General Manager Joe Patterson at Shelburne Lodge] said: “We have had such a lovely day celebrating Ruby and Leslie s anniversary It’s so wonderful to see two people still very much in love after all these years!

Minister for Care Helen Whately said: Today’s plan sets out the progress we’re making with our vision for Adult Social Care reform That vision involves helping people to live fuller more independent lives for longer – and a big part of that is making sure we’ve got the right housing available

We want a thriving older people s housing sector based on choice quality and security That s why we ve set up this new taskforce – to work out how we can deliver that across the country and make sure everyone has somewhere suitable to live in later life The more housing options there are the more choice people have over their care

The taskforce will run for up to 12 months and will produce an independent report to DLUHC and DHSC Ministers, with interim findings available after 6 months

The panel is expected to include up to 14 members with expertise from the social and private retirement sector, local government, adult social care, and from investors and developers

Professor Meyer co-founded My Home Life an international collaborative initiative to promote quality of life in care homes for older people A former nurse she has led research in care for older people at City University of London for 23 years During her career she worked in a variety of different settings (health social care and housing; general and mental health; primary secondary and tertiary care)

Professor Meyer will work with the government to finalise the Taskforce membership and the group s Terms of Reference, with a first meeting to take place by Spring once all members are confirmed

This work will be taken in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care building on the commitments set out in DHSC’s adult social care reforms today

Forget New Year Resolutions

It’s All About Getting Active This Spring, New Research

Reveals Social Care Fund for Hospital Discharges

- Nearly three quarters (72%) of the nation wish they were more physically active

- 60% feel more motivated to get active during spring and summer

- 41% would prefer to be active with others

- Anchor, backed by presenter and fitness guru Diana Moran The Green Goddess call on the nation to get moving this spring

New research from Anchor England’s largest not-for-profit provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life reveals that if your new year s fitness resolutions have slipped[1] now is the perfect time to reset your goals 60% of the nation feel more motivated to get active during the spring and summer months and encouragingly 72% wish they were more physically active

In response Anchor and presenter and fitness guru ‘The Green Goddess are uniting to encourage the nation to get active this spring

With Anchor s research finding that 39% of the nation plan to spend Easter with loved ones and that 41% would prefer to be active with others, Easter weekend could be the perfect time to get moving with loved ones Whether it s going for a short walk with friends and family doing some gardening or Easter egg hunts spring provides more opportunities to get outdoors and get moving as the weather warms up Anchor s colleagues and residents have already been showing the nation how it s done through their inclusive #MoveIntoMarch initiative Having clocked up an impressive 566 6 hours of activity during March by finding fun ways to get active – from Anchor’s own Zest and Be Active workout series to sociable walks and talks – Anchor is urging the nation to get active to benefit their wellbeing

Anchor’s research highlights how physical activity and wellbeing go hand in hand, as 65% of the nation feel better when they ve spent time being active during the day increasing to72% of older people In later life, over half (51%) say being active brings them joy and 72% say it benefits their mental wellbeing With recent research revealing how exercising just once a month can reduce the risk of dementia[2] the benefits of being active extend far beyond day-to-day wellbeing

Helen Core Wellbeing Manager at Anchor says: Supporting our residents to enjoy movement in later life is something we champion here at Anchor – we see the benefits first-hand every day This is just one example of how our colleagues make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents As England’s largest notfor-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life we re also in a great position to nurture and

support colleagues

“Our Zest Wellbeing programme is one of the ways we support our residents wellbeing through inclusive movements that everyone can enjoy This spring we re encouraging the public to join in and show us how they’re getting moving on social media

Presenter and fitness guru Diana Moran aka ‘The Green Goddess’ a longtime advocate for health and wellbeing in later life has been enjoying inclusive workouts with Anchor s residents She said: “Being active is crucial for our health and wellbeing especially as we get older Adding more movement into your life doesn t have to mean setting unachievable goals – it can simply mean spending time in the garden or taking a gentle walk on a warm spring day

“I’m inspired to see that so many of Anchor’s residents have been getting active with their inclusive #MoveintoMarch initiative I am incredibly passionate about encouraging people of all ages to get moving more and what better time to start or restart those fitness resolutions than when getting together with family and friends for Easter or springtime celebrations!

Anchor offers its inclusive physical activity programme Zest Wellbeing across all its care locations Zest sessions are designed to be suitable for all needs and abilities and feature a mix of active routines dance moves mobility work and gentle moving and stretching to make sure there is something to suit everyone

Recordings of Zest sessions are also available to residents via the Zest Wellbeing YouTube channel making them accessible at any time Be Active available across all locations including specialist housing offers a range of online resources including exercise routine videos, podcasts and tips on how to keep the mind and body active This includes the 10 Today series a programme made up of 10-minute audio workouts hosted by Anchor resident and qualified fitness instructor, Terry Keen These inclusive programmes provide resources and opportunities for everyone to stay active and live healthy lifestyles no matter their age and ability

Get involved by posting pictures of you being active on Twitter and tagging @AnchorLaterLife so we can see what you get up to!

For inspiration look at the hashtag #MoveIntoMarch or visit anchor org uk/moveintomarch to see how Anchor s residents and colleagues have been getting moving

Emergency Care to be Prioritised During Most Disruptive Industrial Action in Histor y

Strike action across England this week will see unprecedented disruption to NHS services England s top doctor has warned

Professor Sir Stephen Powis said that it had been a challenged bank holiday weekend for hospitals in England and that the industrial action by junior doctors, starting at 7am today (Tuesday April 11) would bring immense pressure on services

The junior doctor walkout begins at 7am on Tuesday and will not end until the morning of Saturday 15 April which is the most extensive action on record

Junior doctors make up around half of all doctors in the NHS – they are qualified doctors who have anywhere up to eight years experience working as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to three years in general practice

To make sure safe care continues to be available for those in lifethreatening situations NHS staff will be asked to prioritise emergency and urgent care over some routine appointments and procedures

Appointments and operations will only be cancelled where unavoidable and patients will be offered an

alternative date as soon as possible

The NHS has said that people who need care must still access the care they need in the usual way – only using 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and using NHS 111 online and other services for non-urgent health needs Pharmacies and GPs are largely unaffected by the strikes so patients can still get appointments and health advice

Professor Sir Stephen Powis national medical director for the NHS in England said: “The NHS has been preparing extensively for the next set of strikes but managing additional pressure doesn t get easier as time goes by – it gets much more difficult – not only due to the sheer number of appointments that need to be rescheduled but also that they can take time to rearrange with multiple teams involved

This is set to be the most disruptive industrial action in NHS history and the strikes tomorrow will bring immense pressures coming on the back of a challenged extended bank holiday weekend for staff and services Emergency urgent and critical care will be prioritised but some patients will unfortunately have had their appointments postponed – if you haven t, please do continue to come forward

Monty Brings Joy to Day Care Centre

Trainee Pet As Therapy Dog Brings So Much Joy – and Lots of Cuddles – to Friends of the Elderly’s Malvern Day Care Centre

Clients at Friends of the Elderly’s Malvern Day Care in Worcestershire enjoyed weekly visits from Monty a cheeky and loving Golden Retriever newly accredited Pets As Therapy (PAT) dog

Monty s owner Craig Macbeth had been wanting to register Monty as a PAT dog for a while, and thought that visiting the charity’s Malvern Day Care and interacting with the clients would be a great gentle way to start Monty s PAT trainee training journey – and, great news, Monty passed his PAT Assessment on 8th March

Monty is extremely affectionate and has such a caring nature said Shirley Bradley the Head of Day Care Services at Friends of the Elderly When I spoke to Craig about Monty becoming a regular visitor we both agreed it would be an ideal fit that would not only benefit Monty and help his PAT career but also bring so many benefits to our clients who are living with dementia ”

Monty has been visiting Malvern Day Care since November 2021 and has become a fast favourite with the clients “Monty thoroughly enjoys his visits and loves seeing

his friends at the day care service said Craig I have had Monty for three years and he is such a people-person dog so friendly kind and fun-loving he is a joy to be around and you can see the happiness he brings to everyone he meets Monty s trained to be a Pets As Therapy (PAT) dog not an Assistance Dog the two terms can sometimes get a bit confused As a PAT dog, Monty s role is to bring therapeutic benefits to those he visits For example by visiting and interacting with the Malvern Day Care clients, Monty can cheer people up, improve a person’s mood, help someone get through a tough day and also help clients to reminisce about their much loved pets Monty loves to be fussed and cuddled and that’s nice not only for the clients but also for Monty he loves it Craig added

Talking of the benefits to the Malvern Day Care clients Shirley continued: Our clients really seem to love Monty’s visits He makes them smile and makes them happy When he goes into the room you can feel the atmosphere get even more upbeat, he has such a calming influence and the room lights up To be honest, it also has to do with Craig as well as he is so approachable and likeable the clients are comfortable with him and chat away gaily

Why Workforce Health Should Be at the Centre of Social Care

By Dr Lara Shemtob, general practice, occupational health and the department of primary care and public health at Imperial College London (www imperial ac uk)

This month reports that the government are set to halve the £500 million they pledged to invest in the social care workforce came as a blow to the sector There are currently around 250 000 vacant posts across health and social care with more than 160 000 unfilled post in social care The NHS and social care are dependent on each other to work efficiently While the NHS is facing its own challenges, a functioning social care system is necessary to keep people well in the community and to discharge them safely home after acute treatment

Workforce health is relevant to recruitment retention safety and productivity of staff Working in social care has similar challenges to working in health care- including hazards and risks around manual handling infection and mental health of staffcausing issues including work-related stress and burnout But while NHS workers have access to occupational health services to help keep them well and keep working, access for social care workers is likely to be more limited

What is occupational health and where does it fit into social care?

Occupational health is all about the relationship between work and health: how our health affects our work and how our work affects our health

Occupational health teams support people working while living with ill health, such as through recommending changes to the workplace or the role When someone is not well enough to work occupational health can put a plan in place to get them back to work when their health and function improves Occupational health clinicians also help organisations assess and manage hazards and risks in the workplace

Occupational health was excluded when the NHS was first set up which means access varies from

employer to employer Even the most generous estimates suggest around 50% of workers do not have access to any occupational health support People working for organisations with <250 employees are less likely to have access to occupational health compared to workers at large private sector organisations or the public sector People who are in insecure employment and on zero hours contracts are least likely to have access to occupational health

The social care sector is made up of more than 18 000 employers mainly private sector small and medium sized enterprises, with at least 25% of the workforce on zero hours contracts This profile of organisation is unlikely to be providing occupational health support to its workforce Pay for a social care worker is around £8000 less than an NHS healthcare assistant But pay is not the only working condition Workforce heath matters too

HOW DOES THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR MOVE FORWARD?

Because of how heterogenous the social care sector is we do not know exactly what is happening in terms of work and health issues and work and health support in each organisation Evidence tells us that occupational health support keeps people working increases the safety and productivity of staff and improves safe service delivery Yet, all stakeholders stretched in resourcing any change As well as the financial barrier to getting support small business owners say they do not have the time to invest in identifying their own needs

The Spring Budget 2023 highlighted the gap in the occupational health landscape and suggested some solutions but we are still very far away from universal access Meanwhile the government s response to the health and social care committee enquiry on burnout suggested extending the NHS staff survey to social care which will help us clarify what is happening across the social care sector

Integrated care systems could be a way of bridging the gap between health and social care organisations

We need parallel workforce planning across health and care and as part of this we should be growing occupational health services to meet the needs of the social care workforce as well as the needs of the NHS workforce

There is a long way to go but understanding where we are is important Are you a stakeholder in social care with a view on this? It would be great to hear from you via this stakeholder scoping inquiry

Tony Christie Teams Up with Music for Dementia to Record Hit Song for Thank You Day 2023

Thank You for Being a Friend set to connect nation and thank army of carers

Singing legend Tony Christie who announced in January that he had been diagnosed with dementia has today [Tuesday 11 April] unveiled plans to record Thank You for Being a Friend’ on behalf of the Music for Dementia campaign for Thank You Day 2023

Christie, who turns 80 in April was friends with Andrew Gold who released Thank You for Being a Friend back in 1978 The song will become a fitting anthem for this year’s third annual Thank You Day, as the country comes together celebrate people and experiences that make each community special and connect the nation through music

Organisers are calling on the public to save the date – Thank You Day

Sunday 2 July – which will see Thank You for Being a Friend sung all around the UK at festivals, street parties, care homes, community choir performances and on social media sites such as TikTok

Music for Dementia, founded and funded by The Utley Foundation, is leading the Thank You Day 2023 music activities which will have a special focus on the unsung and often unseen army of carers Many have changed their lives to care for people living with dementia so they can stay in their own home and have the best life possible

The iconic song Thank You for Being a Friend was written and recorded by Gold in 1978 and was not only a top 40 hit on the Billboard Top 100, but also rewritten as the soundtrack to NBC’s comedy, The Golden Girls

Christie is expected to have a host of special guests join him on the recording, which will be released ahead of Thank You Day as a free download

Sunday 2 July is the UK’s third annual Thank You Day which in 2022 brought nine million people together as friends families and neighbours strengthened the bonds that create kinder more connected communities It comes hot off the heels of Eurovision which is aiming to unite the nation through music

This year, the day will bring the nation together to show their appreciation of the UK s unsung heroes by giving the gift of music Music for Dementia is leading the charge to get communities connected through music, which has the unique power to improve health and wellbeing, including for those people living with dementia where music can bring joy stimulate memories and reduce anxiety

If anybody knows the power music can have on people who live with dementia it is Christie and his fami-

ly who have thrown themselves behind the Thank You Day campaign with all their hearts and souls

Christie explains: “I continue to tour as I’ve found music improves the symptoms associated with my dementia so every time I go on stage and work it s helping me It’s important for me to stay positive and try not to let dementia affect my life but I still need some support If anyone deserves a thank you it’s the UK’s unseen – and unsung – army of carers This one is for them!

“When Music for Dementia asked me to sing Thank You for Being a Friend by my old friend Andrew Gold it really felt like the stars were aligning It is the perfect song for a day that celebrates all the good in the world and I’m so proud to be part of it ”

The music health and social care sectors have come together to support the Thank You Day campaign, which is encouraging people to get involved on Sunday 2 July by hosting an event attending a local event sharing our Thank You Day song to say thank you or listening to music with someone

The campaign is being backed by organisations such the Music Publishers Association which played a key role in helping secure Gold s song for Thank You Day Casio Royal Albert Hall Girlguiding Care England TAP Thank and Praise app National Care Forum Dementia Carers Count and Care Home Open Week (Championing Social Care) which will open its doors to over 1 500 care homes for musical activity on the day

Sarah Metcalfe MD at Music for Dementia said Thank You Day is about coming together to say thank you to the people that make this country so special With lived experience of dementia, Tony embodies the power music has to improve life and bring joy so we re delighted he s agreed to sing the Thank You Day anthem We already have a host of committed partners and activations lined up and we ll be revealing more over the coming weeks and months ” Music offers a brilliant way to connect people and that s why on Sunday 2 July the UK will say thank you through music People are being invited to use music in a way that unifies and uplifts the nation, from local community choirs to festival performers to neighbourly singsongs

“What we need now is for people to sign up and register to get involved in Thank You Day – my family and friends are already planning what they re going to do It s going to be a day of celebration and we want as much of the nation to join in whatever way they can,” Christie adds

Beaucare Select St Fillans Care Home For Activity

Afternoon as Part of 30th Anniversar y Celebrations

The people living at St Fillans Care Home were treated to a floristry session by equipment and hygiene supplier Beaucare last month after being selected by the company

As part of Beaucare s 30th Anniversary celebrations this year the company decided to give back to some of their long-standing customers by offering them a choice of prizes As a long-term supplier to Excelcare Beaucare offered one of their homes to receive an activity afternoon of their choice

Instead of making the choice internally Excelcare decided to share the offer with their homes ask them to put forward an activity idea and submit them to the team at Beaucare to pick a winner!

In their response, the team at Beaucare said they wished they could grant every home s activity wish, but eventually declared St Fillans Care Home in Colchester as the winners Their wish was to have a floristry class for the people who live there, as they enjoy

arranging flowers and having a visual creation to admire! Floristry sessions also help to stimulate a person s senses and in turn boost a person s wellbeing

Their prize was recently awarded when a florist arrived at the home to host the session Rather than bringing fresh flowers with her the florist decided to use imitation flowers so the colourful arrangements people made could be cherished forever

The florist helped residents to make their colourful creations and showed examples of some arrangements people could take inspiration from Residents enjoyed taking part chatting with their friends and sharing connected memories throughout the session

At the end of the activity everyone had 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

Fo further information visit www beaucare com or contact Emily Lamb, Senior Area Sales Manager, 01423 873666 sales@beaucare com/ELamb@beaucare com

Croeso! Senior Team Appointed at New Cardiff Care Home

A new care home in Cardiff has announced the appointment of its senior team Care UK has appointed Therisa Galazka as the Home Manager to lead the team at Llys Herbert on TyDraw Road when it opens in July

With over 25 years of experience in the health and social care sector Therisa began her career as a registered mental health nurse Spending time with both the NHS and the independent sector Therisa worked her way up to Hospital Director where she was responsible for a large multi-disciplinary team for fifteen years

Therisa was awarded the Inspirational Nurse of the Year award in 2021 as a result of her proactive approach and dedication to supporting her team and service users throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

Commenting on her new role, Therisa said “I am delighted to have been appointed as the Home Manager for Llys Herbert”

“As Home Manager I have the privilege of helping to build a strong team and a welcoming home right from the beginning I’m looking forward to leading the new team supporting everyone to develop their skills and nurturing a positive environment in which we can provide the highest quality care for our future residents ”

Jenny Ashton has also been appointed as Customer Relations Manager (CRM) Jenny will be the first point of contact for all potential residents and their relatives ensuring a smooth process for all, from showing a family around the home, to

supporting their loved one to move in Bringing over 30 years’ experience to the role

Jenny has worked in customer centric management roles in a range of industries, including travel hospitality and finance In her previous role Jenny supported a care home provider with customer relations and data analytics

Jenny said: I was drawn to the role of Customer Relations Manager at Llys Herbert as I wanted to work somewhere I could make a real difference I was delighted to learn Care UK share the same passion about providing excellent care and supporting older people to lead fulfilling lives and knew this was the job for me

I can t wait to start welcoming our first residents and making their experience as seamless as possible – from their initial contact to helping them settle into their new home ”

Angela Zuraw Regional Director for Care UK added: “Llys Herbert marks an important investment for Care UK and we’re thrilled to have Therisa and Jenny on board

“Every detail of the home has been considered to provide the highest standards of care but having the right team is key to the overall experience for the residents Therisa and Jenny have plenty of experience passion and empathy and I’m confident they ll be a fantastic new addition to the Care UK family

“I’m looking forward to working with Therisa and Jenny to appoint the rest of the team ahead of the home opening later this summer!”

Cost of Living Squeeze is Forcing Health Workers to Relocate says Senior NHS Leader

The NHS in Surrey s problems retaining staff have been laid bare after a leading NHS boss revealed it is repeatedly losing workers to the Midlands and the North due to the cost-of-living crisis

Ian Smith, chair of NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board has lambasted recruitment and retainment in the sector describing it as one of the main driving forces behind the current ‘deep crisis’ in social care and ‘crisis’ within the NHS

In a wide-ranging interview with the Newcross Healthcare ‘Voices of Care’ podcast Mr Smith also told how wages in the care sector had got so poor he knows of cases where NHS staff were getting paid less than the cleaners of their offices and care homes

He said: “We ve got rapid turnover rates, especially when we recruit from out of the country So they ll come to Surrey and pretty quickly figure out the cost of living in the south of England is untenable And so they go off to the Midlands or the North So we’ve got a much higher rates of turnover in the NHS workforce than normally And our sickness rates are two or three percentage points higher than normal partly [due to] COVID I think stress is a big problem ”

Turning his attention to staffing problems in the social care sector he said: Social care is absolutely in crisis The headline figures are probably a hundred thousand short out of a workforce of 1 2 million or so and rates of turnover in social care are higher and we re just paying those people too little I mean, we’re paying them £12, £13 an hour, often on zero contracts And it’s

just very very very tough to keep them

On the issue of government funding for the NHS, Mr Smith admitted there was a need to be realistic about how much the country could afford to spend on health and social care but that increased demand for services needed to be recognised:

Acuity is higher post-COVID and people are iller We ve had a big spike in mental health particularly children and young people’s mental health in Surrey Eating disorders self-harm adolescent suicide rates have doubled in the last two or three years So we ve got an increasing need at a time when real budgets are being declined I understand the politicians and our view that you really want to promise the best service and do it at the lowest cost to the taxpayer But I think we ve got to start being a lot more honest with the British people about what we can afford ”

Commenting on what he would like to see in the Government s long-awaited workforce strategy for the NHS Mr Smith said:

“The first thing we need to do is to make sure we’re working as efficiently as possible We need a much more graduated system of health care delivery and send people to the most appropriate person It s beginning to happen [with] social prescribing but we’ve got to do a lot more of that I think until we’ve really figured out what sort of breadth of skill we need in the workforce and we re making sure that people are doing their real jobs So if it’s a social care problem or a social problem, let’s have a social worker doing it rather than the GP ”

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

to engage ALIVE ON DEMAND.

Alive s newest service Alive on Demand is designed to assist Care Home Staff in providing meaningful engagements both in group and 1-2-1 activities It is a dementia-friendly video streaming platform with supporting materials including quizzes and crafts that easily transforms each topic into well-rounded activity Designed to spark conversation and evoke memories you can easily search for topics of interest or use the filter options to select videos by level of dementia and duration For those living with more advanced dementia Alive offer “calming videos” designed to immerse in relaxation and calm

“It is like having an activities expert in your back pocket!”

For more information to book in a demo or discuss training options please call 0117 377 4756 or email info@aliveactivities org Visit www aliveactivities org to find out more

Revolutionising Care: An Industr y-Defining Event Showcasing the Latest Innovations and Solutions

sing at UK Care Week at the NEC this year We certainly made some noise and created a great atmosphere for the audience! It was great to see so many people there who are carers in some form or other looking to source help and resources for the patients they care for which includes those living with dementia We certainly found some extremely useful resources for our Choir community and there was a wealth of information available Well done to the team at ROAR B2B for organising the event and inviting us – we hope you will ask us again! Keep on singing it is the power of music that makes the difference!

Visitors explored the latest social care solutions from 150+ exhibitors including apetito, Sona, Specsavers and many more designed to increase the quality of the care they provide Interactive features and workshops were also explored including the CQC Inspector Hub and The Virtual Dementia Tour which provides an immersive learning experience and insight into what life is like for people living with dementia to enable social care business owners and management teams to ensure that the best tools and techniques for caring are in place An exciting new feature of UK Care Week 2023 was the Positivity Project by Five on a Bike, which invited visitors and exhibitors into their studio setting to share a positive story or to bust a myth about the care industry

Over 2,000 care professionals and senior management teams attended UK Care week 2023 with 38% decision makers and 32% with influence on decisions Workforce and recruitment business and facilities management, the reputation of the sector and technology in care topped the agenda at the event, with packed sessions some with only standing positions available The event was held at the NEC Birmingham on the 22-23 March 2023 The CPD accredited programme challenged status-quo thinking on the UK s care sector with sessions delivered by the most thought-provoking and insightful leaders and stand-out voices in the industry

There were over 100 speakers including Jane Townson, CEO of Homecare Association, Kate Terroni, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at The Care Quality Commission Amrit Dhaliwal CEO of Walfinch Care Homes, Jayne Connery, Director/Founder of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable and Debbie Harris, Managing Director at Autumna delivered their sessions across the 4 theatres Keynote Workforce & Recruitment Digital & Technology and Business & Facilities / Domiciliary & Person-Centred Care

Kate Terroni took to the Keynote Stage to share an in-depth update on what local authority assessment will look like in the future by showing an implementation timeline Kate was also joined on stage by Janice Tillet, an Expert by Experience who offered an insight into being both deaf and blind with a very moving minute of getting everyone in the crowd to close their eyes and hold their ears Janice is often asked to carry out access audits for the CQC, experiencing specific services as a person with both sensory and physical disabilities

The inspirational Our Dementia Choir delivered an incredibly moving session to the whole of the Keynote Theatre Karen Bonser choir member and charity manager said “It was a pleasure for Our Dementia Choir to

The Institute of Health and Social Care Management launched the People Plan for Social Care 2023 live at UK Care Week on the Keynote Stage This conveyed a comprehensive view of the major issues facing social care and offered an appraisal of the current situation examples of best practice and recommendations for the future Jasmeet Rai Associate Director at RCH Care Home who was involved in the launch added that “Now, the focus is on building a collaborative movement to work on the recommendations included within –all of which came from the people who know social care best ie the people who work in care who receive care themselves, or who advocate for others using care Thank you to everyone from UK Care Week who worked so tirelessly behind the scenes to host a great event

Steve Clarke Managing Director Healthcare Portfolio said: “We are thrilled to host this exhibition and provide a platform for care professionals to discover new products and services, network with industry experts and gain valuable insights into the latest trends in the care industry This is an exciting time in the care industry with so many new technologies and approaches emerging ” UK Care Week takes place next year on the 20th-21st March at NEC Birmingham

Pre-register your 2024 tickets here

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

Great-Great Grandmother

102nd Birthday at West Sussex Care Home

Then in 1978 the pair returned to Ireland for a couple of years before Patrick sadly passed away and Ellen returned to England to live with her daughter in Horsham Ellen who has 23 grandchildren 44 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren says that her secret to longevity is a tipple of whiskey

Wan Illman service manager of the Shaw healthcare-operated home said: Ellen is an absolute delight to have around She is very popular amongst other residents and we love listening to her stories I m so pleased we were able to be a part of her special day as she is like our family ”

ARC England CEO Barometer Sur vey Shows Provider Confidence in Sector is Declining

The Association For Real Change (ARC England) Learning Disability Research Unit today publishes the findings of the first CEO Barometer which found that the overall level of confidence that CEOs have in the social care sector is declining

The CEO Barometer Survey found that 78% of leaders in learning disability services are feeling less confident in their financial situation than they were three months ago and 56% are feeling less confident in relation to workforce and staffing levels

THE CEO BAROMETER MEASURES THE HEALTH OF THE LEARNING DISABILITY AND AUTISM SECTOR ACROSS A RANGE OF KEY INDICATORS:

Staffing and workforce

• Wellbeing and morale

Quality/Safety

Financial Stress

Overall Confidence in sector and business

70% of our respondents said that they are concerned about workforce issues 69% said they are concerned about commissioning practice and 56% said that they have concerns about financial sustainability

This decrease in sector health confidence comes amid continued high demand for services; half of the organisations (52%) reported that demand from individuals was high or very high while over two-thirds (65%) said the same about demand from local authorities

More than half (57%) of organisations report that their available spaces for the people they support are 91100% occupied – with an overall average of 88% spaces occupied – and almost nine in ten providers (87%) say they have had to turn down requests for support at least some of the time A lack of capacity (which in large part is likely to be due to staff recruitment and retention issues) is the most common reason for turning down requests (80%) with the second most common reason being that insufficient funding was offered

(65%)

The CEO Barometer results echo the findings of the latest Hft Sector Pulse Check report which reveals that a third of adult social care providers have considered a market exit in the past 12 months; this proportion rises to half when considering the effect of financial pressures on smaller organisations

With regard to workforce concerns the CEO Barometer found that 82% of our leaders are concerned about their ability to pay their staff at competitive rates This does not come as a surprise following the findings of our recent Fee Rate Freedom of Information request to all local authorities in England and Wales which found that 94% of Local Authorities are paying rates for supported living services that do not allow providers to meet their statutory obligation to pay the National Living Wage

Almost all organisations agree that without immediate and radical change many good care providers will no longer be operating at this time next year (96%), that we need reform to ensure care and support is person centred (95%) and that the government needs to provide meaningful financial assistance to help with alleviate the cost of living crisis (95%)

ARC ENGLAND CALLS ON THE GOVERNMENT TO:

1 fund social care based on an agreed fair cost of providing care and support to people with a learning disability and autistic people and 2 to take steps to ring-fence social care funding within local authority budgets

We join with growing number of social care sector voices urging the Government to act to secure realistic funding for social care We are hopeful that the CEO Barometer data adds to the narrative to amplify these voices and put the sector on a sustainable footing in the face of rising costs and deepening workforce challenges

Hallmark Care Homes Acquires Site for State-of-the-Art Care Home in Cardiff

Care provider, Hallmark Care Homes, has exchanged contracts on a 1 79acre site on Cypress Drive in Cardiff to develop a new circa 80-bed residential nursing and dementia care home The proposed £28m project will

an exceptional high-quality care home for older people including state of the art amenities to provide the highest level of care for its residents The project will draw on the latest technology in the sector and will comprise an array of extensive communal facilities

provider Hallmark Care Homes who operate 19 homes six which are based in Wales will be responsible for planning design and interior fit-out of the new scheme

The family-run business also has plans to open two new homes this year in West Sussex and Somerset

Managing Director of Hallmark Care Homes, Aneurin Brown, said:

We are very pleased to acquire this site in Cardiff to meet the growing demand for specialist care in the area Our proposed development will provide a beautiful and supportive environment for local people to thrive utilising our 26 years of care experience We ll deliver much-needed care beds to the community as well as modern facilities and communal spaces which will enable residents to socialise with their family and friends

Raising the

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

Winners of Boutique Care Homes Poetr y and Bonnet Competitions Announced!

Spring has sprung and the residents and team members at Boutique Care Homes have really embraced the season s spirit, showcasing their creativity and passion through the Boutique Poetry Competition and the Easter Bonnet Design Competition

After much deliberation the judges finally decided on the winners and runners up of the competitions

Here are the results:

BOUTIQUE POETRY COMPETITION:

Winner “Spring Everyday” by Jean Aves at Brampton Manor

Runner-up: Chartwell House Poetry Club

Jean Aves from Brampton Manor impressed the judges with her beautiful poem Spring Everyday which captured the essence of the season and our core values The judges felt that the poem was a true testament to the creativity and talent of our residents and team members The Chartwell House Poetry Club’s submission, was a collective effort that showcased the residents and team members collaboration and involvement in the competition

EASTER BONNET DESIGN COMPETITION:

• Winner: Sheila at The Burlington for her Easter Chick Bonnet

• Runner-up: Audrey at The Burlington for her Feather and Eggs Bonnet

Sheila s eggstravagant Easter Chick Bonnet won the hearts of the judges and was crowned the winner of the Easter Bonnet Design Competition The judges were impressed with the attention to detail and the creativity that went into the design Audrey’s Feather and Eggs Bonnet was also a standout entry showcasing her unique style and flair

Ameet Kotecha, Managing Director and Head of the Family at Boutique Care Homes expressed his admiration and congratulations to all the winners and runners up He said I am incredibly proud of the dedication creativity and passion that our residents and team members have shown in these competitions Congratulations to all the winners and runners up and thank you to everyone who participated!”

We would also like to give a special mention to Brampton Manor for their Easter bonnets, especially Alex for his male bonnet and Chartwell House for their community involvement on their bonnets, with local school children assisting the residents These entries truly showcased the spirit of inclusivity and belonging that we hold so dear at Boutique Care Homes

The winning poems will published on the Boutique Care Homes Website next week and our winning!

Congratulations to all the winners and runners up once again!

Real Easter Bunnies Come to Puddington Care Home

Two Puddington care homes are enjoying visits from real Easter bunnies this weekend The three rabbits, named Peter, Sally and Rosie, all moved into the grounds of the Chapel House Nursing Home and Plessington Court Residential Home in Puddington Cheshire just in time for the Easter holidays

The bunnies which were named by the residents regularly pop into the home as part of animal therapy sessions

Geraldine Button one of the home s Activity Coordinators said

“Our Easter bunnies are proving to be very popular with residents and staff

“They are living in hutches in our grounds but during the day they regularly pop into the home to be cuddled by residents

Spending time with pets and other animals has been proven to have many ther-

apeutic advantages as well as being very relaxing

“Our residents love sitting the rabbits on their knees and stroking them, and we have little leads if they want to take the rabbits for a walk

We ve also had fun naming them Everyone put a rabbit name they liked in a hat and we pulled out three winners

“We’re doing lots of lovely things for Easter including making home-made hot cross buns and creating our own Easter bonnets but the rabbits are the star attraction ”

Chapel House Care is a family business which was established in 1987 by the Moore family The homes offer residential nursing and dementia care in a safe secure and friendly environment in the heart of Puddington Cheshire

Easter Arrives at Each Other Care!

Easter well and truly arrived at Each Other Care this Bank Holiday weekend welcoming friends and families with lots of different activities and events

The Abbeys in Rotherham hosted a fabulous family party with live music stalls, food, and drinks The Easter Bunny even made an extra special guest appearance much the delight of the youngest guests!

There were Easter bonnet competitions galore at Dunniwood Lodge in Doncaster and White Ash Brook in Accrington with residents showcasing their creativity and lots of egg-cellent prizes were given out throughout the weekend events

Doncaster vocalist Matin Yorke provided guests at Dunniwood with an afternoon of live soul and Motown music There was also a big family Easter egg hunt to keep residents and guests entertained with chocolate treasures hidden all around the home and gardens for all to find

At Ladyville Lodge in Upminster residents and guests also took part in an Easter egg hunt and bonnet parade, and residents made tasty chocolate Easter nests with Activity Coordinator Faryn

Residents and staff at White Ash Brook were visited by Father Paul from Emmanuel Church in Oswaldtwistle who carried out an Easter service at the home providing the opportunity to pray and celebrate Holy Week together

This was very well attended and residents enjoyed joining in with hymns before making Easter bonnets bright seasonal decorations to adorn the home and cakes to enjoy with a cup of tea after lunch

Highfield Hall in Haslingden and Brierfield House in Nelson also celebrated with various Easter-themed activities and crafts sessions All funds raised from the various Easter-themed raffles cake stalls and tombola will go directly to the Residents Activity Funds for each home

Easter Bunnies Pay Veterans a Visit at Surbiton Care Home

Easter bunnies made an early appearance at Royal Star & Garter when an animal petting experience visited the charity s Surbiton

Home

A macaw parrot Pomeranian and Russian toy poodle dogs, Polish chicks, corn snakes, leopard tortoise and bearded dragons were also among the visitors brought to the Home by Shae Bunnies petting experience on Wednesday 5 April

The animals spent hours at the Home where they were cuddled and stroked by veterans in the reception area Afterwards resident Anne said: It was a lovely morning The animals were so beautiful ”

Ashley Brown from Shae Bunnies said:

“It was absolutely amazing to see the smiles on so many faces

Animals are regular guests at Royal Star & Garter Research shows stroking them can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and increase social interaction and physical activity It has also been shown to help battle depression and loneliness

In January two alpacas visited the Home and last year residents got up close to winged wonders including an African spotted eagle owl and Harris hawk during a birds of prey presentation Pets as therapy (PAT) dogs also regularly visit, and relatives often bring their dogs to the Home when seeing a loved one

Meet Charlie, The Donkey!

Tewkesbury Fields care home, in Tewkesbury, was full of animal mischief during Easter weekend when Charlie, the Donkey – from Kelly’s Donkeys came to visit the home

As part of the Easter celebrations residents at Tewkesbury Fields Care Home were pleasantly surprised to see their new furry friend roaming around the home General Manager James Culley said: Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitor We knew that having a donkey here would be a bit of fun for all our residents especially bringing a donkey indoors! We are always looking for new activities for the residents and we have seen the seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence ani-

mals can have on people ”

A Resident was very excited by Kelly s Donkey s – Donkey Charlie “As a child I used to love all the animals on the nearby farm I used to love going on donkey rides”

Another commented “I never thought we would have a donkey indoors! Charlie is so patient and truly loves all this fuss!”

Tewkesbury Fields Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals Tewkesbury Fields provides residential and respite care for 60 residents from respite care to long term stays

Austen House - Easter Celebrations

“Staff and residents at Barchester’s Austen House care home in Lower Earley Reading celebrated Easter with a whole host of different activities including Easter Bonnet Parade, attending a church service, Easter tea party

Residents at Austen House enjoyed a fantastic Easter Bonnet Parade from Thrive Early Years and Intergenerational Childcare their sibling and parents who showed off their fabulous handmade bonnets We had lots of fun together singing and playing Easter games and at the end children received delicious Easter eggs from residents

Also residents enjoyed attending a church service making personalized Easter cards for their loved one, and a visit from the Easter bunny who shared chocolate eggs to all the residents, staff and visitors on Sunday Easter

Residents also tucked into a delicious Easter meal of roast lamb followed by Easter cake prepared by the home’s head chef

General Manager Seva Hashimova said As always we ve all been looking forward to Easter It s such a lovely time of year – the residents love all the colourful Easter eggs and the Easter Bonnet parade It’s really been an eggs-cellent few days!”

Jane resident at Austen House said: “It has been so lovely to spend time with our families this Easter though like every Easter I think I ve eaten too much chocolate! It was so wonderful to see everyone go to so much effort I really enjoyed making Easter card and seeing the little children showing off their beautiful Easter Bonnets ”

Easter Celebrations at Reigate Beaumont

Staff and residents at Barchester s Reigate Beaumont care home, in Reigate, celebrated Easter with a whole host of different activities the last few days

The festivities started on Friday which was indeed the busiest of days with families friends community and staff getting together in search of eggs and bunnies in the garden The children brought eggs back to the residents for prizes But nowhere was the golden egg to be found in the garden! The golden egg had been sitting in the bunny’s picnic on the piano all along! Much to the delight of the children that spotted it Everyone had a great time and enjoyed cupcakes and hot cross buns together

Staff and residents then enjoyed games such as egg spoon races and there was indeed a lot of laughing going on Over the

weekend the home welcomed local children that read stories from their favourite books to residents There was lovely music and singing which was perfect for a Sunday afternoon The festivities ended with Sue and her team from Reigate Park Church delivering an Easter Service for the residents It was truly a magical few days celebrating with General Manager Pramojil Kurian said: “Every year we look forward to Easter It’s such a lovely time of year – the residents love inviting the local children to join in activities It’s been a fabulous few days!”

Care Homes Across the South Stage Egg-Celent Easter Fun

The Easter Bunny hopped in children came along to make bonnets and entertain with songs and gardens hosted egg hunts for all to enjoy Easter activities at Colten Care’s 21 homes brought residents families and visitors together for a happy season of fun and laughter

At Abbotts Barton in Winchester children from Harestock Primary School – regular weekly visitors since January this year – joined residents for an Easter crafting session Companionship Team Leader Kirsty Sawyer said It was lovely to see the conversations going across the generations as together they set about creating the perfect Easter bonnet

The Worthy Road home also held its annual Easter egg hunt with eleven children from the local community taking part Kirsty said: “They had a great time running around the garden in search of eggs and carrots and afterwards were invited to stay for a drink and cake

“The children were delighted with their prizes including Mia who won a book, Ryan who won an easter egg and Summer who won a chocolate bunny

Loraine Martin, a resident of Abbotts Barton, said “Welcoming our young visitors was such a nice way to celebrate Easter

At Fernhill in Longham near Bournemouth there was an Easter parade complete with bonnets and bunnies along with songs performed by entertainer Paul Hammond

“Everyone had a wonderful time,” said Ann Marie Knight a Companion at the dedicated dementia care home This was a great party for Easter with residents friends family members and staff all up on the dance floor It was an amazing atmosphere, everyone laughing, smiling and having fun

Residents at Linden House, Colten Care s dementia care home in Lymington also got into the Easter spirit with a musical afternoon

They hosted a visit by the 28-strong Robins Choir from Lymington Infants School who showed off their Easter bonnets and sand several Easter songs and hymns

All the residents agreed they d had an enjoyable afternoon and are looking forward to the Robins next visit,” said Companionship Team Leader Chris Dimmick

Barchester Bunny and Bunette’s Tesco Brent Cross Give Easter Cheer to Children in Hospitals this Easter

The Barchester Bunny has been seen hopping from Hospital to Hospital this Easter carrying sack loads of Easter goodies for Children in local hospitals to make sure that everyone has a fun time this Easter

Barchester Healthcare (London Region & Shelburne Lodge) worked closely with Tesco Stores (Brent Cross) and set about raising and donating eggs so the Barchester Bunny could hop her way into hospitals across the region with sack loads of chocolate joy

On Tuesday 4th May 2023 the Bunny surprised Children in Wexham Park Hospital Children’s Wards with Chocolate Eggs and Cuddly toys – which bought amazing smiles to the children’s faces

On Thursday (06/04/2023) the Bunette s from Wilsmere Care Home (Harrow) stopped by at Jack s Place (Northwick Park Hospital) with goodies and gifts which were warmly received

On Good Friday the Bunny was back in action (with her trusty sidekicks from Ashford Care Centre and Wilsmere Care Home) and visited both St Peter’s Hospital (Chertsey – Ash and Oakwood Ward) & Watford General Hospital (Starfish ward) and was able to surprise the children on the wards with gifts and chocolate

I have to be honest the Barchester Bunny had to have a ‘little’ moment after handing out the gifts and seeing the look of appreciation on the children s faces with thanks from the parents and hospital staff She told me in confidence that it made her feel all warm and fluffy Regional Director Wayne Hughes commented: “As a region we get great pleasure from giving back to the community and spreading love and happiness We would not of course be able to do these events without the amazing support from Tesco Brent Cross who raised a whole car load of eggs, sweets and toys for those less fortunate this Easter A massive thank you to Antone (Store Manager) Annie (Team Manager) Trish (Community Champion) Becky (Assistant community champion) Lizzie (Front end team support) Stein (Customer assistant) & everyone else who ensured tireless campaigning over the Tesco tannoy ensuring customers were aware of what we were doing and without this we could not be able to do what we do Additionally a huge thank you to the Barchester Healthcare team for raising and donating eggs It makes me incredibly proud to be working with Tesco Stores and also for having such a kind hearted team

Primar y School Children Bring Easter to Care Home Residents

A group of primary school children paid an Easter visit to residents at Ribble Court Care Home this week

The children from Little Hoole Primary School in Walmer Bridge near Preston popped into the home to sing some seasonal songs Some of the children from the year 4 class had relatives in the home

Emma McManus Manager of Ribble Court Care Home in Much Hoole said: “It was such a lovely and moving visit by the children

“They came to sing three songs for our residents including Springtime

“Kindness” and “You are my Sunshine” which all went down very well

While they were here they also presented residents with mini Easter eggs in beautifully made packaging which they had created as part of a design technology class project

“After the performance the children shared tea juice cakes and biscuits with the residents and talked about their creations in more detail

Abbi Street, Activities Coordinator for the home, said “The visit from the pupils brought happiness to all the residents and filled us with joy One of our residents Gladys had tears in her eyes when the children sang ‘You are my sunshine’

Everyone really enjoyed themselves and we’re looking forward to welcoming the children back soon

The school s headteacher Daniel Stammers said “The visit to Ribble Court Care Home by our year 4 class was extremely successful The children have been busy rehearsing their songs and it was lovely to have the residents as our devoted audience

“Some of our pupils have grandparents and great-grandparents at the home so it was particularly nice for them to be involved

We have discussed bringing a different year group every term to interact with the residents at the care home We will also be extending invitations to the residents and carers of the home to come and watch our summer junior production led by year 6 and the school s nativity in winter

“We don’t want today to just be a one-off thing as we really want to help our pupils learn more about the local community and to build meaningful special relationships with the residents of Ribble Court

One of the residents at Ribble Court, said: “The children were marvellous and very well behaved They remembered all the words to their songs and even had dances to go with it I m really looking forward to them coming back again soon ”

Hop to It! Elliott Finds All Our Easter Bunnies in Malvern

Elgar Court Care Home had fantastic fun hiding 12 Easter bunnies all over Barnards Green in Malvern for local children to find

Hidden in all kinds of different locations around the local shops and services in Barnards Green children were invited to find all 12 hidden Easter Bunnies and write down where they had been found in order to take part in the Easter Bunny Hunt

The lucky winner was Elliott Hirst age 6 from Malvern who was super pleased to be the lucky winner of the Easter Bunny Hunt When the team from Elgar Court asked Elliott if he was going to save it for Easter he said “Why wait?!!” And why indeed - what a brilliant answer!

Naomi Steward the Home Services Advisor said We had such fun hiding all the bunnies As we can see from the infectious grin on Elliott’s face he couldn t believe the Chocolate Bunny prize was SO HUGE! Local shops and services in Barnards Green were so kind letting us hide them in their shop notice boards and windows, and we would like to say a big thank you to them Everyone can get involved in our future events and competitions running throughout the year by following

Court on Facebook”

IF YOU ARE CURIOUS WHERE THE BUNNIES HID, THE ANSWERS TO THE EASTER BUNNY HUNT ARE: 1 Barnards Green Post office

Health Secretar y Must Put Credible Offer on Table to Avert Strike Action, Warns BMA

Responding to comments made by the Health Secretary claiming that the junior doctor pay restoration ask is unreasonable and the reason he will not engage in discussions BMA junior doctor committee co-chair Dr Vivek Trivedi said:

“We were knocking on the Health Secretary’s door, asking to meet with him to negotiate a settlement to this dispute long before the current strike got underway We have been in a formal dispute since October He refused to respond and meet us until we had a strike ballot result He has had months to put a credible offer on the table and avert industrial action so for him to say ‘it’s disappointing’ is at best disingenuous

We have always maintained our aim is for full pay restoration – to reverse

Staff Members

at Leicester

the more than 26% real terms pay cuts Mr Barclay s government have imposed on us over the past 15 years putting starting salaries up by just £5 per hour to £19 We have always maintained we are willing to negotiate on how to achieve pay restoration so for Mr Barclay to suggest we had any preconditions is yet again disingenuous

The reality is that the Health Secretary has had every opportunity to bring an end to the dispute His decision to refuse to table a credible offer, indeed he has not tabled a single offer so far means that this action is solely due to this government’s repeated inaction We would still be willing to suspend strike action this week if the Secretary of State makes a credible offer that can be the basis of negotiation

Home Celebrate Combined

Ser vice of 30 Years

Three staff members at a Leicester home celebrated their 10-year work anniversary making a combined 30 years of service

Surjit Kaur Estella Warsop and Natalie Mistry all work at MHA Aigburth in Oadby Estella and Natalie both work as care assistants and Surjit is a kitchen assistant

The trio started working at the home at the same time and were presented with their certificate showcasing 10 years of service from home manager Salome Mapfeka

As well the certificates, they were each presented with a plant from everyone at the home

Speaking after the presentation Salome said:

“All three of them are a huge asset to MHA

and we love them dearly at Aigburth

They have seen some changes but their experience in what they do is amazing

I announced the achievement during a staff meeting and it was something that was really well received by everyone

Surjit Estella and Natalie were surprised and knew they were close to 10 years but didn t expect the announcement

“We wanted to celebrate their achievement together especially as they started working here at the same time

Hopefully we can celebrate their next working achievement together and many more in the future

They all do a lot for the home and it s a pleasure having them work at MHA Aigburth

East Surrey MP Visits Caterham Nursing Home

A nursing home in Surrey welcomed a visit from its local MP who wanted to learn more about the services on offer and how people s nursing needs are met

Claire Coutinho Conservative MP for East Surrey visited Tupwood Gate Nursing Home in Surrey The service supports individuals looking for residential, nursing and dementia care and offers post-operative intermediate care dementia specialist care and respite care as well as palliative and end-of-life support

She praised the wonderful care provided by staff at the service which was recently recognised at the annual Care Home Awards 2023 for receiving first class feedback from residents and their loved ones Claire toured the facility run by leading health and social care provider Cygnet Health Care, and spoke to staff and residents during her visit finding out about initiatives including Move and Groove an intergenerational music and sport collaborative project which included the participation of the residents at Tupwood Gate Nursing Home

Paula Deadman Cygnet Health Care Manager for Tupwood Gate Nursing Home said it was a positive visit for everyone

She added: “It was lovely to meet Claire and we’re delighted that she has recognised the care compassion and dedication of our team at Tupwood

“It was very nice of her to take time out of her busy schedule to come and see us the staff and residents all enjoyed meeting her and had an opportunity to have a conversation We take great pride in what we achieve here and it meant a lot to staff that Claire took the time to really listen to us and that we were given an opportunity to share our work with her

“We enjoyed showcasing Tupwood Gate and all the great work that we do here in her constituency to look after our residents and helping them to live life to the fullest

Talking about the visit Claire said “It was a real privilege to meet Paula and the staff at Tupwood Gate Nursing Home where I saw the wonderful care they provide for their residents

I was particularly heartened to hear about the work they have done with local children with special educational needs and disabilities welcoming them into the home to reduce loneliness among their residents –something I’m really passionate about ”

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

Edinburgh Care Home to Host Dementia Education Event

Free dementia session offered by Cramond Residence to local community

A care home specialising in dementia will open its doors to members of the public as part of its free series to raise awareness of the disease

Relatives and those living with dementia are encouraged to attend the event at Cramond Residence on the 22nd April for the second instalment of its Let s talk about Dementia series

The session will be led by Ross Bijak, General Manager at Cramond Residence who has more than 17 years of experience in the care sector Ross is well-versed in tailored dementia care and undertook a Masters in Dementia Studies in 2020 to further his knowledge

Key topics set to be covered include a background on dementia its symptoms, and the importance of person-centered care Attendees will be encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings on the subject based on their experiences

Ross said: Dementia has physical psychological social and economic impacts, not only for people living with dementia but also for their carers families and wider society

“There is often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia resulting in stigmatisation and barriers to diagnosis and care – which is why we launched this series

“The event will be interactive and engaging, driven by the participants own experiences It will feature exercises highlighting the challenges surrounding communication for those with dementia in a bid to hopefully overcome these and remove the stress associated

“With expertise in-house we’re proud to be in a position to host these small group sessions to share knowledge and provide support on dementia care

The event starts at 10 AM and refreshments will be provided To sign up for the event get in touch with enquiries@cramondresidence co uk [please note spaces will be limited and on a first come basis]

Cygnet Health Care Recognised at Care Home Awards 2023

A health and social care company is celebrating after its two nursing homes were recognised at the annual Care Home Awards 2023 for receiving first class feedback from residents and their loved ones

Comments received about the two nursing homes included one from a stepdaughter who praised the caring knowledgeable and compassionate” care that her stepfather received in the last few months of his life

Cygnet Health Care a leading provider of services for mental health learning disabilities and autism, runs two nursing homes; Tabley House in Knutsford Cheshire and Tupwood Gate in Caterham Surrey They support individuals looking for residential, nursing and dementia care and offer post-operative intermediate care, dementia specialist care and respite care as well as palliative and end-of-life support

The annual Care Home Awards 2023 recognises the Top 20 Care Home Groups in the UK based on reviews from service users and their family and friends on carehome co uk – the TripAdvisor of the care industry

Cygnet Health Care gained recognition in the Small Care Home Groups category, which is for companies with between two and nine older person s care homes within their portfolio

Karen Lynskey, Manager of Tabley House, thanked everyone who had left a positive review of the service as it makes such a difference to the staff She added: It is always nice to be recognised for the amazing work the staff at Tabley do The staff always strive for excellence to give our residents the very best

and to provide the quality of care that we pride ourselves on This award is a reflection of this ”

Paula Deadman Manager of Tupwood Gate, said: “The best awards you can receive are when they are based on feedback from the residents and relatives that we care for I am so proud of the staff here that always go the extra mile to provide love care and support to all of our residents

It is fabulous for the team at Tupwood Gate to receive this recognition for their dedication compassion and hard work

Dr Tony Romero, CEO of Cygnet Health Care, said he was very proud of the accolade He added: “I’m delighted that the quality of care in our nursing homes have received this recognition demonstrating how highly-regarded they are in their respective communities

“What makes it so special is that it is awarded based on feedback from our service users themselves and their loved ones There is no greater endorsement of the high quality service we deliver I am very grateful for the commitment of staff which ensures we consistently gain outstanding outcomes for individuals in our care

“We always strive to provide residents and loved ones with the highest standards of care and the team work diligently to ensure we achieve this Putting our residents first is at the heart of what we do and is the bedrock of our organisation ”

Malvern Day Care Client Honoured With MBE

Peter Langard has been a client at Friends of the Elderly s Malvern Day Care service since 10th October 2022 after being recommended the service by an Occupational Therapist Peter, who visits every Tuesday, was born on Guernsey in 1939 but his family moved to Birmingham in the West Midlands to escape the German Army when they invaded the island in 1940 Peter, who attended the King Edward’s School at Five Ways in Birmingham could have gone down the route of being a Professional Cyclist however he decided to move into accounting and passed his accountancy exams in 1964

As a Chartered Certified Accountant in Public Practice Peter created PA Langard & Co He purchased Lifford Hall, a Grade II listed building in Kings Norton as it has three acres of land and plenty of parking for his staff and clients Peter later changed the company s name to Langard Lifford Hall Limited and the company will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year

Peter was a consummate professional and enjoyed supporting and helping his clients In 1983 he was a Council Member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and served 15 years on many technical committees and working parties including finance investigations and disciplinary He was also the International President of ACCA and during this time joined with other professional bodies throughout the world in setting standards for the global accounting industry

Working and managing his company until his retirement Peter didn t stop there as he became a NonExecutive Chairman Peter s wife, Norma said: “Peter loved helping people, whether it was a fledgeling business or big businesses Midland Bank - HSBC as it is now known - referred a client to Peter as he was

known to be ‘effective’ which he always found amazing as he had never met anyone from the bank it was his reputation that secured him the client ”

Peter believed that it was - and is - extremely important to give something back, so ensured he undertook a lot of accountancy Pro Bono work and even started a regular Saturday Widows and Orphans Day at Langard Lifford Hall

Limited which was well received Peter was also a Trustee for many charities including The Boys Club a variety of community centres and Cash for Kids, not only providing accountancy services but also getting involved in their fundraising activities

In 2015 Peter was awarded an MBE by Prince William (as he was then known) for his Services to the Accountancy

Profession and Charity in Birmingham

However receiving his MBE was not Peter s first encounter with royalty He crossed paths with the Royal Family having attended two garden parties at Buckingham Palace and met the late Queen Elizabeth 11 when he was President of ACCA in 1996

Shirley Bradley, Head of Day Care Services at Friends of the Elderly and the Manager at Malvern Day Care said: Peter and Norma both brighten our day when they arrive as they are always mostly colour co-ordinated Peter always wears brilliant bright socks - I m sure he has a collection that would rival any shop “Peter likes to watch the entertainer on the Oomph! channel and enjoys listening to all kinds of music especially rock n roll and he relates well to visual activities By the afternoon Peter appears completely relaxed and comfortable in the environment and this, in turn, rubs off on everyone else He is a pleasure to have in the centre and the love Peter and Norma have for each other is obvious for all to see

Crafty Care Home Resident Builds New House from Scratch

David Gault, a resident at Heatherfield House Care Home in Armadale has created an outdoor haven for the local birds to shelter from the elements in David decided to assemble the birdhouse after worrying how the birds were coping in the recent frosty weather

Heatherfield s maintenance staff member Joe Folek helped David make the birdhouse pre-cutting the wood and labelling it so David could safely put it together with little support

Woodwork is an activity that brings a range of benefits to the participant offering a sense of independence, creativity and accomplishment Heatherfield, part of the Holmes Care Group has a mission to provide outstanding support and care to the elderly and staff look for opportunities to go and above and beyond to

support residents’ wellbeing

David Gault resident of Heatherfield House said:

“I enjoyed making the birdhouse with Joe’s help We had a great day assembling the wood together and I love walking around the garden and seeing all the birds who visit

Joe Folek, Maintenance at Heatherfield House, said:

It was great to spend the day with David building his birdhouse I could see how happy it made him, and I was glad to help

Inaugural Oakland Care Awards Celebrate Outstanding Team Members

Oakland Care have celebrated the remarkable achievements, inspirational journeys, and outstanding care delivered to hundreds of residents across their nine care homes at the inaugural Oakland Care Awards

The award ceremony which took place at St Ermin’s London brought together around 80 finalists for 16 award categories including Carer of the Year, Rising Star Award, and CEO Recognition Award There were an array of exceptional team members hoping to be crowned winners after an impressive 12 months for Oakland Care The care provider has not only grown their portfolio of care homes but achieved regular award recognition that has furthered their credentials as one of the UK s top care home providers

This includes being named as ‘Top Employer’ for an impressive third time in a row in the Top Employer’s UK list and achieving the remarkable feat of four of their nine homes featuring in the Luxury Care Home Guide for 2023

On the night there were several standout triumphs including Stuart Wood who was named their esteemed ‘Carer of the Year’ Despite joining Oakland Care with no previous experience in the social care sector he quickly developed a real passion for delivering care and has become a crucial pillar of the Birchwood Heights care home team highly valued by both colleagues and residents alike

Elsewhere Emily Besser was recognised with the ‘Rising Star award Whilst working as a receptionist at Oakland Care s Woodland Grove care home Emily made the decision to put herself through the CIPD qualification to develop her understanding of people management processes This display of ambition and initiative to further her own skills was a big reason behind her award success

Over the course of the last year Oakland Care have also continued to lead the way for sustainability retaining their status as the only carbon neutral care

group in the UK for a second year running and achieved Level 3 certification by Green Mark, the highest grade awarded by the sustainability specialist

Team members across the care home provider have been crucial to this success including Michela Volpe Lifestyles Manager at Woodland Grove who was honoured with the Sustainability Award, which celebrates an individual who has demonstrated an incredible commitment to championing environmental considerations within their role Michela has exemplified this through her innovative work including developing methods to reduce plastic waste introducing activities for residents to reuse and upcycle waste items and leading her team to plant over 300 trees at a local site in Essex this January

Speaking about her success Emily Besser said

“It meant so much to me to even be invited to the Oakland Care Awards, let alone to win an award! I am truly grateful for the award and recognition I have received I am proud to be part of such an amazing company ”

Reflecting on the award ceremony Chief Executive Officer at Oakland Care

Joanne Balmer BEM added

“It was a truly special day where we able to recognise and celebrate our amazing team members and the incredible work they do on a daily basis It is important to come together as one and celebrate these accomplishments What we achieve as individuals is only made possible by the support and encouragement that our colleagues provide So, as well as recognising the outstanding contribution of talented colleagues it is also reflective of what we have achieved collectively

“The last 12 months have been truly special and I am excited to continue our progress and once more exceed expectation in everything we do

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

Check out more information on our Website: www.meaningfulcarematters.com/coaching-tools/

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